Studio sul feromone sessuale di una popolazione italiana di Helicoverpa armigera (HÜBNER) mediante indagine elettrofisiologica e di campo

Abstract in English Helicoverpa armigera ((Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) is the most damaging pest of processing tomatoes in various growing areas of Italy. Control of this pest is still based on the adoption of calendar chemical treatments as the ineffectiveness of monitoring tools do not allow for early detection of adults and to optimize the timing of insecticide applications. The low effectiveness of current used monitoring tools could be due to a different composition of the sex pheromone blend of the Italian pest population. To date, studies on the identification of the sex pheromone of this pest mainly focused on Asian populations while specific data are still lacking on the European ones. For several lepidopteran species, the existence of differences in the sex pheromone composition of populations evolved in different geographical contexts is well documented. During the PhD research activity, field studies were conducted in processing tomato crops, with different ripening period, in order to determine the attractant power of previously identified sex pheromone components of H. armigera towards males. In particular, the attractiveness of individual compounds and their combinations in binary, ternary and quaternary blends were studied. Results of field trapping tests were also accompanied by electroantennographic (EAG) assays in order to evaluated the ability of the male antennal olfactory system to perceive the sex pheromone components. EAG tests showed that all compounds tested are perceived by males and allowed to establish the activation threshold of antennas on stimulation with increasing concentrations of each compound. Field trapping tests showed that males of the pest population present in the Capitanata area (Foggia province) are attracted by different binary, ternary and quaternary mixtures of sex pheromone components confirming the plasticity of the male response to sex pheromone observed in Indian populations. However, in the three-year study, some binary (Z11-16:Ald, Z9-16:Ald) and ternary mixtures (Z11-16:Ald, Z9-16:Ald, 16:Ald) in specific ratios were the most attractive. Male captures obtained by these pheromone blends loaded in rubber septum dispensers were 10 to 50 times higher than those of currently available commercial dispensers. Using an effective pheromone blend to bait different trap models, oil traps captured a number of male moths which was respectively 6 to 13 times higher than that of delta and pagoda traps, currently used to monitor H. armigera. Moreover, oil traps also showed a higher sensitivity in detecting changes in population density and, therefore, to describe the pattern of flight activity. The attractiveness of three mixtures of plant volatile compounds containing respectively green leaf volatiles(GLV), aromatic compounds (mainly emitted from flowers) or terpenoids (emitted by various plant organs) to adult moths as well as the effect of sex pheromone combination with plant volatiles on the male response to the sex pheromone were also assessed. Results obtained from these tests have shown some attractant activity to females of aromatic compounds while all the combinations of plant volatiles and sex pheromone resulted in a significant reduction in male catches, probably due to a competition mechanism at the antennal olfactory receptors. The research activity carried out during the PhD represents the first contribution to the knowledge of the sex pheromone of the Italian population of H. armigera. Results may be used to improve the monitoring of this serious pest and, therefore, the timing of insecticide applications. In addition, the identification of effective sex attractant blends may contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable control strategies of this pest, such us “mating disruption”, “attract and kill” and “mass trapping” methods. Abstract in italiano Helicoverpa armigera ((Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) è il principale fitofago dannoso del pomodoro da industria nei diversi areali di coltivazione in Italia. Il controllo dell’insetto è ancora oggi basato sull’adozione di rigidi schemi di lotta a calendario in quanto l’inefficacia degli strumenti di monitoraggio non consentono di rilevare tempestivamente la presenza dell’insetto in campo e di individuare il momento ottimale per l’esecuzione dei trattamenti insetticidi. La scarsa efficacia degli strumenti di monitoraggio potrebbe dipendere da una differente composizione del blend feromonico sessuale utilizzato della popolazione italiana del fitofago. Infatti, gli studi finora condotti sulla identificazione del feromone sessuale di tale specie hanno riguardato principalmente popolazioni asiatiche mentre mancano dati specifici sulle popolazioni europee. Ben documentata è, inoltre, per diversi lepidotteri, l’esistenza di differenze di composizione del feromone sessuale di popolazioni appartenenti alla stessa specie ma evolutesi in contesti geografici diversi. Durante il dottorato sono state condotte indagini di campo, in coltivazioni di pomodoro da industria a diversa epoca di maturazione, volte a determinare il potere attrattivo, verso i maschi della nottua, dei diversi componenti feromonici finora identificati. In particolare, è stata studiata l’attrattività di composti singoli e loro combinazioni binarie, ternarie e quaternarie. Gli studi di campo sono stati corredati anche da un’indagine elettroantennografica in laboratorio che ha dimostrato la capacità del sistema olfattivo antennale dei maschi dell’insetto di percepire i componenti feromonici saggiati ed ha permesso di stabilire, per ciascuno composto, la soglia di attivazione delle antenne a seguito di stimolazione con dosi crescenti di sostanza. Dai saggi di attrattività in campo è emerso che i maschi di H. armigera della popolazione in studio, presente in Capitanata, sono attratti da diverse miscele binarie e ternarie di componenti feromonici, confermando la plasticità della risposta del maschio al feromone osservata su popolazioni indiane. Tuttavia, alcune miscele binarie (Z11-16:Ald, Z9-16:Ald) e ternarie (Z11-16:Ald, Z9-16:Ald, 16:Ald) si sono confermate, nei diversi anni, come quelle maggiormente attrattive. Le catture di maschi ottenute con tali blend feromonici, posti in erogatori di gomma, sono risultate da 10 a 50 volte superiori a quelle di diversi erogatori commerciali. L’impiego di un blend feromonico maggiormente attrattivo per attivare diversi modelli di trappola ha evidenziato che quella ad olio consente di catturare un numero di adulti da 6 a 13 volte superiore a quello conseguibile con trappola a delta e a pagoda attualmente utilizzate per il monitoraggio dell’insetto. La trappola ad olio, inoltre, ha mostrato una maggiore sensibilità nel rilevare le variazioni di densità della popolazione e, quindi, di descrivere l’andamento del volo. E’ stata valutata l’attività attrattiva di tre miscele di composti volatili vegetali costituite rispettivamente da odori della foglia verde (Green leaf volatiles), composti aromatici (emessi principalmente da fiori) o terpenoidi (emessi da vari organi della pianta) verso i maschi e le femmine del nottuide e l’effetto della combinazione di feromone sessuale e composti volatili di origine vegetale sulla risposta del maschio al feromone. I risultati ottenuti da tali prove hanno evidenziato una certa attività attrattiva dei composti aromatici verso le femmine mentre le sostanze volatili vegetali poste in prossimità dell’erogatore di feromone hanno determinato una significativa riduzione delle catture dei maschi, probabilmente per un meccanismo di competizione esercitato nei confronti delle molecole di feromone a livello dei recettori olfattivi presenti sulle antenne. L’attività di ricerca svolta durante il dottorato rappresenta il primo contributo alla conoscenza del feromone sessuale della popolazione italiana di H. armigera. I risultati ottenuti potranno essere utilizzati per migliorare il monitoraggio della specie e, quindi, il timing delle applicazioni insetticide. Inoltre, l’identificazione di una miscela attrattiva efficace potrà contribuire, nei nostri comprensori, allo sviluppo di strategie innovative ed ecosostenibili di controllo diretto del fitofago, secondo i metodi della confusione sessuale, lotta attratticida e cattura massale

The Italian Rare Pancreatic Exocrine Cancer Initiative

INTRODUCTION: Exocrine pancreatic cancers include common type pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and cystic neoplasms, which account for 85% and 10% of cases, respectively. The remaining 5% are rare histotypes, comprising adenosquamous carcinoma, acinar cell carcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, pancreatoblastoma, hepatoid carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and its variant with osteoclast-like giant cells, solid pseudopapillary carcinoma, and carcinosarcoma. Due to their low incidence, little knowledge is available on their clinical and molecular features as well as on treatment choices. The national initiative presented here aims at the molecular characterization of series of rare histotypes for which therapeutic and follow-up data are available. METHODS: A nationwide Italian Rare Pancreatic Cancer (IRaPaCa) task force whose first initiative is a multicentric retrospective study involving 21 Italian cancer centers to retrieve histologic material and clinical and treatment data of at least 100 patients with rare exocrine pancreatic cancers has been created. After histologic revision by a panel of expert pathologists, DNA and RNA from paraffin tissues will be investigated by next-generation sequencing using molecular pathway-oriented and immune-oriented mutational and expression profiling panels constructed availing of the information from the International Cancer Genome Consortium. Bioinformatic analysis of data will drive validation studies by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, as well as nanostring assays. CONCLUSIONS: We expect to gather novel data on rare pancreatic cancer types that will be useful to inform the design of therapeutic choices

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Forward-central two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5 2GeV/c. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B. V.Peer reviewe

Event-shape engineering for inclusive spectra and elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV

Peer reviewe

A Qualitative Exploration of the Use of Contraband Cell Phones in Secured Facilities

Offenders accepting contraband cell phones in secured facilities violate state corrections law, and the possession of these cell phones is a form of risk taking behavior. When offenders continue this risky behavior, it affects their decision making in other domains where they are challenging authorities; and may impact the length of their incarceration. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experience of ex-offenders who had contraband cell phones in secured correctional facilities in order to better understand their reasons for taking risks with contraband cell phones. The theoretical foundation for this study was Trimpop\u27s risk-homeostasis and risk-motivation theories that suggest an individual\u27s behaviors adapt to negotiate between perceived risk and desired risk in order to achieve satisfaction. The research question explored beliefs and perceptions of ex-offenders who chose to accept the risk of using contraband cell phones during their time in secured facilities. Data were collected anonymously through recorded telephone interviews with 8 male adult ex-offenders and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings indicated participants felt empowered by possession of cell phones in prison, and it was an acceptable risk to stay connected to family out of concern for loved ones. The study contributes to social change by providing those justice system administrators, and prison managers responsible for prison cell phone policies with more detailed information about the motivations and perspectives of offenders in respect to using contraband cell phones while imprisoned in secured facilities

Pseudorapidity and transverse-momentum distributions of charged particles in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

The pseudorapidity (eta) and transverse-momentum (p(T)) distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.5 is 5.31 +/- 0.18 and 6.46 +/- 0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15 <p(T) <20 GeV/c and vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The evolution of the transverse momentum spectra of charged particles is also investigated as a function of event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Elliptic flow of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

The elliptic flow, v(2), of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity (2.5 <y <4) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)= 2.76TeVwith the ALICE detector at the LHC. The scalar product, two- and four-particle Q cumulants and Lee-Yang zeros methods are used. The dependence of the v(2) of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays on the collision centrality, in the range 0-40%, and on transverse momentum, p(T), is studied in the interval 3 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. A positive v(2) is observed with the scalar product and two-particle Q cumulants in semi-central collisions (10-20% and 20-40% centrality classes) for the p(T) interval from 3 to about 5GeV/c with a significance larger than 3 sigma, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The v(2) magnitude tends to decrease towards more central collisions and with increasing pT. It becomes compatible with zero in the interval 6 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. The results are compared to models describing the interaction of heavy quarks and open heavy-flavour hadrons with the high-density medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe