A multitemporal series of aerial photos and cross-section topographic surveys have been used to analyze reach-scale channel evolution along a segment (length of about 22km) of the lower Trebbia River ...(Northern Italy) with the aims to investigate the relations between channel width vs. bed-level adjustments and to identify spatio-temporal patterns of stages of channel evolution. Dendrochronology was used to determine the age of tree establishment of riparian and island forests during channel evolution.
We identified a first phase of major adjustments (1954–1992) following a series of disturbances, dominated by channel narrowing and bed incision. During the final stage of narrowing, woody vegetation establishment contributed to stabilize new floodplain or island surfaces. A period of partial morphological recovery occurred from 1992 to 2010, dominated by an inversion of trend of channel width. During the phase of partial recovery, a stage of widening combined with a continuation of bed incision was identified, and a last stage characterized by widening and initial aggradation was observed on the central portion of the study reaches. Suitability and differences of existing channel evolution models (CEMs) derived in other geographical contexts were discussed, and a specific conceptual model comprising four stages of channel evolution was developed for the lower Trebbia River.
•Trajectories of change in channel width and bed elevation have been reconstructed.•Width vs. bed-level adjustments at reach-scale have been investigated.•Tree ring data allowed us to achieve additional information on channel evolution.•A conceptual model of channel evolution for Trebbia river has been proposed.
The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes.
The objectives of this retrospective observational ...study were to investigate the association between BCS at 21 d before calving with prepartum and postpartum DMI, energy balance (EB), and milk yield. Data from 427 multigravid cows from 11 different experiments conducted at the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) were used. Cows were classified according to their BCS at 21 d before calving as fat (BCS ≥ 4.00; n = 83), moderate (BCS = 3.25–3.75; n = 287), and thin (BCS ≤ 3.00; n = 57). Daily DMI from −21 to −1 and from +1 to +28 DIM was individually recorded. Energy balance was calculated as the difference between net energy for lactation consumed and required. Dry matter intake in fat cows was lower than that in moderate and thin cows both prepartum (fat = 9.97 ± 0.21, moderate = 11.15 ± 0.14, and thin = 11.92 ± 0.22 kg/d) and postpartum (fat = 14.35 ± 0.49, moderate = 15.47 ± 0.38, and thin = 16.09 ± 0.47 kg/d). Dry matter intake was also lower for moderate cows compared with thin cows prepartum, but not postpartum. Energy balance in fat cows was lower than in moderate and thin cows both prepartum (fat = −4.16 ± 0.61, moderate = −1.20 ± 0.56, and thin = 0.88 ± 0.62 Mcal/d) and postpartum (fat = −12.77 ± 0.50, moderate = −10.13 ± 0.29, and thin = −6.14 ± 0.51 Mcal/d). Energy balance was also lower for moderate cows compared with thin cows both prepartum and postpartum. There was a quadratic association between BCS at 21 d before calving and milk yield. Increasing BCS from 2.5 to 3.5 was associated with an increase in daily milk yield of 6.0 kg and 28 d cumulative milk of 147 kg. Increasing BCS from 3.5 to 4.5 was associated with a decrease in daily milk yield of 4.4 kg and 28 d cumulative milk of 116 kg. In summary, a moderate BCS at 21 d before calving was associated with intermediate DMI and EB pre- and postpartum but greater milk yield compared with thinner and fatter cows. Our findings indicate that a moderate BCS is ideal for ensuring a successful lactation.
Denudation processes affecting mountain slopes may vary according to different factors (e.g., lithology and structural setting of bedrock, climate, relief features), which may be very diverse at the ...local scale. Gully complex systems, characterised by morphological features similar to those developing in other climate contexts (i.e., pseudo-badlands) are also becoming common at higher altitudes and latitudes. The selected study cases of Gran Gorgia (Susa Valley) and Saint Nicolas (Aosta Valley), in the Western Italian Alps, are sites of geomorphological interest as they are specifically relevant for their scientific features. The aims of this work are (i) reconstructing the morphometric evolution of gully systems and vegetation colonisation time by means of multitemporal spatial analysis on surface morphological changes under water erosion; (ii) reconstructing in detail, through dendrogeomorphological analysis, the progressive spatial surface denudation and changes in erosion rates, by analysing trees and exposed roots and using different indicators (i.e., compression wood, traumatic resin ducts); (iii) obtaining data on successive aggradation/degradation episodes along slopes surrounding such hotspots through geopedological investigations; and (iv) identifying which control factors exert a predominant role on denudation patterns in such contexts. Multidisciplinary analyses regarding the study sites allowed for detailing of erosional history of the studied slopes detecting the prevailing drivers of their evolution. According to the results and considering the common climate and bedrock conditions, the structural background seems to have more influence on slope evolution at the Saint Nicolas site, while superficial geomorphic processes seem to be more relevant at the Gran Gorgia site. Because the sites have already been recognised as part of geoheritage by local authorities, the data obtained in the present research on their genesis, evolution, and local drivers affecting the rates of denudation (i.e., scientific relevance of the site) suggests that description of the sites for dissemination purposes should include links to the entire slope history.
•Multidisciplinary analyses allowed detailing erosional history of studied slopes.•Specific indicators of geomorphic disturbance were individuated for the study sites.•Weakly developed soils and buried surfaces testify diverse geomorphic contexts.•Erosion rates in study sites are higher than in analogous geomorphological contexts.•The local drivers of denudation were identified as both structural and geomorphic features.
In high-altitude environments, most of the debris-free glacier forelands are increasingly widening and the bare surfaces left by retreating glaciers offer the opportunity to investigate the evolution ...of soil through time. The main aim of this study is to discuss the applicability of a chronosequence approach in a deglaciated area, by considering the role of different soil forming factors. A study case has been selected (Alpe Veglia, Lepontine Alps), where field and laboratory characterizations were performed along a transect of 12 soil profiles from the proglacial area of the Aurona Glacier to the Alpe Veglia hollow, crossing different age glacial deposits. The results of soil physical and chemical analyses underline a time-trend of soil properties. On the other hand, even if the soil properties variability along the transect can be mainly explained according to the soil chronosequence approach, the data seem to highlight how the various soil forming factors (e.g. parent material, relief, vegetation) influence soil features, partly masking the effect of the time factor inducing a divergence from a traditional chronosequence. In particular, the morphology of the surrounding reliefs, depending on bedrock lithologies and structures, and the geomorphic dynamics seem to affect soil formation and evolution.
•Different soil units testify the succession of slope stability/instability phases.•Deciphering the complexity of soil polygenesis in high detail.•Rock-Eval® analysis enlighten the relationship ...between paleosols and organic matter.•Environmental conditions reconstruction based on soils and paleosols analysis.
Complex sequences of paleosols are often formed by the interaction between pedogenesis and geomorphological evolution. Their study, particularly in mountain areas, is useful to reconstruct past environmental conditions as well as climate shifts, and to gather information on the morphodynamical processes affecting the landscape through time.
Since the combined role that all different factors can play in the soil formation and evolution through time and space influences the formation and evolution of those complex paleosol sequences, a multidisciplinary study was conducted at the NW slope of Mt. Cusna (Northern Apennines, Italy). This work aims to reconstruct and to evaluate how the interactions between the geomorphological context, the Holocene climate variations, and the modification of the vegetation cover and composition influence the soil development of this area.
A combination of routine soil analyses (i.e., grain-size distributions, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH, and Fe/Al extractions), soil micromorphology and the Rock-Eval® pyrolysis allowed to characterize and to correlate the different soil units constituting a toposequence of six soil profiles.
The presence of different pedological units that can be correlated along the slope underlines the occurrence of separate events of pedogenesis, spatio-temporally linked to recognizable stability phases at slope scale. These phases of biostasy, characterized by vegetation cover and soil development, alternate to phases of rhexistasy, characterized mainly by slope instability (i.e., aggradation/degradation).
In detail, in the Mt. Cusna toposequence three different soil units, linked to three different stability phases, have been identified: the earliest stability phase, characterized by the presence of well-developed Luvisols, the subsequent stability phase typified by less expressed Luvisols, and the ongoing stability phase with Leptosols. This latter pedogenetic phase, in some cases, is superimposed to the previous one, so affecting the exhumed paleosols.
In this light, the Mt. Cusna toposequence characterization allowed to enlighten the complexity of soil polygenesis in higher detail than the previous studies, not only reconstructing the past environmental conditions but also inferring the succession of phases of slope stability and phases characterized by erosion and deposition processes.
The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of ivermectin for the treatment of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), a type 2 family RNA coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2. Female BALB/cJ mice ...were infected with 6,000 PFU of MHV-A59 (group infected, n = 20) or infected and then immediately treated with a single dose of 500 µg/kg ivermectin (group infected + IVM, n = 20) or were not infected and treated with PBS (control group, n = 16). Five days after infection/treatment, the mice were euthanized and the tissues were sampled to assess their general health status and infection levels. Overall, the results demonstrated that viral infection induced typical MHV-caused disease, with the livers showing severe hepatocellular necrosis surrounded by a severe lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltration associated with a high hepatic viral load (52,158 AU), while mice treated with ivermectin showed a better health status with a lower viral load (23,192 AU; p < 0.05), with only a few having histopathological liver damage (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the group infected + IVM and control group mice (P = NS). Furthermore, serum transaminase levels (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) were significantly lower in the treated mice than in the infected animals. In conclusion, ivermectin diminished the MHV viral load and disease in the mice, being a useful model for further understanding this therapy against coronavirus diseases.
Are uterine fluid-derived extracellular vesicles (UF-EVs) a 'liquid biopsy' reservoir of biomarkers for real-time monitoring of endometrial status?
The transcriptomic cargo of UF-EVs reflects the RNA ...profile of the endometrial tissue as well as changes between the non-receptive and the receptive phase, possibly supporting its use for a novel endometrial receptivity test.
EVs have been previously isolated from uterine fluid, where they likely contribute to the embryo-endometrium crosstalk during implantation. Based on a meta-analysis of studies on endometrial tissue implantation-associated genes and the human exosomes database, 28 of the 57 transcripts considered as receptivity markers refer to proteins present in human exosomes. However, the specific transcriptomic content of receptive phase UF-EVs has yet to be defined.
Two experimental series were set up. First, we simultaneously sequenced RNA species derived from paired UF-EVs and endometrial tissue samples collected from physiologically cycling women. Second, we analyzed RNA species of UF-EVs collected during the non-receptive (LH + 2) and receptive (LH + 7) phase of proven fertile women and from the receptive (LH + 7) phase of a population of women undergoing ART and transfer of euploid blastocysts.
For paired UF-endometrial tissue sampling, endometrial tissue biopsies were obtained with the use of a Pipelle immediately after UF collection performed by lavage of the endometrial cavity. Overall, n = 87 UF samples were collected and fresh-processed for EV isolation and total RNA extraction, while western blotting was used to confirm the expression of EV protein markers of the isolated vesicles. Physical characterization of UF-EVs was performed by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. To define the transcriptomic cargo of UF-EV samples, RNA-seq libraries were successfully prepared from n = 83 UF-EVs samples and analyzed by RNA-seq analysis. Differential gene expression (DGE) analysis was used to compare RNA-seq results between different groups of samples. Functional enrichment analysis was performed by gene set enrichment analysis with g:Profiler. Pre-ranked gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) with WebGestalt was used to compare RNA-seq results with the gene-set evaluated in a commercially available endometrial receptivity array.
A highly significant correlation was found between transcriptional profiles of endometrial biopsies and pairwise UF-EV samples (Pearson's r = 0.70 P < 0.0001; Spearman's ρ = 0.65 P < 0.0001). In UF-EVs from fertile controls, 942 gene transcripts were more abundant and 1305 transcripts less abundant in the LH + 7 receptive versus the LH + 2 non-receptive phase. GSEA performed to evaluate concordance in transcriptional profile between the n = 238 genes included in the commercially available endometrial receptivity array and the LH + 7 versus LH + 2 UF-EV comparison demonstrated an extremely significant and consistent enrichment, with a normalized enrichment score (NES)=9.38 (P < 0.001) for transcripts up-regulated in LH + 7 in the commercial array and enriched in LH + 7 UF-EVs, and a NES = -5.40 (P < 0.001) for transcripts down-regulated in LH + 7 in the commercial array and depleted in LH + 7 UF-EVs. When analyzing LH + 7 UF-EVs of patients with successful versus failed implantation after transfer of one euploid blastocyst in the following cycle, we found 97 genes whose transcript levels were increased and 64 genes whose transcript levels were decreased in the group of women who achieved a pregnancy. GSEA performed to evaluate concordance in transcriptional profile between the commercially available endometrial receptivity array genes and the comparison of LH + 7 UF-EVs of women with successful versus failed implantation, demonstrated a significant enrichment with a NES = 2.14 (P = 0.001) for transcripts up-regulated in the commercial array in the receptive phase and enriched in UF-EVs of women who conceived, and a not significant NES = -1.18 (P = 0.3) for transcripts down-regulated in the commercial array and depleted in UF-EVs. In terms of physical features, UF-EVs showed a homogeneity among the different groups analyzed except for a slight but significant difference in EV size, being smaller in women with a successful implantation compared to patients who failed to conceive after euploid blastocyst transfer (mean diameter ± SD 205.5± 22.97 nm vs 221.5 ± 20.57 nm, respectively, P = 0.014).
Transcriptomic data were deposited in NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and can be retrieved using GEO series accession number: GSE158958.
Separation of RNA species associated with EV membranes might have been incomplete, and membrane-bound RNA species-rather than the internal RNA content of EVs-might have contributed to our RNA-seq results. Also, we cannot definitely distinguish the relative contribution of exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies to our findings. When considering patients undergoing ART, we did not collect UFs in the same cycle of the euploid embryo transfer but in the one immediately preceding. We considered this approach as the most appropriate in relation to the novel, explorative nature of our study. Based on our results, a validation of UF-EV RNA-seq analyses in the same cycle in which embryo transfer is performed could be hypothesized.
On the largest sample size of human EVs ever analyzed with RNA-seq, this study establishes a gene signature to use for less-invasive endometrial receptivity tests. This report is indeed the first to show that the transcriptome of UF-EVs correlates with the endometrial tissue transcriptome, that RNA signatures in UF-EVs change with endometrial status, and that UF-EVs could serve as a reservoir for potential less-invasive collection of receptivity markers. This article thus represents a step forward in the design of less-invasive approaches for real-time monitoring of endometrial status, necessary for advancing the field of reproductive medicine.
The study was funded by a competitive grant from European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE Research Grant 2016-1). The authors have no financial or non-financial competing interests to disclose.
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Whey is an abundantand sustainable source of bioactive peptides obtained from cheese making process. Whey proteins such as α‐lactalbumin can be biologically active when the bioactive peptides ...encrypted in the amino acid sequence of the native protein are released by enzymatic hydrolysis. In the present work, the identification, sequence analysis, and antioxidant activity of bioaccessible peptides from α‐lactalbumin alcalase‐hydrolysate was assessed. Antioxidant activity (ABTS, ORAC, and HORAC) of α‐lactalbumin showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) after the enzymatic treatment with alcalase and this capacity increased even more after the simulation of the gastrointestinal digestion process. Peptides contained in the gastrointestinal digest of α‐lactalbumin hydrolysate were separated by preparative RP‐HPLC (55 fractions), and three peptides were identified by LC‐MS/MS analysis from selected fractions: IWCKDDQNPH (MW: 1254.54 Da) f(59‐68), KFLDDDLTDDIM (MW: 1439.64 Da) f(79‐90), DKFLDDDLTDDIM (MW: 1554.67 Da) f(78‐90). Among the chemically synthesized peptides, IWCKDDQNPH showed the highest antioxidant capacity determined by ORAC, ABTS, and HORAC assays (IC50 0.015 ± 0.002, 0.45 ± 0.02, and 1.30 ± 0.05 mg/ml, respectively) and this activity may be related to the amino acid sequence. This is the first report where these bioaccessible peptides from α‐lactalbumin hydrolysate were identified. The α‐lactalbumin hydrolysate could be employed as a functional antioxidant ingredient.
Practical Application
The present work studied the bioaccessibility of antioxidant peptides from an α‐lactalbumin alcalase‐hydrolysate by identifying three novel bioaccessible peptides responsible for the antioxidant capacity, providing evidence of the hydrolysate potential as an antioxidant ingredient in the formulations of functional foods and/or food supplements.
Epigenetics and pesticides Collotta, M; Bertazzi, P.A; Bollati, V
Toxicology,
05/2013, Volume:
307
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Abstract Pesticides, a wide class of environmental contaminants, may cause both acute and delayed health effects in exposed subjects. These effects can range from simple irritation of the skin and ...eyes to more severe effects such as affecting the nervous system, the reproductive system and cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying such effects are still under investigation. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without a change in the DNA sequence. Several epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA expression, can be triggered by environmental factors. We review current evidences indicating that epigenetic modifications may mediate pesticide effects on human health. In vitro, animal, and human investigations have identified several classes of pesticides that modify epigenetic marks, including endocrine disruptors, persistent organic pollutants, arsenic, several herbicides and insecticides. Several investigations have examined the effects of environmental exposures and epigenetic markers, and identified toxicants that modify epigenetic states. These modifications are similar to the ones found in pathological tissue samples. In spite of the current limitations, available evidence supports the concept that epigenetics holds substantial potential for furthering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pesticides health effects, as well as for predicting health-related risks due to conditions of environmental exposure and individual susceptibility.
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