Use of an automatic fruit-zone cooling system to cope with multiple summer stresses in Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes

Grapevines are frequently subjected to heatwaves and limited water availability during ripening. These conditions can have consequences for the physiological health of the vines. Moreover, the situation is often exacerbated by intense solar radiation, resulting in reduced yield due to sunburn and a decline in quality. In light of these challenges, our study aimed to develop a fruit-zone cooling system designed to mitigate grape sunburn damage and improve the microclimate conditions within the vineyard. The system comprises a network of proximal sensors that collect microclimate data from the vineyard and an actuator that activates nebulizers when the temperature exceeds the threshold of 35°C. The research was conducted over two years (2022 and 2023) in Bologna (Italy) using potted Sangiovese and Montepulciano vines. These two vintages were characterized by high temperatures, with varying amounts of rainfall during the test period, significantly impacting the evaporative demand, which was notably higher in 2023. Starting from the veraison stage we compared three treatments: Irrigated control vines (WW); Control vines subjected to 50% water restriction during the month of August (WS); WS vines treated with nebulized water in the bunch area during the stress period (WS+FOG). The application of nebulized water effectively reduced the temperature of both the air around the clusters and the clusters themselves. As we expected, Montepulciano showed better single leaf assimilation rate and stomatal conductance under non-limiting water conditions than Sangiovese while their behavior was unaffected under water-scarce conditions. Importantly, for the first time, we demonstrated that nebulized water positively affected gas exchange in both grape varieties. In addition to this, the vines treated with the misting system exhibited higher productivity compared to WS vines without affecting technological maturity. In the 2023 vintage, the activation of the system prevented the ripening blockage that occurred in Montepulciano under water stress. Regarding the concentration of total anthocyanins, a significant increase in color was observed in WS+FOG treatment, suggesting a predominant role of microclimate on anthocyanin biosynthesis and reduction of oxidative phenomena. In conclusion, the fruit-zone cooling system proved to be an invaluable tool for mitigating the adverse effects of multiple summer stresses.

The impact of image contrast, resolution and reader expertise on black hole identification in Multiple Sclerosis

OBJECTIVES

In the neuroradiological work-up of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the detection of "black holes" (BH) represent an information of undeniable importance. Nevertheless, different sequences can be used in clinical practice to evaluate BH in MS. Aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of different sequences, resolutions, and levels of expertise on the intra- and inter-rater reliability identification of BH in MS.

METHODS

Brain MRI scans of 85 MS patients (M/F = 22/63; mean age = 36.0 ± 10.2 years) were evaluated in this prospective single-center study. The acquisition protocol included a 3 mm SE-T1w sequence, a 1 mm 3D-GrE-T1w sequence from which a resliced 3 mm sequence was also obtained. Images were evaluated independently by two readers of different expertise at baseline and after a wash-out period of 30 days. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated as an index of intra and inter-reader reliability.

RESULTS

For both readers, the intra-reader ICC analysis showed that the 3 mm SE-T1w and 3 mm resliced GrE-T1w images achieved an excellent performance (both with an ICC ≥ 0.95), while 1 mm 3D-GrE-T1w scans achieved a moderate one (ICC < 0.90). The inter-reader analysis showed that each of the three sequences achieved a moderate performance (all ICCs < 0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

The 1 mm 3D-GrE-T1w sequence seems to be prone to a greater intra-reader variability compared to the 3 mm SE-T1w, with this effect being driven by the higher spatial resolution of the first sequence. To ensure reliability levels comparable with the standard SE-T1w in BH count, an assessment on a 3 mm resliced GrE-T1w sequence should be recommended.

Life Cycle Assessment of a system for the extraction and transformation of Waste Water Treatment Sludge (WWTS)-derived lipids into biodiesel

In recent years, the demand for biofuels has been growing exponentially, as has the interest in biodiesel produced from organic matrices. Particularly interesting, due to its economic and environmental advantages, is the use of the lipids present in sewage sludge as a raw material for the synthesis of biodiesel. The possible processes of this biodiesel synthesis, starting from lipid matter, are represented by the conventional process with sulfuric acid, by the process with aluminium chloride hexahydrate and by processes that use solid catalysts such as those consisting of mixed metal oxides, functionalized halloysites, mesoporous perovskite and functionalized silicas. In literature there are numerous Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies concerning biodiesel production systems, but not many studies consider processes that start from sewage sludge and that use solid catalysts. In addition, no LCA studies were reported on solid acid catalysts nor on those based on mixed metal oxides which present some precious advantages, over the homogeneous analogous ones, such as higher recyclability, prevention of foams and corrosion phenomena, and an easier separation and purification of biodiesel product. This research work reports the results of a comparative LCA study applied to a system that uses a solvent free pilot plant for the extraction and transformation of lipids from sewage sludge via seven different scenarios that differ in the type of catalyst used. The biodiesel synthesis scenario using aluminium chloride hexahydrate as catalyst has the best environmental profile. Biodiesel synthesis scenarios using solid catalysts are worse due to higher methanol consumption which requires higher electricity consumption. The worst scenario is the one using functionalized halloysites. Further future developments of the research require the passage from the pilot scale to the industrial scale in order to obtain environmental results to be used for a more reliable comparison with the literature data.

Economic preferences and obesity: Evidence from a clinical lab-in-field study

Many studies which describe the relationship between obesity and economic preference rely on healthy, clinically-irrelevant populations. Instead, we study economic decision-making of a clinically-relevant population of 299 people with obesity who participated in a 6-months Randomized Controlled Trial in two Sydney-based hospitals to prevent diabetes onset. To elicit preferences, we use incentive-compatible experimental tasks that participants completed during their medical screening examination. In this population, we find that participants are risk averse, show no evidence of present bias, and have impatience levels comparable to healthy samples described in the international literature. Variations in present bias and impatience are not significantly associated with variations in markers of obesity. We find however a statistically significant negative association between risk tolerance and markers of obesity for women. Importantly, impatience moderates the link between risk tolerance and obesity, a finding which we are able to replicate in nationally-representative survey data. We discuss explanations for why our findings deviate markedly from the literature for this understudied but highly policy-relevant population. One explanation is that our specific population consists of forward-looking, well-educated individuals, who are willing to participate in an intensive health intervention. Hence, other factors may be at play for why these individuals live with obesity.

When Cannabis sativa L. Turns Purple: Biosynthesis and Accumulation of Anthocyanins

Environmental cues elicit anthocyanin synthesis in plant vegetative and reproductive tissues. Their accumulation in different organs accounts for their diverse biological functions, mainly related to their antioxidant properties, and it depends on a temporally and spatially regulated mechanism controlled by the action of a well-known multi-transcription factor complex. Despite the highly recognizable value of Cannabis sativa L. as a natural biorefinery of phytochemicals, very little information is known on anthocyanin pigmentation in this species. In this work, a targeted quantification of anthocyanins via HPLC-MS/MS, combined with the transcriptional profile via RT-qPCR of genes encoding for structural and decorating enzymes and regulatory transcription factors in different C. sativa tissues, help gain insights into the anthocyanin pathway in this species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the identification of cyanidin-3-rutinoside (keracyanin) as the major anthocyanin in C. sativa vegetative and floral tissues. Keracyanin amounts were higher than in small berries, suggesting that Cannabis biomass is a valuable source of colored antioxidants to be exploited in diverse applications. Furthermore, a gene putatively encoding for an anthocyanin DTX35 type transporter and CsTTG1 were identified in silico and their transcriptional levels were assessed via RT-qPCR. The results allow us to provide the first model of anthocyanin regulation in C. sativa, opening a new research scenario in this species for both breeding purposes and phytochemical exploitation.

Red and Blue Light Differently Influence Actinidia chinensis Performance and Its Interaction with Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae

Light composition modulates plant growth and defenses, thus influencing plant-pathogen interactions. We investigated the effects of different light-emitting diode (LED) red (R) (665 nm) and blue (B) (470 nm) light combinations on Actinidia chinensis performance by evaluating biometric parameters, chlorophyll a fluorescence, gas exchange and photosynthesis-related gene expression. Moreover, the influence of light on the infection by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the etiological agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit, was investigated. Our study shows that 50%R-50%B (50R) and 25%R-75%B (25R) lead to the highest PSII efficiency and photosynthetic rate, but are the least effective in controlling the endophytic colonization of the host by Psa. Monochromatic red light severely reduced ΦPSII, ETR, Pn, TSS and photosynthesis-related genes expression, and both monochromatic lights lead to a reduction of DW and pigments content. Monochromatic blue light was the only treatment significantly reducing disease symptoms but did not reduce bacterial endophytic population. Our results suggest that monochromatic blue light reduces infection primarily by modulating Psa virulence more than host plant defenses.

Manipulation under Anesthesia versus Non-Surgical Treatment for Patients with Frozen Shoulder Contracture Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) compared to other non-surgical therapeutic strategies for patients with frozen shoulder contracture syndrome (FSCS). Methods: A systematic review of literature was conducted. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro, Cochrane Central Library and Scopus. Only randomized controlled trials were included and assessed for critical appraisal through the Cochrane Collaborations tools. Results: Five randomized controlled trials were included. The overall risk of bias (RoB) was high in 4 out of 5 of the included studies. MUA was found to be not superior in terms of reduction of pain and improvement of function when compared to cortisone injections with hydrodilatation (mean regression coefficient MUA −2.77 vs. injection −2.75; 95% CI (−1.11 to 1.15)) and home exercise (mean difference 95% CI: 0.2 (−0.64 to 1.02)) in the short term (3 months), and cortisone injections with hydrodilatation (mean regression coefficient MUA 3.13 vs. injection 3.23; 95% CI (−0.90 to 1.11)) in the long term (>6 months). Moreover, if compared to structured physiotherapy, MUA highlighted a higher Oxford Shoulder Score at final 1-year follow up (mean difference 95% CI: 1.05 (−1.28 to 3.39); p = 0.38). Similar results were obtained for disability, with statistically no significant long-term (>12 months) differences between MUA and home exercise (mean difference 95% CI: 0 (−3.2 to 3.2)) or structured physiotherapy (mean difference 95% CI: −0.50 (−5.70 to 4.70); p = 0.85)). Only two trials reported adverse events. Conclusions: This review suggested that limited and inconsistent evidence currently exists on the efficacy of MUA compared to other non-surgical strategies in the management of patients with FSCS. Future research should focus on clinical trials with higher methodological quality.

Foliar application of kaolin and zeolites to adapt the adverse effects of climate change in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sangiovese

One of the first effects of climate change in wine-growing areas is the advancement of phenological stages, especially concerning early berry ripening. In this condition, the decoupling between technological and phenolic maturity often occurs. Anthocyanins in red grapes are among the compounds that mostly contribute to phenolic maturity. However, their accumulation in the grape berries is known to be impaired by high temperatures. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mineral-based compounds treatments with kaolin and zeolite, based on chabasite, on the enhancement of anthocyanins accumulation, also at the molecular level, analysing the gene expressions along the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway during ripening of Sangiovese berries. In addition, the temperature of berries and grape leaves, vine water status, leaf photosynthetic efficiency, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH were measured throughout the growing season. Hence, in the current study, it has been demonstrated the efficacy of kaolin and zeolite treatments not only in lowering the daily maximum grape berries temperature but also in the improvement of grapes anthocyanins accumulation correlated with the enhancement of expression of those genes involved in their biosynthesis pathway. Moreover, treatments had no significant effect on productive parameters.

Rotator cuff repair vs. nonoperative treatment: a systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Rotator cuff (RC) tears have been widely studied as many treatment strategies have been recommended. However, optimal management for patients with RC tears is still unclear.

PURPOSE

The main aim of this systematic review was to analyze randomized controlled trials using meta-analysis to compare repair to conservative treatments for patients with any type of RC tear.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL database), PEDro, and Scopus databases were used. Two independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials that compared surgical to conservative treatments for RC tear patients. The studies included were assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tools, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence and to summarize the study conclusions.

RESULTS

Six trials were included. Pooled results showed improvement in function and pain perception in favor of the repair group at 6 months (mean difference 1.26, 95% CI -2.34, 4.85, P = .49; and -0.59, 95% CI -0.84, -0.33, P < .001, respectively), at 12 months (mean difference 5.25, 95% CI 1.55, 8.95, P = .005, for function; and -0.41, 95% CI -0.70, -0.12, P = .006, for pain) and at 24 months (mean difference 5.57, 95% CI 1.86, 9.29, P = .003, for function; and -0.92, 95% CI -1.31, -0.52, P < .001, for pain) in RC tear patients. However, these differences did not reach the minimum clinically important difference. The certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate because of imprecision in the studies included.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall analysis showed that in patients with RC tear, repair compared with conservative treatment could result in increased pain reduction and functional improvement at 6, 12, and 24 months. Even if these effects were often statistically significant, their clinical relevance was limited. Moreover, the certainty of body of evidence ranged from low to moderate.

Does Organic Farming Increase Raspberry Quality, Aroma and Beneficial Bacterial Biodiversity?

Plant-associated microbes can shape plant phenotype, performance, and productivity. Cultivation methods can influence the plant microbiome structure and differences observed in the nutritional quality of differently grown fruits might be due to variations in the microbiome taxonomic and functional composition. Here, the influence of organic and integrated pest management (IPM) cultivation on quality, aroma and microbiome of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) fruits was evaluated. Differences in the fruit microbiome of organic and IPM raspberry were examined by next-generation sequencing and bacterial isolates characterization to highlight the potential contribution of the resident-microflora to fruit characteristics and aroma. The cultivation method strongly influenced fruit nutraceutical traits, aroma and epiphytic bacterial biocoenosis. Organic cultivation resulted in smaller fruits with a higher anthocyanidins content and lower titratable acidity content in comparison to IPM berries. Management practices also influenced the amounts of acids, ketones, aldehydes and monoterpenes, emitted by fruits. Our results suggest that the effects on fruit quality could be related to differences in the population of Gluconobacter, Sphingomonas, Rosenbergiella, Brevibacillus and Methylobacterium on fruit. Finally, changes in fruit aroma can be partly explained by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by key bacterial genera characterizing organic and IPM raspberry fruits.

Publisher Correction: On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Publisher Correction: On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Post-veraison trimming slow down sugar accumulation without modifying phenolic ripening in Sangiovese vines

BACKGROUND

Vineyard strategies have recently been developed to combat the effects of global warming on grapevines, which is causing grapes to ripen quickly, excessive sugar accumulation in berries, and high alcohol levels in wines. We evaluate the effectiveness of post-veraison trimming as a means of slowing down sugar accumulation, without modifying phenolic ripening, in Sangiovese vines grown in highly fertile and well watered soil.

RESULTS

The removal of about two-thirds of the leaf area by shoot trimming after veraison led to a reduction in sugar content without affecting yield. Total and extractable anthocyanins, skin, and seed tannins showed no significant variation at harvest after the treatment during the three-year trial, while the replenishment of carbohydrates in canes at the end of the trial was negatively affected.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that, in highly fertile and well-watered soil, post-veraison trimming may represent a powerful tool for decreasing sugar concentration during harvest without affecting yield or total and extractable phenolic compounds. However, the reduction in starch reserves compared to the control serves as a warning about repeated trimming over the years. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of delayed winter pruning on vine performance and grape composition in cv. Merlot

Delaying winter pruning until after budburst is a technique that can retard vine phenological phases and reduce grape sugar concentration at harvest. Given these characteristics, many studies have recently been conducted to verify the ability of pruning after budburst to contrast the negative effects of climate change. In our trial, vines of the cv. Merlot, trained to a VSP spur pruned cordon, were pre-pruned leaving 8 nodes per shoot and hand finished when the shoots sprouted by the apical nodes were at BBCH13 (treatment LP) and BBCH18 stage (treatment VLP). Vines refinished during winter were used as control (WP). Anthocyanins and tannins of skin and seeds were analysed after both exhaustive extraction (total content) and extraction conducted with a hydroalcoholic solution (extractable portion). Vines refinished after budburst showed reduced leaf area, yield, cluster and berry weights; technological maturity of these vines was delayed as lower sugar concentration and pH were observed at harvest. Treatment VLP had a stronger effect than LP on these parameters. Considering phenolic compounds, the skin and seed tannin concentration increased only in VLP, while no effect was found on anthocyanins. In conclusion, delaying pruning until after budburst revealed interesting prospects for contrasting the negative effects of climate change.

Biochemical and molecular effects of yeast extract applications on anthocyanin accumulation in cv. Sangiovese

The effect of biotic and abiotic elicitors on the secondary metabolism in grapevine is gaining a lot of interest, as it has been shown that they can increase the accumulation of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins in particular. The aim of this research was to verify the biochemical and molecular effects of the application of LalVigne™ MATURE (Lallemand, St. Simon, France), 100% inactivated natural yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the anthocyanin accumulation in potted plants of Sangiovese. In both years, LVM plants did not differ from C in technological ripening at harvest. A significant increase in anthocyanin concentration and the expression of genes involved in their biosynthesis was found in 2016 in LVM grapes compared to C, while in 2017, a year with extremely warm temperatures, the anthocyanins of C and LVM were comparable, despite a slight increase in LVM after the second treatment.

Climate change and vine training systems: the influence different spatial distribution of shoots may have on sugar accumulation in Sangiovese grapevines

The choice of training system may influence vineyard efficiency in terms of light interception and water consumption, particularly in the current context of climate change. On this basis, during the 2017 season, Sangiovese potted vines were grown outdoors using two different training systems: guyot vertical shoot positioned system (C) and V-shaped open canopy (A). From the end of June until September, vine transpiration was continuously monitored by the gravimetric approach and at different times in the season, the leaf area, light interception, photosynthetic activity and stem water potential were measured. Grape yield and fruit composition were recorded at harvest. C plants did not differ from A in terms of leaf area during the entire season. Light interception was higher in C vines during the early hours of the morning and lower in the central part of the day and the transpiration loss was higher, as was the net photosynthesis detected on some days in August. No differences were detected in terms of yield but a significant increase in soluble solids was found in C compared to A. The open canopy compared to a closed one, in a particularly hot year like 2017, resulted in negative consequences on the accumulation of soluble solids, probably as a result of the radiative stress suffered by the A vines in the middle hours of the day.

Characterization of Monilinia spp. Populations on Stone Fruit in South Italy

Monilinia spp. are responsible for brown rot decay of stone and pome fruit in the field as well as in postharvest. Monilinia laxa and M. fructigena are considered indigenous to Europe, while M. fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization area included in the A2 List. In Italy, it was first reported in 2009 in Piedmont (northern Italy) and rapidly spread to central Italy. We carried out a monitoring program on the occurrence of Monilinia spp. in southern Italy and a comparative characterization of the three main fungal pathogens. Molecular assays based on direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR for molecular identification of Monilinia spp. from rotted fruit were set up, validated, and applied in a monitoring program. Of the tested 519 isolates from 26 orchards, 388 (74.8%) were identified as M. fructicola, 118 (22.7%) as M. laxa, 10 (1.9%) as M. fructigena, and 3 (0.6%) were M. polystroma. M. fructicola colonies grew faster and had a higher optimal temperature for growth (26°C) than M. laxa (23°C) and M. fructigena (20°C). No relevant difference in virulence could be observed on artificially inoculated apricot, cherry, and peach fruit. The fungal species showed different responses to fungicides, because M. fructicola was more sensitive than M. laxa, especially to cyflufenamid, and M. fructigena revealed a lower sensitivity to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (boscalid, fluopyram, and fluxapyroxad) and quinone outside inhibitors (mandestrobin). In summary, the two species M. fructicola and M. polystroma were first detected in southern Italy where M. fructicola has largely displaced the two indigenous pathogens M. laxa and M. fructigena; the relative proportions of the three pathogens in orchards should be considered when defining the management of brown rot of stone fruit due to differences in their responses to fungicides.

Comparison of different types of landfill leachate treatments by employment of nontarget screening to identify residual refractory organics and principal component analysis

Three different chemical oxidation processes were investigated in terms of their capability to degrade organic chemical components of real mature landfill-leachate in combination with biological treatment run in a Sequencing Batch Biofilter Granular Reactor (SBBGR). H₂O₂, H₂O₂ + UV and O₃ were integrated with SBBGR and respective effluents were analyzed and compared with the effluent obtained from biological SBBGR treatment alone. In agreement with their respective oxidative power, conventional bulk parameters (residual COD, TOC, N_tot, TSS) determined from the resulting effluents evidenced the following efficacy ranking for degradation: SBBGR/O₃ > SBBGR/UV + H₂O₂ > SBBGR/H₂O₂ > SBBGR. A more detailed characterization of the organic compounds was subsequently carried out for the four treated streams. For this, effluents were first subjected to a sample preparation step, allowing for a classification in terms of acidic, basic, strongly acidic and strongly basic compounds, and finally to analysis by liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HR-MS). This classification, combined with further data post-processing (non-target screening, Venn Diagram, tri-dimensional plot and Principal Component Analysis), evidenced that the SBBGR/H₂O₂ process is comparable to the pure biological oxidation. In contrast, SBBGR/O₃ and SBBGR/UV + H₂O₂ not only resulted in a very different residual composition as compared to SBBGR and SBBGR/H₂O₂, but also differ significantly from each other. In fact, and despite of the SBBGR/O₃ being the most efficient process, this treatment remained chemically more similar to SBBGR/H₂O₂ than to SBBGR/UV + H₂O₂. This finding may be attributable to different mechanism of degradation involved with the use of UV radiation. Apart from these treatment differences, a series of recalcitrant compounds was determined in all of the four treatments and partly identified as hetero-poly-aromatic species (humic acids-like species).

Low night temperature at veraison enhances the accumulation of anthocyanins in Corvina grapes (Vitis Vinifera L.)

Climate change is a major concern in grape production worldwide. Nights have been warming much faster than the days, raising attention on the effect of night temperatures on grape and wine composition. In this study we evaluated the effect of night temperatures on grape coloration in the cv. Corvina (Vitis vinifera L.). In 2015 and 2016 potted plants were cooled overnight (10-11 °C) during two berry ripening phases, veraison (TV) or post-veraison (TPV), and compared to control vines (C) grown at ambient night temperature (15-20 °C on average). Cooling treatment around veraison (TV) hastened berry anthocyanin accumulation, while the same treatment applied after veraison (TPV) was ineffective. Molecular analysis revealed an increased transcription of four key genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis (CHS3, F3H1, MYBA1 and UFGT) in TV treatment. These results suggest that the anthocyanin biosynthesis capacity was enhanced by cool nights during veraison. However, since the gene expression was not always temporally correlated to the increase in anthocyanin concentration, we speculate on the presence of mechanisms, such as enzymatic regulation or anthocyanin transport, which may contribute in determining the anthocyanin accumulation under low night temperatures.

Whole Plant Temperature Manipulation Affects Flavonoid Metabolism and the Transcriptome of Grapevine Berries

Among environmental factors, temperature is the one that poses serious threats to viticulture in the present and future scenarios of global climate change. In this work, we evaluated the effects on berry ripening of two thermal regimes, imposed from veraison to harvest. Potted vines were grown in two air-conditioned greenhouses with High Temperature (HT) and Low Temperature (LT) regimes characterized by 26 and 21°C as average and 42 and 35°C as maximum air daily temperature, respectively. We conducted analyses of the main berry compositional parameters, berry skin flavonoids and berry skin transcriptome on HT and LT berries sampled during ripening. The two thermal conditions strongly differentiated the berries. HT regime increased sugar accumulation at the beginning of ripening, but not at harvest, when HT treatment contributed to a slight total acidity reduction and pH increase. Conversely, growing temperatures greatly impacted on anthocyanin and flavonol concentrations, which resulted as strongly reduced, while no effects were found on skin tannins accumulation. Berry transcriptome was analyzed with several approaches in order to identify genes with different expression profile in berries ripened under HT or LT conditions. The analysis of whole transcriptome showed that the main differences emerging from this approach appeared to be more due to a shift in the ripening process, rather than to a strong rearrangement at transcriptional level, revealing that the LT temperature regime could delay berry ripening, at least in the early stages. Moreover, the results of the in-depth screening of genes differentially expressed in HT and LT did not highlight differences in the expression of transcripts involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoids (with the exception of PAL and STS) despite the enzymatic activities of PALs and UFGT being significantly higher in LT than HT. This suggests only a partial correlation between molecular and biochemical data in our conditions and the putative existence of post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms playing significant roles in the regulation of flavonoid metabolic pathways and in particular of anthocyanins.

Transcriptional Responses to Pre-flowering Leaf Defoliation in Grapevine Berry from Different Growing Sites, Years, and Genotypes

Leaf removal is a grapevine canopy management technique widely used to modify the source-sink balance and/or microclimate around berry clusters to optimize fruit composition. In general, the removal of basal leaves before flowering reduces fruit set, hence achieving looser clusters, and improves grape composition since yield is generally curtailed more than proportionally to leaf area itself. Albeit responses to this practice seem quite consistent, overall vine performance is affected by genotype, environmental conditions, and severity of treatment. The physiological responses of grape varieties to defoliation practices have been widely investigated, and just recently a whole genome transcriptomic approach was exploited showing an extensive transcriptome rearrangement in berries defoliated before flowering. Nevertheless, the extent to which these transcriptomic reactions could be manifested by different genotypes and growing environments is entirely unexplored. To highlight general responses to defoliation vs. different locations, we analyzed the transcriptome of cv. Sangiovese berries sampled at four development stages from pre-flowering defoliated vines in two different geographical areas of Italy. We obtained and validated five markers of the early defoliation treatment in Sangiovese, an ATP-binding cassette transporter, an auxin response factor, a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, a flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase and an indole-3-acetate beta-glucosyltransferase. Candidate molecular markers were also obtained in another three grapevine genotypes (Nero d'Avola, Ortrugo, and Ciliegiolo), subjected to the same level of selective pre-flowering defoliation (PFD) over two consecutive years in their different areas of cultivation. The flavonol synthase was identified as a marker in the pre-veraison phase, the jasmonate methyltransferase during the transition phase and the abscisic acid receptor PYL4 in the ripening phase. The characterization of transcriptome changes in Sangiovese berry after PFD highlights, on one hand, the stronger effect of environment than treatment on the whole berry transcriptome rearrangement during development and, on the other, expands existing knowledge of the main molecular and biochemical modifications occurring in defoliated vines. Moreover, the identification of candidate genes associated with PFD in different genotypes and environments provides new insights into the applicability and repeatability of this crop practice, as well as its possible agricultural and qualitative outcomes across genetic and environmental variability.

Influence of berry ripeness on accumulation, composition and extractability of skin and seed flavonoids in cv. Sangiovese (Vitis vinifera L.)

BACKGROUND

The anthocyanin and tannin concentration and composition of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sangiovese berries were investigated from post-veraison to harvest. Exhaustive extraction with methanol and acetone was performed to determine the total flavonoid concentration, while a model hydroalcoholic solution was used to prepare extracts representing the winemaking process. The aim of this study was to improve the knowledge of the phenolic maturity of Sangiovese grape.

RESULTS

The total anthocyanin concentration increased during ripening, but the quantity of extractable anthocyanins increased more rapidly than the total. The total skin tannin concentration declined from post-veraison to harvest, whereas the extractable portion increased, with little difference in the composition of the fractions. Both the total and extractable seed tannin concentration diminished rapidly just after veraison, and only small fluctuations were detected until harvest.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the extractability of anthocyanins and skin tannins increases during ripening, whereas there is no clear trend for seed tannins during the same period. This is the first survey to study the behavior of phenolic compounds during different steps of ripening of Sangiovese grape. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Status of hormones and painkillers in wastewater effluents across several European states-considerations for the EU watch list concerning estradiols and diclofenac

Present technologies for wastewater treatment do not sufficiently address the increasing pollution situation of receiving water bodies, especially with the growing use of personal care products and pharmaceuticals (PPCP) in the private household and health sector. The relevance of addressing this problem of organic pollutants was taken into account by the Directive 2013/39/EU that introduced (i) the quality evaluation of aquatic compartments, (ii) the polluter pays principle, (iii) the need for innovative and affordable wastewater treatment technologies, and (iv) the identification of pollution causes including a list of principal compounds to be monitored. In addition, a watch list of 10 other substances was recently defined by Decision 2015/495 on March 20, 2015. This list contains, among several recalcitrant chemicals, the painkiller diclofenac and the hormones 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol. Although some modern approaches for their removal exist, such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), retrofitting most wastewater treatment plants with AOPs will not be acceptable as consistent investment at reasonable operational cost. Additionally, by-product and transformation product formation has to be considered. The same is true for membrane-based technologies (nanofiltration, reversed osmosis) despite of the incredible progress that has been made during recent years, because these systems lead to higher operation costs (mainly due to higher energy consumption) so that the majority of communities will not easily accept them. Advanced technologies in wastewater treatment like membrane bioreactors (MBR) that integrate biological degradation of organic matter with membrane filtration have proven a more complete elimination of emerging pollutants in a rather cost- and labor-intensive technology. Still, most of the presently applied methods are incapable of removing critical compounds completely. In this opinion paper, the state of the art of European WWTPs is reflected, and capacities of single methods are described. Furthermore, the need for analytical standards, risk assessment, and economic planning is stressed. The survey results in the conclusion that combinations of different conventional and advanced technologies including biological and plant-based strategies seem to be most promising to solve the burning problem of polluting our environment with hazardous emerging xenobiotics.

The grapevine VviPrx31 peroxidase as a candidate gene involved in anthocyanin degradation in ripening berries under high temperature

Anthocyanin levels decline in some red grape berry varieties ripened under high-temperature conditions, but the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. Here we studied the effects of two different temperature regimes, representing actual Sangiovese (Vitis vinifera L.) viticulture regions, on the accumulation of mRNAs and enzymes controlling berry skin anthocyanins. Potted uniform plants of Sangiovese were kept from veraison to harvest, in two plastic greenhouses with different temperature conditions. The low temperature (LT) conditions featured average and maximum daily air temperatures of 20 and 29 °C, respectively, whereas the corresponding high temperature (HT) conditions were 22 and 36 °C, respectively. The anthocyanin concentration at harvest was much lower in HT berries than LT berries although their profile was similar under both conditions. Under HT conditions, the biosynthesis of anthocyanins was suppressed at both the transcriptional and enzymatic levels, but peroxidase activity was higher. This suggests that the low anthocyanin content of HT berries reflects the combined impact of reduced biosynthesis and increased degradation, particularly the direct role of peroxidases in anthocyanin catabolism. Overexpression of VviPrx31 decreased anthocyanin contents in Petunia hybrida petals under heat stress condition. These data suggest that high temperature can stimulate peroxidase activity thus anthocyanin degradation in ripening grape berries.

Preliminary results of lab-scale investigations of products of incomplete combustion during incineration of primary and mixed digested sludge

Separation between primary and secondary sludge treatment could be a valuable solution for sludge management. According to this approach, secondary sludge can be conveniently used in agriculture while primary sludge could be easily dried and incinerated. It follows that some concern may arise from incinerating primary sludge with respect to the current practice to incinerate mixed digested sludge. Incineration of primary and mixed digested municipal sludge was investigated with a lab-scale equipment in terms of emissions of products of incomplete combustion (PICs) during incineration failure modes. PICs can be grouped in three sub-categories, namely aliphatic hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes), compounds with a single aromatic ring, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). After-burning temperature was the most important parameter to be controlled in order to minimize emissions of alkanes and alkenes. As for mono-aromatic compounds, benzene and toluene are the most thermally resistant compounds, and in some cases, an after-burning temperature of 1100 °C was not enough to get the complete destruction of benzene leading to a residual emission of 18 mg/kgsludge. PAHs showed an opposite trend with respect to aliphatic and mono-aromatic hydrocarbons being the thermal failure mode the main responsible of PIC emissions. A proper oxygen concentration is more important than elevated temperature thus reflecting the high thermal stability of PAHs. Overall, obtained results, even though obtained under flameless conditions that are different from those of the industrial plants, demonstrated that separation of primary and secondary sludge does not pose any drawbacks or concern regarding primary sludge being disposed of by incineration even though it is more contaminated than mixed digested sludge in terms of organic pollutants.

A Conserved Interaction between a C-Terminal Motif in Norovirus VPg and the HEAT-1 Domain of eIF4G Is Essential for Translation Initiation

Translation initiation is a critical early step in the replication cycle of the positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome of noroviruses, a major cause of gastroenteritis in humans. Norovirus RNA, which has neither a 5´ m⁷G cap nor an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), adopts an unusual mechanism to initiate protein synthesis that relies on interactions between the VPg protein covalently attached to the 5´-end of the viral RNA and eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) in the host cell. For murine norovirus (MNV) we previously showed that VPg binds to the middle fragment of eIF4G (4GM; residues 652–1132). Here we have used pull-down assays, fluorescence anisotropy, and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to demonstrate that a stretch of ~20 amino acids at the C terminus of MNV VPg mediates direct and specific binding to the HEAT-1 domain within the 4GM fragment of eIF4G. Our analysis further reveals that the MNV C terminus binds to eIF4G HEAT-1 via a motif that is conserved in all known noroviruses. Fine mutagenic mapping suggests that the MNV VPg C terminus may interact with eIF4G in a helical conformation. NMR spectroscopy was used to define the VPg binding site on eIF4G HEAT-1, which was confirmed by mutagenesis and binding assays. We have found that this site is non-overlapping with the binding site for eIF4A on eIF4G HEAT-1 by demonstrating that norovirus VPg can form ternary VPg-eIF4G-eIF4A complexes. The functional significance of the VPg-eIF4G interaction was shown by the ability of fusion proteins containing the C-terminal peptide of MNV VPg to inhibit in vitro translation of norovirus RNA but not cap- or IRES-dependent translation. These observations define important structural details of a functional interaction between norovirus VPg and eIF4G and reveal a binding interface that might be exploited as a target for antiviral therapy.

Norovirus infections cause acute gastroenteritis and are a growing worldwide problem in human health. A critical early step in infection is translation of the viral RNA genome to produce the proteins needed to assemble new virus particles. In mouse noroviruses (MNV), which provide a useful model for studying human noroviruses, the VPg protein attached to the viral RNA is essential for this process because it interacts with a cellular protein, eIF4G, that is normally involved in initiating protein synthesis from the messenger RNA of host genes. We have used a variety of biochemical and biophysical experiments to measure how well MNV VPg binds to eIF4G and to identify the parts of both proteins that are involved in this interaction. We show that a sequence of about 20 amino acids at one end of MNV VPg–the C terminus– allows it to bind to a well-defined domain within eIF4G (called HEAT-1), and that it may adopt a helical structure when doing so. Our data suggest that this interaction is common to all noroviruses, including types that infect humans. We have also shown that the MNV VPg C-terminal peptide can inhibit norovirus protein synthesis, which raises the possibility that the VPg-eIF4G interaction could be targeted in the design of antiviral drugs.

Selective observation of the disordered import signal of a globular protein by in-cell NMR: the example of frataxins

We have exploited the capability of in-cell NMR to selectively observe flexible regions within folded proteins to carry out a comparative study of two members of the highly conserved frataxin family which are found both in prokaryotes and in eukaryotes. They all contain a globular domain which shares more than 50% identity, which in eukaryotes is preceded by an N-terminal tail containing the mitochondrial import signal. We demonstrate that the NMR spectrum of the bacterial ortholog CyaY cannot be observed in the homologous E. coli system, although it becomes fully observable as soon as the cells are lysed. This behavior has been observed for several other compact globular proteins as seems to be the rule rather than the exception. The NMR spectrum of the yeast ortholog Yfh1 contains instead visible signals from the protein. We demonstrate that they correspond to the flexible N-terminal tail indicating that this is flexible and unfolded. This flexibility of the N-terminus agrees with previous studies of human frataxin, despite the extensive sequence diversity of this region in the two proteins. Interestingly, the residues that we observe in in-cell experiments are not visible in the crystal structure of a Yfh1 mutant designed to destabilize the first helix. More importantly, our results show that, in cell, the protein is predominantly present not as an aggregate but as a monomeric species.

Selective defoliation affects plant growth, fruit transcriptional ripening program and flavonoid metabolism in grapevine

BACKGROUND

The selective removal of grapevine leaves around berry clusters can improve the quality of ripening fruits by influencing parameters such as the berry sugar and anthocyanin content at harvest. The outcome depends strongly on the timing of defoliation, which influences the source-sink balance and the modified microclimate surrounding the berries. We removed the basal leaves from Vitis vinifera L. cv Sangiovese shoots at the pre-bloom and veraison stages, and investigated responses such as shoot growth, fruit morphology and composition compared to untreated controls. Moreover, we performed a genome-wide expression analysis to explore the impact of these defoliation treatments on berry transcriptome.

RESULTS

We found that pre-bloom defoliation improved berry quality traits such as sugar and anthocyanin content, whereas defoliation at veraison had a detrimental effect, e.g. less anthocyanin and higher incidence of sunburn damage. Genome-wide expression analysis during berry ripening revealed that defoliation at either stage resulted in major transcriptome reprogramming, which slightly delayed the onset of ripening. However, a closer investigation of individual gene expression profiles identified genes that were specifically modulated by defoliation at each stage, reflecting the uncoupling of metabolic processes such as flavonoid biosynthesis, cell wall and stress metabolism, from the general ripening program.

CONCLUSIONS

The specific transcriptional modifications we observed following defoliation at different time points allow the identification of the developmental or metabolic processes affected in berries thus deepening the knowledge of the mechanisms by which these agronomical practices impact the final berry ripening traits.

Increasing the source/sink ratio in Vitis vinifera (cv Sangiovese) induces extensive transcriptome reprogramming and modifies berry ripening

BACKGROUND

Cluster thinning is an agronomic practice in which a proportion of berry clusters are removed from the vine to increase the source/sink ratio and improve the quality of the remaining berries. Until now no transcriptomic data have been reported describing the mechanisms that underlie the agronomic and biochemical effects of thinning.

RESULTS

We profiled the transcriptome of Vitis vinifera cv. Sangiovese berries before and after thinning at veraison using a genome-wide microarray representing all grapevine genes listed in the latest V1 gene prediction. Thinning increased the source/sink ratio from 0.6 to 1.2 m2 leaf area per kg of berries and boosted the sugar and anthocyanin content at harvest. Extensive transcriptome remodeling was observed in thinned vines 2 weeks after thinning and at ripening. This included the enhanced modulation of genes that are normally regulated during berry development and the induction of a large set of genes that are not usually expressed.

CONCLUSION

Cluster thinning has a profound effect on several important cellular processes and metabolic pathways including carbohydrate metabolism and the synthesis and transport of secondary products. The integrated agronomic, biochemical and transcriptomic data revealed that the positive impact of cluster thinning on final berry composition reflects a much more complex outcome than simply enhancing the normal ripening process.

Crystal structure and RNA binding properties of the RNA recognition motif (RRM) and AlkB domains in human AlkB homolog 8 (ABH8), an enzyme catalyzing tRNA hypermodification

Humans express nine paralogs of the bacterial DNA repair enzyme AlkB, an iron/2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase that reverses alkylation damage to nucleobases. The biochemical and physiological roles of these paralogs remain largely uncharacterized, hampering insight into the evolutionary expansion of the AlkB family. However, AlkB homolog 8 (ABH8), which contains RNA recognition motif (RRM) and methyltransferase domains flanking its AlkB domain, recently was demonstrated to hypermodify the anticodon loops in some tRNAs. To deepen understanding of this activity, we performed physiological and biophysical studies of ABH8. Using GFP fusions, we demonstrate that expression of the Caenorhabditis elegans ABH8 ortholog is widespread in larvae but restricted to a small number of neurons in adults, suggesting that its function becomes more specialized during development. In vitro RNA binding studies on several human ABH8 constructs indicate that binding affinity is enhanced by a basic α-helix at the N terminus of the RRM domain. The 3.0-Å-resolution crystal structure of a construct comprising the RRM and AlkB domains shows disordered loops flanking the active site in the AlkB domain and a unique structural Zn(II)-binding site at its C terminus. Although the catalytic iron center is exposed to solvent, the 2-oxoglutarate co-substrate likely adopts an inactive conformation in the absence of tRNA substrate, which probably inhibits uncoupled free radical generation. A conformational change in the active site coupled to a disorder-to-order transition in the flanking protein segments likely controls ABH8 catalytic activity and tRNA binding specificity. These results provide insight into the functional and structural adaptations underlying evolutionary diversification of AlkB domains.

Structural bases for the interaction of frataxin with the central components of iron-sulphur cluster assembly

Reduced levels of frataxin, an essential protein of as yet unknown function, are responsible for causing the neurodegenerative pathology Friedreich's ataxia. Independent reports have linked frataxin to iron-sulphur cluster assembly through interactions with the two central components of this machinery: desulphurase Nfs1/IscS and the scaffold protein Isu/IscU. In this study, we use a combination of biophysical methods to define the structural bases of the interaction of CyaY (the bacterial orthologue of frataxin) with the IscS/IscU complex. We show that CyaY binds IscS as a monomer in a pocket between the active site and the IscS dimer interface. Recognition does not require iron and occurs through electrostatic interactions of complementary charged residues. Mutations at the complex interface affect the rates of enzymatic cluster formation. CyaY binding strengthens the affinity of the IscS/IscU complex. Our data suggest a new paradigm for understanding the role of frataxin as a regulator of IscS functions.

Midrapidity antiproton-to-proton ratio in pp collisons at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV measured by the ALICE experiment

The ratio of the yields of antiprotons to protons in pp collisions has been measured by the ALICE experiment at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV during the initial running periods of the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement covers the transverse momentum interval 0.45<p_{t}<1.05  GeV/c and rapidity |y|<0.5. The ratio is measured to be R_{|y|<0.5}=0.957±0.006(stat)±0.014(syst) at 0.9 TeV and R_{|y|<0.5}=0.991±0.005(stat)±0.014(syst) at 7 TeV and it is independent of both rapidity and transverse momentum. The results are consistent with the conventional model of baryon-number transport and set stringent limits on any additional contributions to baryon-number transfer over very large rapidity intervals in pp collisions.

Of the vulnerability of orphan complex proteins: the case study of the E. coli IscU and IscS proteins

IscS and IscU, the two central protein components of the iron sulfur cluster assembly machinery, form a complex that is still relatively poorly characterized. In an attempt to standardize the purification of these proteins for structural studies we have developed a protocol to produce them individually in high concentration and purity. We show that IscS is a rather robust protein as long as it is produced in a PLP loaded form and that this co-factor is essential for fold stability and enzyme activity. In contrast to previous evidence, we also propose that, in contrast with previous evidence, IscU is a thermodynamically stable protein with a well defined fold but, when produced in isolation, is a 'complex-orphan protein' that is prone to unfolding if not stabilised by a co-factor or a protein partner. Our work will facilitate further structural and functional studies of these proteins and eventually lead to a better understanding of the whole machinery.