A test of motion-sensitive cameras to index ungulate densities: group size matters

The use of species detection rates gathered from motion-sensitive cameras as relative abundance indices (RAIs) could be a cost-effective tool to monitor wildlife populations; however, validations based on comparisons with reference methods are necessary. We considered 3 ungulates, wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and fallow deer (Dama dama), and compared 2 different RAIs with independent indices of density obtained through feces counts across 3 summers (2019-2021) in a protected area of central Italy. We estimated the number of detections per day (RAI(events)), and the number of individuals per day (RAI(individuals)) from remote camera videos. Both indices were correlated with density estimates, yet only RAI(individuals) correctly ranked interspecific densities. Values of RAI(events) for the most abundant and gregarious ungulate (i.e., wild boar) were biased low and were lower than those of fallow deer. The uncertainty of RAIs was acceptable for the 2 most abundant study species (CVs <= 25%) but was greater for roe deer. At the intra-specific level, density estimates and RAIs showed comparable but slight inter-annual variation. Our results support the use of RAIs derived from motion-sensitive cameras as a promising and cost-effective tool to monitor ungulate populations, and researchers should incorporate group size into monitoring. We advocate the necessity of field tests based on comparison with locally reliable reference methods to validate the use of motion-sensitive cameras

Theoretical polarization dependence of the two-phonon double-resonant Raman spectra of graphene

The experimental Raman spectra of graphene exhibit a few intense two-phonon bands, which are enhanced through double-resonant scattering processes. Though there are many theoretical papers on this topic, none of them predicts the spectra within a single model. Here, we present results for the two-phonon Raman spectra of graphene calculated by means of the quantum perturbation theory. The electron and phonon dispersions, electronic lifetime, electron-photon and electron-phonon matrix elements, are all obtained within a density-functional-theory-based non-orthogonal tight-binding model. We study systematically the overtone and combination two-phonon Raman bands, and, in particular, the energy and polarization dependence of their Raman shift and intensity. We find that the ratio of the integrated intensities for parallel and cross polarized light for all two-phonon bands is between 0.33 and 0.42. Our results are in good agreement with the available experimental data

Locus coeruleus modulates neuroinflammation in parkinsonism and dementia

Locus Coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the central nervous system, and its neurons widely innervate the whole brain. LC is severely degenerated both in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and in Parkinson’s disease (PD), years before the onset of clinical symptoms, through mechanisms that differ among the two disorders. Several experimental studies have shown that noradrenaline modulates neuroinflammation, mainly by acting on microglia/astrocytes function. In the present review, after a brief introduction on the anatomy and physiology of LC, we provide an overview of experimental data supporting a pathogenetic role of LC degeneration in AD and PD. Then, we describe in detail experimental data, obtained in vitro and in vivo in animal models, which support a potential role of neuroinflammation in such a link, and the specific molecules (i.e., released cytokines, glial receptors, including pattern recognition receptors and others) whose expression is altered by LC degeneration and might play a key role in AD/PD pathogenesis. New imaging and biochemical tools have recently been developed in humans to estimate in vivo the integrity of LC, the degree of neuroinflammation, and pathology AD/PD biomarkers; it is auspicable that these will allow in the near future to test the existence of a link between LC-neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration directly in patients

Effect of the addition of natural rice bran oil on the thermal, mechanical, morphological and viscoelastic properties of poly(Lactic Acid)

For the first time in this study, the utilization of rice bran oil (RBO) as possible totally eco-friendly plasticizer for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has been investigated. For comparison, the behavior of soybean oil (SO) has also been analyzed. Both oils are not completely miscible with PLA. However, certain compatibility exists between PLA and (i) RBO and (ii) SO, because demixing is not complete. Although not totally miscible, RBO and SO are able to reduce the viscosity of the PLA+RBO and PLA+SO mixtures, which attests that a small amount of RBO or SO can be successfully added to PLA to improve its processability. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the PLA+RBO and PLA+SO mixtures exhibit trends typical of plasticizer-polymer systems. More interestingly, RBO was found to accelerate the growth of PLA α'-crystals at a low crystallization temperature. This feature is appealing, because the α'-phase presents lower elastic modulus and higher permeability to water vapor in comparison to the α-phase, which grows at high temperatures. Thus, this study demonstrates that the addition of RBO to PLA in small percentages is a useful solution for a faster preparation of PLA materials containing mainly the α'-phase

Risk calculator for prediction of treatment-related urethroplasty failure in patients with penile urethral strictures

Purpose To design a dedicated risk calculator for patients with penile urethra stricture who are scheduled to urethroplasty that might be used to counsel patients according to their pre-operative risk of failure. Methods Patients treated with penile urethroplasty at our center (1994-2018) were included in the study. Patients received 1-stage or staged penile urethroplasty. Patients with failed hypospadias repair, lichen sclerosus or incomplete clinical records were excluded. Treatment failure was defined as any required postoperative instrumentation, including dilation. Univariable Cox regression identified predictors of post-operative treatment failure and Kaplan-Meier analysis plotted the failure-free survival rates according to such predictors. Multivariable Cox regression-based risk calculator was generated to predict the risk of treatment failure at 10 years after surgery. Results 261 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 113 months. Out of 216 patients, 201 (77%) were classified as success and 60 (23%) failures. Former smoker (hazard ratio [HR] 2.12, p = 0.025), instrumentation-derived stricture (HR 2.55, p = 0.006), and use of grafts (HR 1.83, p = 0.037) were predictors of treatment failure. Model-derived probabilities showed that the 10-year risk of treatment failure varied from 5.8 to 41.1% according to patient's characteristics. Conclusions Long-term prognosis in patients who underwent penile urethroplasty is uncertain. To date, our risk-calculator represents the first tool that might help physicians to predict the risk of treatment failure at 10 years. According to our model, such risk is largely influenced by the etiology of the stricture, the use of graft, and patient's smoking habits

Thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of biocomposites made of poly(Lactic acid) and potato pulp powder

The thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of biocomposites of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with potato pulp powder were investigated in order to (1) quantify how the addition of this filler modifies the structure of the polymeric material and (2) to obtain information on the possible miscibility and compatibility between PLA and the potato pulp. The potato pulp powder utilized is a residue of the processing for the production and extraction of starch. The study was conducted by analyzing the effect of the potato pulp concentration on the thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of the biocomposites. The results showed that the potato pulp powder does not act as reinforcement but as filler for the PLA polymeric matrix. A progressive decrease in elastic modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break was observed with increasing the potato pulp percentage. This moderate loss of mechanical properties, however, still meets the technical requirements indicated for the production of rigid packaging items. The incorporation of potato pulp powder to PLA offers the possibility to reduce the cost of the final products and promotes a circular economy approach for the valorization of agro-food waste biomass

Interactions between carnivore species: limited spatiotemporal partitioning between apex predator and smaller carnivores in a Mediterranean protected area

Background: There is need of information on ecological interactions that keystone species such as apex predators establish in ecosystems recently recolonised. Interactions among carnivore species have the potential to influence community-level processes, with consequences for ecosystem dynamics. Although avoidance of apex predators by smaller carnivores has been reported, there is increasing evidence that the potential for competitive-to-facilitative interactions is context-dependent. In a protected area recently recolonised by the wolf Canis lupus and hosting abundant wild prey (3 ungulate species, 20–30 individuals/km2, together), we used 5-year food habit analyses and 3-year camera trapping to (i) investigate the role of mesocarnivores (4 species) in the wolf diet; (ii) test for temporal, spatial, and fine-scale spatiotemporal association between mesocarnivores and the wolf. Results: Wolf diet was dominated by large herbivores (86% occurrences, N = 2201 scats), with mesocarnivores occurring in 2% scats. We collected 12,808 carnivore detections over > 19,000 camera trapping days. We found substantial (i.e., generally ≥ 0.75, 0–1 scale) temporal overlap between mesocarnivores—in particular red fox—and the wolf, with no support for negative temporal or spatial associations between mesocarnivore and wolf detection rates. All the species were nocturnal/crepuscular and results suggested a minor role of human activity in modifying interspecific spatiotemporal partitioning. Conclusions: Results suggest that the local great availability of large prey to wolves limited negative interactions towards smaller carnivores, thus reducing the potential for spatiotemporal avoidance. Our study emphasises that avoidance patterns leading to substantial spatiotemporal partitioning are not ubiquitous in carnivore guilds