Metabolomic profiling of Fiore Sardo cheese: Investigation of the influence of thermal treatment and ripening time using univariate and multivariate classification techniques.

The effect of different sub-pasteurization heat treatments and different ripening times was investigated in this work. The metabolite profiles of 95 cheese samples were analyzed using GC-MS in order to determine the effects of thermal treatment (raw milk, 57 °C and 68 °C milk thermization) and ripening time (105 and 180 days). ANOVA test on GC-MS peaks complemented with false discovery rate correction was employed to identify the compounds whose levels significantly varied over different ripening times and thermal treatments. The univariate t-test classifier and Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) provided acceptable classification results, with an overall accuracy in cross-validation of 76% for the univariate model and 72% from the PLS-DA. The metabolites that mostly changed with ripening time were amino acids and one endocannabinoid (i.e., arachidonoyl amide), while compounds belonging to the classes of biogenic amines and saccharides resulted in being strongly affected by the thermization process.

The production of FAHFA is enhanced when Haematococcus pluvialis is grown in CO2.

Microalgae are considered as a potential source of bioactive compounds to be used in different fields including food and pharmaceutical industry. In this context, fatty acid esters of hydroxy-fatty acids (FAHFA) are emerging as a new class of compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. An existing gap in the field of algal research is the limited knowledge regarding the production of these compounds. Our research questions aimed to determine whether the microalga H. pluvialis can synthesize FAHFA and whether the production levels of these compounds are increased when cultivated in a CO2-rich environment. To answer these questions, we used a LC-QTOF/MS method for the characterization of FAHFA produced by H. pluvialis while an LC-MS/MS method was used for their quantitation. The cultivation conditions of H. pluvialis, which include the utilization of CO2, can result in a 10-50-fold increase in FAHFA production.

Cultivation of Chroococcidiopsis thermalis Using Available In Situ Resources to Sustain Life on Mars.

The cultivation of cyanobacteria by exploiting available in situ resources represents a possible way to supply food and oxygen to astronauts during long-term crewed missions on Mars. Here, we evaluated the possibility of cultivating the extremophile cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis thermalis CCALA 050 under operating conditions that should occur within a dome hosting a recently patented process to produce nutrients and oxygen on Mars. The medium adopted to cultivate this cyanobacterium, named Martian medium, was obtained using a mixture of regolith leachate and astronauts' urine simulants that would be available in situ resources whose exploitation could reduce the mission payload. The results demonstrated that C. thermalis can grow in such a medium. For producing high biomass, the best medium consisted of specific percentages (40%vol) of Martian medium and a standard medium (60%vol). Biomass produced in such a medium exhibits excellent antioxidant properties and contains significant amounts of pigments. Lipidomic analysis demonstrated that biomass contains strategic lipid classes able to help the astronauts facing the oxidative stress and inflammatory phenomena taking place on Mars. These characteristics suggest that this strain could serve as a valuable nutritional resource for astronauts.

Nanoparticles from Microalgae and Their Biomedical Applications.

Over the years, microalgae have been a source of useful compounds mainly used as food and dietary supplements. Recently, microalgae have been used as a source of metabolites that can participate in the synthesis of several nanoparticles through inexpensive and environmentally friendly routes alternative to chemical synthesis. Notably, the occurrence of global health threats focused attention on the microalgae application in the medicinal field. In this review, we report the influence of secondary metabolites from marine and freshwater microalgae and cyanobacteria on the synthesis of nanoparticles that were applied as therapeutics. In addition, the use of isolated compounds on the surface of nanoparticles to combat diseases has also been addressed. Although studies have proven the beneficial effect of high-value bioproducts on microalgae and their potential in medicine, there is still room for understanding their exact role in the human body and translating lab-based research into clinical trials.

Structural Elucidation of Relevant Gibberellic Acid Impurities and In Silico Investigation of Their Interaction with Soluble Gibberellin Receptor GID1.

Gibberellin derivatives are a family of tetracyclic diterpenoid plant hormones used in agriculture as plant growth regulators included in the European Directive 91/414. In the pesticide peer review process and to assess their toxicological relevance and product chemical equivalence, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) highlighted data gaps such as the identification of hydrolysis products and unknown impurities. The aspect of impurity characterization and quantitation is challenging and requires the use of hyphenated analytical techniques. In this regard, we used an LC-QTOF/MS and NMR analysis for the characterization of gibberellic acid impurities found in technical products. Gibberellic acid impurities such as gibberellin A1 (GA 1 ), 3-isolactone gibberellic acid (iso-GA 3 ), gibberellenic acid, 1α,2α-epoxygibberellin A3 (2-epoxy- GA 3 ), and (1α,2ß,3α,4bß,10ß)-2,3,7-trihydroxy-1-methyl-8-methylenegibb-4-ene-1,10-dicarboxylic acid were identified and successfully characterized. Moreover, an in silico investigation on selected gibberellic acid impurities and derivatives and their interactions with a gibberellin insensitive dwarf1 (GID1) receptor has been carried out by means of induced fit docking (IFD), generalized-Born surface area (MM-GBSA), and metadynamics (MTD) experiments. A direct HPLC method with DAD and MS for the detection of gibberellic acid and its impurities in a technical sample has been developed. Moreover, by means of the in silico characterization of the GID1 receptor-binding pocket, we investigated the receptor affinity of the selected gibberellins, identifying compounds (2) and (4) as the most promising hit to lead compounds.

Fipronil and Fipronil Sulfone Distribution in Chicken Feathers and Eggs after Oral and Dermal Exposure.

This work aimed to investigate the bio-distribution and the persistence of fipronil and its primary metabolite fipronil sulfone after oral and dermal administration by simulating natural farming conditions. Fipronil and fipronil sulfone detection and quantification were performed in different poultry matrices using an LC-MS/MS method coupled with modified QuEChERS extraction. After oral administration, fipronil was detected in feathers at each sampling time, in eggs for 28 days, and in the internal organs at the end of the experiment. After dermal administration, high levels of fipronil were detected in feathers, accounting for 195.85 ± 8.54 mg/kg, which were reduced by a third after 60 days. No traces of fipronil were detected in the eggs or internal organs. In addition, fipronil sulfone showed remarkable residues in all samples in trial 2. The data obtained confirmed that inappropriate use of unauthorized pesticides can lead to severe contamination of entire poultry farms. The contemporary presence of fipronil sulfone in feathers and eggs associated with the lack of fipronil in eggs suggests recent dermal contamination or past oral contamination. Moreover, simultaneous analysis of hens' feathers and eggs could represent a new method to improve large-scale monitoring programs and animal welfare, limiting their slaughter.

The potential of working hypotheses for deductive exploratory research.

While hypotheses frame explanatory studies and provide guidance for measurement and statistical tests, deductive, exploratory research does not have a framing device like the hypothesis. To this purpose, this article examines the landscape of deductive, exploratory research and offers the working hypothesis as a flexible, useful framework that can guide and bring coherence across the steps in the research process. The working hypothesis conceptual framework is introduced, placed in a philosophical context, defined, and applied to public administration and comparative public policy. Doing so, this article explains: the philosophical underpinning of exploratory, deductive research; how the working hypothesis informs the methodologies and evidence collection of deductive, explorative research; the nature of micro-conceptual frameworks for deductive exploratory research; and, how the working hypothesis informs data analysis when exploratory research is deductive.

The 2017 Italian reform on mandatory childhood vaccinations: Analysis of the policy process and early implementation.

BACKGROUND: The data on vaccination coverage for the year 2016 were a cause of concern for the Italian government. For some years, in fact, there has been a growing mistrust of vaccines in the Italy, and consequently vaccination coverage rates have been decreasing. The number of cases of measles has been particularly high. AIM: The purpose of this article is to examine the content and the preliminary outcomes of the Lorenzin Decree, which was passed in 2017. This reform embodies a 'hard' approach to the issue of childhood vaccinations, based on their mandatory nature and on the intensification of the sanctions against non-compliant subjects. RESULTS: The Lorenzin decree provides for an increase in mandatory infant vaccines from four to ten. Following the reform, unvaccinated children are denied access to nurseries and kindergartens. Parents who do not have their children vaccinated are liable to pay a financial penalty. Data on the preliminary outcomes of the reform show an increase in vaccination coverage. CONCLUSION: The Italian experience provides some policy recommendations, and could be a source of inspiration for European countries that are tackling vaccine hesitancy and declining vaccination coverage rates. At least for the short term, the 'hard' approach adopted by the Italian government is, in fact, bearing fruit, having reversed the negative trend in vaccination coverage rates.

Who governs in (local) governance? Theoretical considerations and empirical evidence / ¿Quién gobierna en la gobernanza (local)? Reflexiones teóricas y evidencias empíricas / Quem governa na governança (local)? Reflexões teóricas e evidências empíricas

Abstract This article aims to discuss the possible actors that can determine public policies, and the influence of new decisional arenas on politics. This theoretical work presents the evolution of different models of producing public policies, to the transformations taking place with the adoption of the governance model. Using empirical evidence from the Italian case, the study of new decisional arenas for the determination of public policies shows that there are still several problems to be addressed. Such problems are connected, above all, with the uncertain democratic nature of these arenas, as well as with the impossibility to clearly attribute political responsibility to the choices adopted in these spaces. These are issues and future research questions to be resolved, limiting the analysis to specific case studies, preferably related to the local sphere.

Resumen El objetivo de este artículo -de naturaleza teórica- es discutir los posibles actores que pueden determinar políticas públicas, así como la influencia que nuevos espacios decisorios ejercen con relación a la política. El artículo rescata desde la evolución de diferentes modelos de producción de políticas públicas hasta las transformaciones que están teniendo lugar con la adopción del modelo de gobernanza. Por medio de evidencias empíricas obtenidas a partir del caso italiano, el estudio de los nuevos espacios decisorios que influencian en la determinación de políticas públicas muestra que existen diversos problemas relacionados, sobre todo, la incertidumbre sobre la naturaleza democrática de esos espacios y la imposibilidad de atribuir, claramente, responsabilidad política por las decisiones tomadas. Esas son cuestiones y futuras preguntas de investigación que deben responderse y que limitan el análisis a estudios de caso específicos, relacionados preferentemente a la esfera local.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo — de natureza teórica — é discutir os possíveis atores que podem definir políticas públicas, bem como a influência que novas arenas decisórias exercem em relação à política. O artigo resgata a evolução de diferentes modelos de formulação de políticas públicas, até as transformações que vêm acontecendo com a adoção do modelo de governança. Por meio de evidências empíricas obtidas a partir do caso italiano, o estudo das novas arenas decisórias que influenciam na definição de políticas públicas mostra que existem diversos problemas relacionados, acima de tudo, com a incerteza sobre a natureza democrática dessas arenas e com a impossibilidade de claramente atribuir responsabilidade política pelas escolhas feitas. Essas são questões e futuras perguntas de pesquisa que devem ser respondidas e que limitam a análise a estudos de caso específicos, relacionados preferencialmente com a esfera local.