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Background In collaboration with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments, CDC established the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry (USZPR) in early 2016 to monitor pregnant women with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection and their infants. Methods This report includes an analysis of completed pregnancies (which include live births and pregnancy losses, regardless of gestational age) in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (DC) with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection reported to the USZPR from January 15 to December 27, 2016. Birth defects potentially associated with Zika virus infection during pregnancy include brain abnormalities and/or microcephaly, eye abnormalities, other consequences of central nervous system dysfunction, and neural tube defects and other early brain malformations. Results During the analysis period, 1,297 pregnant women in 44 states were reported to the USZPR. Zika virus-associated birth defects were reported for 51 (5%) of the 972 fetuses/infants from completed pregnancies with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4%-7%); the proportion was higher when restricted to pregnancies with laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection (24/250 completed pregnancies [10%, 95% CI = 7%-14%]). Birth defects were reported in 15% (95% CI = 8%-26%) of fetuses/infants of completed pregnancies with confirmed Zika virus infection in the first trimester. Among 895 liveborn infants from pregnancies with possible recent Zika virus infection, postnatal neuroimaging was reported for 221 (25%), and Zika virus testing of at least one infant specimen was reported for 585 (65%). Conclusions and implications for public health practice These findings highlight why pregnant women should avoid Zika virus exposure. Because the full clinical spectrum of congenital Zika virus infection is not yet known, all infants born to women with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection during pregnancy should receive postnatal neuroimaging and Zika virus testing in addition to a comprehensive newborn physical exam and hearing screen. Identification and follow-up care of infants born to women with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection during pregnancy and infants with possible congenital Zika virus infection can ensure that appropriate clinical services are available.

Nell'ambito dei Programmi di Sviluppo Rurale, P.S.R. Puglia 2007/2013, destinati al miglioramento del Sistema Regionale della biodiversità (Reg. CE n. 1698/2005, PSR Puglia 2007/2013, Misura 214 - Azione 4 Sub-azione a; e successivo P.S.R. Puglia 2014-2020, Misura 10 pagamenti-agro-climatico- ambientali, Art. 28 Reg. UE n. 1305/2013 Sottomisura 10.2) è stato finanziato il progetto: "Recupero, caratterizzazione, salvaguardia e valorizzazione di leguminose e cereali da granella e foraggio in Puglia" (SaVeGraINPuglia). Questo volume include schede descrittive delle leguminose, cereali e foraggere reperite in Puglia acquisite in regione e caratterizzate con approccio multidisciplinare nell'ambito del proggetto SaVeGraINPuglia.

Phenolic acids are major components of cell walls in wheat and have important implications on human health as antioxidants with anti-tumor activity. Understanding the genetic basis of phenolic acids content and composition of wheat grain, and identifying associated markers provide the basis for improving wheat quality by molecular breeding. The objective of this study was: a) to identify phenolic acids genes in wheat by exploiting genomic resources and SNPs detected within the coding sequences of candidate genes; and b) to identify chromosomal regions associated to single phenolic acids and total soluble phenolic compounds by genome-wide association study (GWAS) and candidate gene approaches using a tetraploid wheat collection coupled with the 90K iSelect SNP genotyping array. A set of candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and sinapic acid) and in the total soluble phenolics have been identified in wheat by comparative genomics. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the coding sequences of six candidate genes (PAL1, PAL2, C4H, C3H, COMT1 and COMT2) allowed to determine their chromosomal location and accurate map position on two reference consensus linkage maps. The genome-wide association study based on genotyping a tetraploid wheat collection with 81,587 gene-associated SNPs revealed several significant marker-trait associations, identifying 22 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with individual phenolic acids and total soluble phenol compounds distributed on almost all durum wheat chromosomes. A QTL for p-coumaric acid was found to be coincident with the candidate gene phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL2) on chromosome arm 2AL. The availability of perfect, candidate gene-based markers can allow elucidating the mechanism of phenol acids accumulation in the wheat kernels and exploiting the genetic variability of phenol acids content for the nutritional improvement of wheat end-products.

Wheat is a staple cereal and an important source of minerals in human diets. Mineral content in the wheat grain has a genetic basis, but the trait is also influenced by environmental factors [1]. Many efforts have been devoted to increase the content of some elements such as Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu, which have a physiological function in the organism. In particular, mapping populations and genetic linkage maps have been suggested as a useful tool in breeding programs [2]. The present work was undertaken to evaluate by ICPOES the variation in macronutrients (Ca, Mg, K), micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) and toxic trace elements (Cd, Pb) in the whole grains of 29 wheat accessions and cultivars, representative of old and modern wheat germplasm. All 29 lines were the parentals of existing mapping populations [3] and were grown in two different sites in Italy, in 2013/14 and in 2014/15 seasons. Multivariate Analysis (MVA) of data showed interesting differences in the mineral content for the considered sites, harvesting seasons and grain cultivars. [1] Gomez-Becerra HF, Yazici A, Ozturk L, Budak H, Peleg Z, Morgounov A, Fahima T, Saranga Y, Cakmak I. Genetic variation and environmental stability of grain mineral nutrient concentrations in Triticum dicoccoides under five environments. Euphytica 2010, 171:39-52. [2] Srinivasa J, Arun B, Mishra VK, Singh GP, Velu G, Babu R, Vasistha NK, Joshi AK. Zinc and iron concentration QTL mapped in a Triticum spelta × T. aestivum cross. Theor Appl Genet 2014, 127:1643-1651 [3] Pasqualone A, Piarulli L, Mangini G, Gadaleta A, Blanco A, Simeone R. Quality characteristics of parental lines of wheat mapping populations. Agric Food Sci 2015, 24: 118-127.

A set of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from a cross between the cultivar Messapia of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) and the accession MG4343 of T. turgidum var. dicoccoides was analysed to increase the number of assigned markers and the resolution of the previously constructed genetic linkage map. An updated map of the durum wheat genome consisting of 458 loci was constructed. These loci include 261 Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), 91 microsatellites (Simple Sequence Repeats, SSRs), 87 Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), two ribosomal genes, and nine biochemical (seven seed storage proteins and two isozymes) and eight morphological markers. The loci were mapped on all 14 chromosomes of the A and B genomes, and covered a total distance of 3038.4 cM with an average distance of 6.7 cM between adjacent markers. The molecular markers were evenly distributed between the A and the B genomes (240 and 218 markers, respectively). An additional forty loci (8.8%) could not be assigned to a specific linkage group. A fraction (16.4%) of the markers significantly deviated from the expected Mendelian ratios; clusters of loci showing distorted segregation were found on the 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 4A, 7A and 7B chromosomes. The genetic lengths of the chromosomes range from 148.8 cM (chromosome 6B) to 318.0 cM (chromosome 2B) and approximately concur with their physical lengths. Chromosome 2B has the largest number of markers (47), while the chromosomes with the fewest markers are 3A and 6B (23). There are two gaps larger than 40 cM on chromosomes 2A and 3B. The durum wheat map was compared with the published maps of bread and durum wheats; the order of most common RFLP and SSR markers on the 14 chromosomes of the A and B genomes were nearly identical. A core-map can be extracted from the high-density Messapia x dicoccoides map and a subset of uniformly distributed markers can be used to detect and map quantitative trait loci.

Interest in the so-called ancient wheats (einkorn, emmer, spelt and Oriental wheat) has increased dramatically over the last decades. Of particular interest, in relation to human consumption, are the nutritional traits as well as the pasta- and bread-making performances. This is attributable to the strict relationships between these features and the economic value of food derivatives entirely or partially prepared using ancient wheat species. Studies on agronomic, biochemical and technological traits of emmer and spelt have been the object of some reviews, while little attention has been devoted to Oriental wheat (T. turgidum L. subsp. turanicum (Jakubz.) A. Löve & D. Löve). This review describes the current state of knowledge regarding genetic, compositional and technological traits of Oriental wheat, a neglected and underutilised tetraploid wheat species. Comparison with ancient and modern wheat cultivars is also discussed. Literature dealing with the accession QK-77, registered as Kamut®, the only variety belonging to this species, is analysed in depth. The results of field trials carried out in Southern Italy, a geographical area traditionally devoted to durum wheat cultivation, are discussed. Moreover, the state of the art about the incorporation or the preparation of popular foods with Kamut® is presented.

Due to the need for crop diversification and sustainable agriculture, and the increasing demand of healthy foods, a renewed interest in the so-called 'ancient wheats' took place in the last decades. In this study, whole and refined meals of Oriental wheat accession QK-77, registered as Kamut (R), were compared with four cultivars, one each for common wheat, cv. Rio, durum wheat, cv. Norba, emmer, cv. Farvento, and spelt, cv. Forenza. Fifteen parameters related to meal composition were investigated. Kamut (R), emmer and spelt cultivars showed the higher protein and ash contents. Distinctive traits of Kamut were higher amounts of selenium and pigments. To better perceive the differences among the cultivars, data were submitted to the Principal Component Analysis (PICA). Two sub-groups, corresponding to whole and refined meals, were distinguishable in the three-dimensional plot. Overall compositional traits of Kamut meals were comparable with those of cv. Norba.

Vista la scarsa o nulla utilizzazione dei frumenti minori Kamut (Triticum turanicum Jacubz.) e spelta (Triticum spelta L.) nella produzione di pane, in questo studio ci si è proposti di valutarne l'attitudine panificatoria. Gli sfarinati di questi due cereali, sia raffinati, sia integrali, sono stati impiegati in prove di panificazione eseguite con varie modalità comprendenti metodo diretto ed indiretto, valutando quindi direttamente la qualità del prodotto finale. I risultati ottenuti hanno dimostrato, pur se con forti variazioni nel contenuto di glutine e di proteine a seconda dell'annata agraria, la panificabilità sia del Kamut, sia dello spelta grazie alla non eccessiva tenacità del glutine.

PED MED CHIR

Tra i cereali minori capaci di garantire buoni guadagni agli agricoltori ed una diversificazione della produzione, vi sono il farro medio, la spelta ed il Kamut. I primi due hanno ormai una consolidata posizione di nicchia, mentre poche e contraddittorie sono le informazioni sui caratteri agronomici, nutrizinali e tecnologici del Kamut. Scopo di questo studio è stato valutare la possibilità di creare per il Kamut una filiera di panificaizone nel sud Italia, dove vi è una lunga tradizione di panificaizone col grano duro.

The epithermal alteration, affecting the Tertiary pyroclastic rocks of NW Sardinia and forming large kaolin deposits, can be attributed to the action of acid fluids circulating through faults and fractures and crossing a paleosurface at about 200 m depth, where fluids flowed laterally in the upper part of the groundwater. The NW part of Sardinia, has been cited recently in several works (Gold mines of Sardinia, 1998; Lattanzi, 1999; Simeone & Simmons, 1999) as a suitable environment for the formation of precious metal deposits. The Romana and Tresnuraghes areas, where the largest kaolin deposits of the island outcrop, were investigated using mineralogical and stable isotope studies, for defining the environment of formation and the characteristics of the mineralizing fluids, and aimed at applications in mining exploration. Five different alteration facies were recognized. Silicization (silica veins, silicified rocks, sinter), advanced argillic (kaolinite 1T-1Md + silica minerals + or - alunite) and intermediate argillic (montmorillonite + cristobalite + kaolinite 1 Md) alterations, were recognized in both investigated areas. The argillic (illite + montmorillonite + quartz) and sericitic alterations (illite + quartz + or -potassium feldspar), only occur at Tresnuraghes. The presence of these two alterations, in association with the silicization (sinter), suggests a low-sulfidation type epithermal system for Tresnuraghes. At Romana, the hydrothermal mineral alteration, reflecting the circulation of lower pH fluids than those of Tresnuraghes, probably originated in a high-sulfidation type epithermal system. Studies on hydrothermal mineralogical associations, performed for each alteration facies, suggest: i) a steam-heated environment of formation, ii) temperatures ranging from 100 degrees to 200 degrees C, iii) mineralizing fluids circulating near to the Miocene paleo-surface, and iv) a shallow extension in depth of the alterations, which can be related to the neutralization of fluids by water-rock interaction phenomena. Estimated temperatures and stable isotope data (delta 18 O and delta 2 H) indicate that low temperature meteoric waters, mixed with steam, circulated at shallow depths and formed the kaolin mineralization. The downward decrease in the intensity and rank of alteration suggest that the movement and neutralization of the acid fluids were mainly per descensum. As acid leaching zones capping high-sulfidation and low-sulfidation systems are common in epithermal precious metal deposits around the world (Sillitoe, 1993; Simeone & Simmons, 1999), the presence of the advanced argillic alteration, in both investigated areas, suggests that further research, for recognizing possible precious metal deposits, should be undertaken. The mineralogical and geochemical features of Locchera kaolin quarry (Romana), formed by hotter and more acid fluids than the other deposits, suggest a suitable area for detailed prospecting aimed at precious metal deposits.