144 research outputs found
Comparison of GPR and Capacitance Probe laboratory experiments in sandy soils
No full textThe integration of different techniques for the estimation of the volumetric water content θ in low-loss sandy soils may allow to obtain more reliable measure, after a proper evaluation of the techniques limits and their pros and cons. In particular, the integration of direct laboratory measurements performed on samples θ values measured) with geophysical data collected on a soil column using a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) as well as a Capacitance Probe (CP), allowed us to compare the results and evaluate their accuracy. Our experimental measures, performed on two typical sandy soil outcropping in Central Italy, show that the GPR reflected pulses provide similar permittivity (εr) values for both soils at very low θ. The measured εr values seem to progressively differ by increasing the soil moisture of the two sands. The CP shows a clear difference of measured permittivity already at lower soil moisture. As θ values in the media increase approaching the soil saturation, the CP εr values measured on both the two soils show a larger difference. In conclusion, the comparison between GPR and CP measures in two selected sands under controlled condition (0.05 <0.3)(0.05 <0.3) , shows that the latter tends to overestimate εr on the entire range investigated. Nevertheless, if a specific laboratory calibration is carried out, as in the present work, reliable θ values estimations can be obtained by both methods. Other measurement techniques will be tested and compared in further experiments; moreover, the calibration and integration of GPR and CP is advised not only in laboratory studies, but also to better constrain possible field applications
Effect of LNA integration on endocrine and metabolic parameters in dairy cattle
No full textIn a field trial the effect of long term supplementation of different levels of estruded linssed and energy levels on milk yeld and plasma concentrations of insulin, T3,cortisol, leptin, glucose and non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in dairy cow in early lactation, were evaluated. Fifth seven italian holstein fresian cows reared in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese area, homogeneous for lactation number, days in miilkings (DIM) (41±12d), BCS (3.17±0.14) in productive level in the previous lactations, were allotted into three experimental groups, in different farms, with similar management system (Control group - C 1.45 Mcal NEI/Kg DM, 280 g/d Omega-Lin® - Mignini &Petrini 0280; 1.51 Mcal NEI/Kg DM, 450 g/d Omega-Lin® - Mignini &Petrini 0450; 1.56 Mcal NEI/Kg DM) and feed isonitrogenous TMR diets. Omega-Lin® contained 70% of exstruded linseed. Blood samples were taken by coccigeal vein and blood parameters evaluated. Fixed effect of diet, parity and hear within diet were tested. Parity showed a significant effect only for milk yeld and T3, while diet influenced significantly milk yield, T3, leptin and NEFA. Milk yield was higher in 0450 group compared to the control one (43.61 vs 35.51: P<0.01). T3 showed the highest level in 0450 group if compared with C group (1.32 nmol/l vs 1.07 nmol/l: P<0.01) while 0280 group showed an intermediated level. NEFA as indicators of body lipids mobilization showed the highest in C group (0.50 mmol/l) and lower in 0280 group (0.29 mmol/l) (P<0.01) while 0450 showed an intermediated level. Opposite results were found for leptinwhich showed the highest level in 0280 group and the lowest in C group (4.08 ng/mL vs3.08 ng/mL: P<0.05) while 0450 group showed an intermediate level. No significant differences were found in the other parameters although cortisol and insulin are key players in the control of intermediary metabolism and glucose as indicator of energy balance. In conclusion leptin, T3, NEFA levels in 0450 group put in eveidence a better energy utilization for milk yield although the trend of these parameters showed in 0280 group should be explained by a probably different genetic valueof the cows among farms. Further analyses will be desiderable
Le Marche: varietà di paesaggi, percezioni e geomorfologia.
No full textGli autori, dopo alcune riflessioni epistemiche sull’oggetto della geografia, con questo contributo intendono intrecciare e chiarire il dialogo tra natura e società che ha generato nella regione Marche varietà paesaggistiche numerose e diverse, seppure complementari. Tali da costituire un patrimonio, non ancora adeguatamente valorizzato per l’immagine regionale, che nasce dalla storia naturale e da quella sociale. Su tale prospettiva si vuole sollecitare l’attenzione degli studiosi sull’approccio al paesaggio, nella sua materialità e immaterialità, in chiave ambientale e culturale, quali aspetti diversi ma intimamente embricati e inscindibili del sistema paesaggistico
Consumer acceptance of Italian or New Zealander lamb meat: An Italian case study
No full textA Central location test was performed to compare heavy Apennine lamb meat to New Zealander lamb meat in order to create a Protected Geographical Indication for lamb meat. Roasted New-Zealander and heavy Apennine lamb legs were tested by 106 consumers according to the following experimental plan: blind phase (B) without any possibility to recognize the meat type tasted, expected phase (E) in which were described the characteristics of the two types of meat without tasting, informed phase (I) in which the tasted meat was recognized in provenience. Results showed in a nine point scale of appreciation for flavour, juiciness and overall pleasure, the highest values in Apennine lamb meat. B test showed the highest value for overall pleasure (P<0.01). Interaction, Italian lamb x Informed test showed the highest values for all the parameters except for overall liking for which Italian lamb x E test showed the highest values. About foreign lamb meat B test showed higher values than I and E test. Information about lamb meat origin showed disconfirmation for tenderness in Italian lamb meat. Foreign lamb meat showed a positive disconfirmation for flavour and overall pleasure, that confirm the better perception by consumers in blind consumption than in the informed one
Rearing improvement in organic Maremmana beef production: “in vivo” performance and carcass characteristics
No full text
Physical modelling of large-scale deformational systems in the South Polar Layered Deposits (Promethei Lingula, Mars): new geological constraints and climatic implications
No full textDeformation systems (DSs) locally affect the South Polar Layered Deposits (SPLDs)
along the margins of the Promethei Lingula ice sheet (part of the southern Martian ice-dome).
One example is the ‘S2’ deformation system, characterized by a complex pattern of brittle and
brittle–ductile structures related to kilometre-scale shear zones that deform the sequence. Moreover,
soft-sediment structures affect one layer located at the base of the S2. An earlier structural
analysis suggested that: (1) two deformation stages (D1, in which the shear zones developed,
and D2, in which the D1 structures were reactivated by deep-seated gravitational slope deformation)
occurred, driven by gravity; and (2) there are variations in the bulk composition of the
SPLD (which is inferred to be mainly composed of water ice plus basaltic dust). This work supports
these structural results through thermal and mechanical modelling of the S2 sequence. Our modelling
results suggest that several layers within the S2 system are probably composed of, or are mixed
with, CO2 ice, and that the development of the observed deformation is inconsistent with presentday
physical conditions. Soft-sediment structures probably formed under warmer surface temperatures
during the past, with those warmer temperatures favouring or even triggering ice flow/basal
sliding of the Promethei Lingula
Evoluzione dei sistemi zootecnici e trasformazione del paesaggio
No full textIn the last fifty years, the rural landscape of vast areas, historically modelled by livestock farming, has experienced
radical changes. The marginalisation of traditional farming systems resulted in a shift towards intensive systems in
the more favourable areas, and in the abandoning of farming in the less favourable areas. Consequences of these
trends are numerous: intensification and abandoning concurred in determining the disappearance of traditional architectural
styles and in disrupting the historical links between local landscape, way of farming, and variety of products;
intensification of farming caused local excesses of nutrients releases and/or land degradation; abandoning has
permitted an extensive natural reforestation, which in turn has greatly modified the aesthetic value and biodiversity
richness of landscape. Research for a sustainable “livestock farming landscape” will need the ability to integrate
a systemic and geographic description of the interactions of farming systems with landscape quality and biodiversity
with the definition of consequent technologies and farm management options
Microrganismi mastidogeni e caratteristiche qualitative del latte di pecore Comisane.
No full textLa mastite subclinica nell'ovino rappresenta uno dei maggiori problemi sanitari. La presenza di una infezione intramammaria oltre che causare un aumento delle cellule somatiche induce alterazioni delle caratteristiche organolettiche del latte stesso. Allo scopo di mettere in relazione la presenza di eventuali microrganismi mastidogeni con le caratteristiche qualitative del latte, da 20 pecore di razza Comisana sono stati prelevati 160 campioni di latte, raccolti sterilmente per emimammella, a cadenza quindicinale e per un periodo di 120 giorni a partire da 60 giorni dopo il parto. Sul latte prelevato sono stati eseguiti esami batteriologici, conta cellulare e analisi fisico chimiche e tecnologiche. La presenza di agenti mastidogeni, caratterizzati da diversa virulenza, è stata rilevata sul 22,5% dei campioni. Staphylococcus xylosus è risultato essere il microrganismo più frequentemente isolato con il 38,89% dei campioni positivi seguito da Streptococcus agalactiae (37,78%) e Staphylococcus aureus (16,67%). Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus lentus e Staphylococcus miti, sempre associato a Staphylococcus aureus, sono stati isolati ciascuno nel 5,56% dei campioni. Il latte delle emimammelle infette da S. agalactiae, da S. aureus o dall'associazione S. aureus e S. mitis, ha evidenziato il più alto numero di cellule somatiche con un Lineare Score, rispettivamente di 5.78, 4.67 e 4.90, valori significativamente superiori (P<0,01) a quelli riscontrati nei campioni in cui è stato isolato S. xylosus (2,68) e in quelli in cui non è stato isolato alcun microrganismo (2,85). I campioni infetti da S. epidermidis hanno presentato un LS di 4.10 considerabile come valore intermedio. L'innalzamento dei leucociti neutrofili con la formazione di coaguli di fibrina è solitamente una conseguenza dell'azione patogena di S. agalactiae e S. aureus che a lora volta sono da considerare la causa principale della rapida involuzione del tessuto alveolare confermata dal maggior livello di plasmina, rispettivamente 12.41 e 16.50 mg/l, significativamente superiore al valore ottenuto nei campioni con S. xylosus e S. lentus, rispettivamente 7.00 e 4.48 mg/l. Sempre nei campioni con presenza di S. agalactiae e S. aureus è stato possibile apprezzare una sensibile riduzione dell'indice caseinico (77,91 e 78,86) e conseguentemente una più bassa percentuale di campioni reattivi all'aggiunta di caglio pari rispettivamente al 25% e 28% contro il 78% dei campioni con assenza di microrganismi patogeni. Tuttavia in merito a tale parametro, anche i campioni da cui sono stati isolati S. lentus e S. xylosus hanno presentato una bassa reattività pari rispettivamente al 32% e 29%; tali risultati non concordano con le caratteristiche patogenetiche di questi microrganismi e richiedono ulteriori indagini al fine di confermare tali valori. I parametri lattodinamografici misurati sui campioni reattivi non hanno evidenziato differenze evidenti in funzione della presenza o assenza di microrganismi. Alla luce dei risultati ottenuti, S. agalactiae e S. aureus si confermano, anche nell'ovino, i microrganismi responsabili delle maggiori alterazioni della mammella sia da un punto di vista funzionale che delle caratteristiche organolettiche del latte prodotto e suggeriscono la necessità di un continuo monitoraggio al fine di intervenire tempestivamente e con una adeguata terapia per la rapida risoluzione di tali infezioni
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