New approach to analyze relationships between agritouristic supply and territory

This paper defines the phenomenon of agritourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy) at the end of 2009, in the light of the multifunctionality of agritouristic farms and taking into account the land use. The proposed statistical approach to outline the situation includes (a) the classification of the variables linked to agritouristic supply to find the main supply types, (b) the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in order to classify the regional agritourisms according to their supply and (c) the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to investigate the relationships between agritouristic supply, agricultural land use and territory. Since the CCA is widely used only in social and environmental sciences, this work represents its first application in agribusiness field. The method becomes important during the agricultural policy planning processes because it provides decision makers with a means of rapid assessment of the relationships between rural supply and land uses on the territory.Rural Tourism, Agritourism, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), Agricultural Policy., Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q13, Q18.,

A software application for mapping livestock waste odour dispersion

In developed Countries, coexistence of livestock production and urban settlements is a source of problematic interactions that are regulated by specific legislation, often requiring the evaluation of the potential environmental impact of livestock odour emissions. For this purpose, dispersion models are powerful tools that can be classified as dynamic (Eulerian and Lagrangian) or static (Gaussian). The latter, while presenting some limitations in condition of wind calm and complex orography, are widely adopted for their ease of use. OdiGauss is a free multilingual software application allowing to estimate odour dispersion from multiple point sources and to generate the related maps. Dispersion is calculated according to a Gaussian approach, as a function of wind speed and direction, precipitation, temperature, and solar radiation. OdiGauss incorporates a model of odour emissions from poultry farms (EmiFarm) which makes predictions based on manure production and management. Two case studies of software application on real poultry and swine farms are presented

System simulation by SEMoLa

SEMoLa is a platform, developed at DISA since 1992, for system knowledge integration and modelling. It allows to create computer models for dynamic systems and to manage different types of information. It is formed by several parts, each dealing with different forms of knowledge, in an integrated way: a graphical user interface (GUI), a declarative language for modelling, a set of commands with a procedural scripting language, a specific editor with code highlighting (SemEdit), a visual modelling application (SemDraw), a data base management system (SemData), plotting data capabilities (SemPlot), a raster maps management system (SemGrid), a large library of random number generators for uncertainty analysis, support for fuzzy logic expert systems, a neural networks builder and various statistical tools (basic statistics, multiple and non-linear regression, moving statistics, etc.). The core part of the platform is the declarative modelling language (SEMoLa; simple, easy to use, modelling language). It relies on System Dynamics principles and uses an integrated view to represent dynamic systems through different modelling approaches (state/individual-based, continuous/discrete, deterministic/stochastic) without requiring specific programming skills. SEMoLa language is based on a ontology closer to human reasoning rather than computer logic and constitutes also a paradigm for knowledge management. SEMoLa platform permits to simplify the routinely tasks of creating, debugging, evaluating and deploying computer simulation models but also to create user libraries of script commands. It is able to communicate with other frameworks exchanging - with standard formats - data, modules and model components

Lactobacillus casei group: identification, characterization and genetic evaluation of the stress response

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are an heterogeneous group of microorganisms used as starter and/or adjunctive cultures in the production of fermented foods to improve the shelf-life, the organoleptic properties and promote health. Many of these species, in fact, have been extensively characterized as probiotics several studies and clinical tests to substantiate health claims are available for several of them. During use, formulation and preservation as starter, adjunctive and/or probiotic cultures LAB are subjected to physical and chemical stresses that can influence growth, cell viability and fermentation capabilities, changing the technological fitness of the strains. This thesis focused on Lactobacillus casei, L. rhamnosus and L. paracasei with the aim to encrease the knowledge on this strains. These microbial species are involved in the fermentation of various food matrices (meat, vegetable and dairy products) and they could be used as probiotics or for the development of new functional products, as many studies reported the presence of several strains belonging to these species with probiotic features. Considering the hardness existing in the correct identification of these strains, so genetically close to each other, a wide collection of strains isolated from several sources and previously identified as belonging to L. casei group was collected (201 total strains), and a species-specific PCR, multiplex PCR, group-specific PCR and HRM analyses have been performed or developed to identify L. casei, L. rhamnosus and L. paracasei strains. Almost all the techniques resulted effective for the identification, but the group-specific PCR had to be applied as the first step of identification. Anyway, the attribution to one of the species of the group remained uncertain for some strains. Therefore, all the strains were characterized using three different assays (Rep-PCR, RAPD-PCR and Sau-PCR), in order to have a complete point of view of their genotype. As a result, a high variability was found among strains with all the three performed assays, confirming the presence of a high number of genotipes. Therafter 45 strains were selected for the development of an MLST scheme based on the analysis of internal fragments (loci) of stress related genes. The results confirmed the presence of a high variability among strains and it was not surprising to found strains with different STs. Considering that the analysis was performed on 45 strains, and the high number of STs that has been found, it would be interesting to charachterize other strains, in order to find possible correlation between the source of isolation or a specific stress response behaviour. Four-teen strains were selected for the whole genome sequencing and core-genome and pan-genome comparisons were performed, obtaining a clear distinction among L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus strains. Nonetheless, a L. paracasei and two L. casei strains grouped in L. rhamnosus cluster, confirming how hard is the discrimination among these species, because of their high level of similarity. SAPD-PCR analysis were also performed, confirming a high genomic variability among strains. The same strains where then subjected to the evaluation of their mucus binding capabilities. The binding assays were performed in vitro and the strains were tested before and after oxidative stress exposure. The behaviour of the microorganisms analysed resulted strain-dependent and analysis allowed the selection of few strains with interesting binding properties, that will be further analysed for their probiotic characteristics before to do in vivo analysis and to understand their adhesion mechanisms. At least, a strain of L. paracasei was selected for its ability to conduct malolactic fermentation under different EtOH and pH conditions studing how the expression of stress related genes was affected in the different tested conditions. The strain resulted able to performe MLF under all the tested conditions, and as expected, the lower concentration of glucose, corresponding to the lower final concentration of alcohol, demonstrated to be less stressful. Considering that the strain was able to conduct MLF also when in the presence of a concentration of glucose, corresponding to 15% v/v of ethanol, it can be considered as a potential good MLF starter culture. Another topic for the future research could be the evaluation of the stress response of this strain during MLF when adapted in a respiratory envinronment before the inoculatio

Approaches for agro-energy land planning

The aim of the work is to present the X-land software application that, using an interdisciplinary approach, allows to plan agro-fuel supply chain at the regional level, integrating different informative layers (soil parameters, climate, field management and location with respect to collecting centres, processing plants and road network). X-land is designed to evaluate the potential use of the land for energy production and its side effects, supplying the existing processing plants and accomplishing with economic, energy and environmental targets

Effect of meteorological and agronomic factors on maize grain contamination by fumonisin

Fumonisins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi such as F.verticilloides. Maize is commonly colonized by several spoilage fungi both in pre- and post-harvest conditions. Field infection prevention is the best solution to contain contamination, using practices aimed at restricting plant stress and limiting the propagation of the disease. This work is focused on understanding the effect of environmental factors on the production of fumonisins in Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy) on maize crops. The analysis has been performed on a dataset covering a period of 14 years (from 2000 to 2013), recording fumonisins contamination and daily meteorological data (air temperature, RH, Rain, Wind speed) for 13 different drying plants and for three different harvest times (early, medium and late). The drying plants collect grain production from an area of about 70.000-100.000 ha. Data were analyzed by full factorial ANOVA and a multiple regression approach was performed using STATA and SEMoLa software. ANOVA test pointed out a significant effect of factors \u201cyear\u201d and \u201charvest time\u201d (p<0.01) for fumonisin content. Instead, location had no significant effect. The best regression model (R2=0. 65, 2... observation) detected a significant correlation between fumonisin concentration and meteorological data in the period from 15th to 31st July. High fumonisin contents were positively correlated with daily thermal excursion, minimum temperature and wet conditions in this period. Silk drying and harvest time resulted as the key factors to contain and study fumonisins contamination in maize. Results will be used to implement a more complex dynamic model

境界層レーダー・ドップラーライダー・タイムラプスカメラの高解像度観測を用いたウェーブレット解析による積雲の生成過程に関する多面的研究

京都大学新制・課程博士博士(工学)甲第24208号工博第5036号京都大学大学院工学研究科社会基盤工学専攻(主査)教授 中北 英一, 准教授 山口 弘誠, 教授 田中 賢治学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering)Kyoto UniversityDFA

Efficacy of two different ProMACE-CytaBOM derived regimens in advanced aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Final report of a multicenter trial conducted by GISL

Background and Objective. To compare the efficacy of ProME(Epidoxorubicin)CE-CytaBOM (PE-C) and ProMI(Idarubicin)CE-CytaBOM (PIG) in the treatment of adult patients with aggressive non Hodgkin's lymphoma in a multicenter randomized controlled trial performed by 18 centers of the Italian Lymphoma Study Group (GISL). Design and Methods. One hundred and twenty-eight and 122 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 6 courses of PE-C or PI-C, respectively. Some patients achieving complete remission with induction therapy participated in another randomized study comparing no further therapy versus maintenance therapy consisting of four blocks of two drugs. Results. The rate of CRs was 62% and 64% for patients treated with PE-C and PI-C, respectively (p=0.51). The 5-year relapse-free survival was 60% for PE-C and 53% for PI-C (p=0.29). The estimated relapse-free disease survival rates at 4 years were 75% for patients in the consolidation group and 57% for those in the observation group (p=0.11). Patients alive In first complete remission 4 years after study entry were estimated to be 39% in the PE-C arm and 38% in the PI-C arm (p=0.90). The 3-year and 5-year estimated survival rates were 61% and 55% for the PE-C group and 56% and 47% for the PI-C group (p=0.26). Fatal toxicities occurred in 7 patients (2.9%) with active disease and in 4 patients (1.7%) in complete remission. Stage (p=0.04), bulky disease (p=0.02), serum LDH (p=0.0006), serum albumin (p=0.0051), hemoglobin (p=0.0011), performance status (p=0.0001), International prognostic index (p<0.0001) and the index proposed by the French group G.E.L.A. (p<0.0001) were of prognostic value. In a multivariate analysis (Cox regression model) alternatively IPI alone or G.E.L.A, index plus performance status emerged as independent prognostic factors. Interpretation and Conclusions. The present study indicates that epirubicin and idarubicin in a combined chemotherapy regimen, have similar activities. The toxic profile also indicates the safety of both anthracyclines at the dosages employed, suggesting their possible dose escalation in a combined chemotherapy setting. PE-C and PI-C were both effective and feasible regimens in an outpatient setting, with acceptable cardiovascular toxicity. The trend toward a better outcome in patients undergoing consolidation therapy after the achievement of a complete remission, warrants further investigation. (C)1998, Ferrata Storti Foundation

CD20 and CD19 targeted vectors induce minimal activation of resting B lymphocytes

B lymphocytes are an important cell population of the immune system. However, until recently it was not possible to transduce resting B lymphocytes with retro- or lentiviral vectors, making them unsusceptible for genetic manipulations by these vectors. Lately, we demonstrated that lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with modified measles virus (MV) glycoproteins hemagglutinin, responsible for receptor recognition, and fusion protein were able to overcome this transduction block. They use either the natural MV receptors, CD46 and signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM), for cell entry (MV-LV) or the vector particles were further modified to selectively enter via the CD20 molecule, which is exclusively expressed on B lymphocytes (CD20-LV). It has been shown previously that transduction by MV-LV does not induce B lymphocyte activation. However, if this is also true for CD20-LV is still unknown. Here, we generated a vector specific for another B lymphocyte marker, CD19, and compared its ability to transduce resting B lymphocytes with CD20-LV. The vector (CD19ds-LV) was able to stably transduce unstimulated B lymphocytes, albeit with a reduced efficiency of about 10% compared to CD20-LV, which transduced about 30% of the cells. Since CD20 as well as CD19 are closely linked to the B lymphocyte activation pathway, we investigated if engagement of CD20 or CD19 molecules by the vector particles induces activating stimuli in resting B lymphocytes. Although, activation of B lymphocytes often involves calcium influx, we did not detect elevated calcium levels. However, the activation marker CD71 was substantially up-regulated upon CD20-LV transduction and most importantly, B lymphocytes transduced with CD20-LV or CD19ds-LV entered the G1b phase of cell cycle, whereas untransduced or MV-LV transduced B lymphocytes remained in G0. Hence, CD20 and CD19 targeting vectors induce activating stimuli in resting B lymphocytes, which most likely renders them susceptible for lentiviral vector transduction