Cloud forest in the Central Highlands of Guatemala provides important ecosystem services for the Q’eqchi’ Maya but has been disappearing at an increasing rate in recent decades. This research ...documents changes in cloud forest cover, explores some contributing factors to deforestation, and considers forest preservation and food security implications for Q’eqchi’ communities. We used a transdisciplinary framework that synthesized remote sensing/GIS analysis of land cover change, focus group dialogs, and surveys. Expansion of subsistence agriculture is a key proximate cause of cloud forest removal, followed by extraction of fuelwood and larger-scale logging operations. Predisposing environmental factors such as rugged topography, steep slopes, and poor soils contribute to low agricultural productivity that contributes to increased conversion of forest to agricultural land. The key underlying driving forces for deforestation locally are population growth and subdivision of land. Population growth is increasing the demand for agricultural land and, as a result, the Q’eqchi’ clear the forest to meet the need for increased food production. Furthermore, population growth is driving subdivision of land, decreasing fallow periods, and putting additional strain on poor soils, all of which exacerbate land degradation. Given the increase in population in the region, food production must be improved on existing agricultural land to avoid the need to put more land into production to meet food requirements. Thus, efforts to sustainably increase agricultural productivity are fundamental to efforts to conserve the cloud forest and to safeguard essential ecosystem services.
We report the GALLEX solar neutrino results for the measuring period GALLEX IV, from 14 February 1996 until 23 January 1997. Counting for the GALLEX IV runs was completed on 19 June 1997. The GALLEX ...IV result from 12 solar runs is 118.4 ± 17.8 (stat.) ± 6.6 (sys.) SNU (1
σ). The combined result for GALLEX I+II+III+IV, which comprises 65 solar runs, is 77.5 ± 6.2
+4.3
−4.7(1
σ) SNU. The GALLEX experimental program to register solar neutrinos has now been completed. In April 1998, GALLEX was succeeded by a new project, the Gallium Neutrino Observatory (GNO), with newly defined motives and goals.
We studied the genetic fingerprints of ovarian cancer and validated the potential of Mammaglobin b (SCGB2A1), one of the top differentially expressed genes found in our analysis, as a novel ovarian ...tumour rejection antigen.
We profiled 70 ovarian carcinomas including 24 serous (OSPC), 15 clear-cell (CC), 24 endometrioid (EAC) and 7 poorly differentiated tumours, and 14 normal human ovarian surface epithelial (HOSE) control cell lines using the Human HG-U133 Plus 2.0 chip (Affymetrix). Quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining techniques were used to validate microarray data at RNA and protein levels for SCGB2A1. Full-length human-recombinant SCGB2A1 was used to pulse monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) to stimulate autologous SCGB2A1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses against chemo-naive and chemo-resistant autologous ovarian tumours.
Gene expression profiling identified SCGB2A1 as a top differentially expressed gene in all histological ovarian cancer types tested. The CD8+ CTL populations generated against SCGB2A1 were able to consistently induce lysis of autologous primary (chemo-naive) and metastatic/recurrent (chemo-resistant) target tumour cells expressing SCGB2A1, whereas autologous HLA-identical noncancerous cells were not lysed. Cytotoxicity against autologous tumour cells was significantly inhibited by anti-HLA-class I (W6/32) monoclonal antibody. Intracellular cytokine expression measured by flow cytometry showed a striking type 1 cytokine profile (i.e., high IFN-γ secretion) in SCGB2A1-specific CTLs.
SCGB2A1 is a top differentially expressed gene in all major histological types of ovarian cancers and may represent a novel and attractive target for the immunotherapy of patients harbouring recurrent disease resistant to chemotherapy.
We report the first GNO solar neutrino results for the measuring period GNO I, solar exposure time May 20, 1998 till January 12, 2000. In the present analysis, counting results for solar runs ...SR1–SR19 were used till April 4, 2000. With counting completed for all but the last 3 runs (SR17–SR19), the GNO I result is 65.8 ±
10.2
9.6 (stat.) ±
3.4
3.6 (syst.) SNU (1
σ) or 65.8 ±
10.7
10.2 (incl. syst.) SNU (1
σ) with errors combined. This may be compared to the result for Gallex (I–IV), which is 77.5 ±
7.6
7.8 (incl. syst.) SNU (1
σ). A combined result from both GNO I and Gallex (I–IV) together is 74.1 ±
6.7
6.8 (incl. syst.) SNU (1
σ).
Single crystals of L‐alanine have been grown from buffered aqueous solutions and characterised as to their optical quality via wavefront distortion analysis, electrooptical response and harmonic ...generation efficiency. Refraction indices as well as phase matching loci were found in satisfactory agreement with previously published data for crystals grown in non buffered solution. Estimates for the electro‐optical response are reported for the first time. The experimentally observed crystal habit is discussed in terms of morphological importance (M.I.), which was found to be in disagreement with the predictions of crystallographic criteria based on the interplanar distance dhkl, on the periodic bond chains (PBC) and the attachment energy Eatt. This disagreement is tentatively attributed to the presence of impurities and non‐appropriate supersaturation conditions.
This paper aims at describing the tests campaign carried out on five precast bonded post-tensioned concrete bridge beams, recently dismounted after a service life of 50 years. The girders were part ...of the deck of a recently dismounted viaduct of an Italian motorway. The beams showed different deterioration levels, mainly due to the different exposure to corrosive agents. The test campaign were designed for evaluating the residual load bearing capacity of the members. Dynamic measurements were acquired before and after the static tests by using different excitation sources. This experimental research highlights that the natural frequencies of the beams can be used as a predictor of the ultimate bending moment of an existing structure.
A new technique for direct investigation of dark matter Bertoni, R; Chignoli, F; Chiesa, D ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
04/2014, Letnik:
744
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The MOSCAB experiment (Materia OSCura A Bolle) uses a new technique for dark matter search. The Geyser technique is applied to the construction of a prototype detector with a mass of 0.5 kg and the ...encouraging results are reported here; an accent is placed on a big detector of 40 kg in construction at the Milano-Bicocca University and INFN.
The present study aims at numerically investigating the feasibility of an adaptive TMD control system applied on lightweight, flexible structures characterized by time-varying inertial properties. ...The case study will consist of a photovoltaic support structure subject to snow drifting and slippage in windy conditions.
CdZnTe crystals were grown by the vertical Bridgman technique using boron oxide for preventing material decomposition. The experiments show that a boron oxide layer completely encapsulates the ...crystal during growth, so that the crystal grows without direct contact with the crucible. The origins of this effect are investigated. In this work it is shown that boron oxide and quartz create a mixing layer at high temperature. This layer explains the reason for the good wetting of the quartz crucible by boron oxide.
Two-inch-diameter CdZnTe crystals doped with indium were grown by the boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman technique. The crystals showed large single crystalline yield and low etch pit ...density. The background impurity content was dominated by boron in concentration lower than 1 ppm. High resistivity was obtained and a procedure for contact preparation was developed. The mobility-lifetime product of the material was determined by both X-ray irradiation and photocurrent spectroscopy. The X-ray detector prepared with this material showed good spectroscopic performance.
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