Search results for " AGRICULTURE"
showing 10 items of 2212 documents
Resveratrol-Induced Temporal Variation in the Mechanical Properties of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy
2019
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined with fluorescence microscopy has been used to quantify cytomechanical modifications induced by resveratrol (at a fixed concentration of 50 µ
The Influence of Hydrogen Bonding on Sphingomyelin/Colipid Interactions in Bilayer Membranes
2016
The phospholipid acyl chain composition and order, the hydrogen bonding, and properties of the phospholipid headgroup all influence cholesterol/phospholipid interactions in hydrated bilayers. In this study, we examined the influence of hydrogen bonding on sphingomyelin (SM) colipid interactions in fluid uni- and multilamellar vesicles. We have compared the properties of oleoyl or palmitoyl SM with comparable dihydro-SMs, because the hydrogen bonding properties of SM and dihydro-SM differ. The association of cholestatrienol, a fluorescent cholesterol analog, with oleoyl sphingomyelin (OSM) was significantly stronger than its association with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, …
Biophysical and functional characterization of the human olfactory receptor OR1A1 expressed in a mammalian inducible cell line
2014
International audience; Olfactory receptors (ORs) play a crucial role in detecting the odorant molecules present in the surrounding environment. These receptors, which belong to class A G-protein-coupled receptors, constitute the largest transmembrane protein family in the human genome. Functional studies showed that the OR family includes members that are able to respond to a large set of odorants and members that are activated by a relatively small number of related odorants. To understand the molecular mechanisms that govern the receptor-ligand interactions, we overexpressed the human OR hOR1A1 in a stable tetracycline-inducible HEK293S cell line. This receptor was engineered by insertin…
Changes in soil mineral N content and abundances of bacterial communities involved in N reactions under laboratory conditions as predictors of soil N…
2016
Proper management of soil fertility requires specific tools for predicting N availability for crops as a consequence of different fertilization strategies. More information is required, especially for organic fertilizers, depending on their mineralization rate, composition, and processing (i.e., fresh or composted manure), as well as their effects on soil properties. Laboratory soil incubations were used as a proxy for understanding plant–soil N dynamics under field conditions. Chemical and microbiological measurements as contents of mineral N, potentially mineralizable N and the abundance of key genes regulating the overall N cycle were used as predictors of mineral N availability to maize…
Selection of a Sustainable Functional Pasta Enriched with Opuntia Using ELECTRE III Methodology
2017
In the last decade, the nutritional and health benefits of Opuntia (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) were discussed by academic scientists and private companies. In particular, the introduction of this substance in frequently consumed foods, like, for example, pasta and bakery products, could have a wide diffusion due to its rich composition in polyphenols, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids. The identified natural cactus compounds are responsible for biologically relevant activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, and neuro-protective properties. The aim of this paper is the evaluation of the best combination of Opuntia quantity an…
Chemometric Study on Alkaline Pre-treatments of Wood Chips Prior to Pulping
2016
Alkaline pre-treatments were performed for the production of organics-containing effluents from silver/white birch (Betula pendula/pubescens) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) chips prior to chemical pulping. Pre-treatment conditions were varied with respect to time (from 30 min to 120 min), temperature (130 °C and 150 °C), and alkali charge (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8% of NaOH on oven-dried wood). The analytical data (total content, weight average molar mass, and molar mass distribution) on dissolved lignin were subjected to principal component analysis to examine the relationship between molar mass and molar mass distributions in lignin removed from different wood species under varying alkaline…
Fatty Acids of Microbial Origin in the Perirenal Fat of Rats (Rattus norvegicus domestica) and Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Fed Various Diets.
2020
Guinea pigs are assumed to practice caecotrophy to a higher degree than rats. Studies from leporids suggest that through the practice of caecotrophy, hindgut fermenting species could build up microbial fatty acids (FA) in body tissues. We hypothesized that microbial FA would be detectable in the body tissue of guinea pigs and rats, and this to a higher degree in guinea pigs. Twenty-four rats and guinea pigs were fed with four different pelleted diets (lucerne-, meat-, meat-bone-, insect-based) in groups of six animals for 8 weeks. Perirenal adipose tissue differed in FA composition between the species in spite of the common diets. FA typically associated with microbial activity (saturated F…
THE ENVIROMENTAL PROBLEMS OF THE PIANA DEL SIGNORE (GELA, SICILY) FOR A CORRECT AGRONOMIC, CULTURAL AND LANDSCAPE UPGRADING AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE AR…
2017
In Sicily it is witnessing an environmental degradation that can be conducted to the human activity and the already known process of desertification. The present study had as object the c/da Piana del Signore in plain of Gela being an area characterized by an extreme aridity and salinity. Through consultation and study of the various researches realized on the area, the various environmental and territorial characteristics outlined, highlighting the issues and possible improvements. The objective was to outline the damages caused by man proposing possible routes for a correct requalification of the area in order to enhance a landscape of great agronomic and naturalistic interest. In fact to…
Role of mucosal immune response and histopathological study in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) intraperitoneal challenged by Vibrio anguillarum o…
2021
Abstract The external mucus layer that covers fish skin contains numerous immune substances scarcely studied that act as the first line of defence against a broad spectrum of pathogens. This study aimed to characterize and describe for the first time several humoral immune defence parameters in the skin mucus of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) after intraperitoneal injection with Vibrio anguillarum or Tenacibaculum soleae. This study evaluated several immune-related enzymes and bactericidal activity against fish pathogenic bacteria in the skin mucus of European eels at 24, 48, and 72 h post-challenge. The results demonstrated that European eel skin mucus showed significant increments i…
BDE-47 exposure modulates cellular responses, oxidative stress and biotransformation related-genes in Mytilus galloprovincialis.
2020
Abstract Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants, characterized by elevated stability in the marine environment, where are accumulated by organisms, inducing a wide panel of negative effects. In this study, some biochemical patterns related to toxicity, biotransformation and oxidative stress, were studied in the marine model system, Mytilus galloprovincialis, exposed to BDE-47. Mussels were fed with microalgae, previously treated with increasing concentrations of PBDEs (maximum dose 100 ng L-1 of BDE-47 per day). After 15 days of treatment, mussels were fed with the same diet without BDE-47, for additional 15 days. Gills and digestive glands were analyzed at T 0, at 15 a…