Search results for " CONSERVATION"

Growth form matters – Crustose lichens on dead wood are sensitive to forest management

2022

Lichens have a vital role in forest ecosystems and they are a threatened group in boreal forests. However, the conservation ecology of the total lichen community has very rarely been studied. Here we studied lichen species and communities, including macrolichens (=foliose and fruticose growth forms) and rarely studied crustose li-chens, on decaying wood in boreal spruce-dominated forests in Finland. We also studied obligate lignicoles that grow only on dead wood and are mostly crustose in growth form. Species richness and community composition were examined on decaying logs and natural or cut stumps of Picea abies at different decay stages (2-5) in 14 stands, half of which were natural or s…

Structure of SNX9 SH3 in complex with a viral ligand reveals the molecular basis of its unique specificity for alanine-containing class I SH3 motifs

2021

Class I SH3 domain-binding motifs generally comply with the consensus sequence [R/K]x0PxxP, the hydrophobic residue 0 being proline or leucine. We have studied the unusual 0 = Ala-specificity of SNX9 SH3 by determining its complex structure with a peptide present in eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) nsP3. The structure revealed the length and composition of the n-Src loop as important factors determining specificity. We also compared the affinities of EEEV nsP3 peptide, its mutants, and cellular ligands to SNX9 SH3. These data suggest that nsP3 has evolved to minimize reduction of conformational entropy upon binding, hence acquiring stronger affinity, enabling takeover of SNX9. The R…

BioTIME: A database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene

2018

Abstract Motivation The BioTIME database contains raw data on species identities and abundances in ecological assemblages through time. These data enable users to calculate temporal trends in biodiversity within and amongst assemblages using a broad range of metrics. BioTIME is being developed as a community-led open-source database of biodiversity time series. Our goal is to accelerate and facilitate quantitative analysis of temporal patterns of biodiversity in the Anthropocene. Main types of variables included The database contains 8,777,413 species abundance records, from assemblages consistently sampled for a minimum of 2 years, which need not necessarily be consecutive. In addition, th…

Decision-making in energy planning. Application of the Electre method at regional level for the diffusion of renewable energy technology

2003

The authors show an application of the multicriteria decision-making methodology used to assess an action plan for the diffusion of renewable energy technologies at regional scale. This methodological tool gives the decision-maker considerable help in the selection of the most suitable innovative technologies in the energy sector, according to preliminary fixed objectives. In this paper, a case study is carried out for the island of Sardinia. This region presents, on one hand, a high potential for energy resources exploitation, but on the other hand, it represents a specific case among other Italian regions, because of its socio-economic status and history. Three decision scenarios have bee…

Monitoring of renewable energy prototype for the DEDUENERT research project

2016

In this paper, we present a renewable energy sustainable micro-system installed upon a platform located in the Research and Technology Centre of Energy in Borj Cedria Techno park (Tunisia). This prototype has been conceived within the ENPI (European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument) cross-border cooperation Italy-Tunisia 2007–2013 research project framework. This project's overall goal is to develop a common strategy for the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency by endorsing the cooperation between Italy and Tunisia. The focus is to implement the use of sustainable energy microsystems that generate electricity from various renewable sources (solar thermal, photovoltaic…

Diagnostic system based on the T.r.u.e. Methodology (Termography, Radar, Ultrasound, Endoscopy) and its applications

2013

Il poster 1 è dedicato alla Metodologia T.R.U.E., che persegue l'obiettivo di supportare la progettazione del restauro, con particolare riferimento alla conservazione delle superfici di finitura e nel rispetto del valore di autenticità materiale delle architetture storiche. Poster number 1 is dedicated to the T.R.U.E. Methodology, that pursues the finality to elaborate the project for the conservation of the architectural surfaces and, in general, the respect of the authenticity of the materials stratified on the monumental architectures.

Diagnostics applied to the finish decorative plaster. The case study of Santa Margherita di Belice

2013

Il terzo poster mostra il risultato delle applicazioni diagnostiche all'interno dell'ex Chiesa Madre di Santa Margherita di Belice (Agrigento). Poster number 3 presents the application of the diagnostic method on the plastered internal surfaces of the former Mother Church in Santa Margherita di Belice (Agrigento).

2020

Arts-based practices can support sustainability, combined with research that points out needs for intervention. We practiced environmental sensitivity and dialogic art with fifth-grade school pupil...

Nonlinear Diffusion in Transparent Media

2021

Abstract We consider a prototypical nonlinear parabolic equation whose flux has three distinguished features: it is nonlinear with respect to both the unknown and its gradient, it is homogeneous, and it depends only on the direction of the gradient. For such equation, we obtain existence and uniqueness of entropy solutions to the Dirichlet problem, the homogeneous Neumann problem, and the Cauchy problem. Qualitative properties of solutions, such as finite speed of propagation and the occurrence of waiting-time phenomena, with sharp bounds, are shown. We also discuss the formation of jump discontinuities both at the boundary of the solutions’ support and in the bulk.

Land unit definition for potential distribution of endangered species

2010

In Europe several mapping techniques exist to lay out plant distribution. Most of them, however, are focused on actual and not on potential species distribution range. Spatial predictions become more important for rare and endangered taxa because their conservation is related to existing as well as potential biotopes. The large part of detailed distribution models applies advanced statistics on a large data-set of environmental variables. Data-input availability limits the choice of the prediction model for species distribution and application of results in a detailed scale. Distribution pattern accuracy determinates its applicability in environmental management (for tracing edges, defining…