Implementation of the EU ecological flow policy in Italy with a focus on Sardinia

River ecosystems are characterised by a naturally high level of hydrodynamic perturbations which create aquatic-terrestrial habitats indispensable for many species, as well as for the human beings’ welfare. Environmental degradation and habitat loss caused by increasing anthropogenic pressures and global change affect freshwater aquatic ecosystems worldwide and have caused changes in water flow regimes and channels morphologies. These, in turn, decreased the natural flow capacity and reduced habitat availability, thus causing severe degradation of rivers’ ecological integrity. The ecological flow (e-flow) is commonly intended as the quantity, timing, duration, frequency and quality of water flows required to sustain freshwater, estuarine and near shore ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well being. Maintaining the e-flow represents a potential tool for restoring and managing river ecosystems, to preserve the autochthonous living communities, along with environmental services and cultural/societal values. In the last decade, methods for the determination of the e-flow in European rivers moved from a simply hydrological approach towards establishing a linkage between the hydrological regime and the good ecological status (GES) of the water bodies, as identified by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD; 2000/60/EC). Each Member State is required to implement and integrate into the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) a methodology for the determination of the e-flow, ensuring that rivers can achieve and maintain the GES. The competent river basin authorities have thus to ascertain whether national methodologies can be applied to different river typologies and basin environment characteristics. In this context, we narratively review the e-flow assessments in the heterogeneous Italian territory, in particular on a water scant region such as Sardinia, by analysing laws, guidelines and focusing on study cases conducted with micro and meso-scale hydraulic-habitat approaches. In the sight of a more ecological-based application of national e-flow policy, we suggest that meso-habitat methods provide a valuable tool to overcome several limitations of current e-flow implementation in the Italian territory. However, to face future challenges, such as climate change adaptation, we stress the need for further experimental studies to update water management plans with greater attention for nature conservation

Potential role of low kV ex vivo micro-CT for 3D morphometry of paraffin embedded coronary vessels before histology

Purpose: Micro CT is an established tool for non destructive 3D inspection of small specimens. Aim of the study was to demonstrate that despite its limitations in differentiation of soft materials, micro CT can reliably display coronary vessel structure and surrounding tissues after paraffin embedding. Data were obtained from coronary specimens of pig, physical phantoms and numerical simulations. Preliminary images with dual-energy techniques are also shown. Methods: A micro CT scanner built by our group was used for the experiments. The x-ray tube was set up in the range of 20-50 kV; the voxel size was set to 21 μm. A phantom composed of formalin fixed fat and myocardium of rat, dehydrated and paraffin embedded, was used to measure the contrast of different tissues with respect to background. Similar acquisitions were simulated numerically. Real samples of pig excised coronary arteries were processed in the same way and acquired with the same settings; resulting images were compared to those obtained by histology. Results: In phantom, the myocardium contrast vs. paraffin varied from 40% at 20 kV to 29% at 50 kV. The fat contrast vs. background was 2% at 20 kV, whereas it was indistinguishable from the background at 50 kV; all the contrasts in phantom appeared lower than those expected from simulations, probably because of tissue shrinkage. In the samples from pig (see Figure), the vessel wall contrast was 25% greater than the myocardium contrast; the pericardium and a balloon induced stenosis were clearly distinguished. All micro CT scans were shorter than 1 hour. Conclusion: Micro CT is a useful complementary tool for the 3D morphometry of coronary vessels after paraffin embedding, and it can help for the preliminary identification of features of interest for subsequent histological analysis

Experimental assessment of a cognitive mechanism to reduce the impact of outdated TEDs in optical networks

Producción CientíficaWe have recently proposed and demonstrated, by means of simulation, the benefits of a simple yet effective cognitive technique to enhance stateless Path Computation Element algorithms with the aim of reducing the connection blocking probability when relying on a potentially non-up-to-date traffic engineering database. In this paper, we employ that technique, called elapsed time matrix (ETM), in the framework of the CHRON (Cognitive Heterogeneous Reconfigurable Optical Network) architecture and, more importantly, validate and analyze its performance in an emulation environment (rather than in a simulation environment) supporting impairment-aware lightpath establishment. Not only dynamic lightpath establishment on demand has been studied, but also restoration processes when facing optical link failures. Emulation results demonstrate that ETM reduces the blocking probability when establishing lightpaths on demand, and increases the percentage of successful restorations in case of optical link failure. Moreover, the use of that technique has little impact on lightpath setup time and lightpath restoration time, respectively.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Projects TEC2010-21178-C02-02 and TEC2014-53071-C3-2-P)European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] CHRON project (Cognitive Heterogeneous Reconfigurable Optical Network) under grant agreement no 25864

Experimental Demonstration of a Cognitive Optical Network for Reduction of Restoration Time

This paper presents the implementation and performance evaluation of a cognitive heterogeneous optical network testbed. The testbed integrates the CMP, the data plane and the cognitive system and reduces by 48% the link restoration time. This paper presents the implementation and performance evaluation of a cognitive heterogeneous optical network testbed. The testbed integrates the CMP, the data plane and the cognitive system and reduces by 48% the link restoration time

POLAR registry (Promus eluting stent registry in Latin America ):1 year follow-up results

BACKGROUND: Drug-eluting stents have been used since 2002 in different patient populations aiming to achieve high success rates with low clinical and angiographic restenosis rates. With the late thrombosis adverse events associated to the first generation sirolimus and paclitaxel-eluting stents, second-generation everolimus and zotarolimus-eluting stents has been recently developed. METHODS: The POLAR registry is a prospective, non-randomized, multicenter study, which included 988 patients, totaling 1,362 lesions treated with the everolimus-eluting stent Promus®. In order to represent the clinical practice, almost all subtypes of patients and lesions were included in this registry. Clinical follow-up was planned to be performed 1, 6, 12 and 24 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Most patients were male (69.8%), with mean age of 64.9 ± 9.4 years, 35.2% were diabetics and 55% had been treated for acute coronary syndrome. Vessel diameter was 2.95 ± 0.43 mm and lesion extension was 20.5 ± 5.6 mm. A total of 1.14 ± 0.38 stent/patient were implanted and the procedural success rate was 96.6%. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 4.5% of patients, and stent thrombosis was observed in 5 patients (0.5%) after a clinical follow-up of 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The present registry suggests that everolimus-eluting stents are safe and effective in daily clinical practice patients, with a low rate of major adverse cardiac events at the end of the first year of follow-up.INTRODUÇÃO: Desde 2002, os stents farmacológicos são utilizados em diversas populações de pacientes objetivando alcançar elevados índices de sucesso, com baixas taxas de reestenose angiográfica e clínica. Com os resultados adversos em relação à trombose tardia associados aos stents farmacológicos de primeira geração eluidores de sirolimus e paclitaxel, surgiram recentemente os stents farmacológicos de segunda geração eluidores de zotarolimus e everolimus. MÉTODOS: O registro POLAR é um registro prospectivo, não-randomizado, multicêntrico, que incluiu 988 pacientes totalizando 1.362 lesões tratadas com o stent Promus®. Objetivando representar a prática clínica, praticamente todos os subtipos de pacientes e lesões foram incluídos neste registro. O seguimento clínico foi planejado para ser realizado 1 mês, 6 meses, 12 meses e 24 meses após o procedimento. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo masculino (69,8%), com média de idade de 64,9 ± 9,4 anos, 35,2% eram diabéticos e 55% tinham sido tratados na vigência de síndrome coronária aguda. O diâmetro do vaso foi de 2,95 ± 0,43 mm e a extensão da lesão, de 20,5 ± 5,6 mm. Foi implantado 1,14 ± 0,38 stent/paciente e o sucesso do procedimento foi alcançado em 96,6% dos casos. Eventos cardíacos adversos maiores ocorreram em 4,1% dos pacientes, e trombose de stent esteve presente em 5 pacientes (0,5%) após o seguimento clínico de 12 meses. CONCLUSÕES: O presente registro sugere que os stents farmacológicos eluidores de everolimus são seguros e eficazes em pacientes da prática clínica diária, com baixas taxas de eventos cardíacos adversos maiores ao término do primeiro ano de seguimento.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Instituto Dante Pazzanese de CardiologiaStatus CorHospital Israelita Albert EinsteinENCORE Hospital Lúcio RebeloReal e Benemérita Associação Portuguesa de BeneficênciaHospital Cardiológico CostantiniHemodinâmica Meridional Intercath MeridionalInstituto de Cardiologia do Espírito SantoFundação Universitária de Cardiologia Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do SulUNIFESPSciEL

Characterization of the lactic acid bacteria in artisanal dairy products

In all, 4379 isolates from 35 products, including 24 artisanal cheeses, were surveyed with a view to identifying strains that could be used as starters in commercial dairy fermentations. Of the isolates, 38% were classified as Lactococcus, 17% as Enterococcus, 14% as Streptococcus thermophilus, 12% as mesophilic Lactobacillus, 10% as Leuconostoc and 9% as thermophilic Lactobacillus. Acid production by the isolates varied considerably. Of the 1582 isolates of Lactococcus and 482 isolates of mesophilic Lactobacillus tested, only 8 and 2% respectively produced sufficient acid to lower the pH of milk to < 5·3 in 6 h at 30 °C. In contrast, 53, 32 and 13% of Str. thermophilus, thermophilic Lactobacillus and Enterococcus isolates respectively reduced the pH to 5·3. These isolates were found only in some French, Italian and Greek cheeses. Bacteriocins were produced by 11% of the 2257 isolates tested and 26 of them produced broad-spectrum bacteriocins which inhibited at least eight of the ten target strains used, which included lactic acid bacteria, clostridia and Listeria innocua. The most proteolytic of the 2469 isolates tested were Str. thermophilus from Fontina cheese followed by Enterococcus from Fiore Sardo and Toma cheese and thermophilic Lactobacillus from all sources. Exopolysaccharides were produced by 5·3% of the 2224 isolates tested.The European Union is thanked for partly financing this project under ECLAIR contract CT-91-0064.Peer Reviewe

Endothelin-1 receptor blockade as new possible therapeutic approach in multiple myeloma.

New effective treatments are needed to improve outcomes for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Receptors with restricted expression on plasmacells (PCs) represent attractive new therapeutic targets. The endothelin-1(EDN1) axis, consisting of EDN1 acting through EDN-receptor A(EDNRA) and B (EDNRB), was previously shown to be overexpressed inseveral tumours, including MM. However, there is incomplete understand-ing of how EDN1 axis regulates MM growth and response to therapy.Besides EDNRA, the majority of MM cell lines and primary malignant PCsexpress high levels of EDNRB and release EDN1. Similarly, bone-marrowmicroenvironment cells also secrete EDN1. Investigating the extent of epi-genetic dysregulation of EDNRB gene in MM, we found that hypermethyla-tion of EDNRB promoter and subsequent down-regulation of EDNRB genewas observed in PCs or B lymphocytes from healthy donors compared toEDNRB-expressing malignant PCs. Pharm acological blockade with the dualEDN1 receptor antagonist bosentan decreased cell viability and MAPK acti-vation of U266 and RPMI-8226 cells. Interestingly, the combination ofbosentan and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, currently approved forMM treatment, resulted in synergistic cytotoxic effects. Overall, our datahas uncovered EDN1-mediated autocrine and paracrine mechanisms thatregulate malignant PCs growth and drug response, and support EDN1receptors as new therapeutic targets in MM

Cognitive Dynamic Optical Networks

Cognitive networks are a promising solution for the control of heterogeneous optical networks. We review their fundamentals as well as a number of applications developed in the framework of the EU FP7 CHRON project

Cytogenetical studies in five Atlantic Anguilliformes fishes

The order Anguilliformes comprises 15 families, 141 genera and 791 fish species. Eight families had at least one karyotyped species, with a prevalence of 2n = 38 chromosomes and high fundamental numbers (FN). The only exception to this pattern is the family Muraenidae, in which the eight species analyzed presented 2n = 42 chromosomes. Despite of the large number of Anguilliformes species, karyotypic reports are available for only a few representatives. In the present work, a species of Ophichthidae, Myrichthys ocellatus (2n = 38; 8m+14sm+10st+6a; FN = 70) and four species of Muraenidae, Enchelycore nigricans (2n = 42; 6m+8sm+12st+16a; FN = 68), Gymnothorax miliaris (2n = 42; 14m+18sm+10st; FN = 84), G. vicinus (2n = 42; 8m+6sm+28a; FN = 56) and Muraena pavonina (2n = 42; 6m+4sm+32a; FN = 52), collected along the Northeastern coast of Brazil and around the St Peter and St Paul Archipelago were analyzed. Typical large metacentric chromosomes were observed in all species. Conspicuous polymorphic heterochromatic regions were observed at the centromeres of most chromosomes and at single ribosomal sites. The data obtained for Ophichthidae corroborate the hypothesis of a karyotypic diversification mainly due to pericentric inversions and Robertsonian rearrangements, while the identification of constant chromosome numbers in Muraenidae (2n = 42) suggests a karyotype diversification through pericentric inversions and heterochromatin processes