Search results for "RAV"

Do Tengmalm's owls see vole scent marks visible in ultraviolet light?

1997

Scent markings (urine and faeces) of small mammals are visible in ultraviolet (UV) light. Diurnal kestrels, Falco tinnunculususe them as a cue to find areas of food abundance. We studied whether vole-eating, nocturnal Tengmalm's owls, Aegolius funereuscan see vole scent marks using UV-vision. In a laboratory experiment, 14 young (less than 6 months old) and 14 adult (more than 6 months old) owls were individually given a choice between four adjacent arenas: (1) an arena with vole urine and faeces in UV light; (2) an arena with vole urine and faeces in visible light; (3) a clean arena in UV light; and (4) a clean arena in visible light. Owls did not prefer any of the four arenas. Our results…

UV reflecting vole scent marks attract a passerine, the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor

2002

Diurnal raptors have been shown to use ultraviolet vision and UV-reflecting vole scent marks to find suitable hunting areas. We studied if a passerine species, the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor that uses voles as its primary food, may also detect prey-patches in the same way. We conducted a laboratory experiment with ten shrikes. Each individual shrike had four options to choose from: (1) scent marks with UV light, (2) scent marks without UV light, (3) clean arena with UV light, and (4) clean arena without UV light. The birds preferred the scent-marked arena with UV light as measured by the number of scans and the time spent above it. Therefore, we suggest that great grey shrike probab…

Gravity-Driven Infiltration and Subsidence Phenomena in Posidonia oceanica Residues

2019

A simplified infiltration model for highly permeable porous media was introduced, assuming the matric potential gradient as negligible compared to the gravitational gradient. This model enabled us to determine the delay time, i.e., the time that the water front takes (from the beginning of rainfall) to reach the bottom of the highly permeable layer. Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile residues were used as a porous media, in order to study the infiltration process that provides salt leaching under natural rainfall when these residues are arranged in a storage area, before reusing. By using a laboratory rainfall simulator, delay times were measured to verify the applicability of the aforeme…

Connection between Absorption Properties and Conformational Changes in Deinococcus radiodurans Phytochrome

2014

Phytochromes consist of several protein domains and a linear tetrapyrrole molecule, which interact as a red-light-sensing system. In this study, size-exclusion chromatography and light-scattering techniques are combined with UV-vis spectroscopy to investigate light-induced changes in dimeric Deinococcus radiodurans bacterial phytochrome (DrBphP) and its subdomains. The photosensory unit (DrCBD-PHY) shows an unusually stable Pfr state with minimal dark reversion, whereas the histidine kinase (HK) domain facilitates dark reversion to the resting state. Size-exclusion chromatography reveals that all phytochrome fragments remain as dimers in the illuminated state and dark state. Still, the elut…

Other Types of Chaperonopathies

2013

A mechanism causing a chaperonopathy that is introduced in this chapter consists of the absence of a chaperone from the place where it is needed (i.e., chaperonopathies by misplacement). Also in this chapter are discussed the unfolded-protein response (UPR), chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), and illustrative examples of chaperonopathies by mistake, or collaborationism. In these conditions, one or more chaperones, apparently normal in structure, perform functions that favor disease rather than the contrary, hence the name of chaperonopathy by mistake or collaborationism (a molecule that ought to protect the cell and the organism promotes pathogenesis instead). Many examples of chaperonopat…

Is the efficacy of intravescical chemotherapy influenced by cigarette smoking? Data obtained in intermediate risk non muscle invasive bladder carcino…

2011

Aim of the study To study recurrence-free rate (RFR) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) according to the smoking status in patients affected by non-muscle invasive carcinoma of the bladder (NMI-BC) treated by intravesical chemotherapy. Materials and methods Smoking status was recorded at study entry. Intravesical epirubicin was administered within 6 hours from TUR at the dose of 80 mg diluted in 50 ml of saline solution. Further adjuvant treatment in low-risk and high-risk patients was given according to physicians’ choice. The remaining patients, at intermediate risk for recurrence, were randomized between two different schemes of intravesical chemotherapy: 5 more weekly instillations (tot…

CHOICE OF ADJUVANT INTRAVESICAL THERAPY IN RECURRING INTERMEDIATE-RISK NMI-BC

2011

Objective: The therapeutic strategy for patients affected by intermediate risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurring after intravesical therapy is not definitively established. Only few studies have been published on secondline intravesical therapy. BCG is advocated when intravesical chemotherapy fails and is often repeated. On the other hand, some patients that suffer recurrence repeat intravesical chemotherapy. A retrospective analysis of 179 intermediaterisk patients submitted to second-line intravesical therapy is reported. Patients and Methods: The clinical files of patients affected by intermediate risk NMI-BC and submitted to second-line adjuvant intravesical therapy w…

CORRELATION BETWEEN FIBRONECTIN GENE EXPRESSION AND LOCAL TOXICITY INDUCED BY ADJUVANT INTRAVESICAL THERAPY

2015

A prospective observational study on oral administration of Ellagic Acid and Annona Muricata in patients affected by non-muscle invasive bladder canc…

2021

Introduction: BCG and MMC shortage and Covid-19 pandemic, more recently, limit accessibility to maintenance regimen in intravesical prophylaxis against recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Ellagic acid (EA) and Annona muricata (AM) exert antitumor activity against different human tumours. An observational prospective study on the prophylactic effect of oral administration of EA+AM in patients avoiding maintenance regimen is presented. Materials and methods: Patients affected by NMIBC and not undergoing maintenance after a 6-week course of intravesical prophylaxis with MMC or BCG were entered. Tis and very high-risk tumours were excluded. After informed consent, the pati…

Effect of Combining Impact-Aerobic and Strength Exercise, and Dietary Habits on Body Composition in Breast Cancer Survivors Treated with Aromatase In…

2023

This study examines both the effect of a twice-weekly combined exercise—1 h session of strength and 1 h session of impact-aerobic—on body composition and dietary habits after one year of treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AI) in breast cancer survivors. Overall, forty-three postmenopausal women with a BMI ≤ 35 kg/m2, breast cancer survivors treated with AI, were randomized into two groups: a control group (CG) (n = 22) and a training group (IG) (n = 21). Body composition, i.e., abdominal, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue) was measured by magnetic resonance. In addition, some questionnaires were used to gather dietary data and to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet. After …