1,720,973 research outputs found
Meal composition and Tryptophan/Large Neutral Amino Acids plasmatic ratio in dog
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of meal composition on the plasmatic ratio between Tryptophan
(Trp) and 5 other large neutral amino acids (5LNAAs: isoleucine, leucine, valine, tyrosine, phenylalanine).
This study included 5 female Labrador Retrievers. Each dog received a meal of puffed rice, minced meat and olive
oil (M1) for a single day and then they received a meal of puffed rice and olive oil (M2), with no meat, for another
single day. A second meal was administered in the evening to balance the energy intake and both diets were isoenergetic.
Blood was collected right before the meal (t0) and after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 hours. Trp and phenylalanine concentrations
showed no significant difference between M1 and M2 samples. Isoleucine, leucine, valine and tyrosine
plasma concentrations were lower after M2. Due to the latter, Trp/5LNAAs ratio was higher after the meal with no
meat (M2) at all sampling times (except t0) and such trend reached a statistically significant difference at 2 (median:
0.206 versus 0.311), 4 (median: 0.217 versus 0.345) and 10 (median: 0.242 versus 0.289) hours after the meal.
These findings suggest that meal composition has a key role in the Trp bioavailability
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
First report of acanthocephalan Sphaerirostris lanceoides in a Eurasian badger (Meles meles) from Liguria (Italy)
No full textCoagulase negative staphylococci from ovine bulk-tank milk: Effects of the exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of disinfectants for teat-dipping
Full text linkTeat-dipping is one of the most effective methods to prevent mammary infections in ruminants, including sub-clinical mastitis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Improper disinfectant application could expose microorganisms to sub-inhibitory concentrations leading to phenotypic variations. In this study, 12 chlorhexidine-digluconate (CHDG)-tolerant (of which 4 qac positive) and 12 benzalkonium chloride (BC)-tolerant (of which 7 qac-positive) CoNS isolates from ovine milk were exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of CHDG and BC, respectively. Changes in disinfectant susceptibility against BC and CHDG, antibiotic resistance against 12 antibiotics and biofilm production were then assessed for both groups. After CHDG stress, 67 % and 83 % of the CHDG-stressed isolates doubled their MICs for BC and CHDG, respectively and 2 qac-negative isolates showed a four-fold increase of their MBCs for CHDG. After BC stress, MICs for BC and CHDG doubled in 58 % and 83 % of the BC-stressed isolates, respectively, while one qac-positive isolate increased four-fold the MIC for BC. Cross-resistance to antibiotics was assessed by disc diffusion method. Some qac-positive isolates varied their resistance profile, while a blaZ-positive isolate showed a resistant phenotype against ampicillin only after the exposure to the disinfectant. As for qac-positive isolates, one CHDG-stressed and 2 BC-stressed increased their resistance to kanamycin and cefoxitin, respectively. The Congo Red Agar test was carried out to assess the in vitro slime production: all isolates were negative after stress. In conclusion, sub-inhibitory exposure to disinfectants may affect disinfectant and antibiotic susceptibility, the latter in particular for qac-positive isolates and those hosting unexpressed antibiotic resistance genes
Effect of a Lactobacillus sakei and Staphylococcus xylosus protective culture on Listeria monocytogenes growth and quality traits of Italian fresh sausage (salsiccia) stored at abusive temperature
Full text linkFresh sausages are not always thoroughly cooked before consumption and can support the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, especially when stored at incorrect temperatures. The aim of this study was to verify the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Italian salsiccia stored at 2 °C, 7 °C and 12 °C for 9 days (t9) with (PC+) and without (PC–) a commercial protective culture (Lactobacillus sakei and Staphylococcus xylosus). L. monocytogenes PC + counts were statistically different from PC–, after 7 days (t7) at 7 °C and at 12 °C. At 2 °C, they increased in PC + by 0.03 and 0.36 log CFU/g vs. 0.25 and 0.91 in PC–, at t7 and t9. Moreover, quality characteristics (total aerobic counts, colour parameters, TBARS values, pH, sensory attributes) were assessed in fresh sausages stored at 7 °C. Significant differences were obtained in PC + samples at t7 for Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae (about 2 log CFU/g). Yeasts and moulds and Brochothrix thermosphacta were also significantly lower in PC + samples. PC + samples were more acidic than PC–, with statistically different colour parameters values particularly at the external surface; raw sausages resulted sensorially discernible at t7, whereas PC + and PC– cooked samples did not show any significant sensory difference. The studied protective culture proved to be a useful tool to increase safety and microbiological quality of salsiccia at abusive storage temperature, effectively limiting the growth of L. monocytogenes and Gram negative spoilage microorganisms, with some sensory drawbacks, especially at the end of the shelf life.HIGHLIGHTS The tested culture improves the microbial safety of salsiccia. It reduces the growth of spoilage microorganisms, especially Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. It mainly influences colour and acidity evolution of the raw product with no sensory drawbacks in the cooked product
Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of manuka essential oil against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus of food origin
No full textThe activity of manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) essential oil (EO) on biofilms of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus has been studied. Seven strains of L. monocytogenes and 7 of S. aureus (5 methicillin-resistant) were tested. EO minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), EO minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and biofilm production quantification were determined for each strain by microtiter methods. Moreover, EO Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC) and Minimum Biofilm Eradicating Concentration (MBEC) were determined on 2 L. monocytogenes and 3 S. aureus that showed the best biofilm production. Finally, on 4 strains out of 5 (2 L. monocytogenes and 2 S. aureus) EO Biofilm Reduction Percentage (BRP) vs. untreated controls was assessed after a treatment with EO subinhibitory concentrations. The chemical composition of manuka essential oil was determined by Gas Chromatography- Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry (GCEIMS). The manuka EO demonstrated good antimicrobial activity: L. monocytogenes MIC and MBC were 0.466 mg/ml and 0.933 mg/ml, respectively, whereas S. aureus MIC and MBC were 0.233 mg/ml and 0.466 mg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, L. monocytogenes showed a MBIC of 0.933 mg/ml and a MBEC in the range of 0.933–1.865 mg/ml, whereas S. aureus had a MBIC in the range of 7.461–14.922 mg/ml and a MBEC of 14.922 mg/ml. L. monocytogenes revealed no significant BRP after the treatment with manuka EO, whereas S. aureus showed a BRP higher than 50% with MIC/2 and MIC/4 EO concentrations. These results provide information for feasible manuka EO applications in food production systems
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