Search results for " Reservoir"

Host-Nonspecific Iron Acquisition Systems and Virulence in the Zoonotic Serovar of Vibrio vulnificus

2014

ABSTRACT The zoonotic serovar of Vibrio vulnificus (known as biotype 2 serovar E) is the etiological agent of human and fish vibriosis. The aim of the present work was to discover the role of the vulnibactin- and hemin-dependent iron acquisition systems in the pathogenicity of this zoonotic serovar under the hypothesis that both are host-nonspecific virulence factors. To this end, we selected three genes for three outer membrane receptors ( vuuA , a receptor for ferric vulnibactin, and hupA and hutR , two hemin receptors), obtained single and multiple mutants as well as complemented strains, and tested them in a series of in vitro and in vivo assays, using eels and mice as animal models. Th…

Multiple Non-linear Reservoirs to Model Water Balance Components in Sandy Soils

2023

In the hydrologic literature, to model water flow in unsaturated soils, the Richards equation is usually applied, allowing the main components of the hydrologic cycle, as rainfall partitioning into surface runoff and infiltration, to be determined. The Richards equation is highly nonlinear, making very challenging to derive analytical solutions. Recently, for constant rainfall intensity, under the simplified hypothesis of gravity-driven infiltration, and by assuming a capacitance framework, a simplified solution of the Richards equation that considers the Brooks and Corey hydraulic conductivity function was suggested. By maintaining the assumption that the infiltration process is dominated …

The unnoticed northward expansion of Najas marina subsp. armata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Mediterranean area: an effect of climate change?

2022

Recent reports of Najas marina L. (Hydrocharitaceae) from Sicily have been interpreted as a confirmation of its presence on the island, where it was earlier mentioned in the 1800s. However the recent finds do not represent “N. marina” (currently N. major All.) but N. marina subsp. armata Horn (= N. delilei Rouy), a different taxon, previously not recorded from Sicily. According to those reports and several new finds presented here, it appears to be invading reservoirs and lakes in southern Sicily and seems to be naturally expanding its range. Climate change is suggested as possible cause of this shift. The same trend appears to be taking place across the whole N Mediterranean area, from Por…

Phytoplankton dynamics and structure: a comparative analysis in natural and man-made water bodies of different trophic state

2000

Previous investigations on Sicilian man made lakes suggested that physical factors, along with the specific morphology and hydrology of the water body, are important in selecting phytoplankton species. In particular, the variations of the zmix/zeu ratio due to the operational procedure to which reservoirs are generally subject were recognised as a trigger allowing the assemblage shift. To investigate if these variations may be considered analogous to those occurring in natural lakes as trophic state and phytoplankton biomass increase, causing a transparency decrease and a contraction of the euphotic depth, phytoplankton were collected in two natural water bodies, one mesotrophic (Lake Bivie…

the role of lipids in the pathogenesis of neuroHIV

2020

A critical comorbidity of HIV infection is HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Although combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) is an effective treatment in blocking systemic viral replication, it is unsuccessful in reducing the incidence of HAND. HIV CNS damage, in the current cART era, can be associated to the presence of latently HIV-infected cells including microglia/macrophages and a small population of astrocytes. This Ph.D. thesis focuses on identifying, localizing, and quantifying viral reservoirs using an improved staining and microscopy technique. Although in low amount, our data confirmed that microglia/macrophages and a small population of astrocytes are still infecte…

Geophysical study of the hydrothermal reservoir in the Panza area (Ischia, Italy)

2008

The aim of the work is the reconstruction of the main geometric pattern and the characterisation with geophysical parameters of geological structures lying at small and medium depths in an area of the Ischia island (Italy), where a sensible hydrothermal activity is present.

Predicting reservoir water volumes in the Mediterranean area by combining a data-driven approach with seasonal forecasts data

Mapping phycocyanin cells density of Planktothrix rubescens in freshwater reservoirs

2014

Advanced Formation Fluid Evaluation While Drilling with a New Heavy Gas Detector

2012

In this paper, a chromatograph which exploits the benefits of FID technology optimized for the high resolution detection of heavier hydrocarbon gas components is described. The components analyzed span from n-hexane to toluene. Flame Ionization Detector (FID) technology is not new to gas detection on the field, however it had never been applied to the detection of gases heavier than n-pentane. The instrumentation has been installed and run on a number of wells in different fields and countries, and it has operated as a complement of an advanced surface logging system for a period of two years. Unlike other technologies presently utilized for this scope, this system reduces dedicated equipme…

Monitoring displacements of an earthen dam using GNSS and remote sensing

2014

This paper shows the results of a scientific research in which a GNSS continuous monitoring system for earth-dam deformations has been developed, then, deformations have been related with reservoir water surface and level. The experiment was conducted near Bivona (Sicily, Italy), on the Castello dam (Magazzolo Lake). On the top of the dam three control points were placed and three GNSS permanent stations were installed. The three stations continuously transmitted data to the control centre of the University of Palermo. The former has been determined using freely available satellite data (specifically Landsat 7 SLC-Off) collected during the whole study period (DOYs 101 to 348 2011). Issues r…