Identification of aroma compounds of Vitis vinifera L. flowers by SPME GC-MS analysis

Using a gas chromatographic method (GC-MSanalysis), it was possible to determine the volatile constituent of an odorous flower from Vitis vinifera varieties growing in Sicily. More than 50 compounds were identified and the technique allowed us to determine that sesquiterpenes, as well as monoterpenes such as limonene and cymene, were the principal components. The odour-profiles allowed us to distinguish between variety groups or even single varieties.

Tensor variational inequalities: Theoretical results, numerical methods and applications to an economic equilibrium model

The paper deals with the study of tensor variational inequalities. and some projection methods to solve them. In particular, some properties on the solutions to such an inequality are established and a fixed point theorem is proved. Moreover, some numerical methods are introduced and the convergence analysis of them is investigated. All the theoretical results are applied to analyze a general oligopolistic market equilibrium problem in which each firm produces several commodities and has some production excesses since the equilibrium condition is characterized by means of a tensor variational inequality. A numerical example is also discussed

The importance of prognosis in geriatric patients attending the emergency department: a comparison between two common short geriatric assessment tools

Background: The use of short geriatric tools in the emergency department (ED) is increasing, but the literature is still conflicting. The aim of this study is to compare the precision and the accuracy of two short geriatric assessment tools to predict mortality in a cohort of older patients attending the ED. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted including patients ≥ 65 years, attending the ED and transferred to a medical assessment unit from February to July 2022. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and Brief Multidimensional Prognostic Index (Brief MPI) were administered. The association between Brief MPI and CFS and mortality was analysed via area under the curve (AUC) with its 95% confidence intervals (CIs), the C-statistics and a multivariate Cox’s regression analysis, in the latter case reporting the data as hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% CI. Results: Among the 579 patients enrolled (mean age: 77 years), both Brief MPI and CFS showed a good accuracy in predicting mortality (AUC: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.61–0.83 for Brief MPI; 0.754; 95% CI: 0.65–0.83 for CFS). The discrimination of Brief MPI and CFS in predicting mortality was excellent, since the C-index of the Brief MPI was 0.85 and of CFS = 0.84. In the multivariate analysis, the risk for mortality was significantly increased for frailer subjects (HR 4.65; 95% CI: 1.45–15.00 for Brief MPI > 0.66; HR = 9.24; 95% CI: 1.16–76.90 for CFS > 6). Conclusions: Brief MPI and CFS showed a good accuracy/precision to predict mortality in older patients attending the ED. Considering that they are quick to perform, their introduction in ED clinical practice could be extremely helpful

Berry Characterisation of cv Shiraz According to Position on the Rachis

In this study, characterisation of the physical and compositional parameters of berries located in differentpositions on the rachis of Shiraz/R99 bunches was done. Berries were divided according to position onthe rachis (apical, median and basal) and berry weight, resulting in four berry weight classes, averaging0.86 g, 1.29 g, 1.74 g and 2.26 g and 0.74, 1.18, 1.59 and 2.09 cm3, respectively. The berries were analysedindividually. The fresh weight of the berries comprised approximately 4% seeds, 20% skin and 76% flesh.Different percentage distributions were found for each class of berry weight and according to position onthe rachis. From the top to the bottom rachis position, an increase in skin proportion value and a decreasein flesh and seed proportion value occurred. Skins decreased and flesh increased in proportion from thesmallest to the largest berry size. The seed maintained a relatively stable proportion, irrespective of berrysize. Larger berries had more flesh compared to skin than smaller berries. A higher level of soluble solidsoccurred in the shoulder to middle bunch area (28.7 °B and 28.6 °B, respectively) than in the bottom area(27.6 °B). It is extremely difficult to obtain uniform berry size and composition under field conditions.Continuous efforts are required to reduce variation and the potential negative impact on wine quality andconsistency of wine style

Pulse processing routines for neutron time-of-flight data

A pulse shape analysis framework is described, which was developed for n_TOF-Phase3, the third phase in the operation of the n_TOF facility at CERN. The most notable feature of this new framework is the adoption of generic pulse shape analysis routines, characterized by a minimal number of explicit assumptions about the nature of pulses. The aim of these routines is to be applicable to a wide variety of detectors, thus facilitating the introduction of the new detectors or types of detectors into the analysis framework. The operational details of the routines are suited to the specific requirements of particular detectors by adjusting the set of external input parameters. Pulse recognition, baseline calculation and the pulse shape fitting procedure are described. Special emphasis is put on their computational efficiency, since the most basic implementations of these conceptually simple methods are often computationally inefficient.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, 5 table

Anthocyanin variation in individual 'Shiraz' berries as affected by exposure and position on the rachis

This study was done on 'Shiraz'/Richter 99 grapes with the intention to define the variation of skin anthocyanin content in a single berry. The effects of berry position (on the rachis), berry exposure, berry weight category, part of the skin of a single berry, and their interactions, were analysed. The anthocyanin concentration of externally facing berries decreased and that of the internally facing berries increased from the apical part to the basal part of the bunch. Highest values were recorded in internally facing berries and lowest values in the externally facing (exposed) berries, of the basal rachis area. Anthocyanin values of small berries seemed to decrease from the apical part of the rachis to the basal part, whereas those of the larger berries generally increased. Anthocyanin distribution in the skin of a single berry was similar for all the berry weight categories. The median concentric layer of the berry showed the highest anthocyanin concentration. The study showed significant intra-berry variation, indicating that even at full ripeness stage there is still variation in every single smaller or larger berry. The results highlighted the very complicated management challenges to grape producers to increase bunch uniformity in quantity and quality.

Experimental setup and procedure for the measurement of the 7Be(n,p)7Li reaction at n_TOF

Following the completion of the second neutron beam line and the related experimental area (EAR2) at the n_TOF spallation neutron source at CERN, several experiments were planned and performed. The high instantaneous neutron flux available in EAR2 allows to investigate neutron induced reactions with charged particles in the exit channel even employing targets made out of small amounts of short-lived radioactive isotopes. After the successful measurement of the 7Be(n,) cross section, the 7Be(n,p)7Li reaction was studied in order to provide still missing cross section data of relevance for Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN), in an attempt to find a solution to the cosmological Lithium abundance problem. This paper describes the experimental setup employed in such a measurement and its characterization.Séptimo Programa Marco de la Comunidad Europea de la Energía Atómica (Euratom)-Proyecto CHANDA (No. 605203)Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN)-UMO-2012/04/M/ST2/00700-UMO-2016/22/M/ST2/00183Croatian Science Foundation-HRZZ 168

Evapotranspiration from horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands planted with different perennial plant species

This paper presents the results of an experiment carried out in Southern Italy (Sicily) on the estimation evapotranspiration (ET) in pilot constructed wetlands planted with different species (Chrysopogon zizanioides, Myscanthus x giganteus, Arundo donax, Phragmites australis, and Cyperus papyrus). In the two monitored growing seasons, reference ET0 was calculated with the Penman-Monteith formula, while actual ET and crop coefficients were measured through a water balance and the FAO56 approach, respectively. The highest average seasonal ET value was observed in Phragmites australis (17.31mmd-1) followed by Arundo donax (11.23mmday-1) Chrysopogon zizanioides (8.56 mm day-1), Cyperus papyrus (7.86 mm day-1), and Myscanthus x giganteus (7.35 mm day-1). For all plants, crop coefficient values showed different patterns in relation to growth stages and were strongly correlated with phenological parameters. Myscanthus x giganteus and Arundo donax showed a water use efficiency values significantly higher than those observed for the other tested species. Results of this study may contribute to select appropriate plant species for constructed wetlands located in semi-arid regions, especially when the use of reclaimed water and/or the use of aboveground biomass are planned