The importance and direction of current and future plant-UV research : break-out session discussions at the UV4Plants Network Meeting in Bled (April 15th -18th , 2018)

During the 2nd Network Meeting of UV4Plants at Bled (14th–18th April, 2018) the delegates engaged in a group discussion of prescient questions concerning the future of in plant-UV research. The discussion group was tasked to identify the most valuable directions for plant UV research to take, and to create a coherent framework for how to move the field forward. Here, the outcome of these discussions is summarised in sections that follow the composition of discussion groups as ideas taken from a molecular, biochemical and physiological perspective followed by those from an ecological and plant production perspective. In each case, first basic research questions are considered and then applications and methodological considerations are put forward. Finally, some common ground bringing the two perspectives together is discussed, with the aim of solving scaling problems and ways in which the UV4Plants network might be put to good use.Peer reviewe

Post-harvest UV-B radiation modulates metabolite profile in peach fruit

The possibility to modify plant metabolic profile of plants and fruit to improve their healthy properties using eco-friendly tools, rather than transgenic approaches, gained interest in the last decades. Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, at low levels, thanks to its ability to influence plant secondary metabolism, could be successfully used to achieve this goal. However, few studies have been conducted so far on the effects of post-harvest UV-B treatments on fruit metabolomics. The present research, aimed to evaluate the impact of UV-B on peach metabolites profile through non-targeted metabolomics (UHPLC-ESI/QTOF-MS) coupled with multivariate chemometrics, provided evidence that 10 and 60 min of post-harvest UV-B irradiation influenced several classes of metabolites. Most phenolics were down-accumulated 24 h after both UV-B treatments, though, after 36 h, anthocyanins, flavones and dihydroflavonols increased (2.06−, 1.92−, 1.68-fold with 10 min UV-B; 6.65−, 2.53−, 2.05-fold with 60 min UV-B, respectively). UV-B reduced carotenoids and most lipids and increased some biosynthetic intermediates and degradation products, some of them known for their positive role in human health. Among alkaloids, some pteridines accumulated, likely derived from folates degradation, while indole alkaloids decreased. Despite the decrease of some bioprotective metabolites as carotenoids, the UV-B-induced up-accumulation of many antioxidant phenolics after 36 h from the exposure suggests an improvement of the healthy properties of peach fruit and reinforces the potential of UV-B controlled irradiation as a nutraceuticals-increasing tool in fruit

3R\u2019 from citizen point of view and their proposal from a case-study

The first step of the presented research activity, which took place in the Province of Trento during springtime 2011, was based on focus groups with citizens sensitive to the environmental issue and on interviews with no sensitive ones. The aim was to study a change of behaviors to implement concrete actions to reduce the quantity of the produced waste. The second step of the research that began in autumn 2011, was structured as a workshop with the aim of identifying possible actions for reducing the waste produced by the citizens. The final proposal, presented to the provincial administration and to the company in charge for the waste collection, was the construction of a permanent reuse center. This center could constitute the preliminary step before the material collection centers, where citizens can dispose of their recyclable waste. The paper presents results and reflections on the process of mutual learning, which involved participants and organizers of the worksho

Small papillary thyroid carcinoma with minimal extrathyroidal extension should be managed as ATA low-risk tumor

According to American Thyroid Association (ATA) guideline, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with minimal extrathyroidal extension (mETE) is classified at "intermediate risk" of persistent/recurrent disease. However, the impact of mETE per se on patients' outcome is not fully understood. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of mETE in patients with PTC not submitted to therapeutic or prophylactic lymph node dissection, according to tumor size and other prognostic factors

Measuring, modelling and testing ozone exposure, flux and effects on vegetation in southern European conditions what does not work. A Review from Italy.

Ozone (O3) exposure at Italian background sites exceeds UN/ECE concentration-based critical levels (CLec), if expressed in terms of AOT40. Yet the occurrence of adverse effects of O3 on forests and crops is controversial. Possible reasons include (i) ability of response indicators to provide an unbiased estimate of O3 effects, (ii) setting of current CLec in terms of cut-off value and accumulation level, (iii) response functions adopted to infer a critical level, (iv) environmental limitation to O3 uptake and (v) inherent characteristics of Mediterranean vegetation. In particular, the two latter points suggest that critical levels based on accumulated stomatal flux (CLef) can be a better predictor of O3 risk than CLec. While this concept is largely acknowledged, a number of factors may limit its applicability for routine monitoring. This paper reviews levels, uptake and vegetation response to O3 in Italy over recent years to discuss value, uncertainty and feasibility of different approaches to risk assessment