1,721,048 research outputs found
Not Only Olfaction: The Nose, Protagonist of the Diversity and Individuality of the Human Face
No full textBesides being involved in respiratory and olfactory functions, the human nose presents the peculiar morphological and functional characteristics that have emerged during the evolution of the face and neural skull. In particular, following the nasalization process, i.e., the formation of the nasal bone bridge and the development of the nasal cartilage, it took the form of a triangular pyramid protruding on the median plane of the face, contributing to defining those physiognomic traits that make the face of each individual unique and unmistakable. This chapter examines the genetic, physiological and climatic factors that are at the origin of the evolution and morphological variability of the nose and face. It also considers the possible selective mechanisms of a cultural and social nature which may lead to the unforeseeable and peculiar combinations of physiognomic traits of the nose and face that are the basis of personal identity and individual recognition. Finally, it looks at the genes involved in the characterization of specific traits of the nose and face and how they are contributing to skull-facial reconstruction
Dal lupo culturale al lupo biologico: ricostruire la demografia lupina
No full textA partire da alcuni casi di studio europei e italiani, viene ricostruita, anche sul piano metodologico, la possibilità di ricostruire la demografia delle colonie di lupi in età storica. Viene inoltre esaminato come i dati conseguiti possano essere interrogati all'interno del dibattito sulla biologia dei lupi
UNVEILING THE ENIGMATIC NATURAL HISTORY OF MEDITERRANEAN COMMON DOLPHIN (DELPHINUS DELPHIS, LINNAEUS 1758): INSIGHTS FOR CONSERVATION CHALLENGES
No full textThe common dolphin (Delphinus delphis, Linnaeeus, 1785) is one of the most enigmatic species in the Mediterranean Sea. Once widely prevalent, it faced a significant decline across most of the basin by the late 1960s. The precise reasons and mechanisms behind this decline remain largely unknown or poorly understood. However, a range of potential causes has been identified, encompassing deliberate culling, accidental deaths in fishing gear, reduced prey availability, and habitat degradation. Present estimates derived from surveys and monitoring campaigns suggest either a complete absence or a near disappearance of common dolphins from areas historically known to harbor substantial populations. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has designated the Inner Mediterranean subpopulation of common dolphin as “Endangered”.
We reconstructed the little-known natural history of this species using osteological museum finds from the last two centuries. The multidisciplinary approach consisting of genetic analysis on ancient DNA, geometric morphometry on skulls, and collagen stable isotope analysis, has enabled a better understanding of the ecology of the historical Mediterranean common dolphin population.
The main findings of the research include: i) Incorrect taxonomic attributions in museum collections and historical literature represent a bias in the identification of Mediterranean dolphin species and in the knowledge of their demographic and ecological history over the past decades and centuries; ii) the molecular/morphometrical integrated approach permitted the successful species-specific identification of museum specimens and to highlight misidentifications and potential interspecific hybridization events between the rare Delphinus delphis and other more common species in the basin, such as Stenella coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus; iii) Results from stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) show different ecological and/or trophic patterns of Mediterranean common dolphin over time, indicating a possible shift in the ecological niche across the past centuries
Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Tajikistan Fermented Goat Milk
No full textA fermented goat’s milk produced by the Yaghnobi population in Tajikistan was studied in order to characterize the biodiversity of lactobacilli in the product. A total of 22 lactobacilli were isolated on de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar plates. Firstly the strains were characterized phenotypically and genotypically in order to identified these at species level. Phenotyping characterization included gram staining, testing for the presence of catalase and oxidase enzymes, as well as for the type of isomer of lactic acid produced. The 16S rRNA gene, RNA polymerase alpha subunit (rpoA), phenylalanyl - tRNA synthase alpha subunit (pheS), and ATP synthase alpha chain (atpA) genes of all strains were amplified and sequenced; moreover strains were studied for their clonal relationships by means of amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Based on this polyphasic approach, the species could be identified as Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus helveticus , Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei species The present work, for the first time, provides a deep characterization of lactobacilli population of a traditional fermented goat’s milk from the Yaghnobi people which so far has not been studied
Paleopathological analysis of a probable case of Jarcho-Levin Syndrome from the 18th century northern Italy
No full textThis case report examines the differential diagnosis of an unusually fused chest belonging to a perinatal human remain retrieved in the crypt of Roccapelago (Italy). This specimen, which dated back to the final 18th century, showed a severe synostosis of the costovertebral articulations and posterior arches. The specimen was examined macroscopically and radiologically for the purpose of identify differences in mineral density. It also underwent computed tomography scan in order to create a 3D digital model and virtually reposition in anatomical position. The radiological trophism, size, and osteological maturity of the specimen are compatible with a perinate. The chest structure shows a characteristic crab like morphology, with the costovertebral articulations and some posterior arches completely fused. Accordingly, a diagnosis of Jarcho-Levin Syndrome has been suggested. This case appears to be the first report, to the knowledge of the authors, of a probable Jarcho-Levin syndrome, which dated before Jarcho and Levin codified this pathology in the scientific literature
IL DELFINO COMUNE DEL MEDITERRANEO: RICOSTRUZIONE DELLA STORIA ECOLOGICA ED EVOLUTIVA ATTRAVERSO I REPERTI OSTEOLOGICI
No full textIl delfino comune (Delphinus delphis, Linnaeus, 1785) è una delle specie più enigmatiche del Mar Mediterraneo. Un tempo ampiamente diffusa, alla fine degli anni '60 ha subìto un declino significativo in gran parte del bacino. Le ragioni e i meccanismi alla base di questo declino rimangono in gran parte sconosciuti o poco compresi. Tuttavia, è stata identificata una serie di potenziali cause, tra cui le campagne di abbattimento, la morte accidentale in attrezzi da pesca, la ridotta disponibilità di prede e il degrado dell'habitat. Le stime attuali ottenute da indagini e campagne di monitoraggio suggeriscono la completa assenza o la quasi scomparsa dei delfini comuni dalle aree storicamente note per ospitare popolazioni consistenti. L'Unione Internazionale per la Conservazione della Natura ha designato la sottopopolazione di delfino comune del Mediterraneo come "Endangered".
Abbiamo ricostruito la poco conosciuta storia naturale di questa specie utilizzando reperti museali osteologici degli ultimi due secoli. L'approccio multidisciplinare, che consiste nell'analisi genetica del DNA antico, nella morfometria geometrica dei crani e nell'analisi degli isotopi stabili del collagene, ha permesso di comprendere meglio l'ecologia della popolazione storica di delfino comune del Mediterraneo. I principali risultati della ricerca includono: i) l'approccio integrato molecolare/morfometrico ha permesso di identificare con successo gli esemplari museali a livello specie-specifico e di evidenziare errori di identificazione nelle collezioni museali e nella letteratura storica, i quali rappresentano un bias nell'identificazione delle specie di delfini mediterranei e nella conoscenza della loro storia demografica ed ecologica; ii) le analisi genomiche preliminari hanno evidenziato la perdita della diversità genetica di D. delphis nel corso degli ultimi decenni; ii) i risultati dell'analisi degli isotopi stabili (δ13C e δ15N) indicano diversi modelli ecologici e/o trofici del delfino comune mediterraneo nel corso del tempo, suggerendo un possibile spostamento della nicchia ecologica nel corso degli ultimi secoli. In conclusione, i risultati suggeriscono che il declino del delfino comune sia stato innescato da un insieme di fattori di natura antropogenica che hanno portato non solo alla competizione con l’uomo, ma anche a una competizione interspecifica con altre due specie ampiamente diffuse nel Mediterraneo: Stenella coeruleoalba e Tursiops truncatus
The plague of 1630 in Modena (Italy) through the study of parish registers
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to study the impact this disease had on the community in Modena during the epidemic in 1630 and highlight the real course of the disease that brought Modena and whole Europe to its knees in the 17th century. The investigation was carried out by transcribing and studying the parish certificates of death for the period 1625-1635. This study confirmed that the plague epidemic in Modena began as early as 1629, and then exploded in the most virulent form since the beginning of summer 1630 and reached its peak in August of the same year, when it caused about seven hundred victims
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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