0000000000589528
AUTHOR
C. De Pasquale
showing 15 related works from this author
Gli stimoli chimici indiretti dell'ospite nel processo di localizzazione da parte degli oofagi: conviene sintonizzarsi?
2008
Tra gli stimoli indiretti che un parassitoide può utilizzare per ritrovare l'ospite, particolare importanze rivestono per i parassitoidi oofagi le tracce chimiche depositate dai Pentatomidi mentre si muovono su un substrato. Questo segnale chimico induce nelle femmine del parassitoide un comportamento di arresto che ne delimita la ricerca e ne aumenta le possibilità di ritrovamento delle uova. Nel sistema Murgantia histrionica (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) - Trissolcus brochymenae (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) si è voluto verificare se lo stato fisiologico dell’ospite influenza lo sfruttamento delle tracce da parte del parassitoide. I biosaggi sono stati condotti in arena aperta, e registrati me…
Influence of O2 on extra virgin olive oil fatty acids composition during malaxation
2017
Many variables are related to extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) quality and, therefore, to its polyphenols content and fatty acids composition including the steps that lead to EVOO extraction, considering that it is mainly contained in the vacuoles of the fruit mesocarp. The main steps of EVOO production are: harvest, crushing, malaxation, centrifugation, storage and filtration. Considering the olive oil extraction procedures, many studies have been conducted in recent years on oil mill plant and processes for improving EVOO quality. Malaxer is the most studied machine among all; it is responsible for malaxation, which represents a very important and critical step in the EVOO extraction process…
Isolation of Gram-positive n-alkane degraders from a hydrocarbon-contaminated Mediterranean shoreline.
2007
Aims: To investigate the petroleum hydrocarbon (HC)-degrading potential of indigenous micro-organisms in a sandy Mediterranean coast, accidentally contaminated with petroleum-derived HCs. Methods and Results: Using culturable methods, a population of Gram-positive n-alkane degraders was detected in the contaminated soil. Five isolates, identified as one Nocardia, two Rhodococcus and two Gordonia strains, were able to degrade medium- and long-chain n-alkanes up to C36 as assessed by growth assays and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Diverging alkane hydroxylase-encoding genes (alkB) were detected by PCR, using degenerated primers, in all the strains; multiple sequences were obt…
Influence of Adsorbed Water on the Activation Energy of Model Photocatalytic Reactions
2017
Two commercial (Merck and Sigma-Aldrich) and two home prepared (HP05 and HP05C) powdered TiO2 photocatalysts were investigated by fast field cycling nuclear magnetic resonance experiments in order to explore the nature of the interactions between water and the solid surfaces. The results were related to the activation energies determined at temperatures ranging from 303 to 353 K for the photocatalytic oxidation in water of three model molecules presenting different interactions with the solid surface (catechol, phenol, and metylbenzoate). The photoactivity results at different temperatures were comparable to each other because the runs were carried out while keeping constant the concentrati…
Effect of different processing methods on the quality of obtained pomegranate juice
2019
Pomegranate juice has many health properties as the fruits contain anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial and antiviral compounds. Its consumption has greatly increased throughout the world in recent years due to the potential of its different components, polyphenols and anthocyanins mostly. Many studies have been performed on the pomegranate juice yield demonstrating its influence on the organoleptic and physicochemical properties of the juice. Commercial pomegranate juice production involves pressing the fruits. As a consequence, there is a need to investigate the pressing machine types and adjustment in order to maximize juice yield and enhance its health properties. The aim of this study was t…
A finely tuned strategy adopted by an egg parasitoid to exploit chemical traces from host adults.
2009
SUMMARY Scelionid egg parasitoids can obtain reliable information on the presence of host eggs by discriminating host gender on the basis of chemical footprints of their co-evolved hosts, with a strong preference for the footprint left by host females. Based on the concept of dietary specialization and infochemical use in natural enemies, it could be predicted that host gender discrimination in specialist species belonging to the genus Trissolcus is further tuned to specific cues from distinctive chemical traces left by host females as a consequence of copulation and/or oviposition. To test this hypothesis we used the system Murgantia histrionica – Trissolcus brochymenae. Our results showed…
Effects of ewes grazing sulla or ryegrass pasture for different daily durations on forage intake, milk production and fatty acid composition of cheese
2016
Sulla (Sulla coronarium L.) forage is valued for its positive impact on ruminant production, in part due to its moderate content of condensed tannin (CT). The duration of daily grazing is a factor affecting the feed intake and milk production of ewes. In this study, the effects of grazing sulla pasture compared with annual ryegrass, and the extension of grazing from 8 to 22 h/day, were evaluated with regard to ewe forage intake and milk production, as well as the physicochemical properties and fatty acid (FA) composition of cheese. During 42 days in the spring, 28 ewes of the Comisana breed were divided into four groups (S8, S22, R8 and R22) that grazed sulla (S) or ryegrass (R) for 8 (0800…
Characterization of five sour orange clones through molecular markers and leaf essential oils analysis.
2006
Five clones of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) showing significant morphological differences were selected from our germplasm collection and characterized both by genetic and leaf volatiles analysis. The genetic studies were undertaken by the use of molecular markers developed by PCR-based techniques (ISSR and RAPD), while the leaf essential oil patterns were obtained by chromatographic and mass spectrometric determination. Data obtained suggest that reasonably similar information can be achieved from the two techniques, supporting each other in characterization studies.
Agronomical and postharvest evaluation of the essential oils of Sicilian rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) biotypes
2019
Rosmarinus officinalis L. is an aromatic shrub commonly found in the Mediterranean area. It is used in cooking both to add aroma and as a preservative in processed foods. Essential oils of rosemary are used in medicine and in the cosmetics industry due to their considerable biological properties. The yield and quality of rosemary essential oils mainly depend upon the chemo type, environmental conditions and cultivation techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of essential oils of wild R. officinalis biotypes found in Sicily using different drying methods. Five types of drying methods were used for the tests: a) shade drying under a r…
Effetto del grado di coevoluzione e di specializzazione nella capacità di ooparassitoidi ad utilizzare le impronte chimiche dell'ospite
2009
Le impronte chimiche lasciate sul substrato dai Pentatomidi stimolano nei parassitoidi oofagi la ricerca dell’ospite nell’area contaminata e consentono loro di distinguerne il sesso. Le impronte chimiche delle femmine sono preferite poiché risultano più affidabili in quanto nei dintorni è maggiore la probabilità di ritrovare l’uovo ospite. In questo lavoro è stato ipotizzato che l’abilità di discriminare il sesso degli ospiti da parte degli ooparassitoidi è stata acquisita solo nei confronti di quelli coevoluti. Sono state quindi considerate due associazioni di ospite-parassitoide coevoluti quali Nezara viridula-Trissolcus basalis e Murgantia histrionica-Trissolcus brochymenae e come ospite…
Iodine Biofortification Counters Micronutrient Deficiency and Improve Functional Quality of Open Field Grown Curly Endive
2021
Human iodine (I) shortage disorders are documented as an imperative world-wide health issue for a great number of people. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends I consumption through ingestion of seafood and biofortified food such as vegetables. The current work was carried out to appraise the effects of different I concentrations (0, 50, 250, and 500 mg L−1), supplied via foliar spray on curly endive grown in the fall or spring–summer season. Head fresh weight, stem diameter, head height, and soluble solid content (SSC) were negatively correlated to I dosage. The highest head dry matter content was recorded in plants supplied with 250 mg I L−1, both in the fall and spring–summer se…
Effect of farming system and cheesemaking technology on the physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid profile, and sensory properties of Caciocaval…
2012
Abstract Caciocavallo Palermitano is a typical stretched-curd cheese that has been produced over the centuries in Sicily according to traditional cheesemaking technology and using raw milk from autochthonous cow breeds reared at pasture. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of the farming system and processing technology on the characteristics of Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese, with particular regard to the fatty acid profile. The farming system was either extensive, using autochthonous cows fed a pasture-based diet, or intensive, with specialized dairy cow breeds fed mainly hay and concentrate. The cheese-processing technology was either artisanal, using traditiona…
Effects of passive and active modified atmosphere packaging conditions on quality parameters of minimally processed table grapes during cold storage
2015
BACKGROUND: Table grape is a non-climacteric berry, sensitive to water loss and gray mold during postharvest storage. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of passive and active modified atmosphere packaging on quality parameters of minimally processed table grapes. METHODS: 'Red Globe' minimally processed table grapes were dipped in a sodium hypochlorite solution and irradiated with ultraviolet-C, before being packaged in a rigid polypropylene boxes, sealed with a micro perforated polypropylene film (PP) or a continuous polyethylene film, with: a) 5% O2 + 15% CO2 + 80% N (PET1); b) 20% CO2 + air (PET2). Samples were stored at 5°C for 21 days plus and additional 6-day period at 20°C to simulate s…
Addressing the photocatalytic mechanism through TiO2 surface engineering
2018
Addressing the photocatalytic mechanism through TiO2 surface engineering
Investigation of cuticular hydrocarbons from Bagrada hilaris genders by SPME/GC-MS
2007
The cuticular hydrocarbons of male and female Bagrada hilaris Burmeister (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were investigated, by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Measurements were done with fiber coatings of different polarity after optimization of headspace volumes and extraction temperatures. This resulted in the use of polyacrylate fiber, 22-ml vial as the sample holder, and an extraction temperature of 150 degrees C. The analytical procedures allowed identification of 13 peaks, corresponding to a homologous series of n-alkanes (nC(17)-nC(29)). The hydrocarbon profiles of male and female B. hilaris were qualitatively equal, but marked sex-…