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showing 10 items of 16993 documents
Exploration of the Oxynoticeratidae ornamental morphospace using the discrete cosine transform (DCT) to analyze rib patterns.
2006
The discrete cosine transform (DCT) is a Fourier-related transform widely used in signal processing and well suited to analyzing open outlines such as ammonite ribs. The method is applied here to depict and decipher the ribbing morphospace of a large group of Lower Jurassic ammonites composed of the Oxynoticeratidae and their close ancestors. Because they are clearly associated with buoyancy and/or swimming ability, the usually clearly involute, comparatively smooth and compressed shells of these ammonites may well be misleading taxonomic markers. In this context, quantitative analysis of the ribbing pattern using the DCT may significantly improve our perception of the ornamental patterns e…
The antioxidant 2,3‐dichloro,5,8‐dihydroxy,1,4‐naphthoquinone inhibits acetyl‐cholinesterase activity and amyloid β 42 aggregation: A dual target the…
2020
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by amyloid β aggregation and cholinergic neurodegeneration. In the present study, pure DDN (2,3-dichloro-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) was examined, for the first time, for its dual potential as inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Aβ42 aggregation. Such investigation was encouraged by the in vitro high antioxidant potential of DDN. Indeed, it revealed interesting antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 9.8 and 4.3 µM for ABTS and reducing power, respectively. The ability of DDN to counteract Aβ42 aggregation was evaluated by thioflavine-T assay. Strong inhibition of Aβ42 aggregation of more than 90% at 25 µM was measured. Moreover, results …
Sicilian Myrtle Diversity: Evaluation of Leaf Total Phenols Content and Antioxidant Properties
2017
Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is an aromatic plant spontaneously growing and increasingly cultivated in Mediterranean area. Recently, interest on myrtle plant is growing due to the pharmacological and antioxidant properties since myrtle leaves are important sources of phenolic and antioxidant compounds with health-promoting effects. Plant genotype is the primary factor affecting antioxidant activity and phenol content. For this reason, a core collection of local selected myrtle accessions from Sicily was evaluated with the aim to identify genotypes with high antioxidant value. Thirty-six myrtle individuals belonging to seven populations were studied for leaf total phenols, tannins and antioxi…
Review of the genusiLanchnophorus/i(Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Rhyparochromidae) with description of three new species and other nomenclatural changes.
2017
The generic name Lanchnophorus Reuter, 1887, deemed for a long time to be unavailable as incorrect original spelling of Lachnophorus (in fact Lachnophorus Distant, 1903 is an unjustified emendation of the former), is restored as a valid name of the genus. Lachnesthus Bergroth, 1915, syn. nov. (new name for the preoccupied Lachnophorus Distant, 1903) is considered junior synonym of Lanchnophorus. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: Lanchnophorus flavus (Scudder, 1971) comb. nov. = Lachnesthus chinai Scudder, nomen nudum; Lanchnophorus guttulatus Reuter, 1887, comb. restit. = Lachnophorus albidomaculatus Distant, 1913, syn. nov. = Lachnesthus rodriguezensis China, 1925, syn. nov…
Land cover and its transformation in the backward trajectory footprint region of the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory
2019
Abstract. The Amazon rain forest experiences the combined pressures from human-made deforestation and progressing climate change, causing severe and potentially disruptive perturbations of the ecosystem's integrity and stability. To intensify research on critical aspects of Amazonian biosphere–atmosphere exchange, the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) has been established in the central Amazon Basin. Here we present a multi-year analysis of backward trajectories to derive an effective footprint region of the observatory, which spans large parts of the particularly vulnerable eastern basin. Further, we characterize geospatial properties of the footprint regions, such as climatic condition…
A 350 year drought reconstruction from Alpine tree ring stable isotopes
2010
[1] Climate reconstructions based on stable isotopes in tree rings rely on the assumption that fractionation-controlling processes are strongly linked to meteorological variables. In this context, we investigated the climate sensitivity of 350 years of carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of tree ring cellulose from European larch obtained at a high-elevation site in the Swiss Alps (∼2100 m above sea level). Unlike tree ring width and maximum latewood density, which contain only summer temperature information at this site, we found that our stable isotope series reveal additionally to temperature a striking sensitivity to precipitation (mainly for carbon) and sunshine duration (mainly for oxyge…
Alien Plant Diversity in Mediterranean Wetlands: A Comparative Study within Valencian, Balearic and Sardinian Floras
2018
Although wetlands provide an important range of environmental, social and economic services, they are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic erturbations, amongst which invasion by alien plants is particularly alarming. This paper focuses on the alien flora of wetlands from three territories belonging to the western Mediterranean area: one continental (Valencian Community) and two insular (Balearic Islands and Sardinia), providing a complete checklist for the three territories and a general comparison. In total, 380 alien taxa from 89 families have been reported, being the Valencian Community the area richer in taxa (312), followed by the Balearic Islands (151) and Sardinia (134). The inva…
The Monumental Olive Trees as Biocultural Heritage of Mediterranean Landscapes: The Case Study of Sicily
2021
Monumental olive trees, with their longevity and their remarkable size, represent an important information source for the comprehension of the territory where they grow and the human societies that have kept them through time. Across the centuries, olive trees are the only cultivated plants that tell the story of Mediterranean landscapes. The same as stone monuments, these green monuments represent a real Mediterranean natural and cultural heritage. The aim of this paper is to discuss the value of monumental trees as “biocultural heritage” elements and the role they play in the interpretation of the historical stratification of the landscape. We present the results of a survey of the most s…
Response and effect traits of arable weeds in agro-ecosystems: a review of current knowledge.
2017
25 pages; International audience; Integrating principles of ecological intensification into weed management strategies requires an understanding of the many relationships among weeds, crops and other organisms of agro-ecosystems in a changing context. Extensively used during the last two decades in weed science, trait-based approaches have provided general insights into weed community response to agricultural practices, and recently to understanding the effect of weeds on agro-ecosystem functioning. In this review, we provide a holistic synthesis of the current knowledge on weed response and effect functional traits. Based on the literature and recent advances in weed science, we review cur…
Does the genetic diversity among pubescent white oaks in southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia islands support the current taxonomic classification?
2020
AbstractMolecular diversity analysis of deciduous pubescent oaks was conducted for populations from Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia. The aims of this study were twofold. First, to provide data on the genetic diversity of pubescent oaks from an understudied area which currently exhibits one of the highest concentrations of pubescent oak species in Europe. Second, to verify if these groups of oaks are genetically distinct and if their identification is in accordance with the current taxonomic classification. Molecular analyses of leaf material of 480 trees from seventeen populations belonging to putatively different pubescent oak species (Quercus amplifolia,Q. congesta,Q. dalechampii,Q. ichnusa…