Elephas falconeri from Spinagallo Cave (South-Eastern Sicily, Hyblean Plateau, Siracusa): a preliminary report on brain to body weight comparison

El crani d' Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) falconeriBusk 1867 de la cova de Spinagallo (Pleistocè Mitjà, sud-est de Sicilia, Itàlia) forneix l'evidència de que la mida relativa del cervell d'aquest elefantva augmentar significativament degut a les condicions d'aïllament. El pes del cervell de l'espècie continental Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus Falconer & Cautley, 1847, del Pleistocè mitjà tardà d'Itàlia, correspon a devers 1/600 del seu pes corporal, mentre que als exemplars nans adults procedents de la cova de Spinagallo aquesta proporció és de 1160. El canvi significatiu en les proporcions del cervell a Elephas [alconeri està relacionat amb la necessitat de mantenir un volum minim del cervell funcional, fins i tot quan el crani es redueix molt. A més, són particularment evidents característiques pedomòrfiques a la forma del crani d' Elephas[alconeti, semblant al crani d' exemplars juvenils d' elefants vivents i extingits, especialment als que pertanyen als gèneres Elephas i Loxodonta. S'ha estimat la massa corporal d'elefants nans i continentals en base a noves equacions basades en l'alçària a la creu i la circumferència de les potes, comprovades als elefants vivents. L adult d' Elephas falconeri hauria d'haver tingut una alçària màxima a la creu de devers 120 cm i un pes de devers 150 kg , amb valors devers el 70% inferiors en l'altària i devers el 98,4% en pes en comparació amb les alçàries i pesos promig estimades per als espècimens italians d'Elephas antiquus.The skull of Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) falconeri Busk, 1867 from Spinagallo Cave (Middle Pleistocene; south-eastern Sicily, Italy) provides evidence that the brain of this dwarf elephant significantly increased in relative size as a result of its geographic isolation. Indeed, the brain weight of continental Elephas (palaeoloxodon) antiquus Falconer & Cautley, 1847, from the late Middle Pleistocene of Italy, corresponded to about 1/1600 of its body weight, whereas for the adult dwarf specimens from Spinagallo Cave, this ratio was about 1/60. The significant change in brain proportions in Elephas [alconeri was linked to the need to maintain minimal functional brain volume, even when the skull was greatly reduced in dimensions. Moreover, paedomorphic features are particularly evident in Elephas falconeri skull shape, similar to the skull of juvenile specimens of extant and fossil elephants, especially those belonging to the Elephas and Loxodonta genera. We have estimated the body mass of dwarfed and continental elephants on the basis of new equations based upon shoulder height and pad circumference and tested on living elephants. On the basis of our results, the adult Elephas falconeri should have had a maximum height at withers of about 120 cm and a weight of about 150 kg, with values of about 70 % in height and about 98.4% in weight as compared with the average height and weight estimated for Italian specimens of Elephas antiquus

Expanding the Clinical Spectrum of UBTF-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Objectives: UBTF1 gene encodes for Upstream Binding Transcription Factor, an essential protein for RNA metabolism. A recurrent de novo variant (c.628G>A; p.Glu210Lys) has recently been associated with a childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and language regression, ataxia, dystonia, and acquired microcephaly. In this study, we report the clinical, metabolic, molecular genetics and neuroimaging findings and histologic, histochemical, and electron microscopy studies in muscle samples of 2 patients from unrelated families with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Methods: Data were retrospectively analyzed by medical charts revision. Results: Patient 1, a 16-year-old boy, presented a childhood-onset slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder mainly affecting language skills, behavior, and motor coordination. Patient 2, a 22-year-old woman, presented with a severe and rapidly progressive disease with dystonic tetra paresis, acquired microcephaly, and severe cognitive deficit complicated by pseudobulbar syndrome characterized by involuntary and uncontrollable outbursts of laughing, dysphagia requiring tube feeding, and nocturnal hypoventilation treated with noninvasive ventilation. Both patients carried the recurrent previously described UBTF1 de novo variant and had signs of mitochondrial dysfunction at muscle biopsy. The metabolic profile of patient 2 also revealed a decrease in CSF biopterin. Discussion: These case reports add new insights to the UBTF1 disease spectrum instrumental to improving the diagnostic rate in neurodevelopmental disorders

Pinus mugo Krummholz dynamics during concomitant change in pastoralism and climate in the central Apennines

The dynamics of Pinus mugo krummholz during concomitant change in pastoral land use and climate in central Italy since the mid-20th century was investigated. Krummholz dynamics were detected using sequential aerial photography and fitted to a logistic regression model with elevation, grazing, proximity to beech forest, and proximity to krummholz as explanatory variables. Dendrochronological series were correlated with temperature and precipitation and fitted to a linear model. During this period krummholz doubled in extent and migrated 35–65 m upslope. Expansion was positively associated with krummholz proximity, residual pastoral grazing, and proximity to beech forest beyond 10 m and negatively associated with elevation and beech forest closer than 10 m. The logistic regression model forecasts krummholz migration by an additional 30 m upslope by 2060. During the 20th century, winter and spring minimum temperatures increased but did not result in increased radial stem growth of P. mugo. The combined evidence suggests that krummholz dynamics can be explained by the legacy of summer pastoralism and the dispersal limitations of P. mugo, rather than by climate change.An Erasmus Mundus fellowship, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41271126 and 41361091), the Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou Province (J[2014]2126 and LH[2015] 7776), and a COST ECHOES (STSM-FP0703-6551) short scientific mission grant.http://www.mrd-journal.org/default.aspam2017Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorolog

Mapping tissue microstructure across the human brain on a clinical scanner with soma and neurite density image metrics

Soma and neurite density image (SANDI) is an advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging biophysical signal model devised to probe in vivo microstructural information in the gray matter (GM). This model requires acquisitions that include b values that are at least six times higher than those used in clinical practice. Such high b values are required to disentangle the signal contribution of water diffusing in soma from that diffusing in neurites and extracellular space, while keeping the diffusion time as short as possible to minimize potential bias due to water exchange. These requirements have limited the use of SANDI only to preclinical or cutting‐edge human scanners. Here, we investigate the potential impact of neglecting water exchange in the SANDI model and present a 10‐min acquisition protocol that enables to characterize both GM and white matter (WM) on 3 T scanners. We implemented analytical simulations to (i) evaluate the stability of the fitting of SANDI parameters when diminishing the number of shells; (ii) estimate the bias due to potential exchange between neurites and extracellular space in such reduced acquisition scheme, comparing it with the bias due to experimental noise. Then, we demonstrated the feasibility and assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of our approach by computing microstructural metrics of SANDI with AMICO toolbox and other state‐of‐the‐art models on five healthy subjects. Finally, we applied our protocol to five multiple sclerosis patients. Results suggest that SANDI is a practical method to characterize WM and GM tissues in vivo on performant clinical scanners

Stima spazialmente definita della produttività potenziale delle risorse agro-forestali per uso energetico: il caso di studio della regione Molise.

In questo lavoro sono riportati i risultati della stima della disponibilita di biomassa per uso energetico ottenibile dalle risorse agro-forestali a seguito dell'applicazione di criteri di sostenibilita. Le analisi sono state effettuate a due differenti scale geografiche: la prima a livello nazionale e la seconda a livello regionale, basata su strati informativi di maggior dettaglio, e con risultati aggregati a livello comunale. In entrambi i casi sono stati applicati dei vincoli alla produzione di biomassa strettamente connessi alle caratteristiche morfologiche, tecnico-strutturali e gestionali dell'area di studio e all'uso di criteri che garantiscono la sostenibilita della gestione delle risorse forestali basati sulla provvigione minimale

Influenza dei cambiamenti climatici e di uso del suolo sulle dinamiche dell'ecotono a pino mugo (Pinus mugo spp. mugo) al limite meridionale del suo areale sul massiccio della Majella, Appennino centrale

Mountain pine krummholz within the Majella National Park forms an isolated patch and is a relictual species, thought representing the potential natural vegetation of the subalpine belt in Central Apennines, Italy. Mountain pine grows above the timberline and has in the Majella massif its southernmost limit of the distributional range. This vegetation dominates the treeline ecotone, between the dense beech forest and the alpine prairies, and is highly sensitive even to minor environmental changes. For this reason, it is a major proxy for monitoring the effects of climate and land-use changes occurring in the Mediterranean Basin. Mediterranean climatic trend includes projected increasing temperature and a different distribution of total precipitation, which are increasing during winter and decreasing during summer and autumn, respectively. Moreover, in Central Apennines, subalpine shrublands have been deeply reduced from the past anthropic practices. The recent abandonment of marginal areas and grazing cessation are allowing a re-colonization of areas previously grazed. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of land-use and climatic changes on mountain pine population dynamics in the Majella massif, using three different methodological approaches. Temporal and spatial distribution of mountain pine since 1954 was reconstructed and a multitemporal map was created by historical aerial ortophotos. Results documented an upward and downward expansion of mountain pine and an ingrowth into the formerly tree-free grassland in early 1900s, together with a decline of the local human population and livestock. The relative role of climatic variables on mountain pine growth was assessed by dendroclimatological analysis. Climate-growth relationship were assessed by correlation function (CF) analysis and moving CF (MCF), investigating the possible deviations in the response of mountain pine to recent climate change. Results demonstrated that climate variables affected mountain pine growth at the treeline ecotone in the Majella massif. Significant correlations were found with the spring maximum temperatures and summer precipitation. MCF showed that mountain pine is a sensitive species, in terms of tree ring growth, particularly at the beginning and at the end of the growing season. For better understand dendroclimatological results, wood anatomical analyses were conducted. Timings of mountain pine xylogenesis were assessed and the principal phenological phases (cambial division; enlargement; wall thickening; mature) were monitored during the entire growing season. At the same time timings of compression wood (CW) formation and possible differences with the opposite wood (OW) formation were investigated. Results indicated that CW is characterized by higher number of cells and thicker secondary wall, as well as longer xylogenesis compared with the OW. The growing season started simultaneously in both types of wood (on 20 May), and ended two week earlier in OW (on 22 September) than in CW (on 6 October). Increasing temperature of spring month would be favourable for the elongation of mountain pine growing season, which would probably start early, though decreasing precipitation could compromise wood formation during summer, mountain pine being highly sensitive to this climatic parameter. Growing above the limit of tree vegetation, mountain pine proved to be a promising species for monitoring climate- and land use-driven influences over tree-ring growth at high elevation. An excessive expansion of mountain pine krummholz, mainly at higher altitudes, may represent a threat for rare and endemic species growing in the alpine grasslands of the Majella National Park. However, conservation and preservation of mountain pine are required, in order to avoid a severe reduction of its distribution and then the risk of extinction of the last “island” present in the Apennine.La mugheta del Parco Nazionale della Majella è una formazione isolata e relittuale, testimonianza vivente della possibile serie vegetazionale climacica della fascia subalpina in Appennino centrale. Il pino mugo cresce solitamente sopra il limite altitudinale degli alberi (timberline) e trova nel massiccio della Majella il limite meridionale del suo areale di distribuzione. Questa vegetazione ecotonale, di transizione tra il bosco denso di faggio e le praterie alpine, sensibile anche alle minime variazioni ambientali, rappresenta un ottimo indicatore degli effetti dei recenti cambiamenti climatici e di uso del suolo in atto nel Bacino del Mediterraneo. Le tendenze climatiche previste per quest’area includono un aumento delle temperature ed una diversa stagionalità delle precipitazioni, con aumento nei mesi invernali e diminuzione nei mesi estivi e autunnali. In Appennino, inoltre, la vegetazione arbustiva del piano subalpino è stata drasticamente ridotta in passato dall’azione diretta dell’uomo, per far spazio al pascolo d’alta quota. L’attuale e progressivo abbandono dei pascoli d’alta quota, però, sta permettendo una ricolonizzazione del piano alpino con la libera evoluzione delle serie vegetazionali. Questo lavoro ha l’obiettivo di valutare, mediante tre diversi approcci metodologici, gli effetti delle variazioni d'uso del suolo e dei cambiamenti climatici sulle dinamiche evolutive dei popolamenti di pino mugo nel massiccio della Majella. Un confronto diacronico svolto a scala di paesaggio, su fotogrammi aerei opportunamente ortorettificati e ortofoto digitali, ha mostrato una progressiva espansione della mugheta. Il contributo di indagini condotte in archivi di Stato e sedi ISTAT ha dimostrato una concomitante drastica riduzione della pratica del pascolo. Il ruolo delle variabili climatiche nella crescita del pino mugo è stato indagato mediante analisi dendroclimatologiche su carote legnose di pino mugo. Le relazioni clima-accrescimento sono state definite mediante funzioni di correlazione (CF), la cui variabilità nel tempo in risposta ai cambiamenti climatici è stata valutata con funzioni di correlazione a finestra mobile (MCF). I risultati hanno dimostrato che le variabili climatiche influenzano la crescita del pino mugo nell’ecotono della treeline sul massiccio della Majella. Significative CF sono state ottenute con le temperature massime primaverili e le precipitazioni estive. Le MCF hanno dimostrato che il pino mugo è una specie sensibile alle variazioni climatiche , in termini di crescita radiale, in particolare all'inizio e alla fine della stagione vegetativa. Il significato delle correlazioni ottenute è stato indagato con analisi anatomiche svolte a livello di singolo individuo che hanno permesso di definire le tempistiche della xilogenesi nel pino mugo. Le diverse fasi fenologiche (divisione e crescita cellulare, ispessimento della parete secondaria e completa lignificazione delle tracheidi) sono state monitorate durante un’intera stagione vegetativa, indagando contemporaneamente sulle tempistiche di formazione del legno di compressione (CW) e sulle differenze con il legno opposto (OW). Un maggior numero di cellule con parete secondaria più spessa è stato osservato nel CW, con tempi di formazione più lunghi rispetto al OW. Maggio rappresenta l’inizio della stagione vegetativa del pino mugo sul massiccio della Majella, settembre e ottobre la fine. Un incremento delle temperature primaverili permetterebbe un’anticipazione della riattivazione vegetativa e di conseguenza un allungamento della stagione di crescita del pino mugo. È quindi possibile confermare un’evoluzione della mugheta dovuta soprattutto all’abbandono dei pascoli, ma anche influenzata dagli andamenti climatici. Una eccessiva espansione della mugheta, principalmente verso quote maggiori, rappresenterebbe una minaccia per le specie rare ed endemiche presenti nei pascoli alpini del Parco Nazionale della Majella. Tuttavia, politiche di conservazione e salvaguardia dovranno allo stesso tempo evitare una eccessiva riduzione della mugheta e quindi la scomparsa dell’ultimo nucleo presente in Appennino.Dottorato di ricerca in Difesa e qualità delle produzioni agro-alimentari e forestali (XXV ciclo

What do cenograms tell us about mammalian palaeoecology? The example of Plio-Pleistocene Italian faunas

The origin of the genus Bos is a debated issue. From ∼0.5 Ma until historic times, the genus is well known in the Eurasian large mammal assemblages, where it is represented by Bos primigenius. This species has a highly derived cranial anatomy that shows important morphological differences from other Plio-Pleistocene Eurasian genera of the tribe Bovini such as Leptobos, Bison, Proamphibos-Hemibos, and Bubalus. The oldest clear evidence of Bos is the skull fragment ASB-198-1 from the middle Pleistocene (∼0.6–0.8 Ma) site of Asbole (Lower Awash Valley, Ethiopia). The first appearance of Bos in Europe is at the site of Venosa-Notarchirico, Italy (∼0.5–0.6 Ma). Although the origin of Bos has traditionally been connected with Leptobos and Bison, after a detailed anatomical and morphometric study we propose here a different origin, connecting the middle Pleistocene Eurasian forms of B. primigenius with the African Late Pliocene and early Pleistocene large size member of the tribe Bovini Pelorovis sensu stricto. The dispersal of the Bos lineage in Western Europe during middle Pleistocene times seems to coincide with the arrival of the Acheulean tool technology in this continent

Environmental-mediated relationships between tree growth of black spruce and abundance of spruce budworm along a latitudinal transect in Quebec, Canada

Changes in tree growth and insect distribution are projected due to climate warming. The expected effects of climate change on forest disturbance (e.g., insect outbreak) regime call for a better insight into the growth responses of trees to varying environmental conditions over geographical regions in eastern North America. In this study, the effects of a latitudinal thermal gradient and spruce budworm (SBW) outbreaks on the tree growth of black spruce (Picea mariana Mill.) were investigated along a 400 km transect from 48 degrees N to 51 degrees N across the continuous boreal forest in Quebec, Canada. Time series data were analyzed to synchronize climatic factors (temperature and precipitation trends), insect dynamics (SBW population frequency) and tree growth (ring-width chronology). Radial growth resulted as being synchronized with climate patterns, highlighting a positive effect of maximum temperatures on tree growth, especially in the northernmost site. Increasing temperatures and precipitation had a more positive effect on tree growth during epidemic periods, whereas the detrimental effects of SBW outbreaks on tree growth were observed with climate patterns characterized by lowered temperature. The lag between time series, synchrony and/or frequency of synchrony between tree growth and SBW outbreak were considered in order to link the growth of host trees and the dynamics of insect populations. The proposed analytical approach defined damage severity on tree growth in relation to population dynamics and climate fluctuations at the northern distribution limit of the insect. Overall, a decline in tree growth was observed in these boreal forests, due to SBW outbreaks acting in combination with other stress factors