618 research outputs found
Micro fluidic cytometry for analysis of marine microorganisms
No full textKnowledge of the distribution and concentration of phytoplankton (microscopic algae that live in the oceans) is important, as this reflects and may modify environmentally important events such as pollution, climate change and carbon dioxide sequestration. Optical based flow cytometry has proved to be strategically important for the study of marine environments in general and of phytoplankton in particular because it enables rapid, simultaneous quantitative analysis of multiple optical properties of particles. Unfortunately, cost, complexity and size limit the widespread use of this technique for the study and monitoring of phytoplankton.The objective of this research was to solve some of the above mentioned problems by developing a small device for deployment on remote underwater vehicles (RUV) for in situ flow cytometric analysis of marine organisms. The core of the system was a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device with a microfluidic channel with integrated optics and electrodes for the detection of the optical and electrical characteristics of phytoplankton.The work describes the design, fabrication, characterisation and testing of various LOC devices, together with data and analysis of results. The devices were able to clearly distinguish different populations of phytoplankton and other micro-particles on the basis of their optical and electrical properties. The systems had performance comparable with commercial instruments.Research also included bio-physical measurements (electro rotation and dielectrophoresis) of marine organisms to allow further modelling of the information obtained from the LOC cytometer
Solo e o complexo desafio da segurança alimentar.
No full textIntrodução; O recurso solo: aspectos globais e importância; Ameaças à saúde do solo e à segurança alimentar; Biodiversidade e serviços ecossistêmicos: auxiliares na segurança alimentar; Solo saudável para a produção de alimentos.Autoria no capitulo: ELOÍSA BENAZZI
Metodi di geometria morfometrica per la ricostruzione virtuale di crani incompleti
No full textno abstrac
Le agevolazioni fiscali al mondo dello sport dilettantistico: necessità o sperpero?
No full textIl contributo analizza il tema delle agevolazioni fiscali nell’àmbito dello
sport dilettantistico. Dopo brevi premesse sulle agevolazioni fiscali in generale,
l’Autore si sofferma sulla disciplina prevista per i c.dd. enti non commerciali
e, specificamente, per gli enti sportivi. In particolare, sono presenti
considerazioni sulla commercialità delle operazioni poste in essere dagli enti
non commerciali, anche alla luce degli artt. 143 e 148 TUIR.Tax relief issues in amateur sports field are the subjects of the essay.
Briefly premised on tax reliefs in general, the Author investigates the regulation
of non-commercial bodies (notably, sports entities) and makes remarks
on commercial transactions concluded by non-commercial bodies, especially
around articles 143 and 148 of the Italian Revenue and Taxation
Act
Unravelling the functional biomechanics of dental features and tooth wear
No full textMost of the morphological features recognized in hominin teeth, particularly the topography of the occlusal surface, are generally interpreted as an evolutionary functional adaptation for mechanical food processing. In this respect, we can also expect that the general architecture of a tooth reflects a response to withstand the high stresses produced during masticatory loadings. Here we use an engineering approach, finite element analysis (FEA), with an advanced loading concept derived from individual occlusal wear information to evaluate whether some dental traits usually found in hominin and extant great ape molars, such as the trigonid crest, the entoconid-hypoconulid crest and the protostylid have important biomechanical implications. For this purpose, FEA was applied to 3D digital models of three Gorilla gorilla lower second molars (M2) differing in wear stages. Our results show that in unworn and slightly worn M2s tensile stresses concentrate in the grooves of the occlusal surface. In such condition, the trigonid and the entoconid-hypoconulid crests act to reinforce the crown locally against stresses produced along the mesiodistal groove. Similarly, the protostylid is shaped like a buttress to suffer the high tensile stresses concentrated in the deep buccal groove. These dental traits are less functional in the worn M2, because tensile stresses decrease physiologically in the crown with progressing wear due to the enlargement of antagonistic contact areas and changes in loading direction from oblique to nearly parallel direction to the dental axis. This suggests that the wear process might have a crucial influence in the evolution and structural adaptation of molars enabling to endure bite stresses and reduce tooth failure throughout the lifetime of an individual
The first modern Europeans
No full textThe discovery of new human fossil remains is one of the most obvious ways to improve our understanding of the dynamics of human evolution. The reanalysis of existing fossils using newer methods is also crucial, and may lead to a reconsideration of the biological and taxonomical status of some specimens, and improve our understanding of highly debated periods in human prehistory. This is particularly true for those remains that have previously been studied using traditional approaches, with only morphological descriptions and standard calliper measurements available. My own interest in the Uluzzian, and its associated human remains grew from my interest in applying recently developed analytical techniques to quantify morphological variation. Discovered more than 40 years ago, the two deciduous molars from Grotta del Cavallo (Apulia, Italy) are the only human remains associated with the Uluzzian culture (one of the main three European 'transitional' cultures). These teeth were previously attributed to Neanderthals. This attribution contributed to a consensus view that the Uluzzian, with its associated ornament and tool complexes, was produced by Neanderthals. A reassessment of these deciduous teeth by means of digital morphometric analysis revealed that these remains belong to anatomically modern humans (AMHs). This finding contradicts previous assumptions and suggests that modern humans, and not Neanderthals, created the Uluzzian culture. Of equal importance, new chronometric analyses date these dental remains to ~43,000-45,000 cal BP. Thus, the teeth from Grotta del Cavallo represent the oldest European AMH currently known
Ricostruzione virtuale 3D di una clavicola frammentata
No full textThe work presents a methodology for the virtual reconstruction of broken human bones coming from archaeological contexts and useful even for surgical purposes. The case report involves the reconstruction of a left incomplete clavicle considering the opposite right one.
The methodology consists of virtual acquisition of the two-pieces broken left clavicle and of the right integer one by means of a 3D laser scanner, using the 3D mirrored model of the last one as reference model to reconstruct the left clavicle. Three grids characterized by an increasing number of homologous landmarks are identified on both the 3D meshes and are used to perform the warping process.
The three digital reconstructed models provide a reliable correspondence with the left clavicle original one, highlighting indeed that an increased number of landmarks do not improve the final result
Updating Neanderthals: Understanding Behavioural Complexity in the Late Middle Palaeolithic
No full textUpdating Neanderthals: Understanding Behavioral Complexity in the Late Middle Paleolithic provides comprehensive knowledge on Neanderthals who lived throughout the European and Asian continents. The book synthesizes historical information about the study of Middle Paleolithic populations and presents current debates about their genetics, subsistence, technology, social and cognitive behaviors. It focuses on the last phase of Neanderthal settlements and presents the main patterns of modern humans across Europe. Written by international experts on the Middle Paleolithic who have conducted innovative studies in the last three decades, this book explores the implications of interactions between different human species, including Neanderthals, Denisovans and Sapiens. In addition, the book discusses the diversity and variability of human adaptations and behaviors in the changing climate and environment of the Late Pleistocene, and the relationship between these behaviors, demography and cognitive capabilities
Newly Recognized Human Dental Remains at Les Fadets (Lussac-les-Châteaux, Vienne, France)
No full textArcheological research at the site of Les Fadets in the town of Lussac-les-Châteaux (Department of Vienne, France) has a 150-year history; however, comprehensive descriptions of the results of its various excavations are mostly unknown. Here we present previously unrecognized human dental remains discovered among the curated faunal remains in the context of the history of research at Les Fadets, with a focus on the Upper Paleolithic occupations of the site. Occupation at Les Fadets spans the Middle Paleolithic to the recent historic period. Curatorial details suggest that these children’s teeth (Les Fadets 3–6) come from the extensive Magdalenian occupation. In support of this, metric and morphological analyses suggest the teeth cluster with other modern humans rather than Neandertals. This region is rich with Paleolithic cultural sites, and the discovery of these teeth from Les Fadets adds to the small data set available of Upper Paleolithic human remains, especially those of young individuals
Le camere sepolcrali dei Boiardo nella Pieve della Nartività di S.Maria in Scandiano (RE)
No full textNel 1494 moriva il poeta Matteo Maria Boiardo, conte di Scandiano e capitano alla corte del duca Ercole d'Este, lasciando disposizione di essere tumulato in un monumento funerario all'interno della Chiesa Madre. Il suo corpo venne perciò deposto provvisoriamente nella cripta di famiglia, ma la sua volontà non fu mai rispettata e della sepoltura si perse traccia fino ad anni recenti, quando una porzione di una cripta laterale venne intercettata nel corso di lavori edili. In questo lavoro vengono descritti i risultati dell'esplorazione della cripta e dela riesumazione della salma del poeta in essa conservata.On 1494 died the poet Matteo Maria Boiardo, earl of Scandiano and knight at the court of the duke Ercole d'Este. He made testamentary disposition to be burried in a monument inside the parish church of Scandiano. His body was therefore placed provisionaly in the family graves, and his willings where never fulfilled. The memory of this tomb was lost antil recent years, whwn a portion of a side crypt was met during the works carried out for building works. In the present paper the result of the explorations of the graves and the exumation of the poet body found there are described
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