47,544 research outputs found
Approccio multiscalare per un'analisi dei rapporti fra tettonica e geomorfologia in area alpina (Gruppo Ortles-Cevedale)
No full text
Prospects and constraints in the implementation of Drosophila suzukii classical biological control in Italy four years after the first release
No full textOver the past fifteen years, the spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) has become a major threat to soft-skinned fruit crops worldwide. Despite various control strategies, integrated pest management still relies heavily on insecticides, leading to significant economic and environmental concerns. As an alternative, biological control has been explored, with the introduction of Ganaspis kimorum (formerly G. brasiliensis strain G1), a parasitoid specific to D. suzukii (Stahl et al., 2024). Italy was the first country in Europe to adopt this approach, importing G. kimorum in 2020 for quarantine testing at the Edmund Mach Foundation (FEM) in Trentino. By 2021, the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition authorized a national biological control plan, expanding its scope to multiple regions over the following years (Lisi et al., 2021). Despite significant challenges, the program represents a crucial step toward sustainable pest management. Key difficulties included genetic bottlenecks in G. kimorum populations, mass-rearing constraints, logistical hurdles in distribution and release, and regulatory delays. Genetic diversity loss due to inbreeding raised concerns about the parasitoid’s adaptability. Additionally, G. kimorum requires fresh D. suzukii-infested fruit for reproduction, making mass-rearing costly and complex. Mite infestations further complicated rearing efforts. Logistics also played a critical role, as transportation conditions affected parasitoid survival. Selection of release sites prioritized low-chemical environments to maximize establishment success. Extensive pre- and post-release monitoring assessed establishment rates and non-target impacts (Fellin et al., 2023). After four years of releases, G. kimorum has established itself in some northern regions, particularly in Trentino and Valle d'Aosta, though results vary by region. Southern areas faced challenges due to high temperatures and droughts, which reduced host availability. Despite limited immediate impacts on D. suzukii populations, parasitoid presence and spatial expansion have increased over time, suggesting long-term potential for biological control. The Italian biological control program has made notable progress in optimizing rearing techniques and refining release strategies. Continuous improvements in monitoring, technological advancements, and stronger collaboration between research institutions, regulatory bodies, and agricultural stakeholders will be essential to enhancing the program’s success. While challenges remain, the initiative represents a promising step toward reducing dependence on insecticides and promoting sustainable pest management
Long-term trial with Colestipol plus clofibrate in familial hypercholesterolemia
No full textTwenty subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (12 Type IIa and 8 Type IIb), previously treated with Colestipol for 16 months, were subjected to therapy with Colestipol (15 g/day) + clofibrate (2 g/day) for 15 months. During the second treatment period these patients continued to follow the isocaloric hypocholesterolemic diet initiated during the original trial. In Type IIa patients, the association of these drugs enhanced the decrease in plasma cholesterol levels. The total mean decrease was -40 +/- 17 mg/dl (P less than 0.05). In Type IIb patients, on the other hand, the association of clofibrate with Colestipol induced an increase in plasma cholesterol levels. The total mean increase was +24 +/- 7 mg/dl (P less than 0.05). A markedly significant decrease in plasma triglyceride levels was observed in this group (- 107 +/- 30; P less than 0.01). These results seem to indicate that, in Type IIa, clofibrate increased the resin's hypocholesterolemic effect. In Type IIb, on the other hand, the association of these drugs did not seem to be indicated since a marked hypotriglyceridemic effect was accompanied by an increase in plasma cholesterol levels. These results are briefly discussed in the light of recent data obtained on the effects of Colestipol and clofibrate on lipoprotein metabolis
I percorsi terapeutici alternati: un protocollo flessibile per affrontare anoressia e bulimia adolescenziali.
No full text
- …
