A multi-sensor robotic platform for ground mapping and estimation beyond the visible spectrum

Precision Agriculture - Accurate soil mapping is critical for a highly-automated agricultural vehicle to successfully accomplish important tasks including seeding, ploughing, fertilising and...     

Abundance and distribution of the white shark in the Mediterranean Sea

Conservation of apex predators is a key challenge both in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The white shark is a rare but persistent inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea and it is currently assessed as “critically endangered” in the region. However, the population trends and dynamics of this species in the area are still unknown. Little is known about white shark distribution, habitat use and population abundance trends, aspects that are critical for conservation and management. In this study, we built the most comprehensive database of white shark occurrence records in the region. We collected 773 different records from different sources and used them to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of abundance of Mediterranean white sharks between 1860 and 2016. We analysed these data by using generalized additive models and used spatially disaggregated information on human population abundance as a proxy of observation effort. Our results suggest a complex trajectory of population change characterized by a historical increase and a more recent reduction (61%, range 58%–72%) since the second half of the 20th century. In particular, analyses reveal a 52% (range 37%–88%) to 96% (range 92%–100%) overall decline in different Mediterranean sectors and a contraction in spatial distribution. Here, we provide the first reconstruction of abundance trends and offer new hypotheses regarding the drivers of change of white sharks in the Mediterranean. Our approach can be broadly applied to data‐poor contexts to reconstruct change and inform the conservation of endangered top predators in the Mediterranean Sea and other intensely used marine regions.     

Integrated approach of multiple environmental datasets for the assessment of sediment contamination in marine areas affected by long-lasting industrial activity: the case study of Bagnoli (southern Italy)

Purpose

The Bagnoli’s brownfield site (southern Italy) is an environmental priority for the Italian Government and is currently considered as a case study for the definition and application of innovative approaches to ecosystem recovery after a prolonged pollution history and eventual steel plant decommissioning.

Materials and methods

Here, we analyse high-quality datasets that constrain the distribution patterns and sources of contaminants in the coastal zone facing the site where the steel plant operated for almost one century. Innovative statistical approaches provide new insights into the temporal and spatial distribution of anthropogenic impacts, documented over the last 30 years, following lines of evidence emerging from investigations on grain size, TOC, heavy metals, PAHs, PCBs and high-resolution morpho-bathymetric information.

Results and discussion

The results derived from statistical analysis, referred also to the seafloor morphological variability, highlighted the presence of recent disposal of highly contaminated sediments and their potential pathways of dispersion to wider and deeper water zones.

Conclusions

The adopted multidisciplinary approach yields fundamental information towards an effective and proper ecosystem recovery of highly contaminated marine coastal areas and provides at the same time, a sound base for the refitting of decommissioned industrial plants.

     

Fertilization strategies on cultivars of globe artichoke: Effects on yield and quality performance

This paper refers on the yields and productive aspects of mineral and foliar nutrition of globe artichoke plants (cv. ‘Opal’ and ‘Madrigal’). Marketable yields were investigated in response to different nitrogen rates and foliar applications of biostimulating products. Field experiments were conducted over two seasons on an alluvial salty-clay soil in sub-humid climate conditions. Analyzed traits differed between years because of the age of plants while the lowest nitrogen rate and foliar spraying of biostimulants influenced significantly head weight, dry matter, and Soil Plant Analysis Division (SPAD) index. Biostimulants induced longer cultural cycle and heads lighter in weight. Cultivar ‘Madrigal’ was most productive than ‘Opal’, both in number (26.28% higher) and in weight (28.51%) of total heads. The two-year investigation showed that the synergic action was effective in improving some of the investigated productive traits of globe artichoke.     

Genetic relationships of alternative somatic cell count traits with milk yield,composition and udder type traits in Italian Jersey cows

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic associations between alternative somatic cell count (SCC) traits and milk yield, composition and udder type traits in Italian Jersey cows. Alternative SCC traits were test‐day (TD) somatic cell score (SCS) averaged over early lactation (SCS_150), standard deviation of SCS of the entire lactation (SCS_SD), a binary trait indicating absence or presence of at least one TD SCC >400,000 cells/ml in the lactation (Infection) and the ratio of the number of TD SCC >400,000 cells/ml to total number of TD in the lactation (Severity). Heritabilities of SCC traits, including lactation‐mean SCS (SCS_LM), ranged from 0.038 to 0.136. Genetic correlations between SCC traits were moderate to strong, with very few exceptions. Unfavourable genetic associations between milk yield and SCS_SD and Infection indicated that high‐producing cows were more susceptible to variation in SCC than low‐producing animals. Cows with deep udders, loose attachments, weak ligaments and long teats were more susceptible to an increase of SCC in milk. Overall, results suggest that alternative SCC traits can be exploited to improve cow's resistance to mastitis in Italian Jersey breed.     

Breakdown of cortical effective connectivity during sleep

When we fall asleep, consciousness fades yet the brain remains active. Why is this so? To investigate whether changes in cortical information transmission play a role, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation together with high-density electroencephalography and asked how the activation of one cortical area (the premotor area) is transmitted to the rest of the brain. During quiet wakefulness, an initial response (approximately 15 milliseconds) at the stimulation site was followed by a sequence of waves that moved to connected cortical areas several centimeters away. During non-rapid eye movement sleep, the initial response was stronger but was rapidly extinguished and did not propagate beyond the stimulation site. Thus, the fading of consciousness during certain stages of sleep may be related to a breakdown in cortical effective connectivity.     

In vitro down regulation of proinflammatory cytokines induced by LPS tolerance in pig CD14+ cells

LPS tolerance is characterized by a reduced sensitivity to subsequent challenge of LPS. In human and mouse models LPS tolerance is closely associated with marked unbalanced production of leukocyte-derived inflammatory mediators which, when overexpressed, led to septic syndrome and shock. Here we characterized the in vitro induction of LPS tolerance in porcine CD14+ spleen cells in order to give insights into LPS tolerance in pigs. Following LPS stimulation, TNF-alpha and, to a minor extent, IL-8 production showed a significant reduction in CD14+ spleen monocytes that were pretreated with LPS in comparison to na?ve cells, while IL-1beta production was slightly influenced by LPS stimulation and it was not affected by subsequent LPS challenge. Our findings showed that porcine CD14+ cells undergo a process, which resembles LPS tolerance, providing evidence that swine represent a valuable and useful model to perform experiments to study LPS tolerance and its biological significance.