276 research outputs found
Effect of 17 alpha-Ethinylestradiol Exposure on Phycocyanin Metabolite Production and Antioxydant System of Phormidium Versicolor NCC466
No full textProduction and characterization of a fusion form of hepatitis E virus tORF2 capsid protein in Escherichia coli
No full textHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a nonenveloped virus causing an emerging zoonotic disease posing a severe threat to the public health in the world, especially to pregnant women. In this study, a truncated form (aa 368–606) of the open reading frame 2 of the capsid protein (tORF2-HEV), a major structural protein of HEV, was expressed in Escherichia coli. This work characterizes for the first time, the fused Glutathione-S-Transferase-tagged tORF2 (GST-tORF2) and tORF2-HEV forms in E. coli. The fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatography with a purity higher than 90% and to yield about 27% after thrombin digestion. The purified GST-tORF2 protein was then characterized by western blot, using anti-GST antibodies, and CD spectroscopy. The GST-tORF2 and tORF2-HEV proteins were shown to be efficient to develop an ELISA test to detect anti-HEV IgG in mice sera immunized with a recombinant full length ORF2 protein. Sera showed a significant increase of the absorbance signal at 450 nm, in plate wells coated with a quantity of 0.5, 1 and 2 μg of proteins. ELISA plates coated with the purified GST-tORF2 and tORF2-HEV showed similar response when compared to the HEV ELISA where total insect cell lysate, infected with the recombinant baculovirus expressing full ORF2, was used as positive control
Micro-analysis as a Tool for the Characterization of Historical Masonry Buildings: The Decorative Elements of the Basilica Della Beata Vergine Maria Del Rosario (Polesella, Rovigo)
No full textThe Basilica of the Beata Vergine Maria del Rosario of Polesella, the subject of this study, was built in the mid-eighteenth century in the village of Polesella (in the province of Rovigo, Veneto Region, Italy). Some restoration work on the Basilica has been necessary for recent years; this has allowed sampling of interior plasters on which preliminary microanalyses have been performed to better characterize the building materials used, in support of subsequent repair work. Among the many planned restoration works, interventions on the interior walls were, in addition, also planned. For this, the interior plasters and interior painting of the church were studied through observations with SEM–EDS. The objective of this work is mainly to show how archeometric analyses can be a valuable tool to improve the knowledge and characterization of the materials used, in this case, on some decorative elements of the Basilica. In particular, regarding the frescoes, the research was also aimed at identifying the type of pigments used by the author Luigi Battisti, believed to be the author of some of the works on display
Water Management and Related Environmental Issues in Large Mediterranean Basins: Case Studies from the Ebro and the Po Catchments
No full textWater exploitation for hydropower and irrigation alters the natural hydrologic regime of rivers, and consequently instream biocenosis and ecological processes. The identification of management decisions able to protect freshwater ecosystems while maintaining important water uses is a crucial issue for both science and management. This study presents and compares water management schemes into two large Mediterranean river basins. Environmental issues linked to management are discussed taking into account different local features and the regulatory framework
Analysis of Perchlorate in Aquatic Food and Evaluation of Human Exposure
No full textChemical contaminants have become a concern in terms of food security, as they immediately affect the quality of food (food safety) and can affect the availability and nutritional access to that resource (food security) over a long period. For this reason, the objective of this research work is to analyze perchlorate in aquatic food, an anthropogenic contaminant could affect human health. Samples were analyzed using micro-Raman spectroscopy. Analyzes of mussel samples collected in the Goro lagoon show the presence of perchlorate, but fortunately in very short concentration
Integration of Geological Surveys and 3D Laser Scanner Techniques in Heritage Sites: How Did Palazzo Belfort Survive the Catastrophic 1618 Piuro Landslide?
No full textThe 1618 Piuro landslide (Val Bregaglia, Italy) is known as one of the most catastrophic historical landslides in the Central Alps, which destroyed an ancient village and claimed at least 1000 casualties. The town of Piuro was famous for its opulence and commercial strategic role. Since the half of the twentieth century, the remains of buried buildings were discovered. Among them, the famous Palazzo Belfort survived the landslide although it was partly destroyed by the shock wave. The Belfort buildings were constructed on an ancient alluvial terrace between the trunk river and the northern valley slope, leaned against a boulders deposit. Archaeological excavations revealed some parts of the ancient Piuro town providing hints on the pre-event landscape. By coupling these observations with geological and geomorphological surveys, geomechanical investigations, well-log and geophysical data, a reconstruction of the landslide deposit was obtained. The integrated use of different 3D survey techniques such as Long- and Medium-Range Terrestrial Laser Scanner and Backpack Mobile Mapping System permitted to obtain a multi-resolution Digital Terrain Model of the area, with a resolution of 0.50 m for the Piuro valley floor and of 0.10 m at the Belfort site. Coupling these models with geological analyses, an interpretation of the pre-1618 landscape of the Belfort archaeological area is proposed, to understand the setting of the village and its subsequent evolution. This study developed in the framework of the Interreg V-A IT-CH 2014–2020 Cooperation Program-Axis 2 “Cultural and natural enhancement”. A.M.AL.PI.2018—ID 594,274 with the aim to increase the awareness of natural hazards in mountain settings and to promote a risk and resilience culture
Recent advances in environmental science from the Euro-Mediterranean and surrounding regions
No full textCurrent Tectonic Movements Monitoring in Aksehir-Sultandagi Fault Zone After the February 2002 (Mw: 6.2) Earthquake
No full text1st Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration (EMCEI) -- NOV 22-25, 2017 -- Sousse, TUNISIA…Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Agency (TUBITAK) [115Y246]This research was financially supported by the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Agency (TUBITAK) with the project numbered 115Y246
Archeometric Study of Medieval Ceramic Finds from the Porta Reno Excavation in Ferrara (Italy)
No full textThe ceramics from the excavation of Porta Reno (Ferrara, Italy) consist of fire pots and amphorae for domestic use. To better characterize these ceramics, a petro-archeometric investigation was carried out to define the compositional, textural, and structural characteristics of these finds. The aim of this work was to obtain the widest possible knowledge of part of the medieval ceramic materials collected, identifying the raw materials, and firing processes thanks to microscopic, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction analyses
Modeling the magnetic isotherms of (La0.56Ce0.14)Sr0.30MnO3 by a mean-field scaling method and estimation of magnetic entropy change
No full textWe report a study on the magnetic properties of the (La0.56Ce0.14)Sra(0).30MnO3 perovskite, by a mean-field method. By scaling of the experimental magnetization data, the mean-field exchange parameter lambda and the B-s function of the equation of state B-s [(H + H-exch)/T] are directly determined, as well as the order of the phase transition. The spin quantum number of the manganite has been also determined. The mean-field scaling has been used to estimate magnetic entropy change (-Delta S-M) within the thermodynamics of the model and without using the usual numerical integration of a Maxwell relation. The maxima of the positive absolute value of (-Delta S-M) upon variation of the applied magnetic field at 1 and 5 T are about 1.68 and 5.04 J kg(-1) K-1, respectively Satisfactory agreement between the mean-field model and experimental behavior has been found. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
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