LivDet 2017 Fingerprint Liveness Detection Competition 2017

Fingerprint Presentation Attack Detection (FPAD) deals with distinguishing images coming from artificial replicas of the fingerprint characteristic, made up of materials like silicone, gelatine or latex, and images coming from alive fingerprints. Images are captured by modern scanners, typically relying on solid-state or optical technologies. Since from 2009, the Fingerprint Liveness Detection Competition (LivDet) aims to assess the performance of the state-of-the-art algorithms according to a rigorous experimental protocol and, at the same time, a simple overview of the basic achievements. The competition is open to all academics research centers and all companies that work in this field. The positive, increasing trend of the participants number, which supports the success of this initiative, is confirmed even this year: 17 algorithms were submitted to the competition, with a larger involvement of companies and academies. This means that the topic is relevant for both sides, and points out that a lot of work must be done in terms of fundamental and applied research.Comment: presented at ICB 201

The rotation of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) with metal-accumulating plant crops: A strategy to increase the benefits of soil phytoremediation

Most of the plants employed to remove metals from contaminated soils are annuals and have a seed-to- seed life cycle of a few months, usually over spring and summer. Consequently, for most of the year, fields are not actively cleaned but are completely bare and subject to erosion by water and wind. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of using Lupinus albus as a winter crop in a rotation sequence with a summer crop ideally selected for phytoextraction, such as industrial hemp. Lupin plants were grown in two alkaline soil plots (heavy metal-contaminated and uncontaminated) of approximately 400 m 2 each after the cultivation and harvest of industrial hemp. A smaller-scale parallel pot experiment was also performed to better understand the lupin behavior in increasing concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn. White lupin grew well in alkaline conditions, covering the soil during the winter season. In few months plants were approximately 40e50 cm high in both control and contaminated plots. In fields where the bioavailable fraction of metals was low (less than 12%), plants showed a high tolerance to these contaminants. However, their growth was affected in some pot treatments in which the concen- trations of assimilable Cu, Zn and Ni were higher, ranging from approximately 40e70% of the total concentrations. The lupin's ability to absorb heavy metals and translocate them to shoots was negligible with respect to the magnitude of contamination, suggesting that this plant is not suitable for extending the period of phytoextraction. However, it is entirely exploitable as green manure, avoiding the appli- cation of chemical amendments during phytoremediation. In addition, in polluted fields, white lupin cultivation increased the soil concentration of live bacteria and the bioavailable percentage of metals. On average live bacteria counts per gram of soil were 65 10 6 ± 18 10 6 and 99 10 6 ± 22*10 6 before and after cultivation, respectively. The percentages of bioavailable Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn and Cr, which were 5.7 ± 0.7, 5.3 ± 1.7, 1.2 ± 0.1, 12 ± 1.5 and 0.1 ± 0.02%, respectively, before lupin growth, increased to 9.6 ± 1.6, 7 ± 2, 2 ± 0.3, 14 ± 1.5 and 0.1 ± 0.02% after lupin harvest. On the whole, our results indicate that the winter cultivation of white lupin in sequence with a metal- accumulator summer crop can improve the recovery of soil quality during the phytoextraction period. It improves the safety of the area, limiting additional ecological and human health problems, and enhances soil health by avoiding the use of chemical amendments and by increasing the levels of viable microorganism

Incidenza del sovrappeso e dell'obesità tra i coscritti sardi nati nel 1980

Il presente lavoro si inserisce all¿interno del Progetto di Ricerca di Interesse Nazionale (PRIN 2004) del Ministero Italiano dell¿Università e della Ricerca (MIUR) intitolato ¿Statura, salute e migrazioni: le leve militari italiane ed altro¿. In questa fase della ricerca si sono esaminate le caratteristiche staturali e ponderali delle reclute sarde del 1980. Attraverso il calcolo del BMI (Body Mass Index) è stata stimata l¿incidenza di obesità e sovrappeso nell¿isola, considerando la suddivisione in province, in zone altimetriche e in aree rurali e urbane. I risultati relativi alla statura hanno mostrato che nella popolazione sarda sono ancora presenti gli effetti del secular trend. L¿analisi del BMI ha evidenziato un grado di eterogeneità significativa all¿interno della Sardegna. La provincia che ha presentato i valori più elevati di BMI è stata quella di Olbia-Tempio, che si caratterizza anche per possedere la più elevata percentuale di individui in obesi, mentre Nuoro si è distinta per la più elevata incidenza di individui in sovrappeso. Inoltre, è stata evidenziata una correlazione negativa tra percentuale di individui in sovrappeso e zone altimetriche. La diversa incidenza di obesità e sovrappeso tra le aree rurali e urbane non appare invece statisticamente significativa. I risultati potranno essere utili per la programmazione di interventi di prevenzione e di trattamento dell¿obesità e del sovrappeso e per eventuali studi rivolti all¿individuazione dei rispettivi fattori genetici ed ambientali ad essi predisponenti nella popolazione sarda

Microsatellite analysis to define genetic diversity of grapevines (<em>Vitis vinifera</em> L.) grown in Central and Western Mediterranean countries

PCR-based microsatellite analysis has been applied to define the relationships among 238 grapevine cultivars selected as representative of local germplasm in the Central and Western Mediterranean regions. The estimation of genetic distances among the five grapevines groups, based on cluster analysis, c2 tests and Principal Component Analysis, was coherent with a common geographic origin of cultivated grapes and of their primordial varietal radiation. In fact, genetic similarity was high among French and Iberian cultivars and among Greek and Balkan cultivars. The Italian grapes clustered in an intermediate position, reflecting its geographical location. Results show that the geographical distribution is consistent with a pattern of viticulture based on the origin of primordial varieties from regions in the Near East, and subsequent and multiple variety flows that linked different viticultural regions through different routes. This is coherent with the model of varietal diffusion proposed on the bases of archaeological and historical evidence, in which population movements and cultural exchange contributed to the phenomenon

Analisi molecolare delle popolazioni del Mediterraneo attraverso 11 inserzioni Alu

In this work 11 Alu polymorphisms have been employed to study the genetic structure of the populations from the Mediterranean. Alu insertion have amplified within the primate genome over the last 65 million years and represent approximately 5% of the human genome. These polymorphisms have been widely used as genetic markers in human evolution due to their rapidity and easiness to type, their selectively neutrality and the knowledge of their ancestral state. The Alu used in this study are: Sb19.3, Sb19.12, Sb19.10, ACE, Ya5NBC221, Yb8NBC125, Yb8NBC120, HS4.32, HS4.69, CD4 and ApoA1. The examined populations come from Sardinia, Sicily, Corsica, France, Turkey, Balearic Island, and Morocco. All the populations, after the Bonferroni correction, were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the all loci, with the exception of Turkey for the locus Sb19.3. The results showed a strong genetic heterogeneity within the Mediterranean Basin, and a high differentiation of Berber, Turkish and central Sardinian populations. Alu polymorphism were also able to detect a certain degree of genetic heterogeneity within Sicily, confirming results of previous works. An hypothetical ancestral population, characterized by absence of Alu insertion for all loci, have been used to verify the origin of Alu polymorphism. Its localization near the African population, allowed us to confirm the African origin of Alu insertion. In conclusion, the Alu employed in the study turned out to be extremely useful for populations analysis, for macro- and micro-geographical differentiation.In questo lavoro è stata studiata la struttura genetica delle popolazioni del Mediterraneo attraverso 11 inserzioni Alu. Le inserzioni Alu si sono diffuse all¿interno del genoma dei primati negli ultimi 65 milioni di anni e rappresentano approssimativamente il 5% del genoma umano. Questi polimorfismi sono ampiamente usati come marcatori genetici negli studi sull¿evoluzione umana per la loro rapidità e facilità di tipizzazione, la loro neutralità selettiva e la conoscenza dello stato ancestrale. Le Alu utilizzate in questa ricerca sono: Sb19.3, Sb19.12, Sb19.10, ACE, Ya5NBC221, Yb8NBC125, Yb8NBC120, HS4.32, HS4.69, CD4 e ApoA1. I campioni esaminati provengono dalle popolazioni della Sardegna, Sicilia, Corsica, Francia, Turchia, Isole Baleari e Marocco. Tutte le popolazioni, dopo la correzione di Bonferroni, sono risultate in equilibrio di Hardy-Weinberg per tutti i marcatori, con la sola eccezione dei Turchi per il locus Sb19.3. I risultati hanno rivelato una forte eterogeneità genetica all¿interno del bacino del Mediterraneo e una profonda differenziazione della popolazione berbera, turca e della Sardegna centrale. I polimorfismi Alu sono stati in grado di evidenziare un certo grado di eterogeneità all¿interno della Sicilia, confermando quanto era emerso in precedenti lavori. Per verificare l¿origine delle inserzioni Alu, è stata inserita nei confronti una popolazione ancestrale ipotetica. La sua localizzazione vicino alla popolazione africana ha permesso di confermare l¿origine africana delle inserzioni Alu. In conclusione, le Alu utilizzate in questo lavoro si sono rivelate estremamente utili per un¿analisi popolazionistica livello macro- e micro-geografico

Distribuzione delle varianti 32 e 64I dei geni per il CCR5 e il CCR2 in alcune popolazioni del Mediterraneo

Variants of CCR5 and CCR2 genes are related with different susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Particulary, homozygous subjects for CCR5- � Ä32 mutation show an high protection against infection, while heterozygous subjects show a delayed disease progression. Both homozygous and heterozygous subjects carrying CCR2-64I mutation show delayed disease progression. In this study we analyse these polymorphisms in some Mediterranean populations. Results confirm the presence of these variants in Mediterranean populations and suggest the validity of these markers for populations genetic analysis.Le varianti dei geni CCR5 e CCR2 sono state messe in relazione con una differente suscettibilità all¿infezione da HIV-1. In particolare, gli individui omozigoti per il CCR5- 32 mostrano una protezione quasi completa all¿infezione, mentre gli individui eterozigoti presentano una progressione ritardata della sindrome. Gli individui che possiedono la mutazione CCR2-64I presentano invece una ritardata progressione della sindrome sia nella condizione omozigote che nella condizione eterozigote. In questo studio sono stati analizzati i due polimorfismi in alcune popolazioni del Mediterraneo. I risultati confermano la presenza di queste varianti nelle popolazioni del Mediterraneo, e sembrano indicare la validità di questi marcatori per l¿analisi popolazionistica