Correlation between sensory and instrumental properties of Canestrato Pugliese slices packed in biodegradable films

This paper compares the performance of three novel biodegradable films having different gas and water vapour permeabilities to the performance of a multilayer film made of polyethylene and EVOH and having high barrier properties. As model food C. Pugliese cheese was chosen. The samples were stored for 28 days and, once a week, they were analysed using sensory and instrumental tests. Sensory data showed samples packed in high permeable biodegradable film were different from fresh cut samples after only 7 days of storage, whereas the other biodegradable films having intermediate water vapour permeability allowed the cheese to keep its sensory properties unchanged for 21 days. The only film which maintained the sensory properties of cheese, with except for texture, during all the investigated time, was the high barrier film. The sensory data are confirmed by acceptability scores

Clostridium difficile Toxins A and B: Insights into Pathogenic Properties and Extraintestinal Effects

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has significant clinical impact especially on the elderly and/or immunocompromised patients. The pathogenicity of Clostridium difficile is mainly mediated by two exotoxins: toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB). These toxins primarily disrupt the cytoskeletal structure and the tight junctions of target cells causing cell rounding and ultimately cell death. Detectable C. difficile toxemia is strongly associated with fulminant disease. However, besides the well-known intestinal damage, recent animal and in vitro studies have suggested a more far-reaching role for these toxins activity including cardiac, renal, and neurologic impairment. The creation of C. difficile strains with mutations in the genes encoding toxin A and B indicate that toxin B plays a major role in overall CDI pathogenesis. Novel insights, such as the role of a regulator protein (TcdE) on toxin production and binding interactions between albumin and C. difficile toxins, have recently been discovered and will be described. Our review focuses on the toxin-mediated pathogenic processes of CDI with an emphasis on recent studies

Effects of an aquagym training in postmepausal women

Los cambios en la composición corporal de mujeres posmenopáusicas, principalmente, el aumento del tejido adiposo visceral y abdominal, son indicadores de enfermedades metabólicas y cardiovasculares. Veintiuna mujeres posmenopáusicas participaron en un programa de 16 semanas de clases de Aquagym. Las variables analizadas fueron la circunferencia de cintura (CCi), la circunferencia de cadera (CCa), el índice cintura-cadera (ICC), el diámetro sagital abdominal (DAS) y el tejido adiposo visceral (TAV). El tratamiento estadístico empleado fue una prueba t para comparar entre los grupos y el test de Goodman para analizar las alteraciones en la clasificación cualitativa del ICC. Se han obtenido reducciones significativas (p≤0,05) para todas las variables medidas después de la intervención de ejercicio. El programa de Aquagym fue capaz de reducir el tejido adiposo visceral y abdominal, además de disminuir el riego para el desarrollo de enfermedades de enfermedades metabólicas y cardiovasculares, constituyendo una estrategia eficaz para tratar la obesidad central.Changes in body composition in postmenopausal women and increased abdominal visceral adipose tissue are markers of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Twenty-one postmenopausal women participated in Aquagym's classes during 16 weeks. The analyzed variables included measures of waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-hip ratio (ICC), abdominal sagittal diameter (ASD) and intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT). Statistical treatment was used as the paired t test for comparisons between the groups before and after Aquagym practice and Goodman`s test to analyze the changes in the qualitative classification of the ICC. Significant reductions (p≤0.05) have been found for all measured variables. Aquagym program was able to reduce the abdominal visceral adipose tissue, thus decreasing the risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, constituting an effective strategy to deal with central obesity

Stone fruits, pears and citrus integrated pest management interdisciplinary network with focus on the exchange of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer (RED-MIFRUT).

The creation of a stone fruit, pear and citrus integrated pest management (IPM) interdisciplinary network (entomology, and field and post-harvest pathology) to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and experiences of participating working groups is proposed; emphasizing on the development of new methodologies to improve the IPM that reduce the use of pesticides and presence of residues, and improves the ability to transfer technology to society. The specific objectives are: 1) Promote the collaboration among the multidisciplinary groups including knowledge transfer themes, integrating the social area. 2) Elaborate guidelines for the exchange of biological and experimental material for research. 3) Facilitate the implementation of research projects coordinated by the participating groups. 4) Analyze aspects related to effective technology transfer to the society, in each of the regions, and propose specific actions. 5) Build a database of the main pests and pathogens (including their vectors) of the fruits involved, and the strategies used for their control. 6) Create the conditions to convert the network in a source of information about IPM in fruits for the social agents. 7) Promote the public-private interaction to improve the adoption of the available technologies, and guide the development of new knowledge. 8) Establish contact with other existing networks with similar themes, like the European network Endure (European Network for the Durable Exploitation of Crop Protection Strategies), and with other institutions, like IOBC. In May of 2014, the first meeting of the area coordinators for each country was held in Río Negro, Argentina. A document was elaborated with the situation and the alternatives for pest control and cultivation in the respective participating countries. The results will be available in the World Wide Web and will be broadcast in the main participating centers

Dietary Supplement, Containing the Dry Extract of Curcumin, Emblica and Cassia, Counteracts Intestinal Inflammation and Enteric Dysmotility Associated with Obesity

Intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) impairment and enteric inflammation are involved in the onset of obesity and gut-related dysmotility. Dietary supplementation with natural plant extracts represents a useful strategy for the management of body weight gain and systemic inflammation associated with obesity. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of a food supplement containing the dry extract of Curcumin, Emblica and Cassia in counteracting enteric inflammation and motor abnormalities in a mouse model of obesity, induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Male C57BL/6 mice, fed with standard diet (SD) or HFD, were treated with a natural mixture (Curcumin, Emblica and Cassia). After 8 weeks, body weight, BMI, liver and spleen weight, along with metabolic parameters and colonic motor activity were evaluated. Additionally, plasma LBP, fecal calprotectin, colonic levels of MPO and IL-1β, as well as the expression of occludin, TLR-4, MYD88 and NF-κB were investigated. Plant-based food supplement administration (1) counteracted the increase in body weight, BMI and metabolic parameters, along with a reduction in spleen and liver weight; (2) showed strengthening effects on the IEB integrity; and (3) reduced enteric inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as ameliorated the colonic contractile dysfunctions. Natural mixture administration reduced intestinal inflammation and counteracted the intestinal motor dysfunction associated with obesity

PEGASO: Polar Explorer for Geomagnetic And other Scientific Observation

PEGASO (Polar Explorer for Geomagnetic And other Scientific Observation) program has been created to conduct small experiments in as many disciplines on-board of small stratospheric balloons. PEGASO uses the very low expensive pathfinder balloons. Stratospheric pathfinders are small balloons commonly used to explore the atmospheric circumpolar upper winds and to predict the trajectory for big LDBs (Long Duration Balloons). Installing scientific instruments on pathfinder and using solar energy to power supply the system, we have the opportunity to explorer the Polar Regions, during the polar summer, following circular trajectory. These stratospheric small payload have flown for 14 up to 40 days, measuring the magnetic field of polar region, by means of 3-axis-fluxgate magnetometer. PEGASO payload uses IRIDIUM satellite telemetry (TM). A ground station communicates with one or more payloads to download scientific and house-keeping data and to send commands for ballast releasing, for system resetting and for operating on the separator system at the flight end. The PEGASO missions have been performed from the Svalbard islands with the logistic collaboration of the Andoya Rocket Range and from the Antarctic Italian base. Continuous trajectory predictions, elaborated by Institute of Information Science and Technology (ISTI-CNR), were necessary for the flight safety requirements in the north hemisphere. This light payloads (<10 Kg) are realized by the cooperation between the INGV and the Physics department “La Sapienza” University and it has operated five times in polar areas with the sponsorship of Italian Antarctic Program (PNRA), Italian Space Agency (ASI). This paper summarizes important results about stratospheric missions.PNRA, ASI.Published940-9455IT. Osservazioni satellitariN/A or not JCRope

CALDER - Neutrinoless double-beta decay identification in TeO2_2 bolometers with kinetic inductance detectors

Next-generation experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay must be sensitive to a Majorana neutrino mass as low as 10 meV. CUORE, an array of 988 TeO$_2$ bolometers being commissioned at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy, features an expected sensitivity of 50-130 meV at 90% C.L, that can be improved by removing the background from $\alpha$ radioactivity. This is possible if, in coincidence with the heat release in a bolometer, the Cherenkov light emitted by the $\beta$ signal is detected. The amount of light detected is so far limited to only 100 eV, requiring low-noise cryogenic light detectors. The CALDER project (Cryogenic wide-Area Light Detectors with Excellent Resolution) aims at developing a small prototype experiment consisting of TeO$_2$ bolometers coupled to new light detectors based on kinetic inductance detectors. The R&D is focused on the light detectors that could be implemented in a next-generation neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, added reference to first result