Search results for "SIZE"

showing 10 items of 2718 documents

Association of basal forebrain volumes and cognition in normal aging.

2013

The basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS) is known to undergo moderate neurodegenerative alterations during normal aging and severe atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been suggested that functional and structural alterations of the BFCS mediate cognitive performance in normal aging and AD. But, it is still unclear to what extend age-associated cognitive decline can be related to BFCS in normal aging. We analyzed the relationship between BFCS volume and cognition using MRI and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery in a cohort of 43 healthy elderly subjects spanning the age range from 60 to 85 years. Most notably, we found significant associations between general intell…

TelencephalonMaleAgingCognitive NeuroscienceIntelligenceExperimental and Cognitive PsychologyNeuropsychological TestsNucleus basalisWhite matterCohort StudiesBehavioral NeuroscienceExecutive FunctionAtrophyCognitionMemorymedicineHumansAttentionEffects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performanceddc:610Cognitive declineAgedAged 80 and overIntelligence TestsBasal forebrainmedicine.diagnostic_testCognitionNeuropsychological testOrgan SizeMiddle Agedmedicine.diseaseMagnetic Resonance Imagingmedicine.anatomical_structureLinear ModelsEducational StatusFemaleanatomy & histology [Telencephalon]PsychologyNeuroscience
researchProduct

Large body size variation is linked to low communication success in tandem running ants

2019

AbstractDiversity in animal groups is often assumed to increase group performance. In insect colonies, genetic, behavioral and morphological variation among workers can improve colony functioning and resilience. However, it has been hypothesized that during communication processes, differences between workers, e.g. in body size, could also have negative effects. Tandem running is a common recruitment strategy in ants and allows a leader to guide a nestmate follower to resources. A substantial proportion of tandem runs fail because leader and follower loose contact. Using the ant Temnothorax nylanderi as a model system, we tested the hypothesis that tandem running success is impaired if lead…

Temnothorax nylanderived/biologymedia_common.quotation_subjectved/biology.organism_classification_rank.speciesPhenotypic traitBody sizeBiologyPreferred walking speedVariation (linguistics)Evolutionary biologyPsychological resilienceTandem runningDiversity (business)media_common
researchProduct

Evaluation of anti-androgenic activity of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

2005

International audience; DEHP is a widely used platiciser in the manufacture of PVC-based materials. It is known to disrupt the reproductive tract development in male rats. We have performed the Hershberger assay with DEHP on an immature castrated rat model to check if DEHP antagonise the testosterone propionate androgenic effect on the accessory sex organs development. DEHP significantly decreased the BC/LA muscles, the prostate, and the seminal vesicles relative weights from 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg bw/day, respectively. DEHP increased the liver relative weight from 100 mg/kg bw/day. A study was also performed on MDA-MB453 cell line stably transfected with pMMTVneo-Luc with DEHP and its maj…

Testosterone propionateMalemedicine.medical_specialtyendocrine systemMDA-MB453 TRANSFECTED CELL LINEmedicine.drug_classMetabolitePhthalic AcidsMONO-(2-ETHYLHEXYL1)PHTHALATE010501 environmental sciencesGenitalia MaleToxicologyAntiandrogen01 natural sciences03 medical and health scienceschemistry.chemical_compoundProstatePlasticizersInternal medicineCell Line TumorDiethylhexyl PhthalatemedicineAnimalsRats WistarLuciferases030304 developmental biology0105 earth and related environmental sciences0303 health sciencesDose-Response Relationship DrugPhthalateMONO-(2-ETHYL-5-HYDROXYLHEXYL)PHTHALATEBiological activityAndrogen AntagonistsDihydrotestosteroneDrug SynergismOrgan SizeMETABOLITES MONO-(2-ETHYL-5-OXOHEXYL1)PHTHALATEIn vitroRatsTestosterone PropionateEndocrinologymedicine.anatomical_structurechemistryLiverCell culture[SDV.TOX]Life Sciences [q-bio]/ToxicologyHERSHBERGER ASSAYDI-(2-ETHYLHEXYL1)PHTHALATEOrchiectomy
researchProduct

Whole genome sequencing of the black grouse (Tetrao tetrix): reference guided assembly suggests faster-Z and MHC evolution

2014

Background The different regions of a genome do not evolve at the same rate. For example, comparative genomic studies have suggested that the sex chromosomes and the regions harbouring the immune defence genes in the Major Histocompatability Complex (MHC) may evolve faster than other genomic regions. The advent of the next generation sequencing technologies has made it possible to study which genomic regions are evolutionary liable to change and which are static, as well as enabling an increasing number of genome studies of non-model species. However, de novo sequencing of the whole genome of an organism remains non-trivial. In this study, we present the draft genome of the black grouse, wh…

Tetrao tetrixMaleGenome evolutionBiologyGenomePolymorphism Single NucleotideChromosomesBirdsEvolution MolecularMajor Histocompatibility ComplexGene densityGeneticsAnimalsGenetikGenome sizeRepetitive Sequences Nucleic AcidGeneticsComparative genomicsWhole genome sequencingteeriGenomeComputational BiologyHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingMolecular Sequence AnnotationGenome projectGenomicsEvolutionary biologyReference genomeBiotechnologyResearch ArticleBMC Genomics
researchProduct

DECORIN EFFECTS ON PROTEOMIC PROFILING OF BREAST CANCER CELLS: AN UPDATED STUDY

2015

The malignant carcinomas are characterized by several capabilities acquired by the neoplastic cells, among which the ability to invade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and to establish a crosstalk with several ECM components. Under this respect, the extracellular microenvironment is an entity extraordinarily rich of information with opposite signals. Our group has long undertaken the study of the effects of ECM molecules on the behavior of cancer cells in vitro. Among the studied molecules, the decorin was found to exert a non-permissive effect on the growth and motility of the transfected tumor cells. The decorin, belongs to the family of small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRP) and is involv…

The malignant carcinomas are characterized by several capabilities acquired by the neoplastic cells among which the ability to invade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and to establish a crosstalk with several ECM components. Under this respect the extracellular microenvironment is an entity extraordinarily rich of information with opposite signals. Our group has long undertaken the study of the effects of ECM molecules on the behavior of cancer cells in vitro. Among the studied molecules the decorin was found to exert a non-permissive effect on the growth and motility of the transfected tumor cells. The decorin belongs to the family of small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRP) and is involved physiologically in the fibrillogenesis of collagen. In the last few year a new anti-oncogenic role has been proposed for decorin1. This study aimed to implement the knowledge on the effects of ectopic decorin on breast cancer cells using as a reference point the results already achieved by our research group2 on the experimental model format. By breast cancer cell line 8701-BC and its transfected clone DEC-C2. The extension of the proteomic analysis combined with the mass spectrometry allowed to triplicate the number of identified proteins in our model. Among the newly identified proteins were members of the classes of metabolic enzymes S100 family and cell motility proteins which revealed a net decrease in the decorin transfected cells. Of considerable importance is the observation that these classes of proteins are the most involved in metastatic progression. These results confirm and reinforce the anti-oncogenic role hypothesized for decorin. The work was co-funded by the Italian 5x1000 to COBS.DECORIN
researchProduct

L'intonaco Li Vigni nell'architettura del XX secolo a Palermo. Nuove conoscenze e applicazioni diagnostiche per la manutenzione

2013

Il saggio presenta lo studio degli intonaci formulati per imitare le pietre e i marmi naturali che si diffondono in Sicilia all’inizio del XX secolo ed evidenzia che le prime applicazioni e la diffusione delle nuove malte, anche nel resto dell’Italia, risentono delle sperimentazioni condotte in tutta l’Europa. Il contributo riassume i risultati di una rigorosa e capillare ricognizione tra i brevetti conservati presso l’Archivio Centrale dello Stato a Roma inerenti alle malte per il confezionamento dell’intonaco a “finta pietra”, ne analizza i contenuti in modo critico e pone in risalto i contatti culturali con le sperimentazioni dei materiali in atto nell’ambito dei grandi cantieri di resta…

The paper presents the study of the plaster formulated to imitate the natural stones and marbles that are popular in Sicily in the early twentieth century and points out that the first applications and the dissemination of new mortars also in the rest of Italy feels the influence of the experiments conducted throughout Europe . The contribution summarizes the results of a rigorous and thorough reconnaissance of patents kept in the Archivio Centrale dello Stato in Rome relating to mortars for plastering an artificial stone critically analyzes the content and emphasizes cultural contacts with the experiments on large-scale restoration projects in Italy and France in the late nineteenth century. The analysis of the architectural surfaces is developed with instrumental tests: the levels of adhesion of finishing surface are characterized in particular through a campaign of thermographic investigations and diagnosis is drawn to show that the consolidation of the layers and reintegration are interventions to be introduced ​​within the restoration project and maintenance program.Settore ICAR/19 - Restauro
researchProduct

E-portfolio e flipped classroom: un’indagine esplorativa con i futuri insegnanti di scuola primaria

2023

Il contributo intende far riflettere sul tema della formazione dei futuri insegnanti di scuola primaria, a partire dall’impiego dell’e-portfolio come dispositivo innovativo per promuovere l’acquisizione della competenza riflessiva e autovalutativa all’interno della flipped classroom. La ricerca, che ha coinvolto 154 studenti del Corso di laurea magistrale in Scienze della Formazione Primaria dell’Università degli Studi di Palermo, che frequentavano il corso di Docimologia nell’anno accademico 2020/2021, presenta i presupposti teorici, gli obiettivi e le modalità operative di un percorso che ha visto l’impiego dell’e-portfolio nella flipped per promuovere lo sviluppo delle competenze docimol…

The study aims to reflect on the training of future primary school teachers by starting from the use of the e-portfolio as an innovative tool to promote the acquisition of reflective and self-evaluation competence within the flipped classroom. The research involved 154 students of Primary Education Master’s Degree Course of the University of Palermo attending to the Docimology course during the academic year 2020/2021. This paper presents the theoretical assumptions objectives and operating methods of a path that made the use of the e-portfolio in flipped classroom to promote the development of docimological skills in higher education. It was hypothesized that the training intervention designed according to the principles of the flippmethodology and through the use of the e-portfolio would have contributed to the development of students’ self-evaluation skills during the 30 hours of the Docimology course.Settore M-PED/04 - Pedagogia Sperimentale
researchProduct

Finite-size effects of Kirkwood–Buff integrals from molecular simulations

2017

The modelling of thermodynamic properties of liquids from local density fluctuations is relevant to many chemical and biological processes. The Kirkwood–Buff (KB) theory connects the microscopic structure of isotropic liquids with macroscopic properties such as partial derivatives of activity coefficients, partial molar volumes and compressibilities. Originally, KB integrals were formulated for open and infinite systems which are difficult to access with standard Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Recently, KB integrals for finite and open systems were formulated (J Phys Chem Lett. 2013;4:235). From the scaling of KB integrals for finite subvolumes, embedded in larger reservoirs, with the…

Thermodynamic stateGeneral Chemical EngineeringMonte Carlo methodInverse02 engineering and technology01 natural sciencesMolecular dynamicsthermodynamicsKirkwood–Buff integrals0103 physical sciencesfinite-size effectsGeneral Materials ScienceStatistical physicsScalingPhysics010304 chemical physicsIsotropyGeneral Chemistry021001 nanoscience & nanotechnologyCondensed Matter Physicsmolecular dynamicsModeling and SimulationThermodynamic limitPartial derivative0210 nano-technologyInformation Systems
researchProduct

Characterization of mesoporous silica and its pseudomorphically transformed derivative by gas and liquid adsorption

2007

Abstract Pseudomorphism is a term introduced by mineralogist to describe phase transformation that does not change the shape of a material. Pseudomorphic process, assisted by surfactants, for mesoporous pre-shaped silica particles allows to narrow the mesopore size distribution, to increase the surface area and the pore volume without changing the initial shape of silica particles. The textural, chemical and mechanical comparisons between commercial silica LiChrospher 60 (Merck) and its pseudomorphic transformation at constant particle size and morphology opens a unique opportunity to understand the effects of such mesoporosity transformation and judge the performance of both types of mater…

Thermogravimetric analysisChemistry02 engineering and technologyGeneral Chemistry[CHIM.MATE]Chemical Sciences/Material chemistryMesoporous silica010402 general chemistry021001 nanoscience & nanotechnologyCondensed Matter Physics01 natural sciences0104 chemical sciencesSilanolchemistry.chemical_compoundAdsorptionChemical engineeringMechanics of MaterialsPhase (matter)Surface modificationOrganic chemistryGeneral Materials ScienceParticle sizemesoporous silica0210 nano-technologyMesoporous materialComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
researchProduct

Structure and performance properties of environmentally-friendly biocomposites based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone) modified with copper slag and shale dril…

2018

The potential application of two types of industrial wastes, drill cuttings (DC) and copper slag (CS), as silica-rich modifiers of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) was investigated. Chemical structure and physical properties of DC and CS fillers were characterized using X-ray diffractometer, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, particle size and density measurements. PCL/DC and PCL/CS composites with a variable content of filler (5 to 50 parts by weight) were prepared by melt compounding in an internal mixer. It was observed that lower particle size of DC filler enhanced processing of biocomposites comparing to CS filler. Smaller particles of DC filler and thus the higher specific surface area, enabl…

Thermogravimetric analysisEnvironmental EngineeringMaterials scienceScanning electron microscopeindustrial wastes02 engineering and technology010402 general chemistry01 natural sciencesCopper slagstructure-property relationshipsSpecific surface areaUltimate tensile strengthEnvironmental ChemistryComposite materialPorosityWaste Management and Disposalchemistry.chemical_classificationbiocompositesPolymer021001 nanoscience & nanotechnologyPollutionCopper slag0104 chemical sciencesdrill cuttingschemistryParticle size0210 nano-technologyvolatile organic compounds emissionsThe Science of the total environment
researchProduct