436 research outputs found
Foreste urbane e servizi ecosistemici: abbattimento del particolato aerodisperso (PM10) e tipologia di vegetazione, in contesto urbano e periurbano nell’area metropolitana di Roma
No full textUrban ecosystem services: tree diversity and stability of PM10 removal in the metropolitan area of Rome
No full textUrban vegetation, and particularly urban forests, are known to provide important ecosystem services, such as urban air quality improvement by removing gaseous and particulate pollutants. The amount of PM10 removed by urban and periurban trees of the metropolitan area of Rome (evergreen broadleaves, deciduous broadleaves and conifers) was estimated by considering the minimum and maximum PM10 concentration values recorded in the Municipality of Rome during the years 2003 and 2004. The results of these simulations have been used to map the Ecosystem Service of PM10 removal by the three functional groups in the five Sanitary Districts of the Municipality. Given the spatial uniformity of PM10 levels in the urban area, the highest amount of PM10 deposition rates, during the whole period, are those of the Sanitary District with the largest vegetation cover (RMD). It is also interesting to highlight that the highest deposition fluxes, for the three functional groups, were estimated for the 2004 summer period, in concurrence with the highest mean values of Leaf Area Index. Our results confirm the crucial role of vegetation in supporting significant Ecosystem Services as air quality improvement, highlighting the importance of biodiversity and green infrastructures of sustain and enhance benefits provided by trees
Alcohol abuse: An under-estimated risk factor for hypertension. A review.
No full textWhile the effects of alcohol on blood pressure have been widely investigated, this effect of alcohol is commonly underestimated in current clinical practice, since it is shadowed by the decreased vascular resistance in alcoholic cirrhosis. Thus. the most significant studies are reviewed here. Indeed, the potential mechanisms of alcohol-induced hypertension (sympathetic system activation, CHR release) are discussed, as well as the relationship between hypertension and alcohol withdrawal. The debated matter of the relationship between alcohol intake, heart diseases, stroke and hypertension is discussed, and a cautious approach is suggested, as the alleged protective effects of "safe" drinking on coronary heart disease may be counterbalanced by the induction of alcohol-dependence. Thus, drinking should not be suggested to abstinent people
Ecophysiological characterization of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck and relationships with type and amount of biogenic emissions
No full textIn this paper are shown the results obtained on Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck during the sampling campaigns performed in Burriana (Spain) in the frame of B.E.M.A. project. The daily trends of photosynthesis (A) showed higher values at morning and a decrement during the hottest hours of the day; for leaf transpiration (E) we observed a slight increment during the day. During different months (May '96, June '97 and July '95) we noted a progressive reduction in gas exchange of the leaves in relation to build-up of summer stress condition (-49% and -60% for June and July respect to May). In particular, net photosynthesis and leaf transpiration measured on Citrus leaves were, in general, characterised by low average values (2.7 +/- 0.06 (s.e.) mu mol CO2 m(-2)s(-1) and 0.665 +/- 0.021 (s.e.) mmol H2O m(-2)s(-1) for current leaves, respectively). The relationship between biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emission rates normalised by assimilation (A) and gas exchange parameters as E/A ratio is reported. This latter is considered as an useful functional index to determine different vegetation types on a functional basis. We also found a good correlation between BVOC normalised emissions with air temperature. This behaviour has been reported for other species having monoterpene compounds in storage structures as Pinus species. Moreover, it is evident an uncoupling between BVOC emissions and photosynthesis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Annual estimations of ecophysiological parameters and biogenic volatile compounds (BVOCs) emissions in Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck
No full textChemical and physical interactions among trace gases (CH4, N2O, VOCs) contribute towards greenhouse effects. This paper by using a original simulation model analyses the annual trends of net photosynthesis, transpiration, and water use efficiency, the total primary production and finally the emission of monoterpenes from orange groves located in the Burriana plain (Spain). The net photosynthetic rate showed a bell-shaped trend with maximum average values of 3.5 mu molCO(2) m(-2) s(-1) calculated for the months of June and July. The canopy transpiration rate reached maximum values of approximately 2.5 mmolH(2)O m(-2) s(-1). Monoterpene emissions displayed a relevant increase during spring time reaching the highest values ol approximately 70 ng monoterpene m(-2) s(-1) during the summer period and a progressive decrease during the successive months. The loss of carbon by monoterpene emissions for the different plant organs is evaluated at approximately 0.404% of the total carbon fixed by photosynthesis (559.77 gC m(-2) y(-1)). On a fractionated basis the contribution of the leaves is 0.083% those of the fruits is 0.243% (for a period lasting from July to December), and only for the May period 0.079% for the flowers
Analysis of Environmental quality by means of bioindication and biomonitoring studies on plant species
No full textServizi Ecosistemici e ruolo del verde nella rimozione del particolato atmosferico in aree metropolitane
No full textLa vegetazione urbana fornisce importanti servizi ambientali di natura ricreativa, estetico-paesaggistica e non ultimo funzionale, migliorando il microclima e contribuendo a ridurre l’inquinamento atmosferico. Il particolato (PM) rappresenta uno degli inquinanti maggiormente diffusi e ad elevato impatto ambientale e sanitario con particolare riguardo in ambito metropolitano (Direttiva 2008/50/CE, e Rapporto WHO 2011). Numerosi studi hanno confermato l’effetto di mitigazione da parte della vegetazione sulle concentrazioni di inquinanti atmosferici, con sensibile miglioramento della qualità ambientale. I risultati presentati fanno parte di ricerche condotte sia in contesto urbano che periurbano, all’interno di una villa storica di Roma, Villa Ada, nei giardini del Museo di Storia Naturale della città di Milano e nell’ambito della foresta mediterranea nella Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano (Roma). Obiettivo della ricerca è stato quello di quantificare in aree urbane e periurbane la rimozione di PM atmosferico, da parte del verde presente in differenti aree campione, caratterizzate da vegetazione arborea o erbacea e a differenti altezze lungo la chioma degli alberi nella foresta urbana mediterranea. I risultati hanno evidenziato un abbattimento delle concentrazioni di PM all’aumentare della densità della vegetazione presente, confermando l’effetto sinergico esercitato dalla copertura arborea e da quella arbustiva, le cosiddette green barrier. Gli studi in corso contribuiranno a chiarire il ruolo effettivo del verde, nelle differenti tipologie e strutture, nel mitigare l’inquinamento atmosferico in aree metropolitane
ARCHITETTURA E RAPPRESENTAZIONE. ALCUNE QUESTIONI
No full textQuesto volume raccoglie alcuni contributi didattici nel corso di Tecniche di Rappresentazione di cui sono titolare. Franco Purini, noto protagonista del dibattito architettonico contemporaneo, ha tenuto una sorta di introduzione al corso poiché, prima di insegnare Progettazione è stato docente di Disegno e Rilievo scrivendo numerosi articoli e saggi proprio sul disegno. Vieri Quilici è Professore Ordinario di Composizione Architettonica ed è stato uno dei padri fondatori della Facoltà di Architettura dell’Università Roma Tre. Nella sua lunga attività di docente ha avuto modo di conoscere e lavorare con Adalberto Libera pertanto, l’ho invitato a fare una comunicazione sui disegni e progetti di Libera per l’EUR. Ho inserito un mio breve scritto sull’architettura a Roma nel secolo scorso e un altro che tratta dei 3D artists, giovani abilissimi talvolta con un background architettonico o più spesso provenienti da studi fotografici. Infatti, ho direzionato le ricerche recenti sui “disegni definitivi” per approfondire gli aspetti della “presentazione e comunicazione” del progetto d’architettura. Saverio Silli e Michele Gattini sono due giovani architetti laureatisi entrambi all’Università Roma Tre che lavorano con me da vari anni sia alla didattica sia alla ricerca, Gattini è più attento agli aspetti bidimensionali, Silli è più interessato a quelli tridimensionali
Phytotoxic ozone effect on selected plant species in a standardized experimental design
No full textThe most phytotoxic atmospheric pollutant is ozone which represents a stress factor for Forest species and for the growth and the production of many plant species used in agriculture, resulting in great economic loss. Experimental protocols for passive and active biomonitoring studies to assess plant injury induced by ozone have been adopted by the United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) International Cooperative Programme (ICP-Crops), which aims to quantify crop responses to ozone, contributing to the determination of critical levels for this pollutant. Since 1988, our research group has participated in the ICP-Crops programme, conducting studies in the area of Rome with the aim of characterising the ecophysiological response to tropospheric ozone of species of agrarian interest. In this context, in 1997-1998 we have conducted studies on clones (an ozone-sensitive, NC-S clone, and an ozone resistant, NC-R clone) of Trifolium repens L. cv. Regal at the Botanical Garden of the "La Sapienza" University of Rome, in accordance with the ICP-Crops standard protocol. During the studies, environmental parameters and ozone concentrations were measured. In clover clone experiments, comparison of the two clones in 1997-98 experimental periods revealed both morphologic and biochemical differences associated with the response to tropospheric ozone. The results relative to visible injury, peroxidase activity and chlorophyll content confirmed the greater sensitivity of the NC-S clone to tropospheric ozone
4-Hydroxynonenal is markedly higher in patients on a standard long-term home parenteral nutrition
No full textParenteral nutrition, a commonly used procedure in patients with gastrointestinal disorders, may lead with time to liver steatosis and fibrosis, whose pathogenesis has yet to be elucidated. Oxidative stress and particularly lipid peroxidation likely contribute to the expression of such hepatobiliary complications, by means of their recognized proinflammatory and profibrogenic effects. To evaluate the adequacy against oxidative insult of a standard micronutrient supplementation in patients under long term parenteral nutrition, a comprehensive patterns of redox indices has been determined on peripheral blood samples from forty one adults in comparison to fifty eight blood donors taken as controls. A sustained oxidative stress in peripheral blood of home parenteral patients was observed. Of the two lipid peroxidation markers found to be markedly increased, namely fluorescent plasma protein adducts with malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal, respectively, only the second was statistically correlated with all the antioxidant-related changes consistently detected in the patients, namely decreased plasma α-tocopherol and selenium intake and higher erythrocyte oxidized glutathione. Plasma level of 4-hydroxynonenal-protein adducts appears to be a reliable and easily measurable marker of oxidative status, particularly indicated to monitor the adequacy of dietary regimen during parenteral nutritio
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