1,131 research outputs found
Tourism composite spatial indicators through variography and geographically weighted principal components analysis
The definition of an index to synthesize the tourism appeal of a holiday destination is complex due to the effect of different aspects, such as the economic, socio-demographic, cultural, geographical ones regarding both demand and supply-side. In this paper, several spatially-referenced factors, related to the tourism attractiveness, are analyzed through the geographically weighted principal components analysis (GWPCA). However, the automatic setting of its kernel bandwidth, often used in practice, provides sometimes a not satisfactory result, since it is too small, with possible abrupt variation in the spatial domain, or too large, disregarding the spatial dependence. For this reason, a new approach, based on variography and minimum spatial correlation distance characterizing the covariates, is proposed for the GWPCA. A comparison with respect to the outputs of the GWPCA, based on automatic fitting, is discussed. Moreover, tourism composite spatial indicators are developed in order to support the policy makers in planning possible actions to boost tourism over the region of interest
Radon Risk Analysis Through Geostatistical Tools Implemented in a WebGIS
Radon (Rn) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, inert radioactive gas, and derives from the decay
of uranium, which is a radioactive element that is found in small quantities in all sediments
and rocks.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and theWorld Health Organization
(WHO) classify Rn pollution as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
Since Rn is present, in the depths of the Earth, in gaseous phase, it reaches the surface because
it interacts with other natural elements, such as uranium, thorium and radio (precursor
elements); moreover other geo-lithological features, such as the mineralogical composition of
the rocks, the underground permeability levels, the presence of faults, fractures and cavities,
affect the transport of the Rn on the surface.
In this paper, the spatial distribution of the Rn concentrations in soil gas over a survey area
located in the South of Apulian Region (Italy) and its prediction at unsampled points have
been discussed. In particular, Ordinary Kriging (OK), Log-Normal Kriging (LK), Cokriging
with indicator variable (ICK) and Kriging with Varying Means (KVM) have
been used to predict Rn concentrations over the study area.
In this context, the integration of a Geographical Information System (GIS) and geostatistical
tools can certainly support the evaluation of alternative scenarios, possible strategies for a
sustainable development
Phyto-Friendly Soil Bacteria and Fungi Provide Beneficial Outcomes in the Host Plant by Differently Modulating Its Responses through (In)Direct Mechanisms
Sustainable agricultural systems based on the application of phyto-friendly bacteria and fungi are increasingly needed to preserve soil fertility and microbial biodiversity, as well as to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Although there is considerable attention on the potential applications of microbial consortia as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents for crop management, knowledge on the molecular responses modulated in host plants because of these beneficial associations is still incomplete. This review provides an up-to-date overview of the different mechanisms of action triggered by plant-growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) to promote host-plant growth and improve its defense system. In addition, we combined available gene-expression profiling data from tomato roots sampled in the early stages of interaction with Pseudomonas or Trichoderma strains to develop an integrated model that describes the common processes activated by both PGPMs and highlights the host’s different responses to the two microorganisms. All the information gathered will help define new strategies for the selection of crop varieties with a better ability to benefit from the elicitation of microbial inoculants
PM 10 Time Series Analysis Through Geostatistical Techniques
Particulate matter (PM) is an air pollutant comes from vehicular traffic, industrial activities
and street dust, or from the atmosphere, by transformation of the gaseous emissions. In
recent years the interest in the health effects of this pollutant have increased, since high
concentration levels in urban area have been measured.
Several studies suggest an association between fine particulate air pollution and the increase
of the mortality rate. In particular, PM up to 10 micrometers in size (PM10) could cause
negative health effects such as respiratory illness or cardiovascular problems. Hence, the
analysis of temporal evolution of this pollutant could be useful in decision-making process
for environmental policy.
Typically, in time series analysis, the Box-Jenkins methodology is widely applied and the
autocorrelation function (ACF) is used as a standard exploratory tool to identify the model
structure . In this context, the use of geostatistical techniques could also be convenient,
nevertheless these techniques are usually applied to analyze, through the variogram, spatial
relationships among sample data measured at some locations in a domain and to predict
the corresponding spatial phenomena
Spatio-temporal modeling of groundwater quality deterioration and resource depletion
In Hydrogeology, the analysis of groundwater features is based on multiple data related to correlated variables recorded over a spatio-temporal domain. Thus, multivariate geostatistical tools are fundamental for assessment of the data variability in space and time, as well as for parametric and nonparametric modeling. In this work, three key hydrological indicators of the quality of groundwater-sodium adsorption ratio, chloride and electrical conductivity-as well as the phreatic level, in the unconfined aquifer of the central area of Veneto Region (Italy) are investigated and modeled for prediction purposes. By using a new geostatistical approach, probability maps of groundwater resource deterioration are computed, and some areas where the aquifer needs strong attention are identified in the north-east part of the study region. The proposed analytical methodology and the findings can support policy makers in planning actions aimed at sustainable water management, which should enable better monitoring of groundwater used for drinking and also ensure high quality of water for irrigation purposes
SP051EXOSOMAL SHUTTLE RNA IN URINARY EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES AS BIOMARKER OF CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA
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Follistatin induction by nitric oxide through cyclic GMP: a tightly regulated signaling pathway that controls myoblast fusion
The mechanism of skeletal myoblast fusion is not well understood. We show that endogenous nitric oxide (NO) generation is required for myoblast fusion both in embryonic myoblasts and in satellite cells. The effect of NO is concentration and time dependent, being evident only at the onset of differentiation, and direct on the fusion process itself. The action of NO is mediated through a tightly regulated activation of guanylate cyclase and generation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), so much so that deregulation of cGMP signaling leads to a fusion-induced hypertrophy of satellite-derived myotubes and embryonic muscles, and to the acquisition of fusion competence by myogenic precursors in the presomitic mesoderm. NO and cGMP induce expression of follistatin, and this secreted protein mediates their action in myogenesis. These results establish a hitherto unappreciated role of NO and cGMP in regulating myoblast fusion and elucidate their mechanism of action, providing a direct link with follistatin, which is a key player in myogenesis
Correction: ERas and COLorectal endoscopic surgery: an Italian society for endoscopic surgery and new technologies (SICE) national report
Development of a High Oleic Cardoon Cell Culture Platform by SAD Overexpression and RNAi-Mediated FAD2.2 Silencing
The development of effective tools for the sustainable supply of phyto-ingredients and natural substances with reduced environmental footprints can help mitigate the dramatic scenario of climate change. Plant cell cultures-based biorefineries can be a technological advancement to face this challenge and offer a potentially unlimited availability of natural substances, in a standardized composition and devoid of the seasonal variability of cultivated plants. Monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids are attracting considerable attention as supplements for biodegradable plastics, bio-additives for the cosmetic industry, and bio-lubricants. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis) callus cultures accumulate fatty acids and polyphenols and are therefore suitable for large-scale production of biochemicals and valuable compounds, as well as biofuel precursors. With the aim of boosting their potential uses, we designed a biotechnological approach to increase oleic acid content through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated metabolic engineering. Bioinformatic data mining in the C. cardunculus transcriptome allowed the selection and molecular characterization of SAD (stearic acid desaturase) and FAD2.2 (fatty acid desaturase) genes, coding for key enzymes in oleic and linoleic acid formation, as targets for metabolic engineering. A total of 22 and 27 fast-growing independent CcSAD overexpressing (OE) and CcFAD2.2 RNAi knocked out (KO) transgenic lines were obtained. Further characterization of five independent transgenic lines for each construct demonstrated that, successfully, SAD overexpression increased linoleic acid content, e.g., to 42.5%, of the relative fatty acid content, in the CcSADOE6 line compared with 30.4% in the wild type (WT), whereas FAD2.2 silencing reduced linoleic acid in favor of the accumulation of its precursor, oleic acid, e.g., to almost 57% of the relative fatty acid content in the CcFAD2.2KO2 line with respect to 17.7% in the WT. Moreover, CcSADOE6 and CcFAD2.2KO2 were also characterized by a significant increase in total polyphenolic content up to about 4.7 and 4.1 mg/g DW as compared with 2.7 mg/g DW in the WT, mainly due to the accumulation of dicaffeoyl quinic and feruloyl quinic acids. These results pose the basis for the effective creation of an engineered cardoon cells-based biorefinery accumulating high levels of valuable compounds from primary and specialized metabolism to meet the industrial demand for renewable and sustainable sources of innovative bioproducts
MOTIVOS DE INGRESSO NOS PROGRAMAS DE EXERCÍCIOS FÍSICOS OFERECIDOS PELO SERVIÇO SOCIAL DO COMÉRCIO – SESC-DF
The objective of this study was to identify the reasons of adherence of the practitioners of physical exercises of the Centers of Activities of the SESC-DF and to verify if they differentiate according to sex, age and types of physical exercises. A representative sample of 986 individuals of both sexes (?15 years) answered a questionnaire constructed and validated by Alves (2004). The data reveal that the informants entered the programs (a) following medical indication, (b) to prevent problems of health and (c) to improve the physical conditioning. These results suggest that the argument concerning health is the main reason that justifies the adherence to the programs of physical exercises of the SESC-DF. Keywords: Physical Exercise; Adherence; Reasons; SESC/DF.El objetivo de este estudio era identificar las razones del ingreso de las personas que hacen actividades fĂsicas en los centros de las actividades del SESC-DF y verificar si ellas si distinguen segĂşn sexo, edad y los tipos de ejercicios fĂsicos. Una muestra representativa de 986 individuos de ambos los sexos (?15 años) contestĂł a un cuestionario construido y validado por Alves (2004), cuyos dados divulgan que las personas habĂan incorporado los programas (a) por indicaciĂłn mĂ©dica, (b) para prevenir problemas de la salud y (c) para mejorar el condicionamiento fĂsico. Esos resultados sugieren que la discusiĂłn de la salud sea la razĂłn principal que justifica la adherencia a los programas de los ejercicios fĂsicos del SESC-DF. Palabras Clave: Ejercicio FĂsico; Adherencia; Factores de MotivaciĂłn; SESC/DF.O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os motivos de ingresso dos praticantes de exercĂcios fĂsicos dos Centros de Atividades do SESC-DF e verificar se eles se diferenciam segundo sexo, idade e tipos de exercĂcios fĂsicos. Uma amostra representativa de 986 indivĂduos de ambos os sexos (?15 anos) respondeu um questionário construĂdo e validado por Alves (2004), cujos dados revelam que os sujeitos ingressaram nos programas (a) por indicação mĂ©dica, (b) para evitar problemas de saĂşde e (c) para melhorar o condicionamento fĂsico. Esses resultados sugerem que o argumento da saĂşde Ă© o principal motivo que justifica a adesĂŁo aos programas de exercĂcios fĂsicos do SESC-DF. Palavras-chaves: ExercĂcio FĂsico; AdesĂŁo; Motivos; SESC/D
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