Publications by authors named "A Usai"

The grapevine was one of the earliest domesticated fruit crops and has been cultivated since ancient times. It is considered one of the most important fruit crops worldwide for wine and table grape production. The current grape varieties are the outcome of prolonged selection initiated during the domestication process of their wild relative.

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The nutritional status in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often impaired, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) remains under-investigated. The aim of this study was to assess diet quality (DQ) and adherence to MedDiet in a cohort of Sardinian IBD patients. We conducted a case-control study in which 50 Crohn's disease (CD) and 50 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were matched with 100 healthy controls each.

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Cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide, and the incidence of many types of cancer continues to increase. Much progress has been made in terms of screening, prevention, and treatment; however, preclinical models that predict the chemosensitivity profile of cancer patients are still lacking. To fill this gap, an in vivo patient-derived xenograft model was developed and validated.

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Design and optimization of microalgae processes have traditionally relied on the application of unsegregated mathematical models, thus neglecting the impact of cell-to-cell heterogeneity. However, there is experimental evidence that the latter one, including but not limited to variation in mass/size, internal composition and cell cycle phase, can play a crucial role in both cultivation and downstream processes. Population balance equations (PBEs) represent a powerful approach to develop mathematical models describing the effect of cell-to-cell heterogeneity.

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can produce significant amounts of industrially important compounds belonging to lipids and starch classes, including various specific pigments such as β-carotene, lutein and astaxanthin, as well as lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. Their production can vary depending on environmental stress conditions like nutrient starvation. However, stress conditions lead also to undesired phenomena such as cell lysis, which is likely to be related to products loss.

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