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showing 10 items of 753 documents
Acute Type Refinements of Tetrahedral Partitions of Polyhedral Domains
2001
We present a new technique to perform refinements on acute type tetrahedral partitions of a polyhedral domain, provided that the center of the circumscribed sphere around each tetrahedron belongs to the tetrahedron. The resulting family of partitions is of acute type; thus, all the tetrahedra satisfy the maximum angle condition. Both these properties are highly desirable in finite element analysis.
Macroalgal responses to ocean acidification depend on nutrient and light levels
2015
Ocean acidification may benefit algae that are able to capitalize on increased carbon availability for photosynthesis, but it is expected to have adverse effects on calcified algae through dissolution. Shifts in dominance between primary producers will have knock-on effects on marine ecosystems and will likely vary regionally, depending on factors such as irradiance (light vs. shade) and nutrient levels (oligotrophic vs. eutrophic). Thus experiments are needed to evaluate interactive effects of combined stressors in the field. In this study, we investigated the physiological responses of macroalgae near a CO2 seep in oligotrophic waters off Vulcano (Italy). The algae were incubated in situ …
Seagrass ecosystem response to long-term high CO2 in a Mediterranean volcanic vent
2014
We examined the long-term effect of naturally acidified water on a Cymodocea nodosa meadow growing at a shallow volcanic CO2 vent in Vulcano Island (Italy). Seagrass and adjacent unvegetated habitats growing at a low pH station (pH = 7.65 ± 0.02) were compared with corresponding habitats at a control station (pH = 8.01 ± 0.01). Density and biomass showed a clear decreasing trend at the low pH station and the below- to above-ground biomass ratio was more than 10 times lower compared to the control. C content and delta 13C of leaves and epiphytes were significantly lower at the low pH station. Photosynthetic activity of C. nodosa was stimulated by low pH as seen by the significant increase in…
Natural co-occurrence of ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B and aflatoxins in Sicilian red wines
2015
The natural occurrence of ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2 (OTA, OTB, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2) in red wines was investigated by HPLC/FLD after immunoaffinity column clean-up in 57 market samples produced in Sicily (Italy). The results showed a very low incidence of these mycotoxins in analysed samples, confirming the high degree of quality and safety of Sicilian red wines. The results indicated 71.9% and 64.9% positive samples for OTA and OTB respectively, with an average level of 0.13 μg l(-1), well below the European maximum permitted levels (MLs). The aflatoxin most frequently detected in the samples was AFG1, present in 57.9% of sample…
Ochratoxin A in rice on the Moroccan retail market
2008
One hundred (100) samples of rice purchased from retail markets in five different cities (Rabat, Témara, Salé, Casablanca and Méknès) in Morocco from January to October 2006 were surveyed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) coupled to liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The identification of OTA in positive rice samples was confirmed by methyl ester derivatization. Analytical results showed a frequency of contamination of 26% of total analyzed rice samples. The percentage of contamination of samples was 24, 26.6, 16.6, 27.7 and 30% in Rabat, Témara, Méknès, Salé and Casablanca respectively. Levels of OTA in positive samples ranged…
Pressurized liquid extraction coupled to liquid chromatography for the analysis of ochratoxin A in breakfast and infants cereals from Morocco
2010
Abstract A sensitive and reliable method using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and liquid chromatography (LC) has been developed for the analysis of ochratoxin A (OTA) in breakfast and infants cereals. Influence of several extraction solvents that affect PLE efficiency was studied. The selected PLE operating method was: 10 g of sample was packed into 22 ml stainless-steel cell and OTA was extracted with acetonitrile/water (80:20) at 40 °C, 34 atm in one cycle of 5 min at 60% flush. The mean recovery of OTA was 82 ± 4 at fortification level of 3 ng/g OTA. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of OTA was 0.25 ng/g. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of 68 samples of …
An overview of ochratoxin A in beer and wine.
2007
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced mainly by several fungal species of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. This mycotoxin has been shown to be nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic to animals and has been classified as a possible carcinogen to humans. OTA occurs in a variety of foods, including beer and wine. Reports on OTA occurrence in beer indicate that this is a worldwide problem due to the widespread consumption of this beverage. At present, the European Union (EU) has not set a maximum allowable limit (MAL) for this mycotoxin in beer, although there is a limit in barley and malt. Studies carried out in different countries agree in the high proportion of sa…
Occurrence of ochratoxin A in bread consumed in Morocco
2007
Abstract One hundred samples of commercial bread purchased from January to October (2006) from retail bakeshops in five different cities (Rabat, Temara, Sale, Casablanca and Meknes) in Morocco were surveyed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection. The identification of OTA in positive bread samples was confirmed by methyl ester derivatization. Analytical results showed that forty eight (48%) samples were positive with OTA greater than the limit of quantification (LOQ = 0.051 ng/g). Levels of OTA in positive samples ranged between 0.14 and 149 ng/g. The average contamination of bread samples with OTA was 13 ± 1.5 ng/g. The highest …
Molecular evidence for phylogenetic relationships among buntings and American sparrows (Emberizidae)
2001
To help clarify controversial phylogenetic relationships within the family Emberizidae, we sequenced 1238 bp of mitochondrial DNA from the cytochrome b gene and a flanking portion of ND5. Although the longspurs (Calcarius) and the snow buntings (Plectrophenax) have been grouped with the Old World buntings (Emberiza) in traditional classifications, our molecular phylogenies constructed with maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony place these general basal to a clade in which the Old World buntings and North American sparrows are sister groups. Contrary to the hypothesis that the radiation within Emberiza is recent following a westward expansion of emberizid stock into Eurasia from North Ame…
A phase I/II trial of non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, docetaxel and trastuzumab as first-line treatment in HER-2-positive locally advanced or me…
2011
Abstract Aim To assess the activity and safety of non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet®) in combination with docetaxel and trastuzumab as first-line treatment of patients with HER-2/neu-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Patients and methods The maximum tolerated dose of the combination was defined in the phase I part of the study. In the phase II part, 45 HER-2/neu-positive MBC patients were enrolled to receive 6–8 cycles of Myocet® 50 mg/m2 (day 1), docetaxel 30 mg/m2 (days 2 and 9) plus trastuzumab (day 2, 4 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/kg/week) every 21 d until unacceptable toxicity or progression occurred. Objective response (primary end-point) and treatment tolerability were as…