Indagine epidemiologica sulla paratubercolosi bovina in Toscana

La paratubercolosi, sostenuta dal Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map), è un'affezione a diffusione mondiale, propria dei ruminanti. E’ una malattia ad evoluzione cronica con progressivo dimagramento e diarrea incoercibile nei bovini. La trasmissione avviene soprattutto per via orofecale. La paratubercolosi rappresenta un problema sanitario e zootecnico di rilevanti proporzioni a motivo della sua incidenza, della non disponibilità di valide strategie terapeutiche e preventive e degli ingenti danni economici da essa provocati. Lo scopo di questo studio è quello di contribuire all'aggiornamento delle informazioni sulla prevalenza della paratubercolosi nelle aziende di bovine da latte del centro Italia. E’ stata svolta un'attività di analisi di prevalenza mediante test ELISA su campioni di siero bovino. Successivamente è stata condotta un'indagine per valutare la presenza di Map nel latte di massa tramite prova PCR negli allevamenti positivi alle prove preliminari. Il 52% degli allevamenti analizzati è risultato positivo e la prevalenza intraziendale è risultata pari al 6,23%. Il 9% del latte bovino è risultato positivo

Lavaggio broncoalveolare e tracheale come strumenti di diagnosi delle patologie delle vie aeree profonde nel cavallo atleta: recenti acquisizioni

Lo scopo del lavoro è quello di riassumere quanto conosciuto sull'argomento e mostrare i risultati dell'esame citologico ottenuto dal lavaggio broncoalveolare (BAL) e lavaggio tracheale (TW) di cavalli sportivi con poor performanc

VOLCANIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO SEDIMENTATION IN UPPER BURDIGALIAN-LOWER LANGHIAN SEDIMENTS OF THE VENETIAN MOLASSIC BASIN

In the Upper Burdigalian-Lower Langhian sediments of the Venetian molassic basin two vol­caniclastic layers are clearly recognizable, respectively within the Globigerinoides trilobus and Praeorbulina glomerosa zones of Bizon & Bizon (1972). The chemical composition of well-preserved glass shards, tested by electron microprobe, reveals rhy­olitic composition and provides information about contemporaneous acidic explosive volcanism. Due to the probably depositional mechanism (fallout), the location of the effusive centres remains unknown. Although many ash layers are quite well-known in the same stratigraphic interval throughout the Apennine chain, a ten­tative correlation still seems very difficult, due to different methods of analysis and dating criteria

VERY-HIGH RESOLUTION ANALYSIS OF A TRANSGRESSIVE DEPOSIT IN THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC SEA (ITALY)

The Adriatic Sea is characterized in the northern and central shelf by different generation of isolated transgressive bodies formed and drowned in-place during the last relative sea-level rise. The continental shelf is characterized by a low gradient and, within the transgressive deposits the episodic variations in sea level and sediment supply caused the formation of backstepping parasequences. The transgressive bodies have been studied in detail because they have considerable amount of sorted sand exploitable for beach nourishment. A transgressive deposit, located south of the Po Delta, offshore Ravenna at depth of 34-35 m, has been investigated with a total coverage of very-high resolution (VHR) seismic profiles and high number of cores in order to understand the stratigraphic evolution during the late Quaternary sea-level rise. The transgressive body is composed of four seismic units separated by high-amplitude and high continuity reflectors, corresponding to peat and organic-rich layers indicating different depositional phases. The core analysis confirmed the presence of different units showing sediment variation from clay with peat-layer at the base to fine-grained sand at the top of the deposit. Furthermore, the core analysis gave information about the thickness of the deposit. The thickness of the transgressive body is from 3 to 5 m and each unit varies from 1 to 2 m. In particular, the sand portion reached a maximum thickness of 1.5 meters. The seismic analysis and the digital elevation model constructed for key surfaces highlighted the channel system direction was towards ENE during Last Glacial Maximum and during sedimentation of Unit 1 and 2, while it shifted toward ESE during the formation of Unit 3. Moreover, to constrain the chronology of the sedimentary evolution, some peat and organic-rich samples, have been dated with 14C method. These organic horizons are evident seismic reflectors and correspond to key surfaces. They are characterized by brackish lagoon facies and could be a proxy indicator for the relative paleo-sea level. Along with the previous data, they indicated that the sedimentation of the studied transgressive body occurred around 10,000 cal. a BP

Postharvest biocontrol ability of Pseudomonas synxantha against Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia fructigena on stone fruit

The biocontrol properties of the endophyte Pseudomonas synxantha DLS65 were tested in vitro and in vivo against Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia fructigena, causal agents of postharvest brown rot of stone fruit. P. synxantha cells significantly reduced the mycelial growth of both pathogens on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), and strongly inhibited the Monilinia fructicola growth on Peach Extract Agar (PEA). Cell-free culture filtrates inhibited the pathogens on PDA and PEA to lesser extent. The production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with in vitro inhibitory effects on mycelial growth, was also observed. P. synxantha significantly reduced brown rot incidence and severity on peach fruit artificially inoculated with M. fructicola after 5 d at 25 °C. Moreover, P. synxantha more significantly reduced incidence and severity after 10 d at 10 °C and after 20 d in cold storage at 0 °C in comparison to control fruit, even if its activity was never comparable to that of the synthetic fungicide Scholar® (fludioxonil). Similarly, P. synxantha exhibited an excellent antagonistic activity against M. fructigena on fruit at 10 and at 0 °C, and a weak biocontrol activity at 25 °C. Competition for nutrients and space, production of diffusible toxic metabolites and VOCs may play a role in the antagonism of P. synxantha toward M. fructicola and M. fructigena, especially at the lowest temperatures of storage. For that reason, this strain of P. synxantha could be suggested as active ingredient for the setting up of bioformulates against Monilinia species representing a limiting factor for stone fruit production

Neuropsychological Phenotype in Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome

The Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare genetic disorder that causes a range of intellectual disability from mild to severe. In this study, we used standard tools to psychometrically characterize the specific neuropsychological phenotype of WHS. We studied 57 individuals with WHS, ranging in age from 2.6 to 28.6 years representing 70% of the certified Italian WHS population. Results obtained by administering Griffiths' Mental Developmental Scales and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale revealed a typical WHS neuropsychological phenotype characterized by specific strengths and weaknesses. Despite their severe cognitive impairment, in both scales, patients showed better communication and social interaction skills compared to visuo-motor abilities. Results of our study could bring to the development of new and more effective treatments for individuals affected by WHS: based on neuropsychological phenotype description, it should be possible to design specific rehabilitation programs. These programs would then be aimed at improving rehabilitation protocols to optimize the developmental potential and personal independence of individuals with WHS and thus to improve their quality of life

The Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase (Akt)/ Protein Kinase B (PkB) Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer

According to statistical data published in 2019, breast cancer is among the leading causes of death in women worldwide. The serine/threonine kinase (AKT) or protein kinase B (PkB) signaling pathway is activated by phosphorylation processes, which further is associated with cell growth, proliferation, and survival, but also with activation of glucose metabolism. Mutations of the AKT signaling pathway components (especially PI3KCA and PTEN) have been observed in breast cancer patients, which are associated with resistance to hormonal treatment. Many clinical trials are testing the effect of AKT inhibition in order to block the growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells. The purpose of this review is to present the incidence of this neoplastic disease, to describe AKT signaling pathways activation, mutations that occur at its level, and inhibitors that can block this protein kinase

O cinema como recurso didático na formação continuada de professores de espanhol da rede pública

IX Congresso Brasileiro de Hispanistas realizado nos dias 22 a 25 agosto 2016Esta comunicação tem como objetivo propor uma discussão acerca do uso do cinema como instrumento para ensinar espanhol, a partir do relato de uma experiência com formação continuada de professores de línguas estrangeiras de escola pública, em uma cidade do interior de São Paulo. Ao propormos e ministrarmos o curso de formação, realizado em parceria com a Secretaria Estadual de Educação do Estado de São Paulo, pretendíamos analisar o impacto do uso do cinema como instrumento didático na prática dos docentes. Partimos dos pressupostos de que ensinar língua estrangeira por meio do cinema motiva o aprendente, auxilia no desenvolvimento das habilidades comunicativas e estimula o aprendizado autônomo. Durante as 30 horas de duração do curso, oferecemos aportes teóricos e práticos para dar subsídios aos professores para analisarem e prepararem atividades didáticas com conteúdo fílmico. Os participantes tiveram oportunidades de interação e troca de experiência, uma vez que todas as atividades preparadas eram compartilhadas e analisadas pelo grupo antes de serem aplicadas em sala de aula. Acompanhamos e orientamos a elaboração de material didático com conteúdo fílmico, bem como os resultados obtidos em sala de aula a partir da aplicação do material. Os dados foram analisados à luz da Teoria da Atividade (LEONTIEV, 1978, 1981; VYGOTSKY, 1998; ENGESTRÖM, 2009, 2011), que reconhece que todos somos fonte do saber e podemos agir de forma colaborativa para ampliar a construção de sentidosUNILA­-UNIOEST

Folding and Aggregation Are Selectively Influenced by the Conformational Preferences of the α-Helices of Muscle Acylphosphatase

The native state of human muscle acylphosphatase (AcP) presents two alpha-helices. In this study we have investigated folding and aggregation of a number of protein variants having mutations aimed at changing the propensity of these helical regions. Equilibrium and kinetic measurements of folding indicate that only helix-2, spanning residues 55-67, is largely stabilized in the transition state for folding therefore playing a relevant role in this process. On the contrary, the aggregation rate appears to vary only for the variants in which the propensity of the region corresponding to helix-1, spanning residues 22-32, is changed. Mutations that stabilize the first helix slow down the aggregation process while those that destabilize it increase the aggregation rate. AcP variants with the first helix destabilized aggregate with rates increased to different extents depending on whether the introduced mutations also alter the propensity to form beta-sheet structure. The fact that the first alpha-helix is important for aggregation and the second helix is important for folding indicates that these processes are highly specific. This partitioning does not reflect the difference in intrinsic alpha-helical propensities of the two helices, because helix-1 is the one presenting the highest propensity. Both processes of folding and aggregation do not therefore initiate from regions that have simply secondary structure propensities favorable for such processes. The identification of the regions involved in aggregation and the understanding of the factors that promote such a process are of fundamental importance to elucidate the principles by which proteins have evolved and for successful protein design