Athletes preferences and willingness to pay for innovative high-protein functional foods.

The growing number of athletes in the population leads to an increasing demand for high-protein functional foods to which food industries are trying to respond with new products and strategies that can meet the needs of athletes. An experimental auction was performed to elicit athletes' willingness to pay for an innovative high-protein bread, correlating it to specific food values. For a deeper understanding of the determinants of respondents' choices for high-protein bread and preferences regarding food values, the combination of Best-Worst Scaling and Cluster Analysis was used.

Applying Artificial Neural Networks to Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Forager Honey Bees () for Ecological Assessment.

Insect pollinators provide an important ecosystem service that supports global biodiversity and environmental health. The study investigates the effects of the environmental matrix on six oxidative stress biomarkers in the honey bee . Thirty-five apiaries located in urban, forested, and agricultural areas in Central Italy were sampled during the summer season.

Butterflies as bioindicators of metal contamination.

Anthropogenic trace metal contamination has significantly increased and has caused many hazardous consequences for the ecosystems and human health. The Terni basin valley (Central Italy) shows a heavy load of pollutants from industrial activities, while the characteristic orography structure of the valley favours air stagnation, thus limiting air pollution dispersal. The present study conducted in 2014 aimed to determine the concentration of ten metals in five species of butterflies at nine sites in the Terni valley along a 21-km-long transect, including both relatively pristine and industrial areas.

Assessment of economic viability and production costs for the innovative microfiltered digestate.

This paper assesses the economic viability of the production process of an innovative form of digestate known as "microfiltered digestate", suitable for use as a fertilizer in driplines for permanent crops. A Break-Even Analysis was performed to determine the Break-Even Point which identifies the minimum quantity of products necessary to cover production costs at a certain selling price. Our results show that the production of microfiltered digestate provides positive economic viability for anaerobic digestion managers, providing them with an attractive market outlet and, at the same time, a new form of income.

Enhancement of sustainable bioenergy production by valorising tomato residues: A GIS-based model.

In order to increase the utilization of renewable energy sources, the biomethane production through anaerobic digestion has notably developed over the last years. Although, it is worldwide recognized, that valorising waste resources (i.e.

Sources and trends of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a shallow lake in the Mediterranean area from sediment archives of the Anthropocene.

In this study, the anthropogenic contamination in Trasimeno lake (Central Italy) was investigated using three sediment cores spanning over the last 150 years (Anthropocene) to identify the primary sources of pollution and quantify the level of contaminant enrichment in the basin. First, based on the relative cumulative frequency and linear regression methods, we obtained a geochemical baseline for the lake using the deeper parts of the sediment cores. The geochemical baseline allowed us to determine the values of trace elements enrichment factors.

Sex and seasonal differences in metal accumulation of selected tissues in red swamp crayfish from Lake Trasimeno (Umbria, Italy).

Concentrations of essential metals (Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Ni, Mn, and Zn) and non-essential and toxic metals (Ag, Cd, Hg, and Pb) were quantified in hepatopancreas and abdominal muscle for 73 specimens (37 males and 36 females) of Procambarus clarkii from Lake Trasimeno (Italy) in a year's campaign (July 2018 to June 2019). Elemental concentrations determined in crayfish differed in tissues, seasons, and gender. Both sexes showed lower concentrations in abdominal muscle than in hepatopancreas.

Population Ecology and Genetic Diversity of the Invasive Alien Species in Lake Trasimeno (Italy).

The deliberate or accidental introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) causes negative ecological and economic impacts altering ecosystem processes, imperiling native species and causing damage to human endeavors. A monthly monitoring program was performed in Lake Trasimeno (Central Italy) from July 2018 to July 2019 in order to provide an upgrade of the population ecology of and to assess the genetic diversity by analyzing the relationships among mitochondrial DNA diversity. Our results confirmed that is well acclimatized in the lake, revealing a stable population structure favored by the resources and conditions typical of this ecosystem, which seem to be optimal for the maintenance of the species.

Characterization of long-range transported bioaerosols in the Central Mediterranean.

Airborne bacteria were characterized over a 2-y period via high-throughput massive sequencing of 16S rRNA gene in aerosol samples collected at a background mountain European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) Network site (Monte Martano, Italy) located in the Central Mediterranean area. The air mass origin of nineteen samples was identified by air mass modelling and a detailed chemical analysis was performed. Four main origins (Saharan, North-western, North-eastern, and Regional) were identified, and distinct microbial communities were associated with these air masses.

Deposition processes over complex topographies: Experimental data meets atmospheric modeling.

The present paper describes the assessment of the atmospheric deposition processes in a basin valley through a multidisciplinary approach based on the data collected within an extensive physico-chemical characterization of the soils, combined with the local meteorology. Surface soil cores were collected on a NNW-SSE transect across the Terni basin (Central Italy), between the Monti Martani and the Monti Sabini chains (956 m a.s.

Performance evaluation of digestate spreading machines in vineyards and citrus orchards: preliminary trials.

This research was carried out to evaluate a local biogas plant's solid fraction digestate spreading in a citrus orchard and vineyard. Three spreaders were tested: a broadcast manure spreader in the citrus orchard, and two cylindrical-shaped spreaders in the vineyard; the first one working in broadcast configuration, the second one in localised configuration. Experimental tests assessed effective work time, mean work speed, digestate flow rate and longitudinal and transverse spreading uniformity.

Cross-sectional study to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance genes in honey bees Apis mellifera) in Umbria, Central Italy.

The use antimicrobials for therapeutic and metaphylactic purpose in humans and agriculture exerts selective pressure on animal and environmental microbiota resulting in the survival and spread of antimicrobial resistance genes among bacteria and subsequent development of resistance in bacteria. Previous studies have shown that honey bees' microbiota (Apis mellifera) can accumulate antimicrobial resistance genes in their microbiome and act as collectors and disseminators of resistance genes. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent honey bees act as reservoir of select antimicrobial resistance genes.

Evaluation of geochemical baselines and metal enrichment factor values through high ecological quality reference points: a novel methodological approach.

In this study, we propose a new approach to estimate geochemical local baselines and enrichment factor values for metals in riverine sediments. The goal is to describe catchment areas characterized by intensive and spread anthropogenic activities, for which it is challenging to identify undisturbed sites to utilize as reference. The case study is the Nestore river basin (Central Italy).

Co-digestion of by-products and agricultural residues: A bioeconomy perspective for a Mediterranean feedstock mixture.

This study focused on applying batch and continuous co-digestion approaches to investigate the effects of a feedstock mixture (FM) constituted by ten Mediterranean feedstocks highly available in the Mediterranean area (i.e., olive pomace, olive mill wastewater, citrus pulp, poultry litter, poultry and cattle manure, whey and cereal straw) on methane production for bioenergy generation.

Airborne bacteria and persistent organic pollutants associated with an intense Saharan dust event in the Central Mediterranean.

In this paper, we present a comprehensive taxonomic survey of the bacterial community and accurate quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with an intense Saharan dust advection, which impacted Central Mediterranean area in the whole 2014-2015 period. This work is part of an intensive field campaign at the EMEP regional background site of Monte Martano (Central Italy), considered well representative of long-range transport in the Central Mediterranean area. 22 samples have been characterized in their provenance region and have been considered for the chemical and biological characterization.

Evaluation of biomethane potential from by-products and agricultural residues co-digestion in southern Italy.

The suitability of the co-digestion of feedstock-mixtures (by-products and agricultural residues) depends on their ability to produce biogas. In this study, the effects of mixing five feedstocks (citrus pulp, olive pomace, poultry manure, Italian sainfoin silage and opuntia fresh cladodes) on anaerobic digestion for biogas production have been investigated by carrying out biomethane potential (BMP) tests on six different mixing ratios of the selected five biomasses. The BMP test results demonstrated that all the six studied feedstock-mixtures could be potentially used for renewable energy generation by biogas plants.

AFLP Approach Reveals Variability in : Implications for Its Die-Back and Evidence for Genotoxic Effects.

is a subcosmopolitan species typical of wetlands being studied in Europe for its disappearance from natural stands, a phenomenon called reed die-back syndrome (RDBS). Although it is conjectured that low genetic variability contributes to RDBS, this aspect remains neglected to this day. Using a molecular fingerprinting approach and a sequence analysis of the trnT-trnL/rbcL-psaI regions of cpDNA, this study aimed to compare the genetic structure of stable vs.

Oomycete Communities Associated with Reed Die-Back Syndrome.

(Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.

Secretory structures and essential oil composition in Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevisan subsp. officinalis (Lamiaceae) from Italy.

The secretory structures and the volatile fraction of Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevisan subsp. officinalis (Lamiaceae) from Italy were studied for the first time.

Invertebrate diversity in relation to chemical pollution in an Umbrian stream system (Italy).

We used self-organizing maps (SOM, neural network) to bring out patterns of benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in relation to river pollution. Fourteen stations were sampled over various seasons in the Nestore drainage basin (Central Italy) and characterized for macroinvertebrate communities, nutrient and heavy metal concentrations. Physicochemical variables were introduced into a SOM previously trained with macroinvertebrate data.

Chironomid mouthpart deformities as indicator of environmental quality: a case study in Lake Trasimeno (Italy).

The aim of the present study was to monitor mouthpart deformities of Chironomus plumosus (Insecta-Diptera) in Lake Trasimeno (2000-2010) in relation with sediment contamination by heavy metals, which is one of the main causes of deformity induction. In Lake Trasimeno, concentrations of heavy metals in the investigated littoral zone were low, in comparison with those of the central area. By contrast, the incidence of deformities was much higher in the littoral station (2006-2009) than in the central area.

Determination of trace transition metals in environmental matrices by chelation ion chromatography.

Trace transition metals (Fe(3+), Mn, Cu, Cd, Co, Zn, Ni) in environmental samples were analyzed by chelation ion chromatography using a mixed bed ion-exchange column with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDCA) and oxalic acid as eluent and large volume direct injection (1,000 μl). The two eluents, PDCA and oxalic acid, were tested, and repeatability and detection limits were compared. The total analysis time was ~15 min.

Sediment toxicity and deformities of chironomid larvae in Lake Piediluco (Central Italy).

The chemical analysis of the bottom sediments of the Lake Piediluco (Central Italy) has been carried out in order to individuate the potential correlation between the sediment toxicity and the high incidence of mouthpart deformities in chironomid larvae (biological indicators) found in this lake. The environmental contamination has been analyzed by determining the concentrations of the main heavy metals (lead, copper, cadmium, chromium, zinc and nickel), and the concentrations of organic compounds of anthropic source: PAHs, NPPs and OCPs. Heavy metals concentrations have pointed out a non-elevated contamination grade for the Lake Piediluco.

Photocatalytic degradation of high ammonia concentration water solutions by TiO2.

Recent studies reported the use of suspended TiO2 powder as photo catalyst in the degradation process of several organic and inorganic substances in water, like chlorinated hydrocarbons, alkyl- and alkanoloammines and ammonia. In order to evaluate the possibility of using this method for a further removal of ammonia from wastewater after a biological nitrification/denitrification treatment, a kinetic study of photo oxidation over TiO2 of NH3/NH4 in the high concentration range of 26 - 214 mg/I, has been carried out. Effects of pH, TiO2, ammonium and dissolved O2 concentration on the degradation efficiency and reaction products distribution (NO2-, NO3- e N2) were studied.

Monitoring and in vivo ecotoxicological evaluation of surface water quality in Umbria and Tuscany, Italy.

New Zealand White male rabbits have been watered for 45 days with surface water taken from three sites on Lake Trasimeno (Umbria, Italy) and from two artificial reservoirs along the Tiber River, one located on the upper tract of the river, just at the border between the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, and the other at the southernmost end of the Tiber Umbrian tract, just before it leaves Umbria. The detoxifying enzymatic activity (EROD) in rabbits was evaluated and used as an indicator of the chemical contamination of surface water due to various classes of micropollutants including organochlorinate pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The comparison between EROD values and the concentrations of organic micropollutant found in the water matrices showed that MFO hepatic activity in the rabbits is a sensitive, measurable biological parameter for quantitatively evaluating the presence of xenobiotic compounds in the environment.