38 research outputs found
Quantification of the starling population, estimation and mapping of the damage to olive crops in the apulia region
The presence of wildlife in areas with a high concentration of farming activities can create a conflict between conservation objectives and productive purposes. Near Brindisi (Apulia, S-E Italy), a substantial amount of cash compensation claims for damages reported by local farmers and attributed to starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) has been registered. The aim of this study was to quantify the starling population wintering in the Apulia region, in order to assess the potential damage to crop production caused by this species. Our analysis was conducted over three years and included three main activities: a study of starling abundance and movements, the identification of areas and crops affected by damages, and a determination of the damage to the agricultural system in terms of quantity and concentration (heatmap). The study showed a loss of expected production that was coherent with the eating capacity of starlings wintering in the region. This means a loss, in terms of gross profitable production, of around 550,000 euros concentrated in a few narrow areas close to the roosts. Results on species behavior, damage quantification, and mapping are useful elements aimed to activate trade-off measures to preserve production and protection objectives, and to allow policymakers to address enforcement interventions and to establish parameters for financial compensation
Single Molecule Translation Imaging Visualizes the Dynamics of Local ÎČ-Actin Synthesis in Retinal Axons
Local mRNA translation occurs in growing axons enabling precise control of the proteome in response to signals. To measure quantitatively the spatiotemporal dynamics of protein synthesis in growth cones, we further developed a technique for single molecule translation imaging (SMTI). We report that Netrin-1 triggers a burst of ÎČ-actin synthesis at multiple non-repetitive sites, particularly in the periphery. The response is remarkably rapid starting within 20âseconds of cue application.This work was supported by grants from the Leverhulme Trust, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK (grant EP/H018301/1), the Medical Research Council (grant MR/K015850/1, and MR/K02292X/1), the Wellcome Trust (089703/Z/09/Z) (C.F.K.), Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund, Croucher Foundation, Cambridge Trust (H.H.W.) Gates Cambridge Scholarship (J.Q.L.), Wellcome Trust Studentship (V.U.), European Research Council Advanced Grant (322817), the Wellcome Trust (085314/Z/08/Z) (C.E.H.)
Depletion of SIRT6 enzymatic activity increases acute myeloid leukemia cells' vulnerability to DNA-damaging agents.
Genomic instability plays a pathological role in various malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and thus represents a potential therapeutic target. Recent studies demonstrate that SIRT6, a NAD <sup>+</sup> -dependent nuclear deacetylase, functions as genome-guardian by preserving DNA integrity in different tumor cells. Here, we demonstrate that also CD34 <sup>+</sup> blasts from AML patients show ongoing DNA damage and SIRT6 overexpression. Indeed, we identified a poor-prognostic subset of patients, with widespread instability, which relies on SIRT6 to compensate for DNA-replication stress. As a result, SIRT6 depletion compromises the ability of leukemia cells to repair DNA double-strand breaks that, in turn, increases their sensitivity to daunorubicin and Ara-C, both in vitro and in vivo In contrast, low SIRT6 levels observed in normal CD34 <sup>+</sup> hematopoietic progenitors explain their weaker sensitivity to genotoxic stress. Intriguingly, we have identified DNA-PKcs and CtIP deacetylation as crucial for SIRT6-mediated DNA repair. Together, our data suggest that inactivation of SIRT6 in leukemia cells leads to disruption of DNA-repair mechanisms, genomic instability and aggressive AML. This synthetic lethal approach, enhancing DNA damage while concomitantly blocking repair responses, provides the rationale for the clinical evaluation of SIRT6 modulators in the treatment of leukemia
Synergistic Interactions between HDAC and Sirtuin Inhibitors in Human Leukemia Cells
Aberrant histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity is frequent in human leukemias. However, while classical, NAD+-independent HDACs are an established therapeutic target, the relevance of NAD+-dependent HDACs (sirtuins) in leukemia treatment remains unclear. Here, we assessed the antileukemic activity of sirtuin inhibitors and of the NAD+-lowering drug FK866, alone and in combination with traditional HDAC inhibitors. Primary leukemia cells, leukemia cell lines, healthy leukocytes and hematopoietic progenitors were treated with sirtuin inhibitors (sirtinol, cambinol, EX527) and with FK866, with or without addition of the HDAC inhibitors valproic acid, sodium butyrate, and vorinostat. Cell death was quantified by propidium iodide cell staining and subsequent flow-cytometry. Apoptosis induction was monitored by cell staining with FITC-Annexin-V/propidium iodide or with TMRE followed by flow-cytometric analysis, and by measuring caspase3/7 activity. Intracellular Bax was detected by flow-cytometry and western blotting. Cellular NAD+ levels were measured by enzymatic cycling assays. Bax was overexpressed by retroviral transduction. Bax and SIRT1 were silenced by RNA-interference. Sirtuin inhibitors and FK866 synergistically enhanced HDAC inhibitor activity in leukemia cells, but not in healthy leukocytes and hematopoietic progenitors. In leukemia cells, HDAC inhibitors were found to induce upregulation of Bax, a pro-apoptotic Bcl2 family-member whose translocation to mitochondria is normally prevented by SIRT1. As a result, leukemia cells become sensitized to sirtuin inhibitor-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, NAD+-independent HDACs and sirtuins cooperate in leukemia cells to avoid apoptosis. Combining sirtuin with HDAC inhibitors results in synergistic antileukemic activity that could be therapeutically exploited
Instantaneous video quality assessment for lightweight devices
Monitoring and controlling the userâs Quality of Experience (QoE) in modern video services is a challenging proposition, mainly due to the limitations of current video quality assessment algorithms. While subjective QoE methods would better reflect the nature of human perception, these are not suitable in real-time automation cases. On the other hand, the existing objective algorithms are either too complex or too inaccurate, particularly in the context of lightweight devices such as camera sensors or smart phones. This paper introduces a novel objective QoE algorithm, Instantaneous Video Quality Assessment (IVQA), that is comparably as accurate as the most heavyweight algorithm available in the literature but can also be run in real-time. This approach is tested against a selection of ten objective metrics and benchmarked with a subjective user dataset
Composizione acidica del grasso delle carni di vitelloni podolici di 14 e 18 mesi di etĂ
In the last few years, has been growing a huge interest in the fat content
of the nutrients due to the relationship between many studies made on
diets with high percentage of saturated fatty acids and heart diseases.
Limiting the input of saturated fatty acids and consuming large amounts
of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly those of Ï3-PUFA
series [acid α-linoleic, EPA (C20:5 Ï-3), DHA (C22:6 Ï-3), acids of
the CLA series] have as a result the reduction of the heart pathologies,
the increase of the immunological, anti-inflammatory and against cancer
defenses; the cerebral and visual system development of fetus. Our studies
were based on evaluating the nutritional characteristics and the nutraceutical
propriety of podolian meat with a particular attention on the
content of fatty acids of the series mentioned before. For this reason, we
compared all the results taken by the analysis of samples of Longissimus
dorsi of podolian bulls slaughtered at 14 or 18 months of age, reared in
groups of 6 animals with two different systems (indoor rearing-system
and semi free-range). Their comparison shows that, generally, the content
of fatty acids of the Ï3-PUFA series is higher on the animals reared
with the semi-free range, both on 14 and 18 months of age, trend
showed by the raw and the cooked samples
PhyDSLK: a model-driven framework for generating exergames
In recent years, we have been witnessing a rapid increase of research on exergamesâi.e., computer games that require users to move during gameplay as a form of physical activity and rehabilitation. Properly balancing the need to develop an effective exercise activity with the requirements for a smooth interaction with the software system and an engaging game experience is a challenge. Model-driven software engineering enables the fast prototyping of multiple system variants, which can be very useful for exergame development. In this paper, we propose a framework, PhyDSLK, which eases the development process of personalized and engaging Kinect-based exergames for rehabilitation purposes, providing high-level tools that abstract the technical details of using the Kinect sensor and allows developers to focus on the game design and user experience. The system relies on model-driven software engineering technologies and is made of two main components: (i) an authoring environment relying on a domain-specific language to define the exergame model encapsulating the gameplay that the exergame designer has envisioned and (ii) a code generator that transforms the exergame model into executable code. To validate our approach, we performed a preliminary empirical evaluation addressing development effort and usability of the PhyDSLK framework. The results are promising and provide evidence that people with no experience in game development are able to create exergames with different complexity levels in one hour, after a less-than-two-hour training on PhyDSLK. Also, they consider PhyDSLK usable regardless of the exergame complexity