Comparison of fatty acid profile in lamb meat and baby food based on lamb meat

The aim of this study was to compare the fatty acid (FA) profile of fresh lamb meat with those of baby foods based on lamb meat. For this purpose, samples of commercial homogenized (HO) and lyophilized (LIO) baby food based on lamb meat and fresh lamb meat (FM) were analyzed for their FA composition. All fatty acids, except for oleic acid and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), differed among the three baby products tested. The sum of omega-6 FA and the ratio omega 6/omega 3 FA were lower in FM and LIO meat compared to HO samples. The content of total PUFA n-3 was the highest in FM, because of its highest content of C18:3 n3, EPA, DPA and DHA compared to LIO and HO baby food. The content of arachidonic acid was more than 6-fold higher in FM compared to LIO and HO. This study evidenced the possibility of enhancing the FA profile of commercial baby food based on lamb meat by using meat with healthier FA profile

Mapping the spatial variation of soil moisture at the large scale using GPR for pavement applications

The characterization of shallow soil moisture spatial variability at the large scale is a crucial issue in many research studies and fields of application ranging from agriculture and geology to civil and environmental engineering. In this framework, this work contributes to the research in the area of pavement engineering for preventing damages and planning effective management. High spatial variations of subsurface water content can lead to unexpected damage of the load-bearing layers; accordingly, both safety and operability of roads become lower, thereby affecting an increase in expected accidents. A pulsed ground-penetrating radar system with ground-coupled antennas, i.e., 600-MHz and 1600-MHz center frequencies of investigation, was used to collect data in a 16 m × 16 m study site in the Po Valley area in northern Italy. Two ground-penetrating radar techniques were employed to non-destructively retrieve the subsurface moisture spatial profile. The first technique is based on the evalu¬ation of the dielectric permittivity from the attenuation of signal amplitudes. Therefore, dielectrics were converted into moisture values using soil-specific coefficients from Topp’s relationship. Ground-penetrating-radar-derived values of soil moisture were then compared with measurements from eight capacitance probes. The second technique is based on the Rayleigh scattering of the signal from the Fresnel theory, wherein the shifts of the peaks of frequency spectra are assumed comprehensive indi¬cators for characterizing the spatial variability of moisture. Both ground-penetrating radar methods have shown great promise for mapping the spatial variability of soil moisture at the large scale

ONE-POT ENZIMATIC DEPOLYMERIZATION OF CELLULOSE IN IONIC LIQUIDS

Green alternatives to fossil-based fuels are very attractive and can be produced from cellulosic materials. Cellulose is the primary product of photosynthesis in plants and has immense importance as a renewable raw material. The production of biofuels starting from cellulose is gaining increasing attention and obviously implies the partial or total hydrolysis of cellulose: enzymatic processes are considered the most promising technology [1]. Cellulases (EC 3.2.1.4) are the enzymes most commonly employed to selectively depolymerize cellulose in buffered aqueous solvents. Because of the very low solubility of cellulose due to its highly organized structure, enzymatic conversions proceed at very slow reaction rates and require the dissolution in a solvent to facilitate the access of cellulases to cellulosic substrates. To improve the yield of fermentable monosaccharides, pretreatments of cellulose, such as thermal, chemical or physical treatment, have been applied to afford a better enzymatic conversion [2]. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been increasingly recognized as excellent solvents for dissolution and pretreatment of cellulose but it was previously reported that ILs induce usually fast enzyme deactivation by protein unfolding [3]. In the present work we present a study on a single-batch, homogeneous phase enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose using three commercial ILs. We have tested two native proteins from Trichoderma reesei and Humicola insolens and two engineered proteins from T. reesei and Streptomyces sp.. In some cases ILs don’t denature the cellulases used but increase their operational stability as compared to standard buffer solutions and facilitate the dissolution of cellulose. Interestingly, the stability of the four cellulases in the presence of the ILs allows to set-up a procedure lacking of the cellulose pretreatment step. We believe that this strategy could be amenable of scale-up and innovative industrial applications for the efficient one-batch conversion of inexpensive cellulosic materials into derivatives (biofuels, derivatized cellulose, monosaccharides for fine chemicals, etc.) with high potential commercial interest and in the framework of environmentally friendly chemistry. References [1] A.P. dadi, S. Varanasi, C.A. Schall. Biotechnol Bioeng, 95(5), 904-910, (2006). [2] M.B. Turner, S.K. Spear, J.G. Huddleston, J.D. Holbrey, R.D. Rogers. Green Chem, 5(4), 443-447, (2003). [3] S.D. Zhu, Y.X. Wu, Q.M. Chen, C. Wang, S. Jin, Y. Ding, G. Wu, Green Chem, 8, 325-327, (2006)

Lipid requirements in the nutrition of dairy ewes

The aim of this review was to contribute to the knowledge of lipid requirements in dairy ewes, by reviewing experi- mental papers about lipid supplementation in dairy ewe feeding. The number of trials in ewe feeding is lower than that in dairy cow feeding and, leaving calcium soap of palm oil out of consideration, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the effects of protected and unprotected lipid sources on milk yield and quality from dairy ewes. On the basis of data reported in the literature, the optimal dose of calcium soap of palm oil resulted to be 100-120 g/d. Also, milk fatty acid composition may be improved by adding calcium soap of fatty acids to ewe diets. The general effect of calcium salt sup- plementation is an increase in milk unsaturated fatty acids and a decrease in saturated ones. However, more research is needed in order to explain the effect of different fat sources (protected and unprotected) on milk yield and quality from dairy ewes

The omics era: what can nuclear magnetic resonance tell us on metabolomics?

A brief overview of the potentiality and use of the metabolic fingerprint of a system or biological process is here proposed. The information on the type, quantity and variation of the pool of metabolites and its relationship with a given biological process is commonly referred to as metabolomics. One powerful analytical approach to the detection and quantitation of metabolites is by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR). Additionally, the recently introduced High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) NMR approach improved dramatically the potentiality of the method allowing direct sampling of ex vivo specimens, such as tissues and cells, without any pre-treatment or extraction steps. The NMR data can be processed towards the target or non-target analysis of the metabolites. The former passes through the identification of all the metabolites, the latter adopts a multivariate statistical approach such as Principal Components Analysis. In this article, the main methodological points of NMR analysis with multivariate statistics are briefly outlined and discussed. A final case-study on the discrimination of healthy and neoplastic tissues via HR-MAS NMR metabolomics is reported as a paradigmatic application

Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) and Non Structural Carbohydrate (NSC) requirements in the nutrition of dairy ewes

The aim of this review was to contribute to the knowledge of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and non structural carbo- hydrate (NSC) requirements in the nutrition of dairy ewes. NDF and NSC requirements were evaluated by analysing a dataset that involved 30 experimental trials carried out from 1985 to 2003. The dataset included chemical composition of the experimental diets, individual milk yield, body weight, milk protein and fat content. These selected papers regard 10 different dairy ewe breeds (Valle del Belice, Bergamasca, Comisana, Delle Langhe, Massese, Sarda, Chios, Manchega, Lacaune and Friesian) and lactating ewes in mid lactation, kept under non homogeneous environmental and feeding conditions. Results substantially confirmed that which was recently reported in literature: NDF requirements are higher in late lactation than during early lactation and they vary between 33-38% on DM, while NSC requirements are higher during early lactation than in late lactation when the energy from NSC promotes an increase in fat deposits

A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Stereodynamics of Monoaza[5]helicenes: Solvent-Induced Increase of the Enantiomerization Barrier in 1-Aza-[5]helicene

Helicenes and heterohelicenes are attractive compounds with great potential in materials sciences to be used in optoelectronics as ligand backbones in enantioselective catalysis and as chiral sensors.[1] Synthetic protocols were developed to obtain helicenes with skeletons consisting of ortho-fused benzene rings or analogue structures incorporating a heteroatom, as in thiophene-, furane-, or pyridine-containing helicenes.[2] In recent years, a repertoire of synthetic strategies was developed to access all monoaza[5]helicenes as well as some diaza[ 5]helicenes.[3] The properties of these materials are related to the stereodynamics of these helical chiral compounds. By exploration of the unexpected broad range of physicochemical properties of aza[n]helicenes it was realized that there is an opportunity to modulate a specific property by controlled design of the position of the N atoms in the helical molecular frame. In this contribution, we show a complete stereodynamic characterization of monoaza[5]-helicenes combining enantioselective dynamic HPLC and DFT calculations. At variance with previous theoretical calculations[4], 1-aza[5]helicene shows a surprisingly high enantiomerization barrier, which is triggered by specific solvent interactions. [5] References [1] a) H. A. Staab, M. A. Zirnstein, C. Krieger, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1989, 28, 86–88; Angew. Chem. 1989, 101, 73– 75;b) T. R. Kelly, Acc. Chem. Res. 2001, 34, 514 –522; c) T. J. Wigglesworth, D. Sud, T. B. Norsten, V. S. Lekhi, N. R. Branda, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 7272 – 7273; d) L. Vyklicky´, S. H. Eichhorn, T. J. Katz, Chem. Mater. 2003, 15, 3594 –3601; e) M. Gingras, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013, 42, 1051– 1095. [2] a) M. Gingras, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013, 42, 968–1006; b) M. Gingras, G. F_lix, R. Peresutti, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013, 42, 1007 –1050; c) Y. Shen, C.-F. Chen, Chem. Rev. 2012, 112, 1463– 1535. [3] a) C. Bazzini, S. Brovelli, T. Caronna, C. Gambarotti, M. Giannone, P. Macchi, F. Meinardi, A. Mele, W. Panzeri, F. Recupero, A. Sironi, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2005, 1247 – 1257; b) S. Abbate, C. Bazzini, T. Caronna, F. Fontana, C. Gambarotti, F. Gangemi, G. Longhi, A. Mele, I. Natali Sora, W. Panzeri, Tetrahedron 2006, 62,139 –148; c) T. Caronna, F. Fontana, A. Mele, I. Natali Sora, W. Panzeri, L. Vigan_, Synthesis 2008, 413– 416; d) T. Caronna, S. Gabbiadini, A. Mele, F. Recupero, Helv. Chim. Acta 2002, 85, 1 –8; e) T. Caronna, F. Castiglione, F. Fontana, D. Mendola, I. Natali Sora, Molecules 2012, 17, 463 –479. [4] S. Abbate, C. Bazzini, T. Caronna, F. Fontana, F. Gangemi, F. Lebon, G. Longhi, A. Mele, I. Natali Sora, Inorg. Chim. Acta 2007, 360, 908 –912. [5] T. Caronna, A. Mele, A. Famulari, D. Mendola, F. Fontana, M. Juza, M. Kamuf, K. Zawatzky, and O. Trapp, Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 1–7

Fatty acids composition of Colonnata Lard from two different swine breeds

The study compares the fatty acid composition of the Colonnata lard obtained from two different swine breeds, Large White (LW) and Cinta Senese (CS), during a one year long curing period. Samples of backfat were obtained from the carcass of three animals per breed and disposed into six different marble boxes according to the procedure of the disciplinary production of PGI "Lardo di Colonnata". During curing period individual lard samples were collected monthly from each marble box. The fatty acid composition of pig backfat reflected the differences in the dietary regimen and in the rearing system of the two breeds. LW swine, in fact, were fed a commercial concentrate and reared in an intensive system, whereas CS swine were fed a diet composed by a commercial concentrate supplemented with acorn and reared in an outdoor system. Lard from LW contained higher amount of saturated fatty acids than lard from CS, whereas the content of unsaturated fatty acids (mainly monounsaturated fatty acids) was lower. During the curing period the trend of lard fatty acids composition was different in the two breeds: the lard from CS seemed to be more susceptible to a faster hydrolysis of fatty acids than lard from LW, especially for the monounsaturated fatty acids, while the lard from LW seemed to be more susceptible to a faster hydrolysis of PUFA n-3

Histological Characteristics, Fatty Acid Composition of Lipid Fractions, and Cholesterol Content of Semimembranosus and Triceps Brachii Muscles in Maremmana and Limousine Bovine Breeds

This study examined the histological properties of Semimembranosus and Triceps brachii muscle in two different bovine breeds, Maremmana (an autochthonous breed from Tuscany, Italy) and Limousine. The animals were grazed in two adjoining pastures, received the same feed supplementation and were weighed monthly. The experimental period lasted from weaning (six months old) to slaughter (19 months old). Muscle samples were collected immediately after slaughter, before carcass cooling. Regarding the histological properties, the number of fibres (TNF), mean sarcolemma perimeter (MSP), cross section area (CSA), and total sarcolemma perimeter (TSP) were determined. Samples were also analysed for proximate composition, fatty acid profile of total lipids, phospholipids and neutral lipids and for total cholesterol content. Breed was a significant variation factor for the performance parameter and histological muscle fibre properties. Interestingly, despite that Maremmana being a less extensively genetically improved breed than Limousine, it showed higher weight at slaughter (+18%) and daily weight gain (+19%). Maremmana also showed smaller muscle fibres than Limousine and, consequently, the TSP was higher. This difference affected the lipid fraction distribution (Limousine was higher in phospholipids and lower in neutral lipids than Maremmana) and, consequently, the fatty acid composition of total lipids (Limousine was high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, while Maremmana was high in monounsaturated fatty acids). The results of this experiment highlight the importance of environmental and management conditions on the full expression of genotypic potentia

Clostebol acetate

The title compound, C21H29ClO3 [systematic name (8R,9S,10R,13S,14S,17S)-4-chloro-3-oxoandrost-4-en-17β-yl acetate], is a 4-chloro derivative of testosterone, used as an anabolic androgenic agent or applied topically in ophthalmological and dermatological treatments. The absolute configurations at positions 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 and 17 were established by refinement of the Flack parameter as R, S, R, S, S, and S, respectively. Rings B and C of the steroid ring system adopt chair conformations, ring A has a half-chair conformation, while ring D is in a C13 envelope conformation. Ring B and C, and C and D are trans fused. In the crystal, molecules are linked by a weak C—H⋯O interaction