Le Domus de janas del Logudoro-Mejlogu

Nel Logudoro-Meilogu, regione geografica della Sardegna nordoccidentale, è stata rilevata la presenza di 253 ipogei alcuni dei quali molto noti, sia per la complessità delle strutture (S. Andrea Priu di Bonorva), sia per i motivi di carattere sacro (protomi, corna, spirali, figurine antropomorfe) dipinti, scolpiti od incisi (Mandra Antine di Thiesi, Enas de Cannuia di Bessude e Moseddu di Cheremule). Vengono esaminate: - le tipologie planimetriche, risultate nella maggior parte dei casi di tipo monocellulare (42%) anche se è stata notata una certa diffusione di impianti pluricellulari (30%) e bicellulari (21%); - il rapporto tra i monumenti ed il territorio circostante prendendo soprattutto in considerazione gli aspetti geomorfologico ed altimetrico. In base a tale indagine è emersa la tendenza a collocare gli ipogei su costoni rocciosi (39%), per lo più di natura calcarea (68%), nella fascia altimetrica compresa tra i 300-600 metri (85%). - i particolari architettonici (pilastri, colonne, lesene, fasce in rilievo, focolari) e i vari segni decorativo-cultuali

Calcium oxide, potassium phosphite and a Trichoderma enriched compost water suspension protect Capsicum annuum against Phytophthora capsici by priming the immune system

BACKGROUND: Proper management of Phytophthora capsici in pepper cultivation is extremely important, since Phytophthora blight is the main disease of this crop worldwide. In the past, the main strategy adopted had been the use of fungicides, causing, in some cases, the development of P. capsici resistant strains. In this work three different treatments selected from previous studies (potassium phosphite, calcium oxide and a water suspension from Trichoderma sp. TW2 enriched compost) were tested to prove their ability to activate the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in pepper against P. capsici; acibenzolar‐s‐methyl was used as positive control. Two independent growth chamber pot experiments were performed, spatially dividing the site of treatments application (as radical drench) and the site of inoculation (as agar plug on the third leaf). RESULTS: Leaf lesions were measured, showing a significant reduction on all treated plants compared to the untreated control. To further confirm this hypothesis, the expression levels of three SAR key genes (CaPBR1, CaPO1 and CaDEF1) were evaluated though RT‐Real Time PCR at the three end‐point times: T0, T6 and T24. A significant increase of target genes expression at least in one end‐point time in each treated plant was observed. Eventually, statistical overaccumulation of salicylic acid was observed in the upper leaves at the same end‐point times, through HPLC‐MS/MS analysis. CONCLUSION: This work confirmed the hypothesis that the three treatments tested have the ability to prime the plant immune system, leading pepper to an alert status able to confer a better defence against P. capsici. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry

Shelf-life of Halal fresh and minced beef meat packaged under modified atmosphere

The shelf-life of Halal fresh cut and minced beef meat, packaged under modified atmosphere (MAP) was evaluated. The microbial profile of the carcasses intended for cutting and mincing was investigated by detecting spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Samples of diced meat (DM), marrowbones (MB), steaks (S) and minced meat (MM) were packaged in MAP (66.0% O2, 25.0% CO2 and 9.0% N2) and stored at +2 and +8°C. At 0, 7 and 14 days, gas composition of headspace was measured. Moreover, in all the samples colony count at 30°C, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Pseudomonas spp. were determined. The carcasses contamination was in compliance with the criteria fixed by EC Reg. 2073/2005. Gas composition of the headspace changed significantly during the storage, mainly at +8°C, where a significant decrease of O2 (until 0.1-0.6%) and an increase of CO2 (until 81.0-89.0%) were recorded. This could be related to the level of LAB and Pseudomonas spp. Less significant changes were observed at +2°C. At 7 days of storage colony count, mean values were higher than >107 CFU/g in the samples at +8°C, and also at 14 days at +2°C, presumably due to the high levels of Pseudomonas spp., that was dominant at the end of the test. Overall, the microbial mean counts were higher than those detected in similar products packaged under vacuum. In order to extend the shelf-life of the fresh meat and meat preparations, differentiated gas mixtures, and particularly a higher percentage of CO2, could be employed

Biogenic Aerosol in the Artic from Eight Years of MSA Data from Ny Ålesund (Svalbard Islands) and Thule (Greenland)

In remote marine areas, biogenic productivity and atmospheric particulate are coupled through dimethylsulfide (DMS) emission by phytoplankton. Once in the atmosphere, the gaseous DMS is oxidized to produce H2SO4 and methanesulfonic acid (MSA); both species can a ect the formation of cloud condensation nuclei. This study analyses eight years of biogenic aerosol evolution and variability at two Arctic sites: Thule (76.5 N, 68.8 W) and Ny Ålesund (78.9 N, 11.9 E). Sea ice plays a key role in determining the MSA concentration in polar regions. At the beginning of the melting season, in April, up to June, the biogenic aerosol concentration appears inversely correlated with sea ice extent and area, and positively correlated with the extent of the ice-free area in the marginal ice zone (IF-MIZ). The upper ocean stratification induced by sea ice melting might have a role in these correlations, since the springtime formation of this surface layer regulates the accumulation of phytoplankton and nutrients, allowing the DMS to escape from the sea to the atmosphere. The multiyear analysis reveals a progressive decrease in MSA concentration in May at Thule and an increase in July August at Ny Ålesund. Therefore, while the MSA seasonal evolution is mainly related with the sea ice retreat in April, May, and June, the IF-MIZ extent appears as the main factor a ecting the longer-term behavior of MSA.MIUR PRIN 2007 and PRIN 2009, PNRA 2010-2012, PNRA 2015-2016, PNRA 2016-2018Publishedid 3495A. Ricerche polari e paleoclimaJCR Journa

Bacterial and viral investigations combined with determination of phytoplankton and algal biotoxins in mussels and water from a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Sardinia, Italy).

Calich Lagoon is a Mediterranean coastal lagoon located along the northwestern coast of Sardinia (Italy). The connection to marine and fresh water determines the high productivity of this coastal lagoon. Despite its great potential and the presence of natural beds of bivalve mollusks (Mytilus galloprovincialis), the lagoon has not yet been classified for shellfish production. In this study, through a multidisciplinary approach, the presence of several bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Vibrio spp.) and viral pathogens (hepatitis A virus and norovirus genogroups I and II) was evaluated from March 2017 to February 2018. In addition, phytoplankton composition in lagoon waters and associated algal biotoxins (paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning) in mussels were also monitored. The aim of this study was to provide useful data to improve knowledge about their seasonal presence and to assess the potential risk for public health, as well as to provide input for future conservation and management strategies. In mussels, Salmonella spp. were found in spring, along with E. coli, but Salmonella spp. were not found in autumn or winter, even though E. coli was detected in these seasons. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was found in autumn and winter, but not in spring. Norovirus genogroups I and II were found in winter samples. None of the bacteria were found in summer. Algal biotoxins have never been detected in mussel samples. Among potentially harmful phytoplankton, only Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were present, mainly in summer. The results showed that a possible bacterial and viral contamination, together with the presence of potentially toxic microalgae, is a real problem. Therefore, the development of natural resource management strategies is necessary to ensure the good quality of waters and guarantee the protection of consumers

Vitamin D responsive elements within the HLA-DRB1 promoter region in Sardinian multiple sclerosis associated alleles

Vitamin D response elements (VDREs) have been found in the promoter region of the MS-associated allele HLA-DRB1*15:01, suggesting that with low vitamin D availability VDREs are incapable of inducing *15:01 expression allowing in early life autoreactive T-cells to escape central thymic deletion. The Italian island of Sardinia exhibits a very high frequency of MS and high solar radiation exposure. We test the contribution of VDREs analysing the promoter region of the MS-associated DRB1 *04:05, *03:01, *13:01 and *15:01 and non-MS-associated *16:01, *01, *11, *07:01 alleles in a cohort of Sardinians (44 MS patients and 112 healthy subjects). Sequencing of the DRB1 promoter region revealed a homozygous canonical VDRE in all *15:01, *16:01, *11 and in 45/73 *03:01 and in heterozygous state in 28/73 *03:01 and all *01 alleles. A new mutated homozygous VDRE was found in all *13:03, *04:05 and *07:01 alleles. Functionality of mutated and canonical VDREs was assessed for its potential to modulate levels of DRB1 gene expression using an in vitro transactivation assay after stimulation with active vitamin D metabolite. Vitamin D failed to increase promoter activity of the *04:05 and *03:01 alleles carrying the new mutated VDRE, while the *16:01 and *03:01 alleles carrying the canonical VDRE sequence showed significantly increased transcriptional activity. The ability of VDR to bind the mutant VDRE in the DRB1 promoter was evaluated by EMSA. Efficient binding of VDR to the VDRE sequence found in the *16:01 and in the *15:01 allele reduced electrophoretic mobility when either an anti-VDR or an anti-RXR monoclonal antibody was added. Conversely, the Sardinian mutated VDRE sample showed very low affinity for the RXR/VDR heterodimer. These data seem to exclude a role of VDREs in the promoter region of the DRB1 gene in susceptibility to MS carried by DRB1* alleles in Sardinian patients