Conference Participants, Fifth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1972)

The Fifth Vertebrate Pest Conference drew a registered attendance of 239 with an estimated additional 50-75 persons who attended portions of the conference but did not register. As in past conferences, the attendance was made up of individuals having varying interests in vertebrate pest problems from twenty two states plus the District of Columbia. Participants from Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, India and New Zealand contributed greatly to the success of the conference and provided further exchange of information on an international level.

An Extreme Case of Plant-Insect Codiversification: Figs and Fig-Pollinating Wasps

It is thought that speciation in phytophagous insects is often due to colonization of novel host plants, because radiations of plant and insect lineages are typically asynchronous. Recent phylogenetic comparisons have supported this model of diversification for both insect herbivores and specialized pollinators. An exceptional case where contemporaneous plant-insect diversification might be expected is the obligate mutualism between fig trees (Ficus species, Moraceae) and their pollinating wasps (Agaonidae, Hymenoptera). The ubiquity and ecological significance of this mutualism in tropical and subtropical ecosystems has long intrigued biologists, but the systematic challenge posed by >750 interacting species pairs has hindered progress toward understanding its evolutionary history. In particular, taxon sampling and analytical tools have been insufficient for large-scale cophylogenetic analyses. Here, we sampled nearly 200 interacting pairs of fig and wasp species from across the globe. Two supermatrices were assembled: on an average, wasps had sequences from 77% of 6 genes (5.6 kb), figs had sequences from 60% of 5 genes (5.5 kb), and overall 850 new DNA sequences were generated for this study. We also developed a new analytical tool, Jane 2, for event-based phylogenetic reconciliation analysis of very large data sets. Separate Bayesian phylogenetic analyses for figs and fig wasps under relaxed molecular clock assumptions indicate Cretaceous diversification of crown groups and contemporaneous divergence for nearly half of all fig and pollinator lineages. Event-based cophylogenetic analyses further support the codiversification hypothesis. Biogeographic analyses indicate that the present-day distribution of fig and pollinator lineages is consistent with a Eurasian origin and subsequent dispersal, rather than with Gondwanan vicariance. Overall, our findings indicate that the fig-pollinator mutualism represents an extreme case among plant-insect interactions of coordinated dispersal and long-term codiversification.

Performance of surveillance cultures at different body sites to identify asymptomatic Staphylococcus aureus carriers

The objective was to evaluate the performance of surveillance cultures at various body sites for Staphylococcus aureus colonization in pregnant women and newborns (NB) and the factors associated with nasal colonization. For NB, 4 sites were evaluated: nares, oropharynx, perineum, and umbilical stump (birth, third day, and weekly). For pregnant women, 4 sites during labor: anterior nares, anus, perineum, and oropharynx. Nasally colonized patients were compared with colonized only extranasally. Colonization was 53% of 392 pregnant women (methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]: 4%) and 47% of 382 NB (MRSA: 9%). For newborn patients, the best body site was the umbilical stump (methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [MSSA]: 64%; MRSA: 68%) and the combination of nares + umbilical (MSSA: 86%; MRSA: 91%). Among pregnant women, the best body site was the anterior nares (MSSA: 59%; MRSA: 67%) and the combination of nares + oropharynx (MSSA: 83%; MRSA: 80%). A smaller number of household members were associated with MRSA carriage in pregnant women (2.2 +/- 0.6 versus 3.6 +/- 1.8; P = 0.04). In conclusion, multiple culture sites are needed. Control programs based on surveillance cultures may be compromised. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Levels of selected persistent organic pollutants in blood from delivering women in seven selected areas of Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Persistent organic pollutants (POPS) present in the living environment are thought to have detrimental health effects on the population, with pregnant women and the developing foetus being at highest risk. We report on the levels of selected POPs in maternal blood of 155 delivering women residing in seven regions within the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The following selected POPs were measured in the maternal whole blood: 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners (IUPAC Nos. 99, 101, 118, 138, 153, 156, 163, 170, 180, 183, 187, 194); dichlordiphenyltrichloroethane p,p'-DDT, diphenyldichloroethylene p,p'-DDE and other pesticides such as hexachlorocyclohexanes (alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordane derivatives cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane. oxy-chlordane, cis-nonachlor and trans-nonachlor. Statistical comparisons between regions were performed only on compounds having concentrations above LOD in 70% of the samples. PCB118 congener was found to be highest in the industrial site (mean 4.97 ng/g lipids); PCB138 congener concentration was highest in the Urban 3 site (mean 4.27 ng/g lipids) and congener PCB153 was highest in the industrial and Urban 3 sites with mean concentration of 7.2 ng/g lipids and 5.89 ng/g lipids respectively. Large differences in levels of p,p'-DDE between regions were observed with the Urban 3 and industrial sites having the highest concentrations of 645 ng/g lipids and 417 ng/g lipids, respectively; beta-HCH was found to be highest in the Rural 1 site; the gamma-HCH in Rural 1 and industrial; the HCB in the Rural 1 and industrial sites and oxy-chlordane and t-NC in the Rural 2 sites. An association between levels of some contaminants and maternal age and parity was also found. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Can the red palm mite threaten the Amazon vegetation?

The red palm mite Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae) was first reported in the New World in 2004, dispersing quickly and widely while adopting new plant species as hosts. Since then, it has caused severe damage in this region, especially to coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). It was first found in Brazil in 2009, in the northern Amazonian state of Roraima. In the present study, native and introduced plants were sampled between March 2010 and February 2011 in sites of the 15 Roraima municipalities, to estimate its distribution and the associated mite fauna. In addition, monthly samples were taken from a coconut plantation in Mucajai throughout the same period, for an initial appraisal of the levels R. indica could reach. It was found in 10 municipalities, on 19 plant species of four families. Six species are reported for the first time as hosts. Among the associated predators, 89.1% were Phytoseiidae, most commonly Amblyseius largoensis (Muma), Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma and Euseius concordis (Chant). The highest densities of R. indica, 1.5 and 0.35 mites/cm2 of leaflet (approx total of 331 and 77 mites/leaflet), were reached respectively in March 2010 and February 2011. The highest density of phytoseiids on coconut (0.009 mites/cm2 or about 2 mites/leaflet) was reached in November 2010. The average densities of R. indica recorded for Roraima were comparable to those reported for countries in which the mite is reportedly economically damaging. The dispersal of R. indica through the Amazon forest may result in damage to cultivated and native palms, and plants of other families, if the projected increase in both the frequency and the severity of drought events occurs. Parts of the Amazon have undergone periods of low rainfall, a condition that appears to favour the biology of this mite. Its eventual arrival to northeastern Brazil may result in heavy economic and ecological losses.

New insights in osteogenic differentiation revealed by mass spectrometric assessment of phosphorylated substrates in murine skin mesenchymal cells

Abstract Background Bone fractures and loss represent significant costs for the public health system and often affect the patients quality of life, therefore, understanding the molecular basis for bone regeneration is essential. Cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα, secreted by inflammatory cells at the lesion site, at the very beginning of the repair process, act as chemotactic factors for mesenchymal stem cells, which proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts through the autocrine and paracrine action of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), mainly BMP-2. Although it is known that BMP-2 binds to ActRI/BMPR and activates the SMAD 1/5/8 downstream effectors, little is known about the intracellular mechanisms participating in osteoblastic differentiation. We assessed differences in the phosphorylation status of different cellular proteins upon BMP-2 osteogenic induction of isolated murine skin mesenchymal stem cells using Triplex Stable Isotope Dimethyl Labeling coupled with LC/MS. Results From 150 μg of starting material, 2,264 proteins were identified and quantified at five different time points, 235 of which are differentially phosphorylated. Kinase motif analysis showed that several substrates display phosphorylation sites for Casein Kinase, p38, CDK and JNK. Gene ontology analysis showed an increase in biological processes related with signaling and differentiation at early time points after BMP2 induction. Moreover, proteins involved in cytoskeleton rearrangement, Wnt and Ras pathways were found to be differentially phosphorylated during all timepoints studied. Conclusions Taken together, these data, allow new insights on the intracellular substrates which are phosphorylated early on during differentiation to BMP2-driven osteoblastic differentiation of skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Learning for well being : Studies using the International Adult Literacy Survey

This thesis is a collection of five independent but closely related studies. The overall purpose is to approach the analysis of learning outcomes from a perspective that combines three major elements, namely lifelonglifewide learning, human capital, and the benefits of learning. The approach is based on an interdisciplinary perspective of the human capital paradigm. It considers the multiple learning contexts that are responsible for the development of embodied potential – including formal, nonformal and informal learning – and the multiple outcomes – including knowledge, skills, economic, social and others– that result from learning. The studies also seek to examine the extent and relative influence of learning in different contexts on the formation of embodied potential and how in turn that affects economic and social well being. The first study combines the three major elements, lifelonglifewide learning, human capital, and the benefits of learning into one common conceptual framework. This study forms a common basis for the four empirical studies that follow. All four empirical studies use data from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) to investigate the relationships among the major elements of the conceptual framework presented in the first study. Study I. A conceptual framework for the analysis of learning outcomes This study brings together some key concepts and theories that are relevant for the analysis of learning outcomes. Many of the concepts and theories have emerged from varied disciplines including economics, educational psychology, cognitive science and sociology, to name only a few. Accordingly, some of the research questions inherent in the framework relate to different disciplinary perspectives. The primary purpose is to create a common basis for formulating and testing hypotheses as well as to interpret the findings in the empirical studies that follow. In particular, the framework facilitates the process of theorizing and hypothesizing on the relationships and processes concerning lifelong learning as well as their antecedents and consequences. Study II. Determinants of literacy proficiency: A lifelong-lifewide learning perspective This study investigates lifelong and lifewide processes of skill formation. In particular, it seeks to estimate the substitutability and complementarity effects of learning in multiple settings over the lifespan on literacy skill formation. This is done by investigating the predictive capacity of major determinants of literacy proficiency that are associated with a variety of learning contexts including school, home, work, community and leisure. An identical structural model based on previous research is fitted to the IALS data for 18 countries. The results show that even after accounting for all factors, education remains the most important predictor of literacy proficiency. In all countries, however, the total effect of education is significantly mediated through further learning occurring at work, at home and in the community. Therefore, the job and other literacy related factors complement education in predicting literacy proficiency. This result points to a virtual cycle of lifelong learning, particularly to how educational attainment influences other learning behaviours throughout life. In addition, results show that home background as measured by parents’ education is also a strong predictor of literacy proficiency, but in many countries this occurs only if a favourable home background is complemented with some post-secondary education. Study III. The effect of literacy proficiency on earnings: An aggregated occupational approach using the Canadian IALS data This study uses data from the Canadian Adult Literacy Survey to estimate the earnings return to literacy skills. The approach adapts a labour segmented view of the labour market by aggregating occupations into seven types, enabling the estimation of the variable impact of literacy proficiency on earnings, both within and between different types of occupations. This is done using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM). The method used to construct the aggregated occupational classification is based on analysis that considers the role of cognitive and other skills in relation to the nature of occupational tasks. Substantial premiums are found to be associated with some occupational types even after adjusting for within occupational differences in individual characteristics such as schooling, literacy proficiency, labour force experience and gender. Average years of schooling and average levels of literacy proficiency at the between level account for over two-thirds of the premiums. Within occupations, there are significant returns to schooling but they vary depending on the type of occupations. In contrast, the within occupational return of literacy proficiency is not necessarily significant. The latter depends on the type of occupation. Study IV: Determinants of economic and social outcomes from a lifewide learning perspective in Canada In this study the relationship between learning in different contexts, which span the lifewide learning dimension, and individual earnings on the one hand and community participation on the other are examined in separate but comparable models. Data from the Canadian Adult Literacy Survey are used to estimate structural models, which correspond closely to the common conceptual framework outlined in Study I. The findings suggest that the relationship between formal education and economic and social outcomes is complex with confounding effects. The results indicate that learning occurring in different contexts and for different reasons leads to different kinds of benefits. The latter finding suggests a potential trade-off between realizing economic and social benefits through learning that are taken for either job-related or personal-interest related reasons. Study V: The effects of learning on economic and social well being: A comparative analysis Using the same structural model as in Study IV, hypotheses are comparatively examined using the International Adult Literacy Survey data for Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The main finding from Study IV is confirmed for an additional five countries, namely that the effect of initial schooling on well being is more complex than a direct one and it is significantly mediated by subsequent learning. Additionally, findings suggest that people who devote more time to learning for job-related reasons than learning for personal-interest related reasons experience higher levels of economic well being. Moreover, devoting too much time to learning for personal-interest related reasons has a negative effect on earnings except in Denmark. But the more time people devote to learning for personal-interest related reasons tends to contribute to higher levels of social well being. These results again suggest a trade-off in learning for different reasons and in different contexts.

Bioremediation of PAHs - Limitations and soultions

Introduction 1.1 Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the environment Worldwide industrial and agricultural developments have released a large number of natural and synthetic hazardous compounds into the environment due to careless waste disposal, illegal waste dumping and accidental spills. As a result, there are numerous sites in the world that require cleanup of soils and groundwater. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the major groups of these contaminants (Da Silva et al., 2003). PAHs constitute a diverse class of organic compounds consisting of two or more aromatic rings with various structural configurations (Prabhu and Phale, 2003). Being a derivative of benzene, PAHs are thermodynamically stable. In addition, these chemicals tend to adhere to particle surfaces, such as soils, because of their low water solubility and strong hydrophobicity, and this results in greater persistence under natural conditions. This persistence coupled with their potential carcinogenicity makes PAHs problematic environmental contaminants (Cerniglia, 1992; Sutherland, 1992). PAHs are widely found in high concentrations at many industrial sites, particularly those associated with petroleum, gas production and wood preserving industries (Wilson and Jones, 1993). 1.2 Remediation technologies Conventional techniques used for the remediation of soil polluted with organic contaminants include excavation of the contaminated soil and disposal to a landfill or capping - containment - of the contaminated areas of a site. These methods have some drawbacks. The first method simply moves the contamination elsewhere and may create significant risks in the excavation, handling and transport of hazardous material. Additionally, it is very difficult and increasingly expensive to find new landfill sites for the final disposal of the material. The cap and containment method is only an interim solution since the contamination remains on site, requiring monitoring and maintenance of the isolation barriers long into the future, with all the associated costs and potential liability. A better approach than these traditional methods is to completely destroy the pollutants, if possible, or transform them into harmless substances. Some technologies that have been used are high-temperature incineration and various types of chemical decomposition (for example, base-catalyzed dechlorination, UV oxidation). However, these methods have significant disadvantages, principally their technological complexity, high cost , and the lack of public acceptance. Bioremediation, on the contrast, is a promising option for the complete removal and destruction of contaminants. 1.3 Bioremediation of PAH contaminated soil & groundwater Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, primarily microorganisms, to degrade or detoxify hazardous wastes into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide, water and cell biomass Most PAHs are biodegradable unter natural conditions (Da Silva et al., 2003; Meysami and Baheri, 2003) and bioremediation for cleanup of PAH wastes has been extensively studied at both laboratory and commercial levels- It has been implemented at a number of contaminated sites, including the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska in 1989, the Mega Borg spill off the Texas coast in 1990 and the Burgan Oil Field, Kuwait in 1994 (Purwaningsih, 2002). Different strategies for PAH bioremediation, such as in situ , ex situ or on site bioremediation were developed in recent years. In situ bioremediation is a technique that is applied to soil and groundwater at the site without removing the contaminated soil or groundwater, based on the provision of optimum conditions for microbiological contaminant breakdown.. Ex situ bioremediation of PAHs, on the other hand, is a technique applied to soil and groundwater which has been removed from the site via excavation (soil) or pumping (water). Hazardous contaminants are converted in controlled bioreactors into harmless compounds in an efficient manner. 1.4 Bioavailability of PAH in the subsurface Frequently, PAH contamination in the environment is occurs as contaminants that are sorbed onto soilparticles rather than in phase (NAPL, non aqueous phase liquids). It is known that the biodegradation rate of most PAHs sorbed onto soil is far lower than rates measured in solution cultures of microorganisms with pure solid pollutants (Alexander and Scow, 1989; Hamaker, 1972). It is generally believed that only that fraction of PAHs dissolved in the solution can be metabolized by microorganisms in soil. The amount of contaminant that can be readily taken up and degraded by microorganisms is defined as bioavailability (Bosma et al., 1997; Maier, 2000). Two phenomena have been suggested to cause the low bioavailability of PAHs in soil (Danielsson, 2000). The first one is strong adsorption of the contaminants to the soil constituents which then leads to very slow release rates of contaminants to the aqueous phase. Sorption is often well correlated with soil organic matter content (Means, 1980) and significantly reduces biodegradation (Manilal and Alexander, 1991). The second phenomenon is slow mass transfer of pollutants, such as pore diffusion in the soil aggregates or diffusion in the organic matter in the soil. The complex set of these physical, chemical and biological processes is schematically illustrated in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, biodegradation processes are taking place in the soil solution while diffusion processes occur in the narrow pores in and between soil aggregates (Danielsson, 2000). Seemingly contradictory studies can be found in the literature that indicate the rate and final extent of metabolism may be either lower or higher for sorbed PAHs by soil than those for pure PAHs (Van Loosdrecht et al., 1990). These contrasting results demonstrate that the bioavailability of organic contaminants sorbed onto soil is far from being well understood. Besides bioavailability, there are several other factors influencing the rate and extent of biodegradation of PAHs in soil including microbial population characteristics, physical and chemical properties of PAHs and environmental factors (temperature, moisture, pH, degree of contamination). Figure 1: Schematic diagram showing possible rate-limiting processes during bioremediation of hydrophobic organic contaminants in a contaminated soil-water system (not to scale) (Danielsson, 2000). 1.5 Increasing the bioavailability of PAH in soil Attempts to improve the biodegradation of PAHs in soil by increasing their bioavailability include the use of surfactants , solvents or solubility enhancers.. However, introduction of synthetic surfactant may result in the addition of one more pollutant. (Wang and Brusseau, 1993).A study conducted by Mulder et al. showed that the introduction of hydropropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPCD), a well-known PAH solubility enhancer, significantly increased the solubilization of PAHs although it did not improve the biodegradation rate of PAHs (Mulder et al., 1998), indicating that further research is required in order to develop a feasible and efficient remediation method. Enhancing the extent of PAHs mass transfer from the soil phase to the liquid might prove an efficient and environmentally low-risk alternative way of addressing the problem of slow PAH biodegradation in soil.

Evaluation of the power production performance of the wavepiston, wave energy converter

In the early 1970 the community has started to realize that have as a main principle the industry one, with the oblivion of the people and health conditions and of the world in general, it could not be a guideline principle. The sea, as an energy source, has the characteristic of offering different types of exploitation, in this project the focus is on the wave energy. Over the last 15 years the Countries interested in the renewable energies grew. Therefore many devices have came out, first in the world of research, then in the commercial one; these converters are able to achieve an energy transformation into electrical energy. The purpose of this work is to analyze the efficiency of a new wave energy converter, called WavePiston, with the aim of determine the feasibility of its actual application in different wave conditions: from the energy sea state of the North Sea, to the more quiet of the Mediterranean Sea. The evaluation of the WavePiston is based on the experimental investigation conducted at the University of Aalborg, in Denmark; and on a numerical modelling of the device in question, to ascertain its efficiency regardless the laboratory results. The numerical model is able to predict the laboratory condition, but it is not yet a model which can be used for any installation, in fact no mooring or economical aspect are included yet. È dai primi anni del 1970 che si è iniziato a capire che il solo principio dell’industria con l’incuranza delle condizioni salutari delle persone e del mondo in generale non poteva essere un principio guida. Il mare, come fonte energetica, ha la caratteristica di offrire diverse tipologie di sfruttamento, in questo progetto è stata analizzata l’energia da onda. Negli ultimi 15 anni sono stati sempre più in aumento i Paesi interessati in questo ambito e di conseguenza, si sono affacciati, prima nel mondo della ricerca, poi in quello commerciale, sempre più dispositivi atti a realizzare questa trasformazione energetica. Di tali convertitori di energia ondosa ne esistono diverse classificazioni. Scopo di tale lavoro è analizzare l’efficienza di un nuovo convertitore di energia ondosa, chiamato WavePiston, al fine si stabilire la fattibilità di una sua reale applicazione in diverse condizioni ondose: dalle più energetiche del Mare del Nord, alle più quiete del Mar Mediterraneo. La valutazione sul WavePiston è basata sullo studio sperimentale condotto nell’Università di Aalborg, in Danimarca; e su di una modellazione numerica del dispositivo stesso, al fine di conoscerne l’efficienza a prescindere dalla possibilità di avere risultati di laboratorio. Il modello numerico è in grado di predirre le condizioni di laboratorio, ma non considera ancora elementi come gli ancoraggi o valutazione dei costi.

Analisi dei parametri vegetazionali e dei caratteri funzionali di specie guida come strumenti di studio di comunità prative

Lo studio condotto si propone l’approfondimento delle conoscenze sui processi di evoluzione spontanea di comunità vegetali erbacee di origine secondaria in cinque siti all’interno di un’area protetta del Parco di Monte Sole (Bologna, Italia), dove, come molte aree rurali marginali in Italia e in Europa, la cessazione o riduzione delle tradizionali pratiche gestionali negli ultimi cinquant’anni, ha determinato lo sviluppo di fitocenosi di ridotto valore floristico e produttivo. Tali siti si trovano in due aree distinte all’interno del parco, denominate Zannini e Stanzano, selezionate in quanto rappresentative di situazioni di comunità del Mesobrometo. Due siti appartenenti alla prima area e uno appartenente alla seconda, sono gestiti con sfalcio annuale, i rimanenti non hanno nessun tipo di gestione. Lo stato delle comunità erbacee di tali siti è stato valutato secondo più punti di vista. E’ stata fatta una caratterizzazione vegetazionale dei siti, mediante rilievo lineare secondo la metodologia Daget-Poissonet, permettendo una prima valutazione relativa al numero di specie presenti e alla loro abbondanza all’interno della comunità vegetale, determinando i Contributi Specifici delle famiglie principali e delle specie dominanti (B. pinnatum, B. erectus e D. glomerata). La produttività è stata calcolata utilizzando un indice di qualità foraggera, il Valore Pastorale, e con la determinazione della produzione di Fitomassa totale, Fitomassa fotosintetizzante e Necromassa. A questo proposito sono state trovate correlazioni negative tra la presenza di Graminacee, in particolare di B. pinnatum, e i Contributi Specifici delle altre specie, soprattutto a causa dello spesso strato di fitomassa e necromassa prodotto dallo stesso B. pinnatum che impedisce meccanicamente l’insediamento e la crescita di altre piante. E’ stata inoltre approfonditamente sviluppata un terza caratterizzazione, che si propone di quantificare la diversità funzionale dei siti medesimi, interpretando le risposte della vegetazione a fattori globali di cambiamento, sia abiotici che biotici, per cogliere gli effetti delle variazioni ambientali in atto sulla comunità, e più in generale, sull’intero ecosistema. In particolare, nello studio condotto, sono stati proposti alcuni caratteri funzionali, cosiddetti functional traits, scelti perché correlati all’acquisizione e alla conservazione delle risorse, e quindi al trade-off dei nutrienti all’interno della pianta, ossia: Superficie Fogliare Specifica, SLA, Tenore di Sostanza Secca, LDMC, Concentrazione di Azoto Fogliare, LNC, Contenuto in Fibra, LFC, separato nelle componenti di Emicellulosa, Cellulosa, Lignina e Ceneri. Questi caratteri sono stati misurati in relazione a tre specie dominanti: B. pinnatum, B. erectus e D. glomerata. Si tratta di specie comunemente presenti nelle praterie semi-mesofile dell’Appennino Settentrionale, ma caratterizzate da differenti proprietà ecologiche e adattative: B. pinnatum e B. erectus sono considerati competitori stress-toleranti, tipicamente di ambienti poveri di risorse, mentre D. glomerata, è una specie più mesofila, caratteristica di ambienti produttivi. Attraverso l’analisi dei traits in riferimento alle diverse strategie di queste specie, sono stati descritti specifici adattamenti alle variazioni delle condizioni ambientali, ed in particolare in risposta al periodo di stress durante l’estate dovuto a deficit idrico e in risposta alla diversa modalità di gestione dei siti, ossia alla pratica o meno dello sfalcio annuale. Tra i caratteri funzionali esaminati, è stato identificato LDMC come il migliore per descrivere le specie, in quanto più facilmente misurabile, meno variabile, e direttamente correlato con altri traits come SLA e le componenti della fibra. E’ stato quindi proposto il calcolo di un indice globale per caratterizzare i siti in esame, che tenesse conto di tutti questi aspetti, riunendo insieme sia i parametri di tipo vegetativo e produttivo, che i parametri funzionali. Tale indice ha permesso di disporre i siti lungo un gradiente e di cogliere differenti risposte in relazione a variazioni stagionali tra primavera o autunno e in relazione al tipo di gestione, valutando le posizioni occupate dai siti stessi e la modalità dei loro eventuali spostamenti lungo questo gradiente. Al fine di chiarire se le variazioni dei traits rilevate fossero dovute ad adattamento fenotipico dei singoli individui alle condizioni ambientali, o piuttosto fossero dovute a differenziazione genotipica tra popolazioni cresciute in siti diversi, è stato proposto un esperimento in condizioni controllate. All’interno di un’area naturale in UK, le Chiltern Hills, sono stati selezionati cinque siti, caratterizzati da diverse età di abbandono: Bradenham Road MaiColtivato e Small Dean MaiColtivato, di cui non si conosce storia di coltivazione, caratterizzati rispettivamente da vegetazione arborea e arbustiva prevalente, Butterfly Bank 1970, non più coltivato dal 1970, oggi prateria seminaturale occasionalmente pascolata, Park Wood 2001, non più coltivato dal 2001, oggi prateria seminaturale mantenuta con sfalcio annuale, e infine Manor Farm Coltivato, attualmente arato e coltivato. L’esperimento è stato condotto facendo crescere i semi delle tre specie più comuni, B. sylvaticum, D. glomerata e H. lanatus provenienti dai primi quattro siti, e semi delle stesse specie acquistati commercialmente, nei cinque differenti tipi di suolo dei medesimi siti. Sono stati misurati quattro caratteri funzionali: Massa Radicale Secca (DRM), Massa Epigea Secca (DBM), Superficie Fogliare Secca (SLA) e Tenore di Sostanza Secca (LDMC). I risultati ottenuti hanno evidenziato che ci sono significative differenze tra le popolazioni di una stessa specie ma con diversa provenienza, e tra individui appartenenti alla stessa popolazione se fatti crescere in suoli diversi. Tuttavia, queste differenze, sembrano essere dovute ad adattamenti locali legati alla presenza di nutrienti, in particolare N e P, nel suolo piuttosto che a sostanziali variazioni genotipiche tra popolazioni. Anche per questi siti è stato costruito un gradiente sulla base dei quattro caratteri funzionali analizzati. La disposizione dei siti lungo il gradiente ha evidenziato tre gruppi distinti: i siti più giovani, Park Wood 2001 e Manor Farm Coltivato, nettamente separati da Butterfly Bank 1970, e seguiti infine da Small Dean MaiColtivato e Bradenham Road MaiColtivato. L’applicazione di un indice così proposto potrebbe rivelarsi un utile strumento per descrivere ed indagare lo stato della prateria e dei processi evolutivi in atto, al fine di meglio comprendere e dominare tali dinamiche per proporre sistemi di gestione che ne consentano la conservazione anche in assenza delle tradizionali cure colturali.

Regulation der Sphingosinkinase 1 und 2 und der neutralen Ceramidase in renalen Mesangiumzellen der Ratte

In den letzten Jahren gewann die Erforschung des Sphingolipidstoffwechsels in den verschiedensten Zellsystemen immer mehr an Bedeutung, da es sich zeigte, dass einige Sphingolipidspezies, vor allem Ceramid und Sphingosin-1-Phosphat, als wichtige intra- und extrazelluläre Botenstoffe wirken und bei einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher zellulärer Antworten, wie Apoptose, Proliferation und Migration, eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Während Ceramid eher pro-apoptotisch und wachstumshemmend wirkt, begünstigt Sphingosin-1-Phosphat als „Gegenspieler“ eher die Proliferation und das Zellwachstum. Ceramid kann relativ schnell in Sphingosin-1-Phosphat umgewandelt werden durch die Wirkung zweier Enzymklassen, den Ceramidasen und den Sphingosinkinasen. Konsequenterweise ist die Regulation dieser Enzyme von entscheidender Bedeutung für das zelluläre Gleichgewicht zwischen Ceramid und Sphingosin-1-Phosphat. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wurde die Wirkung von extrazellulären Nukleotiden, die ebenfalls als Regulatoren zahlreicher zellulärer Antworten, wie z.B. Proliferation und Migration, bekannt sind und über entsprechende Oberflächenrezeptoren, die Purinrezeptoren, wirken, auf die Aktivität besonders der Sphingosinkinasen 1 und 2 näher untersucht. Es sollte geklärt werden, ob die Sphingosinkinasen an einigen durch extrazelluläre Nukleotide induzierbaren zellulären Antworten, in diesem Falle der Migration und der Proliferation von Zellen, beteiligt sind. Als Zellsystem wurden Nierenmesangiumzellen verwendet, da diese Zellen bei verschiedenen entzündlichen Nierenerkrankungen (Glomerulonephritiden) eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Es konnte in dieser Arbeit gezeigt werden, dass extrazelluläre Nukleotide die Aktivität der Sphingosinkinase 1 in den Mesangiumzellen stimulieren können. Zu beobachten ist dabei eine biphasische Aktivitätssteigerung der Sphingosinkinase 1. Die erste Aktivitätssteigerung nach einer Kurzzeitstimulation ist dabei auf eine Phosphorylierung des Enzyms zurückzuführen, während die zweite Aktivitätssteigerung mit einer Aktivierung des Sphingosinkinase 1-Promotors, einer verstärkten mRNA-Expression und einer de novo Proteinsynthese zu erklären ist. Diese Induktion kann durch die Verwendung von Hemmstoffen des PKC- und MAPK-Signalweges, sowie durch Verwendung eines Transkriptions- (Actinomycin D) oder eines Translationsinhibitors (Cycloheximid) blockiert werden. Die Halbwertszeit der mRNA der Sphingosinkinase 1 in den Mesangiumzellen konnte auf ca. 20 Minuten bestimmt werden. Im Gegensatz dazu ist die Sphingosinkinase 2 nicht durch ATP aktivierbar, wohl aber durch diverse Abbauprodukte von ATP, wie AMP und Adenosin, sowie durch UTP und seine Abbauprodukten UDP und UMP. Die neutrale Ceramidase kann nicht durch ATP und UTP aktiviert werden, wohl aber durch P2X7-Rezeptoragonisten (Bz-ATP, αβ-Me-ATP, γS-ATP) und TPA. In einem zweiten Schritt wurde die Rolle der Sphingosinkinasen und der neutralen Ceramidase bei der durch extrazelluläre Nukleotide induzierten Migration und Proliferation untersucht. Es zeigte sich mit Hilfe von genspezifischer siRNA zur Depletion der Sphingosinkinasen und der neutralen Ceramidase, sowie durch Verwendung von Kinase-Hemmstoffen und damit einhergehend der Inhibierung der Signalwege und mit Hilfe von verschiedenen Zelllinien isoliert aus Wildtyp-, SPHK 1-überexprimierenden und mSPHK1-defizienten Mäusen, dass die Aktivierung der Sphingosinkinase 1 durch extrazelluläre Nukleotide von entscheidender Bedeutung für die Migrationsfähigkeit der Zellen ist, jedoch keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Proliferationsrate der Mesangiumzellen hat. Auch die Aktivität der neutralen Ceramidase ist von entscheidender Bedeutung für die Migrationsfähigkeit der Zellen. Durch Depletion der neutralen Ceramidase scheint Ceramid in den Zellen zu akkumulieren, was die Proliferationsrate reduziert. Für die Proliferation der Mesangiumzellen könnte die Sphingosinkinase 2 als negativer Regulator fungieren, wie die Experimente mit der genspezifischen siRNA unter UTP-Stimulation gezeigt haben. Für die Migration der Mesangiumzellen gilt darüber hinaus, dass auch das Produkt der Sphingosinkinase 1, Sphingosin-1-Phosphat, in der Lage ist, die Migration zu stimulieren. Im Gegensatz dazu spielt Sphingosin-1-Phosphat für die Induktion der Proliferation der hier verwendeten Zellen keine wesentliche Rolle. Zusammenfassend zeigen die Daten, dass die Sphingosinkinase 1 und vorgeschaltet auch die neutrale Ceramidase bei der Migration von Mesangiumzellen eine zentrale Rolle spielen und damit als therapeutische Angriffspunkte bei der Behandlung von Krankheiten, die durch eine vermehrte Migration gekennzeichnet sind, in Frage kommen.

Characterization of thermoelectric commercial modules using a module test system

Il presente lavoro di tesi è stato svolto presso la DTU, Technical University of Denmark, nel Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Riso Campus. Lo scopo del periodo di soggiorno estero è stato quello di caratterizzare appropriati moduli termoelettrici forniti da aziende del settore, utilizzando un opportuno apparato di caratterizzazione. Quest’ultimo è noto come “module test system” e, nello specifico, è stato fornito dalla PANCO GmbH, azienda anch’essa attiva nel campo delle tecnologie termoelettriche. Partendo da uno studio teorico dei fenomeni fisici interessati (effetto Seebeck per la produzione di potenza termoelettrica), si è cercato in seguito di analizzare le principali caratteristiche, ed elementi, del “module test system”. Successivamente a questa prima fase di analisi, sono stati condotti esperimenti che, con l’aiuto di modelli computazionali implementati attraverso il software Comsol Multiphysics, hanno permesso di studiare l’affidabilità del sistema di caratterizzazione. Infine, una volta acquisite le basi necessarie ad una corretta comprensione dei fenomeni fisici e delle caratteristiche relative alla strumentazione, sono stati analizzati moduli termoelettrici di tipo commerciale. In particolare, sono stati estrapolati dati quali correnti, tensioni, gradienti di temperatura, che hanno permesso di ricavare flussi termici, efficienze, e potenze che caratterizzano il modulo in questione durante le condizioni di funzionamento. I risultati ottenuti sono stati successivamente comparati con dati forniti dal produttore, presenti sul catalogo.

Aereodynamics of dry helically-filleted bridge cables

Dry limited amplitude vibrations flow-transition induced vibrations were experienced on a helically-filleted tube, in a previous study performed by Kleissl and Georgakis (2012). These vibrations have never been reported in previous studies. A deep study on the same inclined-yawed cable configuration has been performed, in order to investigate and further understand the nature of these vibrations. The investigation has been carried out through passive-dynamic wind tunnel tests in the Climatic Wind Tunnel at FORCE Technology, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. The results are carried out in terms of aerodynamic damping and peak to peak amplitude at different flow velocities and different boundary conditions. The latter are done by testing the model with and without the spray system installed in the wind tunnel cross section, in order to understand and evaluate the influence of the spray system on the start of the vibrations mechanism and on the flow turbulence. The gained experiences are finally presented for the use in future testing activities with the purpose of improving the performance of passive-dynamic tests.

Il fascicolo sanitario elettronico tra Semantic Web e diritto alla privacy

Principale obiettivo della ricerca è quello di ricostruire lo stato dell’arte in materia di sanità elettronica e Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico, con una precipua attenzione ai temi della protezione dei dati personali e dell’interoperabilità. A tal fine sono stati esaminati i documenti, vincolanti e non, dell’Unione europea nonché selezionati progetti europei e nazionali (come “Smart Open Services for European Patients” (EU); “Elektronische Gesundheitsakte” (Austria); “MedCom” (Danimarca); “Infrastruttura tecnologica del Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico”, “OpenInFSE: Realizzazione di un’infrastruttura operativa a supporto dell’interoperabilità delle soluzioni territoriali di fascicolo sanitario elettronico nel contesto del sistema pubblico di connettività”, “Evoluzione e interoperabilità tecnologica del Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico”, “IPSE - Sperimentazione di un sistema per l’interoperabilità europea e nazionale delle soluzioni di Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico: componenti Patient Summary e ePrescription” (Italia)). Le analisi giuridiche e tecniche mostrano il bisogno urgente di definire modelli che incoraggino l’utilizzo di dati sanitari ed implementino strategie effettive per l’utilizzo con finalità secondarie di dati sanitari digitali , come Open Data e Linked Open Data. L’armonizzazione giuridica e tecnologica è vista come aspetto strategico per ridurre i conflitti in materia di protezione di dati personali esistenti nei Paesi membri nonché la mancanza di interoperabilità tra i sistemi informativi europei sui Fascicoli Sanitari Elettronici. A questo scopo sono state individuate tre linee guida: (1) armonizzazione normativa, (2) armonizzazione delle regole, (3) armonizzazione del design dei sistemi informativi. I principi della Privacy by Design (“prottivi” e “win-win”), così come gli standard del Semantic Web, sono considerate chiavi risolutive per il suddetto cambiamento.

Hydraulic evaluation of the gyro electric wave energy converter

Motivation Thanks for a scholarship offered by ALma Mater Studiorum I could stay in Denmark for six months during which I could do physical tests on the device Gyro PTO at the Departmet of Civil Engineering of Aalborg University. Aim The goal of my thesis is an hydraulic evaluation of the device: Gyro PTO, a gyroscopic device for conversion of mechanical energy in ocean surface waves to electrical energy. The principle of the system is the application of the gyroscopic moment of flywheels equipped on a swing float excited by waves. The laboratory activities were carried out by: Morten Kramer, Jan Olsen, Irene Guaraldi, Morten Thøtt, Nikolaj Holk. The main purpose of the tests was to investigate the power absorption performance in irregular waves, but testing also included performance measures in regular waves and simple tests to get knowledge about characteristics of the device, which could facilitate the possibility of performing numerical simulations and optimizations. Methodology To generate the waves and measure the performance of the device a workstation was created in the laboratory. The workstation consist of four computers in each of wich there was a different program. Programs have been used : Awasys6, LabView, Wave lab, Motive optitrack, Matlab, Autocad Main Results Thanks to the obtained data with the tank testing was possible to make the process of wave analisys. We obtained significant wave height and period through a script Matlab and then the values of power produced, and energy efficiency of the device for two types of waves: regular and irregular. We also got results as: physical size, weight, inertia moments, hydrostatics, eigen periods, mooring stiffness, friction, hydrodynamic coefficients etc. We obtained significant parameters related to the prototype in the laboratory after which we scale up the results obtained for two future applications: one in Nissun Brending and in the North Sea. Conclusions The main conclusion on the testing is that more focus should be put into ensuring a stable and positive power output in a variety of wave conditions. In the irregular waves the power production was negative and therefore it does not make sense to scale up the results directly. The average measured capture width in the regular waves was 0.21 m. As the device width is 0.63 m this corresponds to a capture width ratio of: 0.21/0.63 * 100 = 33 %. Let’s assume that it is possible to get the device to produce as well in irregular waves under any wave conditions, and lets further assume that the yearly absorbed energy can be converted into electricity at a PTO-efficiency of 90 %. Under all those assumptions the results in table are found, i.e. a Nissum Bredning would produce 0.87 MWh/year and a North Sea device 85 MWh/year.