Data collection protocol

This document shows the data collection protocol to perform the sustainability assessment of different 4CE-MED cropping systems by applying life cycle thinking methodologies. Within 4CE-MED project, WP4 will select 3 countries and trials will be selected to compare the sustainability performance of current situations with the introduction of 4CE-MED cropping systems. The cases will belong to three major camelina cropping models presented in the project: Model A introduces Camelina to replace fallow in winter cereal sole-cropping systems, in marginal areas with very dry climate; Model B considers Camelina as a double-cropping cultivation in autumn, to precede typical Mediterranean summer crops; and Model C uses Camelina as a double-cropping in late spring/early summer in colder areas to follow winter pulses (e.g. pea) or cereals harvested as fodder. The selected cases would have followed the experimental protocol presented in WP2. This protocol is based on the Methodological framework to develop life cycle thinking assessment on 4CE-MED systems (D4.1). A literature review was also conducted for this deliverable, which allowed to observe there is limited LCA, E-LCC and S-LCA studies of the Camelina crop in Mediterranean regions. Most of the information found is referred to the application of Camelina as biofuel, while some articles even highlighted that camelina is not used as food. The definition of a goal and scope, expressed in the methodological framework for the assessment, expects to conduct a cradle-to-farm gate assessment with functionality based mostly on yield, and a perspective based on the crop succession. Functional unit is expected to be mass based, with derivations towards the environmental, economic and social impact categories of interest. The environmental dimension will refer to midpoint categories, with a consistent use as in most of the studies of Global Warming Potential, Eutrophication Potential and Terrestrial Acidification Potential. Regarding the economic dimension, cost categories, income and net margin will be observed, and the social dimension will include impact categories that range from endpoint to midpoint categories, where human rights, working conditions and community are to be addressed

Characterization of BRCA Deficiency in Ovarian Cancer

BRCA testing is recommended in all Ovarian Cancer (OC) patients, but the optimal approach is debated. The landscape of BRCA alterations was explored in 30 consecutive OC patients: 6 (20.0%) carried germline pathogenic variants, 1 (3.3%) a somatic mutation of BRCA2, 2 (6.7%) unclassified germline variants in BRCA1, and 5 (16.7%) hypermethylation of the BRCA1 promoter. Overall, 12 patients (40.0%) showed BRCA deficit (BD), due to inactivation of both alleles of either BRCA1 or BRCA2, while 18 (60.0%) had undetected/unclear BRCA deficit (BU). Regarding sequence changes, analysis performed on Formalin-Fixed-Paraffin-Embedded tissue through a validated diagnostic protocol showed 100% accuracy, compared with 96.3% for Snap-Frozen tissue and 77.8% for the pre-diagnostic Formalin-Fixed-Paraffin-Embedded protocol. BD tumors, compared to BU, showed a significantly higher rate of small genomic rearrangements. After a median follow-up of 60.3 months, the mean PFS was 54.9 ± 27.2 months in BD patients and 34.6 ± 26.7 months in BU patients (p = 0.055). The analysis of other cancer genes in BU patients identified a carrier of a pathogenic germline variant in RAD51C. Thus, BRCA sequencing alone may miss tumors potentially responsive to specific treatments (due to BRCA1 promoter methylation or mutations in other genes) while unvalidated FFPE approaches may yield false-positive results

MRN complex function in the repair of chromosomal Rag-mediated DNA double-strand breaks

The Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 (MRN) complex functions in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination (HR) at postreplicative stages of the cell cycle. During HR, the MRN complex functions directly in the repair of DNA DSBs and in the initiation of DSB responses through activation of the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) serine-threonine kinase. Whether MRN functions in DNA damage responses before DNA replication in G0/G1 phase cells has been less clear. In developing G1-phase lymphocytes, DNA DSBs are generated by the Rag endonuclease and repaired during the assembly of antigen receptor genes by the process of V(D)J recombination. Mice and humans deficient in MRN function exhibit lymphoid phenotypes that are suggestive of defects in V(D)J recombination. We show that during V(D)J recombination, MRN deficiency leads to the aberrant joining of Rag DSBs and to the accumulation of unrepaired coding ends, thus establishing a functional role for MRN in the repair of Rag-mediated DNA DSBs. Moreover, these defects in V(D)J recombination are remarkably similar to those observed in ATM-deficient lymphocytes, suggesting that ATM and MRN function in the same DNA DSB response pathways during lymphocyte antigen receptor gene assembly

Кераміка «terra sigillata» з с. Зимне на Волині

Стаття присвячена публікації чотирьох керамічних посудин типу «terra sigillata», знайдених на дні р. Луги у с. Зимне Володимир-Волинського району Волинської області. Попередній аналіз цих знахідок дозволяє віднести їх до Понтійського центру виробництва такого посуду. Вірогідним шляхом потрапляння цієї колекції на Волинь була готська експансія у Північне Причорномор’я

Rilievo del Monumento funebre di Pio III in Sant'Andrea della Valle

Il rilievo, commissionato dalla Soprintendenza ai Beni Ambientali ed Architettonici di Roma, del Monumento funebre di Pio III in Sant'Andrea della Valle è stato consegnato in scala 1:50 e 1:10 ed eseguito con metodo diretto, con metodo strumentale e con metodo fotogrammetrico da fotogramma singol

Holistic methodological framework for the assessment of non-conventional water resources reclamation and reuse

The project FIT4REUSE will provide safe, sustainable and accepted ways of water supply for the Mediterranean basin by exploiting non-conventional water resources. Treated wastewater and desalinated water can contribute to compensate the gap between agricultural water demand and supply and provide consistently high-quality water throughout the year. FIT4REUSE will focus on innovative, sustainable and safe treatment technologies, and on the use of treated wastewater and desalinated water for the Mediterranean agricultural sector and for aquifer recharge. Therefore, specific methodological and assessment tools framework will be created to meet the project objectives. The report “Holistic methodological framework for the assessment of non-conventional water resources” contains the bases to analyse the sustainability impacts (environmental, social and economic) of different non-conventional water reuse systems in FIT4REUSE project; through the application of different methodologies: life cycle thinking (LCT) methods, such as life cycle assessment (LCA), social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC); and cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The methodology utilized to design this framework combines: 1) an iterative literature review in the application of each life cycle thinking method and cost-benefit analysis in water management (both from conventional and non-conventional resources); 2) experts’ knowledge, to harmonize and integrate literature findings providing specific know-how (including consensus with other FIT4REUSE partners); and 3) Design a stakeholder consultation and test it through a survey to drive further consultations related to the sustainability assessment of FIT4REUSE solutions. See figure 1 for the graphical representation. The literature review was based on the analysis of different documents (books, standards, scientific papers, reports and others) which helped to set the baseline conditions to use the selected methodologies in the water management context. The outcomes of the literature review have been then integrated with experts’ knowledge to fill additional knowledge gaps. The literature review and the expert’s knowledge represented also the basis for the design of a survey aimed at the organization of the six steps stakeholders’ consultation. The survey was tested through the Water Reuse Forum (WRF), a web platform developed within FIT4REUSE. The WRF aims at providingvoice to different stakeholders relevant for the project – as they could be affected and/or benefit from FIT4REUSE solutions – as well as to confirm or reject information already identified in the literature review but tailored to specific territorial situations. The survey will be revised according to the results of the test and opened again to further review the methodology before the sustainability assessment of FIT4REUSE solutions takes place. It will also help to understand the functioning of the WRF. The selected combination of LCT and CBA approaches in the sustainability assessment of non-conventional water resources and water use represents: 1) a novelty as no study based on the combination of these two methodologies is currently present in the scientific literature related to water management; 2) a challenge due to the amount and quality of data needed to be performed; and 3) an opportunity as the combination of the two methodologies could provide a complete sustainability assessment to take informed decisions towards the application of new technologies. Therefore, this methodological report provides: • A contextualization of the application of water reuse technologies within the FIT4REUSE project. • The rationale behind the development and application of a sustainability assessment methodology combining LCT and CBA. The opportunities and the challenges of selected methodologies are also considered. • The design of a six steps consultation based on recognized methodologies to identify and engage stakeholders, including the development and test of a survey. • A summary of the next project activities and their relationship with this deliverable

A cluster region of AP-1 responsive elements is required for transcriptional activity of mouse ODC gene by hepatocyte growth factor

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is regulated by a variety of mechanisms including transcription, translation, and RNA and protein half-life. Since in mouse B16-F1 melanoma cells an early and remarkable (about 6-fold) increase in steady state mRNA levels was observed after hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) treatment, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of mouse ODC promoter. Transient transfection of various ODC-luciferase promoter constructs into the B16-Fl cells in combination with electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified the HGF-responsive element as a cluster of three AP-1 binding sites (-1660 to -1572). Even if each site differs from the canonical TPA responsive element for one nucleotide, only the first two AP-1 consensus sequences seemed to be functional since allowed DNA-binding activity of nuclear proteins after HGF treatment. Comparison of the results of transfection assays with the pOD2.5-luc (2.5 kb gene fragment) and with the construct deprived of the AP-1 cluster pOD-B-luc showed that this 50 bp region was required for ODC transactivating activity in response to HGF. Since in B16-F1 cells HGF increased AP-1 activity and the mRNA expression of various AP-1 subunits, we may conclude that HGF-induced transcription of mouse ODC was largely due to triggering of AP-1 pathway

Origins and domestication of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i>, as revealed by chloroplast and nuclear molecular markers

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume for direct human consumption, and in some countries it is the primary source of protein in the human diet. From a population genetics perspective, the major subdivisions of wild common bean progenitors are known, and the domesticated gene pools have been defined. Two major domestication events, one in Mesoamerica and the other in the southern Andes, appear to have resulted in the Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools that mirror the geographic distribution of the wild progenitors. In the present study, we have analyzed 190 genotypes of P. vulgaris, which are representative of all of the different gene pools and forms (wild and domesticated). All of the individuals were analyzed using 17 chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSRs); due to their relatively high levels of polymorphism and their generally uniparental inheritance, cpSSRs represent a useful tool for the study of genetic variation and evolution in plants. A subset of 131 genotypes was also analysed by nuclear markers, such as AFLP (300 polymorphic markers), distributed along the whole genome, and two STS designed on the genomic sequence of Pv-SHATTERPROOF1, which is similar to SHATTERPROOF1 of Arabidopsis thaliana. The results are discussed in relation to the origins and domestication of Phaseolus vulgaris

Adherence to Mediterranean diet is not associated with birthweight: Results form a sample of Canarian pregnant women

Abstract Background: the prevalence of overweight and obesity showed and increasing trend over the past few years. The burden of this epidemic represents a public health issue worldwide. Spain, and especially the Canary Islands, are not exempt. Pregnancy is a situation of weight gain, and the amount of such increase during gestation can affect the health status of both the mother and her baby. Thus, an optimal dietary style becomes of importance. Aim: given the benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on various health outcomes, we aimed to study the adherence to this dietary pattern in a sample of Canarian pregnant women, and to investigate its association with their newborn's weight. Methods: adherence to MD as well as clinical history and anthropometrics were assessed in a sample of pregnant women followed at a Canarian hospital. Similarly, their newborn characteristics were studied. Results: our findings showed an overall low adherence to MD, with no association between this trend and birthweight. Conclusions: in conclusion, specific tools should be tailored to the target population to assess adherence to MD, and further efforts should be made to promote a healthy eating pattern and lifestyle among the pregnant population. Resumen Introducción: la prevalencia del sobrepeso y la obesidad presentó una tendencia al alza en los últimos años. La carga de esta epidemia supone un problema de salud pública en todo el mundo. España, y especialmente las Islas Canarias, no es una excepción. El embarazo es una situación en la que se gana peso y la cantidad de peso que se gana durante la gestación puede afectar al estado de salud tanto de la madre como del niño. Por tanto, adquiere importancia seguir un tipo de dieta óptimo. Objetivo: dados los beneficios de la dieta mediterránea (DM) sobre varios resultados de salud, nos propusimos estudiar la adherencia a este patrón dietético en una muestra de embarazadas canarias e investigar su asociación con el peso neonatal. Métodos: la adherencia a la DM, al igual que la historia clínica y la antropometría, se evaluó en una muestra de mujeres embarazadas seguidas en un hospital canario. También se estudiaron las características de los neonatos. Resultados: nuestros hallazgos mostraron una adherencia general baja a la DM, sin ninguna asociación entre esta tendencia y el peso al nacer. Conclusiones: en conclusión, se deben adaptar a la población objeto de este estudio herramientas específicas que sirvan para evaluar la adherencia a la DM, y se deben realizar nuevos esfuerzos para fomentar un patrón alimenticio y un estilo de vida saludables entre la población gestante