Integrated Bayesian Approaches Shed Light on the Dissemination Routes of the Eurasian Grapevine Germplasm

The domestication and spreading of grapevine as well as the gene flow history had been described in many studies. We used a high-quality 7k SNP dataset of 1,038 Eurasian grape varieties with unique profiles to assess the population genetic diversity, structure, and relatedness, and to infer the most likely migration events. Comparisons of putative scenarios of gene flow throughout Europe from Caucasus helped to fit the more reliable migration routes around the Mediterranean Basin. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach made possible to provide a response to several questions so far remaining unsolved. Firstly, the assessment of genetic diversity and population structure within a well-covered dataset of ancient Italian varieties suggested the different histories between the Northern and Southern Italian grapevines. Moreover, Italian genotypes were shown to be distinguishable from all the other Eurasian populations for the first time. The entire Eurasian panel confirmed the east-to-west gene flow, highlighting the Greek role as a "bridge" between the Western and Eastern Eurasia. Portuguese germplasm showed a greater proximity to French varieties than the Spanish ones, thus being the main route for gene flow from Iberian Peninsula to Central Europe. Our findings reconciled genetic and archaeological data for one of the most cultivated and fascinating crops in the world.

Parentage Atlas of Italian Grapevine Varieties as Inferred From SNP Genotyping

The Italian grape germplasm is characterized by a high level of richness in terms of varieties number, with nearly 600 wine grape varieties listed in the Italian National Register of Grapevine Varieties and with a plethora of autochthonous grapes. In the present study an extended SNP genotyping has been carried out on Italian germplasm of cultivated Vitis vinifera subsp. sativa and Vitis hybrids. Several hundred Italian varieties maintained in the repositories of scientific Institutions and about one thousand additional varieties derived from previous studies on European, Southern Italy, Magna Graecia and Georgian germplasm were considered. The large genotyping data obtained were used to check the presence of homonyms and synonyms, determine parental relationships, and identify the main ancestors of traditional Italian cultivars and closely-related accessions. The parentage among a set of 1,232 unique varieties has been assessed. A total of 92 new parent-offspring (PO) pairs and 14 new PO trios were identified. The resulted parentage network suggested that the traditional Italian grapevine germplasm originates largely from a few central varieties geographically distributed into several areas of genetic influence: "Strinto porcino" and its offspring "Sangiovese", "Mantonico bianco" and "Aglianico" mainly as founder varieties of South-Western Italy (IT-SW); Italian Adriatic Coast (IT-AC); and Central Italy with most varieties being offsprings of "Visparola", "Garganega" and "Bombino bianco"; "Termarina (Sciaccarello)" "Orsolina" and "Uva Tosca" as the main varieties of North-Western Italy (IT-NW) and Central Italy. The pedigree reconstruction by full-sib and second-degree relationships highlighted the key role of some cultivars, and, in particular, the centrality of "Visparola" in the origin of Italian germplasm appeared clear. An hypothetical migration of this variety within the Italian Peninsula from South to North along the eastern side, as well as of "Sangiovese" from South to Central Italy along the Western side might be supposed. Moreover, it was also highlighted that, among the main founders of muscat varieties, "Moscato bianco" and "Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)" have spread over the whole Italy, with a high contribution by the former to germplasm of the North-Western of the peninsula.

Vineyard protection with rain-shelter: relationships between radiometric properties of plastic covers and table grape quality

The rise of unpredictable, heavy rainfalls increases incidence of diseases, berry rot, berry cracking, and enhance the need for rain shelters. The influence of the type of rain shelter on microclimate and grape quality is still little explored. The aim of this trial was to investigate the radiometric properties of a new type of cover, its effect on vineyard microclimate and on table grape quality, as compared with a reference cover, during a vintage with unusually abundant precipitation for Southern Italy. The new cover was characterized by lower transmissivity to IRshort radiation, and by a very higher transmissivity to UV radiation. It showed a tendency to decrease air temperature by 1 °C, increase RH by 2–3%, reduce VPD, and improve vine water status with respect to the reference. At harvest, grapes covered with the new sheet had higher TSS concentration, TSS / TA ratio, total skin polyphenol and flavonoids content, and berry skin resistance to rupture. Those berries, moreover, increased the level of volatile compounds such as linalool, typical of ‘Italia’ muscat aroma, and terpineol.

Effect of hydrolyzed protein-based mulching coatings on the soil properties and productivity in a tunnel greenhouse crop system

Polymeric protein-based biocomposites were used in this work as water dispersions to generate, in situ, biobased mulching coatings by spray technique, as alternative to low density polyethylene films for soil mulching. At the end of their lifetime, these biodegradable coatings degrade in soil thank to the microbial community that mineralizes them. Protein hydrolysates (PH) were derived from waste products of the leather industry, while poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEG) and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) were used to make the biodegradable spray coatings. A study under greenhouse condition was carried out using seedling test plots in order to investigate the performance of the spray coatings and their possible influence on some aspects of leaf growth, functionality and nutritional quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., Mortarella selection Romanella variety Duende) and on soil properties. The biodegradable coatings showed the same good agronomic performances comparable with the ones of a commercial low density polyethylene mulching film, maintaining the mulching effect for the requested cultivation period and ensuring at the same time a similar rate of plant growth and dry matter accumulation. The research showed that 2 months after the tillage carried out at the end of the cultivation the amount of coating residues present in the soil was <5% of the initial weight of the biodegradable coatings. At the end of the field test, the soil mulched with the polyethylene film recorded an electrical conductivity value lower with respect to the soil mulched with the sprayed coatings, which release nutrients in the soil during their decomposition.

Effects of defoliation on quality attributes of Nero di Troia (Vitis vinifera L.) grape and wine

Field studies were conducted in Puglia (Italy) to evaluate the influence of defoliation around cluster zones on grape and wine quality. Nero di Troia grapes were subjected to four different treatments: N: no leaf removal; E: leaf removal in the area of the clusters along the east side (at complete veraison); E/W: leaf removal in the area of the clusters along the east and west side (at complete veraison); and F: almost complete leaf removal along the west side (at complete veraison) and at pre-harvest also along the east side. Grapes of defoliated vines generally showed higher sugar content, lower titratable acidity, total flavonoids, flavonoids different from anthocyanins, and total phenolic content than grapes from non-defoliated vines while their total anthocyanin concentration was not affected by defoliation at a significant level. Concerning wines, alcohol content, residual soluble solids, different forms of anthocyanins but also volatile acidity were generally higher in samples from defoliated vines. Differences were also highlighted among the defoliation treatments: the best results in terms of dry matter, sugar and alcohol content were observed in the samples submitted to the more severe defoliation as a consequence of the higher light availability and berry temperature. Concerning the concentration of the individual phenolics, significant differences were highlighted for: caffeic and caftaric acids, peonidin- and malvidin-3-p-coumaroylglucoside, which were higher in the E wines; quercetin-3-glucoside, galactoside, and rhamnoside, and procyanidins, which were higher in F wines.

Mammography with synchrotron radiation: phase-detection techniques

The authors evaluated the effect on mammographic examinations of the use of synchrotron radiation to detect phase-perturbation effects, which are higher than absorption effects for soft tissue in the energy range of 15-25 keV. Detection of phase-perturbation effects was possible because of the high degree of coherence of synchrotron radiation sources. Synchrotron radiation images were obtained of a mammographic phantom and in vitro breast tissue specimens and compared with conventional mammographic studies. On the basis of grades assigned by three reviewers, image quality of the former was considerably higher, and the delivered dose was fully compatible.

Diagnostic imaging and interventional therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

Diagnostic imaging has many important roles in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In diagnosis, lipiodol CT (LCT) has been shown to be the most sensitive imaging modality (90-97%) for all sizes of lesions; all other modalities have high sensitivities for lesions 1-3 cm but low sensitivities for lesions < 1 cm (ultrasound 33-37%, conventional CT 20-42% and digital subtraction angiography 40-55%). All imaging modalities understage HCC. Once again LCT is the most accurate method of evaluating the extent of tumour, but even this method does not identify all satellite nodules. Ultrasound has been proposed as a screening method, but this cannot be justified on the basis of its results or cost benefit analysis. Both CT and dynamic MRI play useful roles in evaluating the efficacy and follow-up of patients undergoing chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). Although surgery remains the best treatment of HCC, it is unsuitable in most of the cases which would be better treated with interventional therapy. This article presents a review of the literature regarding the use of TACE, PEI or a combination of both procedures in the treatment of HCC. A multicentric study has shown that patients with monofocal lesions less than 5 cm in diameter are better treated with PEI, which is therefore a good alternative to the surgical treatment; patients with multifocal lesions (maximum of three lesions) show a better survival with TACE. Combined treatment with TACE and PEI proves to be effective in patients with large HCC.

Effects of a dimeric vs a monomeric nonionic contrast medium on renal function in patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial

The efficacy and safety of nonionic dimeric contrast media in subjects with impaired renal function is largely unknown. The present study was aimed at determining the risk of tubular nephrotoxicity in patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency who underwent intravenous urography (IVU) with the nonionic dimeric contrast agent iodixanol (Visipaque, Nycomed Imaging, Oslo, Norway). In a double-blind protocol 64 patients (55 males; mean age 68.3 years) with serum creatinine between 135 and 265 micromol/l who were to undergo IVU were randomized to receive iodixanol (a nonionic dimer) or iopromide (a nonionic monomer), 600 mg I/kg b. w. Renal function was evaluated before and 1 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h and 7 days after IVU with analysis of serum creatinine, urinary enzymes alanylaminopeptidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, and urinary microproteins alpha-1-microglobulin and albumin. Renal function remained stable in both contrast medium groups during the follow-up period. No statistically significant differences were observed between the monomer and the dimer in terms of urinary enzyme and microprotein excretion or serum creatinine. Transient radiocontrast-induced nephropathy developed in 1 patient who had received iodixanol. The administration of the nonionic dimeric contrast medium iodixanol, or of the nonionic monomer iopromide, entailed a low nephrotoxic potential in patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency undergoing excretory urography.

A linear array silicon pixel detector: images of a mammographic test object and evaluation of delivered doses

We present images of a mammographic test object obtained using a linear array silicon pixel detector capable of single-photon counting. The detector pixel size was 200 x 300 microns2 and images were acquired by scanning the test object between the laminar detector and the x-ray source with a scanning step of 100 microns. A molybdenum anode tube was used with two different filtrations: 2 mm aluminium and 25 microns molybdenum. Conventional film-screen images were also obtained in order to compare spatial and contrast resolution. In our digital images it is possible to recognize low-contrast details having dimensions smaller than or equal to the dimensions of details visible by means of a clinical mammographic unit. The detection of microcalcifications smaller than 150 microns was possible only when using the Mo filtration. However a copper wire of 50 microns diameter was detectable when embedded in a simulated tissue. We discuss in detail the mean glandular doses (MGDs) delivered during the image acquisition. The MGDs necessary to obtain good-quality images are always smaller than at a conventional mammographic unit. Since MGDs depend on the x-ray spectrum, the dose reduction becomes larger when the applied spectrum is harder than in film-screen acquisition (Al filtration and 35 kVp).

Abdominal contrast tomography in the evaluation of the gall-bladder and biliary tract (with emphasis upon jaundiced patients)

Tomography of the right upper quadrant after the rapid intravenous infusion of a high dose of contrast medium is a valuable method of investigation of hepato-biliary disease. Gall-bladder wall opacification may be normal, but if the wall is thicker than 2 mm and if irregular, it indicates inflammatory or calculous disease. Gall-bladder area greater than 35 cm2 indicates bile duct obstruction. This also causes the ducts to appear as lucent bands within the opacified liver parenchyma. Secondary deposits in the liver may also become visible. Various patterns of these findings are described which suggest specific biliary abnormalities.