Insights on the origin of vitrified rocks from serravuda, acri (Italy): Rock fulgurite or anthropogenic activity?

In this study, twenty five partially vitrified rocks and four samples of vitrified rocks collected on the top hill called Serravuda (Acri, Calabria, Italy) are analyzed. The goal is to shed light on the origin of these enigmatic vitrified materials. The analyzed vitrified rocks are a breccia of cemented rock fragments (gneiss, granitoid, and amphibolite fragments) which extends for more than 10 m, forming a continuous mass along the northern and north-west border of the flat top hill. Surrounded by the vitrified accumulation, exposed Paleozoic granitoid substrate rocks show limited melting or heat-alteration processes. By mapping minerals embedded in the glass matrix via X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an interpretation of source rock material, reactions, and thermometric indications to form vitrified materials on the top hill of Serravuda, Acri (Italy), is provided. The mineralogical composition of heated or partially vitrified samples is heterogeneous owing to the effects of heating events, but it mostly recalls the parent rock composition (gneiss, granitoid, and amphibolite). The presence of quartz, cristobalite, tridymite, mullite, plagioclase, hercynite, cordierite, and olivine in Serravuda partially vitrified rocks and glasses suggests that samples were subjected to pyrometamorphism and the temperature range at which the glass formed was about 1000–1100◦C in the presence of hydrous gas, burning organic material (e.g., wood), and assuming thermodynamic equilibrium. Lithologies of the heated or partially vitrified rock fragments are a mixture of parent rocks not outcropping on the top of the hill such as gneiss and amphibolite. Data suggest that Serravuda vitrified rocks are most likely the result of anthropic activities and could represent remnants of vitrified fort walls. The mineral assemblage of partially vitrified rocks and glasses suggests that the fort walls were made of slabs derived from the local metamorphic rocks with the addition of Serravuda substrate Paleozoic granitoid rocks to improve the strength and insulation of the fort walls

Transient myocardial thickening: a retrospective analysis on etiological, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic, and outcome findings in 27 cats

Introduction/objective: Transient myocardial thickening (TMT) in cats is a poorly characterized clinical entity. Therefore, this study aimed to provide descriptions of additional cats diagnosed with this clinical phenomenon.Animals, materials, and methods: For this multicenter observational retrospective study, cats diagnosed with TMT were searched in three medical databases. TMT was defined for cats with at least two echocardiograms showing an increased end diastolic left ventricular wall thickness (LVWTd; i.e.>= 6 mm) at presentation and subsequent echocardiographic normalization (i.e. LVWTd <5.5 mm). Signalment, history, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic, and outcome data were retrieved. Results: 27 cats were included. The median age was 3 years. In 9/27 cats, an antecedent event was documented. At admission, 27/27 cats had evidence of myocardial injury (median value of cardiac troponin I 5.5 ng/mL), 25/27 cats had congestive heart failure, 13/27 cats had hypothermia, 8/27 cats had systemic hypotension, 7/27 cats had bradycardia, and 7/27 cats had electrocardiographic evidence of an arrhythmia. The median LVWTd was 6.4 mm. A potential cause of myocardial injury was identified in 14/27 cats. The median time from diagnosi

Međudjelovanje atmosfere s morem u Jadranu: simulacije bure i juga

Two simulations of the response of Adriatic Sea to severe wind performed by an atmosphere-ocean coupled model and the comparisons with observed data and modelled fields published in literature are presented. The model RAMS-DieCAST was applied to simulate the variations of sea currents and temperature profiles, from surface to bottom, induced by two episodes of intense wind over the Adriatic sea: a Bora wind event that occurred in January 1995 and a Sirocco wind event in November 2002. The results of the simulations are compared with observed data at the sea surface. In the Bora episode, the computed surface temperatures are compared with satellite SSTs and in situ observed temperatures; in the Sirocco event the simulated surface currents and temperatures are compared with experimental data collected by surface drifters released in different regions of the Adriatic Sea during the same Sirocco event. In both episodes the simulated temperature trends agree with the observed values and during the Sirocco episode the current fields are in quite good agreement with the drifter data. The modelled sea temperature and velocity fields show also a good concordance with other simulation results in literature.Dvije simulacije jakog vjetra nad Jadranom simuliraju se združenim atmosfersko-oceanografskim modelom te se analiziraju i uspoređuju s mjerenjima i drugim objavljenim modeliranim poljima. U tu svrhu se koristi model RAMS-DieCAST za simulaciju promjena morskih struja i temperaturnih profila po vertikali, uzrokovanih dvjema epizodama intenzivnog vjetra nad Jadranom: burom u siječnju 1995. godine i jugom u studenom 2002. godine. Rezultati simulacija se uspoređuju s opažanjima na morskoj površini. Tijekom bure, modelirana površinska temperatura uspoređuje se s površinskom temperaturom mora dobivene satelitskim mjerenjima i mjerenjima temperature u određenim točkama prostora. Tijekom juga, simulirane površinske struje i temperature se uspoređuju s eksperimentalnim mjerenjima dobivenih na temelju površinskih driftera koji su pušteni u različitim dijelovima Jadrana za istu epizodu. U obje epizode trendovi simulirane temperature dobro se podudaraju s opažanjima. Također se tijekom juga, površinske struje dobro podudaraju s mjerenjima driftera. Modelirana temperatura mora kao i vektorsko polje brzina pokazuju dobro slaganje s rezultatima sličnih simulacija u literaturi

Isolation of Vascular Wall Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the Thoracic Aorta of Adult Göttingen Minipigs: A New Protocol for the Simultaneous Endothelial Cell Collection

Simple Summary It has been widely demonstrated that blood vessels are sources of multipotent progenitor cells, including mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cellular populations persist throughout adulthood and can be isolated from both microvascular and large vessels. Increasing evidence suggests that vascular stem cells, together with other cell populations residing in blood vessels, such as endothelial cells, are involved in physiological and pathological vascular remodeling. In the present paper, we described, for the first time, a new improved method to isolate a pure population of vascular wall cells showing a preserved mesenchymal tri-lineage differentiative potential from thoracic aorta of Gottingen Minipigs, preserving and also collecting endothelial cells. Considering the increasing interest in the use of Gottingen Minipigs as an animal model for cardiovascular diseases, the results obtained in the present research open the way to plan in vitro vascular remodeling experiments by using in co-culture system vascular mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells.Two main classes of perivascular multipotent populations have been described: the microvascular pericytes and the vascular wall mesenchymal stem cells (VW-MSCs). VW-MSCs are isolated from large vessels in many species and they participate in vascular remodeling together with other cellular components such as endothelial cells. Considering that the Gottingen Minipigs are widely used in Europe as a translational model in the field of cardiovascular diseases, the aim of the present research was to isolate VW-MSCs from the adult aorta of Gottingen Minipigs while preserving and also collecting endothelial cells. The results obtained in the present research demonstrated that this new protocol allows us to obtain a pure population of VW-MSCs and endothelial cells. VW-MSCs from Gottingen Minipigs responded fully to the MSC minima international criteria, being positive to CD105, CD90, and CD44 and negative to CD45 and CD34. Moreover, VW-MSCs presented a differentiative potential towards osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. Overall, the present protocol, preserving the viability and phenotypic features of the two isolated populations, opens future possibilities of using minipig VW-MSCs and endothelial cells in in vitro vascular remodeling studies

Low-dose ketamine for children and adolescents with acute sickle cell disease related pain: A single center experience

Background: Opioids are the mainstay of therapy for painful vasoocclusive episodes (VOEs) in sickle cell disease (SCD). Based on limited studies, low-dose ketamine could be a useful adjuvant analgesic for refractory SCD pain, but its safety and efficacy has not been evaluated in pediatric SCD. Procedure: Using retrospective chart review we recorded and compared characteristics of hospitalizations of 33 children with SCD hospitalized with VOE who were treated with low-dose ketamine and opioid PCA vs. a paired hospitalization where the same patients received opioid PCA without ketamine. We seek to 1) describe a single center experience using adjuvant low-dose ketamine with opioid PCA for sickle cell related pain, 2) retrospectively explore the safety and efficacy of adjuvant low-dose ketamine for pain management, and 3) determine ketamine’s effect on opioid consumption in children and adolescents hospitalized with VOE. Results: During hospitalizations where patients received ketamine, pain scores and opioid use were higher (6.48 vs. 5.99; p=0.002 and 0.040 mg/kg/h vs. 0.032 mg/kg/h; p=0.004 respectively) compared to hospitalizations without ketamine. In 3 patients, ketamine was discontinued due to temporary and reversible psychotomimetic effects. There were no additional short term side effects of ketamine. Conclusions: Low-dose ketamine has an acceptable short-term safety profile for patients with SCD hospitalized for VOE. Lack of an opioid sparing effect of ketamine likely represents use of low-dose ketamine for patients presenting with more severe VOE pain. Prospective randomized studies of adjuvant low-dose ketamine for SCD pain are warranted to determine efficacy and long-term safety

Influence of age and seasonality on boar seminal plasma steroids quantification: A preliminary study

Background and Aim: Seasonal changes, especially temperature and photoperiod, are well-known determining factors of swine reproductive capacity, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of age and seasonal variations on boar seminal plasma steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], cortisol [CORT], and testosterone [TEST]) over 1 year.Materials and Methods: Four commercial hybrid adult boars (Large White x Duroc), aged between 12 and 44 months, were repeatedly evaluated at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna. Daily temperature and light hours relating to the collection date were considered for each observation within the four astronomical seasons: Winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Hormones were quantified using radioimmunoassay. The association between seasonal factors and hormone concentrations was evaluated using linear regression models. Univariate models were estimated for each hormone to assess the influence of the independent variables; two multivariate models were assessed to evaluate the effect of temperature and daylight hours, including boar and season factors.Results: Age significantly affected all analyzed hormones (CORT p < 0.0001; DHEA p < 0.0001; and TEST p < 0.0001). The highest average levels were found for each hormone during summertime, suggesting a positive correlation between steroid concentrations with temperature and light hours.Conclusion: The results of this study support the hypothesis that the increase in external temperature and light hours is somehow associated with higher levels of steroid concentrations in the seminal plasma of in-housed boars. These findings may help further investigate seasonal fluctuations in reproductive outcomes, which are well-known for porcine species

Thermal Transient Measurements of an Ultra-Low-Power MOX Sensor

This paper describes a system for the simultaneous dynamic control and thermal characterization of the heating of an Ultra Low Power (ULP) micromachined sensor. A Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) powering system has been realized using a microcontroller to characterize the thermal behavior of a device. Objectives of the research were to analyze the relation between the time period and duty cycle of the PWM signal and the operating temperature of such ULP micromachined systems, to observe the thermal time constants of the device during the heating phase and to measure the total thermal conductance. Constant target heater resistance experiments highlighted that an approximately constant heater temperature at regime can only be obtained if the time period of the heating signal is smaller than 50 s. Constant power experiments show quantitatively a thermal time constant that decreases during heating in a range from 2.3 ms to 2 ms as a function of an increasing temperature rise between the ambient and the operating temperature. Moreover, we calculated the total thermal conductance. Finally, repeatability of experimental results was assessed by guaranteeing the standard deviation of the controlled temperature which was within C in worst case conditions

Testicular melatonin and its pathway in roe deer bucks (Capreolus capreolus) during pre-and post-rut periods: Correlation with testicular involution

open8noRoe deer are seasonal breeders with a complete yearly testicular cycle. The peak in reproductive activity is recorded during summer, the rutting period, with the highest levels of androgens and testicular weight. Melatonin plays a pivotal role in seasonal breeders by stimulating the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonads axis and acting locally; in different species, its synthesis within testes has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological melatonin pattern within roe deer testes by comparing data obtained from animals sampled during pre-and post-rut periods. Melatonin was quantified in testicular parenchyma, along with the genetic expression of enzymes involved in its local synthesis (AANAT and ASMT) and function (UCP1). Melatonin receptors, MT1-2, were quantified both at protein and gene expression levels. Finally, to assess changes in reproductive hormonal profiles, testicular dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was quantified and used for a correlation analysis. Melatonin and AANAT were detected in all samples, without significant differences between pre-and post-rut periods. Despite DHEA levels confirming testicular involution during the post-rut period, no correlations appeared between such involution and melatonin pathways. This study represents the first report regarding melatonin synthesis in roe deer testes, opening the way for future prospective studies in the physiology of this species.openElmi A.; Govoni N.; Zannoni A.; Bertocchi M.; Bernardini C.; Forni M.; Ventrella D.; Bacci M.L.Elmi A.; Govoni N.; Zannoni A.; Bertocchi M.; Bernardini C.; Forni M.; Ventrella D.; Bacci M.L

The Campylobacter jejuni MarR-like transcriptional regulators RrpA and RrpB both influence bacterial responses to oxidative and aerobic stresses.

The ability of the human intestinal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni to respond to oxidative stress is central to bacterial survival both in vivo during infection and in the environment. Re-annotation of the C. jejuni NCTC11168 genome revealed the presence of two MarR-type transcriptional regulators Cj1546 and Cj1556, originally annotated as hypothetical proteins, which we have designated RrpA and RrpB (regulator of response to peroxide) respectively. Previously we demonstrated a role for RrpB in both oxidative and aerobic (O2) stress and that RrpB was a DNA binding protein with auto-regulatory activity, typical of MarR-type transcriptional regulators. In this study, we show that RrpA is also a DNA binding protein and that a rrpA mutant in strain 11168H exhibits increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide oxidative stress. Mutation of either rrpA or rrpB reduces catalase (KatA) expression. However, a rrpAB double mutant exhibits higher levels of resistance to hydrogen peroxide oxidative stress, with levels of KatA expression similar to the wild-type strain. Mutation of either rrpA or rrpB also results in a reduction in the level of katA expression, but this reduction was not observed in the rrpAB double mutant. Neither the rrpA nor rrpB mutant exhibits any significant difference in sensitivity to either cumene hydroperoxide or menadione oxidative stresses, but both mutants exhibit a reduced ability to survive aerobic (O2) stress, enhanced biofilm formation and reduced virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model. The rrpAB double mutant exhibits wild-type levels of biofilm formation and wild-type levels of virulence in the G mellonella infection model. Together these data indicate a role for both RrpA and RrpB in the C. jejuni peroxide oxidative and aerobic (O2) stress responses, enhancing bacterial survival in vivo and in the environment