Search results for "49"
showing 10 items of 1208 documents
Relativistically Smeared Iron Lines in the Spectra of Bright NS LMXB
2009
We present preliminary results of a study on three bright accreting low-mass X-ray binaries hosting a neutron star, based on XMM-Newton observations. These sources (GX 340+0, GX 349+2 and SAX J1808.4-3658) show a broad Fe K alpha iron line in their spectra. This feature can be well described by relativistic line profile in each case; the good spectral resolution of the EPIC/PN and the high statistics spectra allow to put very good constraints on the disk geometry and ionization stage of the reflecting matter.
A novel arousal-based individual screening reveals susceptibility and resilience to PTSD-like phenotypes in mice
2021
Translational animal models for studying post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are valuable for elucidating the poorly understood neurobiology of this neuropsychiatric disorder. These models should encompass crucial features, including persistence of PTSD-like phenotypes triggered after exposure to a single traumatic event, trauma susceptibility/resilience and predictive validity. Here we propose a novel arousal-based individual screening (AIS) model that recapitulates all these features. The AIS model was designed by coupling the traumatization (24 h restraint) of C57BL/6 J mice with a novel individual screening. This screening consists of z-normalization of post-trauma changes in startle …
Structural and functional analysis of integrin alpha2I domain interaction with echovirus 1.
2004
Integrins are cell surface receptors for several microbial pathogens including echovirus 1 (EV1), a picornavirus. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that the functional domain (alpha(2)I) of human alpha(2)beta(1) integrin binds to a surface depression on the EV1 capsid. This three-dimensional structure of EV1 bound to alpha(2)I domain provides the first structural details of an integrin interacting with a picornavirus. The model indicates that alpha(2)beta(1) integrin cannot simultaneously bind both EV1 and the physiological ligand collagen. Compared with collagen binding to the alpha(2)I domain, the virus binds with a 10-fold higher affinity but in vitro uncoating of EV1 was not observed as…
Geographical and ecological outline of metal(loid) accumulating plants in Italian vascular flora
2018
The decontamination of heavy metal polluted soils is one of the major challenges that our industrialized world has to face. Remediation technologies are being developed and employed in order to reduce the potential hazards of metal and metalloid contamination. Plants capable of uptaking metals and metalloids in their tissues can be an effective tool to remove such pollutants from contaminated soils. The use of this plant-driven process (Phytoremediation) requires the knowledge of the right phytoextractors to use when facing different types of contamination. The aim of this paper is to provide an inventory of phytoextractors that can be used in Phytoremediation procedures in Italy. The check…
Ecological and human health risks appraisal of metal(loid)s in agricultural soils: a review
2019
Agriculture is one of the major human activities that changed the landforms, water resources and the biogeochemical cycles. Pollution of agricultural soilsby metal(loid)s is a serious and global hazard but worldwide studies related to metal(loid)s pollution in agricultural soils are very limited. To fulfil this gap, metal(loid)s content in agricultural soils from 2001 to 2019 all over the world was reviewed. Multivariate statistical techniques, contamination indices and human health risk assessment were determined for the metal(loid)s. Among the analysed metal(loid)s, the average contents of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, As and Ni exceeded the Canadian, and China soil guidelines limits. The results o…
Inglés contra valenciano. La introducción del multilingüismo en el sistema lingüístico educativo valenciano
2017
Aquest treball tracta sobre l’ús polític de les llengües i, singularment, centra l’atenció en el programa de plurilingüisme educatiu posat en marxa pel govern de la Generalitat Valenciana el 2012. Considerem que aquesta iniciativa obeïa una voluntat conscient del partit en el govern (PP) de minoritzar més encara el valencià davant el castellà, amb l’excusa de millorar el coneixement d’anglés. Ara bé, la iniciativa valenciana no és un fet aïllat, s’emmarca dins d’una proposta política d’àmbit estatal orientada a garantir la preeminència del castellà i debilitar le polítiques lingüístiques educatives favorables a les altres llengües espanyoles. Val a dir que fem el treball des de l'òptica com…
The genetic legacy of extreme exploitation in a polar vertebrate
2020
Understanding the effects of human exploitation on the genetic composition of wild populations is important for predicting species persistence and adaptive potential. We therefore investigated the genetic legacy of large-scale commercial harvesting by reconstructing, on a global scale, the recent demographic history of the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella), a species that was hunted to the brink of extinction by 18th and 19th century sealers. Molecular genetic data from over 2,000 individuals sampled from all eight major breeding locations across the species’ circumpolar geographic distribution, show that at least four relict populations around Antarctica survived commercial huntin…
Establishing the relative importance of sympatric definitive hosts in the transmission of the sealworm, Pseudoterranova decipiens: a host-community a…
2001
The importance of a given host to a particular parasite can be determined according to three different criteria: host preference, host physiological suitability and host contribution to transmission. Most studies on the sealworm Pseudoterranova decipiens have focussed on the latter factor, but few attempts have been made to develop a quantitative transmission model evaluating the relative importance of each host. The purpose of this study was to propose a flow-chart model to study sealworm transmission within a seal community. The model was applied to hypothetical data of four seal species acting as definitive hosts of P. decipiens sensu stricto in eastern Canada: harp seal Phoca groenlandi…
Disparate movement behavior and feeding ecology in sympatric ecotypes of Atlantic cod
2021
Abstract Coexistence of ecotypes, genetically divergent population units, is a widespread phenomenon, potentially affecting ecosystem functioning and local food web stability. In coastal Skagerrak, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) occur as two such coexisting ecotypes. We applied a combination of acoustic telemetry, genotyping, and stable isotope analysis to 72 individuals to investigate movement ecology and food niche of putative local “Fjord” and putative oceanic “North Sea” ecotypes—thus named based on previous molecular studies. Genotyping and individual origin assignment suggested 41 individuals were Fjord and 31 were North Sea ecotypes. Both ecotypes were found throughout the fjord. Seven …
International student mobility in Southern-Latin Europe: beyond the EU logics, towards a new space
2018
This paper discusses international student mobility (ISM) in Southern-Latin Europe, specifically Italy, Portugal, and Spain, analysing the inflow of international students as reflected in the UNESCO, OECD and European Commission databases. Only recently Italy, Portugal and Spain, as latecomers, have become more actively involved in ISM dynamics. This trend has been a response to EU pressures to internationalization, instrumented through the consolidation of the Bologna process and the need to build a common space of higher education. The analysis shows that at the intra-European level Italy, Portugal and Spain share similar ISM patterns; however, in the global context other logics shape ISM…