Accurate characterization of tropical moist forest changes is needed to support conservation policies and to quantify their contribution to global carbon fluxes more effectively. We document, at ...pantropical scale, the extent and changes (degradation, deforestation, and recovery) of these forests over the past three decades. We estimate that 17% of tropical moist forests have disappeared since 1990 with a remaining area of 1071 million hectares in 2019, from which 10% are degraded. Our study underlines the importance of the degradation process in these ecosystems, in particular, as a precursor of deforestation, and in the recent increase in tropical moist forest disturbances (natural and anthropogenic degradation or deforestation). Without a reduction of the present disturbance rates, undisturbed forests will disappear entirely in large tropical humid regions by 2050. Our study suggests that reinforcing actions are needed to prevent the initial degradation that leads to forest clearance in 45% of the cases.
The study assesses the extent and trends of forest cover in Southeast Asia for the periods 1990–2000 and 2000–2010 and provides an overview on the main causes of forest cover change. A systematic ...sample of 418 sites (10 km × 10 km size) located at the one-degree geographical confluence points and covered with satellite imagery of 30 m resolution is used for the assessment. Techniques of image segmentation and automated classification are combined with visual satellite image interpretation and quality control, involving forestry experts from Southeast Asian countries. The accuracy of our results is assessed through an independent consistency assessment, performed from a subsample of 1572 mapping units and resulting in an overall agreement of >85% for the general differentiation of forest cover versus non-forest cover. The total forest cover of Southeast Asia is estimated at 268 Mha in 1990, dropping to 236 Mha in 2010, with annual change rates of 1.75 Mha (∼0.67%) and 1.45 Mha (∼0.59%) for the periods 1990–2000 and 2000–2010, respectively. The vast majority of forest cover loss (∼2 / 3 for 2000–2010) occurred in insular Southeast Asia. Complementing our quantitative results by indicative information on patterns and on processes of forest change, obtained from the screening of satellite imagery and through expert consultation, respectively, confirms the conversion of forest to cash crops plantations (including oil palm) as the main cause of forest loss in Southeast Asia. Logging and the replacement of natural forests by forest plantations are two further important change processes in the region.
Light is a key environmental factor that synchronizes all life-stages of fish, from embryo development to sexual maturation. The underwater photo-environment is complex since light characteristics ...(i.e. intensity, photoperiod and spectrum) depend on the absorbance properties of the water column. The aim of this paper is to review the effects of artificial lighting conditions on the performance, development and welfare of some fish larvae of commercial interest. Reviewed results show that larvae were significantly affected by light characteristics. For example, European sea bass and sole larvae achieved the best performance, and showed fastest development and lowest degree of deformity under a light/dark cycle using blue light (half-peak bandwidth
=
435–500
nm), conditions which were the closest to their natural aquatic environment. However, constant light (LL) or constant darkness (DD) was shown to negatively affect normal larval development and resulted in increased malformations and poor survival in most of the studied species. Similar results have been observed in other fish larvae such as Atlantic cod, which performed better under short wavelengths (blue and green). These findings highlight the role of lighting conditions during the early development of fish larvae and should be taken into account for the optimization of rearing protocols in fish hatcheries as juvenile supply is one of the main production bottlenecks.
In this study, we report the results of a micro-destructive analysis of stone materials used for the realization of the Mont'e Prama statues, important limestone sculptures dated to the Early Iron ...Age (Late Nuragic period: 9th–8th cent. BC) from central-western Sardinia. Although numerous historical, archaeological and geological studies have been already performed on these artefacts, up to date, information and data about reliable location of raw materials supply and chemical-physical weathering processes occurring in the millennia are missing. In order to fill this gap and provide fundamental information for the proper conservation and preservation of these artefacts, twenty-two micro-samples from limestone Nuragic statues were analysed. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), with the support of petrographic and mineralogical (optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction) analyses, was applied for defining the chemical composition of the rocks, as well for studying the surface features of the sculptures. This latter approach was useful to define alteration processes occurring on the surface and to identify the possible ancient treatments used for colouring or preserving the statues. LIBS results on the Mont'e Prama statue materials were processed by blind clustering analysis, including reference data of fifteen limestones sampled from the nearest supply areas. Hypotheses on provenance of raw materials and on surface treatments/secondary phases are finally discussed and proposed, highlighting the merits of the LIBS method in archaeometric provenance studies.
•LIBS-XRPD-OM multidisciplinary approach defined the limestone features of statues.•Blind clustering analysis on LIBS data (Graph Theory based) identified stone origin.•Chemical-physical alteration brought out the rock microstructural characteristics.•CaCO3-matrix dissolution led to a prevailing quartz-feldspar composition on surface finds.•Surface alteration removed at least in part any original treatments on stone statues.
The response of Si-Si-CsI(Tl) and Si-CsI(Tl) telescopes with quality controlled detectors, developed within the FAZIA collaboration, is presented. The aim of the test experiment was to explore the ...capabilities of various solutions exploiting digital pulse shape analysis techniques for charge and mass separation of ions stopped in a single silicon layer, in order to decrease the identification threshold. It has been found that it is possible to fully discriminate the charge of stopped ions up to the maximum available Z (slightly over that of the beam, Z=54). The ΔE-E correlation, both from the first two silicon detectors and for Si+Si vs. CsI(Tl), can identify all the isotopes up to Z=25. The radiation damage effect on these FAZIA silicon detectors has been also studied. In particular, some results about the effect due to the punching-through and stopped Xe ions will be shown and discussed.
Cetuximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that acts as a competitive antagonist, by binding to EGFR. This cell signalling pathways regulates tumor progression. The oral squamous cell carcinoma ...undergoes to regional spreading and distant metastasis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of treatment with Cetuximab on cell migration and invasion in OSCC cells, by using the SCC-4 cell line. Cell migration and cell invasion assay were performed and actin cytoskeleton of control and treated with Cetuximab cells were evaluated. Differences were considered significant when p<0.05.Cetuximab inhibited the migration of SCC-4 cells at three concentrations: 1 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL (p<0.0001) in a dose-dependent manner. The number of SCC-4 treated cells with 1 μg/mL that migrated through the membrane was statistically different from 50 μg/mL (p<0.001) and 100 μg/mL (p<0.0001), and between 50 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL (p<0.01). Cetuximab 50 μg/mL inhibited cell invasion through the MatrigelTM compared with SCC-4 control cells (p<0.01). Cetuximab 50 μg/mL affected the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Cetuximab has an inhibitory effect on actin cytoskeleton organization, cell migration and invasion, suggesting that Cetuximab treatment can be important to avoid oral squamous cell carcinoma metastasis.
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•First description of fresh Mussel Protozoan X.•The nuclear pattern of MPX was elucidated by Confocal Laser Microscopy examination.•First report of not digestive gland localization of ...MPX was described in M. edulis.•Phylogenetic analyses of MPX LSU and SSU genes was performed.•Specific MPX PCR on SSU gene was performed.
Ciliates have been reported as pathogens of many species of economically important bivalves. Mussel protozoan X (MPX), is an uncharacterised intracellular ciliate of mussels and has been widely reported in Mytilus spp. around the world. In order to characterise this ciliate, Mytilus edulis samples were collected from a site on the West coast of Scotland, and four different fixatives for histological examination were tested. Fresh preparations of mussel digestive glands were also examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Intracellular ciliates were prepared by laser capture microdissection and partial sequences of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene and of large subunit ribosomal RNA gene were generated, using Phyllopharyngea primers. Methacarn solution proved to be the best fixative for both histological and molecular characterisation. The morphological and molecular investigations confirmed that this ciliate belongs to the class Phyllopharyngea, order Rhynchodida. However, this organism does not belong to any known family, genus or species, therefore, a new description is necessary, following further morphological analyses. Most mussel samples containing MPX displayed mild to moderate infections, with no signs of necrosis or haemocytic response, although a single sample displayed a severe infection (∼103 ciliates per section). The localisation of this ciliate in tissues other than the digestive gland, the presence of necrosis in infected tissue of the most severely infected mussel and the binary fission of this ciliate have been observed here for the first time. We also report the first observation of the live ciliate isolated from tissue. Although MPX remains of unknown significance to the mussel industry, tools and protocols described here will be useful in further characterising these and other ciliates (subclass Rhynchodia) known as pathogens for bivalves.
The response of silicon–silicon–CsI(Tl) and silicon–CsI(Tl) telescopes to fragments produced in nuclear interactions has been studied. The telescopes were developed within the FAZIA collaboration. ...The capabilities of two methods are compared: (a) the standard
Δ
E
–
E
technique and (b) the digital Pulse Shape Analysis technique (for identification of nuclear fragments stopped in a single Si-layer). In a test setup, nuclear fragments covering a large range in nuclear charge, mass and energy were detected. They were produced in nuclear reactions induced by a 35A MeV beam of
129Xe impinging on various targets. It was found that the
Δ
E
–
E
correlations allow the identification of all isotopes up to
Z
∼
25
. With the digital Pulse Shape Analysis it is possible to fully distinguish the charge of stopped nuclei up to the maximum available
Z (slightly over that of the beam,
Z=54).
In the last few years the FAZIA
1 collaboration has been investigating the properties of silicon detectors – in particular the crystal orientation and resistivity non-uniformity – in order to better ...pin down the detector characteristics that influence their performances for particle identification using
Δ
E
−
E
and Pulse Shape Analysis (PSA) techniques. In this paper we present the first particle identification results obtained with detectors selected for good resistivity uniformity and using a “non-channeled” configuration. A new digital electronics was also designed for the R&D phase of FAZIA and was tested under beam for the first time. A quantitative procedure to measure the observed performances is applied in order to quantify the particle identification thresholds. Particle identification thresholds of
∼
2.5
AMeV
for
Z
∼
3
–
10
have been reached with the studied reaction.
Liposome-encapsulated corticosteroids have shown to exert strong beneficial effects in inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and cancer. To extend the clinical applicability of these potent ...nanomedicines, the therapeutic effect of dexamethasone phosphate loaded long-circulating liposomes (LCL-DXP) was evaluated in animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease (CD).
In mice with experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), a model for MS, treatment with LCL-DXP, but not free DXP, resulted in a decrease in disease activity when compared to PBS treated mice. In contrast, in mice with chronic DSS-induced colitis, a model for CD, treatment with LCL-DXP did not induce an improvement, but in fact worsened the fecal blood loss after treatment, indicating an aggravation of the disease. It is hypothesized that modulation of macrophage polarization towards a M2 phenotype underlies the efficacy of corticosteroid-based drug delivery systems, which is supported by the presented data. On the one hand, M1 polarized macrophages are part of the pathogenesis of MS; the modulation to M2-polarization by LCL-DXP is therefore beneficial. On the other hand, M1-polarized intestinal macrophages fulfill a protective and inflammation-suppressing role in intestinal homeostasis; changing their phenotype to M2 causes reduced protection to invading microorganisms, leading to a more severe intestinal inflammation. These findings therefore indicate that the interplay between the specific phenotype of macrophages and the specific inflammatory context of the inflammatory disease in question may be an important determining factor in the therapeutic applicability of liposomal corticosteroids in inflammatory disease.
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