Winter pruning: Effect on root density, root distribution and root/canopy ratio in vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Gris

As in any other plant, the grapevine roots play a vital role in terms of anchorage, uptake of water and nutrients, as well as storage and production of chemicals. Their behaviour and development depend on various factors, namely rootstock genetics, soil physical and chemical features, and field agronomic practices. Canopy management, involving techniques such as defoliation and pruning, could greatly influence root growth. To date, most of the studies on grapevine winter pruning have focused on the effects on yield and quality of the grapes achievable through different pruning systems and techniques, while knowledge regarding root distribution, development, and growth in relation to winter pruning is still not completely understood. In this context, the purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of winter pruning on the root system of field-grown Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Gris grafted onto rootstock SO4. We compared two pruning treatments (pruned-P and no pruned-NP) and analysed the effect on root distribution and density, the root index, and the root sugar reserve. Root data were analysed in relation to canopy growth and yield, to elucidate the effect of winter pruning on the root/yield ratio. Our data indicated that: (1) winter pruning stimulated the root growth and distribution; (2) canopy development was not negatively affected by this technique; (3) no pruned treatment produced less growth of the roots but a larger canopy. Information regarding both root growth and root canopy ratio is important as it gives us an understanding of the relationship between the aerial and subterranean parts of the plant, how they compete, and finally, offers us the possibility to ponder on the cultural practices

Effects of vanadyl complexes with acetylacetonate derivatives on non-tumor and tumor cell lines

Vanadium has a good therapeutic potential, as several biological effects, but few side effects, have been demonstrated. Evidence suggests that vanadium compounds could represent a new class of non-platinum, metal antitumor agents. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the antiproliferative activities of fluorescent vanadyl complexes with acetylacetonate derivates bearing asymmetric substitutions on the β-dicarbonyl moiety on different cell lines. The effects of fluorescent vanadyl complexes on proliferation and cell cycle modulation in different cell lines were detected by ATP content using the CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting was performed to assess the modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and relevant proteins. Confocal microscopy revealed that complexes were mainly localized in the cytoplasm, with a diffuse distribution, as in podocyte or a more aggregate conformation, as in the other cell lines. The effects of complexes on cell cycle were studied by cytofluorimetry and Western blot analysis, suggesting that the inhibition of proliferation could be correlated with a block in the G2/M phase of cell cycle and an increase in cdc2 phosphorylation. Complexes modulated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation in a cell-dependent manner, but MAPK modulation can only partly explain the antiproliferative activity of these complexes. All together our results demonstrate that antiproliferative effects mediated by these compounds are cell type-dependent and involve the cdc2 and MAPKs pathway

Retarding cement hydration by increasing temperature

Trabajo presentado a la 12th International Conference on Superplasticizers and Other Chemical Admixtures in Concrete, celebrada en Bejing (China) del 28 al 31 de octubre de 2018.Specific polymer structures at particular dosages have been identified to be able to delay cement hydration as temperature increases. The aim of the present work is to understand the underlying mechanisms involved behind this unexpected phenomenon. In particular, hydration kinetics of chemically admixed cement pastes at different temperatures have been related to the mineralogical changes in pastes, chemical composition of the pore solution and rheological properties. Results have demonstrated a dramatic increase in the low- concentration elements (Si, Al, Mg and Fe) in the pore solution of admixed samples hydrated at room temperature. At this temperature, nano-particles (polymer aggregates involving complexes and/or organoaluminates) have been detected. In contrast, nano-particles are not present at higher temperatures, when the delay of hydration is observed. This could lead to a higher amount of free polymer in the pore solution leading to a greater delay of silicates hydration.This research has been funded by the SP-SC 01-14 and SCCER-SoE projects

Large-scale phylogenomic analysis reveals the phylogenetic position of the problematic taxon Protocruzia and unravels the deep phylogenetic affinities of the ciliate lineages

The Ciliophora is one of the most studied protist lineages because of its important ecological role in the microbial loop. While there is an abundance of molecular data for many ciliate groups, it is commonly limited to the 18S ribosomal RNA locus. There is a paucity of data when it comes to availability of protein-coding genes especially for taxa that do not belong to the class Oligohymenophorea. To address this gap, we have sequenced EST libraries for 11 ciliate species. A supermatrix was constructed for phylogenomic analysis based on 158 genes and 42,158 characters and included 16 ciliates, four dinoflagellates and nine apicomplexans. This is the first multigene-based analysis focusing on the phylum Ciliophora. Our analyses reveal two robust superclades within the Intramacronucleata; one composed of the classes Spirotrichea, Armophorea and Litostomatea (SAL) and another with Colpodea and Oligohymenophorea. Furthermore, we provide corroborative evidence for removing the ambiguous taxon Protocruzia from the class Spirotrichea and placing it as incertae sedis in the phylum Ciliophora

Nanoparticles Based on Fructose and Alkaly-Earth Halogenides with Second Harmonic Generation properties for applications as bio-sensors and for Radiotherapy

In recent years, some Metal Organic Frameworks with Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) properties, based on fructose and alkali-earth alogenides, were investigated to understand the effect of cation size and anion polarizability on crucial quantities correlated to the non-linear optical (NLO) response, such as hyperpolarizability and optical susceptibility [1,2]. The compounds studied are interesting for biomedicine applications, as they combine high biocompatibility, due to their non-toxic components, and significant SH emission, that can permit exploitation for in vitro bio-imaging. Right now, a possible application in radiotherapy is under investigation. To these purposes we synthetized nanoparticles of some MOFs, based on fructose and SrX2 salts (X=Cl, I). The compounds were characterized by single-crystal and powder XRD, IR and RAMAN spectroscopy and the second-order susceptibility were estimated from theoretical calculations, both in vacuo and in the solid state. Furthermore, we attempted to assess the reduction of the SH intensity for small quantities of nano-crystals, in order to ascertain the possibility of applications in biological systems. The nanoparticles were encapsulated in a phospholipidic shell and preliminary activity studies on target cells are in progress. [1] D. Marabello, P. Antoniotti, P. Benzi, C. Canepa, E. Diana, L. Operti, L. Mortati, M. P. Sassi J. Mater. Sci., 2015, 50 (12), 4330- 4341 [2] D. Marabello, P. Antoniotti, P. Benzi, C. Canepa, L. Mortati, M. P. Sassi Acta Cryst. B, accepte