Sediment and bottom water eDNA metabarcoding to support coastal management

Ocean sprawl and climate change exacerbate coastal erosion and flooding, resulting in habitat loss and decreasing biodiversity. To counteract these threats, different coastal defence tools have been developed, with an increasing emphasis on nature-based solutions. However, tracking the impacts of these interventions on marine benthic organisms requires appropriate sampling designs and timely investigation methods due to the dynamic nature of coastal environments. Environmental DNA metabarcoding is a promising, non-invasive, and quick technique to monitor community changes. Here, environmental DNA COI-based metabarcoding data from sediment and bottom water samples were used to characterize benthic communities at three sites along the Emilia-Romagna coast differing in the topology of coastal defence actions (from no defences to groynes and low-crested barriers) and to evaluate the effectiveness of the two sampling matrices in detecting local biodiversity. The findings revealed significant differences in the structure of the benthic communities depending on site, sample type (i.e., sediment versus bottom water), and their interaction. The three sites differ in abiotic characteristic affecting the community composition. Lido di Dante and Riccione showed higher species diversity due to the new type of substrata provided by the hard defence structure, while Foce del Bevano showed the presence of species typical of low impacted areas. Bottom water, hosting more traces of pelagic and nektonic species, showed significantly different species composition compared to sediment samples, suggesting the need to consider both matrices in coastal monitoring

Gold-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of 4H‑Furo[3,2‑b]indoles with Propargyl Esters: Synthesis of 2-Alkenylidene-3-oxoindolines

2-alkenyliden-indolin-3-ones were synthesised in high yields via a cascade reaction between 4H\u2011furo[3,2\u2011b]indoles and propargyl esters. The cascade sequence involves initial formation of a gold-carbene specie via cationic gold(I) catalysed 1,2-acyloxy migration of properly substituted propargyl esters followed by gold-carbene to furoindole addition and successive furan ring-opening affording the final products. The obtained compounds contain an extended \uf070-system linked at the C2 of the indolin-3-ones, they are characterised by intense colouration (from yellow to purple) and were characterised by UV mesearurements

Gold-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of 4H-Furo[3,2-b]indoles with Allenamides: Synthesis of Indolin-3-one Derivatives

Merging the ability of cationic gold(I) catalysts to activate unsaturated \u3c0-systems with the electrophiles driven ring-opening reactions of furans, we describe a new approach to 2-spiroindolin-3-ones from 4H-furo[3,2-b]indoles. The reaction occurs through a cascade sequence involving addition of a gold-activated allene to the furan moiety of the starting furoindole followed by a ring-opening/ring-closing event affording 2-spirocyclopentane-1,2-dihydro-3H-indolin-3-ones in moderate to good yields

Population genomic structure of the black coral Antipathella subpinnata in Mediterranean Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

none8siAntipathella subpinnata (Ellis and Solander 1786) is one of the most frequently observed black corals at mesophotic depths (60–200 m) of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the northwestern part of the basin, where its populations can reach high densities and create forest-like aggregations, both along the coast and in offshore locations such as seamounts. Similar to other marine underwater forests, black coral gardens host a rich associated fauna and attract numerous species of commercial interest. As such, these corals are targeted by recreational and artisanal fisheries and are vulnerable to human impact due to their arborescent morphology and low growth rates. Genetic connectivity can provide valuable insight into the processes of population maintenance and replenishment following environmental disturbance and is often used as a proxy for population resilience. In our study, a restriction-site associated DNA analysis (2bRAD) was used to evaluate fine-scale population structure of the Mediterranean black coral A. subpinnata, and to understand which populations could serve as a potential source of genetic diversity for adjacent populations. Colonies from two offshore localities (a Ligurian seamount and a Tyrrhenian canyon) and four coastal populations from Liguria and Sicily were sampled and genotyped. Significant genetic differentiation was recorded between coastal and offshore localities. Moreover, offshore localities were genetically distinct from one another, while all coastal populations were characterized by panmixia. This indicates that offshore A. subpinnata gardens are potentially less resilient to human impact (i.e., demersal fishing activities) due to a limited influx of larvae from adjacent habitats. In addition, they are unlikely to supply coral propagules to coastal populations. Overall, this study highlights the vulnerability of Mediterranean A. subpinnata forests, and the importance of enforcing conservation and management measures to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES, EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive) of these valuable marine ecosystems.openTerzin M.; Paletta M.G.; Matterson K.; Coppari M.; Bavestrello G.; Abbiati M.; Bo M.; Costantini F.Terzin, M.; Paletta, M. G.; Matterson, K.; Coppari, M.; Bavestrello, G.; Abbiati, M.; Bo, M.; Costantini, F

p-TSA-Based DESs as “Active Green Solvents” for Microwave Enhanced Cyclization of 2-Alkynyl-(hetero)-arylcarboxylates: an Alternative Access to 6-Substituted 3,4-Fused 2-Pyranones

In this paper, we describe the use of p-TSA based Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) as alternative environmental-friendly \u201cactive\u201d solvents for the microwave-mediated synthesis of 6-substituted 3,4-fused 2-pyranones, and in particular isocoumarins, starting from 2-alkynyl-(hetero)arylcarboxylates. When the alkyne terminus bears a neutral or an electron-donating group (EDG), the reactions are fast, clean and highly regioselective, to give the 6-endo-dig cyclization products in good to excellent yields. For substrates bearing an electron-withdrawing group (EWG) on the alkyne end, the regioselectivity can be tuned by adding a small amount of silver(I) triflate as co-catalyst. DES was demonstrated to be reusable without loss of efficiency in terms of reaction yields. Based on experimental evidences and previous findings, two competitive mechanisms working simultaneously are proposed to explain the outcomes and the regioselectivity issues

Experimental investigation on the mechanical behavior of an innovative parabolic trough collector

In the present work an experimental program aimed at assessing the mechanical behavior of an innovative parabolic solar trough is presented. More specifically, a lightweight and low-cost collector making large use of adhesive joints, which can be easily assembled on-site, still performing at a high efficiency, was designed. Static and fatigue tests were performed on a full-scale prototype of the collector in the pre-production stage. The tests included differential torsion, concentrated and distributed bending, and distributed load (wind effect). During the tests, a network of strain gauges was placed in the most critical locations to measure the strain field, while laser sensors and cable transducers were placed in strategic positions to measure the displacements. The results demonstrate the strengths of the innovative parabolic trough collector and support the assessment of its structural integrity

Evaluación de la producción de carne de ganado criollo patagónico

Objetivo. Evaluar la producción de carne del ganado Criollo Patagónico respecto al Angus y cruzas entre ambas razas. Materiales y métodos. Se dispuso de una muestra de 42 animales de los genotipos Criollo Patagónico, Angus y cruza entre ambos, clasificados en novillitos o vaquillonas, terminados en feed lot durante un período de 114 y 156 días, a partir de los cuales se conformaron ocho grupos de análisis desbalanceados. Para la parte exploratoria se empleó análisis factorial. Se usaron modelos lineales mixtos para contemplar las correlaciones entre las mediciones sobre un mismo animal. Resultados. Se pudo constatar diferencias entre las medias de los pesos a faena de los dos períodos de engorde y que esta ganancia de peso se depositó en los cortes de menor valor comercial. Con relación al rendimiento de los cortes de alto valor económico, se detectó interacción entre éstos y los grupos, identificándose diferencias entre grupos para algunos de los cortes. Conclusiones. En virtud de los resultados obtenidos, se considera promisoria la producción de carne del ganado Criollo Patagónico con relación al rendimiento de los cortes de alto valor económico, pues sus rendimientos medios sólo se vieron superados en bife ancho por su cruza con Angus

Mild Regiospecific Synthesis of 1-Alkoxy-isochromenes Catalysed by Well-Defined [Silver(I)(Pc-L)] Complexes

The synthesis of 3-substituted-1-alkoxyisochromenes starting from 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes and different alcohols is reported. The reaction is catalysed by a silver(I)complex with an original macrocyclic pyridine-containing ligand (Pc-L). The approach is characterised by absolute regioselectivity, mild reaction conditions, good to excellent reaction yields, cleanness of the reaction and reduced purification steps. The reaction mechanism is investigated by in-depth 1H NMR experiments and an aimed \u201ctrapping\u201d experiment