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Invasive alien plant species (IAPs) are non-native plant species whose introduction and spread outside their natural range poses a threat to biodiversity. Their removal is often financially and environmentally costly from repeated interventions. Tackling IAPs at their most vulnerable stages can be a cost-reducing and effective strategy. A vulnerability index has been devised to plan an IAPs removal strategy based on attacking the most vulnerable stages of a species and focuses on the ease and effectiveness of removing aerial and root biomass as well as propagules. The need for repeated interventions is also factored in the vulnerability index since this forms part of the weakening strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate if the germination rate of Coronilla valentina seeds (Fabaceae) increased when subjected to extended hydro-priming. Analysis of hydroprimed seeds was carried out by using morphocolorimetric analysis to characterise the imbibition at different hydration time intervals. Seeds that had not been hydro-primed represented the untreated control. Seed swelling is a reliable and time-efficient method to measure seed imbibition, yet a poor predictor of seed germination success. Timing and temperature of the hydropriming treatment influence the germination rate of C. valentina subsp. glauca, with the optimum hydropriming treatment, was found to occur within a 72h period following the 75°C to 25°C treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ conservation is considered the best way to preserve biodiversity where multiple species can persist with all their natural ecological interactions. The latter element is often ignored. Criticalities can arise when ex-situ grown plants are translocated in-situ without their natural soil microbial associations, especially where abiotic stresses can be severe. Mycorrhizal Fungi (MF) provide several benefits to plants and ecosystem in which are present. The aim of the project was to investigate the use of indigenous MF to enhance acclimatization and survival of exsitu grown plants translocated for habitat restoration. The seeds of Pinus halepensis Mill. as well as sporocarps of naturally associated indigenous MF Suillus collinitus (Fr.) Kuntze (1898), were collected from Natura 2000 sites in the Maltese Islands. P. halepensis seeds were germinated under greenhouse conditions. S. collinitus was inoculated at sowing and seedling stage by placing fragments of the ripe sporocarps in the P. halepensis seedling trays. All the mycorrhized plantlets produced have been reintroduced into selected area of Natura 2000 in the Maltese Islands as part of SiMaSeed restoration project. Such MF inoculation actions can help to enhance restoration and resilience of habitats to reduce biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser surface alloying of an A356 aluminium alloy was performed in order to improve the tribological behaviour of its surface using nickel and Ni-Ti-C powders to provide a reinformcement of intermetallics and ceramic phases. Alloying with nickel resulted in the formation of Al-Ni intermetallics whilst alloying with Ni-Ti-C led to the formation of Al-Ni and Al-Si-Ti intermetallics together with TiC particles produced by an in-situ reaction within the melt. The surfaces achieved hardness values of up to 3.5 times that of the untreated material, and these values were related to the overall content of alloying elements in the alloyed surface. The sliding wear resistance of surfaces alloyed with nickel and Ni-Ti-C was highly improved when using powder flow rates of more than 0.04 g/s, attaining mass loss due to wear at least 15 times less than that of the untreated material. A reduction of plastic deformation and adhesive wear with increasing alloying addition was the main reason for this improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytotoxic effect of conifer Tetraclinis articulata essential oil (TAEO) on a number of human cancer cell lines and peripheral blood lymphocytes was assessed at various concentrations and time exposures. The cytotoxic effect showed the hallmarks of apoptosis confirmed by a variety of techniques including flow cytometry, an apoptosis- specific marker combined to fluorescent staining and DNA laddering. All cell lines tested were inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion and within a contact time of less than eight hours for the higher concentrations. Melanoma, breast and ovarian cancer cells gave IC50s of around 80 micrograms/ml whilst the IC50s on peripheral blood lymphocytes was almost double this value. We conclude that the essential oil contains components that are effective at inducing apoptosis. The advantages of using a mixture of monoterpenes (C10) as present in an EO over a single component, are discussed.