Riflessioni sui culti delle acque: il caso di Montereale Valcellina (Pordenone)

A group of two swords, a leaf-shape spearhead and four flanged axes have been found twenty years ago in the bed of the Cellina stream, near Montereale Valcellina (Pordenone). This hoard is interpreted as votive offering to the river from the Late Bronze Age, in order to favour the water crossing. The weapons are tied to a Roman inscription and two column drums found scattered at the church of San Rocco, in the northern part of the town, to support the hypothesis of the presence of a water cult. Through an examination of the available data and detailed analysis of the proposal is a revision of the problem, to verify the presence and continuity of rituals related to the water in ancient Montereale for the period from the Late Bronze and Roman age

Airborne bacterial populations above desert soils of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Bacteria are assumed to disperse widely via aerosolized transport due to their small size and resilience. The question of microbial endemicity in isolated populations is directly related to the level of airborne exogenous inputs, yet this has proven hard to identify. The ice-free terrestrial ecosystem of Antarctica, a geographically and climatically isolated continent, was used to interrogate microbial bio-aerosols in relation to the surrounding ecology and climate. High-throughput sequencing of bacterial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes was combined with analyses of climate patterns during an austral summer. In general terms, the aerosols were dominated by Firmicutes, whereas surrounding soils supported Actinobacteria-dominated communities. The most abundant taxa were also common to aerosols from other continents, suggesting that a distinct bio-aerosol community is widely dispersed. No evidence for significant marine input to bio-aerosols was found at this maritime valley site, instead local influence was largely from nearby volcanic sources. Back trajectory analysis revealed transport of incoming regional air masses across the Antarctic Plateau, and this is envisaged as a strong selective force. It is postulated that local soil microbial dispersal occurs largely via stochastic mobilization of mineral soil particulates

Classifications of vitreomacular traction syndrome: diameter vs morphology

Purpose the aim of this study is to analyze the agreement between the classifications based on morphology and diameter of vitreomacular traction (VMT) syndrome, as well as to correlate the morphological findings of VMT with specific maculopathies.Methods Fifty-three eyes with VMT syndrome were categorized into two classifications based on optical coherence tomography images: the VMT morphology (V- or J-shaped) and the diameter of adhesion (focal 1500 mu m).Results High correlation was seen between V-shaped and focal-VMT and between J-shaped and broad-VMT (kappa = 0.850; P < 0.001), except in four cases with broad adhesion despite the presence of a V-shaped pattern. These four cases had common characteristics to those with broad vitreal attachment regarding associated maculopathies and visual function. V-shaped VMT (n = 29) and focal-VMT (n = 25) led to tractional cystoid macular edema (CME; 79.31% and 84%, respectively) and macular hole (MH; 37.93% and 44%); J-shaped VMT (n = 24) and broad-VMT (n = 28) were associated with epiretinal membranes (ERMs; 91.66% and 92.85%, respectively) and diffuse retinal thickening (62.50% and 64.28%). the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was not significantly different between the groups (BCVA logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution: V-shaped, 0.45; J-shaped, 0.46; P = 0.816; and focal, 0.50; broad, 0.42; P = 0.198).Conclusions Although highly concordant, the classification based on the diameter of the adhesion and not on the classical adhesion morphology seemed to better reflect the specific macular changes. V-shaped and focal VMT led to tractional CME and MH, while J-shaped and broad VMT were associated with ERM and diffuse retinal thickening.Instituto Barraquer de Oftalmologia, Barcelona, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Autonoma Barcelona, IUB, E-08193 Barcelona, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Coelomic transport and clearance of durable foreign bodies by starfish (<i>Asterias rubens</i>)

Echinoderms have excellent healing and regeneration abilities, but little is known about how they deal with the related challenge of durable foreign bodies that become lodged within their bodies. Here we report a novel mechanism for foreign body elimination in starfish. When injected into the arm of a starfish, passive integrated transponder tags and magnets of similar dimensions are eliminated at a rate approximating 10% per day. These objects are forcefully ejected through the body wall at the distal tip of an arm. Ultrasound images reveal that foreign bodies are moved within the body cavity, and tracking of magnets injected into starfish suggests that the movements are haphazard rather than directed. Constrictions of the body wall near the foreign object are the likely mechanism for this transport process. Open questions include the ecological relevance of this behavior, why clearance occurs through the distal tips of the arms, the neurological and muscular control of this behavior, what other animals use this mechanism, and the range of objects starfish can eliminate in this way.</p

Resultados das cirurgias refrativas guiadas por frentes de ondas de cirurgiões em treinamento

PURPOSE: To assess clinical outcomes and changes on higher-order aberrations (HOA) after wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism performed by training-surgeons. METHODS: One hundred and seventy patients had customized LASIK (207 eyes) and PRK (103 eyes) performed by surgeons in-training using the LADARVision 4000 (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX). Preoperative and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperative data of spherical equivalent (SE), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) were analysed. Wavefront changes were determined using the LADARWave Hartmann-Shack wavefront aberrometer and the pupil size was scaled for 6.5 mm. RESULTS: The mean SE in the LASIK group was -3.04 ±1.07 D and in the PRK group was -1.60 ± 0.59 D. At 1-year follow-up, (80.6%) (LASIK) and (66.7%) (PRK) were within ± 0.50 D of the intended refraction. The UCVA was 20/20 or better in (58.1%) (LASIK) and (66.7%) (PRK) of the operated eyes. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between achieved versus attempted refractive correction in both groups: LASIK (r=0.975, P<0.0005) and PRK (r=0.943, P<0.005). The higher-order aberrations (HO) RMS and coma did not changed signicantly in the PRK group between preoperative and 1-year follow-up. In the LASIK group the HO RMS and coma changed between preoperative and 1-month postoperative but remained statistically unchanged during 1-year follow-up. The spherical aberration showed statistically significant changes in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Wavefront-guided LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy performed by training-surgeons were found to be similarly effective, predictable and stable.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados clínicos e mudanças nas aberrações de alta-ordem (HOA), após ceratomileuse assistida por excimer laser in situ (LASIK) e ceratectomia fotorrefrativa (PRK) guiados por frentes de onda para correção da miopia e astigmatismo miópico realizada por cirurgiões em treinamento. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de 170 pacientes submetidos a LASIK personalizado (207 olhos) e PRK (103 olhos) realizados por cirurgiões em treinamento utilizando o LADARVision 4000 (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX). Dados do equivalente esférico (SE), melhor acuidade visual corrigida (BSCVA) e acuidade visual não corrigida (UCVA) foram analisados no pré-operatório e com 1, 3, 6 e 12 meses de pós-operatório. As alterações de frentes de onda foram determinadas usando o aberrômetro Hartmann-Shack (LADARWave)e o tamanho da pupila foi determinado para 6,5 mm. RESULTADOS: A média do SE no grupo de LASIK foi -3,04 ± 1,07 D e no grupo de PRK foi -1,60 ± 0,59 D. No seguimento de um ano, (80,6%) (LASIK) e (66,7%) (PRK) estavam dentro de ± 0,50 D de equivalente esférico. A UCVA foi de 20/20, ou melhor, em (58,1%) (LASIK) e (66,7%) (PRK) dos olhos operados. Foi encontrada correlação positiva estatisticamente significante entre correção refrativa alcançada versus pretendida em ambos os grupos: LASIK (r=0,975, P<0,0005) e PRK (r=0,943, P<0,005). O HO RMS e coma não alteraram significantemente no grupo PRK entre pré-operatório e após um ano de seguimento. No grupo de LASIK o HO RMS e o coma alteraram entre pré-operatório e 1º mês de pós-operatório, mas permaneceram estatisticamente inalterados durante um ano de seguimento. Houve alterações estatisticamente significantes da aberração esférica em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: O LASIK e o PRK guiados por frentes de onda, realizados por cirurgiões em treinamento, mostraram ser similarmente eficazes, previsíveis e estáveis.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Ophthalmology DepartmentUNIFESP, EPM, Ophthalmology DepartmentSciEL

Resolving Drivers of Microbial Community Structure in The Dry Valleys of Antarctica

Understanding the processes that underlie patterns of microbial distribution is fundamental to the field of microbial ecology, but extremely challenging given the complexity of natural systems. Antarctica’s ice-free regions possess unique ecosystems of simple trophic structure, shaped by the harsh environmental conditions that typify the continent. The Dry Valleys comprise the largest of these regions and have one of the simplest food webs on the planet, making them a tractable system to comprehensively define relationships that influence microbial distributions at the landscape scale. The New Zealand Terrestrial Antarctic Biocomplexity Survey (nzTABS) was aimed at identifying factors that control, and can predict, biological distributions in the Dry Valleys. As part of nzTABS, the goal of the research presented in this thesis was to elucidate the factors that influence bacterial community structure in Dry Valley soils. This study explored how topographic, physicochemical, and spatial variation influence bacterial diversity and community structure across a Dry Valley landscape. Bacterial communities were characterized in 471 soil samples using automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA). Diversity and community composition were most strongly related to variation in physicochemical soil properties, though significant relationships with topographic and spatial variables were also observed. This identified, for the first time, the influence of environmental variables on bacterial diversity and community composition across the landscape, and presents a structural equation model identifying those relationships. The phylogenetic diversity of bacterial communities in Dry Valley soils was also examined. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to analyze bacterial communities in 177 soil samples. This work identified significant relationships between the relative abundances of bacterial taxa and both abiotic and biotic variables, though these relationships explained only a small amount of community variation collectively. The relative abundances of several bacterial taxa were, however, significantly coupled to one another, suggesting that interactions between bacterial taxa may influence community compositions. Lastly, the bacterial composition of aerosols above the Dry Valleys was examined. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to analyze two aerosol samples collected in the Miers Valley, and their compositions were compared to those of previously characterized aerosols and soils from across the continent. Bacteria present in the aerosols were found to be distinct from those of local soils; instead, aerosol compositions were more similar to those of air samples reported from elsewhere on the planet. Importantly, these findings suggest that local redistribution of Dry Valley soil bacteria through atmospheric processes may be largely restricted to periods when high winds mobilize soil particles and associated biota. This study provides novel insights into the microbial ecology of the Dry Valleys. Despite the relative simplicity of the ecosystem, the factors that influence bacterial distributions within the Dry Valleys appear to be highly complex, and include a combination of abiotic and biotic drivers. Continued research will help to disentangle relationships that influence microbial community compositions in Antarctica’s ice-free ecosystems, and will improve understanding of processes that influence microbial community assembly globally

Order and dissent among Old Colony Mennonites: a regime of embedded sovereignty

Permutations of Order makes an innovative and important contribution to current discussions about the relationship between religion and law, bringing together theoretically informed case studies from different parts of the world, relating to various types of politico-legal settings and religions. This volume also deals with contemporary legal/religious transfigurations that involve "permutations," meaning that elements of "legal" and "religious" acts of ordering are at times repositioned within each realm and from one realm to the other. These permutations of order in part result from the fact that, in ethnographic settings like those examined here, "legal" and "religious" realms are relational to-and in certain cases even constitutive of-each other and they result in categoric transpositions and new social positionalities through which, among other things, "the legal" and "the religious" are blended. Permutations of Order is a work that transcends convention, identifies new and theoretically overarching themes and will be of strong interest to researchers and policy-makers seeking a comparative focus on the intersections and disjunctions of religion and law.submittedVersio