1,720,978 research outputs found
Phosphatase, B-glucosidase and a-galactosidase activities of microbial biomass in three soils of Mediterranean area
No full textCellulase, xylanase and chitinase activities in an evergreen oak Litter: influence of biotic and abiotic factors
No full textChanges in lignin and cellulose content during leaf litter decomposition in a Mediterranean ecosystem
No full textArrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy and Skeletal Muscle Dystrophies: Shared Histopathological Features and Pathogenic Mechanisms
No full textArrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a heritable cardiac disease characterized by fibrotic or fibrofatty myocardial replacement, associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Originally described as a disease of the right ventricle, ACM is currently recognized as a biventricular entity, due to the increasing numbers of reports of predominant left ventricular or biventricular involvement. Research over the last 20 years has significantly advanced our knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of ACM. Several etiopathogenetic theories have been proposed; among them, the most attractive one is the dystrophic theory, based on the observation of similar histopathological features between ACM and skeletal muscle dystrophies (SMDs), such as progressive muscular degeneration, inflammation, and tissue replacement by fatty and fibrous tissue. This review will describe the pathophysiological and molecular similarities shared by ACM with SMDs
The co-creation process of the online image of an Italian World Heritage Site: The Sassi of Matera
No full textThis paper investigates the online communication of the Italian World Heritage Sites (N=50) in terms of website management and related web marketing activities. We map the Italian WHSs managing official websites, analysing them with a content and functionalities benchmarking grid. Then, we illustrate the UNESCO-related websites by focusing on WHSs which, on the contrary, do not provide an official website. Furthermore, we triangulate the results stemming from the content and functionality analysis with phone interviews with site managers in order to investigate the approach to website management and related web marketing activities
Lignin and cellulose degradation and nitrogen dynamics during decomposition of three leaf litter species in a Mediterranean ecosystem
No full textCellulose and lignin degradation dynamics was monitored during the leaf litter decomposition of three typical species of the Mediterranean area, Cistus incanus L., Myrtus communis L. and Quercus ilex L., using the litter bag method. Total N and its distribution among lignin, cellulose and acid-detergent-soluble fractions were measured and related to the overall decay process. The litter organic substance of Cistus and Myrtus decomposed more rapidly than that of Quercus. The decay constants were 0.47 year-1, 0.75 year-1 and 0.30 year-1 for Cistus, Myrtus and Quercus, respectively. Lignin and cellulose contents were different as were their relative amounts (34 and 18%, 15 and 37%, 37 and 39% of the overall litter organic matter before exposure, for Cistus, Myrtus and Quercus, respectively). Lignin began to decrease after 6 and 8 months of exposure in Cistus and Myrtus, respectively, while it did not change significantly during the entire study period in Quercus. The holocellulose, in contrast, began to decompose in Cistus after 1 year, while in Quercus and Myrtus immediately. Nitrogen was strongly immobilized in all the litters in the early period of decay. Its release began after the first year in Cistus and Myrtus and after 2 years of decomposition in Quercus. These litters still contained about 60, 20 and 90% of the initial nitrogen at the end of the experiment (3 years). Prior to litter exposure nitrogen associated with the lignin fraction was 65, 54 and 37% in Cistus, Myrtus and Quercus, while that associated with the cellulose fraction was 30, 24 and 28%. Although most of the nitrogen was not lost from litters, its distribution among the litter components changed significantly during decomposition. In Cistus and Myrtus the nitrogen associated with lignin began to decrease just 4 months after exposure. In Quercus this process was slowed and after 3 years of decomposition 8% of the nitrogen remained associated with lignin or lignin-like substances. The nitrogen associated with cellulose or cellulose-like substances, in contrast, began to decrease from the beginning of cellulose decomposition in all three species. At the end of the study period most of the nitrogen was not associated to the lignocellulose fraction but to the acid-detergent-soluble substance (87, 88 and 84% of the remaining litter nitrogen). © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The Co-creation Process of the Online Image of an Italian World Heritage Site: The Sassi of Matera
No full textThis paper investigates the co-creation process of the online image of the Italian World Heritage Site “Sassi of Matera”, which has been inscribed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993. Despite the recent increasing success of the destination, Matera still lacks a strong online communication. To date, the Sassi of Matera have not a dedicated website for the promotion of the UNESCO heritage itself, while other online stakeholders are co-creating its online communication. The case study has been examined to provide an example of how the main stakeholders of a destination can contribute to the co-creation of its online image: hospitality industry, destination players, and user generated content (UGC) through the online word-of-mouth. Content analysis has been performed, revealing the main arguments expressed about the site, and the coverage of the UNESCO label among the concerned online publishers. The theoretical and managerial implications are discussed in the study
Relationship between Quercus ilex leaves and soil metal content in the ubran park of Caserta
No full textRelationship between Quercus ilex leaves and soil metals content in the urban park of Caserta
No full textLaccase and peroxidase isoenzymes during leaf litter decomposition of Quercus ilex in a Mediterranean ecosystem
No full textThe dynamics of leaf litter decomposition of Quercus ilex (L.) were investigated over a 2 year period by determining the activities and isoenzyme distribution of laccases and peroxidases. The analysis of isoenzymes was performed by isoelectric focusing on high stability pH gradients with high resolving power. The preparation of zymograms was carried out using the leaf litter extract without previous concentration. During litter decomposition, laccase and peroxidase activities changed as well as the type and number of enzyme isoforms. The activities of both enzymes were low (less than or equal to0.017 and less than or equal to0.031 mmol o-tolidine oxidized h(-1) g(-1)d.w. for laccase and peroxidase, respectively) in first year and increased in October-January of the second year of litter decay. The highest activities measured after 15-18 months of litter exposure (0.37 +/- 0.03 and 0.19 +/- 0.02 mmol o-tolidine oxidized h(-1) g(-1) d.w. for laccase and peroxidase, respectively), showed that litter chemical composition affected the growth of ligninolytic microbial community. The activation energy for laccase and peroxidase reactions also changed during decomposition: the highest values (55 +/- 6 kJ mol(-1) for laccase and 60 +/- 6 kJ mol(-1) for peroxidase) occurred in autumn-winter, even if spatial changes were evidenced. Some enzyme isoforms (pI = 5.3 and 5.5 for laccase and pI=5.0 and 5.1 for peroxidase, respectively), contributed more than others to the overall laccase and peroxidase activity, suggesting that some ligninolytic species bloomed in particular seasons of the year, even if other species with similar functional activities colonized the litter.The dynamics of leaf litter decomposition of Quercus ilex (L.) were investigated over a 2 year period by determining the activities and isoenzyme distribution of laccases and peroxidases. The analysis of isoenzymes was performed by isoelectric focusing on high stability pH gradients with high resolving power. The preparation of zymograms was carried out using the leaf litter extract without previous concentration. During litter decomposition, laccase and peroxidase activities changed as well as the type and number of enzyme isoforms. The activities of both enzymes were low (less than or equal to0.017 and less than or equal to0.031 mmol o-tolidine oxidized h(-1) g(-1)d.w. for laccase and peroxidase, respectively) in first year and increased in October-January of the second year of litter decay. The highest activities measured after 15-18 months of litter exposure (0.37 +/- 0.03 and 0.19 +/- 0.02 mmol o-tolidine oxidized h(-1) g(-1) d.w. for laccase and peroxidase, respectively), showed that litter chemical composition affected the growth of ligninolytic microbial community. The activation energy for laccase and peroxidase reactions also changed during decomposition: the highest values (55 +/- 6 kJ mol(-1) for laccase and 60 +/- 6 kJ mol(-1) for peroxidase) occurred in autumn-winter, even if spatial changes were evidenced. Some enzyme isoforms (pI = 5.3 and 5.5 for laccase and pI=5.0 and 5.1 for peroxidase, respectively), contributed more than others to the overall laccase and peroxidase activity, suggesting that some ligninolytic species bloomed in particular seasons of the year, even if other species with similar functional activities colonized the litter. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
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