Occurrence of the Redglobe strain of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 in table and wine grape varieties in Italy

Research NoteThe Redglobe strain of Grapevine leafrollassociated virus 2 (GLRaV-2-RG) is a recently discovered closterovirus so far reported to infect solely cv. Redglobe. A survey for this virus 2 in about 380 accessions of table and wine grape varieties conducted during 2001-2003 proved that GLRaV-2-RG was present also in other table grape varieties, though to a smaller extent, while it was never detected in wine varieties.

Towards a Conceptualization of Sociomaterial Entanglement

In knowledge representation, socio-technical systems can be modeled as multiagent systems in which the local knowledge of each individual agent can be seen as a context. In this paper we propose formal ontologies as a means to describe the assumptions driving the construction of contexts as local theories and to enable interoperability among them. In particular, we present two alternative conceptualizations of the notion of sociomateriality (and entanglement), which is central in the recent debates on socio-technical systems in the social sciences, namely critical and agential realism. We thus start by providing a model of entanglement according to the critical realist view, representing it as a property of objects that are essentially dependent on different modules of an already given ontology. We refine then our treatment by proposing a taxonomy of sociomaterial entanglements that distinguishes between ontological and epistemological entanglement. In the final section, we discuss the second perspective, which is more challenging form the point of view of knowledge representation, and we show that the very distinction of information into modules can be at least in principle built out of the assumption of an entangled reality

Preliminary results on population dynamics and host plants of

This work dealt with Hyalesthes obsoletus, which is the only known vector of Bois noir disease in grapevine. Investigation centered on its flight activity and occurrence on bindweed and stinging nettle and, to a lesser extent, hedge bindweed and dead-nettle in North-Eastern Italy. The survey underlined the importance of bindweed in the insect lifecycle in Northern Italy, where only data from stinging nettle had previously been recorded. H. obsoletus nymphs were found for the first time on the roots of dead-nettle, which proved to be a new host plant. The first observation in Italy of nymphs on hedge bindweed roots was also recorded

Flavescence doree in France and Italy - Occurrence of closely related phytoplasma isolates and their near relationships to Palatinate grapevine yellows and an alder yellows phytoplasma

Grapevine yellows (GY) are diseases of Vitis vinifera caused by phytoplasmas. On the basis of DNA analysis, it is possible to distinguish different groups and subgroups among grapevine phytoplasmas. Flavescence doree (FD), the most serious problem in European vineyards, is caused by a phytoplasma which belongs to the elm yellows group (EY or 16SrV), Differences between 7 phytoplasma isolates in this group, found until now in French, Italian and German grapevines, and 4 phytoplasmas in the same group, isolated mainly from elm and alder in Europe and America, were investigated. These 11 EY-group isolates plus 3 non-EY phytoplasmas, were compared by PCR-RFLP analyses of two different DNA fragments using 8 restriction enzymes. Two French and two Italian grapevine isolates, classified as FD, appeared to be closely related and were also closer to an Italian alder phytoplasma. One French and one Italian FD isolate always showed the same restriction pattern. On the opposite, the three German grapevine isolates related to alder phytoplasmas in Germany appeared to be closer to the two elm phytoplasmas from America and Europe.

High occurrence of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma early in the season on grapevines infected with grapevine yellows

Research NoteA survey for the presence of phytoplasmas associated with grapevine yellows in about 500 Italian vineyards was conducted from 1999 to 2004. Grapevines with the earliest symptoms were mostly infected with Flavescence dorée type C phytoplasma (FD-C). As the season advanced, a steady relative decrease in the occurrence of FD-C coincided with a clear relative increase in Bois noir phytoplasma. The relative occurrence of Flavescence dorée type D phytoplasma remained stable.

Avaliação da qualidade físico-química e microbiológica de sete marcas de leite padronizados produzidas nos Estados de Goiás e Minas Gerais e comercializadas no Distrito Federal.

Resumo: O leite é um produto rico em proteínas, carboidratos e vitaminas, sendo um alimento de alto valor nutricional. Pela sua composição físico-química, é um meio propício ao desenvolvimento de micro-organismos. A obtenção, o beneficiamento e o armazenamento devem ser feitos de maneira higiênica para garantir a qualidade final do produto. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a qualidade físico-química e microbiológica de sete marcas de leites padronizados comercializadas no Distrito Federal. As amostras foram oriundas de sete laticínios, cinco do Estado de Goiás, e duas de Minas Gerais. As análises foram realizadas no Laboratório de Análise de Alimentos da Universidade de Brasília seguindo normas do Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Os resultados foram comparados aos limites estabelecidos pela Instrução Normativa n°51 e revelam qualidade satisfatória para os parâmetros físico-químicos para as setes marcas. Entretanto, as análises qualitativas de eficiência da pasteurização e microbiológica indicam leites impróprios para o consumo humano. Não foi detectada presença de antibióticos nas marcas. [Evaluation of physico-chemical and microbiological of seven brands of standardized milk produced in the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais and marketed in the Federal District]. Abstract: Milk is a product rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins being a food of high nutritional value. By its physico-chemical composition is a propitious means to the development of microorganisms. Obtaining, processing and storage shall be made in a hygienic manner to ensure the quality of the final product. The aims of this study were to evaluate the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the seven brands of standardized milks marketed in the Federal District. The samples were from seven dairy, five State of Goiás and two of Minas Gerais. The analyzes were performed at the Laboratory of Food Analysis, University of Brasilia, following rules of the Institute Adolfo Lutz. The results were compared to the limits established by Normative Instruction No. 51 and show satisfactory quality for physico-chemical parameters for the seven brands. However, qualitative analysis of efficiency of pasteurization and microbiological indicate milks unfit for human consumption. Antibiotics were not detected in all marks

Avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa de leite Tipo A comercializados no Distrito Federal.

Resumo: O leite tipo A é processado em granjas leiteiras. Possui maior valor agregado e menor carga microbiológica. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade do produto comercializado no Distrito Federal. Foram avaliadas duas marcas durante quatro meses. As amostras foram avaliadas em testes de fraude e foram feitas análise físico-química. Ambas as marcas apresentaram índice crioscópico em desacordo com a legislação vigente e presença de sacarose. Esse resultado evidencia a fraude para aumentar o rendimento do produto. Além disso, a marca B apresentou bicarbonato em sua composição e teste de peroxidase negativa em 14,3% das amostras. Esses resultados mostram que a marca B fraudou o leite na tentativa de reduzir a carga microbiana. [Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of type A milk marketed in the Federal District]. Abstract: The type A milk is processed into dairy farms. Has a higher value and lower microbiological load. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the product marketed in the Federal District. We evaluated two brands during four months. The samples were evaluated in tests of fraud and physicochemical analysis. Both brands had cryoscopic index in disagreement with current legislation and presence of sucrose. This result evidences the fraud to increase product yield. In addition, the type B showed bicarbonate in their composition and peroxidase negative test in 14,3% of samples. These results show that type B defrauded milk in attempt to reduce the microbial load

Grapevine yellows: Comparison of different procedures for DNA extraction and amplification with PCR for routine diagnosis of phytoplasmas in grapevine

In order to devise a procedure to be used as reference for detection of grapevine phytoplasmas and monitoring of Flavescence dorée, 12 combinations comprising three methods of plant DNA extraction and 4 procedures for amplification in polymerase chain reaction of phytoplasma DNA were examined in parallel using the same plant tissues infected with phytoplasmas. In a first series tissues of periwinkles (Catharanthus roseus) infected with phytoplasma isolates of the Elm yellows group (16SrV) and maintained in the greenhouse, were used. In a second series tissues of grapevines (Vitis vinifera) naturally infected with Flavescence dorée or Palatinate grapevine yellows phytoplasma were used. The DNA preparations obtained with each of the three extraction procedures were used undiluted or serially diluted, as target DNA in the 4 nested-polymerase chain reactions. The results showed differences in the efficiency among different methods of extraction as well as in the sensitivity among the DNA amplification procedures, which improved when DNA extracted from field grapevines was diluted. After additional comparative validation on numerous field-collected samples of GY-affected grapevines, the quickest extraction procedure was selected for use in routine diagnosis, with nested-PCR amplification either of ribosomal DNA or of the FD9 DNA fragment specific for Flavescence dorée and other 16SrV group phytoplasmas

Toward Visualization-Specific Heuristic Evaluation

This position paper describes heuristic evaluation as it relates to visualization and visual analytics. We review heuristic evaluation in general, then comment on previous process-based, performance-based, and framework-based efforts to adapt the method to visualization-specific needs. We postulate that the framework-based approach holds the most promise for future progress in development of visualization-specific heuristics, and propose a specific framework as a starting point. We then recommend a method for community involvement and input into the further development of the heuristic framework and more detailed design and evaluation guidelines