Una biblioteca virtualedi speleologia lombarda

Grazie a recenti sviluppi nella condivisione di informazioni editoriali in rete, è possibile presentare un prototipo di bibliografia ragionata e biblioteca virtuale relativo alla speleologia lombarda, con le seguenti caratteristiche: – impiego di Google Earth© come interfaccia utente per posizionare le cavità sul territorio e come punto di partenza per l’interrogazione bibliografica; – generazione statica di pagine web che rappresentano la bibliografia di una singola cavità; – riferimenti internet (URL) diretti ai singoli testi disponibili in rete, in modo da consentirne la consultazione immediata. Al momento la bibliografia lombarda si compone di 4400 titoli relativi a 4100 cavità. 700 titoli sono liberamente disponibili in rete. Vengono discussi i problemi riscontrati ed i potenziali sviluppi.Thanks to recent developments in Internet editorial information sharing, a prototype of Lombardy caving reference bibliography and virtual library is proposed. It relies on the following components: – the Google Earth© tool as a user interface, in order to position caves on the land and as a starting point toward bibliographic queries; – static generation of web pages representing single caves bibliography and references to titles; – Internet references (URL) pointing to specific titles available in the Internet, so as to quickly browse them. Presently, the Lombardy caving bibliography collects 4400 titles related to 4100 caves. 700 titles are freely available in the Internet. Problems and potential developments are discussed

Il bimillenario dell’acquedotto augusteo di Serino

Una galleria romana poco nota, posta in località Scalandrone (comune di Bacoli – NA), contiene un’iscrizione parietale che celebra l’apertura di un cunicolo di collegamento fra la galleria stessa ed un ramo dell’antico acquedotto augusteo di Serino. L’iscrizione riporta una data corrispondente al 30 dicembre 10 d.C. Si tratta del più antico riferimento ante quem relativo all’acquedotto augusteo. Grazie ad una collaborazione fra A.R.I.N. S.p.A (Azienda Risorse Idriche Napoli) e la Soprintendenza Speciale ai Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei, è stato ideato e realizzato un progetto comprendente l’esecuzione di un modello digitale della galleria e dell’iscrizione con tecnologie laser-scan ed a luce strutturata; dal modello sono state ricavate due copie su pietra dell’iscrizione, che sono state esposte nel Museo Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei e nella sede di Napoli dell’A.R.I.N. Infine, il 30 dicembre 2010 è stato organizzato un evento-convegno di celebrazione del bimillenario, culminato nel taglio di una spettacolare torta-monumento. Gli autori hanno partecipato all’ideazione ed alla realizzazione del progetto in veste di consulenti operativi e scientifici.A little known roman tunnel is placed in the municipality of Bacoli (Naples, Italy), in an area historically called Scalandrone. Bacoli is part of the renowned Phlegraean Field, visited by thousands of foreigners as part of a Grand Tour in the XVI-XIX centuries. However, the Scalandrone tunnel was not mentioned in local guides and foreign reports. The tunnel contains an inscription which celebrates the opening of an Haustus (passage intended as a water catchment) connected to the Augustean aqueduct. The date of the event is reported as December 30th 10 A.D. So, on last December we celebrated the bimillennial birthday of the Haustus. Thanks to the cooperation between A.R.I.N. (Naples water resources company) and the Special Archaeological Superintendency of Naples and Pompei, an event was planned in order to celebrate the tunnel and the inscription at the same time. The on-field work was performed by the ASAstudio company, with laser-scan and structured light techniques. A digital model of the inscription was produced, together with a 3D model of the main tunnel. Finally, on December 30th 2010 the birthday celebration summed up with a monumental cake inspired to the renowned Piscina mirabilis. The authors acted as designers and promoters of the project; in the on-field work the authors acted as operative and scientific consultants

The seismological correspondence at the Observatory of the Alberoni College in Piacenza

The Observatory of Collegio Alberoni in Piacenza boasts a long tradition of observations in the field of the Earth Sciences. Founded first of all as an astronomical observatory in 1751 it gradually specialized also in meteorological observation starting in 1802 and that of instrumental seismology starting in 1861. The instrumental observation of earthquakes in the modern sense started in the 1920s and is documented by an epistolary archive of some 200 letters (1913-1972) described here in brief. The Observatory has a broad-ranging initiative ongoing for the recovery of the historical scientific wealth of its long tradition in which the letters themselves play a very important role

Comparison of Bacterial and Archaeal Microbiome in Two Bioreactors Fed with Cattle Sewage and Corn Biomass

The bacterial and archaeal communities of two full-scale biogas producing plants (P1 and P2), associated with a 999 kW cogeneration unit, both located in North Italy, were analyzed at start up and fully operating phases, by means of various molecular approaches: (i) Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis; (ii) cloning and sequencing of PCR amplicons of archaeal genes 16Srrna and mcrA; (iii) 16S rDNA high throughput next generation sequencing. P1 and P2 use the same technology and both were fed with cattle manure and corn silage. During the study of P1 also the post digester (fed with pig manure) was analyzed. The aim of this research was to characterize the bacterial and archaeal communities in two very similar plants to profile the core microbiota. The results of this analysis highlighted that the two plants (producing comparable quantities of volatile fatty acids, biogas, and energy) differed in anerobic microbiota (Bacteria and Archaea). Notably the methanogenic community of P1 was dominated by the strict acetoclastic Methanosaeta (Methanothrix) (up to 23.05%) and the unculturable Candidatus Methanofastidiosum (up to 32.70%), while P2 was dominated by the acetoclastic, but more substrate-versatile, Methanosarcina archaeal genus (49.19%). The data demonstrated that the performances of plants with identical design, in similar operating conditions, yielding comparable amount of biogas (average of 7237 m3 day−1 and 7916 m3 day−1 respectively for P1 and P2), VFA (1643 mg L− 1 and 1634 mg L−1) and energy recovery (23.90–24 MWh day−1), depend on the stabilization of effective and functionally optimized methanogenic communities, but these communities aretaxonomically different in the two biodigesters

Regulation of ob gene expression: evidence for epinephrine-induced suppression in human obesity

Leptin acts as satiety factor and increases energy expenditure. Studies conducted on animals and in vitro on adipocytes culture have shown that infusion of catecholamines leads to a significant reduction of ob gene expression; it appears of interest to evaluate the in vivo effects of adrenergic activation on the expression of the ob gene in humans. We studied ob gene expression in adipose tissue samples from 13 obese subjects before and after epinephrine (25 ng/min x kg ideal body weight for 3 h) and 6 obese patients during saline infusion. Hormonal infusion led to a significant increase in epinephrine plasma levels (from 27 +/- 4 to 339 +/- 75 pg/mL; P < 0.001), plasma free fatty acids (from 0.73 +/- 0.05 to 0.98 +/- 0.07; P < 0.05), heart rate (13.5 +/- 3.1 beats/min; F = 2.9; P < 0.03), and systolic blood pressure (F = 2.7; P < 0.05), whereas diastolic blood pressure did not show significant variation. Plasma leptin levels decreased by the end of the infusion (from 63 +/- 13 to 49 +/- 11 ng/mL; P < 0.05), and ob messenger ribonucleic acid levels were significantly reduced (decrease amounting to 47 +/- 5% of basal values). Our study shows that adrenergic activation contributes to regulate ob messenger ribonucleic acid levels in humans. The interaction between epinephrine and leptin may operate during metabolic and psychological stress to regulate energy expenditure and food intake

"Dynamic Mediterranean”: an educational path through Earth science and geophysical research at Genova Science Festival 2010

Science Festivals are events world wide organized, and they have became more and more one of the most effective playground where science meet people. Genova Science Festival, held since 2003, is the Italian most interesting event of that type. The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), one of the largest European scientific institution deal- ing with Earth Sciences research and real-time surveillance, early warning, and forecast activities in geophysics and volcanology, participates every year developing a specific educational path, concerning some of its research areas. For the 2010 Genova Science Festival, the INGV has produced an educational exhibition called “Mediterraneo Dinamico” (Dynamic Mediterranean). This is a journey in the geodynamical history of the Mediterranean region from 200 million years ago till present. This long process took place also through some instantaneous dramatic events as eruptions, tsunami, earthquakes, whose studies have revealed their strong impact on cultural Mediterranean evolution as well as on environmental aspects as climate. The exhibition path aim is to illustrate and explain to general public, and especially to teachers and students, the results from researches conducted by INGV also in collaboration with other Italian and International partners, as well as from the real time Mediterranean sea water monitoring. The chosen exhibition instruments are wide colourful illustrated posters, greatly illustrated, together with smart interactive exhibits. In particular the path starts with a “Time Machine”, that allows visitors to retrace the main steps of the Mediterranean geological evolution, supported by posters. The following section concerning the “Mediterranean catastrophic event” welcome visitors with a glass pyramid projecting a virtual eruption almost as an “ologramma”, and side panels with two short videos explaining two great explosive eruptions and a tsunami event. The section on Mediterranean Tsunami are equipped with an interactive large map of the location of Mediteranean where occurred tsunami events, illustrated posters and also a microscope with a camera where visitors can analyse a core with a tsunami deposits. Also an interactive model of a GEOSTAR - Geophisical and Oceanographic Station of Abyssal Research provide visitors an entertaining approach on how a submarine observatory works with all his sensors, while a computer station permits visitors to read real time measures of some marine environmental indicators. The exhibition journey trough the Mediterranean geo-history and Earth Science and Geophysical research shows how the continuous knowledge and monitoring of to this Region dynamics are fundamental to design a future bearable development for the 30 million people living along the Mediterranean shores

Motor Properties of Peripersonal Space in Humans

Background: A stimulus approaching the body requires fast processing and appropriate motor reactions. In monkeys, fronto-parietal networks are involved both in integrating multisensory information within a limited space surrounding the body (i.e. peripersonal space, PPS) and in action planning and execution, suggesting an overlap between sensory representations of space and motor representations of action. In the present study we investigate whether these overlapping representations also exist in the human brain. Methodology/Principal Findings: We recorded from hand muscles motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) induced by single-pulse of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) after presenting an auditory stimulus either near the hand or in far space. MEPs recorded 50 ms after the near-sound onset were enhanced compared to MEPs evoked after far sounds. This near-far modulation faded at longer inter-stimulus intervals, and reversed completely for MEPs recorded 300 ms after the sound onset. At that time point, higher motor excitability was associated with far sounds. Such auditory modulation of hand motor representation was specific to a hand-centred, and not a body-centred reference frame. Conclusions/Significance: This pattern of corticospinal modulation highlights the relation between space and time in the PPS representation: an early facilitation for near stimuli may reflect immediate motor preparation, whereas, at later time intervals, motor preparation relates to distant stimuli potentially approaching the body

A novel network analysis approach reveals DNA damage, oxidative stress and calcium/cAMP homeostasis-associated biomarkers in frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is the form of neurodegenerative dementia with the highest prevalence after Alzheimer\u2019s disease, equally distributed in men and women. It includes several variants, generally characterized by behavioural instability and language impairments. Although few mendelian genes (MAPT, GRN, and C9orf72) have been associated to the FTD phenotype, in most cases there is only evidence of multiple risk loci with relatively small effect size. To date, there are no comprehensive studies describing FTD at molecular level, highlighting possible genetic interactions and signalling pathways at the origin FTD-associated neurodegeneration. In this study, we designed a broad FTD genetic interaction map of the Italian population, through a novel network-based approach modelled on the concepts of disease-relevance and interaction perturbation, combining Steiner tree search and Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis. Our results show a strong connection between Calcium/cAMP metabolism, oxidative stress-induced Serine/Threonine kinases activation, and postsynaptic membrane potentiation, suggesting a possible combination of neuronal damage and loss of neuroprotection, leading to cell death. In our model, Calcium/cAMP homeostasis and energetic metabolism impairments are primary causes of loss of neuroprotection and neural cell damage, respectively. Secondly, the altered postsynaptic membrane potentiation, due to the activation of stress-induced Serine/Threonine kinases, leads to neurodegeneration. Our study investigates the molecular underpinnings of these processes, evidencing key genes and gene interactions that may account for a significant fraction of unexplained FTD aetiology. We emphasized the key molecular actors in these processes, proposing them as novel FTD biomarkers that could be crucial for further epidemiological and molecular studies