Attività di R&S nell'ambito del settore agricolo

2008-11-25Aula Magna Facoltà di Ingegneria, CagliariLo stato dell’arte della ricerca scientifica nel settore della produzione di energia da biomass

LCA study of oleaginous bioenergy chains in a Mediterranean environment

This paper reports outcomes of life cycle assessments (LCAs) of three different oleaginous bioenergy chains (oilseed rape, Ethiopian mustard and cardoon) under Southern Europe conditions. Accurate data on field practices previously collected during a three-year study at two sites were used. The vegetable oil produced by oleaginous seeds was used for power generation in medium-speed diesel engines while the crop residues were used in steam power plants. For each bioenergy chain, the environmental impact related to cultivation, transportation of agricultural products and industrial conversion for power generation was evaluated by calculating cumulative energy demand, acidification potential and global warming potential. For all three bioenergy chains, the results of the LCA study show a considerable saving of primary energy (from 70 to 86 GJ·ha−1) and greenhouse gas emissions (from 4.1 to 5.2 t CO2·ha−1) in comparison to power generation from fossil fuels, although the acidification potential of these bioenergy chains may be twice that of conventional power generation. In addition, the study highlights that land use changes due to the cultivation of the abovementioned crops reduce soil organic content and therefore worsen and increase greenhouse gas emissions for all three bioenergy chains. The study also demonstrates that the exploitation of crop residues for energy production greatly contributes to managing environmental impact of the three bioenergy chains

Characterisation of Hypertensive Patients with Improved Endothelial Function after Dark Chocolate Consumption

Recent findings indicate an inverse relationship between cardiovascular disease and consumption of flavonoids. We aimed to identify clinical and vascular parameters of treated hypertensive who present beneficial effects of dark chocolate for one-week period on vascular function. Twenty-one hypertensive subjects, aged 40–65 years, were included in a prospective study with measurement of blood pressure (BP), brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), peripheral arterial tonometry, and central hemodynamic parameters. These tests were repeated after seven days of eating dark chocolate 75 g/day. Patients were divided according to the response in FMD: responders (n=12) and nonresponders (n=9). The responder group presented lower age (54 ± 7 versus 61 ± 6 years, P=0.037), Framingham risk score (FRS) (2.5 ± 1.8 versus 8.1 ± 5.1%, P=0.017), values of peripheral (55 ± 9 versus 63 ± 5 mmHg, P=0.041), and central pulse pressure (PP) (44 ± 10 versus 54 ± 6 mmHg, P=0.021). FMD response showed negative correlation with FRS (r=−0.60, P=0.014), baseline FMD (r=−0.54, P=0.011), baseline reactive hyperemia index (RHI; r=−0.56, P=0.008), and central PP (r=−0.43, P=0.05). However, after linear regression analysis, only FRS and baseline RHI were associated with FMD response. In conclusion, one-week dark chocolate intake significantly improved endothelial function and reduced BP in younger hypertensive with impaired endothelial function in spite of lower cardiovascular risk

Clinical Study Characterisation of Hypertensive Patients with Improved Endothelial Function after Dark Chocolate Consumption

Recent findings indicate an inverse relationship between cardiovascular disease and consumption of flavonoids. We aimed to identify clinical and vascular parameters of treated hypertensive who present beneficial effects of dark chocolate for one-week period on vascular function. Twenty-one hypertensive subjects, aged 40-65 years, were included in a prospective study with measurement of blood pressure (BP), brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), peripheral arterial tonometry, and central hemodynamic parameters. These tests were repeated after seven days of eating dark chocolate 75 g/day. Patients were divided according to the response in FMD: responders ( = 12) and nonresponders ( = 9). The responder group presented lower age (54 ± 7 versus 61 ± 6 years, = 0.037), Framingham risk score (FRS) (2.5 ± 1.8 versus 8.1 ± 5.1%, = 0.017), values of peripheral (55 ± 9 versus 63 ± 5 mmHg, = 0.041), and central pulse pressure (PP) (44 ± 10 versus 54 ± 6 mmHg, = 0.021). FMD response showed negative correlation with FRS ( = −0.60, = 0.014), baseline FMD ( = −0.54, = 0.011), baseline reactive hyperemia index (RHI; = −0.56, = 0.008), and central PP ( = −0.43, = 0.05). However, after linear regression analysis, only FRS and baseline RHI were associated with FMD response. In conclusion, one-week dark chocolate intake significantly improved endothelial function and reduced BP in younger hypertensive with impaired endothelial function in spite of lower cardiovascular risk

Key phenological events in globe artichoke (<i>Cynara cardunculus</i> var. <i>scolymus</i>) development

A priority for the field vegetable grower is to be able to schedule a regular supply of product throughout the growing season. This requires a predictive framework, based on the identification of key developmental events of the crop, and an understanding of how genotypic and environmental factors interact to determine plant development. Four globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) cultivars, representing the existing phenological range, were grown in a field experiment, and a range of environmental conditions was imposed by varying both the timing of the first irrigation (which determines the initiation of regrowth) and by repeating the experiment across two locations and 2 years. The timing of the appearance of the main stem capitulum was sensitive to both the growing environment and the cultivar. These differences persisted till flowering and were correlated with final leaf number. As the plant developed, the phyllochron decreased, resulting in three values of phyllochron, each of which was responsive to genotype, and hardly to environment. The timing of the first change in phyllochron was associated with the final leaf number and the appearance of the capitulum. For all the cultivars, the rate of development fell and the final leaf number increased as the length of the photoperiod increased. The later flowering cultivars shared a similar vernalisation requirement, but 'Spinoso sardo' did not require a cold period to flower. Leaf length reached a peak before the beginning of stem elongation, and maximum leaf length was correlated with final leaf number. The sensitiveness of the phyllochron to the genotype, and of the number of leaves and the timing of the appearance of the capitulum to both genotype and environment makes them suitable as variables in developmental models. The importance of the final number of leaves is not only because of its phenological significance, but also because of its effect on the ability of the canopy to intercept radiation

Development of durum wheat and triticale cultivars as affected by thermo-photoperiodic conditions

The understanding of the interaction between thermo-photoperiodic conditions and the genetic control of anthesis date is fundamental in explaining the environmental adaptation of durum wheat and triticale cultivars. The development of 8 durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var.durum) and 2 triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) cultivars was studied at 3 sowing dates (September, November, and March) by observations on apex development, number and rate of leaf appearance, spike fertility, and number and length of elongated internodes. Variation in anthesis date was mostly explained by the total number of leaves, which ranged between 8.3 and 15, and hence by the duration of the phase of leaf primordium production. Total leaf number also affected the length of the subsequent phase until flag leaf appearance. The phyllochron was influenced by both sowing date and genotype, and was minimum in the March sowing (87 degree-days). The genotypic variability in phyllochron was due either to the variations in leaf number or to genotypic intrinsic differences. Time to terminal spikelet stage was related to the number of spikelets per spike and to the number of elongated internodes, although stem length depended more on internode length than on internode number. The number of spikelets per spike was associated with leaf number, but their relationship was affected by the thermal conditions during spikelet primordium initiation. No differences were observed between wheat and triticale cultivars, apart from the number of spikelets per spike

"Quaderni del CIRM" n.1

La metafora ha un’identità complessa e plurale, il cui studio coinvolge un numero elevato di discipline e competenze diverse. È una strategia attiva al servizio del pensiero spontaneo e coerente, che motiva le estensioni di significato lessicale – e quindi della polisemia – nonché il mutamento storico dei valori e dei contenuti lessicali. Come tale, è una struttura convenzionale che fa parte di un patrimonio di risorse sulle quali il parlante fa affidamento. Tuttavia, è anche un procedimento di creazione concettuale che coinvolge le strutture portanti della grammatica delle lingue, i cui esiti spaziano dall’invenzione poetica alla creazione di concetti scientifici e filosofici, e più in generale di concetti e termini appartenenti ai più svariati ambiti specialistici. In questo senso, è uno strumento attivo nella costruzione dei testi di qualsiasi natura e contenuto, dai testi letterari e poetici all’argomentazione politica. Per queste diverse ragioni, la metafora, oltre ad essere in questo momento il tema forse più studiato nell’ambito delle scienze del linguaggio, ha una portata interdisciplinare senza paragone. Il suo studio coinvolge la linguistica, la terminologia, la stilistica, l’analisi dei testi e dei discorsi, sia letterari che funzionali, la traduzione, la critica letteraria, la filosofia (dall’estetica all’epistemologia), le scienze cognitive e le loro basi neurologiche. La collana, in collaborazione con il Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sulle Metafore (creato dalle Università di Genova, Cagliari, Modena e Reggio Emilia, Torino), si propone di valorizzare la ricchezza interdisciplinare della tematica in prospettiva interlinguistica e interculturale, proponendo pubblicazioni di orizzonti scientifici, approcci teorici e culturali diversi