We applied a site evaluation approach combining Lagrangian Stochastic footprint modeling with a quality assessment approach for eddy-covariance data to 25 forested sites of the CarboEurope-IP ...network. The analysis addresses the spatial representativeness of the flux measurements, instrumental effects on data quality, spatial patterns in the data quality, and the performance of the coordinate rotation method. Our findings demonstrate that application of a footprint filter could strengthen the CarboEurope-IP flux database, since only one third of the sites is situated in truly homogeneous terrain. Almost half of the sites experience a significant reduction in eddy-covariance data quality under certain conditions, though these effects are mostly constricted to a small portion of the dataset. Reductions in data quality of the sensible heat flux are mostly induced by characteristics of the surrounding terrain, while the latent heat flux is subject to instrumentation-related problems. The Planar-Fit coordinate rotation proved to be a reliable tool for the majority of the sites using only a single set of rotation angles. Overall, we found a high average data quality for the CarboEurope-IP network, with good representativeness of the measurement data for the specified target land cover types.
The LHCb simulation application. Gauss, consists or two independent phases, the generation of the primary event and the tracking of particles produced in the experimental setup. For the LHCh ...experimental program it is particularly important to model B meson decays: the EvtGcn code developed in CLEO and BaBah has been chosen and customized for non-coherent B production as occurring in pp collisions at the LHC, The initial proton-proton collision is provided by a different generator engine, currently PYTHIA 6 for massive production of signal and generic pp collisions events. Beam gas events, background events originating from proton halo, cosmics and calibration events for different detectors can be generated in addition to pp collisions. Different generator packages as available in the physics community or specifically developed in LHCb are used for the different purposes. Running conditions affecting the events generated such as the size of the luminous region, the number of collisions occuring in a bunch crossing and the number of spill-over events from neighbouring bunches are modeled via dedicated algorithms appropriately configured. The design of the generator phase of Gauss will be described: a modular structure with well defined interfaces specific to the various tasks, e.g. pp collisions, particles' decays, selections, etc. has been chosen. Different implementations are available for the various tasks allowing selecting and combining them as most appropriate at run time as in the case of Pythia 6 im pp collisions or HIJING for beam gas. The advantages of such structure, allowing for example to adopt transparently new generators packages will be discussed.
The aim of this study was to characterise the aroma fraction of Italian distillates from apples typical of the Province of Sassari in the northern region of Sardinia (
Malus pumila, L. cvs. Miali and ...Appio) in comparison to some international obtained in the northern region of Trentino–Alto Adige (
M. pumila, L. cvs. Renetta del Canada (Reinette du Canada or Canadian Rennet), Golden Delicious, Royal Gala, Morgenduft and Gravenstein). The distillates producted in Sardinia were obtained from the same producer over four years, while those from Trentino–Alto Adige by two distilleries over one year, both following the same production process. Analyses of the aroma fraction were performed by HRGC–FID and HRGC–MS techniques, with direct injection in GC of full proof distillates. Evaluation of the data by statistical analysis (ANOVA and Principal Component Analysis) revealed that the variables ethyl octanoate, hexyl 2-methylbutyrate, 1-hexanol, benzaldehyde and furfural are able to distinguish between the varieties. In the case of the Sardinian varieties the variables 3-methyl-1-butanol, total aldehydes, ethyl acetate and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol are dependent from the year of production.
The aim of this study was to characterize the isotopic composition and protect “Peretta” cows’ milk cheese, a typical product of Sardinia, against other cheeses of the same appearance sold under the ...same name, but made of raw materials from northern Europe. The study was concerned with 3 types of cheese: those produced in local dairies from milk from free-grazing or pasture-grazing cows in Sardinia (local dairy product), cheeses made on an industrial scale from milk produced by intensive farming in Sardinia (factory cheese), and cheeses made with raw materials imported from other countries (imported product). To distinguish the Sardinian cheeses from the imported product, the stable isotope ratios 13C/12C, 15N/14N, D/H, 34S/32S, and 18O/16O were used. Determination of the isotopic data δ13C, δ15N, δ2H, and δ34S was performed in the casein fraction, whereas δ18O and δ13C were determined in the glycerol fraction. Measurements were performed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. A comparison between mean values of the isotope ratios by statistical analysis (ANOVA and Tukey's test) showed that the greatest difference between the 3 types of cheese (local dairy, factory, and imported products) was in the 13C/12C, 34S/32S, and 18O/16O isotope ratios. In the other parameters, either no differences (δ15N) or minimal differences (δ2H) were found. Evaluation of the data by multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis) revealed that the isotope characteristics of the factory products were similar to those of the cheeses produced from imported raw materials, whereas a difference was found between the local dairy-produced cheeses and the products in the other 2 categories.
Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in Sardinia are clustered across the main mountain ranges of the island, with a preference for undisturbed and homogeneous inland habitats.
To analyse habitat ...preferences of the Golden Eagle in Sardinia, Italy, at the landscape and home range spatial scales.
Landscape scale habitat preferences were analysed using the 10 × 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator grid and the home range scale was based on the spatial distribution of breeding territories. Generalized linear models were fitted with three different sets of environmental predictors (topographic, bioclimatic and land use variables) to analyse the spatial distribution of Golden Eagles with a case-control design.
Eagles showed a preference for rugged and elevated areas, characterized by a certain degree of humidity and surrounded by areas of forest. The distribution of Golden Eagles on this Mediterranean island was negatively affected by the occurrence of arable farmland and coastal areas, as well as by the effects of habitat fragmentation.
The results of this study could contribute to future management strategies and conservation projects aimed to protect this species, and may be used to identify the most suitable conservation areas for this and other competing species, such as the Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata, which is currently the subject of a reintroduction project in Sardinia.
Purpose
Initial surgery for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) with no evidence of lymph node involvement in neck compartments consists of total thyroidectomy and prophylactic central neck dissection. ...This study evaluated the reliability of a radiotracer technique for the intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in lateral compartments in patients with early MTC.
Methods
Patients with limited (cT1 N0) MTC entered the study (2009–2012). A 0.1–0.3 ml suspension of macrocolloidal technetium-99-labeled human albumin was injected (under echo-guide) in the tumor 5 h before surgery. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy confirmed the identification of SLNs in the lateral neck. The operation consisted of total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, and a hand-held gamma-probe (Neoprobe) guide was used to remove the SLNs from the lateral neck.
Results
Four patients were recruited. The tracer always indicated a SLN. Pathology reports indicated micrometastases from MTC in SLN in three patients. At a mean follow-up of 30.5 months, all patients were biochemically cured. The technique we describe to detect and remove neck SLN from MTC seemed to be very accurate. It always showed the SLNs (usually two) in the lateral compartments. Micrometastases were detected in three of four patients, allowing their correct staging.
Conclusions
The method described here for the detection of SLNs in early MTC seems effective and reliable and can be used for a more precise N staging of the patients. It could play a role, alone or combined with other techniques, in driving the extent of prophylactic neck dissection or other potential applications.
Milk composition and its technological properties are traits of interest for the dairy sheep industry because almost all milk produced is processed into cheese. However, several variables define milk ...technological properties and a complex correlation pattern exists among them. In the present work, we measured milk composition, coagulation properties, and individual cheese yields in a sample of 991 Sarda breed ewes in 47 flocks. The work aimed to study the correlation pattern among measured variables and to obtain new synthetic indicators of milk composition and cheese-making properties. Multivariate factor analysis was carried out on individual measures of milk coagulation parameters; cheese yield; fat, protein, and lactose percentages; somatic cell score; casein percentage; NaCl content; pH; and freezing point. Four factors that were able to explain about 76% of the original variance were extracted. They were clearly interpretable: the first was associated with composition and cheese yield, the second with udder health status, the third with coagulation, and the fourth with curd characteristics. Factor scores were then analyzed by using a mixed linear model that included the fixed effect of parity, lambing month, and lactation stage, and the random effect of flock-test date. The patterns of factor scores along lactation stages were coherent with their technical meaning. A relevant effect of flock-test date was detected, especially on the 2 factors related to milk coagulation properties. Results of the present study suggest the existence of a simpler latent structure that regulates relationships between variables defining milk composition and coagulation properties in sheep. Heritability estimates for the 4 extracted factors were from low to moderate, suggesting potential use of these new variables as breeding goals.
The present work aimed to investigate the milk oxidative stability when the sheep diet includes a source of polyphenols (grape seed, (GS)) and a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linseed, ...(LIN)), alone or in combination (MIX) compared to a control group (CON). For this purpose light-induced oxidation in milk was studied. After 24 h of light exposure the lipid hydroperoxides increased in milk in the LIN and MIX groups. The calculated ratio between the level of lipid hydroperoxides and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in milk was lower in the GS and MIX than in the LIN group. At the same time the level of the ratio between hexanal/linoleic acid in milk was lower in the GS and MIX than in the CON group. Although the dietary inclusion of grape seed did not reduce the level of lipid oxidation products in sheep milk, it effectively reduced the extent of oxidation of UFA.
We explored the feasibility of radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) for radioiodine-negative cervical recurrences from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).
The procedure was performed in 32 ...patients (3 patients being operated twice); 15/32 patients had had multiple prior lymph node dissections ("hostile" anatomy). 99mTc-albumin macro-aggregates (99mTc-MAA) were injected intra-lesionally under ultrasound guidance; 2 to 18 hours later, a hand-held gamma-probe helped to localize the lesions intraoperatively and to ascertain removal of the radiolabeled lesions. Mini-invasive excision of the radiolabelled lesions was performed in 12 cases (m-ROLL), while a modified radical neck dissection was performed in 23 cases after radioguided lymphadenectomy (d-ROLL). Fifty-nine lesions were radiolabelled (mean size 11±4.5 mm).
Radioguidance allowed to identify/remove 56/59 lesions (95%). Some leakage of 99mTc-MAA in the surrounding tissues hampered detection of 3 lesions, which were removed anyway (100% overall localization). Histopathology confirmed metastatic involvement of the radiolabeled lesions and some additional metastases in other nodes. Neither nerve injury nor hypoparathyroidism occurred. After a median follow-up of 29 months, 19 patients were disease-free, 12 patients developed loco-regional recurrences, 1 patient had distant metastases and 1 patient had both loco-regional and distant metastases. Recurrences rates were 33% for m-ROLL and 40% for d-ROLL.
The ROLL technique is feasible in selected patients with loco-regional recurrence from DTC, proving to be particularly useful also in patients already submitted to cervical dissections and/or with small lesions located in surgically difficult sites. It can therefore have a clinical role in the management of cervical DTC recurrences.
Forty-eight Churra ewes with their new-born lambs were separated into four dietary treatments: Control (without added fat), LO (with 3% linseed oil), LO-Syn E (LO plus 400mg/kg TMR of synthetic ...vitamin E) and LO-Nat E (LO plus 400g/kg TMR of natural vitamin E). Linseed oil caused an increase in trans-11 C18:1 (VA), trans-10 C18:1, cis-9, trans-11 C18:2 (RA), trans-10, cis-12 C18:2 and C18:3 n-3 (ALA) in milk fat compared to the Control. The addition of vitamin E to the LO diets did not influence significantly the majority of milk fatty acids compared with the LO diet alone. Trans-10 C18:1, VA, RA, trans-10, cis-12 C18:2 and LA levels were higher in intramuscular lamb fat from treatments with linseed oil. No statistically significant differences were observed in these FA due to vitamin E supplementation or the type of vitamin E (synthetic vs. natural). Vitamin supplementation resulted in lipid oxidation levels below the threshold values for detection of rancidity in lamb meat.
•Linseed oil and natural or synthetic vitamin E fed to lactating ewes.•Linseed oil increased the content of healthy fatty acids in meat of suckling lambs.•Natural or synthetic vitamin E had a limited effect on milk and meat fatty acid profile.•Vitamin E affected the lipid and color stability of suckling lambs meat.
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