110 research outputs found
Magnetic signature of submarine volcanoes in the Phlegrean Fields-Ischia Ridge (North-Western side of the Bay of Naples, Southern Italy)
This paper presents a study of the Phlegrean Fields-Ischia submarine ridge by the analysis and interpretation of
high-resolution aeromagnetic data recently acquired in the Western Procida offshore. The investigated area is located
along the ridge connecting Ischia to the Phlegrean Fields and is characterized by the existence of several
monogenetic volcanoes aligned on a NE-SW system of faults. The high-resolution magnetic data yielded new
information on the area, highlighting particularly the signature of a volcanic body located between Pt. Serra and
the Ruommoli shoal. This structure has not been clearly described before and we named it as the Pt. Serra submarine
volcano. The computation of the analytic signal and horizontal gradient of the data distinctly located this
structure and definined the position of its rims. A 2D modeling and 3D inversion of data provided information
on the volcano’s thickness, width and magnetization, disclosing a meaningful igneous body extending down to
several hundred meters b.s.l
The ‘Great Lockdown’ and its Determinants
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordSince COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, countries on the same pandemic trajectory have adopted
very different lockdown strategies. Using data for over 132 countries, and employing an event-study
design, this paper identifies the role of political, economic and institutional factors in explaining the
differential timing and intensity of stringency measures undertaken.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC
Independent and combined effects of egg pro- and anti-oxidants on gull chick phenotype
Oviparous mothers transfer to their eggs components that have both independent and combined effects on offspring phenotype. The functional interaction between egg components, such as antioxidants and hormones, suggests that a change in the concentration of one component will have effects on offspring traits that depend on the concentration of other interacting components. However, the combined effects of variation in different egg components are virtually unknown. Bird eggs contain vitamin E, a major antioxidant, and also maternal corticosterone. The independent consequences of variation in the egg concentrations of these compounds for offspring phenotype are largely unknown and no study has investigated their combined effects. We manipulated the concentration of vitamin E and corticosterone in the eggs of the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) by administering a physiological (2 s.d.) dose both independently and in combination. We tested for an effect on chick post-natal growth, plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC) and oxidative compounds (TOS). Separate administration of vitamin E or corticosterone caused a reduction in body mass relative to controls, whereas the combined administration of the two compounds reversed their negative effects. These results suggest that maternal egg components, such as antioxidants and steroid hormones, interact and mothers must balance their concentrations in order to achieve optimal offspring phenotype. The functional relationship between vitamin E and corticosterone is corroborated by the observation of positive covariation between these compounds
Managing wind-based electricity generation in the presence of storage and transmission capacity
The Mitogenome Relationships and Phylogeography of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica)
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) poses a number of fascinating scientific questions, including the taxonomic status of postulated subspecies. Here, we obtained and assessed the sequence variation of 411 complete mitogenomes, mainly from the European H. r. rustica, but other subspecies as well. In almost every case, we observed subspecies-specific haplogroups, which we employed together with estimated radiation times to postulate a model for the geographical and temporal worldwide spread of the species. The female barn swallow carrying the Hirundo rustica ancestral mitogenome left Africa (or its vicinity) around 280 thousand years ago (kya), and her descendants expanded first into Eurasia and then, at least 51kya, into the Americas, from where a relatively recent (<20kya) back migration to Asia took place. The exception to the haplogroup subspecies specificity is represented by the sedentary Levantine H. r.Transitiva that extensively shares haplogroup A with the migratory European H. r. rustica and, to a lesser extent, haplogroup B with the Egyptian H. r. savignii. Our data indicate that rustica and transitiva most likely derive from a sedentary Levantine population source that split at the end of the Younger Dryas (YD) (11.7kya). Since then, however, transitiva received genetic inputs from and admixed with both the closely related rustica and the adjacent savignii. Demographic analyses confirm this species' strong link with climate fluctuations and human activities making it an excellent indicator for monitoring and assessing the impact of current global changes on wildlife
How genomics can help biodiversity conservation
The availability of public genomic resources can greatly assist biodiversity assessment, conservation, and restoration efforts by providing evidence for scientifically informed management decisions. Here we survey the main approaches and applications in biodiversity and conservation genomics, considering practical factors, such as cost, time, prerequisite skills, and current shortcomings of applications. Most approaches perform best in combination with reference genomes from the target species or closely related species. We review case studies to illustrate how reference genomes can facilitate biodiversity research and conservation across the tree of life. We conclude that the time is ripe to view reference genomes as fundamental resources and to integrate their use as a best practice in conservation genomics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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