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A list of pests and diseases affecting Eucalyptus spp. are reported

The red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei is considered an invasive insect species worldwide. In Italy, after the first recorded in Campania in 2010 on Eucaliptus camaldulensis trees, it spread quickly onto all surrounding Central-Southern regions. In Sardinia, G. brimblecombei was first recorded in 2011, and actually is present all over the regional territory. Prolonged attacks of red gum lerp psyllid can cause both direct and indirect damage on eucalyptus trees, such as plant weakening, developmental reductions and filloptosis, resulting in death within 2-3 years. This aspect is particularly important in Sardinia, where eucalyptus is considered one of the mainly floral resources ensuring approximately 50% of the entire regional honey production. From 2013 to 2015 a monitoring program was carried out at 11 stations located throughout the territory of Sardinia in order to estimate both the dynamics and the population density of preimaginal stages and adults, as well as the general trend of G. brimblecombei over the years. Preliminary results of the three-years monitoring program are reported

In Sardinia (Italy) gypsy moth population density has been regularly evaluated through a monitoring network over thirty years based on egg masses counting at permanent sites. This activity allows to identify annually areas with the highest infestation density in order to define sites to be subjected to phytosanitary treatments. To give an indication on the potential use of different microbiological products two years of efficacy trials with different Bacillus thuringiensis serovar kurstaki formulations were carried out in period 2012-2013. Tested formulations proved to be as effective as the reference products Foray 48B and Delfin in controlling L. dispar populations. Historical series data on gypsy moth over-year-density were analyzed following two different study approaches. The first was based on a generalized linear model adopted to evaluate the statistical significance of the relationship between percentage of occupied sites and presence of damage. The results confirmed the validity of this method for an easier identification of forest areas exposed to damage in progradiation phase. In the second case, the use of incidence function model and other statistical approaches were investigated. Although the complexity in modelling L. dispar dynamics, results were promising for their use in defining the specific metapopulation dynamics pattern at forest district level.

The research project is based upon the reconstruction of Aldo Capitini’s philosophical and political work with a specific consideration for the theoretical space where connections between ethics and politics, individual and society, ontology and existence intersect, with also reference to Augusto del Noce thought. The work is composed of two sections. The first one examines Capitini’s thought categories which enable to define his philosophical and political proposal as philosophy of action and communication. The second section concerns Augusto del Noce ethical and political thought and, in particular, the unpublished epistolary with Aldo Capitini and the elements of contiguity and separation between the two intellectuals. The epistolary consists of eighteen letters from Augusto del Noce to Aldo Capitini (1948-1966) and it discloses the hardships, the moment of crisis, of intellectual and moral revolution at the time of their friendship. The epistolary reveals not only the remarkable significance of the debated topics in order to retrace the relationship between the two intellectuals, but also a way to interpret their thought as a fundamental bequest to the ethical and political culture of our time. The theoretical crux of their ethical and political thought is to be found in the importance they ascribe to the practical act and enables to include Del Noce and Capitini among the most important philosophers of Italian twentieth century who considered the fulfilment of freedom the aim and continuous power of individual active conscience.

I boschi a quercia da sughero della Sardegna sono sistemi ecologici complessi dove le attività agro-pastorali si sovrappongono allo sfruttamento del sughero. La valorizzazione delle foreste a sughera parte dalla valutazione, con bioindicatori animali, del benessere dei soprassuoli per giungere, tramite un approccio qualitativo e quantitativo, alla stima degli Ecosystem Services (ES).

In this work the Mycoplasma agalactiae p48 gene was used as a diagnostic marker for contagious agalactia (CA) of sheep and goats by Real-Time PCR. The p48 gene encodes an invariable, constantly expressed, immunodominant surface lipoprotein belongs to the basic membrane protein family. The Real-Time PCR test based on p48 resulted specific and sensible. The test performance were evaluated on bulk tank milk samples collected from 1064 ovine and 66 goat farms in sardinian region. 4.8% of sheep farms and 4.5 % of goat farms tested positive. Our results showed that the test based on the p48 gene can be used on bulk tank milk for detection and epidemiological surveillance of Mycoplasma agalactiae infections.

Le comunità di formiche e carabidi dei boschi a Quercus suber della Sardegna rappresentano un'importante fonte di biodiversità. La composizione in specie è strettamente correlata alla principale destinazione d'uso delle aree e alle caratteristiche del bosco.

Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that caps the ends of chromosomes. Human telomeres are repeats of TTAGGG sequences that measures between 5 and 15 kb. Telomeres protect chromosome ends from DNA damage and are associated with the nuclear membrane to maintain nuclear organization. During the process of DNA synthesis and cell division, telomere length decreases as a result of the incomplete replication of chromosome ends. Telomerase is a ribonuclear protein-enzyme complex that synthesizes telomeric repeats by adding hexameric (TTAGGG) repeats onto the telomeric ends of chromosomes. Telomerase is active in germ line cells and stem cells but not in most adult tissue. Telomere shortening has been proposed to play an important role in the process of cellular senescence. Cellular senescence may represent therefore, the manifestation of the aging process at the cellular level. In this work, telomere length was analized in the Sardinian population in relation to age and sex. The age of subjects enrolled in the research project Akea (A Kent'Annos ) was comprised between 20 and 105 years. Telomere length was determined using a method based on Cawthon’s quantitative real time PCR. Results have shown a negative correlation between the average length of telomeres and age. In addition, telomere length in women was lower than in men, a result in opposition with data observed in other scientific works. Finally, some centenarian samples showed a LTL unusually high.

Acetyl chloride reacts with pyridine to give a mixture of N-acetyl-1,4- and 1,2-dihydropyridyl acetic acid (1a,b) after water quenching. The reactioninvolves the formation of a zwitterionic ketene enolate intermediate which results from deprotonation of the acetyl moiety of the in situ formed N-acetyl pyridinium ion. The effect on the reaction outcome of different parameters as temperature, pyridine/acetyl chloride molar ratio, and as Lewis acids and triflate counterion presence has been studied in detail, and a reaction mechanism has been proposed.

Heterozygous alpha and beta thalassemia are extremely frequent in malaria endemic areas displaying a well balanced hematological situation with very mild anemia and microcytic red cells. There is widespread consensus that thalassemia determines resistance to severe malaria although the molecular basis of the mechanism of resistance is not understood. A few studies indicate that the thalassemic cell environment does not directly harm the parasites but apparently induces the loss of viability of infected red cells and their enhanced removal by macrophages. The difficulty to develop an hypothesis on the mechanism of malaria resistance largely derives from the substantial lack of knowledge on the physiology of thalassemic red cells in heterozygotes. Although causing only mild and asymptomatic anemia, the genetic defect causes unbalanced hemoglobin chain production. It is not understood how this large excess of globin chains can be removed without effecting the viability of the red cell. It is generally accepted that the loss of red cell membrane leading to microcytosis may represent the counterpart of hemoglobin chain excess removal but the mechanisms underlying this process are not defined. Our previous observations showed that in splenectomized intermediate thalassemia patients the Hb increase (from 7.7 to 9.1 g/dl) in comparison to non-splenectomized patients was due to a net increase of mean MCV (from 71 to 82 fl) and not to an increased number of red cells. This clinical evidence is not, therefore, in accordance with the concept that, in thalassemia, the spleen mainly acts to remove altered red cells but suggests that the spleen has an active role in reducing red cell volume. We have observed a larger amount of hemichromes bound to the red cell membrane in splenectomised patients. Those data are an indication that splenic macrophages exert a role in removing the hemichromes leading to a decrease of red cell volume. Histological studies show the role of splenic macrophages in “pitting” part of the red cell membrane containing hemichromes. Based on some recently published results and some preliminary data we developed the hypothesis that a physiological mechanism may permit the removal of abnormal globins deposited on the cytoplasmic side of the red cell membrane. This process should require a series of sequential events: a) binding of denatured globin chains to specific membrane protein ligands b) selective modification of the ligand bound to the globins to induce its clustering and the accumulation of all globin excess in a limited area of the membrane c) some mechanism leading to the recognition and binding of the clustered globin ligand by macrophages d) weakening of membrane structure in the area of denatured globin accumulation to allow its selective removal by macrophages and/or vesiculation of locally destabilized areas without interfering with the overall integrity of red cell membrane. This mechanism should allow globin excess removal minimizing the area of the membrane to be sacrificed therefore obtaining smaller but still viable biconcave red cells.

The research project that I developed has been directed on the critical reconstruction of the philosophical and pedagogical works of Aldo Capitini, with particular attention to his influence on Sardinian culture. The importance of the thinking of Aldo Capitini, philosopher and pedagogue of absolute importance, who taught at the University of Cagliari in the early 1960s, has led me to outline a research project which demonstrates both the topical interest and the great legacy left to Sardinian culture by Capitini’s works. I dwelled on the importance and influence of the presence of Aldo Capitini in Sardinia: in particular its relationship between the thinking of Aldo Capitini and that of Sardinian philosophers, who, like him, deepen the themes of peace, of non-violence and of the pedagogical-educational formation. In particular my attention was focussed on the figures of Antonio Pigliaru, Ernesto De Martino and Alberto Granese. The topical interest of “Capitini thinking” is measured above all in connection to the serious and pressing problems of our time. Firstly the problem of peace and of non-violence. Peace in respect of the inviolable rights of human beings, that of freedom, justice, economic and social development, cultural changes for the individual and of the people. Unfortunately in today’s reality such rights are often not respected. Capitini teaches that working for peace is necessary for everyone, in a war-afflicted world in which we live; in particular today, in a time in which we must question what it is to be man and the meaning and reason for his existence.

Il lavoro affronta le problematiche della competenza territoriale del Giudice tributario

Il lavoro, previa disamina delle criticità della disciplina della tutela cautelare nel processo tributario, propone una ricostruzione, anche de iure condendo, dell'istituto esaminato con particolare riferimento ai processi di impugnazione

Il lavoro di ricerca svolto in questi anni sulle atmosfere controllate mira a stabilire la possibilità di utilizzare livelli di ossigeno superiori a quelli riportati in bibliografia e comunemente utilizzati nella pratica (O2 << 1%), più economici da produrre e facili da mantenere in situazioni di stoccaggio, lasciando l’azoto (N2) come componente principale. L’efficacia della tecnica delle atmosfere controllate è strettamente correlata alle condizioni di temperatura e umidità, di conseguenza è possibile avvalersi di percentuali maggiori di ossigeno grazie all’influenza positiva di questi due parametri che condizionano fortemente il metabolismo degli insetti. Gli artropodi sono organismi in grado di sopportare periodi anche prolungati di ipossia; gli effetti della carenza di O2 sul metabolismo degli insetti sono diversi a seconda dei livelli di presenza di questo gas nell’atmosfera controllata: al diminuire della concentrazione di O2, comunque, la loro mortalità aumenta (Hoback e Stanley, 2001). Si possono sfruttare condizioni di bassa U.R. per limitare i tempi di trattamento (quando si operi in condizioni di alte temperature) e, allo stesso modo, si può agire sulle altre variabili (temperatura, percentuale di ossigeno, tempo) per migliorare l’efficacia del trattamento. Tribolium confusum è una specie che attacca i cereali immagazzinati ed è quindi ovvio considerare temperature anche elevate e umidità relative molto ridotte (10-15%). Da quanto riportato in bibliografia, l’effetto positivo delle basse umidità relative sulla mortalità è particolarmente evidente per percentuali di ossigeno superiori all’1% (Mitcham et al., 2006; Zhou et al., 2000; Mbata e Phillips, 2001). Di conseguenza, nella nostra ricerca sono state considerate anche percentuali di O2 superiori all’1%, meno costose da mantenere per lunghi periodi. Ciò riduce l’efficacia in condizioni normali, ma può rivelarsi efficace a temperature superiori e % inferiori U.R. (Chiappini et al. 2009). Uova, larve, pupe e adulti sono stati esposti a trattamento in atmosfera controllata con diverse combinazioni di fattori (O2, temperatura, U.R.) in modo da poter sfruttare condizioni ambientali favorevoli ai fini dell’efficacia del trattamento. La stima della mortalità è stata effettuata dopo ogni prova attraverso la conta degli individui morti e/o sopravvissuti. La mortalità è stata poi trasformata in percentuale e analizzata utilizzando l’analisi della varianza, con la quale è stato inoltre determinato il livello di interazione tra le variabili in esame. Le prove sperimentali su Tribolium confusum hanno dimostrato che il trattamento anossico può risultare molto efficace anche a percentuali di ossigeno più elevate di quelle normalmente utilizzate, ma in condizioni di umidità relativa assai ridotta. U.R. e O2 incidono in modo significativo, condizionando il comportamento dell’insetto e quindi la mortalità. A tutti gli stadi di sviluppo della specie, alla minore U.R. applicata corrisponde la percentuale di mortalità significativamente superiore; viceversa la percentuale di mortalità si abbassa ulteriormente all’aumentare della U.R., annullandosi nel trattamento con maggiore tenore di ossigeno e maggiore umidità relativa. Tra gli stadi di sviluppo l’uovo risulta essere più suscettibile rispetto ad adulti, larve e pupe, raggiungendo in quasi tutte le condizioni il 100% di mortalità. Ciò è facilmente spiegabile considerando che è uno stadio fisiologicamente molto attivo. Infatti, nonostante appaia quiescente e, probabilmente per questo, sia considerato molto resistente dai “non-entomologi”, al suo interno, le cellule si stanno dividendo per formare ex novo i tessuti e gli apparati embrionali. Questa intensa attività cellulare si traduce in un elevato metabolismo e, di conseguenza, in un’elevata richiesta di ossigeno. Quando il fabbisogno di ossigeno necessario alla produzione dell’energia che sostiene lo sviluppo dell’embrione non viene soddisfatto, questo muore. La combinazione delle variabili ha dato risultati positivi e ha dimostrato come si possano effettuare trattamenti a percentuali di ossigeno superiori di quelli comunemente utilizzati. Considerando la fisiologia degli insetti, la penuria di ossigeno obbliga ad adottare una serie di cambiamenti comportamentali che permettono di risparmiarne il consumo o aumentarne la concentrazione. Nel secondo caso si tratta di un aumento della frequenza di apertura degli spiracoli, che comporta una perdita d’acqua anche dieci volte superiore rispetto a quella che avverrebbe in condizioni normali e, quindi, la disidratazione dell’insetto. Ovviamente tale effetto è tanto maggiore quanto minore è l’umidità dell’ambiente, la quale inizia a incidere sulla sopravvivenza dell’insetto nel momento in cui quest’ultimo, per poter respirare, è indotto ad aprire gli spiracoli per tempi più lunghi rispetto a quelli fisiologici, magari anche a causa di una maggiore attività determinata dal parallelo innalzamento della temperatura. Poter disporre di dati di mortalità in condizioni climatiche differenti, consente di utilizzare la tecnica dell’atmosfera controllata nel modo più semplice e meno dispendioso (a livello economico, energetico e di impegno) per la situazione in cui si deve operare.

Il lavoro analizza le problematiche relative alle notificazioni degli atti amministrativi e processuali nel diritto tributario suggerendo ipotesi di superamento delle criticità riscontrate