Search results for "Specimens"

Exogenous t-PA Administration Increases Hippocampal Mature BDNF Levels. Plasmin- or NMDA-Dependent Mechanism?

2014

International audience; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through TrkB activation is central for brain functioning. Since the demonstration that plasmin is able to process pro-BDNF to mature BDNF and that these two forms have opposite effects on neuronal survival and plasticity, a particular attention has been paid to the link between tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasmin system and BDNF metabolism. However, t-PA via its action on different N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits is also considered as a neuromodulator of glutamatergic transmission. In this context, the aim of our study was to investigate the effect of recombinant (r)t-PA administration on brain BDNF metabo…

Mechanical cleaning of graphene using in situ electron microscopy

2020

Avoiding and removing surface contamination is a crucial task when handling specimens in any scientific experiment. This is especially true for two-dimensional materials such as graphene, which are extraordinarily affected by contamination due to their large surface area. While many efforts have been made to reduce and remove contamination from such surfaces, the issue is far from resolved. Here we report on an in situ mechanical cleaning method that enables the site-specific removal of contamination from both sides of two dimensional membranes down to atomic-scale cleanliness. Further, mechanisms of re-contamination are discussed, finding surface-diffusion to be the major factor for contam…

Underutilized resources for studying the evolution of invasive species during their introduction, establishment, and lag phases

2010

The early phases of biological invasions are poorly understood. In particular, during the introduction, establishment, and possible lag phases, it is unclear to what extent evolution must take place for an introduced species to transition from established to expanding. In this study, we highlight three disparate data sources that can provide insights into evolutionary processes associated with invasion success: biological control organisms, horticultural introductions, and natural history collections. All three data sources potentially provide introduction dates, information about source populations, and genetic and morphological samples at different time points along the invasion trajector…

Molecular topology as novel strategy for discovery of drugs with aβ lowering and anti-aggregation dual activities for Alzheimer's disease.

2014

Background and Purpose: In this study, we demonstrate the use of Molecular topology (MT) in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug discovery program. MT uses and expands upon the principles governing the molecular connectivity theory of numerically characterizing molecular structures, in the present case, active anti-AD drugs/agents, using topological descriptors to build models. Topological characterization has been shown to embody sufficient molecular information to provide strong correlation to therapeutic efficacy. Experimental Approach: We used MT to include multiple bioactive properties that allows for the identification of multifunctional single agent compounds, in this case, the dual func…

Los ejemplares tipo de las colecciones malacológicas del Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona y del Museu Valencià d'Història Natural

2008

Publicar catàlegs d'exemplars tipus és una recomanació feta per la Comissió Internacional de Nomenclatura Zoològica, però en el nostre cas la publicació del present catàleg ha estat abans de tot la conseqüència pràctica d'assumir un sentit de responsabilitat amb relació a les col·leccions dels nostres museus. Quan la tasca històrica i recent de tants investigadors s'ha traduït en la confiança de dipositar espècimens tipus en aquests centres no podem defugir l'obligació, ni tampoc l'interès, de publicar de la manera més pràctica possible la informació referida als 'tipus'.

Impact of 70 years urban growth associated with heavy metal pollution

2014

Historical trends in trace element deposition were analyzed using herbaria specimens. We determined Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca, Na, P, K, S, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn contents in leaves of eight specimens collected in 1941. To assess changes, we collected the same plants from a botanical garden in 2012. The concentrations of major elements showed large species variability. However, temporal trends were predominately detected for heavy metals. The Cd, Ni and Cr contents in the 2012 leaves were 10, 13 and 16 times higher, respectively, than in 1941. Urban activities have substantially raised the levels of these metals in urban atmospheres due to changes in human activities over 70 years of urban …

A contribution to the characterization of Ruppia drepanensis (Ruppiaceae), a key species of threatened Mediterranean wetlands

2021

To elucidate the taxonomic status of Ruppia drepanensis Tineo ex Guss. (Alismatales, Ruppiaceae), we performed morphological analysis and DNA barcoding of historical materials (including the lectotype) and fresh samples (including those from a recently discovered population near the locus classicus in Sicily, Italy). We conclude that R. drepanensis is a separate species, closely related to R. spiralis L. ex Dumort., that occurs in temporary inland waters from the western to central sectors of the Mediterranean region. We also highlight the importance of vouchers and the need to link molecular investigations to field, ecological, and morphological investigations.

A web collaborative project to store and map botanical data

2013

CAN ANCIENT DNA DOCUMENT THE LOSS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN PYGMY CHIMPANZEES? A RESEARCH PROGRAMME ON HISTORIC SAMPLES IN ITALIAN PRIMATOLOGICAL COLLE…

2009

Detection of exercise adaptations by different specimens analysis

2015

This literature review is a compilation of the most used methods to monitoring athletes in training and competition. Blood is certainly the best known and proven methodology and a wide range of markers can be analyzed through it, but it can be difficult to obtain, especially among athletes or people who are afraid of needles. The use of saliva is an interesting alternative especially for the easy and less invasive method of collecting. The saliva infact contains a few of compounds diffused in the plasma, like water, electrolytes, proteins, metabolites and hormones. However, new methods yet poorly understood are slowly catching on; sweat for example, may carry far more information, may provi…