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The missing process hygiene criteria in the game meat chain: challenges in wild boar meat production
No full textWild boars are one of the most common large wild mammals globally. Their remarkable adaptive capacity and ecological plasticity, as well as human-related factors enable them to achieve high population densities, result in significant environmental, economic, social, and public health challenges. This human-wild boar conflict underscores the need for effective management strategies. Hunting is the most effective control method; it has increased culling rates and meat yields, presenting an opportunity to develop a game meat supply chain with numerous potential benefits. However, wild boars are reservoirs of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, while the hunting process itself involves variables that can affect carcass contamination. Despite these risks, process hygiene criteria for game meat are not currently defined in Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.
This study aimed to evaluate the hygiene criteria set for carcasses of livestock species, i.e. Aerobic Colony Count (ACC), Enterobacteriaceae Count (EntC), and Salmonella, in wild boars hunted in Emilia-Romagna region (Italy). Furthermore, it included Escherichia coli as a hygiene indicator by assessing its prevalence, ESβL and carbapenemen- resistance, and pathotype profiles.
During the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 hunting seasons, a total of 115 sponge samples from wild boar carcasses and 78 diaphragm muscle samples from a proportion of the same animals were collected across eight game-handling establishments (GHEs). Biometric data of the wild boars, along with hunting process variables, including the killing methods, the time between killing, evisceration, and skinning, as well as the carcass storage temperatures, were recorded.
The mean values of ACC and EntC were 4.22 log₁₀ CFU/cm² and 2.27 log₁₀ CFU/cm², respectively. The prevalence of Salmonella was 3.48%, with isolates identified as Salmonella Coeln, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Salmonella diarizonae O:50 (z). Resistance in Salmonella was detected only against sulfamethoxazole in one Salmonella diarizonae O:50 (z) isolate. Hunting-related factors included the different GHEs, and the time between killing, evisceration, and skinning significantly influenced carcass contamination. The prevalence of E. coli was 97.43%. No resistance to third-generation cephalosporins or carbapenem was observed. Concerning, E. coli pathotypes, 3.33% were classified as atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC), 3.33% as enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), and 93.3% as atypical enteroaggregative E. coli (aEAEC). Even in absence of criteria for wild game species, the overall values for ACC, EntC, and the prevalence of Salmonella could be deemed “acceptable” within the Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005. Nevertheless, the results of the study emphasize that the interval between killing and evisceration should ideally be kept under 3 hours, with evisceration to skinning not exceeding 10 hours. Completing the entire process within 4 hours, however, is preferable. Furthermore, our results confirm that wild boars serve as reservoirs for pathogens such as Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli. This study underscores the need for standardized microbiological hygiene criteria at the EU level for game meat, as well as integrated control measures throughout the hunting process
Sustainable Bioprocesses for the Technological Enhancement of Sorghum Flour: Applications in Wheat-Sorghum Composite Bread
No full textThis Ph.D. thesis investigates the molecular and techno-functional changes in sorghum flour induced by bioprocessing, with a particular focus on breadmaking applications. The first research phase examines the molecular modifications in sorghum flour through sprouting and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation, emphasizing the effects on protein and starch fractions and their contribution to flour functionality. These insights lay the groundwork for incorporating sorghum into composite formulations. The second phase explores the impact of LAB-fermented sorghum flour on the quality parameters of wheat-sorghum composite doughs and breads, highlighting how bioprocessing can be strategically utilized to optimize dough properties and improve bread sensory properties, crumb structure, and flavor. The third phase addresses bread staling dynamics—a critical quality factor influencing shelf life and consumer acceptance. This section evaluates wheat-sorghum breads formulated with untreated and LAB-fermented sorghum flour, analyzing the roles of fresh and freeze-dried fermented sorghum in modulating water mobility, starch retrogradation, and texture during storage. By elucidating sorghum’s transformations across molecular and techno-functional levels, this Ph.D. thesis offers a foundational perspective on the potential of bioprocessed sorghum for sustainable food production. Moreover, these findings highlight the role of bioprocessed sorghum in facilitating the integration of climate-resilient crops into Western diets
Isolation, differentiation and characterization of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from adipose tissue obtained during ovariohysterectomy (OHE) and orchiectomy(BO) of pet rabbits
No full textLe cellule stromali mesenchimali (MSC) rappresentano una delle frontiere più promettenti della medicina rigenerativa contemporanea, grazie alla loro capacità di auto-rinnovamento e differenziazione verso diversi fenotipi cellulari specializzati. Nel contesto della medicina veterinaria, l'interesse nei confronti di queste cellule è cresciuto esponenzialmente negli ultimi anni grazie alle loro potenziali applicazioni terapeutiche, ad esempio, nel trattamento di patologie muscolo-scheletriche, lesioni tissutali, patologie degenerative, processi infiammatori cronici e patologie autoimmuni negli animali da compagnia.
Il tessuto adiposo si è affermato come una delle fonti più accessibili e ricche di MSCs, offrendo numerosi vantaggi rispetto ad altre fonti cellulari: facilità di prelievo, abbondanza del materiale biologico, procedura minimamente invasiva per la raccolta ed elevata resa cellulare.
Sebbene il coniglio sia un animale spesso considerato nell’ambito della ricerca scientifica come animale sperimentale, la letteratura disponibile relativamente al coniglio pet (o coniglio da compagnia) è sostanzialmente assente riguardo la possibilità di isolare MSCs. Il presente lavoro di tesi si pone l’obiettivo di chiarire quale distretto anatomico rappresenti la fonte ottimale per la raccolta di tessuto adiposo per l'isolamento di queste cellule nel coniglio pet.
Lo studio si è proposto di confrontare tre diverse sedi anatomiche di tessuto adiposo prelevato durante interventi di ovarioisterectomia (OHE) nella coniglia da compagnia, con l'obiettivo di identificare quale tra il tessuto adiposo derivante dalla mesosalpinge (CMES), peri-ovarico (COV) e peri-viscerale (CVI) fosse più idoneo per l'implementazione di future terapie cellulari. L'obiettivo secondario ha riguardato la valutazione dell'eventuale influenza del sesso e dell’età sul potenziale di isolamento delle MSCs, investigando la possibilità di utilizzare tessuto adiposo peri- testicolare (CTES) nei soggetti maschili sottoposti ad intervento di castrazione (BO).
Lo studio è stato condotto implementando protocolli consolidati e validati dalla letteratura scientifica internazionale, adattandoli alla specie in oggetto. I tessuti adiposi sono stati prelevati durante interventi chirurgici di sterilizzazione di routine, su conigli da compagnia, garantendo il rispetto dei principi etici e del benessere animale.
Il protocollo sperimentale ha previsto diverse fasi sequenziali. Per l’isolamento cellulare, i campioni di tessuto adiposo, provenienti dalle tre sedi anatomiche nel caso della femmina e dall’unica sede nel caso del maschio, sono stati processati mediante digestione enzimatica standardizzata al fine di ottenere popolazioni cellulari in sospensione. Allo scopo di valutare le capacità di espansione in vitro delle MSCs sono state implementate curve di crescita da P1 a P7. Le cellule hanno dimostrato di mantenere una capacità replicativa costante sino al P5, con un graduale decremento a partire dal P6. La replicazione, misurata come Doubling Time (DT) è risultata più veloce rispetto alle MSCs di cane con un DT medio di 2,1 giorni nel caso della femmina e 1,9 giorni nel caso del maschio di coniglio, mentre il DT medio riportato per il cane è di circa 3,5 giorni.
I dati ottenuti dalle cellule isolate dalle tre sedi anatomiche sono stati confrontati statisticamente con l’obiettivo di identificare la fonte tissutale con la resa cellulare più elevata e le migliori caratteristiche funzionali.
I risultati ottenuti hanno fornito evidenze statisticamente significative riguardo alla superiorità del tessuto adiposo derivante dalla mesosalpinge, rispetto alle altre sedi anatomiche investigate. Questo distretto anatomico ha dimostrato una resa cellulare superiore, sia in termini quantitativi che qualitativi (capacità di mantenere attività replicativa maggiore nel tempo), con popolazioni di MSCs caratterizzate da elevata vitalità, capacità proliferativa e potenziale differenziativo. È anche stato valutato l’effetto dell’età sulla capacità di crescita cellulare, evidenziando una migliore proliferazione cellulare nel caso degli animali giovani (età <12 mesi).
La fenotipizzazione delle cellule derivate da mesosalpinge è avvenuta mediante lo studio dell’espressione genica attraverso la RT-PCR. La caratterizzazione fenotipica ha confermato l'identità mesenchimale delle cellule isolate in quanto le cellule esprimono CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 mentre non sono espressi CD34 e CD45.
È stata testata anche la capacità delle cellule isolate di differenziare verso le tre linee cellulari caratteristiche delle MSCs: osteoblasti, adipociti e condroblasti, mediante l'utilizzo di medium di induzione specifici e successive analisi istochimiche. I saggi di differenziamento hanno dimostrato che le MSCs isolate mantengono un potenziale differenziativo verso la linea osteogenica ed adipogenica.
Un risultato di particolare rilevanza clinica ha riguardato la dimostrazione dell'assenza di limitazioni legate al sesso. L’analisi del tessuto adiposo testicolare prelevato dai soggetti maschi ha evidenziato caratteristiche sovrapponibili a quelle ottenute da tessuto prelevato dalle femmine, confermando la possibilità di implementare protocolli terapeutici indipendentemente dal sesso dell'animale.
I risultati di questo studio aprono prospettive concrete per lo sviluppo di protocolli di medicina rigenerativa nei confronti di una specie la cui diffusione come animale da compagnia è seconda solo a cane e gatto. L'identificazione del mesosalpinge come fonte ottimale di MSCs è particolarmente significativa, considerando che questo tessuto è facilmente accessibile durante gli interventi di sterilizzazione di routine, una procedure chirurgica comunemente eseguite nella pratica clinica veterinaria e frequentemente impiegata in questa specie.
La possibilità di utilizzare materiale biologico altrimenti destinato allo smaltimento per l’isolamento delle MSCs trasforma questi interventi in opportunità per la creazione di "banche" di cellule staminali autologhe, utilizzabili per future applicazioni terapeutiche nello stesso paziente o, previa caratterizzazione immunologica, in soggetti compatibili.
L'eliminazione del bias di genere rappresenta un ulteriore vantaggio pratico, estendendo l'applicabilità di queste tecniche a tutta la popolazione di conigli pet, indipendentemente dal sesso. Sul piano applicativo, i risultati aprono la strada allo sviluppo di protocolli clinici standardizzati per il trattamento di patologie ortopediche, lesioni cutanee, processi infiammatori cronici e patologie degenerative nei conigli da compagnia. Particolare interesse riveste la potenziale applicazione nel trattamento delle patologie articolari degenerative, molto comuni nei conigli domestici anziani, nel trattamento di lesioni cutanee, anch’esse molto frequenti, e nella terapie di patologie infiammatorie fortemente invalidanti, come gli ascessi dentali.Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represent a promising frontier in contemporary regenerative medicine due to their capacity for self-renewal and the potential to differentiate into various specialized cell phenotypes. In the domain of veterinary medicine, there has been a marked increase in the interest in these cells in recent years, largely attributable to their potential therapeutic applications. These applications include the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, tissue injuries, degenerative diseases, chronic inflammatory processes, and autoimmune diseases in companion animals.
Adipose tissue has been identified as a significant source of MSCs, offering numerous advantages over other cell sources, including ease of collection, abundance of biological material, minimally invasive procedure, and high cell yield.
Despite the prevalence of rabbits in scientific research as experimental animals, there is a paucity of literature on pet rabbits (or companion rabbits) regarding the isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The central objective of this thesis is to elucidate the most suitable anatomical location from which to obtain adipose tissue for the isolation of these cells in pet rabbits.
The objective of the present study was to make a comparison between three different anatomical sites of adipose tissue collected during ovariohysterectomy (OHE) in pet rabbits. The aim was to identify which of the adipose tissue derived from the mesosalpinx (CMES), periovarian (COV), and perivisceral (CVI) adipose tissue was most suitable for the implementation of future cell therapies.
The secondary objective was to evaluate the possible influence of sex and age on the potential for MSC isolation, also investigating the possibility of using peri-testicular adipose tissue (CTES) in male subjects undergoing castration (BO).
The study was conducted in accordance with protocols established and validated by international scientific literature, with the necessary adaptations being made to the species in question. Adipose tissue samples were collected during routine sterilization surgery on domestic rabbits, in accordance with the principles of animal welfare and ethical conduct.
The experimental protocol comprised multiple sequential phases. For the purpose of cell isolation, adipose tissue samples from three anatomical sites in females and a single site in males were processed using a standardized enzymatic digestion method to obtain cell populations in suspension. To evaluate the in vitro expansion capabilities of MSCs, growth curves from P1 to P7 were implemented. The cells exhibited the capacity to sustain a constant replicative capacity up to P5, with a gradual decline commencing from P6. Replication, measured as doubling time (DT), was faster than in dog MSCs, with an average DT of 2.1 days in females and 1.9 days in male rabbits, while the average DT reported for dogs is approximately 3.5 days.
The data obtained from the cells isolated from the three anatomical sites were statistically compared with the aim of identifying the tissue source with the highest cell yield and the best functional characteristics.
The results obtained provided statistically significant evidence of the superiority of adipose tissue derived from the mesosalpinx compared to the other anatomical sites investigated. This anatomical site exhibited superior cell yield, both in quantitative and qualitative terms (i.e. the ability to maintain greater replicative activity over time). MSC populations were characterized by high vitality, proliferative capacity, and differentiation potential. The effect of age on cell growth capacity was also evaluated, with the results highlighting better cell proliferation in young animals (age <12 months).
The phenotyping of mesosalpinx-derived cells was performed by studying gene expression through RT-PCR. Phenotypic characterization confirmed the mesenchymal identity of the isolated cells, as the cells express CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105, while CD34 and CD45 are not expressed.
The capacity of the isolated cells to differentiate into the three cell lines that are characteristic of MSCs (osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondroblasts) was also examined using specific induction media and subsequent histochemical analyses. As demonstrated by differentiation assays, the isolated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibited the capacity to differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages.
A clinically relevant result concerned the demonstration of the absence of gender-related limitations. A thorough analysis of testicular adipose tissue samples obtained from male subjects revealed characteristics analogous to those observed in tissue samples from female subjects. This finding serves to substantiate the hypothesis that the implementation of therapeutic protocols is independent of the animal's gender.
The results of this study offer concrete prospects for the development of regenerative medicine protocols for a species that is second only to dogs and cats in terms of popularity as a pet. The identification of the mesosalpinx as an optimal source of MSCs is of particular significance, given that this tissue is readily accessible during routine sterilization procedures. Such procedures are commonly performed in veterinary clinical practice and are frequently used in this species.
The potential exists for the utilization of biological material that is otherwise destined for disposal for the isolation of MSCs, thereby transforming these procedures into opportunities for the creation of autologous stem cell 'banks'. These can then be used for future therapeutic applications in the same patient or, following immunological characterization, in compatible subjects.
The elimination of gender bias constitutes a further practical advantage, extending the applicability of these techniques to the entire domestic rabbit population, irrespective of sex.
In terms of application, the results pave the way for the development of standard clinical protocols for the treatment of orthopedic diseases, skin lesions, chronic inflammatory processes, and degenerative diseases in pet rabbits. Of particular interest is the potential application of this method in the treatment of degenerative joint diseases, which are prevalent in aged domestic rabbits, in the treatment of skin lesions, which are also common, and in the treatment of severely debilitating inflammatory diseases, such as dental abscesses
Segnalazione dell’errore e codifica pragmatica dell’informazione contestuale nella corteccia prefrontale ventrolaterale del macaco
No full textThe ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) plays a crucial role in encoding goal-directed behavior, yet its involvement in behavioral error processing remains underexplored, especially at the level of ensembles of neurons (Benozzo et al., 2021). While previous studies have shown that VLPFC neurons encode action instructions in a pragmatic format, linking stimuli to intended motor outcomes (Rozzi et al., 2023), it is still unclear whether this encoding persists in error trials and whether the VLPFC contributes to the neural detection of incorrect behavior. This study aims to address these questions by analyzing neurophysiological data from two rhesus monkeys performing a visuomotor Go/No-Go task. We investigated whether VLPFC populations encode contextual information in a manner consistent across correct and incorrect trials and whether distinct neural signatures allow for the discrimination of errors independently of motor output. Two types of action errors were considered: (1) Early Release (premature execution of the movement) and (2) No Execution (failure to initiate the required action). Despite limitations related to the low frequency of errors, our findings reveal that a subset of VLPFC neurons maintains pragmatic encoding during incorrect trials and that specific population dynamics reliably distinguish error trials, especially No Execution, from correct performance. Notably, in one monkey, No Execution errors were associated with prolonged metastable neural states, suggesting a slowdown in neural transitions during erroneous behavior. In contrast, Early Release errors preserved normal temporal dynamics, likely reflecting failures in inhibitory control rather than disrupted action selection. These results support the existence of mixed selectivity within the VLPFC, encompassing both pragmatic goal encoding and behavioral monitoring. This dual function may underlie the VLPFC’s contribution to flexible cognitive control, integrating action planning with real-time evaluation of behavioral outcomes. Further studies with broader datasets and more balanced task designs are needed to generalize these findings and clarify their role in adaptive behavior.
Sustainable methane synthesis enhancement in power-to-gas systems using adsorption technologies
No full textMaking industrial activities sustainable is necessary in order to curb current climate
alterations. In this regard, the energy sector is among the most critical ones, hence
its defossilization is crucial. One possibility for enabling the energy transition in the
immediate term is the production of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels to be used
as their replacement. This would allow machines and infrastructures currently in use
to remain unaltered. Synthetic methane, in particular, could be extremely attractive
as a natural gas substitute. Natural gas is widely used in multiple sectors and has
an extremely widespread network that can be easily used for the transmission and
distribution of a sustainable energy carrier such as synthetic methane.
By exploiting renewable electricity to produce hydrogen from water and by using
captured carbon dioxide, power-to-gas systems combine the two species through
catalytic methanation processes, enabling the production of synthetic methane in a
sustainable manner. In particular, the efficient implementation of the carbon dioxide
capture process and the methanation process is crucial. In fact, on the one hand, efficient
carbon dioxide capture allows minimizing climate-altering emissions while, on
the other hand, efficient methane synthesis allows obtaining a gas of adequate purity
to be distributed in the natural gas network. Since both processes deal with gas mixtures
of various types, both carbon dioxide capture and catalytic methane synthesis
could benefit from the use of adsorbent materials. Such materials, in fact, are capable
of selectively trapping a specific gas by adsorbing it onto the surface pores and then
separating it from the rest of the mixture that does not interact with the solid. The
trapped gas can, subsequently, be released by desorption.
However, for the effective application of adsorption technologies in power-to-gas
plants, there is the need to analyze in detail the behavior of the system in its entirety
and the interaction between the various components, in dynamic conditions. This
is necessary because the alternation between adsorption and desorption phases sets
the system in a permanent transient state. Accordingly, the purpose of this thesis is
to investigate aspects related to the dynamics of power-to-gas systems that include
adsorption technologies. In particular, this research will deal with aspects related to
adsorptive carbon dioxide capture and sorption-enhanced catalytic methanation, in
each case the process is considered in the perspective of power-to-gas systems.
The methodologies adopted for investigation include both the development of dynamic
mathematical models for simulation and experimental tests. Specifically, with
reference to carbon dioxide capture, the behavior of an adsorption bed with different
sources of carbon dioxide from post-combustion will be evaluated. In addition, the use
of hydrogen as a purge agent to assist desorption will be examined. The conversion
of the captured carbon dioxide and purge hydrogen into methane will be analyzed by
additionally including a catalytic methanation reactor in the system. Reference will
be made to the cyclic behavior of the system once the regime condition is reached.
With reference to sorption-enhnaced methanation, the response of the system will be
examined in response to transient partial load conditions. In addition, by analyzing
the operation two sorption-enhanced methanation reactors alternating between
the methane production and the bed regeneration phases, the importance of proper
drying of the catalytic bed to ensure adequate purity of the synthesized gas will be
evaluated
Analysis and assessment of vegetation's contribution to the prevention of risks associated with the triggering and development of rainfall induced shallow landslides (soil slips)
No full textIn recent decades, the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events have increased
significantly, a phenomenon closely linked to global climate change. These events,
exacerbated by rising global temperatures and increased atmospheric moisture capacity, play
a critical role in triggering shallow landslides in susceptible areas. Shallow landslides, often
involving the surface soil layer, can evolve into debris flows, posing substantial risks to
infrastructure, ecosystems, and human lives. The increasing vulnerability of previously stable
regions necessitates reevaluating hazard assessments and mitigation strategies to address
these evolving risks.
Vegetation emerges as a crucial factor in mitigating landslide susceptibility by
influencing soil's mechanical and hydraulic properties, such as cohesion, water retention, and
surface runoff. Eco-sustainable solutions involving vegetation offer a promising alternative
to conventional engineering approaches, which are often environmentally intrusive and
economically demanding. Understanding the complex interplay among rainfall, soil, and
vegetation is essential for developing effective land management strategies and climate
change adaptation measures.
This study will be structured into several sections, with the intent to: (i) investigate
historical landslide events and their possible causes; (ii) analyse the state of the art on
shallow landslide susceptibility and root reinforcement; (iii) assess the role of vegetation in
slope stability across species; (iv) develop predictive models to identify high-susceptibility
areas (LEP-AI and PIP-AI) and simulate landslide flow paths (GPE); (v) design eco-friendly
stabilization measures and create a fast geo-spatial platform for landslide management (XSLIP); (vi) study a real case application of the designed models on a wide area of EmiliaRomagna region;
Specifically, this research integrates physically-based models and advanced machine
learning techniques to enhance the understanding and prediction of rainfall-induced shallow
landslides, coupled with vegetation. Specifically, the Shallow Landslide Instability Predictor
(SLIP) model is employed for its balance between computational efficiency and accuracy,
while machine learning approaches, including neural networks and ensemble methods,
address the dynamic and non-linear nature of landslide processes. Two machine learning
model prototypes are developed: a rapid macro-scale model for filtering susceptible areas
based on rainfall events (LEP-AI) and a detailed micro-scale model for pixel-by-pixel slope stability assessment (PIP-AI). The first model, LEP-AI, shows fluctuating results at just a
sufficient level, but substantial improvements are needed. The second model, PIP-AI,
demonstrates high and consistent performance, which can be further refined when coupled
with a physically-based model such as SLIP. Both models exhibit excellent analysis timing,
with LEP-AI taking 0.06 seconds for the analysis of 40 municipalities, and PIP-AI taking 1.2
seconds for 4 municipalities with a 15x15 resolution.
By bridging classical soil mechanics and data-driven machine learning methodologies,
this research establishes a robust framework for landslide prediction and mitigation,
advancing the field's capacity to address climate-driven geohazards effectively
Frequenza e motivazioni per la macellazione speciale d’urgenza nei bovini dell’Italia settentrionale: approcci basati sull'intelligenza umana e sul machine learning (intelligenza artificiale)
No full textThe management and culling of cattle at the end of their productive life raise significant concerns regarding animal welfare. When an animal is injured, farmers face three possible options: to treat the animal, hoping for its recovery; to humanely euthanize it; or to proceed with an on-farm emergency slaughter (OFES), with the approval of an Official Veterinarian. Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 defines OFES as the emergency slaughter of domestic ungulates outside of a slaughterhouse, due to an “accident” that prevents their transport. In April 2022, the Italian Ministry of Health (Circular No. 13895 of April 5, 2022) provided an update regarding the interpretation of the term “accident”.
This study investigated the OFES cases sent to slaughterhouses of the Local Competent Authority (LCA) of Brescia from 2021 to 2023, focusing on occurrence and reasons for OFES, on cattle characteristics, and the findings collected during the post-mortem inspection.
Data were extracted from the electronic dataset of the LCA, with the reasons provided in free text format by the Official Veterinarians, categorized through both manual analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, including the Term Frequency – Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) method and supervised machine learning.
The analysis revealed a decrease in the OFES cases delivered to the slaughterhouses in Brescia, together with a change in the type of reason. Locomotion problems, such as fractures and acute injuries, accounted for 69.4% of OFES cases, increasing from 58.1% in 2021 to 78.9% in 2023. In contrast, cases of paresis or paralysis decreased from 19.4% to 8.2%, while those related to calving-related problems fell from 13.6% to 9.0%. AI tools demonstrated an ability to categorize OFES reasons with an agreement of 99.2% compared to manual interpretations. The analysis of post-mortem inspections revealed that 93.4% of OFES carcasses were suitable for human consumption, although the percentage of condemned carcasses increased from 5.2% in 2021 to 9.1% in 2023. Additionally, the portions of the carcass most frequently excluded from human consumption were the limbs and joints, representing 39.3% of exclusions, with an increase from 37.6% in 2021 to 44.9% in 2023.
The study highlighted the shift in the motivations for OFES that occurred in Northern Italian farms and sent to the slaughterhouses in Brescia, following updates provided by the Ministry of Health. This underscored the complexity of the issue and the need for further research to explore the management, economic, or other factors that may influence the occurrence and reasons for OFES. Furthermore, the potential use of advanced analysis through artificial intelligence could facilitate and enhance the interpretation of these data, contributing to improving interventions for the welfare of cattle.La gestione e la riforma dei bovini giunti al termine della loro carriera produttiva sollevano importanti preoccupazioni riguardo al benessere animale. Quando un animale è ferito o infortunato, gli allevatori si trovano di fronte a tre possibili opzioni: curarlo, sperando in una sua guarigione, sopprimerlo in modo umano mediante eutanasia, oppure procedere con una macellazione speciale d’urgenza (MSU) in allevamento, previa approvazione di un Veterinario Ufficiale. Il Regolamento (CE) n. 853/2004 definisce la MSU come la macellazione d’urgenza di ungulati domestici al di fuori di un macello, dovuta ad un “accident” che ne impedisce il trasporto. In aprile 2022, il Ministero della salute (Nota n. 13895 del 5 aprile 2022) ha fornito un aggiornamento riguardo all'interpretazione del termine “accident”.
Questo studio indaga i casi di MSU inviati ai macelli operanti sul territorio dell’Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS) di Brescia dal 2021 al 2023, focalizzandosi sulle motivazioni che hanno richiesto il ricorso alla MSU, sulle caratteristiche dei bovini interessati e sui rilievi raccolti durante l’ispezione post-mortem.
I dati sono stati estratti dal dataset elettronico dell’ATS, con le motivazioni fornite in formato testo libero dai Veterinari Ufficiali, categorizzate sia tramite analisi manuale che attraverso tecniche di intelligenza artificiale (AI), tra cui il metodo della Term Frequency – Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) e il machine learning supervisionato.
L’analisi ha evidenziato una diminuzione dei casi di MSU consegnati ai macelli dell’ATS di Brescia. I problemi locomotori, principalmente fratture e traumi acuti, hanno rappresentato il 69,4% dei casi di MSU, con un aumento dal 58,1% nel 2021 al 78,9% nel 2023. Al contrario, i casi generici di paresi o paralisi sono diminuiti dal 19,4% all’8,2%, mentre quelli legati al parto sono calati dal 13,6% al 9,0%. Gli strumenti di AI hanno dimostrato di essere in grado di categorizzare le motivazioni di MSU con un accordo del 99,2% rispetto alle interpretazioni manuali. L’analisi delle ispezioni post-mortem ha rivelato che il 93,4% delle carcasse MSU erano idonee al consumo umano, sebbene la percentuale di carcasse distrutte sia aumentata dal 5,2% nel 2021 al 9,1% nel 2023. Inoltre, le porzioni di carcassa maggiormente escluse dal consumo umano erano gli arti e le articolazioni, rappresentando il 39,3% delle esclusioni, con un incremento dal 37,6% nel 2021 al 44,9% nel 2023.
Lo studio ha evidenziato il cambiamento nelle motivazioni delle MSU avvenute negli allevamenti del Nord Italia e inviate ai macelli dell’ATS di Brescia, in seguito agli aggiornamenti forniti dalla nota del Ministero della salute. Questo ha messo in luce la complessità della tematica e la necessità di ulteriori ricerche per approfondire i fattori gestionali, economici o di altra natura che possono influenzare il ricorso alla MSU. Inoltre, l’eventuale utilizzo di analisi avanzate tramite intelligenza artificiale potrebbe facilitare e migliorare l’interpretazione di questi dati, contribuendo a potenziare gli interventi di miglioramento del benessere dei bovini
Scambiatoti Microscambiatori per l’industria farmaceutica e alimentare
No full textThe thesis aims to discuss the application and optimization of conventional and micro heat exchangers within the pharmaceutical and food industries, focusing on their critical roles in enhancing process efficiency and product quality. By examining traditional heat exchangers, which are integral to large-scale operations for maintaining consistent temperature control, and comparing them with advanced micro heat exchangers, which offer precision and compactness for smaller-scale or specialized processes. The research investigates how these technologies contribute to enhancing energy efficiency, regulatory compliance, and overall process optimization, providing insights into their design, operational performance, and potential for innovation in high-demand environments. Moreover, this thesis also offers valuable recommendations for the effective implementation of heat exchange systems to the specific needs of the pharmaceutical and food sectors.
Heat transfer enhancement is crucial in the food and pharmaceutical industries to enhance process efficiency, product quality, and energy savings. To improve the local convective heat transfer coefficient, this research introduces an inverse study approach using an experimental infrared camera to measure temperature data obtained within a corrugated pipe. Specifically, six pipes with different corrugation profiles were studied to investigate the effects of various designs, including helical, transversal, and cross-helical types, with pitch sizes of 16 mm and 32 mm. To evaluate their effect on heat transfer performance, the findings were examined and presented from both local and average viewpoints. The results indicate that pitch size and corrugation type/design play a significant role in enhancing the performance of the tested pipe. The result of this research in turbulent regime has shown that transversal corrugation generates the highest improvement in heat transfer performance. Consequently, the single helix solution is the preferred one in heat exchangers adopted in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and these helical corrugations are the easiest to manufacture. A merger solution between them is represented by the cross-helix profile. The cross-helix profile with the bigger pitch size performs better than all other corrugated pipes, especially in the low/intermediate Reynolds number range (i.e., 100-1000). The estimation process (for local heat transfer) proposed in this study employs the external surface temperature of the tube, acquired with an infrared thermal camera, as starting data for the inverse heat conduction problem inside the pipe wall region. The calculation of its Laplacian was finally achieved by a filtering technique applied to the infrared temperature acquisitions
Survival analysis of dogs with adrenal tumours
No full textLe neoplasie surrenaliche sono un reperto relativamente comune nel cane, spesso rilevate accidentalmente. Le opzioni di trattamento principali comprendono la rimozione chirurgica o la gestione medica/monitoraggio. La chirurgia è generalmente considerata il gold standard, ma la terapia medica viene spesso scelta quando l’intervento chirurgico risulta essere controindicato o non sostenibile economicamente. Tuttavia, studi comparativi esaustivi tra la terapia chirurgica e la terapia medica non sono ancora presenti. È stato condotto uno studio retrospettivo, longitudinale e multicentrico, il cui obiettivo era valutare e confrontare il tempo mediano di sopravvivenza (MST) nei cani con tumori surrenalici trattati chirurgicamente rispetto a quelli gestiti con terapia medica o monitoraggio clinico.
I dati sono stati raccolti da due Ospedali Didattici Veterinari di due Università distinte. Sono stati inclusi un totale di 97 cani sulla base dei criteri di inclusione. Di questi 97, 35 (36%) sono stati inclusi nel gruppo dei cani trattati chirurgicamente (SX) e 62 (63%) sono stati inclusi nel gruppo dei cani trattati non chirurgicamente (NS). Sono stati raccolti i dati relativi al segnalamento, al motivo della visita, alla data della prima visita, alla data in cui si è diagnosticata la neoformazione, al follow up, ai segni clinici, alle analisi delle urine, ai risultati della diagnostica per immagini (ecografia e tomografia computerizzata), alla citologia, all’istologia, ai test ormonali, all’esecuzione di un’eventuale intervento chirurgico e alla diagnosi finale.
Non sono state individuate differenze significative per quanto riguarda età, sesso e peso corporeo. È stata individuata una differenza significativa nelle dimensioni delle ghiandole adrenali tra i due gruppi, con i pazienti del gruppo NS con masse surrenaliche di dimensioni inferiori rispetto al gruppo SX. Nessuna differenza significativa nella sopravvivenza mediana tra il gruppo SX ed il gruppo NS, anche andando a considerare solo i cani del gruppo NS con masse surrenaliche > 2 cm.
In conclusione, cani che non possono essere sottoposti ad intervento chirurgico a causa di comorbidità o altre controindicazioni, possono comunque godere di una buona sopravvivenza grazie alla terapia medica, anche nel caso in cui la dimensione delle masse surrenaliche superi i 2 cm.Adrenal neoplasia is a common condition among dogs, which may be detected incidentally or due to clinical signs. The treatment choices are the surgical removal, considered the gold standard, and the medical treatment. The choice is based on the features of the adrenal tumour (AT) and on the general conditions of the dog, making the medical treatment a good option when surgery is not a suitable option. Studies that compare the two possible treatments are limited.
This retrospective, longitudinal, and multicentric study aimed to evaluate the median survival time (MST) between dogs treated surgically (SX group) and dogs treated medically or monitored (NS group). Data were collected from two different Veterinary Teaching Hospitals. They included signalment, reason for presentation, date of first evaluation, date of first detection of the mass, follow-up, clinical signs, urinalysis, diagnostic imaging results (ultrasound and computed tomography), cytology, histology, hormonal tests, eventual surgery, and final diagnosis.
A total of 97 dogs were finally included, meeting the inclusion criteria. Of these 97, 35 (36%) were included in the surgical group (SX) and 62 (63%) in the non-surgical group (NS). No statistical differences were found for sex, age, or body weight. A statistically significant difference was found in the dimension of ATs between the two groups, with the NS group having smaller ATs than the SX group. No significant difference in MST was found between the SX and NS groups, even when comparing dogs in the NS group with tumours >2 cm. In conclusion, dogs with ATs that did not undergo surgery due to comorbidities or other impediments can still have a chance of prolonged survival thanks to medical treatment, even if the AT is bigger than 2 cm
Bats: analysis of an ecological niche and research of Salmonella spp.
No full textI pipistrelli svolgono un ruolo cruciale negli ecosistemi, occupano una nicchia ecologica rilevante e sono riconosciuti come serbatoio di numerosi agenti patogeni zoonotici. La loro capacità di ospitare virus quali MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, Ebola virus e batteri come Salmonella spp., solleva preoccupazioni sulla trasmissione di patogeni zoonotici all’uomo.
Questo studio, condotto seguendo la norma ISO 6579:2002, ha analizzato la presenza di Salmonella spp. in 24 campioni fecali di pipistrelli Pipistrellus pipistrellus, una delle specie più diffuse in Europa, al fine di valutare il potenziale rischio zoonotico. Lo studio non ha identificato Salmonella spp. in nessuno dei campioni analizzati ma, dato l’esiguo numero di campioni, non è statisticamente possibile definire se la popolazione analizzata sia portatrice di Salmonella oppure no.
Nonostante ciò, i risultati dimostrano la presenza di Proteus spp., Pantoea spp., Klebsiella ornithinolytica, Photobacterium damselae, Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus spp., Serratia liquefaciens, Escherichia coli e diverse specie di Enterobacter.Bats play a crucial role in ecosystems, occupy a significant ecological niche, and are recognized as reservoirs of numerous zoonotic pathogens. Their ability to host viruses such as MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and Ebola virus, as well as bacteria like Salmonella spp., raises concerns about the transmission of zoonotic pathogens to humans.
This study, conducted following the ISO 6579:2002 standard, analyzed the presence of Salmonella spp. in 24 fecal samples of Pipistrellus pipistrellus, one of the most widespread bat species in Europe, to assess the potential zoonotic risk. The study did not identify Salmonella spp. in any of the analyzed samples. However, due to the limited number of samples, it is not statistically possible to determine whether the analyzed population carries Salmonella spp. or not.
Despite this, the results demonstrate the presence of Proteus spp., Pantoea spp., Klebsiella ornithinolytica, Photobacterium damselae, Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus spp., Serratia liquefaciens, Escherichia coli, and various species of Enterobacter