CONTENT OF THE BOOK The book takes into consideration archaeological artefacts made out of the mo... more CONTENT OF THE BOOK The book takes into consideration archaeological artefacts made out of the most common materials, like stones (both natural and artificial), mosaics, ceramics, glass, metals, wood and textiles. But all these important materials are accompanied by less diffuse artefacts and materials, like clay tablets, goldsmith artefacts, icons, leather and skin objects, bones and ivory, coral and mother of pearl. Each type of artefact and/or material is treated from at least four different points of view: - Composition and processing technology - Alteration and degradation causes and mechanisms - Procedures for conservative intervention - Case study and/or examples of conservative intervention In this way, the importance of science and diagnostics in the field of conservation emerges, together with the fact that it is not possible to avoid scientific analyses of the archaeological finds if one wants to achieve the best results from the conservation point of view. In addition, it becomes clear that the choice of the conservation systems is strictly connected to the results of the analyses. Of course, the high number of materials and the great difference between their conservation problems would require a great number of pages, if they were treated in a deep way. Such a solution is not practical and not economic, therefore the solution was to treat all the subjects in a not deep, but complete and precise way. As a consequence, the book is subdivided into chapters devoted to different materials, together with two transversal chapters: one devoted to the general principles of the preventive conservation and the other one to the description of the most useful analytical techniques. In such an approach, special reference has been made to the needs of the museums and to the use of non-invasive analytical techniques
Caratterizzazione di Rhynchophorous ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) mediante l’analisi del DNA genomico
Originario dell\u2019Asia tropicale, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), Coleoptera, Curculionid... more Originario dell\u2019Asia tropicale, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), Coleoptera, Curculionidae, introdotto accidentalmente nel bacino del Mediterraneo nei primi anni \u201990 (Salama et al, 2004), e segnalato in Sicilia nel 2005 (A.A.V.V. , 2009) \ue8 il fitofago chiave causa della moria di numerose palme. Infesta diversi generi di palme, sia giovani che adulti, quali Phoenix canariensis, P. dactylifera, Coccus nucifera, Washingtonia sp. A dispetto della pericolosit\ue0 di questa specie che recentemente \ue8 stata proposta quale specie da quarantena (EPPO, 2008) non sono ancora disponibili informazioni inerenti la caratterizzazione molecolare di R. ferrugineus, utili per: i) identificazione specifica dell\u2019insetto nelle varie fasi del ciclo vitale (uova, larve e adulti); ii) definire i rapporti filogenetici con altri generi; iii) stabilire relazioni tra le specie, la loro distribuzione e le associazioni trofiche. Esemplari di R. ferrugineus prelevati da P. canariensis (provincia di Palermo, anni 2008-2010), sono stati utilizzati per la realizzazione dell\u2019analisi molecolare basata su: i) estrazione del DNA genomico da diversi individui e tessuti; ii) amplificazione in vitro (PCR) di specifiche porzioni del gene mitocondriale codificante la citocromo ossidasi (CYOI); iii) analisi delle relative sequenz
Inflammatory reaction and isolation of multifunctional bioactive molecules in cnidarians: from Immunobiology to Blue Biotechnology
The phylum of Cnidaria is one of the first branches in the tree of animal life to provide crucial... more The phylum of Cnidaria is one of the first branches in the tree of animal life to provide crucial insights on the evolution of immunity. Cnidarians are diblastic aquatic animals with radial symmetry and they are the simplest multicellular organisms that have reached the level of tissue organization. The renewed interest in the study of immunity in Cnidaria has led to additional information to the scenario of the first stages of immunity evolution revealing the cellular processes involved in symbiosis, in the regulation of homeostasis and in the fight against infections. We investigated the inflammatory response in Cnidarian following injection of various substances different in type and dimension, and observed clear, strong and specific reactions especially after injection of bacteria. The enzymes evaluation (protease, phosphatase and esterase), showing how the injection of different bacterial strains alters the expression of these enzymes suggesting a correlation between the appearance of the inflammatory reaction and the modification of enzymatic activities. The Cnidaria phylum has evolved using biotoxins as defense or predation mechanisms for ensure survival in hostile and competitive environments such as the seas and oceans indeed the tissues and the mucus produced by cnidarians are involved in immune defense and contain a large variety of toxins such enzymes, potent pore forming toxins, and neurotoxins. They could also take advantage of the multi-functionality of some of their toxins. The bioactive molecules were characterized and purified by biological assays, acid extraction, HPLC purifications, mass spectroscopy and peptide synthesis. Here, we show the cnidarian bioactive molecules as antimicrobial peptides and enzymes in order to draw important applications in fields ranging from pharmacology to cultural heritage
From Cnidarian immunobiology to cultural heritage applications
The study of cnidarians immunity, as model systems of metazoans, lead additional informations on ... more The study of cnidarians immunity, as model systems of metazoans, lead additional informations on the first steps of the immunity evolution. The functions of the genes and cellular pathways in higher vertebrates are conserved during the evolution of metazoans, as shown by the discovery of homologues in cnidarians. These basal metazoans in fact, are far from "simples" in the range of methods at their disposal to deal with potential prey but also invading microbes and pathogens. They can give informations about the invertebrates innate immune repertoire. We investigated the immunobiology starting from the inflammatory response in Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) following injection of substances different in type and dimension, to understand the effector mechanisms involved in this process. We observed clear, strong and specific reactions especially after injection of bacteria and the alteration of the expression of enzymes (protease, phosphatase and esterase), showing a correlation between the appearance of the inflammatory reaction and the modification of enzymatic activities. From cnidarian phylum a large number of toxic compounds have been isolated. Tissues and mucus produced by cnidarians may have a role in immune defense and contain a variety of toxins as neurotoxins, cytolysins and antimicrobial peptides, which can have multifunctional role. The bioactive molecules were purified by acid extraction and HPLC purifications and characterized through biological assays, mass spectroscopy and peptide synthesis. Here, we show the cnidarian bioactive molecules as antimicrobial peptides and enzymes in order to draw applications in fields ranging from pharmacology to cultural heritage. Particularly, in the control of the microbic growth and especially in the tuning of biocleaning protocols, bioactive molecules with proteasic and esterasic activity have been used. These novel enzymes are active at temperature lower than 30\ub0C, they need a reduced time of application and are safety for both operators and environment. Thus they could provide an important contribution to the development of sustainable innovative protocols
Rivelazione e Caratterizzazione di Consorzi Microbici in Reperti Lignei Sommersi
In questa lavoro sono state affrontate le problematiche relative alla valutazione dello stato di ... more In questa lavoro sono state affrontate le problematiche relative alla valutazione dello stato di conservazione del legno archeologico sommerso (waterlogged wood) in relazione ai fattori che ne inducono il degrado. L\u2019attenzione \ue8 stata rivolta ai processi di biodeterioramento, indotti dall\u2019attivit\ue0 di alcuni microrganismi che utilizzano le componenti principali del legno, la cui identificazione \ue8 stata eseguita ricorrendo a tecniche sia colturali sia molecolari. In particolare, le tecniche molecolari che si sono rivelate di immediata applicazione per lo studio e la caratterizzazione dei microrganismi che colonizzano i beni di interesse storico artistico e i manufatti d\u2019interesse archeologico, sono state quelle che hanno permesso l\u2019estrazione del DNA genomico microbico da minime quantit\ue0 di reperto e che ha permesso l\u2019amplificazione di specifiche sequenze bersaglio; la reazione a catena della DNA-polimerasi (PCR), che consente la moltiplicazione (amplificazione) di frammenti di acidi nucleici dei quali si conoscano le sequenze nucleotidiche iniziali e terminali. Le analisi sono state condotte su alcuni frammenti, campionati dalla struttura lignea del \u201crostro di Acqualadroni\u201d, di et\ue0 ellenistica, recuperato nel 2008 in localit\ue0 Acqualadroni (Messina). Il protocollo per la reazione di PCR \ue8 stato messo a punto utilizzando DNA genomico estratto sia direttamente da singole colonie batteriche sia da frammenti lignei prelevati dal rostro. In questa fase sono stati utilizzati i primer universali specifici per la regione ribosomale e primer per specifiche porzioni del gene ribosomale 16S. Gli amplificati prodotti dalle reazioni di PCR sono stati analizzati per elettroforesi su gel d\u2019agarosio e ne \ue8 stata determinata la composizione nucleotidica ricorrendo al servizio per il sequenziamento della Eurofins MWG operon (Germany). L\u2019analisi delle sequenze ha permesso l\u2019identificazione di batteri con attivit\ue0 ligninolitica e celluloso litica, appartenenti alle specie Cellulomonas, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Xanthomonas, oltre a Desulforudis audaxviator (batterio solfato-riduttore), Marinobacter sp. (batterio ferrossidante); quindi batteri in grado sia di sopravvivere in ambiente marino sia di degradare le componenti del legno
An analytical technique is a method that is used to determine the value of a certain characterist... more An analytical technique is a method that is used to determine the value of a certain characteristic of the material, for example the amount of a chemical compound or the concentration of chemical elements. There is a wide variety of techniques used for analysis, from a simple analytical balance to very advanced techniques using highly specialized instrumentations. As an example, the most common techniques used in analytical chemistry are listed in Figure 14.1. The analytical techniques are characterized by their invasiveness, type of information supplied, physical state of the sample, being portable or not, resolution, how much sample it needs, expression of the result, what materials can be analyzed, costs of instrumentation and analysis. The contribution given by analytical investigation to the cultural heritage knowledge can be related to: - technological information, - provenance studies, - conservation and restoration, - dating or authentication of a finding. Some examples have been shown in the previous chapter
This contribution includes the 62 oral and 24 poster presentations of the international congress ... more This contribution includes the 62 oral and 24 poster presentations of the international congress "Sustainable restoration of Mediterranean forests, analysis and perspective within the context of bio-based economy development under global changes", Palermo 19th -21th April 2017, organized by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), the University of Insubria, the Tuscia University, the University of Palermo, the Italian Society of forest restoration (SIRF), the Botanical Society of Italy (SBI) and the Italian Academy of Forest Sciences. The congress program is organized in four main technical Symposia: Forest restoration in Mediterranean climates (Europe/other continents); Scientific and technological advancements for a sustainable forest management; Political, social, and economical implications related to forest restoration activities; Forest restoration, landscape management, and ecosystem services. The four key themes of the symposia will be developed by answering the following questions: How climate change and its extreme events is affecting the Mediterranean vegetation in general and forests in particular; how new technological advancements will impact upon and will support the strategies to be implemented for leading to a sustainable forest management in Mediterranean Region; how to interconnect stakeholders, economists, policy makers with forest and landscape scientists in order to form a network able to guarantee a full integration of national forest infrastructures within the context of worldwide strategies for a circular economy; how the introduction of an Adaptive Measure (AM) approach could combine Adaptive Forest Management (AGM) with Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR).
Aquatic products provide a high-quality protein source for humanity. Due to the reduction in wild... more Aquatic products provide a high-quality protein source for humanity. Due to the reduction in wild-capture fishery resources, aquaculture plays important roles in the supplement of aquatic products. The black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon is an important aquatic species in Southeast Asia . Given its rapid growth, delicious meat and wide consumer demands, P. monodon promotes the economic benefits of aquaculture . Growth performance is an important factor in the production of shrimp. However, the
The evolution of multicellular organisms was marked by adaptations to protect against pathogens. ... more The evolution of multicellular organisms was marked by adaptations to protect against pathogens. The mechanisms for discriminating the ''self'' from ''non-self" have evolved into a long history of cellular and molecular strategies, from damage repair to the co-evolution of host-pathogen interactions. We investigated the inflammatory response in Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) following injection of substances that varied in type and dimension, and observed clear, strong and specific reactions, especially after injection of Escherichia coli and Vibrio alginolyticus. Moreover, we analyzed enzymatic activity of protease, phosphatase and esterase, showing how the injection of different bacterial strains alters the expression of these enzymes and suggesting a correlation between the appearance of the inflammatory reaction and the modification of enzymatic activities. Our study shows for the first time, a specific reaction and enzymatic responses following injection of bacteria in a cnidarian.
Background: Basalt is the most common igneous rock on the Earth's surface covering. Basalt-associ... more Background: Basalt is the most common igneous rock on the Earth's surface covering. Basalt-associated microorganisms drive the cycling and sequestration of different elements such as nitrogen, carbon and other nutrients, which facilitate subsequent pioneer and plant development, impacting long-term regulation of the Earth's temperature and biosphere. The initial processes of colonization and subsequent rock weathering by microbial communities are still poorly understood and relatively few data are available on the diversity and richness of the communities inhabiting successive and chronological lava flows. In this study, the bacterial communities present on lava deposits from different eruptions of the 1975-84 Krafla Fires (32-, 35-and 39-year old, respectively) at the Krafla, Iceland, were determined. Results: Three sites were sampled for each deposit (32-, 35-and 39-year old), two proximal sites (at 10 m distance) and one more distant site (at 100 m from the two other sites). The determined chemical composition and metal concentrations were similar for the three basalt deposits. No significant differences were observed in the total number of cells in each flow. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that the most abundant classified phylum across the 3 flows was Proteobacteria, although predominance of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes was observed for some sampling sites. In addition, a considerable fraction of the operational taxonomic units remained unclassified. Alpha diversity (Shannon, inverse Simpson and Chao), HOMOVA and AMOVA only showed a significant difference for Shannon between the 32-and 39-year old flow (p < 0.05). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis showed that age significantly (p = 0.026) influenced the leftward movement along NMDS axis 1. Conclusions: Although NMDS indicated that the (relatively small) age difference of the deposits appeared to impact the bacterial community, this analysis was not consistent with AMOVA and HOMOVA, indicating no significant difference in community structure. The combined results drive us to conclude that the (relatively small) age differences of the deposits do not appear to be the main factor shaping the microbial communities. Probably other factors such as spatial heterogeneity, associated carbon content, exogenous rain precipitations and wind also affect the diversity and dynamics.
Il Restauro Del Bozzetto Scultoreo Del Carro DI San Rocco DI Pietro Consagra. Uno Studio Sul Comportamento Chimico-Fisico DI Leganti Pittorici Impiegati Nell’Arte Contemporanea
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