Delayed or anticipated reproduction in the asp viper (Vipera aspis)? New field records

Field reports of delayed and anticipated parturition in the viperid snake Vipera aspis

Thermo-economic assessment of a olive pomace gasifier for cogeneration applications

A thermo-economic analysis of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant fed by syngas produced through the gasification of dry olive pomace is presented. The plant is composed by a 800 kWtdowndraft gasifier, a gas clean-up system, a 200 kWemicroturbine (MGT) and a heat recovery system to cogenerate hot water. Surplus heat is used to dry olive pomace from 50% to 17% wb moisture content. The plant is modeled in ASPEN Plus. Real data from experimental tests are used to calibrate the gasifier model, while the technical specification and performance of the CHP plant are collected from commercial plants in operation and data from manufacturers. Mass and energy balances are reported throughout the paper. The thermodynamic simulation of the biomass gasifier coupled to the MGT, the thermal and electrical conversion efficiency and temperature of cogenerated heat available are also presented. A thermo-economic assessment is then proposed, to investigate the economic profitability of this small scale CHP plant in the Italian energy policy scenario and considering the subsidies available for renewable electricity in the form of feed-in tariffs. For this purpose, the case study of base load CHP plant operation and heat supplied to different typologies of energy end user is assumed. The results allow quantifying the most influencing economic and technical factors that affect the performance and profitability of such investment and the bottlenecks that should be faced to facilitate a broader implementation of such CHP schemes for on site generation

A High Sensitive Nested PCR for Toxoplasma gondii Detection in Animal and Food Samples

Toxoplasma gondii is a major food and waterborne transmitted parasite world-wide. The tissues and meat samples of many warm blooded animals can contain tissues cysts from chronic toxoplasmosis. Water and vegetable can be contaminated by the parasitic oocysts shed through the feces of infected cats, representing the definitive host of the parasite. A sensitive PCR for Toxoplasma gondii detection is described. The first step amplified the region between the 28S and 18S rDNA in the closely related T. gondii and Neospora caninum; RFLP analysis distinguished the DNA from the two morphologically identical parasites. Although N. caninum is not involved in human transmission, so far, it is important for animal health since is a major responsible for abortion in cattle. The nested PCR was used in a dilution assay in pork sausage samples spiked with T. gondii parasitic DNA. The analysis showed that up to 200fg equivalent to two single parasites only, could be detected. Similar detection limit for T. gondii can be obtained with real-time PCRs, but real time methods need special consumables and expensive equipment

MATERIALS SELECTION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS OPERATING IN EXTREME SOUR & ACID GAS SERVICE

TutorialThe rising demand for oil and gas has led us to exploit oil fields and gas reservoirs with increasing amounts of contaminants. Reserves of natural gas are abundant, but about 40% of the fields contain high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and chlorides. The harshening environment represents a challenge for the suitability of common classes of materials used for design and manufacturing of centrifugal compressor components. According to NACE MR0175/ISO15156, a fit-for-purpose approach has been extensively used to prove the steel’s resistance in simulated field conditions and characterize the environmental limits of most martensitic and precipitation hardening stainless steels in terms of partial pressure of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorides. The literature available on the subject generally agrees that the contaminants’ concentration levels exceed the possibility of risk presented by stainless steels to turbo-machine reliability, and in worst cases to operators’ safety. Nickel-based alloys are the most robust solution to overcome the above limitations, guaranteeing high mechanical strength and resistance against stress corrosion cracking mechanisms in expected compressors’ environments. This paper describes the advance in nickel-based alloys’ application and production of centrifugal compressors (CC) for extreme sour and acid conditions, with work that reveals the development of alternative manufacturing routes for rotor and stator components in turbomachinery. A detailed explanation of nickel-based alloys’ metallurgy, application and manufacturing capability is also given, along with recent developments of new alloys to bridge the gap between iron-base and nickel-base alloys, providing cost effective materials with enhanced corrosion resistance

La metafisica del dolore

Il dolore pone le sue radici nella notte dei tempi. Da sempre è stato oggetto d’interesse per il genere umano, suscitando timore e superstizione nell’antichità, studio e analisi nei tempi successivi. Ricerche accurate effettuate nei secoli sull’argomento hanno consentito solo oggi di poterlo comprendere e controllare nel migliore dei modi. Per anni, la difficoltà maggiore è stata quella di voler descrivere, in poche parole, una condizione che aveva risvolti psicologici, fisiopatologici, emotivi ed affettivi. C'è una disciplina che studia l'essere in quanto essere e le proprietà che gli sono inerenti per la sua stessa natura e non si identifica con nessuna delle cosiddette scienze particolari, giacché nessuna delle altre ha come suo oggetto d'indagine universale l'essere in quanto essere. Ciascuna di esse, infatti, ritaglia per proprio conto una qualche parte dell'essere e ne studia gli attributi, come fanno, ad esempio, le scienze matematiche. Solo la metafisica può farlo, visto che si tratta di una branca della Filosofia. La maggior parte di coloro che per primi filosofarono, pensarono che principi di tutte le cose fossero solo quelli materiali. Non a caso, essi affermano che ciò di cui tutti gli esseri sono costituiti (ciò da cui derivano originariamente e in cui si risolvono da ultimo) è elemento ed è principio degli esseri, in quanto è una realtà che permane identica pur nel trasmutarsi delle sue affezioni

Focusing narrowly or broadly attention when judging categorical and coordinate spatial relations: A MEG study

We measured activity in the dorsal system of the human cortex with magnetoencephalography (MEG) during a matching-to-sample plus cueing paradigm, where participants judged the occurrence of changes in either categorical or coordinate spatial relations (e.g., exchanges of left versus right positions or changes in the relative distances) between images of pairs of animals. The attention window was primed in each trial to be either small or large by using cues that immediately preceded the matching image. In this manner, we could assess the modulatory effects of the scope of attention on the activity of the dorsal system of the human cortex during spatial relations processing. The MEG measurements revealed that large spatial cues yielded greater activations and longer peak latencies in the right inferior parietal lobe for coordinate trials, whereas small cues yielded greater activations and longer peak latencies in the left inferior parietal lobe for categorical trials. The activity in the superior parietal lobe, middle frontal gyrus, and visual cortex, was also modulated by the size of the spatial cues and by the type of spatial relation change. The present results support the theory that the lateralization of each kind of spatial processing hinges on differences in the sizes of regions of space attended to by the two hemispheres. In addition, the present findings are inconsistent with the idea of a right-hemispheric dominance for all kinds of challenging spatial tasks, since response times and accuracy rates showed that the categorical spatial relation task was more difficult than the coordinate task and the cortical activations were overall greater in the left hemisphere than in the right hemisphere

Bridging who they are with who they thought they’d be: the effects of Gen Zers’ subjective well-being on their boycott responses to online and offline unethical situations

This research investigates the role of subjective well-being in Gen Zers’ response to unethical situations that are encountered online versus offline. It empirically supports a model that incorporates moral reasoning effects and the aftermath of learning about the situation in either a first-person or third-person perspective. The findings suggest that Gen Zers are eager to show their values and participate in boycotts when facing an unethical situation. Subjective well-being plays an important role in activating versus inhibiting boycott behaviors as a response to unethical situations encountered both online and offline. Counterintuitively, Gen Zers are less likely to show support for a boycott when scoring high on well-being, since they are not willing to signal their commitment to gain social legitimacy. In fact, when coping with unethical situations, they are eager to display their true values and to enact the boycott rather than merely show support for it

A natural product for the control of olive leaf spot caused by Fusicladium oleagineum (Cast.) Ritschel & Braun

This study examined the effects of a liquid formulation (Formulation A) on olive leaf spot (OLS), caused by Fusicladium oleagineum. In the laboratory test the formulation, consisting in a dispersion of Brassicaceae meal in vegetable oil, was tested in comparison to vegetable oil alone and to a chemical fungicide (dodine). Vegetable oil, Formulation A, and dodine reduced conidium germination (47, 20 and 23% respectively), compared with untreated experimental controls (56%). Field trial results confirmed the efficacy of the formulation and dodine with respect to the untreated controls. Two applications of formulation in spring plus three additional sprays in autumn maintained OLS incidence below the harmful threshold, especially if applied on cultivars showing medium to low susceptibility to the disease

Metagenomic Characterization and Volatile Compounds Determination in Rumen from Saanen Goat Kids Fed Olive Leaves

Simple Summary The aim of this study was to characterize the rumen microbiota of Saanen goat kids fed olive leaves through a high-throughput approach based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing; furthermore, the parallel characterization of rumen volatile profile by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been performed. Twenty goat kids were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group received a basal diet, while in the second one the diet was supplemented with olive leaves. The results showed the dietary supplementation to be able to affect the microbial community in the rumen. Significant differences were specifically observed between the two groups at genera and even family levels characterized by a higher abundance of cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen of goat kids fed olive leaves. In addition, the analysis of volatile compounds at the rumen level has allowed us to highlight differences in relation to the diet and the presence, in the rumen of goat kids fed olive leaves, of compounds indicative of health status. The accumulation and disposal of by-products deriving from the agro-food industry represents a problem both from an economic and environmental point of view. The use of these matrices in zootechnical nutrition could represent a feasible solution. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of a diet containing olive leaves (OL), a by-product of the olive industry, on the ruminal microbial community of Saanen goat kids and on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during the digestion. Twenty goat kids were randomly divided into two groups of ten goat kids each. The control group (CTR) was fed with a standard diet, while the experimental group (OL+) received a custom-formulated diet containing 10 % OL on a dry matter (DM) basis. After 30 days of trial, genomic DNA was extracted from the rumen liquor and prepared for 16S rRNA-gene sequencing to characterize the rumen microbiota; furthermore, rumen VOCs were also characterized by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Shannon's alpha index was not significantly different between the two groups, on the contrary, Bray-Curtis (p < 0.01) and Jaccard (p < 0.01) distances evidenced that feed affected microbial community. Eleven genera were influenced by OL supplementation, with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in Paludibacter, Fibrobacter, Sphaerochaeta Christensenella, Rikenella, Oligosphaera, Candidatus Endomicrobium, Anaerovorax, and Atopobium was observed, while the percentages of Bacteroides and Selenomonas were reduced (p < 0.05). Differences were also observed between the two groups at the family level (p < 0.004). Fibrobacteriaceae, Christensenellaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Oligosphaeraceae, Candidatus Endomicrobium, and Planctomycetaceae were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in goat kids fed OL diet compared to CTR, while the levels of other identified families, Succinivibrionaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae, were opposite (p < 0.05). Finally, results showed that the main phyla in both groups were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes; however, no significant differences in the relative abundance of any phyla were observed between the two groups. In addition to what has been reported, the analysis of VOCs at the rumen level showed the ability of the OL integration to induce an increase in hexanoic acid and a parallel decrease in decanal. Furthermore, only in OL+ samples there was the accumulation of alpha-terpineol to which a wide range of interesting biological properties is attributed.The presence of VOCs associated with health status suggests a favorable role of OL in preserving and improving animal welfare