Can CSR classification be generally applied outside Britain?

The general applicability of CSR classification (a methodology for applying CSR theory) has not been tested outside Britain. We hypothesised that principal axes of trait variation for plant species native to southern European continental, sub-alpine and alpine bioclimatic zones correlate with CSR classification scores. Functional traits were quantified in situ for 506 species of 57 families. Multivariate analysis revealed three main modes in which plants invested biomass: (1) architectural extension of individual ramets (tall canopies, large leaves), (2) durable tissues (high leaf dry matter contents and carbon contents, low specific leaf areas) or (3) regenerative development (early, extensive flowering with delicate, nitrogen-rich leaves). These were highly significantly correlated with the extent of competitive ability (C), stress-tolerance (S) and ruderalism (R), respectively, determined by CSR classification. Despite being calibrated using only 43 British species, CSR classification is consistent with trait variation in a phylogenetically broader sample of species native to a wider range of bioclimatic zones.     

Solar radiation and functional traits explain the decline of forest primary productivity along a tropical elevation gradient

One of the major challenges in ecology is to understand how ecosystems respond to changes in environmental conditions, and how taxonomic and functional diversity mediate these changes. In this study, we use a trait‐spectra and individual‐based model, to analyse variation in forest primary productivity along a 3.3 km elevation gradient in the Amazon‐Andes. The model accurately predicted the magnitude and trends in forest productivity with elevation, with solar radiation and plant functional traits (leaf dry mass per area, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, and wood density) collectively accounting for productivity variation. Remarkably, explicit representation of temperature variation with elevation was not required to achieve accurate predictions of forest productivity, as trait variation driven by species turnover appears to capture the effect of temperature. Our semi‐mechanistic model suggests that spatial variation in traits can potentially be used to estimate spatial variation in productivity at the landscape scale.     

On the Trail of Date-Plum (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Diospyros lotus</Emphasis> L.) in Italy and Its First Archaeobotanical Evidence

Diospyros lotus L. is an arboreal species native to the Balkans and Caucasus and ranging to the Far East. In Italy, it has been cultivated for centuries and has reverted to the wild state in some regions. During archaeological excavations carried out in the historical center of Modena (northern Italy), two floral calyxes of D. lotus were discovered in a layer dating from the first century ce. These are the first and only remains of D. lotus found in an archaeological context in Italy thus far. The first historical mention of this species as an arboreal plant in Italy occurs in the 1565 edition of Dioscorides’ Commentarii de Medica materia by Pietro Andrea Mattioli. Our research allowed us to establish that the first three Italian herbaria containing samples of D. lotus, dating to the 1551–1570 period, are the Erbario B of the Biblioteca Angelica of Rome, the Erbario Aldrovandi (Bologna) and the Erbario Cesalpino (Florence). However, archaeobotanical remains reveal that the fruits of this species were known during the Roman period, probably arriving in northern Italy as a luxury food owing to their exceptional flavor.     

Spoilage-related activity of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum strains in air-stored and vacuum-packed meat

One hundred three isolates of Carnobacterium spp. from raw meat were analyzed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and PCR and were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Forty-five strains of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum were characterized for their growth capabilities at different temperatures, NaCl concentrations, and pH values and for in vitro lipolytic and proteolytic activities. Moreover, their spoilage potential in meat was investigated by analyzing the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in meat stored in air or vacuum packs. Almost all the strains were able to grow at 4, 10, and 20°C, at pH values of 6 to 9, and in the presence of 2.5% NaCl. The release of VOCs by each strain in beef stored at 4°C in air and vacuum packs was evaluated by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. All the meat samples inoculated and stored in air showed higher numbers of VOCs than the vacuum-packed meat samples. Acetoin, 1-octen-3-ol, and butanoic acid were the compounds most frequently found under both storage conditions. The contaminated meat samples were evaluated by a sensory panel; the results indicated that for all sensory odors, no effect of strain was significant (P > 0.05). The storage conditions significantly affected (P < 0.05) the perception of dairy, spoiled-meat, and mozzarella cheese odors, which were more intense in meat stored in air than in vacuum packs but were never very intense. In conclusion, different strains of C. maltaromaticum can grow efficiently in meat stored at low temperatures both in air and in vacuum packs, producing volatile molecules with low sensory impacts, with a negligible contribution to meat spoilage overall.     

The Golgi apparatus: an organelle with multiple complex functions

Remarkable advances have been made during the last few decades in defining the organizational principles of the secretory pathway. The Golgi complex in particular has attracted special attention due to its central position in the pathway, as well as for its fascinating and complex structure. Analytical studies of this organelle have produced significant advances in our understanding of its function, although some aspects still seem to elude our comprehension. In more recent years a level of complexity surrounding this organelle has emerged with the discovery that the Golgi complex is involved in cellular processes other than the 'classical' trafficking and biosynthetic pathways. The resulting picture is that the Golgi complex can be considered as a cellular headquarters where cargo sorting/processing, basic metabolism, signalling and cell-fate decisional processes converge.     

Cell growing density affects the structural and functional properties of Caco-2 differentiated monolayer

The human intestinal Caco-2 cell line has been extensively used as a model of the intestinal barrier. However, it is widely reported in literature that culture-related conditions, as well as the different Caco-2 cell lines utilized in different laboratories, often lead to problems of reproducibility making difficult to compare results. We developed a new cell-maintenance protocol in which Caco-2 cells were subcultured at 50% of confluence instead of 80% of confluence, as usually suggested. Using this new protocol, Caco-2 cells retained a higher proliferation potential resulting in a cell population, which, on reaching confluence, was able to differentiate almost synchronously, forming a more homogeneous and polarized cell monolayer, as compared to that obtained using a high cell growing density. This comparison has been done by analyzing the gene expression and the structural characteristics of the 21-days differentiated monolayers by microarrays hybridization and by confocal microscopy. We then investigated if these differences could also modify the effects of toxicants on 21-days-differentiated cells. We analyzed the 2 h-acute toxicity of CuCl(2) in terms of actin depolymerization and metallothionein 2A (MT2A) and heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A) genes induction. Copper treatment resulted in different levels of actin depolymerization and gene expression induction in relationship with culture protocol, the low-density growing cells showing a more homogeneous and stronger response. Our results suggest that cell growing density could influence a number of morphological and physiological properties of differentiated Caco-2 cells and these effects must be taken in account when these cells are used as intestinal model.     

Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Typing as a Useful Tool to Objectify the Oral Mucosa Patch Test in the Diagnosis of Allergic Contact Mucositis to Nickel

Nickel (Ni) exposure through the intestinal mucosa may cause a hypersensitivity reaction recently defined as allergic contact mucositis (ACM). This condition is identifiable by the oral mucosa patch test (omPT), a qualitative and subjective examination that requires clinical expertise. Our aim was to evaluate if a peripheral blood lymphocyte typing performed before and after the omPT for Ni may be able to objectify this examination for diagnostic purposes. Thirty patients with symptoms referable to the ingestion of Ni-rich foods were subjected to omPT for Ni. Before and after the omPT, each patient underwent blood sampling for the typing of total lymphocytes and their subsets (T, T helper or Th, T cytotoxic or Tc, B, natural killer or NK). Statistical analysis was performed by Student t test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. According to the omPT outcomes, 18 patients were defined as Ni-sensitive and the remaining 12 as controls. In Ni-sensitive patients, the number of total, T, Th, Tc, and B lymphocytes/μL whole blood increased after the omPT (p?<?0.0001 for the first three, p?=?0.0004 and p?=?0.0001 for the last two lymphocyte types). No omPT-dependent lymphocyte increase was observed in controls. The post/pre omPT cell ratio, especially if calculated for Th lymphocytes, appears to be an effective index for diagnostic purposes (sensitivity?=?100 %, specificity?=?83.3 %, Youden index?=?0.833, area under curve (AUC)?=?0.926, p?<?0.0001). In conclusion, the peripheral blood lymphocyte typing with calculation of post/pre omPT cell ratio has the potential to support the omPT in diagnosing ACM, with the advantage of providing quantitative and objective data.     

Easy preparation of dehydroalanine building blocks equipped with oxazolidin-2-one chiral auxiliaries,and applications to the stereoselective synthesis of substituted tryptophans

Chiral dehydroamino acid building blocks are versatile starting materials for the preparation of optically active unusual amino acids and other compounds of pharmacological interest. Herein we disclose the expedient preparation of dehydroalanines (ΔAla) equipped with oxazolidin-2-one (Oxd) chiral auxiliaries, Ts-Oxd-ΔAla-OMe. These compounds have been obtained in high yields from dipeptides Ts-Ser/Thr/phenylSer-Ser-OMe by the one-pot cyclization–elimination reaction with N,N-disuccinimidyl carbonate and catalytic DIPEA. To test the efficacy of the chiral auxiliaries in controlling asymmetric transformations, the Friedel–Crafts alkylations of indoles carrying diverse substituents were performed in the presence of Lewis and Brønsted acids. The reactions proceeded with good to excellent diastereomeric ratios giving (S)- or (R)-tryptophan derivatives, isolated very conveniently by simple flash chromatography. To verify the utility of this approach, optically pure (S)-2-methyltryptophan and (S)-5-fluorotryptophan were obtained and utilized to prepare analogues of endogenous opioid peptide endomorphin-1, H-Tyr-Pro-Trp-PheNH₂.     

Is time on our side? Strengthening the link between field efforts and conservation needs

The collection and organization of distributional data is the first crucial stage of any conservation planning action: therefore the decline in field research has implications in both the systematic, floristic and conservation fields. The aim of this paper is to analyze the effects of data updating on conservation planning and priorities. Focusing on the short time frame ranging from 2006 to 2011, we present a case study showing the rate of increase of collected data (taxa and records) and the consequential effects on the definition of areas of priority interest for plant conservation (Important Plant Areas—IPAs). We gathered data on a total of 193 taxa and 849 records with a mean rate of increase of +97 % for taxa and +166 % for records (2006/2011). This increase caused a positive rate of change in high ranking cells (+78 %) defining IPAs, while the number of low ranking cells and no data cells slightly decreased (?12 and ?8 %, respectively). Our results suggest that specific investment to complete the knowledge on the distribution of selected taxa (e.g. 193 taxa represent the 7.5 % of the total vascular flora of Sardinia) would dramatically reduce both the Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls and would allow robust conservation programs to preserve the diversity of the island. Updating the IPAs on a regular basis is a good example of a process that has a low impact as well as a big potential gain especially when field research can only be performed with low intensity and small monetary investments.