196,154 research outputs found
Performance of some biotic indices in the real variable world: A case study at different spatial scales in North-Western Mediterranean Sea
No full textThe aim of this study was to analyse the variability of four different benthic biotic indices (AMBI, BENTIX, H0 , M-AMBI) in two marine coastal areas of the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. In each coastal area, 36 replicates were randomly selected according to a hierarchical sampling design, which allowed estimating the variance components of the indices associated with four different spatial scales (ranging from metres to kilometres). All the analyses were performed at two different sampling periods in order to evaluate if the observed trends were consistent over the time. The variance components of the four indices revealed complex trends and different patterns in the two sampling periods. These results highlighted that independently from the employed index, a rigorous and appropriate sampling design taking into account different scales should always be used in order to avoid erroneous classifications and to develop effective monitoring programs
Mechanisms of chemopreventive and therapeutic proprieties of ginger extracts in cancer
No full textGinger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, family: Zingiberaceae), originating in South-East Asia, is one of the most used spices and condiments for foods and beverages. It is also used in traditional medicine for many human disorders including fever, gastrointestinal complications, arthritis, rheumatism, hypertension, and various infectious diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiemetic properties. Intriguingly, many recent studies evidenced the potent chemopreventive characteristics of ginger extracts against different types of cancer. The aim of this work is to review the literature related to the use of ginger extracts as a chemotherapeutic agent and to structure the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which ginger acts in different cancer types. Data summarized from experiments (in vitro or in vivo) and clinical studies, evidenced in this review, show that ginger derivatives perpetrate its anti-tumor action through important mediators, involved in crucial cell processes, such as cell cycle arrest, induction of cancer cell death, misbalance of redox homeostasis, inhibition of cell proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, and dissemination of cancer cells
AKT activation may represent the molecular link between rapamycin (RAPA) treatment and insulin-resistance in renal transplant recipients.
No full textDifferent root growth patterns in tomato seedlings grown hydroponically under an electric field
No full textElectric fields can determine changes at morphological and physiological levels in plants. In this study, seedlings of Solanum lycopersicum L., grown hydroponically in a floating system, were exposed to a DC 12.0 V m–1 electric field (EF). Root morphology was strongly affected by the electric field applied and a significant variation in root growth rate was observed along the gradient. The tomato plants grown on the hand of the positive electrode showed a pronounced length, root hairs’ development and root branching, compared to the plants grown at the central area of the container and on the hand of the negative electrode. Root growth of the control plants not exposed to the EF resembled that of EF-exposed plants taken in the central area. Hypotheses according to which the different growth patterns observed could be related to a chemiosmotic-induced activity and/or the distribution of plasma membrane carriers are discussed. In conclusion, the root growth was affected by the positions under application of EF. The results point to a possibility of applying electric fields for controlling tomato root growth
Amniotic fluid β2-microglobulin (β2-m) as an index of fetal maturity
No full textAmniotic fluid β2 microglobulin (β2-m) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 78 pregnant women between the 14th and the 42nd week of gestation. 62 were healthy subjects, while eight were affected by EPH gestosis, seven by diabetes (cl. B-F) associated with Rh immunization in one case, one by hydramnios. There was no significant correlations either between β2-m and creatinine (n=18), or between β2-m and lecithin sphyngomyelin ratio (L/S) (n=16), although low concentrations of β2-m were usually observed after the 35th week of gestation. It is noteworthy that only in one case out of seven with amniotic levels <5μg/ml the L/S ratio was <2
The effect of multiplication number in vitro on juvenility of kiwifruit plants (Actinidia deliciosa a. chev.)
No full textSometimes a longer juvenility phase is observed on micropropagated plants, in orchard, during the first two-three years after planting. The high number of multiplication in vitro of the same explants could influence this phenomenon. This study aimed to investigate anatomical and genetic modifications induced in kiwifruit plants by micropropagation. Trials were carried out using plants micropropagated and obtained by cuttings. Shoots of ‘Hayward’ clone H8 were cultured in vitro and multiplied 60, 30 and 8 times respectively. In vitro multiplication rate of the material which was subjected to 60 multiplications was constantly greater, and the number of plants obtained ready to acclimatization phase doubled in this case. Plant height, shape and size of leaves, tomentosity density and distribution, number and size of xylem vessels were evaluated and differed significantly. The characteristics of micropropagated plants resulted to be related to the number of in vitro cycles. The phenomena evolution will also be followed out in field condition until maturity to compare yield and fruit quality
Responses of benthic indicators in Italian coastal transitional ecosystems
No full textItalian coastal transitional ecosystems (TWs) are ecologically complex systems and therefore the identification of low-cost, routine indicators for description of ecological quality, as requested by European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) is a difficult task. Italy is the Member State most behind in Europe with the application of the WFD, and for this reason has received three infringements from the European Communities. No indicator is mentioned in the 152/06 Act, aimed to the application of the WFD in Italy, and methodological flaws are even more evident (as also declared by the Act itself) for TWs. In this perspective, indices able to provide an efficient and realistic description of ecosystem quality status in coastal TWs are urgently needed. In this study, we tested the response of three macrobenthic indices (AMBI, M-AMBI and BITS) in over 400 stations from Italian TWs, from the Northern Adriatic to Sardinia. Our study highlights i) a high correlation between AMBI and BITS results, ii) a high correlation between M-AMBI and species’ diversity and richness, iii) that M-AMBI overweights the number of species since in its calculation they are counted twice, iv) that M-AMBI acts as a “diversity-corrected AMBI”, and, thus, v) it suffers of the reduction of species number along the transitional gradient. Further pros and cons of each index are also discusse
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