Zeitschriftenartikel zum Thema „Catena supplement“

Folate requirement among women who plan to become pregnant should be raised to 600 μg/day during the periconceptional period. To meet this need, several countries began to promote the use of folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy. Here, we investigated prevalence and determinants of dietary folate intake and folic acid supplement use among 397 pregnant women (aged 15–50 years old, median = 37 years old). We also investigated their effects on neonatal outcomes in a subgroup of women who completed pregnancy. For doing that, we used data from the “Mamma & Bambino” project, an ongoing mother-child cohort settled in Catania (Italy). Inadequate folate intake was evaluated using a Food Frequency Questionnaire and defined as an intake < 600 μg/day. Women were also classified as non-users (i.e., women who did not use folic acid supplements), insufficient users (i.e., women who did not take folic acid supplements as recommended), and recommended users of folic acid supplements. Neonatal outcomes of interest were preterm birth (PTB) and small for gestational age (SGA). Nearly 65% of women (n = 257) reported inadequate folate intake, while 74.8% and 22.4% were respectively classified as insufficient or recommended users of supplements. We demonstrated higher odds of inadequate folate intake among smoking women (OR = 1.457; 95%CI = 1.046–2.030; p = 0.026), those who followed dietary restrictions (OR = 2.180; 95%CI = 1.085–4.378; p = 0.029), and those with low adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (OR = 3.194; 95%CI = 1.958–5.210; p < 0.001). In a subsample of 282 women who completed pregnancy, we also noted a higher percentage of SGA among those with inadequate folate intake (p < 0.001). Among 257 women with inadequate folate intake, those with low educational level were more likely to not take folic acid supplements than their more educated counterpart (OR = 5.574; 95%CI = 1.487–21.435; p = 0.012). In a subsample of 184 women with inadequate folate intake and complete pregnancy, we observed a higher proportion of SGA newborns among women who did not take supplement before pregnancy and those who did not take at all (p = 0.009). We also noted that the proportion of PTB was higher among non-users and insufficient users of folic acid supplements, but difference was not statistically significant. Our study underlined the need for improving the adherence of pregnant women with recommendations for dietary folate intake and supplement use. Although we proposed a protective effect of folic acid supplement use on risk of SGA, further research is encouraged to corroborate our findings and to investigate other factors involved.

Paleosols record paleoclimatic processes in the Earth's Critical Zone and are archives of ancient landscapes associated with archeological sites. Detailed field, micromorphologic, and bulk geochemical analysis of paleosols were conducted near four sites at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania within the same stratigraphic horizon as theZinjanthropus(Paranthropus)boiseiarcheological site. Paleosols are thin (< 35 cm), smectitic, and exhibit Vertisol shrink–swell features. Traced across the paleolandscape over 1 km and just beneath Tuff IC (1.845 Ma), the paleosols record apaleocatenain which soil moisture at the four sites was supplemented by seepage additions from adjacent springs, and soil development was enhanced by this additional moisture. Field evidence revealed an abrupt lateral transition in paleosol composition at the PTK site (< 1.5 m apart) in which paleosol B, formed nearest the spring system, is highly siliceous, vs. paleosol A, formed in smectitic clay. Thin-section investigations combined with mass-balance geochemistry, using Chapati Tuff as parent material and assuming immobile Ti, show moderately intense weathering. Pedotransfer functions indicate a fertile soil system, but sodicity may have limited some plant growth. Paleosol bulk geochemical proxies used to estimate paleoprecipitation (733–944 mm/yr), are higher than published estimates of 250–700 mm/yr using δD values of lipid biomarkers.

Ternary events originating from the 197 Au + 197 Au reaction at 15 MeV/nucleon, studied by using the multidetector array CHIMERA at LNS Catania, have been collected in almost complete 2π range of the forward hemisphere of CHIMERA thus extending the angular range of our previously reported preliminary data. Energy- and time calibrations for heavy fragments at large angles were supplemented with an analysis of coincidence events of binary strongly damped reactions. Contrary to the previous preliminary results, the new complete data clearly show presence of sequential fission processes in which one of Au -like nuclei undergoes fission after re-separation of the primary binary system. Mechanism of these two types of reactions observed in our data, sequential fission reactions and prompt ternary processes, are presently studied using comparisons with predictions of the stochastic BNV model of Baran, Colonna and Di Toro and the QMD model of Łukasik.

The approaches to the use of catena method of studying the diversity of soil animal communities’ arena landscape of the Dnieper River Valley (within the natural reserve “Dnieper-Orelsky” using phytoindication estimation have been developed in the present article. Soil animals ecomorphes have been verified on the basis of main trends variability of environmental conditions which evaluated by means of phytoindication approaches. Monitoring polygon situated in the north-eastern part of the natural reserve "Dnieper-Orelsky". The width of the polygon is 3260 m, height – 2850 m, its total area is 930 hectares. Inside the polygon we selected some five plots: on the slope of the sand dunes at the border the sandy steppe and Acer tataricum shrub; on the slope of the Northern exposure of the Orlova valley in Acer tataricum oak forest with Dáctylis glomeráta; in terrace near the flood plain on the border with the lower part of the slope, in elm-black poplar forest with Glechóma hederácea; in the waterlogged tributary of river Protoch on the border of the marsh and forest ecosystems; in river Protoch in grass community, in a gradient from the marsh community to steppe meadows. Each plot was represented by 105 squares of size 3×3 m. Squares arranged in 7 contiguous rows of 15 squares in each. Plot size was 21×45 m. Big side plot was located along the visually discernible gradient terrain topography and vegetation cover. In each square we made a description of the vegetation with the assessment of the projective cover with a lag of 10%. In the center of each square we sampled soil of 0.25×0.25 m from which the soil macroinvertebrates have been extracted by hand sorting. The ordination of mesopedobionts communities has been applied to multidimensional scaling procedure based on metrics of Bray-Curtis with provisional data on transformation according to Hellinger. The phytoindication estimation of the environmental regimes have been found to be statistically significant predictors of multidimensional scales that obtained after ordination of mesopedobionts communities. Dimension 1 can be explained by edaphotop nutrient status, dimension 2 can be explained by edaphotop humidity, dimension 3 may be explained by soil aeration, dimension 4 may be explained by quantity of carbonates in soil. Dimensions 5 and 6 have a complex factor nature which is difficult to interpret meaningfully. Environmental assessment regimes using phyto-indicative scales enabled set the value of soil carbonate content and aeration in structuring of soil animals communities. The obtained result makes reasonable provision of new ecomorphes of soil animals such as aèromorph and carbonatomorph. Aèromorphes are ecological group that combines soil animals, preferring similar condition of soil aeration, among which are highlighted in aerophyles, sub-aerophyles, hemiaerofobes and subaerofobes. Carbonatomorphes are ecological group that combines soil animals, preferring similar condition of carbonates content in soil, among which are highlighted in carbonatofobes, akarbonatophyles, hemicarbonatophyles, carbonatophyles and hyper-carbonatophyles. Classic catena approach for biogeocenotic and landscape diversity investigation have been supplemented by the assessment of the ecological regimes through phytoindication and ecomorphic analysis of vegetation. Ordinates of ecological regimes are the gradients of variation of soil animal communities. Information and valuable markers of vegetation (phytoindication scale and ecomorphes) can be used as training variables to assess the indicator properties of soil animal communities. Ecomorphes of soil animals reflect the main aspects of the structural organization of their communities and may serve as valuable indicators of the properties and behaviors of soil as environment of living organisms.

Background: Current availability of several biologic treatments for severe asthma makes it possible to choose the most appropriate for each patient. Sometimes a good percentage of patients with severe asthma may be eligible for biologics that target either the allergic phenotype or the eosinophilic one, but not all respond to that selected as first choice. The aim of our real-life study was to assess whether, for patients with severe eosinophilic allergic asthma, not previously controlled by the anti-IgE omalizumab, the shift to another biologic targeting interleukin-5, such as mepolizumab, may represent a good therapeutic choice. Methods: A total of 41 consecutive patients with severe, persistent allergic, eosinophilic asthma, uncontrolled despite treatment with omalizumab, were enrolled in seven certified Clinical Respiratory Units of Southern Italy (Catania, Catanzaro, Foggia, Bari, Palermo, and two University Respiratory Units of Naples) and shifted to mepolizumab without a wash-out period. Data at baseline, after at least 12 months of therapy with omalizumab, and after at least 12 months of treatment with mepolizumab were collected. Results: After at least 12 months of therapy with mepolizumab, patients experienced a significant decrease in the number of exacerbations/year (5.8 ± 1.8 versus 0.7 ± 0.9, p < 0.0001), an increment of asthma control test score (12 ± 2.7 versus 21.9 ± 2.7, p < 0.0001), an increase in pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (1.56 ± 0.45 l versus 1.86 ± 0.52 l, p < 0.0001), and a reduction of blood eosinophils (584 ± 196 cells/µl versus 82 ± 56 cells/µl, p < 0.0001). The percentage of patients who were dependent on corticosteroids significantly decreased from 46% at baseline to 5% during treatment with mepolizumab. Conclusion: Results of our real-life multicentric experience confirms that the shift to mepolizumab could be a good therapeutic strategy in severe eosinophilic allergic asthma not previously controlled by omalizumab. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

During the summer of 2005, a new disease of bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae Aiton) was observed on young seedlings (2 to 3 months old) in a nursery located in Giarre (Catania) in eastern Sicily. Symptoms included brown, water-soaked leaf spots that first appeared after seedling emergence and then gradually enlarged and became necrotic. Occasionally, during wet conditions, seedlings were completely blighted, resulting in total loss. The disease was observed on 10% of the 3,000 plants present in one nursery. A single bacterial colony was consistently isolated on King's medium B (KB) supplemented with 0.01% cycloeximide from surface-sterilized, brownish lesions and water-soaked leaf tissues. The isolates were purified on nutrient agar (NA). Three bacterial strains isolated from three different symptomatic plants were used for pathogenicity and identification tests on S. reginae plants. Five plants were inoculated per bacterial strain by spraying the leaves with a buffer phosphate suspension (0.1 M) at 106 CFU/ml prepared from KB plates incubated for 24 h at 28°C and wounding the leaves (four wounds per leaf) with a sterile needle. The same number of noninoculated plants was used as control. All plants were covered with plastic bags and maintained in a greenhouse at 25 ± 1°C with 95 to 100% relative humidity until symptoms occurred 3 to 4 days later. All three bacterial strains tested were virulent and caused symptoms identical to those observed in the nursery. No symptoms were observed in control plants. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by the reisolation of the three strains from inoculated plants. The strains were gram-negative, aerobic rods, grew aerobically, were white and nonmucoid on yeast dextrose calcium carbonate agar, nonfluorescent on KB, produced diffusible nonfluorescent pigment on KB, and were oxidase and urease negative. All strains utilized glucose, arabinose, mannose, mannitol, N-acetylglucosamine, gluconate, caprate, malate, citrate, and phenyl acetate and none of the strains produced indole or acidified glucose. Using the API 20NE test strips (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) incubated at 28°C for 24 to 48 h, all strains were initially identified as Burkholderia cepacia. On the basis of the nutrient profiles revealed by the BIOLOG system (Microlog System Release 4.2, Hayward, CA), the strains were identified as B. gladioli (Severini 1913) Yabuuchi et al. 1993. The index of probability was 100% and the index of similarity was 0.75%. For molecular identification of strains, 16S rDNA was amplified by using species-specific primers Eub-16-1 and Gl-16-2457, obtaining a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of 463 bp (1). PCR analysis indicated that the strains belong to B. gladioli. Other bacteria have been previously reported in Italy as pathogens of Strelitzia spp. (2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first outbreak of leaf spot and blight caused by B. gladioli on S. reginae. References: (1) A. Bauernfeind et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37:1335, 1999. (2) P. Bella et al. J. Plant Pathol. 82:159, 2000; (3) G. Polizzi et al. Plant Dis. 89:1010, 2005.

Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining determines the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), an enzyme in which activity decreases as the oocytes reach their growth phase. We have previously shown in lamb the effectiveness of this stain in selecting the largest and most competent oocytes to develop up to the blastocyst stage (Catala et al. 2011 Reproduction 142, 517–527). The aim of this study was to analyse the expression of 4 genes related to oocyte quality in BCB-selected oocytes. The 4 genes analyzed in this study were selected after a literature review in which they were associated with a better oocyte quality or embryo development; 2 of these genes were related to cell cycle: nuclear auto-antigenic sperm protein (NASP) and histone H2A (H2A.Z), and 2 genes with enzymatic functions: peroxiredoxin (PRDX1) and elongation factor-A1 (EEF1A1). Oocytes were recovered after slicing the surface of lamb ovaries (3 to 5 months old) obtained from a local slaughterhouse. Oocytes with more than 3 compact cumulus layers and homogenic cytoplasm were selected and exposed to 13 µM BCB during 1 h before IVM and classified according to oocyte coloration: oocytes with blue cytoplasm or grown oocytes (BCB+) and oocytes not coloured or growing oocytes (BCB–). Cumulus–oocyte complexes were then matured in conventional TCM199 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and hormones during 24 h in a controlled atmosphere. Groups of 15 denuded oocytes (3 replicates) were taken before (0 h) and after maturation (24 h) and stored at –80°C in 100 mL of Trizol until use. After RNA extraction following manufacturer’s protocol (Promega, Madison, WI, USA), reverse transcription was performed by extended cDNA using Oligo (dT) primers during 5 min at 70°C and 1 h at 65°C using superscript III (200 U mM–1; Invitrogen). Relative qualitative PCR analyses were performed in duplicate using SYBR Green Fluorophore kit (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). The specificity of each PCR product was determined by a melting curve analysis and the amplicon size determination by an agarose gel. A standard curve was also included, consisting of corresponding plasmid DNA fragments from 1 pg to 0.1 fg, purified with QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA). Correlation coefficients and PCR efficiencies were considered between 85 and 100%. Finally, the results for mRNA were normalized according to the relative concentration of the internal and external gene (luciferase and 18S, respectively). The statistical analysis was performed by One-way ANOVA in GraphPad Prism v 3 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). The analysis of gene expression showed no differences in relation to BCB classification. The only difference we found is a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the RE of PRDX observed in matured oocytes compared with immature ones. In conclusion, the expression of the mRNA expression of NASP, H2A.Z, PRDX1, and EEF1A1 were not affected by oocyte quality.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of linseed oil on lipid peroxidation, antioxidative capacity, as well as serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C and TG levels, in cafeteria-diet-fed dams during gestation and lactation, and in their offspring throughout adulthood. Food and energy intakes were also evaluated. The cafeteria diet led to higher energy intake, body weight, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia (higher TC, LDL-C and TG) in dams’ rats and their pups. Plasma vitamin C, Erythrocyte GSH levels and catalase activity were lower, whereas plasma diene conjugates (DC), Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels (PC) in plasma and erythrocytes were higher in cafeteria-diet-fed mothers and their pups compared to controls. Supplement of linseed oil significantly enhanced plasma antioxidant defense capacities, as evaluated by the marked increase in the levels of plasma vitamin C and erythrocyte GSH as well as the activities of CAT and the significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (lower DC and MDA) and PC in CAFL-diet-fed mothers and their offspring. Simultaneous intake of linseed oil also reduced body weight, plasma TG, TC and LDL-C contents in obese pregnant and lactating dams and their pups at day 30 and day 90. The flaxseed oil supplementation may prevent lipid peroxidation and metabolic disorders which might be helpful in preventing obesity complications in mothers during pregnancy and lactation and in their offspring. REFERENCES:Adeoye, O., Olawumi, J., Opeyemi, A., & Christiania, O. (2016). Review on the role ofglutathione on oxidative stress and infertility. JBRA Assisted Reproduction, 22(1), 61-66.Aebi, H. (1974). Catalase. 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A distanza di circa 15 anni dalla revisione del genere Dasytes in Italia lo studio di ulteriori abbondanti materiali ha consentito di acquisire alcune nuove conoscenze che si reputa opportuno rendere pubbliche. Dasytes buphtalmus baudi a Selve, 1873: è confermata la presenza in Italia centrale e, nel nord-est d’Italia, il suo areale viene esteso fino a comprendere la provincia di Verona. Dasytes coerulescens Küster, 1852: non è un endemita corso-sardo perché presente anche, almeno, in Algeria. Dasytes gonocerus Mulsant & rey, 1868: ha una distribuzione geografica assai più ampia di quanto precedentemente ipotizzato, che spazia dalla Penisola Iberica al Caucaso. Dasytes metallicus Fabricius, 1792: è rappresentato da due sottospecie: D. metallicus metallicus Fabricius, 1792 in Tunisia (eccetto la zona di tunisi) e D. metallicus dilectus Normand,1948 in Sicilia e in tunisia nella zona di tunisi. Dasytes nigrocyaneus Mulsant & Rey, 1868: è confermata la sua presenza in Italia e sono forniti ulteriori dati sulla sua distribuzione italiana ed europea. Dasytes obscurus Gyllenhal, 1813: le popolazioni delle Prealpi calcaree del Veneto presentano alcune differenze morfologiche rispetto alla forma ampiamente diffusa nel resto della catena alpina. Dasytes pauperculus Laporte de Castelnau, 1840: specie fino ad ora considerata, non del tutto a ragione, assai rara, è stata rinvenuta in numerose località.

AbstractAs the use of online education increases, technologies to improve the quality of learning have been improving alongside it. One method of information dissemination is Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) in which educators can tailor digital lessons according to their subject and the needs of their students. For soil science, and field‐based sciences in general, this technology holds great potential in addressing issues of accessibility. Field labs can be challenging due to monetary, time, and physical constraints, however the use of VLE can allow for students to indefinitely access field settings in a safe and repeatable way with no additional cost. We have built the framework for and created an immersive soil science based VLE in the Laramie Range Mountains examining terrain and soils along 6 sites on a catena. When this VLE was used in a class of 26 upper‐level morphology and classification students as a supplemental field trip, scores before and after using were comparable, however students reported an increase in engagement and interest in the VLE itself, as well a general increase in understanding of relationships between landscape processes and soil formation. Using this technology structure in distance learning enhances our ability to deliver high quality, immersive, accessible content as natural science education progresses.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

E-learninng Spaces for Teaching German as a Foreign Language. This contribution, which takes into account the online didactic affordances in a German Language and Translation course for university students, is divided into two parts: the former focuses on the potential of the chat as a didactic tool; the latter shows the activities performed on an e-learning platform during a German Language and Translation course. Specifically, attention will focus on examples of chat interaction, error correction and concrete teaching activities – supplemented by targeted use of corpora and digital lexicographic resources – involving forms of fixation and memorization, while leaving room for reasoned, creative and conscious forms of autonomy.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the association of Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) with the prevalence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on women with abnormal Papanicolaou test, who underwent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) screening and histological test through colposcopy. Dietary data were collected using a FFQ and used to assess both CDAI and DII. Setting: Women were recruited from 2012 to 2015 at the Cervical Cancer Screening Unit of the ‘Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale’ of Catania (Italy). Participants: The study included 539 women with a mean age of 40·2 years, who were classified as cases (n 127 with CIN2 or more severe lesions) and controls (n 412 with normal cervical epithelium or CIN1). Results: Although we observed a lower proportion of HPV-positive women among those with higher CDAI (P < 0·001), the index was not associated with the diagnosis of CIN2 or more severe lesions. By contrast, women with medium or high DII showed higher odds to be diagnosed with CIN2 or more severe lesions than those with low DII (OR = 2·15; 95 % CI 1·11, 4·17; P = 0·024 and OR = 3·14; 95 % CI 1·50, 6·56; P = 0·002, respectively), after adjusting for age, HPV status, educational level, BMI, smoking status, parity, use of oral contraceptives and supplements. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that a pro-inflammatory diet might be associated with an increased risk of CIN2 and more severe lesions. However, further prospective studies should be encouraged to support this evidence.

In this paper, we continue describing the project and the experimentation of Ricerca Operativa Applicazioni Reali (ROAR; in English, Real Applications of Operations Research), a three-year project for higher secondary schools, introduced. ROAR is composed of three teaching units, addressed to Grades 10, 11, and 12, respectively, having the main aim to improve students’ interest, motivation, and skills related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines by integrating mathematics and computer science through operations research. In a previous paper, we reported on the design and implementation of the first unit, started in Spring 2021 at the scientific high school IIS Antonietti in Iseo (Brescia, Italy), in a Grade-10 class. Here, we focus on the second unit, carried out in Winter/Spring 2022 with the same students, now in a Grade-11 class. In particular, we describe objectives, prerequisites, topics and methods, the organization of the lectures, digital technologies used, and a challenging final project. Moreover, we analyze the feedback from students and teachers involved in the experimentation. Funding: G. Colajanni and E. Taranto were partially supported by the research projects Programma Ricerca di Ateneo UNICT 2020-22 linea 2, EEEP&DLaD, and OMNIA, respectively, of the University of Catania. The research of G. Colajanni was also partially supported by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and the European Union for the PON project on Research and Innovation 2014–2020 [Grant D.M. 1062/2021]. A. Raffaele was partially supported by the Gruppo Nazionale per il Calcolo Scientifico. These supports are gratefully acknowledged. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2023.0001 .

AbstractThe recent destruction of thousands of homes by lava flows from La Palma volcano, Canary Islands, and Nyiragongo volcano, Democratic Republic of Congo, serves as a reminder of the devastating impact that lava flows can have on communities living in volcanically active regions. Damage to buildings and infrastructure can have widespread and long-lasting effects on rehabilitation and livelihoods. Our understanding of how lava flows interact with buildings is limited and based upon sparse empirical data. Often a binary impact is assumed (destroyed when in contact with the flow and intact when not in contact with the flow), although previous events have shown this to be an oversimplification. Empirical damage data collected after past events provide an evidence base from which to better understand lava flow impacts across a range of building types, environments, and eruption styles, as well as to explore the temporal and spatial trends in these impacts. However, information on lava flow impacts is scattered across literature, reports, and maps; no comprehensive dataset of lava flow impacts exists. In this study, we compile and standardise lava flow impact information from previously compiled data, eruption records, and published literature to create the first comprehensive global dataset of impacts on the built environment from lava flows. We found that since the first recorded event between 5494 yr B.P. and 5387 yr B.P., lava flows from at least 155 events have impacted buildings or infrastructure (e.g., roads, electricity pylons, ski-lifts), with most (47%, n = 73) recorded as located in Europe. Over the last century, there have been approximately seven lava flow impact events per decade (n = 71 total). This greatly expands on the past compilations of lava flow impact events. Since ca. 1800 CE, impacts have been consistently documented for less than 14% of recorded eruptions with lava flows globally; prior to 1800 CE, impacts were recorded much more variably (between 0 and 70% of lava flows in any 10-year time bin). The most destructive recorded events were the 1669 CE lava flows at Etna volcano, Italy, which destroyed up to 12 villages and part of the city of Catania, and the 2002 CE lava flows at Nyiragongo volcano, Democratic Republic of Congo, which destroyed up to 14,000 buildings. We found that few studies in the dataset report building typology, damage severity, or hazard intensity at the building-level scale, limiting our ability to assess past building-lava interactions. Future collection of building-level hazard and impact data, supplemented with non-English language records, can be used to inform models that forecast future impacts, support lava flow risk assessments, and develop potential mitigation measures.