Search results for "Unity"

Nematode community response to fish-farm impact in the western Mediterranean.

2002

A previous investigation on fish-farm biodeposition effects on benthos, carried out in the Gaeta Gulf (northwestern Mediterranean Sea), revealed a strong impact on meiofaunal assemblages. This study implements these findings by examining in detail the nematode assemblage and its response to organic enrichment from the start of a fish farm activity to the conclusion of the fish rearing cycle. Density, community structure and individual size were utilised for univariate (genus, trophic diversity and abundance patterns) and multivariate analyses (MDS) in order to identify the best descriptors of impact and the response of the nematode assemblages. Nematodes displayed significantly reduced dens…

Ecological impacts of global warming and water abstraction on lakes and reservoirs due to changes in water level and related changes in salinity

2015

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released in September 2014, unprecedented changes in temperature and precipitation patterns have been recorded globally in recent decades and further change is predicted to occur in the near future, mainly as the result of human activity. In particular, projections show that the Mediterranean climate zone will be markedly affected with significant implications for lake water levels and salinity. This may be exacerbated by increased demands for irrigation water. Based on long-term data from seven lakes and reservoirs covering a geographical gradient of 52 of latitudes and a literature review, we discuss how changes in water le…

The cork oak in the Mountains of Palermo (Italy): ecological insights from the south-eastern edge of its distribution range

2020

Abstract: The uneven presence of the cork oak (Quercus suber L.) within its distribution range is not only determined by its climatic requirements but also by specific edaphic needs. Although most of the natural populations thrive in acidic soils deriving from metamorphic or volcanic rock outcrops, some cork oak populations are found growing in soils deriving from calcareous bedrock, which are considered less suitable. We carried out a multidisciplinary investigation at the south eastern edge of the Q. suber distribution range (Mountains of Palermo, NW Sicily), including soil, floristic, and vegetation surveys, aimed at: (i) assessing the native or introduced origin of some peculiar cork oa…

A macroecological projection for the future of the Mediterranean marine space management in a Ecosystemic Community Strategy context

Over the past few decades we have witnessed rapid ecological changes that have occurred in the world's oceans and that have mainly affected the resilience and resistance of ecosystems and the vulnerability of communities living in these ecosystems. The real challenge will be to identify and select techniques and approaches based on a macroscopic vision in order to reduce the effect of global warming, the impact of human activities and their consequences on the marine environment. These interactions can generate effects that influence the functioning of oceanic and coastal ecosystems and, consequently, goods and services, such as fishing and aquaculture production. In fact, these activities …

Genome wide survey of the Toll-like receptor family in the Mediterranean sea urchin

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent a conserved family of proteins widely expressed in eukaryotes. They play crucial roles in the innate immune system recognizing different pathogen-associated molecular patterns. In mammals the TLR family comprises 10-13 members, while a huge number of TLR-like genes were recovered in S.purpuratus[1-3]. The Paracentrotus lividus genome project recently generated a new highquality assembly of the genome that represents a valuable resource also for clarifying the evolutionary origin of immune system. In order to identify TLR genes in P.lividus, a genome wide survey was carried out and BLAT searches retrieved 119 TLR genes (PlivTLRs). Ab initio gene predictio…

Immunolocalization and involvement of antimicrobial peptides in local inflammatory-like reactions in the tunic of Ciona intestinalis (Tunicata).

2011

Metilazione del DNA in artrite reumatoide

2005

Lo stato di metilazione del DNA genomico e del gene PTHrP è stato valutato con tecniche molecolari e citogenetiche in artrite reumatoide (AR), patologia autoimmune caratterizzata anche da alta incidenza di linfomi e da ipercalcemia per overespressione del gene PTHrP. La metilazione del DNA, infatti, ha un ruolo critico nello sviluppo delle malattie neoplastiche; il gene PTHrP avendo tre promotori uno dei quali contiene un’isola CpG è un buon candidato per la deregolazione da alterato pattern di metilazione locale. Le indagini sulla metilazione genomica, condotte su DNA estratto da sangue periferico di pazienti e di donatori e amplificato in reazioni di Methylation-Sensitive Arbitrarily Prim…

Study of green Sicilian table olive fermentations through microbiological, chemical and sensory analyses.

2010

The production of five different green table olive cultivars was studied by a combined strategy consisting of chemical, microbiological and sensory analyses. Cultivable microflora of samples collected during processing was monitored by plate counts on seven synthetic culture media. In all samples Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonaceae, staphylococci, lactic acid bacteria and spore-forming bacteria were undetectable. Yeasts and moulds were countable from the day 42 (2 log CFU/ml) till the end of fermentation (6 log CFU/ml). The use of three different approaches for microorganism detection, including a culture-independent methodology, revealed the presence of barely three yeast species during the…

Influence of ferric iron dosing on aerobic granular sludge: granule formation, nutrient removal and microbial community

2021

BACKGROUND: Three lab-scale sequencing batch reactors were used to investigate the effects of Fe3+ on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) formation, nutrient removal, and microbial community. RESULTS: The addition of 6 and 12 mg Fe3+ L−1 could not shorten the granulation time. However, compared to the reactor without Fe3+ addition (average sludge volume index at 30 min (SVI30) 70.8 mL g−1; stable average particle size 548 μm), the addition of 12 mg Fe3+ L−1 helped improve the physical properties of AGS (average SVI30 57.0 mL g−1; stable average particle size 1067 μm). Furthermore, with 12 mg Fe3+ L−1 addition (Fe3+ to PO43−-P molar ratio = 1.33), effective removal of NH4+-N (≤0.5 mg L−1) and PO43…

Progetti per raccontare la città

2020

Nell’ambito di una ricerca interdipartimentale il lavoro presenta l’esperienza di coordinamento di una attività progettuale condotta con giovani laureati nel centro storico di Caltabellotta, i cui lavori si offrono come occasione per aiutare la città a precisare intenzioni e atteggiamenti, riflessioni e azioni per innescare processi reali di rigenerazione. Un testo iniziale precisa e racconta le finalità del coordinamento.