Seed transmission of Acidovorax citrulli: implementation of detection in watermelon seeds and development of disinfection methods

Acidovorax citrulli is a seed-borne pathogen and the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits. It is listed as an A1 quarantine pathogen by EPPO. Seed certification is based on the availability of a sensitive and specific pathogen detection in seed lots: this is a must for an effective disease management strategy. Therefore, an effective DNA extraction and purification procedure is a critical issue to ensure a robust PCR analysis. Pathogen detection in seed lots has been implemented by testing different known contamination levels by Acidovorax citrulli. Initially, two different sample preparation methods have been tested: a) Overnight soaking; b) Hammering of dry seeds, followed by three different manual DNA extraction. Each DNA sub-sample obtained has been analysed with two different primers sets, SEQID3/SEQID4 and WFB1/WFB2, to evaluate the capability to detect the pathogen. Results showed that a DNA extraction and purification procedure, based on soaking the seeds, followed by the use of the DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen) on the washing fluids gave the highest amount of DNA, sufficient to increase the detection threshold of the pathogen. This will allow the improvement of current detection procedures. Furthermore, naturally contaminated watermelon seeds were treated through different methods, in order to achieve a possible sanitation or eradication of Acidovorax citrulli: a bacterial antagonist, a microbial consortium, a plant polyphenol. Our results showed that treated seeds were only partially disinfected, and the pathogen was not eradicated after any of the methods used

Global PeaceTech : unlocking the better angels of our techne

The double-edged nature of technology pervades human history. Today, the potential for peace offered by the internet, social networks, mobile devices, digital identities, AI, blockchain, big data, geospatial information, is matched by the risks of disinformation, polarisation, online violence, surveillance, data privacy, cyber-attacks, and power concentration. Faced with this knife-edge between the bright and dark sides of disruptive technologies, how do we conjure up the better angels of our nature? Many agents for change around the world have sought to employ and regulate new technologies to foster peaceful processes under the aegis of “PeaceTech” initiatives. This paper introduces “Global PeaceTech” as a new field of social inquiry in the context of International Relations and Global Affairs, with the aim of analysing the global context in which these initiatives are embedded and interconnected, in order to draw prescriptive lessons. The deployment of technology for peace entails legal, political, economic, and ethical dilemmas that transcend national borders and require new models of transnational governance. By bringing together the world of “tech-for-good” and the field of international studies broadly defined as the study of patterns of global change, “Global PeaceTech” fills a gap at the intersection between peace studies and global governance and promotes policy innovation at the transnational level. The paper offers an overview of this agenda in four parts: Part I starts from the IR literature and explores the relationship between technology, peace and war. Part II defines the main differences between PeaceTech and Global PeaceTech. Part III sets out a new research agenda in Global PeaceTech, introducing core analytical concepts and research methods, and discussing its potential political and societal impact. In Part IV, we conclude by presenting a series of example of relevant research areas as a reference for further research in Global PeaceTech

The role of private and public educational providers in the digital post-Covid world

The paper discusses and investigates the differences in the aims, purpose and roles of public Higher education institutions and private sector actors in digital education. Specifically, we discuss whether big tech multinationals play an invasive role in the educational arena that risks undermining the role of traditional public sector Higher education institutions and, therefore, whether we need digital education governance and what kind. The paper uses secondary data and critically evaluates opposing arguments in the literature to analyse and investigate theories and practices of educational offering in both the private and public sectors, arguing that: (1) there are differences between Higher education teaching & learning (public domain) and training and professional development (private domain) purposes; (2) tech companies like Microsoft and Alphabet (private) have a role to play in the knowledge-based economy especially in the post- Covid era; (3) this prompts the need for public funded Higher education institutions to work with industry to become more entrepreneurial and re-design their pedagogy by incorporating some of the best-practices in digital education; (4) we need independent instruments and institutions to safeguard our citizens and communities of learners; (5) and finally, argue that public investment in digital education should increase accordingly to enable universities to meet these new educational challenges. The paper does not position the analysis within a specific framework but rather presents a focus for discussion of current issues, located within a theoretical context. It is concluded that any «threat» publicly funded Higher education Institutions may face in the current commercialised educational world, is the result of outdated educational practices and a misconception of the roles and missions of public and private institutions in education. As such, we do not need stringent governance of digital education but a better digital education framework

The effect of ERAS management in gastric cancer: assessment from the IMIGASTRIC study

Background:Establish protocols to enhance the surgical management (ERAS) can improve outcomes, shortening hospital stay and save resources. Several studies have carried out for colorectal surgery, while a lack of evidence for gastrectomy remains.This study aims to evaluate the impact of ERAS strategies in a large series of patients underwent gastric cancer surgery.Methods:This is a propensity score-matched case-control study, comparing an ERAS group with a control group. Data were recorded through a tailored and protected web-based system. Primary outcomes: hospital stay, complications rate. Among the secondary outcomes, there are: POD of mobilization, POD of starting liquid diet and soft solid diet.Results:Patients in the ERAS and control groups were 1:1 matched by the closest propensity score on the logit scale and with a Caliber = 0.2. The successful matching resulted in a total sample of 440 patients. The two groups showed no differences in all baseline patients characteristics, type of surgery (P=0.31) and stage of the disease (P=0.61). A benefit in favor of the ERAS management was found in the length of hospital stay (P=0.0004) and complications rate (P=0.001).Conclusion:An ERAS program can safely be established in referral centers for gastric cancer, enabling to significantly improve the main clinical outcomes

Optimization of laser welding of dissimilar corrosion resistant alloys

The use of multi-materials components has the benefit of coupling each material's benefit where it is needed, thus achieving, for instance, heat, wear and corrosion resistance. Joining of dissimilar metals is a challenging task due to the large differences in properties. In this framework, the use of (Quasi Continuous Wave (QCW) Fiber Lasers) proved to be effective in multi-materials components assembly thanks to the high power density but low energy-input. In this paper the laser welding of dissimilar materials, namely stellite and stainless steel, is investigated and optimized in terms of corrosion resistance, comparing the results to conventional brazing joining. Results demonstrate that the optimized laser welding conditions, with the use of a proper filler material, lead to the obtainment of defect-free joints, with minimum alteration of the base materials

Early exploitation of Neapolitan pozzolan (pulvis puteolana) in the Roman theatre of Aquileia, Northern Italy

: The paper reports the results of the analyses on mortar-based materials from the Roman theatre of Aquileia (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Northern Italy), recently dated between the mid-1st Century BCE and the mid-1st Century CE. Samples were characterized by Polarized Light Microscopy on thin sections (PLM), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Quantitative Phase Analysis by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (QPA-XRPD). Pyroclastic aggregates (mainly pumices and scattered tuffs), incompatible with the regional geology, were found in two samples from the preparation layers of the ground floor of the building. Their provenance was determined by means of QPA-XRPD, SEM-EDS, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Laser-Ablation Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Mineralogical and geochemical analyses demonstrated their provenance from the Bay of Naples, thus recognizing them as pulvis puteolana, a type of pozzolanic aggregate outcropping around the modern town of Pozzuoli and prescribed by Vitruvius (De Architectura, 2.6.1) in mortar-based materials to strengthen masonries and produce hydraulic concrete for harbor piers. This evidence represents the oldest analytically-established case of pulvis puteolana exploitation in Northern Italy up to now, and an early use of the material out of Campania adapted for civil constructions in a non-strictly maritime-related environment. Indeed, the theatre was built in the low-lying Aquileia's deltaic plain, prone to water infiltrations that are typical in lagoon-like environments. The data highlight the craftsmen's resilience in adapting and reinterpreting the traditional use of the Neapolitan volcanic materials to deal with the geomorphological challenges of Aquileia's lowland

Impact of climatic conditions on outbreaks of bacterial spot on tomato and pepper caused by Xanthomonas vesicatoria and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria

Seed-borne bacterial pathogens of tomato and pepper are of major concern worldwide. Xanthomonas vesicatoria (Xv) and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (Xe), the causal agents of bacterial leaf spot, and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), the causal agent of tomato bacterial canker, are worldwide distributed, but the occurrence of the latter is usually erratic. In order to evaluate the risk of seed transmission and the relationship between seed contamination and disease outbreak, an extensive field trial has been put in place in 2013 for each pathosystem. Three artificially contamination levels were considered, composed of 100 seedlings each. Disease outbreaks were weekly monitored during the growing season until harvesting and disease was quantified by means of AUDPC. Seeds were produced from each plot and analysed in order to assess their contamination level. Preliminary results of our studies showed that disease quantity caused by Xv, Cmm or Xe was directly correlated to the percentage of initial infection, according to AUDPC values obtained. Contamination rate of seed produced in diseased fields was not always correlated with disease quantity observed. A microbial consortium, a bacterial antagonist and a plant polyphenol were assayed to assess their potential efficacy in seed disinfection: naturally contaminated tomato and pepper seeds were treated and sown. Pepper and tomato seedlings were inspected and analysed for the presence of bacterial spot. Preliminary results obtained show that none of the above mentioned treatments was able to eradicate the pathogen from seeds

Seed transmission of Xanthomonas vesicatoria and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in tomato and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria in pepper and implementation of seed disinfection methods

Seed-borne bacterial pathogens of tomato and pepper are of major concern worldwide. Xanthomonas vesicatoria (Xv) and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (Xe), the causal agents of bacterial leaf spot, and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), the causal agent of tomato bacterial canker, are worldwide distributed, but the occurrence of the latter is usually erratic. In order to evaluate the risk of seed transmission and the relationship between seed contamination and disease outbreak, an extensive field trial has been put in place in 2013 for each pathosystem. Three artificially contamination levels were considered (1%, 5% and 15% or 20%, respectively in Italy and in Serbia), composed of 100 seedlings each. Disease outbreaks were monitored weekly during the growing season until harvesting and disease was quantified by means of AUDPC. Seeds were produced from each plot and analysed in order to assess their contamination level. Preliminary results of our studies showed that disease quantity caused by Xv, Cmm or Xe was directly correlated to the percentage of initial infection, according to AUDPC values obtained. Contamination rate of seed produced in diseased fields was not always correlated with disease quantity observed. A microbial consortium, a bacterial antagonist and plant polyphenols were assayed to assess their potential efficacy in seed disinfection: naturally contaminated tomato and pepper seeds were treated and sown. Pepper and tomato seedlings were inspected and analysed for the presence of bacterial spot. Preliminary results obtained show that none of the above mentioned treatments was able to eradicate the pathogen from seeds

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

Commentary on Italy's international seafood trade and its impacts

Being within a geographical area, EU-27, which imports a large proportion of the fish products consumed annually from abroad, Italy finds itself in a particularly critical situation; domestic production from fishing and aquaculture on the whole accounts for only 20% of consumption and even less in the case of crustaceans and cephalopods. Despite its strong dependence on foreign countries, per capita consumption is quite high, at 31 kg/y in recent times; furthermore, among the imports from abroad there is a large number of species (or their families) mostly obtained through fishing. A wiser exploitation of national fishing resources, a greater development of domestic aquaculture and consumption patterns relying less on wild fish and shellfish are desirable