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In 2019 the 4th Report ex-Art. 17 on the conservation status (CS) of Annex I Habitats of the 92/43/EEC Directive was expected by every EU/28 country, with reference to the period 2013-18. In Italy, the process was in charge to the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), on behalf of the Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection (MATTM), with the scientific support of the Italian Botanical Society (SBI). A large group of thematic and territorial experts elaborated the available data concerning the 124 types of terrestrial and inland water Habitats present in Italy, 39 of which are represented by Forest Habitats (Group 9),. The main aim of the work was the evaluation of the overall CS of each Habitat by Biogeographic Region (Mediterranean, Continental and Alpine), for a total amount of 294 assessments. A high proportion of these (92, corresponding to 31% of the total) referred to Forest Habitats, including 20 marginal types for which the CS was not requested. The analysis was carried out at different scales: a) administrative territory, through the data contained in the ISPRA database, whose compilation was in charge to the Regions and Autonomous Provinces; b) Natura 2000 site, with the latest updates available (Standard Data Forms updated to 2018); c) national scale, implementing the distribution maps for each Habitat based on the European grid ETRS89-LAEA5210 (10x10 km2 mesh); d) Biogeographic Region, scale of the final assessment. Cartographic outcomes, associated databases and additional data used for the assessments will be available online on the ISPRA Portal as soon as the validation process by the European Commission will be completed. A dedicated archive named "HAB_IT" has been created in the national database "VegItaly" (1), managed by the Italian Society of Vegetation Science, where the phytosociological relevés representative of the various Annex I Habitats in Italy will be archived and freely accessible. An overview of the results regarding the Forest habitats is here provided, including a comparison with the outcomes of the former reporting cycle, the 3rd Report ex-Art. 17 (2). In several cases (e.g. 9120, 91L0), the distribution maps have been remarkably improved due to better knowledge and more fitful interpretation. The conservation status resulted as Favourable (FV) for 6,7%, Inadequate (U1) for 58,7% and Bad (U1) for 32,0% of the 72 assessed forest Habitat types. In no case there was an improvement of the conservation status, while in 6 cases a worsening of the conditions resulted from the data analysis, pointing out the Habitats types with a higher need of action. Similarly to other projects carried out as a team by the network of Annex I Habitat experts of the Italian Botanical Society and the Italian Society for Vegetation Science (e.g. 3, 4), this is another step in the direction of supporting the implementation of the 92/43/EEC "Habitat" Directive in Italy and Europe. On this ground, the high biodiversity of the Italian forest Habitats could be emphasized, however results pointed out that some rare or endemic types (e.g. Alnus cordata or Betula aetnensis-dominated forests) are still scarcely acknowledged by the most prominent EU conservation tools such as the Annex I to the "Habitat" Directive. 1) F. Landucci et al. (2012) Plant Biosyst., 146(4), 756-763 2) P. Genovesi et al. (2014) ISPRA, Serie Rapporti, 194/2014 3) E. Biondi et al. (2009) Società Botanica Italiana, MATTM, D.P.N., http://vnr.unipg.it/habitat/ 4) D. Gigante et al. (2016) Plant Sociology, 53(2), 77-87

The 4th National Report ex Art. 17 of the 92/43/EEC Directive in Italy (period 2013-2018) will try to fill a number of gaps still affecting the former versions of the Italian Reports, where territorial data were still missing for large parts of the country and the assessment was mostly based on the use of the expert opinion. Similar inconsistencies also emerged in other European countries (State of nature in the EU, EEA 2015). In order to reach this aim, a nationally shared protocol for monitoring the vegetation-based Annex I Habitats is currently under development. The most prominent issues addressed by the ongoing project are: i) fixing standardized, updated and scientifically grounded methodological tools, on the basis of the European guidelines (Evans & Arvela 2011, ETC-BD); ii) providing comparable data at national and European level; iii) harmonizing the territorially fragmented knowledge and iv) supporting nationally standardized measures for the conservation of terrestrial, brackish and freshwater Habitats. Promoted by the Italian Ministry for Environment (MATTM) and coordinated by the environmental agency ISPRA, the development of such a tool is being carried out by the Italian Society for Vegetation Science, with the support of a large team of experts. Open issues, such as the favourable reference values and the optimal thresholds for each considered parameter (range,area, structure and function), have to be dealt with, in a condition of large uncertainty. Due to its centrality in the assessment process, especially the concept of "typical species" should be developed with care, trying to combine the need for synthetic indicators with the great floristic diversity of the Italian Habitats. A clear definition of the parameters is crucial for a correct application of the monitoring protocol, to successfully contribute to the whole process of halting biodiversity loss in Europe.

The 4th National Report ex Art. 17 of the 92/43/EEC Directive in Italy (period 2013-2018) will try to fill a number of gaps still affecting the former versions of the Italian Reports, where territorial data were still missing for large parts of the country and the assessment was mostly based on the use of the expert opinion. Similar inconsistencies also emerged in other European countries (State of nature in the EU, EEA 2015). In order to reach this aim, a nationally shared protocol for monitoring the vegetation-based Annex I Habitats is currently under development. The most prominent issues addressed by the ongoing project are: i) fixing standardized, updated and scientifically grounded methodological tools, on the basis of the European guidelines (Evans & Arvela 2011, ETC-BD); ii) providing comparable data at national and European level; iii) harmonizing the territorially fragmented knowledge and iv) supporting nationally standardized measures for the conservation of terrestrial, brackish and freshwater Habitats. Promoted by the Italian Ministry for Environment (MATTM) and coordinated by the environmental agency ISPRA, the development of such a tool is being carried out by the Italian Society for Vegetation Science, with the support of a large team of experts. Open issues, such as the favourable reference values and the optimal thresholds for each considered parameter (range, area, structure and function), have to be dealt with, in a condition of large uncertainty. Due to its centrality in the assessment process, especially the concept of "typical species" should be developed with care, trying to combine the need for synthetic indicators with the great floristic diversity of the Italian Habitats. A clear definition of the parameters is crucial for a correct application of the monitoring protocol, to successfully contribute to the whole process of halting biodiversity loss in Europe.

The methodological foundations of the recently published Manual for Annex I Habitats monitoring in Italy, edited by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) with the scientific support of the Italian Society for Vegetation Science (SISV), are here presented, discussed and related to the most consolidated and acknowledged scientific advances in the field of Vegetation science. The proposed methodologies aim at offering simple, yet effective, protocols and procedures towards a harmonized data collection, by way of standardized and shared technical tools, resulting in comparable evaluations of the conservation status of Annex I Habitats. The methodological framework was developed by experts including a large team of members of the SISV. Big efforts were deployed to provide indicators and parameters for biodiversity monitoring able to catch its complexity, yet simple enough to be easily measured. Diagnosis and syntaxonomical correspondences of Habitat types, sampling procedure, plot size, distribution mapping, typical species are among the principal issues here examined through a widely shared scientific discussion. The final product is a comprehensive Manual, which offers practical but scientifically sound methodological tools for an efficient and effective monitoring of Annex I Habitats. The importance of bridging across the science-policy interface is emphasized, in a general will to improve the impact of Vegetation science on conservation policy development in Europe.

The methodological foundations of the recently published Manual for Annex I Habitats monitoring in Italy, edited by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) with the scientific support of the Italian Society for Vegetation Science (SISV), are here presented, discussed and related to the most consolidated and acknowledged scientific advances in the field of Vegetation science. The proposed methodologies aim at offering simple, yet effective, protocols and procedures towards a harmonized data collection, by way of standardized and shared technical tools, resulting in comparable evaluations of the conservation status of Annex I Habitats. The methodological framework was developed by experts including a large team of members of the SISV. Big efforts were deployed to provide indicators and parameters for biodiversity monitoring able to catch its complexity, yet simple enough to be easily measured. Diagnosis and syntaxonomical correspondences of Habitat types, sampling procedure, plot size, distribution mapping, typical species are among the principal issues here examined through a widely shared scientific discussion. The final product is a comprehensive Manual, which offers practical but scientifically sound methodological tools for an efficient and effective monitoring of Annex I Habitats. The importance of bridging across the science-policy interface is emphasized, in a general will to improve the impact of Vegetation science on conservation policy development in Europe.

European Vegetation Archive (EVA) was announced as a new initiative of the European Vegetation Survey at the EVS Meeting in Vienna in 2012. The aim of EVA is to create a centralized database of European vegetation plots by storing copies of national and regional databases on a single software platform using a unified taxonomic reference database. EVA does not affect the ongoing independent developments of source data­ bases and it guarantees that data property rights of the original contributors are re­ spected. EVA Data Property and Governance Rules were approved and the EVA website (www.euroveg.org/eva­database) was established in 2012. Since then several European vegetation­plot databases joined EVA. In the framework of the parallel Braun­Blanquet project, we obtained experience with handling multiple databases based on different taxonomies, and a prototype of Turboveg 3 was developed as a software tool for joint management of multiple databases. This prototype has recently been accepted as the platform for technical management of EVA according to the approved Rules. A spe­ cific challenge for EVA is joining multiple species lists with different taxonomies used in national and regional databases. To solve this issue, EVA took over the SynBioSys Taxon Database, developed earlier for the SynBioSys Europe project, which is a system of taxon names and concepts used in the individual databases and their matches to a unified list of European flora. This taxon database is currently being extended to ac­ count for new vegetation­plot databases and revised by taxonomic experts working in a newly established EVA Taxonomic Advisory Board. These technical developments made it possible that after two years since its formal establishment, first data sets could be uploaded to EVA, forming a basis for large­scale analyses of European vegeta­ tion diversity for both scientific purposes and applications.

European Vegetation Archive (EVA) was announced as a new initiative of the European Vegetation Survey at the EVS Meeting in Vienna in 2012. The aim of EVA is to create a centralized database of European vegetation plots by storing copies of national and regional databases on a single software platform using a unified taxonomic reference database. EVA does not affect the ongoing independent developments of source databases and it guarantees that data property rights of the original contributors are respected. EVA Data Property and Governance Rules were approved and the EVA website (www.euroveg.org/eva-database) was established in 2012. Since then several European vegetation-plot databases joined EVA. In the framework of the parallel Braun-Blanquet project, we obtained experience with handling multiple databases based on different taxonomies, and a prototype of Turboveg 3 was developed as a software tool for joint management of multiple databases. This prototype has recently been accepted as the platform for technical management of EVA according to the approved Rules. A specific challenge for EVA is joining multiple species lists with different taxonomies used in national and regional databases. To solve this issue, EVA took over the SynBioSys Taxon Database, developed earlier for the SynBioSys Europe project, which is a system of taxon names and concepts used in the individual databases and their matches to a unified list of European flora. This taxon database is currently being extended to account for new vegetation-plot databases and revised by taxonomic experts working in a newly established EVA Taxonomic Advisory Board. These technical developments made it possible that after two years since its formal establishment, first data sets could be uploaded to EVA, forming a basis for large-scale analyses of European vegetation diversity for both scientific purposes and applications.

Rice is the most important food crop in the world, representing the main source of caloric intake for more than one third of the world?s population. Although a great part of the global rice production comes from the developing countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, northern Italy plays a relevant role in terms of rice production providing about 50% of the total European paddy rice production. Due to the nature of the area devoted to rice growth, characterized by large availability of water and an efficient water distribution net, rice in Italy developed in the last two centuries as a water demanding crop, completing its growth cycle under submersion. However in the last decades also these regions experienced a reduction in water availability, with consequences on production and quality. The development of new varieties able to cope with water scarcity is therefore becoming of utmost importance for a sustainable rice cultivation in Italy. This study aims at identifying new alleles with added value for the improvement of drought resistance in Italian rice. The EMS-induced genetic variability in drought-related candidate genes was then explored in a TILLING population developed in the Italian rice variety Volano. The Volano TILLING platform was validated through the screening of three relevant target genes. A mutation density of 1/374 kb was estimated, proving the effectiveness of this approach for targeted rice crop improvement of Italian germplasm. The collection, currently consisting of 1860 mutant lines that are being enlarged with new mutagenized lines, represents an interesting source of variation exploitable in terms of response to drought stress and directly of use for targeted breeding programs. The mutant lines identified, affecting genes shown to be involved in plant drought escape and avoidance strategies, not only are relevant for Volano breeding programs, but represent a powerful genetic material in view of breeding for drought improvement in Italian rice. The second part of the work aimed at understanding the genetic determinants of root system architecture in the Italian rice germplasm, considering the profound implications of root development on the ability of the plant to cope with water deficits. The first Genome-Wide Association study on root traits was then performed on a germplasm collection including local accessions representing the genetic diversity of rice cultivated in Italy and a set of foreign varieties from temperate areas adapted to Italian climatic conditions. Whole genome genotyping was performed at Cornell University using the GBS (Genotyping-by-Sequencing) approach, a novel NGS strategy previously applied with success to maize and barley that uses libraries based on reducing genome complexity by methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes. In parallel, a thorough phenotypic screening for root morphological features was performed under controlled greenhouse conditions using a novel root phenotyping method that combines an optimized plant growing system (plastic cylindrical baskets coupled with PVC pipes) with an efficient imaging analysis (WinRHIZO image analysis software). The results of genome-wide association analyses performed on a first set of root phenotypic traits were very encouraging. All the detected significant associations were co-localizing with root QTLs previously identified in bi-parental mapping populations. Moreover, four of the detected regions co-localized with drought-avoidance QTLs, strongly supporting the hypothesis of their possible involvement in plant ability to cope with water scarcity. This work provides an initial study paving the way towards improvement of Italian rice varieties in terms of drought resistance.

The combination of terepthaloylbisglycinate (TBG(2-)) and metal ions at room temperature results in the formation of five coordination polymers formulated as [M(mu-TBG)(mu-H(2)O)(H(2)O)(2)]center dot(2)H(2)O, where M = Co (1) and Cu (2), [Mn(mu-TBG)(H(2)O)(4)]center dot 2H(2)O (3), [Cd(mu-TBG)(H(2)O)(3)]center dot 2H(2)O(4) and [Pb(mu-TBG)(H(2)O)(2)]center dot 3H(2)O (5). The dimensionality of the final product is affected by the coordination number of the metal ion. Thermal, reversible solvent uptake, magnetic and catalytic properties of these compounds have been investigated. New Journal of Chemistry

The interaction of proteins with solid surfaces is not only a fundamental phenomenon but is also key to several important and novel applications. In the biomaterials field, protein adsorption is the first step in the integration of an implanted device or material with tissue. In nanotechnology, protein–surface interactions are pivotal for the assembly of interfacial protein constructs, such as sensors, activators and other functional components at the biological/electronic junction. Fundamentally, the interaction of proteins with surfaces involves both protein binding and at least partial unfolding; these studies may therefore increase our knowledge of protein biophysics in general. Synthetic hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 (HA) nanocrystals represent an elective material for bone substitutes. HA nano-crystals are similar to the mineral component of bone as composition and attempt to mimic the structural and morphological features of natural bone crystals by their nanosize, blade-like shape, low degree of crystallinity and high surface reactivity[1]. Bioactivity of a bone substitute material can be evaluated through its chemical reactivity with the physiological environment. In this sense the interaction between proteins and HA has received special attention because it can represent a model to investigate the way by which biomimetic materials communicate. Moreover, the use of probe proteins is very important to characterize the surface of substrate in wet conditions. For this purposes, myoglobin (from horse heart) (Mb), the oxygen binding protein in tissues, is a useful model to test as adsorbate. We investigated the isothermic kinetic adsorption of Mb onto different hydroxyapatites at several pH. In order to better understand this interaction, the HA/Mb has been explored by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). UV and CD spectroscopy investigations on the Mb solutions exchanged from the nanocrystals surface have given contributions towards understanding modifications in the protein structure due to the interaction with substrate.Chemical conjugation of bisphosphonates (BP’s) to HA is an effective means to impart it fine-tuned bioactivity[2]. This modification on the apatitic surface can be tested through its effect on the affinity towards proteins with respect to unloaded apatite. The first step is the binding of alendronate with HA and the second is the study of the adsorption of Mb onto this conjugate compared on its adsorption with unfunctionalized HA. The results show that Mb can not be completely adsorbed by the conjugates because the binding sites of the support are partially saturated by alendronate which also avoid the secondary structure modification of Mb. This study could improve our knowledge in the field of biomaterials science, in particular to fine tune a bone-specific drug delivery device and to test HA as a new support for enzyme immobilization.

The combination of a new pseudopeptidic ligand, transition metal ions, and bridging water molecules results in the formation of [M(mu-TBG)(mu-H2O)(H2O)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O ( M: Cu, Co and H(2)TBG: terephthaloylbisglycine); both compounds show rare two-fold interpenetrated three-dimensional cds-nets and reversible loss of coordinated and lattice water molecules. Chemical Communications

The activity of the type 3 copper enzyme tyrosinase toward 2-, 3-, and 4-fluorophenol was studied by kinetic methods and H-1 and F-19 NMR spectroscopy. Whereas 3- and 4-fluorophenol react with tyrosinase to give products that undergo a rapid polymerization process, 2-fluorophenol is not reactive and actually acts as a competitive inhibitor in the enzymatic oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa). The tyrosinase-mediated polymerization of 3- and 4-fluorophenols has been studied in detail. It proceeds through a phenolic coupling pathway in which the common reactive fluoro-quinone, produced stereospecifically by tyrosinase, eliminates an inorganic fluorine ion. The enzymatic reaction studied as a function of substrate concentration shows a prominent lag that is completely depleted in the presence Of L-dopa. The kinetic parameters of the reactions can be correlated to the electronic and steric effects of the fluorine substituent position. Whereas the fluorine electron withdrawing effect appears to control the binding of the substrates (K-m for 3- and 4-fluorophenols and K-1 for 2-fluorophenol), the k(cat) parameters do not follow the expected trend, indicating that in the transition state some additional steric effect rules the reactivity.

The binuclear three-coordinate copper(1) complex 1 derived from a polybenzimidazole ligand exhibits tyrosinase-like activity on exogenous phenols.