Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis Tenuifolia L.) Grown under Different Plastic Films and with Different UV-B Radiation Postharvest Treatments

: Rocket species are rich in nutrients with well-known bioactive activity, but their content depends on several factors, such as plant-UV radiation interaction. In this work, we measured the production of nutritional elements in wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) leaves as a function of exposure to UV-B radiation by adopting a combined approach. The wild rocket plants were grown under three greenhouse cover films (A, B, and C) having different transmittivity to UV-B and the fresh-cut leaves were exposed to UV-B in postharvest for 45, 150, 330, and 660 s. The content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, and the antioxidant activity were determined. Chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total phenolic content were significantly increased by the combination of Film C and treatment with UV-B for 45 s. The predominant phenolic compounds were kaempferol, isorhamnetin, and quercetin. Film C also elicited an increase in ascorbic acid (the most abundant antioxidant compound in the range 374-1199 per 100 g of dry matter) and antioxidant activity. These findings highlighted an increase in bioactive compound content in the wild rocket when it was cultivated under Film C (diffused light film with a tailored UV-B transmission dose) and treated with UV-B radiation for 45 s postharvest, corresponding to an energy dose of 0.2 KJ m-2

Novel hybrid organic/inorganic 2D quasiperiodic PC: from diffraction pattern to vertical light extraction

Recently, important efforts have been dedicated to the realization of a fascinating class of new photonic materials or metamaterials, known as photonic quasicrystals (PQCs), in which the lack of the translational symmetry is compensated by rotational symmetries not achievable by the conventional periodic crystals. As ever, more advanced functionality is demanded and one strategy is the introduction of non-linear and/or active functionality in photonic materials. In this view, core/shell nanorods (NRs) are a promising active material for light-emitting applications. In this article a two-dimensional (2D) hybrid a 2D octagonal PQC which consists of air rods in an organic/inorganic nanocomposite is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The nanocomposite was prepared by incorporating CdSe/CdS core/shell NRs into a polymer matrix. The PQC was realized by electron beam lithography (EBL) technique. Scanning electron microscopy, far field diffraction and spectra measurements are used to characterize the experimental structure. The vertical extraction of the light, by the coupling of the modes guided by the PQC slab to the free radiation via Bragg scattering, consists of a narrow red emissions band at 690 nm with a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 21.5 nm. The original characteristics of hybrid materials based on polymers and colloidal NRs, able to combine the unique optical properties of the inorganic moiety with the processability of the host matrix, are extremely appealing in view of their technological impact on the development of new high performing optical devices such as organic light-emitting diodes, ultra-low threshold lasers, and non-linear devices

Eosinophilic Airway Diseases: From Pathophysiological Mechanisms to Clinical Practice

Eosinophils play a key role in airway inflammation in many diseases, such as allergic and non-allergic asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In these chronic disabling conditions, eosinophils contribute to tissue damage, repair, remodeling, and disease persistence through the production a variety of mediators. With the introduction of biological drugs for the treatment of these respiratory diseases, the classification of patients based on clinical characteristics (phenotype) and pathobiological mechanisms (endotype) has become mandatory. This need is particularly evident in severe asthma, where, despite the great scientific efforts to understand the immunological pathways underlying clinical phenotypes, the identification of specific biomarkers defining endotypes or predicting pharmacological response remains unsatisfied. In addition, a significant heterogeneity also exists among patients with other airway diseases. In this review, we describe some of the immunological differences in eosinophilic airway inflammation associated with severe asthma and other airway diseases and how these factors might influence the clinical presentation, with the aim of clarifying when eosinophils play a key pathogenic role and, therefore, represent the preferred therapeutic target

Attitudinal variables and a possible mediating mechanism for vaccination practice in health care workers of a local hospital in L'Aquila (Italy)

Active immunization is an important concern for health care workers (HCWs) susceptible subjects and potential sources of infection for patients. However, the vaccine coverage for vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) is below recommended standards. The aims of the study were to estimate the hospitals' HCWs' susceptibility and vaccination coverage rates for VPDs and to analyze the role of HCWs' attitudes and knowledge as determinants of the immunization practices. A cross-sectional study enrolled 334 HCWs (physicians, nurses, others) at local hospital in L'Aquila (Italy). By means of an anonymous questionnaire, self-report data about history of disease and active vaccination for seasonal influenza, chickenpox, measles-mumps-rubella and hepatitis B were collected, as well as attitudes and knowledge about vaccination in HCWs. The employees showed high levels of susceptibility and insufficient vaccination coverage rates, particularly for influenza. Specific trends were detected for different VPDs across age strata and professional categories, not always consistent with literature. Overall, the level of knowledge about recommended vaccination for HCWs was low, in all categories. The active immunization status against influenza was found the most clearly associated with difference levels in 3 psychometric variables: personal responsibility, beliefs on usefulness and beliefs on risk of vaccination. A mediation mechanism was analyzed between these constructs, and an interesting indirect effect was highlighted for beliefs that could enhance the advantage of increased responsibility for HCWs. Further effort in research is needed to evaluate the black-box of longitudinal intervention studies (education, environmental changes, policies), to improve HCWs immunization

Concept and estimation of crop safety period of plastic film mulching

peer reviewedPlastic mulching film plays an important role in development of agriculture. However, a series of problems such as pollution of plastic film residue left in the field occur. It is required to make a reasonable assessment on film mulching and rationally utilize it. Based on its application, this study proposed a concept of crop safety period of plastic film mulching, and its estimation methods. Crop safety period through plastic film mulching means the appropriate choice of a photo-selective mulch film according to the transplant season, to the pedoclimatic conditions of the area under cultivation and, finally, to the type of crop. In the days before the transplant, the plastic mulching film should be basic whole, and it works to decrease soil moisture evaporation, to warm soil and to prevent weeds. Successively, these functions almost reduce. The selection of crop safety period of plastic film mulching is helpful to manage agricultural activities efficiently; guiding film makers to produce both meet the demand of production and lower cost of plastic products; to help farmers due to the types of crop and production conditions choosing appropriate plastic mulch film. Based on measurement of function of plastic film mulching, and crop canopy density, 2 kinds of method were established. The first one is to continuously monitor soil moisture，temperature and weed control, to build relationship between the function of soil temperature, moisture, weed suppression and mulching treatments, with that to seek the intersection of them. The coincidence point means functions disappear of plastic mulching and the days from starting mulching to this date is a certain crop safety period in a certain site. The second is crop canopy density to determine crop safety of plastic film mulching period, which includes 2 steps: to measure the change of crop canopy density, and the functions (soil temperature and moisture etc.) of mulching under no mulching and mulching at same time, to establish the curve of crop canopy density and the main function of plastic film in order to cross the best condition between crop canopy density and the contribute of mulch films aimed to the determination of the ideal crop safeguard period. All in all, plastic mulching film has been widely used in global, especially in China, in the past 30 years, and its application area and efficacy works better than any other agronomic practices. Concept of crop safety period of plastic film mulching has been firstly proposed in this paper, and further research in the connotation and extension of its definition still need to be developed. Moreover, the mentioned estimation methods around crop safety period of plastic film mulching showed some usefulness in cotton in Xinjiang, corn in Northeast and tobacco in southwest planting, but more extensive research, application and improvement were needed by far. The findings from this research provide an important information base for improving adaptability evaluation system of plastic mulching film, investigating the spatial pattern of plastic mulching film utilization, and biodegradable plastic film production and application

Effects of Chemical and Solar Soil-Disinfection Methods on Soil Bacterial Communities

The actctivated carbon + solar radiation membrane is an eco-friendly soil disinfestations method for managing soil-borne plant pathogens. However, little was known the impact of Activated carbon + solar radiation membrane on bacterial community structure in strawberry production systems under field conditions. A comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of different soil disinfection methods on the bacterial community structure is fundamental to understand the role of disinfection in maintaining soil health. The changes in the soil bacterial diversity and community composition were detected using realtime fluorescence quantitative PCR (RTFQ PCR) and next-generation sequencing techniques to better understand the effect of soil disinfection. The bacterial community composition was monitored after disinfection using dazomet (DZ), chloropicrin (CP), 100 kg/ha activated carbon + solar radiation membrane (AC1), 200 kg/ha activated carbon + solar radiation membrane (AC2), and 300 kg/ha activated carbon + solar radiation membrane (AC3) and compared with the control (CT). The results indicated that the different dosages of activated carbon (AC1, AC2, and AC3) did not affect the bacterial community structure. On the other hand, DZ and CP considerably reduced the soil biomass and abundance of bacterial species. Chemical fumigants influenced the bacterial community structure, with DZ treatment leading to the dominance of the phylum Firmicutes, accounting for approximately 54%. After fumigation with CP, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla. Beta diversity analysis and principal coordinate analysis revealed that the bacterial communities in the soil treated with DZ and CP formed clusters. Redundancy analysis indicated that soil pH, available potassium, and available phosphorus were the key factors influencing microbial metabolic functional diversity. Thus, it was verified that the damage caused by activated carbon + solar radiation membrane—a potential alternative for chemical fumigant—to the soil bacterial community was less than that caused by chemicals DZ and CP