Plant functional traits are correlated with species persistence in the herb layer of old-growth beech forests.

This paper explores which traits are correlated with fine-scale (0.25 m) species persistence patterns in the herb layer of old-growth forests. Four old-growth beech forests representing different climatic contexts (presence or absence of summer drought period) were selected along a north-south gradient in Italy.

Land use and water availability drive community-level plant functional diversity of grasslands along a temperature gradient in the Swiss Alps.

Functional traits of mountain grassland communities strongly depend upon temperature variation along elevational gradients. However, little is known to what degree the direction of such trait-temperature relationships is shaped by other environmental factors or land-use types. Here, we investigated context-dependent patterns of plant functional trait variation in alpine grassland communities.

Plasmopara viticola infection affects mineral elements allocation and distribution in Vitis vinifera leaves.

Plasmopara viticola is one of the most important pathogens infecting Vitis vinifera plants. The interactions among P. viticola and both susceptible and resistant grapevine plants have been extensively characterised, at transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic levels.

Impact of Different Stoppers on the Composition of Red and Rosé Lagrein, Schiava (Vernatsch) and Merlot Wines Stored in Bottle.

Different technical cork stoppers (blend of natural cork microgranules, one-piece natural cork, agglomerated natural cork, technical cork 1+1) were compared to evaluate the effects on the phenolic, volatile profiles and dissolved oxygen in three red (Merlot, Lagrein red, St. Magdalener) and one rosé (Lagrein rosé) wines, which were stored in bottles for 12 months. Gallic acid, caffeic acid, -coumaric acid, -resveratrol, glutahionyl caftaric acid and protocatechuic acid did not vary remarkably during the first three months, whereas at six months a net increase was reported, followed by a clear decrease at 12 months.

Improved Monitoring of (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Stone Fruit Orchards with a Pheromone-Kairomone Combination Lure.

Monitoring oriental fruit moth Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), populations based on counts in sex pheromone-baited traps within sex pheromone-treated orchards for mating disruption (MD) is challenging since male orientation to traps is disrupted. In this study, we evaluated a new commercial pheromone-kairomone combination lure for (Pherocon OFM Combo™ Dual™), which combines the and L. sex pheromones with a blend of acetic acid and terpinyl acetate.

Anaerobic phenol biodegradation: kinetic study and microbial community shifts under high-concentration dynamic loading.

The anaerobic biodegradation of phenol has been realised in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) under anaerobic conditions with phenol as sole carbon and energy source and with glucose as co-substrate. A step-change increase of phenol loading (from 100 up to 2000 mg/L of phenol concentration in the feed solution) has been applied during the acclimation phase in order to progressively induce the development of a specialised microbial consortium. This approach, combined with the dynamic sequence of operations characterising SBRs and with the high biomass retention time, led to satisfactory phenol and COD removal efficiencies with values > 70% for the highest phenol input (2000 mg/L) fed as the single carbon and energy source.

Pinot Blanc: Impact of the Winemaking Variables on the Evolution of the Phenolic, Volatile and Sensory Profiles.

The impact of two different winemaking practices on the chemical and sensory complexity of Pinot Blanc wines from South Tyrol (Italy), from grape pressing to the bottled wine stored for nine months, was studied. New chemical markers of Pinot blanc were identified: astilbin and -caftaric acid differentiated the wines according to the vinification; -glutathionylcaftaric acid correlated with the temporal trends. Fluorescence analysis displayed strong time-evolution and differentiation of the two wines for gallocatechin and epigallocatechin, respectively.

HyLength: a semi-automated digital image analysis tool for measuring the length of roots and fungal hyphae of dense mycelia.

In plant-fungus phenotyping, determining fungal hyphal and plant root lengths by digital image analysis can reduce labour and increase data reproducibility. However, the degree of software sophistication is often prohibitive and manual measuring is still used, despite being very time-consuming. We developed the HyLength tool for measuring the lengths of hyphae and roots in in vivo and in vitro systems.

Effects of Chickpea in Substitution of Soybean Meal on Milk Production, Blood Profile and Reproductive Response of Primiparous Buffaloes in Early Lactation.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the use of chickpea meal in substitution of soybean meal on plasma metabolites, reproductive response, milk yield and composition and milk coagulation traits of primiparous buffaloes in early lactation. Eighteen primiparous buffaloes were blocked by age, body weight and days in milk and equally allotted to two experimental groups from 10 to 100 days of lactation. The experimental diets consisted of the same forage integrated with two different isonitrogenous and isoenergetic concentrates containing either 210 g/kg of soybean meal or 371 g/kg chickpea.

Techno-economic assessment of turning gasification-based waste char into energy: A case study in South-Tyrol.

In the South-Tyrol region (Italy), 46 gasifiers are currently operating and €200,000 are annually paid to dispose of as a waste 1300 tons of char. Therefore, there is a considerable interest in finding alternatives for the valorization of this solid by-product. The aim of this work is to assess the potential of char as energy source and to compare two scenarios.

Mesoporous Acidic Catalysts Synthesis from Dual-Stage and Rising Co-Current Gasification Char: Application for FAME Production from Waste Cooking Oil.

The main purpose of this work is to investigate the application options of the char produced from gasification plants. Two promising mesoporous acidic catalysts were synthesized using char as a support material. Two char samples were collected from either a dual-stage or a rising co-current biomass gasification plant.

The fertilising potential of manure-based biogas fermentation residues: pelleted liquid digestate.

Spreading of manure on agricultural soils is a main source of ammonia emissions and/or nitrate leaching. It has been addressed by the European Union with the Directives 2001/81/EC and 91/676/EEC to protect the environment and the human health. The disposal of manure has therefore become an economic and environmental challenge for farmers.

Is there scope for mixed markets in the provision of hospital care?

Market oriented reforms in hospital care have produced a variety of quasi markets that differ for the type of providers that are allowed to compete. Mixed markets, where public hospitals compete alongside private ones, are increasingly common, but the literature does not agree on their performances and their desirability. We review the contributions in this field by proposing a common framework which allows to account for the different approaches proposed to model public hospitals.

Clarification of apple juices with vegetable proteins monitored by multiple light scattering.

This work proposes a novel approach based on the real-time monitoring of the fining process of apple juices by static multiple light scattering. The change in transmission was used to determine the fining effectiveness of three vegetable proteins, respectively, red lentil, green lentil, and green pea proteins. Further treatment with gelatin-bentonite was used as a control.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Partial Identification of a Series of Tetra- and Pentameric Cyclic Procyanidins and Prodelphinidins in Wine Extracts.

A solid-phase extraction method was applied for the identification of a series of unconventional crown (macrocyclic) B-type proanthocyanidin tetramers (/ 1169.2557, 1185.2507, 1201.

The Structure of Sucrose-Soaked Levansucrase Crystals from reveals a Binding Pocket for Levanbiose.

Given its potential role in the synthesis of novel prebiotics and applications in the pharmaceutical industry, a strong interest has developed in the enzyme levansucrase (LSC, EC 2.4.1.

Taxonomic and functional insights into rock varnish microbiome using shotgun metagenomics.

Rock varnish is a microbial habitat, characterised by thin (5-500 μm) and shiny coatings of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxides associated with clay minerals. This structure is well studied by geologists, and recently there have been reports about the taxonomical composition of its microbiome. In this study, we investigated the rock varnish microbiome using shotgun metagenomics together with analyses of elemental composition, lipid and small molecule biomarkers, and rock surface analyses to explore the biogeography of microbial communities and their functional features.

Site-Specific Microbial Decomposer Communities Do Not Imply Faster Decomposition: Results from a Litter Transplantation Experiment.

Microbes drive leaf litter decomposition, and their communities are adapted to the local vegetation providing that litter. However, whether these local microbial communities confer a significant home-field advantage in litter decomposition remains unclear, with contrasting results being published. Here, we focus on a litter transplantation experiment from oak forests (home site) to two away sites without oak in South Tyrol (Italy).

Use of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae processing residue in peat-based growing media.

The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is an insect whose larvae thrive on agro-industrial by-products. This study reports the first use of black soldier fly larvae processing residue (BSPR) as an innovative ingredient for growing media.

The potential of two different Avena sativa L. cultivars to alleviate Cu toxicity.

Agronomic strategies as intercropping might be applied to reduce plant-available copper (Cu) in Cu-contaminated soils. Thus, our aim was to characterize two different oat cultivars, Avena sativa L. cv.

Mechanistic and Structural Basis for Inhibition of Copper Trafficking by Platinum Anticancer Drugs.

Copper (Cu) is required for maturation of cuproenzymes, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis, and its transport entails highly specific protein-protein interactions. In humans, the Cu chaperone Atox1 mediates Cu(I) delivery to P-type ATPases Atp7a and Atp7b (the Menkes and Wilson disease proteins, respectively), which are responsible for Cu release to the secretory pathway and excess Cu efflux. Cu(I) handover is believed to occur through the formation of three-coordinate intermediates where the metal ion is simultaneously linked to Atox1 and to a soluble domain of Cu-ATPases, both sharing a CxxC dithiol motif.

Common and specific responses to iron and phosphorus deficiencies in roots of apple tree (Malus × domestica).

Iron and phosphorus are abundant elements in soils but poorly available for plant nutrition. The availability of these two nutrients represents a major constraint for fruit tree cultivation such as apple (Malus × domestica) leading very often to a decrease of fruit productivity and quality worsening. Aim of this study was to characterize common and specific features of plant response to Fe and P deficiencies by ionomic, transcriptomic and exudation profiling of apple roots.

Human-Animal Interactions in Dairy Buffalo Farms.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between stockperson behavior and buffalo behavior. The research was carried out in 27 buffalo farms. The behavior of stockpeople and animals during milking and the avoidance distance at the feeding place were recorded.

Assessing the alteration of physicochemical characteristics in composted organic waste in a prototype decentralized composting facility.

This article presents the pilot experience of an integrated biowaste management system developed in Tinos island, Greece, which promoted source separation and decentralized composting in a prototype unit. This system was introduced as a new-to-the-area of implementation and innovation, since landfilling of mixed municipal solid waste has been the common practice in Tinos island, as in many other areas of insular and mainland Greece. The biowaste management system was implemented through a bring scheme that aimed at motivating the public to separate at source the organic fraction of MSW.