Publications by authors named "Antonio Felicioli"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the healthy properties of bee pollen based on its source and storage conditions, specifically analyzing samples from two areas in Tuscany.
  • The analysis revealed that non-terpene derivatives, particularly aldehydes, were the most common volatile compounds, with clear differences based on how the samples were stored.
  • Panel tests showed that bee pollen from the suburban area lacked attractiveness, and those stored at room temperature had the poorest sensory qualities compared to other storage conditions.
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Honeybees ( L.) have to face many challenges, including infestation, associated with viral transmission. Oxalic acid is one of the most common treatments against .

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Amino acids (AAs) are an abundant class of nectar solutes, and they are involved in the nectar attractiveness to flower visitors. Among the various AAs, proline is the most abundant proteogenic AA, and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and β-alanine are the two most abundant non-proteogenic AAs. These three AAs are known to affect insect physiology, being involved in flight metabolism and neurotransmission.

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Searching for artificial diets positively affecting the survival, immune and antioxidant systems of honey bees is one of main challenges occurring in beekeeping. Among nutrients, lipids play a significant role in insect nutrition as structural components in cell membranes, energy sources and reserves, and are involved in many physiological processes. In this context, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of 0.

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This study seeks to offer a contribution to the method of subtyping major depressed patients by exploring the possible relationships between circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), different peripheral inflammatory/metabolic markers in the blood and clinical characteristics. Thirty-nine patients, thoroughly diagnosed according to the DSM-5 criteria, underwent a comprehensive set of evaluations encompassing structured interviews, rating scales and a panel of blood tests. Correlation and comparison analyses were carried out by means of non-parametric statistical tests.

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Article Synopsis
  • Royal Jelly, a nutrient-rich secretion from nurse bees, is gaining attention as a functional food, but there's limited information on its chemical stability and enzymatic activity over time.
  • This study examined the effects of refrigeration and freezing on the activity of several enzymes in Royal Jelly over different storage durations, finding that refrigeration led to a significant decline in enzyme activity after one year.
  • The findings suggest that freezing preserves enzyme activity better than refrigeration, making it a preferable storage method for maintaining Royal Jelly freshness, while further research is needed to explore enzyme degradation and activity trends over longer periods.
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(Meigen, 1838) is a Sarcophagid dipteran endoparasitoid of L., and myiasis, caused by this fly, is reported in several European, North African and Middle Eastern countries. Nevertheless, very little knowledge concerning the aggression and parasitisation behavior of toward is available in the scientific literature, and the temporal pattern of aggression remains unclear.

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The crested porcupine is a frequent host species in wildlife rescue centers and no guidelines for its management, liberation and post-liberation monitoring are yet available. Here, captive-grown porcupines' behavior and survival in the wild after liberation were investigated and described for the first time. Management strategies adopted at the centers could affect porcupine adaptation to the natural environment.

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  • Latr. bees are crucial for pollinating orchard crops, supporting healthy ecosystems and providing economic benefits.
  • The study investigates how delaying the emergence of bees affects their mating behaviors by comparing those that emerge naturally and those that emerge later.
  • Findings show that both groups exhibit similar mating patterns, but older bees tend to have more short copulations, which might hinder successful reproduction.
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Expansion of wild and managed allochthonous species leads to potential negative consequences for the endemic wildlife, such as resource competition, pathogens spread, hybridization and native species replacements. On Capraia Island, the last sighting of Bombus terrestris terrestris dates back to 1917. All subsequent surveys carried out on the island only reported the presence of B.

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Gastrointestinal nematodes and protozoa and other parasite occurrences were evaluated in free-ranging wolf () and red fox () populations from natural and anthropized areas of Central Italy. Analyzed fecal samples were collected from 60 foxes and 40 wolves in the anthropized areas, and 41 foxes and 39 wolves in the natural areas. In foxes, hookworm infections ( < 0.

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Bee pollen's nutritional and beneficial health properties depend on the botanical origin and storage conditions. Palynological analysis determines the botanical composition of the multiflora and colour fractions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Tuscan bee pollen stored at freezing temperature for 2 years to verify the preservation of nutraceutical properties of the multiflora and colour fractions.

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The increase in invasive alien species is a concern for the environment. The establishment of some of these species may be changing the balance between pathogenicity and host factors, which could alter the defense strategies of native host species. Vespid species are among the most successful invasive animals, such as the genera , and .

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores how diet influences the development of honeybee larvae into different castes, focusing on the expression of specific water-soluble proteases during this process.
  • The researchers identified a protease called PS4, which peaks in activity at 72 hours after hatching and seems crucial for the development of worker bees.
  • Interestingly, PS4 was not found in royal jelly or pollen, but royal jelly was shown to inhibit its activity in worker-fate larvae, indicating its potential role in determining bee castes.
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Anthropic areas play a pivot role for main wolf conservation challenges. Wolf presence in the higher Pisan hills has been well documented while wolf settlement in the lower Pisan hills is still uncertain. In this study, long-term information on wolf presence in a highly anthropic area of the lower Pisan hills was collected by using non-invasive monitoring techniques.

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is a mite causing serious damage to western honey bees. Managed colonies require artificial varroa control, which may be best obtained by combining mechanical and chemical methods. This study explored the possible effects of the combination of queen caging and oxalic acid treatment on the immune system (glucose oxidase, phenoloxidase, and vitellogenin) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S transferase) of first post-treatment generation drones and workers (newly emerged, nurses, and foragers).

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The Eurasian badger () is widespread in Italy and occupies different habitats. The occurrence and species of gastrointestinal parasites were evaluated in a free-ranging badger population living in a highly anthropic area in central Italy. A total of 43 fecal samples were examined using the flotation test, the Mini-FLOTAC and Baermann techniques, and a rapid immunoassay for the detection of and spp.

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Protein-supplemented artificial diets are widely used by beekeepers during winter and whenever food availability is low, yet no data are available concerning their effects on bees' health. In this work, the effects of two commercial diets enriched with 1.7% and 7.

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Settlements are usually shared at different times by semi-fossorial mammals. Porcupine reproductive pair shows high den-site fidelity, but no data are available on the spatio-temporal inhabitation of settlements. In this investigation, the spatio-temporal inhabitation of settlements by crested porcupine families was investigated using camera-trapping as well as the ethological factors affecting the settlements selection.

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Previous data on crested porcupine reproduction biology were mostly collected in captivity or semi-captivity due to its elusive, burrowing and mainly nocturnal habits. Between 2017 and 2019 the reproductive behaviour (i.e.

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β-glucans can activate the animal innate immune system by acting as immune-modulators and inducing various stimulatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 1,3-1,6 β-glucans administered orally for 96 h on workers (newly emerged and nurse bees). β-glucans were included in honey and syrup.

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Mammal's saliva contains a variety of electrolytes and proteins. They carry out an important role in the digestion process, in the antibacterial and antiviral activity, in lubrication and maintenance of oral general health status. It may also contain several enzymes according to dietary habits and general wellness.

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The Italian wolf population in human-modified landscapes has increased greatly in the last few decades. Anthropisation increases the risk of transmission of many zoonotic infections and in this context, control of taeniid cestode species needs to be addressed from a One Health perspective. Predator-prey interactions are at the root of taeniid cestode transmission, and the wolf plays a key role in the maintenance and transmission of taeniids.

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Article Synopsis
  • The tiletamine-zolazepam mixture is an effective anesthetic for immobilizing wild mammals, offering quick induction and minimal side effects.
  • Testing a lower dosage (4-6 mg/kg) on crested porcupines showed improved recovery times and reduced excitement upon awakening.
  • A recommended dose of 5 mg/kg provides adequate muscle relaxation and is safe for both pregnant individuals and young porcupines, with an average recovery time of around 53.6 minutes.
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The employment of natural substances such as beehive products with a preventive and therapeutic purpose has been a widespread custom since ancient times. In this investigation, the antibacterial activity of 41 honey samples from different Ukraine regions has been evaluated. For each honey, melissopalynological and physico-chemical analysis were performed in order to determine botanical origin, pH, glucose and fructose contents and free acidity.

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