Behavioural aspects in ass during the end of pregnancy and ass and their foal during the first week post–partum in Martina Franca breed

AbstractThe study was carried out to investigate behavioural pattern in ass during the end of pregnancy and in asses and their foals during the first week after foaling. The study was performed on a total of 17 asses and 8 foals of Martina Franca breed reared outdoors free- ranging over the natural scrub area. In particular, for the behavioural observations on ass before the foaling 9 asses on the last month of pregnancy were considered, while, during the first post-partum week the observations were performed on 8 couples of dams and their foals. The behavioural observations were performed in a fenced area (4000 m2) from 08:00 to 20:00 using scan sampling with 5 min intervals. The data were collected by trained observers and recorded on a protocol form which considered the following main behavioural aspects: eating, drinking, walking, resting up, standing, and other behaviours. Within the class of other behaviours it was included secondary behaviours as grooming, vocalisation, playing, defecation, sniffin..

Seasonal distributions of ocean particulate optical properties from spaceborne lidar measurements in Mediterranean and Black sea

Assessing the oceanic surface layer's optical properties through CALIOP has been one of the reasons of the extension of the CALIOP mission for 3 more years (2018-2020). This is the first work evaluating the potential use of CALIOP for ocean applications at regional scale in mid-latitude regions (i.e. Mediterranean, MED, and Black Sea, BS) and investigating the added information on ocean particles given by the column integrated depolarization ratio (delta(T)) parameter. We implemented and refined a retrieval procedure to estimate this parameter at 1/4 degree of spatial resolution, comparing 7 years of CALIOP observations (2011-2017) to the corresponding Copernicus multi-sensor L3 ocean colour products of the surface particle backscattering coefficient (b(bp)) and chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a). This study pointed out that the current CALIOP sampling is inadequate to detect subtle day-night difference due to plankton diel variability for these basins. At a basin scale, delta(T) covaries with b(bp) for b(bp) >= 0.0015 m(-1). This is more evident for BS (R = 0.84) than for MED (R = 0.61). The analysis of seasonal distributions confirm this result for BS, where dT has a semi-annual cycle in very good agreement with bbp. In the MED, characterized by different trophic regimes, delta(T) shows also some similarities with Chl-a annual cycle. The combined characterization in the MED bioregions of the annual patterns of b(bp):Chl-a, delta(T):Chl-a and delta(T):b(bp) ratios suggested that delta(T) parameter can provide valuable information about the non-sphericity and the size of ocean particles

Hydraulic properties of ignimbrites: matrix and fracture permeabilities in two pyroclastic flow deposits from Cimino‑Vico volcanoes (Italy)

Hydrological properties of ignimbrites are known in detail only for some areas, although these rocks cover large areas with considerable thicknesses in many volcanic regions of the world. This study investigates hydrological properties of two ignimbrites of Latium (Central Italy), different in age, composition, and origin. The dual porosity of the ignimbrites was examined through laboratory tests, pumping tests, and outcrop surveys. The degree of welding, composition, and stratigraphy of the two ignimbrites are the main factors determining their hydrological properties. The two ignimbrites share a low matrix permeability, showing a different fracturing degree. The more welded ignimbrite is characterized by lower porosity of the matrix and higher fracturing degree, while the less welded ignimbrite is characterized by higher porosity of the matrix and lower fracturing degree. Hydraulic conductivity and storage capacity of the highly welded ignimbrite mainly depend on the denser network of discontinuities. The hydraulic conductivity of the younger ignimbrite, less welded, mainly depend on the sparser network of discontinuities and on the layer of unconsolidated coarse pyroclastic deposits at its base, while the storage capacity depends on the more porous matrix. Should the pyroclastic rocks be used as aquifer for water supplies, or, in other cases, as substratum of waste disposal sites, the dual porosity of the ignimbrites must necessarily include different scales of analysis in order to evaluate the role of matrix and fractures on the permeability of rock mass. In any case, the results of laboratory and on-site tests are to be interpreted taking into account the stratigraphy of the ignimbrite

Using overlapping VIIRS scenes to observe short term variations in particulate matter in the coastal environment

Abstract In coastal areas, the concentrations and the optical properties of the water components have a large spatial and temporal variability, due to river discharges and meteo-marine conditions, such as wind, wave and current, and their interaction with shallow water bathymetry. This large temporal variability cannot be captured using the standard Ocean Colour Radiometry (OCR) polar orbiting satellites, the latter providing almost one image per day. On the contrary, the use of OCR geostationary sensors, like the Geostationary Ocean Colour Imager (GOCI), centred above the Korean Peninsula, enable to capture the short-term variability of the optical properties. To compensate the lack of a geostationary sensor similar to GOCI over other coastal environments, like the North Adriatic Sea (NAS), the multiple observations provided during the same day by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) mounted on the SUOMI NPP satellite, can be exploited. Indeed, due to its large swath of 3060 km, the VIIRS orbits can overlap over the NAS during the same day within 1 h and 42 min, an important feature that can be useful in capturing the short term variability of the optical properties. A large number of VIIRS overlaps in the NAS are characterized by high sensor zenith angle (SZA) of the observation, resulting in a large portion of images masked by the high satellite zenith flag. In order to make available those observations and, in general, to reduce the dependence of the VIIRS observations from the SZA, an adjustment based on a multi linear regression scheme, which exploits radiometric in situ observations, was here applied. This study aims to prove the suitability of the adjusted overlapping VIIRS in capturing the short time scale dynamics of particulate backscattering, and this was demonstrated by the analysis of a case study for the 21st and 22nd of March 2013. In order to evaluate the advantages in using multiple observations during the same day, also the ~24 h dynamics was analysed, comparing the overlapping VIIRS results with the ones obtained from the daily product

309. Optimization of Dual AAV Vectors for Gene Therapy of Inherited Retinal Diseases

Retinal gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors is safe and effective in humans. However, AAV limited cargo capacity prevents its application to therapies of inherited retinal diseases (IRD) due to mutations in genes over 5 kb. Dual AAV vectors, each containing one of the two halves of a large gene expression cassette, are emerging as promising tools to overcome this limitation. Dual AAV trans-splicing and hybrid vectors transduce efficiently the mouse and pig retina and are effective in animal models of IRD. However, some of dual AAV limitations include lower levels of transgene expression compared to a single AAV vector and the production of proteins shorter than expected from either the 5'- or 3'-half AAV. Thus, further development of dual AAV vectors is required before their clinical translation. To increase dual AAV recombination we have exploited various regions of homology while to mediate the degradation of the proteins shorter than expected we have tested the ability of various degradation signals. We found that the levels of transgene expression achieved with the alternative regions of homology are similar to those achieved with dual AAV vectors carrying the AK region of homology we have previously shown to be effective. Notably, we have identified a degradation signal which mediates the degradation of proteins shorter than expected from dual AAV vectors. In conclusion, our study outlines optimized features of dual AAV vectors that improve their safety and efficacy. This represents a step towards the clinical translation of dual AAV for retinal gene therapy

Rheological and physical characterization of PEDOT: PSS/graphene oxide nanocomposites for perovskite solar cells

In this work, the influence of graphene oxide (GO) doped Poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) thin nanocomposite on an indium–tin-oxide (ITO) anode, as hole transport layer (HTL) in perovskite solar cells, was investigated. Different concentrations of GO were added into the PEDOT:PSS in order to enhance its conductivity. In particular, the influence of GO content on the rheological and thermal properties of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/GO nanocomposites was initially examined. The GO filler was prepared by using modified Hummers method and dispersed into PEDOT:PSS in different quantity (ranging from 0.05 to 0.25 %wt/wt). The obtained nanocomposite solutions were analyzed by rheological characterizations in order to evaluate the influence of the GO filler on the viscosity of the PEDOT:PSS matrix. The wettability of solutions was evaluated by Contact Angle (CA) measurements. The quality of GO dispersion into the polymer matrix was studied using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermal characterizations (DSC and TGA) were, finally, applied on nanocomposite films in order to evaluate thermal stability of the films as well as to indirectly comprehend the GO influence on PEDOT:PSS-water links

Chapter “Flex 2018” Cruise: an opportunity to assess phytoplankton chlorophyll fluorescence retrieval at different observative scales

The “FLEX 2018” cruise, organized by the CNR-ISMAR in frame of the ESA “FLEXSense Campaign 2018” and CMEMS project, provided a ground station for several bio-optical instruments that investigated the coastal waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea in June 2018. The field measurements were performed in time synergy with Sentinel 3A and Sentinel 3B satellites and HyPlant airborne imaging spectrometer. Active and passive fluorescence were investigated at different scales in coastal waters to support preparatory activities of the FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) satellite mission

Marine climate change and environmental indicators from the Marine Core Service

In the framework of the Mediterranean Operational Oceanography Network (MOON, http://www.moon-oceanforecasting.eu) The Mediterranean Forecasting System (Pinardi et al., 2003) has started the design and development of services that include the routine production of environmental and climate indicators. A process of identifying user requirements has been started in collaboration with European Environment Agency and the indicators definition and implementation aim to take user requirements into account. The indicators are extensively used by EEA (EEA web page on indicators: http://themes.eea.europa.eu/indicators/). INGV has carried out an analysis on the possible improvements of existing indicators in use by EEA and on the development of new indicators based on Marine Core Services (MCS) products. The list of indicators includes: Temperature, Chlorophyll-a (from ocean colour), Ocean Currents and Transport, Salinity, Transparency, Sea Level, Sea Ice and Density. A critical analysis has been carried out to identify the relevance of the above-mentioned indicators for EU policies, their spatial and temporal coverage, their accuracy and their availability (Coppini et al., 2008). INGV in collaboration with CNR-ISAC are directly involved on the development of the indicators in the Mediterranean region and European Seas region the Temperature and Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) products are the most suitable for an indicator development test phase. In particular the OO Chl-a product, deduced from satellite data, is able to contribute to the further development of the EEA Chl-a indicator on eutrohpication that is based on in-situ measurements (CSI023). For this indicator a development phase has been undertaken in 2008 and 2009 within the European Topic Center for Water (ETC-W) for EEA. The temperature indicators, developed with the support of MyOcean and Operational Oceanography community, consist of long time series (1870-Today) of SST anomaly able to describe ocean temperature increase due to climate change in the European Seas and on SST trends map of the last 25 years for the European Seas. These last two indicators have been included in the last 2008 EEA report on Impacts of Climate change in the European Seas (http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4). Moreover MFS re-analysis have been produced for the Mediterranean Sea and it consists of daily output of MFS-OPA hydrodinamic model (1/16 of degree horizontal resolution) that assimilates all available in situ and satellite observation for 1985 to 2007. This reanalysis product is used to detect temperature anomalies over the last 20 years in the coastal zone that could be related with environmental stresses. In addition to that we have also identified a Density indicator that appears relevant for the ecosystem health assessment in the coastal waters.PublishedBerlin, Germany3.7. Dinamica del clima e dell'oceanoope

Effective delivery of large genes to the retina by dual AAV vectors.

Retinal gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors is safe and effective in humans. However, AAV's limited cargo capacity prevents its application to therapies of inherited retinal diseases due to mutations of genes over 5 kb, like Stargardt's disease (STGD) and Usher syndrome type IB (USH1B). Previous methods based on "forced" packaging of large genes into AAV capsids may not be easily translated to the clinic due to the generation of genomes of heterogeneous size which raise safety concerns. Taking advantage of AAV's ability to concatemerize, we generated dual AAV vectors which reconstitute a large gene by either splicing (trans-splicing), homologous recombination (overlapping), or a combination of the two (hybrid). We found that dual trans-splicing and hybrid vectors transduce efficiently mouse and pig photoreceptors to levels that, albeit lower than those achieved with a single AAV, resulted in significant improvement of the retinal phenotype of mouse models of STGD and USH1B. Thus, dual AAV trans-splicing or hybrid vectors are an attractive strategy for gene therapy of retinal diseases that require delivery of large gene