Trace elements in feathers, pectoral plumage, and blood of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) from a captive environment of Southern Italy.

Heavy metals and metalloids are increasingly recognised as a threat to avian health, especially in species at the top of the food chain such as vultures. Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) are ideal bioindicators for studying environmental contamination due to their scavenging habits and territorial behavior. In this study, we analysed the concentrations of six trace elements (Cd, Pb, Cr, Sb, Ni, and Cu) in feathers, pectoral plumage, and blood samples of Griffon Vultures from a captive environment in Sicily, Southern Italy, using an ICP-MS method.

Survey on the presence of floating microplastics, trace metals and metalloids in seawater from Southern Italy to the United States of America.

The presence of microplastics (MPs), trace metals (TM) and metalloids (Ms) in surface seawater is a severe emerging issue of global concern. Information about the distribution of these pollutants is often lacking, and large-scale studies come with uncertainties because of difficult comparisons of results obtained using different methods to collect and process data. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of microplastics (MPs), trace metals (TM) and metalloids (Ms) in surface seawater during two transatlantic sampling campaigns, covering approximately 17,000 nautical miles.

Metal Levels in Striped Dolphins () and Common Dolphins () Stranded along the Sicilian Coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea.

Dolphins, top predators of the aquatic food chain, are used as sentinel species of marine pollution as they are sensitive to environmental changes and able to accumulate a large content of contaminants. Several EU directives promote study of marine mammalians as bio-indicators to evaluate the presence of contaminants in the aquatic environment, such as the Mediterranean Sea, which is rich in environmental pollutants due to its geographic and geo-morphological characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of toxic and essential metals and metalloids (Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Se and Zn), through ICP-MS analysis, in organs/tissues (liver, muscle, lung, kidney and skin) of striped dolphins () and common dolphins ) stranded along the Sicilian coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea.

Distribution of trace metals and metalloids in tissues of Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) from Southern Italy.

Heavy metals and metalloids in the environment are recognised as a threat to the health of organism. Terrestrial birds are ideal subjects for the examination of these pollutants because of their high mobility and high intra- and interspecific variation in trophic levels. We examined the contents of 6 trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Sb and V) and metalloids (As) in the liver, kidney, muscle, and feathers of woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola) from Southern Italy by a validated ICP-MS method.

Determination of Mycotoxins in Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (PBMAs) and Ingredients after Microwave Cooking.

In this study, we investigate the role of microwave cooking in reducing mycotoxin contamination in plant-based food matrices, with a focus on veggie burgers (purchased and home-made) and their ingredients (soybean, potatoes, zucchini, carrots). Two different conditions were studied (Max-Min) that were 800 W for 60 s and 800 W for 90 s, respectively. The degradation patterns of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3), trichothecenes (T2, HT2, ZEA), and ochratoxin A (OTA) were studied.

Genetic and genomic evaluation of age at first calving in Italian Holsteins.

Age at first calving (AFC) represents the nonproductive period of ∼2 yr in Holstein cows, and thus, it has a relevant effect on the cost of rearing replacements in the dairy herd. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate genetic and genomic aspects of AFC in the Italian Holstein population. Data of 4,206,218 heifers with first calving between 1996 and 2020 were used.

Genetic evaluation of gestation length in Italian Holstein breed.

Gestation length (GL) can potentially affect health and performance of both the dam and the newborn calf, and it is controlled by two genetic components, direct and maternal. This means that both the calf (direct effect) and the cow (maternal effect) genotypes contribute to determine GL and its variability. The aims of the present study were to estimate direct and maternal variance components of GL, develop a routine genetic evaluation of GL in Italian Holstein and evaluate potential (un)favourable associations with traits for which selection is undertaken in this population.

Polyphenols of white lupin ( L.) seeds cultivated in Southern Italy by a LC-HRMS method.

In this work we examined the contents of 14 polyphenols in white lupin ( L.) samples cultivated in Southern Italy by the optimisation and validation of a LC-HRMS method. The validation of the LC-HRMS method showed linearity results r > 0.

Toxic metals in Loggerhead sea turtles () stranded freshly dead along Sicilian coasts.

Background: The Loggerhead sea turtle () is a marine reptile belonging to a monophyletic group of chelonians. As these animals are long-lived, they have the ability to accumulate pollutants.

Aim: To collect epidemiological data on toxic metals in marine Loggerhead sea turtles.

Estimation of milkability breeding values and variance components for Italian Holstein.

The importance of milkability as a trait is growing because of the need to efficiently use labor and machinery; therefore, it is crucial to update the statistical model for the trait to improve the accuracy of the estimated breeding values, and thus provide a more accurate tool for decision-making at the farm level. In the Italian Holstein Friesian cattle population, milkability is recorded twice a year by the milk recording system as a binary trait (slow, coded as 2, or not slow, coded as 1). Data consisted of 7,862,371 records from 2,945,249 cows collected between 2004 and 2021.

First Report on the Presence of Toxic Metals and Metalloids in East Asian Bullfrog () Legs.

We examined the presence of As, Cr, Cd, and Pb in 42 samples of farmed East Asian bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) from Vietnam and Thailand by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). An estimation of the dietary intake and exposure to the toxic elements analysed was also carried out. The results showed very high As levels, with mean values of 0.

Essential and non-essential elements in white lupin ( L.) cultivated in Southern Italy.

We assessed the presence of V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sb, Cd, and Pb in white lupin samples cultivated in Southern Italy by the validation of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The ICP-MS method validation showed satisfactory values of linearity (r > 0.999), recovery (87.

Fatty Acids Composition of Stomach Oil of Scopoli's Shearwater () from Linosa's Colony.

is a Procellariforms seabird having a very representative colony in Linosa Island (Southern Italy). The adult forms of produce a pasty oil from their proventriculus to feed their chicks during the rearing period. In this work, we examined the fatty acids composition of the stomach oil of from Linosa Island by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID).

Toxic metals and total lipids comparison between wild and farmed fish of South mediterranean.

A total of 151 wild and farmed fish samples of three species (, and ) from south Mediterranean were examined for cadmium, lead and mercury and total lipids detection to verify possible differences between wild and farmed fish. Mercury was detected only in samples, with mean values of 0.056 ± 0.

Trace elements in stomach oil of Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) from Linosa's colony.

Calonectris diomedea is a colonial Procellariiform breeding on Mediterranean islands. The stomach oil produced during chick rearing is a peculiar trait of this species. The composition of the stomach oil is likely to reflect the composition of the prey ingested and might reveal the contaminants uptake with prey becoming a possible tool for the marine pollution monitoring.

QuEChERS LC-MS/MS Screening Method for Mycotoxin Detection in Cereal Products and Spices.

We developed and validated a screening method for mycotoxin analysis in cereal products and spices. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used for the analysis. Dispersive solid-phase extractions (d-SPEs) were used for the extraction of samples.

Acrylamide assessment of wheat bread incorporating chia seeds ( L.) by LC-MS/MS.

We examined the acrylamide content in samples of wheat bread with chia seeds added at different concentrations (2%, 5%, 7%, 10%) and cooked at predefined conditions (20 min at 200°C) by a validated LC-MS/M method after QuEChERS extraction. The acrylamide contents of the bread samples with added chia seeds were compared with control wheat bread samples. The highest acrylamide values were found in bread with 5% chia seeds, showing a mean value of 156.

Development of a Rapid and Eco-Friendly UHPLC Analytical Method for the Detection of Histamine in Fish Products.

We developed, validated, and confirmed with proficiency tests a fast ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD) method to determine histamine in fish and fishery products. The proposed method consists of two successive solid-liquid extractions: one with a dilute solution of perchloric acid (6%) and the second only with water. The instrumental analysis with UHPLC provides a very fast run time (only 6 min) with a retention time of approximately 4 min, a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 7.

High hydroxycinnamic acids contents in fennel honey produced in Southern Italy.

A total of 122 honey samples ( ssp. Ligustica) collected from Southern Italy were examined for floral identification by melissopalynological examination and for polyphenols detection by an LC-ESI-Orbitrap -MS/MS method. The melissopalynological examination confirmed all the samples examined as fennel () unifloral variety.

Histamine in Fish Products Randomly Collected in Southern Italy: A 6-Year Study.

Abstract: In total, 4,615 fresh and processed fish samples collected from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed for histamine by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Histamine levels were detected in 352 (7.6%) samples, with a maximum of 4,110 mg kg-1 and mean values of 908.

Land Snails as a Valuable Source of Fatty Acids: A Multivariate Statistical Approach.

The fatty acid (FA) profile of wild , and land snail samples, collected in Sicily (Southern Italy), before and after heat treatment at +100 °C were examined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results show a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in all of the examined raw snails samples, representing up to 48.10% of the total fatty acids contents, followed by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs).

Mercury Detection in Benthic and Pelagic Fish Collected from Western Sicily (Southern Italy).

In highly polluted water, fish can accumulate mercury up to a concentration of 10 mgKg. This has occurred on the eastern coasts of Sicily (Southern Italy), probably due to the intense industrial activity of this area. However, little is known about Hg accumulation in fish of the western Sicilian coasts.

A retrospective study to reduce prostate biopsy cores by a real time interactive tool.

Objective: Prostate carcinoma (PCa) is one of the most frequent neoplasms, with more than 110.000 new cases/year in Europe. As PCa is not clearly demonstrable at transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), guidelines on TRUS guided biopsy suggest to perform a random tissue sampling (at least 8-12 "cores" depending on gland volume).