Search results for "islands"
showing 10 items of 373 documents
Functional interaction of estrogen receptor α and caveolin isoforms in neuronal SK-N-MC cells
2003
Estrogen receptors (ERs) are expressed in neuronal cells and exhibit a wide variety of activities in the central nervous system. The actions of ERs are regulated in a hormone-dependent manner as well as by a number of co-activators and -repressors. A recently identified co-activator of ERalpha is caveolin-1 which has been shown to mediate the ligand-independent activation of this steroid receptor. In the present study we have demonstrated that neuronal SK-N-MC cells lacking functional ERalpha show high levels of caveolin-1/-2 specific transcripts and proteins. Ectopic expression of ERalpha in SK-N-MC cells leads to the transcriptional suppression of caveolin-1 and -2 genes. This silencing e…
Assessing the feasibility of cogeneration retrofit and district heating/cooling networks in small Italian islands
2017
Sustainability of energy supply strategies in small islands has been emerging as a severe issue, due to the large margins for improvement and rationalization of the most frequently adopted solutions. In most of the European islands, large amounts of heat are wasted by the operation of engine-based power plants; conversely, heat is produced by boilers (supplied by liquid fuels) or by electric equipment for a number of different uses, like domestic hot water production or space heating in winter. In this paper a techno-economic analysis is proposed to assess the feasibility of CHP-retrofit of the existing power plants and the possible utilization of the recovered heat to supply, via a distric…
Sustainability of the Renewable Energy Extraction Close to the Mediterranean Islands
2017
The aim of this work is to explore the possibility of transitioning a fuel powered island to a renewable powered one. This transition is analyzed for the real MV/LV distribution system of the island of Pantelleria, in the Mediterranean Sea. Particularly, this work is focused on a renewable source nowadays totally unused: wave energy. Thanks to the innovative generator prototype designed by Department of Energy of University of Palermo (Italy), wave energy is able to represent a primary source for the production of electric energy in the Mediterranean islands. The procedures applied in the present article, as well as the main equations used, are the result of previous applications made in di…
A feasibility study of some DSM enabling solutions in small islands: The case of Lampedusa
2017
Abstract The paper addresses the issue of the transition from a traditional electrical system without automation to a newer active and smart system allowing the possibility of implementing Demand Side Management policies, for little islands not supplied by the main grid. In particular, the paper focuses on two main topics related to the definition of: • an effective control, monitoring and communication system as a tool for the full exploitation of the opportunities given by Demand Response policies; • some solutions for the automation of the end-users’ electrical installations, in order to offer to the utility flexibility to be used for the improvement of the generation and distribution ef…
Assessing the conservation values and tourism threats in Barrientos Island, Antarctic Peninsula
2019
Antarctica has been witnessing continued growth of tourism, both in the overall visitation and in the diversity of itineraries and visitor activities. Expanding tourism presents unique business and educational opportunities, but it is also putting immense pressure on Antarctica's natural, and for the most parts, pristine environment. Understanding the effectiveness of different tourism management strategies and instruments, like the Visitor Site Guidelines adopted by the Antarctic Treaty, is fundamental to the sustainable management of Antarctic tourism. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Visitor Site Guidelines and other tourism management actions in reducing impa…
A Renewable Energy mix to Supply the Balearic Islands: Sea Wave, Wind and Solar
2018
The paper investigates the status of the electrical energy sector in the Balearic Islands (Spain). In order to improve the energetic sustainability, this work analysis the availability of renewable energy sources, focusing the attention on sea wave, wind and solar. For the utilization of sea wave source, an innovative device is proposed.
Epigenomics and metabolomics reveal the mechanism of the APOA2-saturated fat intake interaction affecting obesity
2018
BACKGROUND: The putative functional variant −265T>C (rs5082) within the APOA2 promoter has shown consistent interactions with saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake to influence the risk of obesity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to implement an integrative approach to characterize the molecular basis of this interaction. DESIGN: We conducted an epigenome-wide scan on 80 participants carrying either the rs5082 CC or TT genotypes and consuming either a low-SFA (C genotype, promoting an APOA2 expression difference between APOA2 genotypes on a high-SFA diet, and modulating BCAA and tryptophan metabolic pathways. These findings identify potential mechanisms by which this highly reproducible ge…
Five Years of the Citizens Directive in the UK - Part 1
2011
This two-part article reviews how the UK authorities have fared in the practical application of Directive 2004/38/EC in the five years since it entered into force. It identifies and examines the most common problems faced by EU citizens when seeking to have their rights recognised by the UK authorities applying the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 by reference to questions and complaints received by Your Europe Advice. In examining the experience of EU citizens and their family members living in the UK, account is taken of a number of recent judgments of the European Court of Justice concerning EU citizenship, including Metock, Lassal, Eman & Sevinger and Ruiz Zambrano.…
The evolutionary history of the rediscovered Austrian population of the giant centipede Scolopendra cingulata Latreille 1829 (Chilopoda, Scolopendrom…
2014
The thermophilous giant centipede Scolopendra cingulata is a voracious terrestrial predator, which uses its modified first leg pair and potent venom to capture prey. The highly variable species is the most common of the genus in Europe, occurring from Portugal in the west to Iran in the east. The northernmost occurrences are in Hungary and Romania, where it abides in small isolated fringe populations. We report the rediscovery of an isolated Austrian population of Scolopendra cingulata with the first explicit specimen records for more than 80 years and provide insights into the evolutionary history of the northernmost populations utilizing fragments of two mitochondrial genes, COI and 16S, …
Heart healthy cities : Genetics loads the gun but the environment pulls the trigger
2021
Abstract The world’s population is estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050 and 75% of this population will live in cities. Two-third of the European population already live in urban areas and this proportion continues to grow. Between 60% and 80% of the global energy use is consumed by urban areas, with 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions produced within urban areas. The World Health Organization states that city planning is now recognized as a critical part of a comprehensive solution to tackle adverse health outcomes. In the present review, we address non-communicable diseases with a focus on cardiovascular disease and the urbanization process in relation to environmental risk exposures inc…