27 research outputs found
Effect of goji berry (Lycium barbarum) supplementation on reproductive performance of rabbit does
No full textGoji berry shows a wide range of beneficial properties in human health, but only a few studies evaluated its effects in livestock animals. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of goji berry supplementation on the hormonal profile, productive, and reproductive performance of does. Two months before artificial insemination, 105 nulliparous does were randomly divided into three groups (n = 35) based on the dietary treatment: commercial diet (C), or a diet supplemented with either 1% (G1), or 3% (G3) of goji berry, respectively. The results showed that receptivity was higher in G1 than in the C group (p < 0.05). Trends toward significance for differences between the G1 and G3 groups in marginal means of LH concentrations (p = 0.059), and between G1 and C in LH AUC values (p = 0.078), were evidenced. Estrogen concentrations showed a more fluctuating trend but a significant interaction effect (p < 0.001). The G1 group showed higher litter weight than C at birth (p = 0.008) and weaning (p < 0.001), as well as higher litter size at weaning (p = 0.020). The G1 group also exhibited the highest mean milk production (p < 0.01). In conclusion, goji berry influenced reproductive and productive performance, probably via modulating hormonal patterns and milk production in rabbits. However, further studies are needed to validate these preliminary results
Biomimetic Tendrils by Four Dimensional Printing Bimorph Springs with Torsion and Contraction Properties Based on Bio-Compatible Graphene/Silk Fibroin and Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate)
No full textTaking inspiration from plant tendril geometry, in this study, 4D bimorph coiled structures with an internal core of graphene nanoplatelets-modified regenerated silk and an external shell of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) are fabricated by 4D printing. Finite element simulations and experimental tests demonstrate that integrating these biomaterials with different coefficients of thermal expansion results in the temperature induced self-compression and torsion of the structure. The bimorph spring also exhibits reversible contractive actuation after exposure to water environment that paves its exploitation in regenerative medicine, since core materials also have been proven to be biocompatible. Finally, the authors validate their findings with experimental measurements using such springs for temperature-mediated lengthening of an artificial intestine
Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) supplementation during pregnancy influences insulin sensitivity in rabbit does but not in their offspring
No full textThis study investigated the effects of Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) dietary supplementation during pregnancy on insulin sensitivity of rabbit does and their offspring. Starting from two months before the artificial insemination, 75 New Zealand White does were fed only commercial standard diet (C) or supplemented with 1% (G1) and 3% (G3) of Goji berries. Their offspring received a standard diet but kept the nomenclature of the mother’s group. Fasting and intravenous glucose tolerance test-derived indices were estimated at 21 days of pregnancy on rabbit does and at 90 days of age on the offspring. No difference was found in the fasting indices, while the diet modulated the response to glucose load of rabbit does. In particular, G3 group had the lowest glucose concentrations 5 min after the bolus administration (p < 0.05) and, as a result, differed in the parameters calculated during the elimination phase such as the elimination rate constant (Kel ), the half-life of the exogenous glucose load (t1/2 ), and apparent volume of distribution (Vd; for all, p < 0.05). The high dose of Goji supplementation could thus enhance the first-phase glucose-induced insulin secretion. Findings on the offspring were inconsistent and therefore a long-term effect of Goji supplementation during pregnancy could not be demonstrated. Further study on the effect of Goji on the secretory pathway of insulin could clarify its hypoglycaemic action, while different protocols are needed to investigate its potential effects on foetal programming
"Il pipistrello dai mille colori" di Zélia Gattai: traduzione e commento delle scelte traduttive del racconto brasiliano di sensibilizzazione dell'infanzia verso il rispetto della natura
No full textAbstract in italiano
L’oggetto del presente elaborato è una proposta di traduzione dal portoghese all’italiano di un racconto della scrittrice brasiliana Zélia Gattai intitolato "Pipistrelo das mil cores". Il libro ha come fine quello di educare i più piccoli alla tutela della fauna e porre un freno alla crudeltà sugli animali. Questo progetto si divide in tre capitoli: nel primo vengono presentate l’autrice e l’opera, nel secondo la traduzione e, nell’ultimo, vengono commentate le scelte traduttive con particolare attenzione al tipo di pubblico cui il testo è rivolto.
Sinopse em português
O tema desta dissertação é uma proposta de tradução de português para italiano dum conto da literatura infantil brasileira cujo título é "Pipistrelo das mil cores" escrito por Zélia Gattai. O livro tem o fim de sensibilizar as crianças sobre a salvaguarda da fauna e de pôr fim aos maus tratos infligidos aos animais. Este estudo encontra-se dividido em três capítulos: no primeiro, é apresentada a autora e a obra, no segundo, a tradução e, no terceiro, analizam-se as opções tradutivas com especial atenção para o tipo de leitores aos quais o texto está endereçado.
Abstract in English
The aim of this dissertation is to translate a piece of Brazilian children’s literature published under the title of "Pipistrelo das mil cores" written by Zélia Gattai from Portuguese into Italian. The objective of the book is to raise awareness of wildlife conservation and of cruelty to animals. This study is divided into three chapters. The first one introduces the author and the book, the second one presents a translation proposal and the last one analyses the translating choices with particular attention to the target audience
Effects of Goji berries supplementation on the productive performance of rabbit
No full textRecognized by the traditional medicine and recent scientific research studies, Lycium barbarum berries (Goji berries) have beneficial effects on human and animal health. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of Goji berries on the productive performance of rabbits. One month before insemination, 60 New Zealand White does were randomly assigned to one of the following 3 dietary treatments: commercial standard diet (C); C supplemented with 1% Goji berries (LG); and C supplemented with 3% Goji berries (HG). After weaning up to 91 days of age, 15 randomly selected rabbits/group were fed the same diet as the mothers (C, LG, and HG). Nonpregnant and lactating does of C group showed the highest feed intake (P < 0.01), although no significant differences in body weight (BW) were observed between groups. Nutritional treatment did not affect the off-springs feed intake. However, the rabbits fed with Goji supplementation showed not only higher mean BW both during growth (P < 0.001) and at slaughter (P < 0.01), but also better feed conversion ratio (FCR; P < 0.01) than the control group. Rabbits of LG group showed the best performances in the pre-weaning period which was probably related to the highest milk production of the LG does (P < 0.001). Indeed, LG group showed lower pre-weaning mortality (P < 0.05), higher litter size (P < 0.05), and higher litter weight (P < 0.05) at day 18 as well as higher litter size at weaning (P = 0.05) compared to C group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that a low percentage of dietary supplementation with Goji berry improves both reproductive and productive traits of rabbits. Although further studies are needed, our study paves the way for the use of Goji berries in the rabbit nutrition
El órgano instructor del procedimiento administrativo en España y el responsable del procedimiento administrativo en Italia: un estudio comparado
No full textTesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Derecho, Departamento de Derecho Administrativo, leída el 11-12-2015La presente tesis de doctorado bajo el título «El órgano instructor del procedimiento administrativo en España y el responsable del procedimiento administrativo en Italia. Un estudio comparado sobre el procedimiento administrativo», se propone, como objetivo, comparar dos ordenamientos, el español y el italiano, para comprender si, y de qué manera, las normas que regulan los procedimientos administrativos en los dos países han contribuido a la transformación de las relaciones entre la Administración y los ciudadanos. En particular, la autora se ha detenido en el examen de uno de los institutos del procedimiento administrativo italiano que más que ningún otro ha contribuido a frenar el anonimato de los sujetos encargados de la gestión del procedimiento, evitando de esta manera que la Administración incurra de forma general en una irresponsabilidad de hecho, ya no resulta fácil para los interesados localizar los autores de las eventuales inercias u omisiones procedimentales. El trabajo se estructura en seis capítulos. El primero está dedicado a la primera Ley sobre procedimiento administrativo en España: la Ley de Bases de 1889. En efecto, si es indudable que en Italia la doctrina contaba con una larga tradición de estudios sobre el procedimiento administrativo, ya a partir de los principios del siglo XX (la primera obra que teoriza el procedimiento administrativo como concatenación de actos fue del jurista F. CAMMEO, Corso di diritto amministrativo, Padova, 1914), es igualmente indudable que la primacía legislativa en materia de elaboración de una ley sobre el procedimiento administrativo tiene que ser reconocida a España. La importancia de esta Ley reside en el hecho de que por primera vez el legislador quiso dictar reglas básicas comunes a todas las Administraciones Publicas sobre el procedimiento administrativo. Su pretensión era tan solo establecer las reglas a las que tuvieron que someterse los distintos Departamentos de la Administración Pública a la hora de dictar sus propios reglamentos sobre el procedimiento administrativo. La Ley quiso introducir reglas para organizar en modo más orgánico y eficiente la tramitación y resolución de los expedientes por la Administración Pública. Y aunque lejos de convertirse en principios generales, sin embargo representaron novedades para el derecho administrativo europeo y abrieron el camino al desarrollo – no solo en España sino también en Europa – de una legislación moderna sobre el procedimiento administrativo y conforme a lo que requiere un Estado de Derecho...The present doctoral thesis under the title "The examining authority responsible of the administrative procedure in Spain and civil servant head of the administrative procedure in Italy. A comparative study on the administrative procedure” aims at comparing two rankings, the Spanish and Italian, to understand whether and how the rules governing administrative procedures in both countries have contributed to the transformation of the relationships between public administration and citizens. In particular, the author reviews one of the institutes of the Italian administrative procedure that has (more than every other) helped curbing the anonymity of the subjects involved in the assessment procedure to ensure avoiding public administration in a general irresponsibility in fact, not turning at all easy for citizens to locate the perpetrators of any inertia or procedural omissions. The work is divided into six chapters, of which the first is dedicated to the first Law on Administrative Procedure in Spain: the basic law of 1889. In fact, if there is no doubt that in Italy the doctrine had a long tradition of studies on the administrative procedure since the early twentieth century (the first work was by the jurist F. CAMMEO, Corso di diritto amministrativo, Padova, 1914), is equally clear that the legislative primacy on administrative procedure has to be recognized to be in Spain. The importance of this law lies in the fact that for the first time the legislature intended to lay down common basic rules for all public administrations on the administrative procedure. His intention was just to set the rules that had to undergo the various departments of the Public Administration when issuing its own regulations on the administrative procedure. The law would introduce rules to organize in more organic and efficiently processing and resolution of cases by the Public Administration. Although far from becoming general principles, it however opened the way to development - not only in Spain but also in Europe – of a modern law on administrative procedure ...Depto. de Derecho AdministrativoFac. de DerechoTRUEunpu
Sphingomyelin in Human Breast Milk might be Essential for the Hippocampus Maturation
No full textBACKGROUND: It has been established that sphingomyelin present human breast milk is useful for the brain maturation and cognitive development. At 10 days of breastfeeding the sphingomyelin content is double that present in cow's milk and its content is independent of the maternal diet. The aim of the study was to analyze the content of sphingomyelin in breast milk at 3 months of breastfeeding and to consider the effect of this molecule on synaptic function and nerve conduction through the probable expansion of myelinated axons. METHODS: Therefore, to begin to define and assess this, we performed sphingolipidomic analysis in human breast milk. Then, we cultured embryonic hippocampal cells (HN9.10) in the presence of sphingomyelin at a concentration from 0.6% to 31% of human milk, estimated by considering its bioavailability and its passage into the interstitial fluid. To highlight the effect of sphingomyelin in the cells, cell viability and morphology were evaluated. Analyses of neutral sphingomyelinase gene and protein expression was performed. The entry of sphingomyelin into the cell was studied in immunofluorescence; the expression of heavy neurofilament (NF200) was tested with immunocytochemical technique. RESULTS: We demonstrated that sphingomyelin is able to enter cell nucleus and overexpress the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 4 (SMPD4) gene encoding for neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase), an enzyme useful for its own metabolism. Later, cells displayed changes of the soma and the appearance of neurites supported by NF200 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: We speculated that the sphingomyelin present in human breast milk is useful in part to regulate nuclear activity and in part to form myelin sheet to facilitate nerve cell maturation. As brain development occurs at 0-3 years, these data open a new avenue of potential intervention to integrate the infant formulas with SM to obtain a product similar to the maternal milk
Goji berries supplementation in the diet of rabbits and other livestock animals : a mini-review of the current knowledge
No full textIn the last decades, several nutraceutical substances have received great attention for their potential role in the prevention and treatment of different diseases as well as for their beneficial effects in promoting the health of humans and animals. Goji berries (GBs) are the fruit of Lycium barbarum and other species of Lycium, used in traditional Chinese medicine, and they have recently become very popular in the Occidental world because of their properties, such as anti-aging, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, cytoprotective, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. These effects are essentially evaluated in clinical trials in humans; in experimental animal models, such as mice and rats; and in cell lines in in vitro studies. Only recently has scientific research evaluated the effects of GBs diet supplementation in livestock animals, including rabbits. Although studies in the zootechnical field are still limited and the investigation of the GB mechanisms of action is in an early stage, the results are encouraging. This review includes a survey of the experimental trials that evaluated the effects of the GBs supplementation on reproductive and productive performances, immune system, metabolic homeostasis, and meat quality principally in the rabbit with also some references to other livestock animal species. Evidence supports the idea that GB supplementation could be used in rabbit breeding, although future studies should be conducted to establish the optimal dose to be administered and to assess the sustainability of the use of GBs in the diet of the rabbit
Different neuroprotective activities of proanthocyanidin-enriched fractions of Lotus species
No full textFlavonoid-rich Lotus species are promising sustainable sources of bioactive phytochemicals due to their adaptability, high biomass production, and symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium spp. Among flavonoids, many beneficial effects for human health, ranging from antioxidant activities to the inhibition of carcinogenesis, are attributed to proanthocyanidins (PAs). This study compared the neuroprotective properties of leaf extracts from PA-rich Lotus corniculatus (Lc), PA-depleted Lotus tenuis (Lt), and Lc × Lt interspecific hybrid (Lh2) with intermediate PA levels. Acetone-soluble and -insoluble fractions from Lc and Lh2 contained flavan-3-ols and PA oligomers, while Lt lacked these compounds. Neuroprotective assays in SH-SY5Y cells and Caenorhabditis elegans revealed that Lc and, although to a lesser extent, Lh2 extracts enhanced cell viability and reduced motoneuron degeneration, whereas Lt extracts exhibited cytotoxicity and did not induce motoneuron viability rescue in C. elegans. Further analysis confirmed that pure flavan-3-ols, which represent the main components of the acetone-soluble fraction in Lc and Lh2, and cyanidin, which derives from the hydrolysis of their insoluble fractions, significantly promoted neuronal survival, while the flavonol quercetin showed no protective effects. These findings highlight the neuroprotective potential of PA-rich Lotus spp. and suggest their application as novel sources of health-promoting phytochemical
Pilot study for the evaluation of safety profile of a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis
No full textBackground and aim of the work: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current pandemics of coronavirus disease. This virus is able to attack the cells of the airway epithelium by binding to the transmembrane angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). We developed an oral spray that could inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis. The spray contains hydroxytyrosol for its anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, and α-cyclodextrin for its ability to deplete sphingolipids, that form the lipid rafts where ACE2 localizes. The aim of the present pilot multi-centric open non-controlled observational study was to evaluate the safety profile of the "Endovir Stop" spray.
Methods: An MTT test was performed to evaluate cytotoxicity of the spray in two human cell lines. An oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay was performed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the spray. The spray was also tested on 87 healthy subjects on a voluntary basis.
Results: The MTT test revealed that the spray is not cytotoxic. The ORAC assay showed a good antioxidant capacity for the spray. Endovir Stop tested on healthy volunteers showed the total absence of side effects and drug interactions during the treatment.
Conclusions: We demonstrated that Endovir Stop spray is safe. The next step would be the administration of the efficacy of the spray by testing it to a wider range of people and see whether there is a reduced infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in the treated subjects than in the non-treated individuals
