Dipartimento di Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra - Tesi di dottorato
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Questa collezione raccoglie le Tesi di Dottorato afferenti al Dipartimento Dipartimento di Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra dell'Università della Calabria.
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Item Effects of long-term exposure fungicides, pyrimethanil and tebuconazole, on italian tree frog (Hyla intermedia)(2017-09-09) Guardia, Antonello; Tripedi, Sandro; Brunelli, ElviraItem Implementazione di sistemi innovativi per la qualità e tracciabilità di “Healthy Food”(2017-07-03) Macchione, Claudia; De Cindio, Bruno; Canonaco, MarcelloItem Innovativi multiclassificatori con applicazione ai sistemi di supporto alle decisioni cliniche(2017-07-03) Groccia, Maria Carmela; Conforti, Domenico; Canonaco, MarcelloItem Impact of DNA methylation on plant growth and development: a study on a methylation-defective mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana(2017-06-09) Forgione, Ivano; Bruno, Leonardo; Van Lijsebettens, MiekeEpigenetic modifications of DNA contribute to chromatin remodeling process and gene expression regulation playing a relevant role on the development of eukaryotic organisms. DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark consisting in the addition of a methyl group on cytosine bases, which is observed in most of the organisms at the different evolution levels. In plants, DNA methylation is controlled by several genetic pathways, encoding different methyltransferases which act on different sequence contexts. Targets for cytosine DNA methylation in plant genomes are CG, CHG and CHH (H is A, T, C) sequences. The plant DNMT1-homolog METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (MET1) maintains DNA methylation at CG sites, whereas the DNMT3 homolog DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLASE 1 and 2 (DRM1 and DRM2) are responsible for the de novo methylation in all sequence contexts. In addition, the plant-specific CHROMOMETHYLASE3 (CMT3) is responsible for DNA maintenance methylation at CHG sites, as well as at a subset of CHH sites. In plants DNA methylation is involved in diverse biological processes. Loss of methylation in the Arabidopsis thaliana mutants met1 and ddm1 (decrease in DNA methylation 1) causes several developmental abnormalities. Similarly, combined mutations in the DRMs and CMT3 genes induce pleiotropic defects in plants. Here, we used the Arabidopsis thaliana triple mutant drm1 drm2 cmt3, defective in DNA methylation to get deeper insight into the correlation between DNA methylation and plant growth. We identified novel developmental defects of the triple mutant dealing with the agravitropic response of the root and an altered differentiation pattern of the leaf which also exhibits a curly shape. Confocal microscopy of mutant transgenic lines expressing DR5:GFP reporter gene allowed us to verify that the loss of DNA methylation impacts on the accumulation and distribution of auxin from embryo to adult plant. The expression of auxin-related genes has been also found to be altered in drm1 drm2 cmt3 mutant. Furthermore, through an optimized and implemented protocol of comparative analysis of genomic methylated regions based on MeDIP-qPCR, we provide evidence about the direct and organ-specific modulation of auxin-related genes through DNA methylation process. The epigenetic mechanisms interplay with each other rather than work independently to modulate gene function. Accordingly, in our study we provide a novel evidence of the crosstalk between DNA methylation status and histone modification. Indeed, in the drm1 drm2 cmt3 mutant the overexpression of CLF gene, a component of PCR2 complex that performs trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27, was accompanied by a high level of histone methylation, as evaluated through ChIP-qPCR analysis, and by a concomitant down-regulation of genes target of PRC2 complex action. Thus, the results obtained in these three years of PhD course are encouraging and may open new perspectives in the study of the DNA methylation in plants.Item Aspetti genetici dell'evoluzione linguistica nelle popolazioni umane: un'analisi comparativa e interdisciplinare(2017-07-12) Vigna, Mara; Pantano, Pietro; Passarino, Giuseppe; Dato, SerenaItem Stima della produzione solida in bacini idrografici con differenti caratteristiche mediante l'applicazione del modello EPM(2017-07-12) Vacca, Carmine; Pantano, Pietro Salvatore; Dominici, Rocco; Mao, LucaIn order to increase the knowledge of sediment production and transport at the river basin scale, the research aims at the creation of a GIS project based on the multiparametric equation related to the potential erosion model EPM (Gavrilovic, 1988). The GIS allows the remote sensing data (DEM, satellite images, aerial photos etc.) to be associated with the informations detected on field. The interaction between different thematic layers allows to obtain, in an analytical way, a cartographic and a numeric output as database. These data storage are easily consulted and implemented, making the use of GIS essential for proper spatial planning. Starting from this methodological assumption, the EPM Model was applied for a certain number of catchment areas, in different geographic contexts, to better characterize the input data as a function of the output data. The output model has been calibrated and validated by comparing the experimental data obtained with real estimates of sediment transport, suspend load and bed load, of an Alpine Basin (Rio Cordon) and a Chilean Basin (Estero Morales), and with estimates of silting of dams, located in the Alpine Arc and along the Southern Apennines. The implementation of a connectivity index (degree of linkage between sediment sources and downstream areas) has led to the individuation of the volume of material that can feed an hypothetical coastal physiographic unit or can cause problems to an artificial reservoir. This more efficient model was applied to three test basin located in the Ionian (F.ra Saraceno e Stilaro) and Tyrrhenian (F.ra Sfalassà) Calabria areas. The versatility of GIS platforms and the data obtained from the EPM Model enable us to obtain a connective tool easily developable through the time, which permits the interaction between individuals and institutions in order to perform a proper management of the areas particularly vulnerable from the hydrogeological point of viewItem Modeling of biological permeable reactive barriers(2017-07-11) Arias Arias, Fabian Ernesto; Pantano, Pietro; Straface, Salvatore; Molinari., RaffaeleItem Due pesi e due misure: differenze di genere nella Malattia di Alzheimer(2017-07-12) Notaro, Patrizia; Pantano, Pietro; Passarino, Giuseppe; Bruni, Amalia C.Starting from the particular female exposure to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the aim of the study was to investigate gender differences in the onset and evolution. 1925 medical records of AD patients, diagnosed with NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, were digitalized in order to extrapolate data. The mean age of the sample was 71 years, 57 years for early onset patients and 75 years for late onset, with duration of the disease around 9 years. Data taken into account and differentiated for gender were: prevalence and onset of the disease; time elapsed between the onset and the first visit, the duration of follow-up and the duration of disease; the educational level, cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors. MMSE score was considered at T0 (first visit), T1 (2yrs>T0) and T2 (4yrs>T0). A checklist of symptoms and signs, extrapolated from the cognitive-behavioral anamnesis, was then analyzed. It was furthermore calculated the genotype frequency and the allele frequency on a sample of 912 patients. IBM SPSS 20 statistics software was used (significance was given by p <0.05). Results highlighted that women were more represented in the cohort (67.1%) and in the early onset group (81.6%, p=0.008). There was no gender differences in the time elapsed from symptoms onset to the first visit (4 years), in the follow-up period (4 years) and in the duration of disease (9 years). Women were more cognitively impaired at T0 with 15.9+5.9 MMSE score vs 17+6.5 male score, while men seemed to decline faster at T2, -3.85+4.66 vs -2.93+4.39. Women had a lower level of education 5.6 years vs 6.51 years of men (p=0.000) and presented a higher comorbidity: dysthyroidism (p=0.000), cholesterol (p=0.000) hypertension (p=0.000) and a higher incidence of depression (p=0.000) while men were more statistically represented for irritability (p=0.000). Signs extrapolated from the cognitive-behavioral anamnesis have revealed a higher percentage of man for language impairment (p=0.000), behavioral symptoms (p=0.009), apraxia (p=0.005), spatial disorientation (p=0.006) and calculus impairment (p=0.035). APOE results were not representative in terms of gender differences but confirmed a possible impact of the allele ε4 on cognitive decline. Results have outlined a female patient highly represented in the sample, less educated, with a worse cognitive impairment and more exposed to comorbidity. Men seemed to impair faster in the first 2 years from onset, presenting a more aggressive picture. Furthermore, the diagnosis of the disease for the entire cohort delays of 3 years compared to the international and national mean of time elapsed from onset to first visit, which is about only 1 year The particular exposure of women to dementia and the different evolutionary impact of neurodegenerative diseases, from a gender point of view, still require ample studies and in-depth observations. In particular, the identification of specific gender aspects may be a valuable aid for a more timely identification of diseases and their better management.Item Some Calabrian stones as building materials: characterization, durability and use suggestions(2017-07-11) Forestieri, Giulia; Pantano, Pietro Salvatore; Ponte, Maurizio; Campolongo, Alessandro; De Francesco, Anna Maria; De Buergo Ballester, Mónica AlvarezThe aim of this PhD thesis is to provide new scientific data regarding the use of certain Calabrian stones as building materials. This investigation included specific local stones used by the most important schools of Stonemasons of Calabria, in particular in the Cosenza Province; focusing on how properties of different building materials have influenced the figurative and architectural models. In this study, stones commonly used as building materials are selected according to two important criteria: 1. The large employment of these materials in the past as building and decorative elements. Studying the use of selected stones in the centuries assists in identifying four lithotypes largely used by the most important Calabrian Schools of Stonemasons in the Cosenza Province: • San Giovanni in Fiore granite - in the Sila area by the school of San Giovanni in Fiore and famous for its severe style due to “Joachim of Fiore” rules, and to material hardness. • Grisolia stone – known as “gold stone” for its gold inclusions; limestone that represents the principal building material of the majority of the historical centers of the northern Tyrrhenian part of the Calabrian region and a small part of the Basilicata region. • San Lucido stone - biocalcarenite known in the past as “biancolella”; employed as a building material in the historical center of San Lucido and in the historical center of Cosenza, to build structural and decorative elements such as portals and arches. • Fuscaldo stone - sandstone commercially known as “sweet stone” and utilized by artisans of the 14th century school of Fuscaldo; principally known for the construction of portals of noble palaces, built in the Spanish “plateresco” (plateresque) style for ornamental elements. 2. Lithotypes belonging to the different active and non-active important quarry areas of the Cosenza Province. Also taken into account is the possibility that these quarries may still be exploited for a local limited use, or a possible diffusion on a large scale out of the Region. Special attention is dedicated to the characterization, durability, and to the building techniques employed in the past of the selected stones. The petrophysical and mechanical characterization of these stones are performed by means of studying the petrographic characteristics, chemical and mineralogical composition, hydric properties; and the physical and mechanical behavior, with special attention to possible anisotropies. For this purpose, laboratory and non-destructive tests on quarry samples complying the current standards for “natural stones” and for the “conservation of cultural property” are performed. Salt crystallization and freeze-thaw tests are performed to assess the durability of the stones and to relate the investigated stone properties with their behavior towards decay agents. Among all the investigated lithotypes, San Giovanni in Fiore granite and Grisolia stone result the stones with a better mechanical and resistance behavior than the other lithotypes. In terms of durability, they are the most durable stones, and in terms of mechanical strength resistance, the strongest stones, both suitable for indoor and outdoor uses. But, petrographically, in the case of San Giovanni in Fiore granite, the oriented sets of microcracks demonstrate that microcracks influence the physical and mechanical behavior of this lithotype. In fact, comparing San Giovanni in Fiore granite with other similar granites, this stone presents worse properties and an anisotropic strength behavior, connected to the different orientation of its intracrystalline and intercrystalline microcracks. San Lucido calcarenite is classified as a stone with better mechanical features than petrophysical and hydric properties, so, the recommended use is for structural purposes, especially inside rather than for ornamental and external uses, in general where salts are not present. Concerning both petrohysical-mechanical properties and durability, Fuscaldo sandstone is the stone with the worst behavior, if compared with the other investigated lithotypes. Its mineralogical composition connected to the susceptibility of some minerals, its high open porosity, the presence of a lot of micropores, its anisotropic hydric behavior, the high degree of ultrasonic anisotropy and its low mechanical strengths, makes this stone sensitive to decay processes and the recommendation is to use this stone for inside purposes and where no salts are present. Results demonstrate that anisotropy and porosity are the main influencing factor in the stone behavior and durability. The way in which stones are positioned can avoid decay processes and improve their petrophysical-mechanical properties. In particular, it is suggested positioning the most anisotropic lithotypes (e.g. Fuscaldo sandstone) with the Z-direction parallel to the loading direction to obtain higher strengths and, simultaneously, to minimize water absorption. Moreover the pore structure, the pore-size distribution, the open porosity and the hydric behavior influence directly the stone resistance in front of decay agents. Microporous stones (e.g. Fuscaldo sandstone) or stones with high capillary coefficients (e.g. San Lucido calcarenite) have been classified as more susceptible to decay agents. Furthermore, an attempt is made to consider possible modifications of current standards and performed non-destructive techniques, strictly focusing on the applied methods and the tested material of this research. In conclusion, all obtained results indicate the optimum use and the best methodology to perform, for the four investigated stones as building materials with regards to the stones’ properties and with particular attention to different behaviors towards the anisotropyItem Ground Displacement due to tectonics and gravity in Corace river Catchment. Gimigliano case study in Calabria Region Italy(2018-03-16) Filomena, Luciana; Pantano, Pietro; Muto, FrancescoScopo del lavoro di tesi è valutare una nuova correlazione tra alcuni parametri per caratteristici dei bacini idrografici con l'attività tettonica recente e le deformazioni del terreno. Questo lavoro fornisce un rilevamento dettagliato di fenomeni franosi a scala di bacino, nel bacino idrografico del Fiume Corace e su scala locale nel centro abitato di Gimigliano, in Calabria. Inoltre, questo lavoro presenta i risultati dell'applicazione del metodo delle matrice nel calcolo della suscettibilità da frana in un sistema informativo geografico (GIS). La tesi presenta i risultati ottenuti per valutare il fattore della tettonica attiva come uno dei diversi fattori determinanti all’interno del calcolo della suscettibilità da frana. il punto di partenza è l'utilizzo di diversi indici geomorfici relativi alla rete di drenaggio fluviale, ai bacini fluviali e ai versanti. Questi indici sono calcolati e valutati in ambiente GIS, oltre a osservazioni sul campo..Per quanto riguarda l’influenza dell’attività tettonica, l'analisi GIS fornisce una correlazione significativa con le frane. In generale, le zone instabili osservate sono legate a forti pendenze dei corsi d’acqua. Una maggiore frequenza di frane è legata a zone con indici superiori di tettonica attiva nei versanti orientali del bacino di Corace e anche, in aree in cui il valore dell’indice risultava elevato, proprio in corrispondenza del centro abitato di Gimigliano. Queste correlazioni tra densità di frane e intensità di tettonica attiva, espresse da indici geomorfici, suggeriscono l'utilità dell'integrazione della tettonica attiva, tra i principali fattori determinanti nella valutazione della suscettibilità da frana dell'area di Gimigliano che può essere applicata a aree simili in tutto il mondo. L'approccio di questo lavoro è quello di fornire un metodo quantitativo, per concentrarsi su aree per un lavoro più dettagliato per stabilire i tassi di tettonica attiva. A tale scopo, sono stati calcolati alcuni indici geomorfici nell'intera area del bacino del Fiume Corace e di sette sottobacini idrografici di terzo ordine. Alcuni indici geomorfici di tettonica attiva noti per essere utili in studi tettonici attivi sono stati selezionati tra cui: • Stream length-gradient index (SL); • Asimmetria del bacino di drenaggio (Af); • Integrale ipsometrico (Hi); • Rapporto tra la larghezza del fondovalle e l'altezza della valle (Vf); • Indice della forma del bacino di drenaggio (Bs); • Indice della sinuosità del fronte montuoso (Smf). È un metodo per valutare un indice su un'area che rappresenta un'attività tettonica relativa (Ifat). I vari indici sono divisi in tre classi, con la prima classe ad alta attività e la terza a bassa attività. Al fine di sviluppare una distribuzione areale, Ifat è ottenuto dalla media delle diverse classi di indici geomorfici e diviso in quattro classi, dove la classe 4 è un'attività tettonica molto alta, la classe 3 è alta attività tettonica di classe 2 è la tettonica moderatamente attiva di classe 1 è bassa tettonica attiva. La metodologia proposta, sviluppata in ambiente GIS la realizzazione di una mappa dell’'attività tettonica. Questo metodo è stato correlato con la carta della suscettibilità da frana. Infine viene elaborata la mappa di suscettibilità da frana per ogni tipo di frana. Le mappe sono state convalidate, verificando il grado di aggiustamento tra gli inventari di frana e le classi di suscettibilità risultanti. La validazione ha mostrato alte correlazioni tra il verificarsi di nuove frane e classi di suscettibilità delle frane disponibili con un grado di aggiustamento superiore al 72% per classi di suscettibilità da alte a molto alte e inferiori al 10% per classi di suscettibilità da basse a molto basse, mostrando l'utilità di queste mappe di suscettibilità alle frane future aree franose. Gli eventi franosi sono tra i processi geologici più complessi a causa dell’interazione tra diversi fattori, spesso difficili da classificare e da prevedere. Scopo della terza sezione è l'utilizzo di dati di telerilevamento per rilevare e mappare le frane, per valutarne l'evoluzione spaziale e temporale. Le tecniche InSAR possono rappresentare un utile supporto alle tecniche di monitoraggio nelle aree in frana e possono essere utilizzate come nuovi metodi per la mappatura e l'inventario delle frane. Al fine di valutare le deformazioni in termini spaziali e temporali e di fornire un’analisi degli spostamenti nel centro abitato di Gimigliano, sono stati analizzati i dati Sentinel 1, acquisiti nell'ottobre 2014 - ottobre 2016 e confrontati con evidenze geologiche e geomorfologiche derivanti da dati ausiliari quali come database di frane e ortofoto riferiti a date diverse, infine validati con rilevamento sul campo. L'approccio applicato ha dimostrato essere un utile supporto della valutazione della suscettibilità alle frane, poiché la tecnica di PSI ha il potenziale per lavorare in sinergia con gli strumenti geomorfologici convenzionali. I dati del telerilevamento mediante interferometria SAR (InSAR) sono diventati un potente strumento per il monitoraggio spazio-temporale di movimenti terrestri quali cedimenti, spostamenti superficiali dovuti a frane o attività tettonica, vulcanismo e processi antropici in aree urbanizzate. Nell'ultimo decennio, i metodi per il rilevamento degli spostamenti del suolo da parte dell'interferometria radar a apertura sintetica hanno avuto una importanza notevole. Negli ultimi anni l'interferometria differenziale delle immagini RADAR è diventata una delle tecniche di telerilevamento più accurate nella valutazione di deformazioni neturali o antropicamente indotte, relativa agli studi sui rischi naturali o sulle risorse naturali. In particolare l'interferometria SAR differenziale DInSAR è diventata uno strumento di telerilevamento molto utile per misurare con precisione l'evoluzione spaziale e temporale degli spostamenti di superficie su un'area vasta.