Neutrino oscillations in the interaction picture

We study the mixing of different kind of fields (scalar in 0+1D, scalar in 3+1D, fermion in 3+1D) treating the mixing term as an interaction. To this aim, we employ the usual perturbative series in the interaction picture. We find that expression for flavor changing probability exhibits corrections with respect to the usual quantum mechanical (e.g. neutrino) oscillation formula, in agreement with the result previously obtained in the non-perturbative flavor Fock space approach.Comment: Accepted for publication in EPJ

Anisakis spp. Larvae in Deboned, in-Oil Fillets Made of Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) and Sardines (Sardina pilchardus) Sold in EU Retailers

Sardina pilchardus and Engraulis encrasicolus are considered the principal target species for commercial fishing in Europe and are widely consumed as semipreserved products. Although they are considered shelf-stable products, if treatment is not correctly applied, their consumption may represent a public health risk in regard to anisakiasis and allergic reactions. Little is known about the prevalence of Anisakis spp. in ripened products. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of Anisakis spp. larvae in deboned, in-oil anchovy and sardine fillets marketed in the EU to assess the influence of processing techniques on the prevalence of larvae. Ninety semipreserved anchovy and sardine products deriving from the Mediterranean Sea or Atlantic Ocean were collected from different EU retailers and examined using chloropeptic digestion to evaluate the presence of larvae and identify them. Thirty nonviable Anisakid larvae—A. pegreffii (30%) and A. simplex (70%)—were found. The frequency of larvae was higher in anchovies (28.8%). The low frequency of parasites found proved that processing technologies can influence the presence of larvae in final products, but it is important that visual inspection is performed only by trained people. The sources of raw materials should be considered in the production flow chart

Deltamethrin Residues in Milk and Cheese of Lactating Goats (Capra hircus)

peer-reviewedThe distribution of pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin (DLM) in goat milk and cheese (caciotta) following pour-on administration at the sheep dosage (DLMS-10 mL/60 kg body weight) and double dosage (DLMD-20 mL/60 kg body weight) was studied. DLM concentrations were measured in milk collected from study animals (No.14) before treatment and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 56, until 168 h (7 days) post treatment and in caciotta cheese at 12 and 24 h post treatment. At both dosages, the maximum level of DLM residues in goat milk and cheese was below the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 20 μg kg−1 established for bovine milk (EU No 37/2010) at all time points. However, in terms of public health, higher DLM residues in cheese show that further specific studies should be performed on double dosage efficacy and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties of ectoparasites in lactating goats

Neutrino oscillations in the interaction picture

Abstract We study the mixing of different kind of fields (scalar in 0+1D, scalar in 3+1D, fermion in 3+1D) treating the mixing term as an interaction. To this aim, we employ the usual perturbative series in the interaction picture. We find that expression for flavor changing probability exhibits corrections with respect to the usual quantum mechanical (e.g. neutrino) oscillation formula, in agreement with the result previously obtained in the non-perturbative flavor Fock space approach

Comparative mitogenomic analysis of Sparids and evaluation of a new potential DNA barcoding marker for Dentex dentex.

Dentex dentex is one of the most commercially caught Sparidae species in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It is very appreciated in European markets and consequently more subjected to species substitution frauds [1]. The currently mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences used for fish species identification in prepared and processed products are cytochrome b-CYTB, cytochrome c oxidase I-COI, 16S and 12S genes. Recent researches showed that the study of the whole mtDNA allows to identify new, effective and specie-specific barcode markers [2]. In particular, NAD5 gene has high discrimination capacity for Sparidae species. However, the use of all these genes needs amplification and a sequencing process [2,3]. Therefore, a valuable species identification requires many laboratory steps and is time consuming. The aim of this research was to analyze and compare the whole mtDNA sequence of Sparidae species to find a barcoding marker useful to identify the sparid species D. dentex, avoiding the sequencing step. Thirteen Sparidae complete mitogenomes were compared in this study. They were aligned by UGENE software. Hamming Distance algorithm was used to evaluate in percent the genetic dissimilarity among species and genes. Overall mean p-genetic distance analyses were conducted using the Maximum Composite Likelihood model. The nucleotide sequence variability was determined by aligning gene-by-gene sequences of Sparidae species using MEGA 6.0. Primers were designed by eye after multiple alignment of the Sparidae complete mtDNA sequences using BioEdit Sequence Alignment Editor. Primers efficiency for D. dentex identification was tested using PCR reaction. Results of Hamming Distance, nucleotide sequence variability and p-genetic distance analysis showed the potentiality of NAD2 gene as barcode marker for sparids. The PCR reaction confirmed the discrimination capacity of NAD2 gene. In particular, the amplification of the selected NAD2 fragment was possible only for the species D. dentex. In conclusion, NAD2 gene showed high interspecific nucleotide dissimilarity to provide unambiguous results for D. dentex species authentication without sequencing, reducing time, costs and efficiency. In fact, species identification results can be obtained in a few hours of lab work. Therefore, competent national authorities responsible for monitoring and enforcing could improve and make full use of DNA-testing methods in order to deter operators from false labelling of seafood. In agreement with Regulation (EU) 1379/2013, this study contributes to the molecular traceability of fishery products. [1] Katavic et al. Growth performance of pink dentex as compared to four other sparids reared in marine cages in Croatia. Short Communication. Aquaculture International, 8:455–461, 2000. [2] Ceruso et al. Frauds and fish species authentication: study of the complete mitochondrial genome of some Sparidae to provide specific barcode markers, Food Control, accepted for publication, 2019. [3] Armani et al. DNA and Mini-DNA barcoding for the identification of Porgies species (family Sparidae) of commercial interest on the international market. Food Control, 50: 589-596, 2015

Preliminary study on the inactivation of anisakid larvae in baccalà prepared according to traditional methods

The European Food Safety Authority stated that many traditional marinating and cold smoking methods are not sufficient to kill A. simplex and asked to evaluate alternative treatments for killing viable parasites in fishery. Baccalà is a well-liked traditional product. The aim of study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the salting process on the inactivation of nematodes of the genus Anisakis in naturally infected Baccalà fillets. N. 19 fillets, subjected to a dual salting process (brine and dry salting) were analyzed. Visual inspection and chloropeptic digestion were performed. Larvae viability was evaluated, and parameters such as NaCl (%), moisture (%), WPS and aw were determined. In n. 17 samples parasites were found 123 parasites with a mean intensity of 7.23±4.78 and an mean abundance of 6.47±5.05. Visual examination has revealed 109 parasites. 61.8% of larvae were found in the ventral portions. The results show that salting process with a salt concentration of 18.6%, aw values of 0.7514 and 24.15% WPS in all parts of baccalà fillets, devitalise Anisakidae larvae in a 15-day period