Marche Polytechnic University

About: Marche Polytechnic University is a education organization based out in Ancona, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Prostate cancer. The organization has 5905 authors who have published 15769 publications receiving 382286 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitá Politecnica delle Marche & Universita Politecnica delle Marche.

Recent advances in modeling swash zone dynamics: Influence of surf-swash interaction on nearshore hydrodynamics and morphodynamics

Abstract: The role of the swash zone in influencing the whole nearshore dynamics is reviewed with a focus on the interaction between surf and swash zone processes. Local and global hydromorphodynamic phenomena are discussed in detail, and a description of the overall swash zone operation is given. The effects of swash zone boundary conditions are highlighted, together with the importance of surf zone boundary conditions. Major emphasis is placed on illustrating the interactions of various hydrodynamic modes which, in turn, control the swash and surf zone morphology. Finally, methods to account for swash zone processes in coastal models with different temporal and spatial resolutions are proposed.

Convertible visceral fat as a therapeutic target to curb obesity.

Abstract: New therapeutic and preventative strategies are needed to address the growing obesity epidemic. In animal models, brown adipose tissue activation and the associated heat produced contribute to countering obesity and the accompanying metabolic abnormalities. Adult humans also have functional brown fat. Here, we present and discuss the concepts of murine and human white adipose tissue plasticity and the transdifferentiation of white adipocytes into brown adipocytes. Human visceral adipocytes - which are crucial contributors to the burden of obesity and its complications - are particularly susceptible to such transdifferentiation. Therefore, we propose that this process should be a focus of anti-obesity research. Approved drugs that have browning properties as well as future drugs that target molecular pathways involved in white-to-brown visceral adipocyte transdifferentiation may provide new avenues for obesity therapy.

Remittances and financial development: substitutes or complements in economic growth?

Abstract: Recent studies indicate that the effect of migrants’ remittances on the economic growth of receiving countries depends negatively on the level of development of the domestic financial sector. In this paper, we introduce a new indicator of financial development to measure the efficiency of the domestic banking system, and find the existence of complementarity between remittances and bank efficiency in economic growth, such that remittances promote growth only in countries whose banks function well. This result is robust to controls for other traditional measures of financial depth and institutional quality indicators.

Antimicrobial activity of Metschnikowia pulcherrima on wine yeasts

Abstract: Aims In the present study, it was investigated the antagonistic behaviour of Metschnikowia pulcherrima, as biocontrol agent, against the main wine yeast species involved in the winemaking process. Methods and Results Seven strains of M. pulcherrima were evaluated for the antimicrobial activity against 114 yeast strains belonging to Pichia, Candida, Hanseniaspora, Kluyveromyces, Saccharomycodes, Torulaspora, Brettanomyces and Saccharomyces genera. Results showed both different inter-generic and intra-generic responses to the antimicrobial action of M. pulcherrima strains. Interestingly, the antimicrobial activity of M. pulcherrima did not have any influence on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Instead, M. pulcherrima displayed a broad and effective antimicrobial action on undesired wild spoilage yeasts, such as Brettanomyces/Dekkera, Hanseniaspora and Pichia genera. Fermentation trials carried out in synthetic grape must confirmed the antimicrobial activity of M. pulcherrima, determining the early death of the non-Saccharomyces co-inoculated cultures. Conclusions The antimicrobial activity of M. pulcherrima does not seem due to proteinaceous compounds such as killer phenomenon, but to the pulcherriminic acid (the precursor of pulcherrimin pigment) that depletes iron present in the medium, making it not available to the other yeasts. Significance and Impact of the Study These data agree with and further support the potential use of selected M. pulcherrima strains in controlled multistarter fermentations with S. cerevisiae starter cultures.