Plant-Growth Promoting Microbes Change the Photosynthetic Response to Light Quality in Spinach.

In this study, the combined effect of plant growth under different light quality and the application of plant-growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) was considered on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) to assess the influence of these factors on the photosynthetic performance. To pursue this goal, spinach plants were grown in a growth chamber at two different light quality regimes, full-spectrum white light (W) and red-blue light (RB), with (I) or without (NI) PGPM-based inoculants. Photosynthesis-light response curves (LRC) and photosynthesis-CO2 response curves (CRC) were performed for the four growth conditions (W-NI, RB-NI, W-I, and RB-I). At each step of LRC and CRC, net photosynthesis (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), Ci/Ca ratio, water use efficiency (WUEi), and fluorescence indexes were calculated. Moreover, parameters derived from the fitting of LRC, such as light-saturated net photosynthesis (PNmax), apparent light efficiency (Qpp), and dark respiration (Rd), as well as the Rubisco large subunit amount, were also determined. In not-inoculated plants, the growth under RB- regime improved PN compared to W-light because it increased stomatal conductance and favored the Rubisco synthesis. Furthermore, the RB regime also stimulates the processes of light conversion into chemical energy through chloroplasts, as indicated by the higher values of Qpp and PNmax in RB compared to W plants. On the contrary, in inoculated plants, the PN enhancement was significantly higher in W (30%) than in RB plants (17%), which showed the highest Rubisco content among all treatments. Our results indicate that the plant-growth-promoting microbes alter the photosynthetic response to light quality. This issue must be considered when PGPMs are used to improve plant growth performance in a controlled environment using artificial lighting.

Antioxidant Characterization of Six Tomato Cultivars and Derived Products Destined for Human Consumption.

The consumption of fresh tomatoes and processed tomato products is widespread in the Mediterranean diet. This fruit is a valuable source of antioxidants and plays an important role in preventing oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the content of antioxidants and measure the total antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays) in the peel, pulp, and seed fractions of six tomato cultivars. Finally, some bioactive compounds and total antioxidant activity were also determined in homemade tomato purees, since such homemade production is commonplace in Southern Italy. The level of antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity in each fraction were also calculated based on their actual fresh weight in the whole tomato. The overall results indicated that the peel and seeds of all analysed tomato cultivars contribute significantly to the antioxidant charge of the fruits. Consequently, consuming tomatoes without peel and seeds results in a substantial loss of compounds beneficial for human health. Our results also showed that phenolic and lycopene content, as well as antioxidant activities in all purees are higher than in fresh tomatoes. Based on this evidence, producing homemade tomato puree is a good practice, and its consumption helps prevent oxidative stress damage.

Role of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP) Enzyme in the Systemic Acquired Acclimation Induced by Light Stress in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plants.

Plants are able to acclimate to environmental constraints through functional modifications that may also occur in tissues that are not directly exposed to stress. This process is termed "systemic acquired acclimation." The present study aims to evaluate the involvement of PolyADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein in the acclimation process to high light (HL) stress in Phaseolus vulgaris plants. For this purpose, some leaves located at the top of the plant, in the apical position, were directly exposed to HL ("inducing" leaves), while others on the same plant, distal from the top, continued to be exposed to growth light ("receiving" leaves) to verify the hypothesis that an "alert" message may be transferred from injured tissues to distal ones. Biochemical and eco-physiological analyses, namely PARP activity, H2O2 and water- and fat-soluble antioxidants (i.e., ascorbic acid, tocopherol, glutathione (GSH), phenols, carotenoids, etc.) content, and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were performed on both "inducing" and "receiving" leaves. Even if no change in PARP expression was found, its activity increased in "receiving" unstressed leaves in response to the light stress duration experimented by "inducing" leaves, while antioxidant capacity declined. When the "receiving" leaves were exposed to HL, the PARP activity returned to the control value, while antioxidant capacity photosynthetic electron transport rate (Jf) decreased and increased, respectively, compared to Control. Our results seem to show an acclimation pathway triggered in remote tissues not yet subjected to stress, likely involving a reactive oxygen species wave activating the PARP enzyme in a mechanism still to be clarified. In addition, the increased tolerance of plants directly exposed to HL could implicate a boosted synthesis of soluble antioxidants accompanied by a reduction of PARP activity to reduce excessive consumption of NAD(P).

Reducing the Risk of Postoperative Complications After Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy in Prostate Cancer Patients: Results of an Audit and Feedback Intervention Following the Implementation of Prospective Data Collection.

BACKGROUND: Prospective data collection for perioperative outcomes might increase awareness of surgical results obtained for patients with prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). This would prompt the implementation of measures aimed at reducing the risk of adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of an audit and feedback process aimed at identifying the most common complications after RARP and at implementing measures to improve outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Overall, 415 patients treated with RARP by a high-volume surgeon were included. Perioperative outcomes for 187 patients treated between September 2016 and December 2017 were prospectively collected at 30 d according to the European Association of Urology guideline recommendations (group 1). An audit and feedback process was implemented in January 2018 whereby the most common complication (anastomotic leak) was identified and measures aimed at improving outcomes (changes in the anastomotic technique) were implemented. The outcomes for group 1 were then compared to 228 patients treated after implementation of the modified surgical technique (group 2). SURGICAL PROCEDURE: A novel technique for posterior reconstruction and urethrovesical anastomosis was introduced. MEASUREMENTS: Perioperative outcomes included blood loss, operative time, length of stay, and 30-d postoperative complications. Logistic regression models tested the effect of the novel surgical technique on anastomotic leaks. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Overall, 97 patients (23%) experienced postoperative complications at 30 d. The rate of anastomotic leaks was significantly lower in group 2 compared to group 1 (3.1% vs 9.6%; p < 0.01). Similarly, overall and Clavien-Dindo grade ≥2 complication rates were lower in group 2 versus group 1 (17% vs 31%, and 6% vs 20%; both p ≤ 0.001). In multivariable analyses, treatment after implementation of changes in the anastomotic technique independently predicted a lower risk of complications (odds ratio [OR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.89) and of anastomotic leaks (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.17-0.97). The lack of randomization represents the main limitation. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of changes in the urethrovesical anastomosis technique arising from increased awareness of surgical outcomes reduced the risk of anastomotic leaks. These findings highlight the importance of audit and feedback processes using a standardized method for reporting surgical morbidity. PATIENT SUMMARY: Increased awareness of surgical outcomes prompted us to change our technique for connecting the bladder to the urethra during robot-assisted surgery to remove the prostate in patients with prostate cancer. These changes resulted in significant improvements in surgical outcomes.

Light Spectral Composition Influences Structural and Eco-Physiological Traits of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. 'Microtom' in Response to High-LET Ionizing Radiation.

This study evaluated if specific light quality (LQ) regimes (white fluorescent, FL; full-spectrum, FS; red-blue, RB) during plant growth modified morphological and photosynthetic traits of Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Microtom' plants irradiated at the dry seed stage with 25 Gy 48Ca ions (IR). The irradiation reduced plant size while it increased leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and relative water content (RWC) compared to the control. FS and RB light regimes determined a decrease of plant height and a rise of RWC compared to FL plants. The irradiation under FS and RB regimes favoured the development of dwarf plants and improved the leaf water status. Under the FL regime, irradiated plants showed reduced photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. The opposite behavior was observed in RB irradiated plants in which gas exchanges were significantly stimulated. RB regime enhanced Rubisco expression in irradiated plants also inducing anatomical and functional adjustments (i.e., increase of leaf thickness and incidence of intercellular spaces). Finally, 48Ca ions did not prevent fruit ripening and the achievement of the 'seed-to seed' cycle, irrespective of the LQ regime. Overall, the present study evidenced that RB light regime was the most effective in optimising growth and photosynthetic efficiency of 'Microtom' irradiated plants. These outcomes may help to develop proper cultivation protocols for the growth of dwarf tomato in Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS).

Impact of Anthropic Activities on Soil Quality under Different Land Uses.

Anthropization often leads to land use transformation, causing deep changes to soil properties and its quality. Land use change could be an environmental and socioeconomic problem, as it impacts soil quality and ecosystem services. There is an urgent need to understand the pressures affecting soil quality. The aim of the work is to quantify the impact of different land uses on soil abiotic and biotic properties and on its quality. To achieve the aims, soils from different land uses (forest, urban and agricultural) were collected in the surroundings of Naples and analyzed for pH, water content, contents of C and N, C/N ratio and total and available concentrations of Cu, Ni and Pb, microbial and fungal biomasses, basal respiration and metabolic quotient. Then, a soil quality index (SQI) was calculated for each land use. The results showed that soil abiotic and biotic properties of the agricultural sites differed from those of forest and urban sites. At agricultural sites, microbial abundances decreased due to low amount of C and N and to high amount of Cu and Pb. This caused low use efficiency of energetic substrates and a reduced soil quality of agricultural sites as compared to forest and urban sites.

Nano-TiO2 Coating Layers with Improved Anticorrosive Properties by Aerosol Flame Synthesis and Thermophoretic Deposition on Aluminium Surfaces.

TiO2 in the form of nanoparticles is characterized by high photocatalytic activity and high resistance to oxidation, making it an excellent candidate to realize coatings for improving the corrosion resistance of aluminium surfaces. Different coating technologies have been proposed over the years, which often involve the use of toxic compounds and very high temperatures. In this work, an alternative and novel one-step method for the coating of aluminium alloy surfaces with titania nanoparticles is presented. The method is based on the combination of aerosol flame synthesis and direct thermophoretic deposition and allows to produce nanostructured thin coating layers of titania with different features. Specifically, 3.5 nm anatase nanoparticles were synthesized and deposited onto aluminium alloy AA2024 samples. The thickness of the coating was changed by modifying the total deposition time. A thermal annealing treatment was developed to improve the adhesion of nano-titania on the substrates, and the morphology and structures of the coatings were characterized using (ultra violet) UV-vis absorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The corrosion resistance behavior of the coatings was evaluated by means of electrochemical polarization measurements, coupled with a numerical analysis using COMSOL software. Both the experimental and numerical electrochemical polarization curves showed a significant increase in the corrosion potential of coated substrates with respect to the bare aluminium and a decrease in the current density. The coatings obtained with higher deposition time and greater thickness showed the best performances in terms of the resistance of the aluminium surfaces to corrosion.

Thermal and Electromagnetic Properties of Polymer Holey Structures Produced by Additive Manufacturing.

Multifunctional 3D-printed holey structures made of composite polymers loaded with nanocarbon were designed to serve simultaneously as GHz-radiation absorbing layers and heat conductors. The geometry of the structures was devised to allow heat to be easily transferred through, with special attention paid to thermal conductivity. Numerical calculations and a simple homogenization theory were conducted in parallel to address this property. Different structures have been considered and compared. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the produced holey structures was measured in the microwave range.

Photo-Protective Mechanisms and the Role of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Activity in a Facultative CAM Plant Exposed to Long-Term Water Deprivation.

The Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathway helps plants to alleviate the oxidative stress under drought, but the shift to CAM-idling may expose plants to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species causing cell damages. The facultative CAM species Portulacaria afra L., was subjected to long-term water deprivation to assess the photo-protective strategies and the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity during water stress and plant capability to recover from the stress. Measurements of titratable acidity, chlorophyll fluorescence emission, and antioxidant activity were performed during the stress and rewatering. Under water deprivation, plants shifted from C3 to CAM metabolism, reaching the CAM-idling status at the end of the stress period. The daily variation of the titratable acidity and PARP activity increased at the beginning of stress and declined with stress progression, reaching the lowest value at the end of stress treatment. H2O2 content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities increased with the severity of water stress. The photochemical processes remained high during the entire stress period indicating the presence of alternative sinks to CO2 fixation. The elevated activity of catalase under severe water stress suggests the occurrence of photorespiration in sustaining the photosynthetic electron transport under CAM-idling condition. The overall data indicate that scavenger enzymes, photorespiration and PARP activity modulation contribute to the strong resistance of P. afra to severe water stress, preserving the functioning of photosynthetic apparatus and ensuring plant recovery with rewatering.

SoilTemp: A global database of near-surface temperature.

Current analyses and predictions of spatially explicit patterns and processes in ecology most often rely on climate data interpolated from standardized weather stations. This interpolated climate data represents long-term average thermal conditions at coarse spatial resolutions only. Hence, many climate-forcing factors that operate at fine spatiotemporal resolutions are overlooked. This is particularly important in relation to effects of observation height (e.g. vegetation, snow and soil characteristics) and in habitats varying in their exposure to radiation, moisture and wind (e.g. topography, radiative forcing or cold-air pooling). Since organisms living close to the ground relate more strongly to these microclimatic conditions than to free-air temperatures, microclimatic ground and near-surface data are needed to provide realistic forecasts of the fate of such organisms under anthropogenic climate change, as well as of the functioning of the ecosystems they live in. To fill this critical gap, we highlight a call for temperature time series submissions to SoilTemp, a geospatial database initiative compiling soil and near-surface temperature data from all over the world. Currently, this database contains time series from 7,538 temperature sensors from 51 countries across all key biomes. The database will pave the way toward an improved global understanding of microclimate and bridge the gap between the available climate data and the climate at fine spatiotemporal resolutions relevant to most organisms and ecosystem processes.

The Ageing Process Affects the Antioxidant Defences and the Poly (ADPribosyl)ation Activity in Cistus Incanus L. Leaves.

The ageing process in living organisms is characterised by the accumulation of several deleterious changes occurring in cells and tissues. The increase of reactive oxygen species with the advancement of age is responsible for the oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and DNA, enhancing the risk of diseases. The antioxidant response and the activation of the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation process represent the first defences activated by organisms at all life stages to counteract damage to cell structures and genomic material. The regulation of poly(ADP ribosyl)ation with age is little known in plants, especially in combination with antioxidant defences modulation. In this study, the relationships between poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant pool have been studied together with the photosynthetic apparatus efficiency in the Mediterranean species Cistus incanus L., examining leaves at different developmental stages: young, mature and senescent. The photosynthetic performance was evaluated by chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement, the total soluble and fat-soluble antioxidant capacity, as well as the activities of enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), were determined by spectrophotometer, PARP activity was assessed by radioactive labelling. The highest photochemical activity was observed in young leaves, together with the highest GST activity. With the progress of the ageing process, the non-enzymatic antioxidant pool (namely ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol) declined, reaching the lowest value in senescent leaves, whereas PARP activity rose significantly. The overall results indicate that the decline of photosynthetic apparatus efficiency during senescence is due to the reduction of specific defences against oxidative damages, which increase the damages to DNA, as demonstrated by PARP activity rise.

The response of ecosystem carbon fluxes to LAI and environmental drivers in a maize crop grown in two contrasting seasons.

The eddy correlation technique was used to investigate the influence of biophysical variables and crop phenological phases on the behaviour of ecosystem carbon fluxes of a maize crop, in two contrasting growing seasons. In 2009, the reduced water supply during the early growing stage limited leaf area expansion, thus negatively affecting canopy photosynthesis. The variability of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R eco) was mainly explained by seasonal variation of leaf area index (LAI). The seasonal variation of R eco was positively influenced by soil temperatures (T soil) in 2008 but not in 2009. In 2008, a contribution of both autotrophic and heterotrophic components to total R eco could be hypothesized, while during 2009, autotrophic respiration is supposed to be the most important component. Crop phenological phases affected the response of ecosystem fluxes to biophysical drivers.

Updating the evidence on patent foramen ovale closure versus medical therapy in patients with cryptogenic stroke: a systematic review and comprehensive meta-analysis of 2,303 patients from three randomised trials and 2,231 patients from 11 observational studies.

AIMS: We aimed at updating the evidence coming from randomised and observational studies of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure compared to medical therapy in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Comparative studies of PFO closure versus medical therapy published or presented through March 2013 were identified. Data from 2,303 patients in three randomised clinical trials (RCTs) and from 2,231 patients in 11 observational studies were included. In RCTs, the stroke hazard ratio (HR) for PFO closure versus medical therapy was 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34-1.11; p=0.10 in the random effects model) with no significant heterogeneity or systematic bias. There was no significant difference in transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) (HR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.46-1.32; p=0.34) and no study-related deaths occurred. Pooling trials of the AMPLATZER PFO occluder device resulted in a significant reduction of stroke (HR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20-0.95; p=0.04). Procedural success, new onset atrial fibrillation and cardiac thrombus were observed more frequently with the STARFlex compared with the AMPLATZER device. In observational studies, with high potential for baseline confounders, PFO closure was found to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke significantly (HR 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11-0.49; p<0.01 in the random effects model), with no significant effect on TIAs. CONCLUSIONS: In RCTs, unlike observational studies, PFO closure compared with medical therapy failed to achieve a statistically significant reduction in recurrent stroke. However, pooling RCTs of the AMPLATZER PFO occluder device yielded a statistically significant reduction in stroke over medical treatment that may warrant further investigation.

A novel clinical prognostic score incorporating the number of resected lymph-nodes to predict recurrence and survival in non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The number of resected lymph-nodes (#RNs) has proven prognostic in breast and colorectal cancer. Here we evaluated its prognostic impact in a series of resected NSCLC patients. METHODS: A panel of established prognostic factors plus (1) #RNs or (2) the ratio between the number of metastatic nodes and #RNs (NR) were correlated to overall- (OS), cancer-specific- (CSS), and disease-free-survival (DFS), using the Cox-model. Risk-classes according to hazard ratios (HR) were generated. Internal and external validation was accomplished. RESULTS: A dataset of 415 resected NSCLC patients was retrieved. At multivariate analysis, #RNs and NR were independent factor for longer OS, CSS and DFS (p<0.0001). Patients with a #RNs>10 (identified optimal cut-off) had a statistically significant OS (p=0.02) and DFS (p=0.0005) benefit. In node-positive patients, a NR<9% significantly correlated with better outcome. Stratification into High-, Medium-, and Low-Risk classes, based on High- (HRFs: stage, N-status, age, #RNs) and Intermediate-Risk Factors (IRFs: sex, grading, histology), efficiently predicted outcomes (p<0.0001). The risk class model performance was externally validated in and independent dataset of 297 patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results contribute to complete the panel of prognostic factors for resected NSCLC. A prospective larger validation and comparison with molecular prognostic tools is warranted.