New records of Malus crescimannoi (Rosaceae) in Sicily

New findings for Malus crescimmanoi, originally known from the mountain area near Floresta (Nebrodi Mts.). The new sites fall in Madonie Mts., where the species is found at the edge of Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Fagus sylvatica woods, growing on quartzarenitic substratum at 1200-1800 m of elevation. These new localities are placed at the south-western limit of Fagus sylvatica distribution area, on both north-facing [Contrada Sempria (Castelbuono) and slopes of Madonna dell\u2019Alto (Castellana Sicula)], and south-facing slopes [Locality Prato (Polizzi Generosa)]

Recent and new taxonomic acquisitions in some native genera of Asteraceae from southern Italy and Sicily

After a brief review of the recent acquisition in some native genera of family Asteraceae from southern Italy and Sicily, a new endemic species of Anthemis (sect. Hiorthia) is described from Sicily and named Anthemis parlatoreana. The locus classicus of the new taxon, falling in the NW Tyrrhenian coast of the island (Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani), coincides with that of Ptilostemon greuteri, another endemic very rare species of the Sicilian flora. Data on the morphology, distribution, ecology and conservation status of the new species are provided. The taxonomic relationships with the other Sicilian taxa of the same section, in particular A. cupaniana, are also analyzed. The simultaneous presence in the same site of other endemic plants enriches the area of the limestone reliefs of Castellammare del Golfo and all of north-western Sicily with biogeographic significance and biogenetic importance

Evaluation of municipal waste incineration impact on environmental noise

The EU Directive 2002/49/EC or Environmental Noise Directive (END) aims to define a common approach intended to avoid, prevent or reduce the harmful effects, including annoyance, due to exposure to environmental noise. Under this Directive, member states are obliged to produce the noise maps of the major roads, railways airports, large agglomerations and industrial activity sites. The first maps had to be produced for the main agglomerations by July 2007 and the first action plans should be activated no lather than July 2008. In this work we consider the industrial noise produced by municipal waste incineration; the study was developed to provide data of the sound power level along the facades buildings and contours of this site that can be used to produce strategic noise maps. To characterize the impact of the waste incineration plant, measurements of the noise emissions were performed in situ. The distribution of sound power and sound input levels have been calculated by SoundPLAN\uae computer model. The results of this work can provide a re-applicable method for the production of noise levels due to industrial noise sources. The results are suitable to be included in noise maps for agglomerations, in line with the END expectatio

Hieracium hypochoeroides subsp. montis-scuderii (Asteraceae), a new endemic subspecies from Sicily (Italy)

Hieracium hypochoeroides subsp. montis-scuderii, a new subspecies endemic to Sicily, is described and illustrated. It is only known from the carbonate cliffs of Monte Scuderi (Peloritani Mountains, NE-Sicily). Informations on its ecology and taxonomic relationships are provided

Numerical Investigation of the Failure Phenomena in Adhesively Bonded Joints by Means of a Multi-Linear Equivalent Plastic Stress/Strain Approach

Abstract In this work, a multi-linear material model for elastic-plastic response of ductile adhesives is proposed. Indeed, the proposed formulation allows to evaluate equivalent stress and strains to be used as material model input in FE commercial codes instead of the classical true stress and true strains. The presented model, which is capable to simulate the plasticity related phenomena and the failure event, has been implemented in the FEM code ABAQUS and used to numerically simulate the mechanical behaviour of adhesively bonded joints in traction. Several joints configurations have been considered with ductile, fragile and mix adhesives' behaviour to test the effectiveness and the range of applicability of the proposed model. Encouraging comparisons with literature experimental data demonstrates the added value of the suggested material model in predicting the failure of adhesively bonded joints

BCR-ABL1 doubling-times and halving-times may predict CML response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors

In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), successful treatment requires accurate molecular monitoring to evaluate disease response and provide timely interventions for patients failing to achieve the desired outcomes. We wanted to determine whether measuring BCR-ABL1 mRNA doubling-times (DTs) could distinguish inconsequential rises in the oncogene’s expression from resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Thus, we retrospectively examined BCR-ABL1 evolution in 305 chronic-phase CML patients receiving imatinib mesylate (IM) as a first line treatment. Patients were subdivided in two groups: those with a confirmed rise in BCR-ABL1 transcripts without MR3.0 loss and those failing IM. We found that the DTs of the former patients were significantly longer than those of patients developing IM resistance (57.80 vs. 41.45 days, p = 0.0114). Interestingly, the DT values of individuals failing second-generation (2G) TKIs after developing IM resistance were considerably shorter than those observed at the time of IM failure (27.20 vs. 41.45 days; p = 0.0035). We next wanted to establish if decreases in BCR-ABL1 transcripts would identify subjects likely to obtain deep molecular responses. We therefore analyzed the BCR-ABL1 halving-times (HTs) of a different cohort comprising 174 individuals receiving IM in first line and observed that, regardless of the time point selected for our analyses (6, 12, or 18 months), HTs were significantly shorter in subjects achieving superior molecular responses (p = 0.002 at 6 months; p < 0.001 at 12 months; p = 0.0099 at 18 months). Moreover, 50 patients receiving 2G TKIs as first line therapy and obtaining an MR3.0 (after 6 months; p = 0.003) or an MR4.0 (after 12 months; p = 0.019) displayed significantly shorter HTs than individuals lacking these molecular responses. Our findings suggest that BCR-ABL1 DTs and HTs are reliable tools to, respectively, identify subjects in MR3.0 that are failing their assigned TKI or to recognize patients likely to achieve deep molecular responses that should be considered for treatment discontinuation

CD40 ligand and MCP-1 as predictors of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with stroke

Aim: Up-regulation of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) has been found in diabetes and in patients with acute cerebral ischemia. We asked whether (i) the two molecules are similarly upregulated among non-lacunar and lacunar diabetic strokes and (ii) sCD40L and/or MCP-1 predict the risk of cardiovascular events in this setting.Methods: Ninety patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus presenting with an acute ischemic stroke (compared with 45 control subjects) were evaluated on admission and up to 36 months (median 24 months) after the event.Results: Diabetic patients with acute stroke had higher plasma CD40L and MCP-1 than controls (p<0.0001), with no significant differences among lacunar and non-lacunar strokes. On multiple regres-sion analysis, only higher sCD40L quartiles and older age were associated with higher MCP-1 quar-tiles. Forty-eight percent of patients experienced vascular events. Cox regression analysis showed that only the presence of higher sCD40L values independently predicted the recurrence of vascular events.Conclusion: Up-regulation of inflammatory molecules, such as CD40L and MCP-1, is involved in the advanced stage of atherosclerotic cerebro-vascular disease and is associated with increased risk of recurrence of cardiovascular events.AIM: Up-regulation of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) has been found in diabetes and in patients with acute cerebral ischemia. We asked whether (i) the two molecules are similarly upregulated among non-lacunar and lacunar diabetic strokes and (ii) sCD40L and/or MCP-1 predict the risk of cardiovascular events in this setting. METHODS: Ninety patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus presenting with an acute ischemic stroke (compared with 45 control subjects) were evaluated on admission and up to 36 months (median 24 months) after the event. RESULTS: Diabetic patients with acute stroke had higher plasma CD40L and MCP-1 than controls (p<0.0001), with no significant differences among lacunar and non-lacunar strokes. On multiple regression analysis, only higher sCD40L quartiles and older age were associated with higher MCP-1 quartiles. Forty-eight percent of patients experienced vascular events. Cox regression analysis showed that only the presence of higher sCD40L values independently predicted the recurrence of vascular events. CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of inflammatory molecules, such as CD40L and MCP-1, is involved in the advanced stage of atherosclerotic cerebro-vascular disease and is associated with increased risk of recurrence of cardiovascular events

Phylogenetic analysis in the clinical risk management of an outbreak of hepatitis C virus infection among transfused thalassaemia patients in Italy

Background: Occurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reduced by effective risk management procedures, but patient-to-patient transmission continues to be reported in healthcare settings. Aim: To report the use of phylogenetic analysis in the clinical risk management of an HCV outbreak among 128 thalassaemia outpatients followed at a thalassaemia centre of an Italian hospital. Methods: Epidemiological investigation and root-cause analysis were performed. All patients with acute hepatitis and known chronic infection were tested for HCV RNA, HCV genotyping, and NS3, NS5A, and NS5B HCV genomic region sequencing. To identify transmission clusters, phylogenetic trees were built for each gene employing Bayesian methods. Findings: All patients with acute hepatitis were infected with HCV genotype 1b. Root-cause analysis, including a lookback procedure, excluded blood donors as the source of HCV transmission. The phylogenetic analysis, conducted on seven patients with acute infection and eight patients with chronic infection, highlighted four transmission clusters including at least one patient with chronic and one patient with acute HCV infection. All patients in the same cluster received a blood transfusion during the same day. Two patients with acute hepatitis spontaneously cleared HCV within four weeks and nine patients received ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir for six weeks, all achieving a sustained virological response. Conclusion: Combined use of root-cause analysis and molecular epidemiology was effective in ascertaining the origin of the HCV outbreak. Antiviral therapy avoided the chronic progression of the infection and further spread in care units and in the family environment