Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) is one of the most destructive diseases of the cultivated species Vitis vinifera. The use of resistant varieties, originally derived from backcrosses of North American Vitis spp., is a promising solution to reduce disease damage in the vineyards. To shed light on the type and the timing of pathogen-triggered resistance, this work aimed at discovering biomarkers for the defense response in the resistant variety Bianca, using leaf discs after inoculation with a suspension of P. viticola. We investigated primary and secondary metabolism at 12, 24, 48, and 96 h post-inoculation (hpi). We used methods of identification and quantification for lipids (LC-MS/MS), phenols (LC-MS/MS), primary compounds (GC-MS), and semi-quantification for volatile compounds (GC-MS). We were able to identify and quantify or semi-quantify 176 metabolites, among which 53 were modulated in response to pathogen infection. The earliest changes occurred in primary metabolism at 24–48 hpi and involved lipid compounds, specifically unsaturated fatty acid and ceramide; amino acids, in particular proline; and some acids and sugars. At 48 hpi, we also found changes in volatile compounds and accumulation of benzaldehyde, a promoter of salicylic acid-mediated defense. Secondary metabolism was strongly induced only at later stages. The classes of compounds that increased at 96 hpi included phenylpropanoids, flavonols, stilbenes, and stilbenoids. Among stilbenoids we found an accumulation of ampelopsin H + vaticanol C, pallidol, ampelopsin D + quadrangularin A, Z-miyabenol C, and α-viniferin in inoculated samples. Some of these compounds are known as phytoalexins, while others are novel biomarkers for the defense response in Bianca. This work highlighted some important aspects of the host response to P. viticola in a commercial variety under controlled conditions, providing biomarkers for a better understanding of the mechanism of plant defense and a potential application in field studies of resistant varieties.

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Highly luminescent Eu 3+ -doped LaOF thin films have been prepared by a sol-gel procedure using La(hfa) 3 diglyme (Hhfa ) 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione; diglyme ) bis(2-metoxyethyl)ether) as a singlesource precursor for lanthanum and fluorine. Europium doping (Eu/La ) 3 and 10 atom %) has been achieved by adding the proper amount of europium acetate hydrate (Eu(CH 3 CO 2 ) 3 • xH 2 O, x e 4) to the precursor solution. After single-layer deposition, the obtained coatings were heat treated in air up to 700 °C. All the samples, under UV irradiation, presented a bright red luminescence clearly visible to the naked eye notwithstanding the low europium content and the limited film thickness (e50 nm). The microstructure, composition, and morphology of the samples and their interplay with the synthesis conditions were investigated by glancing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The luminescence properties of Eu 3+ :LaOF in the energy and time domains are reported and discussed as a function of europium content and synthesis conditions. The observed variations in the light-emitting behavior of Eu 3+ ions have been correlated to the structural and compositional characteristics of the host oxyfluoride matrices.

Gut microbiota may play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. We investigated whether tomato juice consumption for 5 weeks could ameliorate high-fat diet-induced alterations in certain intestinal bacterial groups and products arising from their metabolism (short-chain fatty acids and microbial phenolic catabolites). For this, we used a rat model with NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet, involving four experimental groups: NA (standard diet and water), NL (standard diet and tomato juice), HA (high-fat diet and water) and HL (high-fat diet and tomato juice). The onset of NAFLD impacted the gut microbiota profile, reducing the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and increasing that of Enterobacteriaceae. Also, reduced concentrations of propionate, butyrate and phenolic catabolites and an increased acetate to propionate (Ac : Pr) ratio were observed. Tomato juice intake partially ameliorated high-fat diet-induced disturbances, particularly by increasing Lactobacillus abundance and diminishing the Ac : Pr ratio, suggesting a potential improvement of the metabolic pattern of NAFLD.

Highly transparent and homogeneous nanostructured LaO 1-x F 1+2x (0e x e 1) thin films have been synthesized by a simple sol-gel procedure using La(hfa) 3 · diglyme (Hhfa ) 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione; diglyme ) bis(2-metoxyethyl) ether) as source compound for both lanthanum and fluorine. While thermal treatments up to 500°C resulted in highly fluorinated nanosystems, i.e., LaF 3 at 300°C and LaF 3 + LaOF at 500°C, pure and single-phase nanostructured lanthanum oxyfluoride thin films with a mean crystallite size of ∼15 nm have been obtained at 700°C. The microstructure and composition of the samples and their interplay with the synthesis procedure were investigated by glancing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron, and X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy. Finally, the optical properties of the films were studied by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry.