86,880 research outputs found
Agenia blanda
No full text1. Agenia blanda, Guer. Voy. Coq. Zool. pt. 2. ii. p. 260. Hab. Celebes; India; Singapore; Malacca; Borneo; Key Island.Published as part of Smith, F., 1859, Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace at the Islands of Aru and Key., pp. 132-158 in Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 3 on page 15
Mutilla blanda
No full text1. Mutilla blanda, Smith, Cat. Hym. pt. iii. p. 32. Hab. Malacca (Mount Ophir). India.Published as part of Smith, F., 1857, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo; Mount Ophir, Malacca; and at Singapore, by A. R. Wallace., pp. 42-88 in Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 2 on page 8
Myrmica blanda
No full text70. Myrmica blanda. B.M. Worker. Length 1 line.-Head and thorax ferruginous; abdomen black or brownish-black, with the apex rufo-testaceous. The head, thorax, and nodes of the abdomen finely rugose: the roughness is occasioned by the excessive closeness of the punctures; the club of the antennae 3-jointed; the legs rather paler than the thorax; the thorax convex and rounded in front, narrowed posteriorly, with two acute spines on the metathorax. The abdomen very smooth and shining. Hab. Brazil (Ega).Published as part of Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London :British Museum on page 13
High resolution remote estimation of soil surface water content by a thermal inertia approach
No full textThe spatial distribution of soil surface water content in a bare soil was evaluated by a thermal inertia approach from high resolution visible/near infrared (VIS/NIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) airborne data. Given that the relationship between the thermal inertia and the soil water content strongly depends on the accurate estimation of the soil thermal conductivity, two different empirical models were applied to estimate it. Remotely estimated water contents were tested with time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements collected on a 110 × 90 m2 bare field in coincidence with airborne over-flights. The thermal conductivity model by Johansen (1975) produced more accurate estimates of soil surface water content than that by Campbell (1985), especially for water content higher than 0.15 (m3 m-3). The considered thermal inertia approach allowed prediction of the spatial distribution of the soil water content with a satisfactory level of accuracy. In particular a relatively better accuracy was obtained when the remote sensing images were analyzed directly at the same scale of the field measurements
Analisi delle relazioni tra indici di stato idrico e firme spettrali in piante adulte di olivo (Olea europea L.)
No full textLa conoscenza dello stato idrico della vegetazione riveste un ruolo rilevante in svariate
applicazioni biofisiche riguardanti gli ecosistemi, naturali ed agrari, dove lo stress
idrico costituisce una delle più importanti limitazioni per la produzione primaria ed
agricola.
L’obiettivo della ricerca ha riguardato la valutazione dello stato idrico di piante di
olivo, a partire da misure di riflettanza nelle bande del visibile (VIS) e del vicino
infrarosso (NIR), eseguite sia a scala fogliare che di canopy. Si sono, pertanto,
analizzate le firme spettrali in riflettanza fogliare e di canopy di piante di olivo il cui
stato idrico è stato monitorato attraverso l’ausilio di indicatori ecofisiologici quali il
potenziale idrico xilematico. Le misure spettrali sono state condotte utilizzando uno
spettroradiometro da campo operante nell’intervallo spettrale 350-1050 nm. Per
l’analisi spettrale si è fatto riferimento sia a indici legati direttamente lo stato idrico
della foglia/canopy, quali il “Water Index” (WI) e l’Absorption Index (AI), che ad
indici indiretti come il “Normalized Difference Vegetation Index” (NDVI) e il “Red
Edge Position” (REP), che tengono conto della variazione di altri parametri
biochimici, quali la quantità e l’attività della clorofilla, nonché la variazione delle
caratteristiche morfo-anatomici della vegetazione
Uso di modelli agroidrologici per la gestione dell’irrigazione di colture arboree mediterranee
No full textNel presente lavoro viene presentato un confronto tra due modelli di bilancio idrologico: il modello proposto dalla
FAO e il modello SWAP, basato sulla soluzione dell’equazione di Richards. Il confronto ha riguardato i valori delle
componenti del bilancio idrologico ed i contenuti idrici del suolo relativamente alle due stagioni irrigue 2005 e 2006
su colture di Vite ed Olivo. È stata inoltre valutata la performance dei due modelli sulla programmazione
dell’irrigazione impostando i parametri di scheduling ordinari della zona
Agro-hydrological models to schedule irrigation of Mediterranean tree crops
No full textIn this paper a comparison between two agro-hydrological models, used to schedule irrigation of typical Mediterranean tree crops, is assessed. In particular the comparison between the model proposed by FAO, using a black box processes schematization, and the SWAP model based on the numerical analysis of Richards’ equation is initially presented for two irrigation seasons, 2005 and 2006, and two Mediterranean tree crops, i.e. grapevine (Vitis vinifera, L.) and olive oil (Olea europea, L.). The comparison mainly focuses on hydrological balance components and on soil
water contents.
After investigating and setting the scheduling parameters ordinarily practiced by the framers in the area (i.e ordinary management), the performance of the two models aimed to evaluate seasonal water requirement and irrigation time, is assessed.
In the validation phase both the models satisfactorily simulated the soil water content, allowing to obtain quite comparable values of evapotraspiration fluxes. On the other hand, when the models are used for scheduling irrigation, the FAO 56 model usually overestimates the irrigation amount, as a result of an overestimation of the transpiration fluxes. On the contrary the SWAP model simulates values of crops water requirements and a number of irrigation corresponding to those evaluated in the ordinary scheduling at the investigated area. Finally, in order to improve the FAO 56 model performance, a modification of the stress function is presented and discussed
Gestione dell'irrigazione del vigneto attraverso l'uso di modelli di simulazione e misure di campo
No full textViene valutata l’applicabilità di un modello numerico, SWAP (Soil Water Atmosphere Plant, van Dam et al., 1997) e di uno funzionale, FAO 56 (Allen et al., 1998), nella programmazione degli interventi irrigui a scala aziendale. Dopo la validazione, i due modelli sono stati utilizzati al fine di verificare la possibilità di simulare la gestione dell’irrigazione tipica dell’area di indagine, attraverso la determinazione del numero e della distribuzione degli adacquamenti, nonché stima dei consumi idrici totali nel corso del ciclo vegeto-produttivo della coltura. Entrambi i modelli simulano in modo soddisfacente l’andamento dei contenuti idrici medi del suolo, evidenziando errori di stima non superiori al 2,0%. Il modello SWAP ha consentito di simulare con buona approssimazione la gestione irrigua tipica della zona, permettendo di valutare sia l’inizio della stagione irrigua che i consumi idrici totali da parte della coltura. Nella sua formulazione originale, il modello FAO 56, invece, non si è dimostrato altrettanto affidabile. In vista di un successivo uso ai fini della gestione irrigua vengono suggerite delle modifiche utili a migliorare la performance del modello FAO. L’analisi delle performance ha evidenziato che, in annate caratterizzate da carenza di piogge, il numero di adacquamenti suggeriti da entrambi i modelli risulta comparabile
Brushite/Hydroxyapatite Coatings obtained by galvanic deposition on 316L Stainless Steel
No full textHydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is a basic calcium phosphate mineral with chemical composition similar to that of bones and teeth. Owing to this peculiarity HA is a biocompatible material of high medical interest. Unfortunately, it possesses poor mechanical properties, because is brittle, has a low fracture resistance and a poor wear resistance. For these reasons, in the last years the research was been focused on the use of HA as a coating of another biomaterial that acts as support. The best choice is that to use a substrate that must be bionert and mechanically stable, such as 316L stainless steel (316LSS). This is useful for biomedical implants, because of its excellent biocompatibility and good mechanical properties. However, since 316LSS is a bioinert material, it cannot form strong chemical bonds with bones. To improve the osteointegration, it is necessary to cover 316LSS substrates with hydroxyapatite layers. Thus, the use of bio-device based on HA coatings supported on 316LSS allows to exceed the two of principal disadvantages that these two materials present when are used individually: the brittleness of HA and the poor osteointegration of 316LSS. Many methods were developed to deposit HA on bio-inert substrate, including ion beam sputtering, sol–gel, electrophoretic deposition, pulsed laser deposition, plasma spraying and electrochemical deposition. Here, we propose a new fabrication process that permits to obtain brushite and brushite/hydroxyapatite, that is a very simple and low cost. Brushite is dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (BS, CaHPO4·2H2O) that, when placed in simulated body fluid (SBF, knowed as Hank’s solution), it converts into hydroxyapatite. In particular, brushite and brushite/hydroxyapatite coatings were deposited on 316LSS from a solution containing Ca(NO3)2·4H2O and NH4H2PO4 through a displacement reaction based on a galvanic contact between 316LSS and a sheet of zinc that acts as sacrificial anode. Driving force for the cementation reaction arises from the difference in the electrochemical standard potentials of 316LSS and Zn that were immersed in the electrolyte. This process allows to deposit Brushite/Hydroxyapatite coatings without power supply. Samples were obtained varying deposition time (24 hours, 72 h and 108 h) and temperature (6 °C, 25 °C and 50 °C). SEM, EDS, Raman and XRD were used to full characterized the coatings. SEM images showed that the morphology changes as the temperature increases passing by a spherical dispersed structure, for films obtained from a 6 °C and 25 °C, to a tetrahedral and more compact structure, in the case of the film obtained at 50 °C. Through EDS the chemical composition of coatings was identified, calculating the Ca/P ratio, to obtain the stoichiometry, and the Ca/Fe ratio, to estimate the degree of coverage of the substrate. The temperature increase allows to obtain a uniform coating with a Ca/P ratio close to the optimal value (1.67), and a very high value of Ca/Fe ratio that obviously implies the formation of a very thick coating on the substrate. By Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) the phases were identified and the characteristic peaks of BS and BS/HA were found. Besides, corrosion (open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization and impedence measurement) and biocompatibility (cytotoxicity assays with osteoblastic cell) test were performed. Here, we will show that galvanic deposition is an advantageous method because is able to produce BS and BS/HA coatings that enhance the corrosion and biological properties of the 316LSS substrate
Potential roles of extracellular vesicles in brain cell-to-cell communication
No full textPotential roles of extracellular vesicles in brain cell-to-cell communication
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released into thè extracellular space from both cancer and normal
brain cells, and are probably able to modify thè phenotypic properties of receiving cells1. EVs
released from astrocytes and neurons contain FGF2 and VEGF2'3 and induce a 'blood-brain
barrier' (BBB) phenotype in cultured brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs, unpublished results),
On thè other hand, EVs from G26/24 oligodendroglioma induce apoptosis in neurons and
astrocytes4-5. These effects are probably due to Fas Ligand and TRAIL, present in G26/24
vesicles4-5. Moreover, G26/24 EVs contain extracellular matrix remodeling proteases (such as
ADAMTS)6, H1.0 histone protein, and H1.0 mRNA7. In particular, we previously hypothesized that
G26/24 cells, and tumor cells in generai, can escape differentiation cues, and continue to
proliferate by eliminating proteins, such as thè H1° linker histone (and its mRNA)7, which could
otherwise block proliferation.
To study vesicle release in a System that can better resemble in vivo conditions, astrocytes and
BCECs were cultured on poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds and tested for their ability to grow and
survive on this three-dimensional structures. We analyzed in parallel thè celi growth in 2D and 3D
culture systems and observed thè differences in celi morphology by fluorescence analysis: threedimensional
scaffolds have thè ability to guide celi growth, provide support, encourage celi
adhesion and proliferation. Astrocytes8 and BCECs (unpublished results) adapted well to these
porous matrices, not only remaining on thè surface, but also penetrating inside thè scaffolds.
EVs released by astrocytes in these scaffolds are probably exosomes, as suggested by
transmission electron microscopy pictures, and by thè presence of intracellular structures
resembling multivesicular bodies. This 3D celi culture System could be further enriched to host
different brain celi types, in order to set, for example, an in vitro model of BBB, that may be useful
for drug delivery studies, and for thè formulation of new therapeutic strategies for thè treatment of
neurological diseases.
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[6] Lo Cicero, A., Majkowska, I., Nagase, H., Di Liegro, I., Troeberg, L., Matrix Biol. 2012, 31(4), 229-33.
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[8] Carfì Pavia, F., Di Bella, M.A., Brucato, V., Blanda, V., Zummo, F., Vitrano, I., Di Liegro, C.M., Ghersi, G.,
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Imaging Science: practical approaches to applied research and education, pp 260-264. Ed: A. Méndez-Vilas
Publisher, Formatex Research Center (Spain), ISBN-13, 978-84-942134-9-6
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