TREES AS INDICATORS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, GEOMORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT IN NORTHERN ITALY

Climate is changing due to both natural and anthropogenic causes. Among the several natural \u201csentinels\u201d of climate change, trees potentially represent excellent indicators for reconstructing the changing climatic conditions in the recent and remote past and for monitoring the impacts of the current global warming and the related environmental conditions. Trees respond to changes in climate (air temperature, precipitation rate, water availability, etc.) and environment (soil nutrients, pathogen infections, mechanical wounding, etc.) both rapidly, modifying their tree-ring growth rate and physiological processes, and slowly, modifying their distribution. Chemical elements and pollutants deriving from human activity can mask the climatic signal but, at the same time, trees become precious collectors of data that can be used for multidisciplinary research. In this Ph.D. project, I aimed at testing the potential use of trees as indicators of climate, environmental and human impacts in different morphoclimatic conditions, and to investigate if natural and anthropogenic conditions can mask the climatic signal recorded in trees. For this purpose, I selected different key sites in northern Italy. I applied remote sensing techniques, dendrochronological and dendroisotopical approach and the investigation of Volatile Organic Compounds both in tree leaves and in tree rings at the Miage Glacier (AO), the widest debris-covered glacier in Italy. This site has been chosen because of its uniqueness: the Miage Glacier is the only glacier, in the southern side of the Alps, characterized by the presence of abundant supraglacial vegetation that confers an important ecological value to the site. The Miage Glacier has been recognised as a geomorphosite for its scientific, scenic, cultural, economic and educational values. The results show that high-resolution satellite images allow the rapid detection of supraglacial trees whenever their density is high and that tree establishment is driven by supraglacial slope, debris thickness, glacier thickness and surface velocity. Supraglacial trees are characterized by tree-ring width, stable carbon and oxygen isotopes and needle volatile organic compounds that are significantly different compared to trees located outside the glacier. The dendrochronological approach also resulted to be successful for defining areas affected by glacial melting water and, as a consequence, for assessing geomorphological hazards in glacial environments. Tree-ring width and terpenes in annual tree rings were found to be valuable indicators of fungal infection in mountain environments. I also performed magnetic and mineralogical analyses of tree bark samples both at the head of a sample Alpine valley, in Santa Caterina Valfurva (SO), near one of the widest Alpine glacier, the Forni Glacier, and in an urban polluted context, the city of Milan, in order to identify the accumulation rate of magnetic particles and compare different morphoclimatic environments. The results show that outer tree bark can be useful for monitoring the distribution of pollutants with magnetic properties and suggest the role of trees as PM sinks in urban areas. Overall, the results presented in this thesis represent a contribution for a better understanding of the potential use of trees both in high mountain environments and in urban areas for monitoring the impacts of the current climatic and environmental changes. Some of the proposed approaches represent scientific novelties because were never applied in extreme environments or were never considered in the context of the current climate change

Anti-oxidant potential and gap junction-mediated intercellular communication as early biological markers of mercuric chloride toxicity in MDCK cell line.

In this study, the early nephrotoxic potential of mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)) has been evaluated in vitro, by exposing a renal-derived cell system, the tubular epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line, to the presence of increasing HgCl(2) concentrations (0.1-100 microM) for different periods of time (from 4 to 72 h). As possible biological markers of the tubular-specific toxicity of HgCl(2) in exposed-MDCK cultures we analysed: (i) critical biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress conditions and (ii) gap-junctional function (GJIC). HgCl(2) cytotoxicity was evaluated by cell-density assay. The biochemical analysis of the pro-oxidant properties of the mercuric ion (Hg(2+)) was performed by evaluating the effect of the metal salt on the antioxidant status of the MDCK cells. The cell glutathione (GSH) content and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) and catalase (Cat), two enzymes engaged in the H(2)O(2) degradation, were quantified. HgCl(2) influence on MDCK GJIC was analysed by the microinjection/dye-transfer assay. HgCl(2)-induced morphological changes in MDCK cells were also taken into account. Our results, proving that subcytotoxic (0.1-10 microM) HgCl(2) concentrations affect either the antioxidant defences of MDCK cells or their GJIC, indicate these critical functions as suitable biological targets of early mercury-induced tubular cell injury

Optical coherence tomography angiography in Purtscher-like retinopathy associated with dermatomyositis : a case report

Purpose: To describe a multimodal imaging diagnosis of retinopathy in dermatomyositis. Case presentation: A 21-year-old white woman with a history of fatigue and a cutaneous rash complained of visual impairment in her left eye. A funduscopic examination showed multiple confluent cotton-wool spots in both eyes. Swept source-optical coherence tomography presented macular edema in both eyes; optical coherence tomography angiography revealed superficial and deep capillary occlusion in all areas affected by cotton-wool spots; and fluorescein angiography showed vascular walls enhancement, veins dilatation, and capillary leakage. After large doses of intravenously administered glucocorticoid therapy, followed by a cyclophosphamide regimen, best corrected visual acuity returned to 20/20 in both eyes. Conclusions: This case report presents optical coherence tomography angiography clinical findings in a rare case of dermatomyositis-associated retinopathy, remarking the importance of a multi-imaging approach for a correct diagnosis and treatment of eye injuries, in order to avoid serious complications and permanent sequelae

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors Protect Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Against Oxidation by Modulating Nitric Oxide Release and Autophagy

Background/Aims: the anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), Aflibercept and Ranibizumab, are used for the treatment of macular degeneration. Here we examined the involvement of nitric oxide (NO), mitochondria function and of apoptosis/autophagy in their antioxidant effects in human retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE). Methods: RPE were exposed to Ranibizumab/Aflibercept in the absence or presence of NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor and of autophagy activator/blocker, rapamicyn/3-methyladenine. Specific kits were used for cell viability, NO and reactive oxygen species detection and mitochondrial membrane potential measurement, whereas Western Blot was performed for apoptosis/ autophagy markers and other kinases detection. Results: In RPE cultured in physiological conditions, Aflibercept/Ranibizumab increased NO release in a dose and time-dependent way. Opposite results were obtained in RPE pretreated with hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, both the anti-VEGF agents were able to prevent the fall of cell viability and of mitochondrial membrane potential. Those effects were reduced by the NOS inhibitor and 3-methyladenine and were potentiated by rapamycin. Finally, Aflibercept and Ranibizumab counteracted the changes of apoptosis/autophagy markers, NOS, Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B and Extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1/2 caused by peroxidation. Conclusion: Aflibercept and Ranibizumab protect RPE against peroxidation through the modulation of NO release, apoptosis and autophagy

Choroidal abnormalities detected by near-infrared reflectance imaging as a new diagnostic criterion for neurofibromatosis 1

Objective: To investigate in a large sample of consecutive patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) the possibility of including the presence of choroidal abnormalities detected by near-infrared reflectance (NIR) as a new diagnostic criterion for NF1. Design: Cross-sectional evaluation of a diagnostic test. Participants and Controls: Ninety-five consecutive adult and pediatric patients (190 eyes) with NF1, diagnosed based on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. Controls included 100 healthy age- and gender-matched control subjects. Methods: Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy was performed for each subject, investigating the presence and the number of choroidal abnormalities. Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy for the different cutoff values of the criterion choroidal nodules detected by NIR compared with the NIH criteria. Results: Choroidal nodules detected by NIR imaging were present in 79 (82%) of 95 of the NF1 patients, including 15 (71%) of the 21 NF1 pediatric patients. Similar abnormalities were present in 7 (7%) of 100 healthy subjects, including 2 (8%) of the 25 healthy pediatric subjects. The highest accuracy was obtained at the cutoff value of 1.5 choroidal nodules detected by NIR imagery. Sensitivity and specificity of the examination at the optimal cutoff point were 83% and 96%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy was 90% in the overall population and 83% in the pediatric population. Both of these values were in line with the most common NIH diagnostic criteria. Conclusions: Choroidal abnormalities appearing as bright patchy nodules detected by NIR imaging frequently occurred in NF1 patients. The present study shows that NIR examination to detect choroidal involvement should be considered as a new diagnostic criterion for NF1

OCT Analysis of Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization: Correlation Analysis with Different Treatments

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the status of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) by means of the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) overlying the myopic neovascular lesions in the involutive phase, looking for any correlations between the status of the RPE and the size of the lesions and the type and duration of the treatment. Methods: SD-OCT examinations of 83 consecutive patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were reviewed and divided into two groups: group A, patients with CNV characterized by uniformity of the overlying RPE, and group B, patients with CNV characterized by non-uniformity of the overlying RPE. Results: The median lesion area, major diameter, and minimum diameter were, respectively, 0.42 mm2 (0.30–1.01 mm2), 0.76 mm2 (0.54–1.28 mm2), and 0.47 mm2 (0.63–0.77 mm2) in group A, and 1.60 mm2 (0.72–2.67 mm2), 1.76 mm2 (1.13–2.23 mm2), and 0.98 mm2 (0.65–1.33 mm2) in group B. These values were lower in group A than in group B (p < 0.001). The number of treatments with a period free of disease recurrence for at least 6 months was greater (p < 0.010) in group B (6.54 ± 2.82) than in group A (3.67 ± 2.08), and treatments include intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection, photodynamic therapy, or both. Conclusions: Our results showed that the size of myopic neovascular lesion influences the development of a uniform RPE above the lesion and therefore the disease prognosis. The presence of uniform RPE was found to be extremely important in the follow-up of patients with myopic CNV, as it influences the duration of the disease and the number of treatments required

Use of website and application traffic data to support the marketing of a selected company

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá analýzou návštěvnosti webových stránek a aplikací ve vybrané sázkové společnosti. Ta využívá pro sledování návštěvnosti produkty od firmy Google, zatímco významná část datové infrastruktury je postavena na produktech značky Microsoft. Oba systémy dosud nejsou propojeny, což znesnadňuje tvorbu analýz, které zpravidla vyžadují získání dat na obou stranách. Prvním cílem práce je zdokumentovat současné využití dat o návštěvnosti a na základě získaných znalostí navrhnout nejlepší praktiky pro práci v této oblasti analytiky. Druhý cíl spočívá v návrhu dalšího možného využití dat o návštěvnosti a zhodnocení těchto návrhů z hlediska dvou os, obtížnosti řešení a žádanosti daného výstupu. Posledním cílem je realizovat nejžádanější úkol související s daty o návštěvnosti. Práci tvoří celkem šest kapitol. V první kapitole je řešena metodika práce a současné poznání. Následuje pojednání o technických aspektech měření návštěvnosti s přesahem k teoretickému pojednání o analýze návštěvnosti. Poté jsou představeny existující výstupy společnosti, z nichž část tvořil sám autor. Z těchto výstupů je následně vytvořen katalog reportů a strategická mapa. Na tuto část navazuje návrh dalších možných využití dat o návštěvnosti, který vzešel z úvah o potřebách firmy. V poslední kapitole je popsáno technické řešení konkrétního úkolu sestávající ze tří na sebe navazujících částí.This thesis deals with the analysis of website and application traffic in a selected betting company. This company uses Google products for traffic monitoring, while a significant part of the data infrastructure is built on Microsoft products. The lack of integration between the two systems complicates the production of analyses that typically require data from both sides. The objectives of this thesis were to document the current use of traffic data and, based on the knowledge gained, to propose best practices for working in this area of analytics. Furthermore, to suggest other possible uses that could be made with this data and to evaluate these suggestions along the lines of the two axes, the difficulty of the solution and the desirability of the output in question. The last objective was to implement the most desired task related to traffic data. The thesis is composed of six chapters in total. In the first chapter, the methodology of the thesis and the current knowledge are addressed. This is followed by a discussion of the technical aspects of traffic measurement, with an overlap to the theoretical discussion of traffic analysis. Then the existing outputs in the company are presented, some of which were created by the author himself. From these outputs a catalogue of reports and a strategy map are then created. This section is followed by a suggestion of other possible uses of the visitor data which emerged from a consideration of the company’s needs. The last chapter shows the technical solution to a specific task consisting of three interrelated parts

The analysis of the Afghan army military capability through the lenses of the organizational practices

Department of Political ScienceKatedra politologieFakulta sociálních vědFaculty of Social Science