Chromosome analysis on Central and Southern Italy population of the common toad, Bufo bufo (Amphibia, Anura)

Amphibians constitute a very good model to explore the historical aspects of species distributions due to their low dispersal capacity and low individual vagility. Bufonidae are one of the most speciose family of Anura, including taxa, such as Bufo bufo, widespread in Eurasian regions. We performed a karyological study with standard and sequential C-banding + fluorochromes (Chromomycin A3 (CMA) and Diamidinophenylindole (DAPI) on several tadpoles from different populations of Central and Southern Italy. All the examined tadpoles exhibited the standard Bufokaryotype of 2n = 22 biarmed chromosomes, with the first six pairs larger than the other five (7 - 11) pairs and NOR associated heterochromatin distal on the long arms of the 6thchromosome pair, that was also the only chromosome CMA-positive region. C-banding evidenced centromeric heterochromatin, DAPI positive, on all the chromosomes in all the studied populations from Central Italy. The Southern Italy populations differed in additional paracentromeric C-bands on the short arms of chromosomes 1, 3 and 5. These results support the partition of Central populations of B. bufo from the Southern ones, as evidenced also from molecular phylogenetic studie

SemTree: An index for supporting semantic retrieval of documents

In this paper, we propose SemTree, a novel semantic index for supporting retrieval of information from huge amount of document collections, assuming that semantics of a document can be effectively expressed by a set of (subject, predicate, object) statements as in the RDF model. A distributed version of KD-Tree has been then adopted for providing a scalable solution to the document indexing, leveraging the mapping of triples in a vectorial space. We investigate the feasibility of our approach in a real case study, considering the problem of finding inconsistencies in documents related to software requirements and report some preliminary experimental results

Characterization of Two Transposable Elements and an Ultra-Conserved Element Isolated in the Genome of Zootoca vivipara (Squamata, Lacertidae)

: Transposable elements (TEs) constitute a considerable fraction of eukaryote genomes representing a major source of genetic variability. We describe two DNA sequences isolated in the lizard Zootoca vivipara, here named Zv516 and Zv817. Both sequences are single-copy nuclear sequences, including a truncation of two transposable elements (TEs), SINE Squam1 in Zv516 and a Tc1/Mariner-like DNA transposon in Zv817. FISH analyses with Zv516 showed the occurrence of interspersed signals of the SINE Squam1 sequence on all chromosomes of Z. vivipara and quantitative dot blot indicated that this TE is present with about 4700 copies in the Z. vivipara genome. FISH and dot blot with Zv817 did not produce clear hybridization signals. Bioinformatic analysis showed the presence of active SINE Squam 1 copies in the genome of different lacertids, in different mRNAs, and intronic and coding regions of various genes. The Tc1/Mariner-like DNA transposon occurs in all reptiles, excluding Sphenodon and Archosauria. Zv817 includes a trait of 284 bp, representing an amniote ultra-conserved element (UCE). Using amniote UCE homologous sequences from available whole genome sequences of major amniote taxonomic groups, we performed a phylogenetic analysis which retrieved Prototheria as the sister group of Metatheria and Eutheria. Within diapsids, Testudines are the sister group to Aves + Crocodylia (Archosauria), and Sphenodon is the sister group to Squamata. Furthermore, large trait regions flanking the UCE are conserved at family level

Incidence and types of laryngotracheal sequelae of prolonged invasive ventilation in COVID-19 patients

Purpose The COVID-19 outbreak has led to an increasing number of acute laryngotracheal complications in patients subjected to prolonged mechanical ventilation, but their incidence in the short and mid-term after ICU discharge is still unknown. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence of these complications in a COVID-19 group of patients and to compare these aspects with non-COVID-19 matched controls. Methods In this cohort study, we retrospectively selected patients from November 1 to December 31, 2020, according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The follow-up visits were planned after 6 months from discharge. All patients were subjected to an endoscopic evaluation and completed two questionnaires (VHI-10 score and MDADI score). Results Thirteen men and three women were enrolled in the COVID-19 group while nine men and seven women were included in the control group. The median age was 60 [56-66] years in the COVID-19 group and 64 [58-69] years in the control group. All the patients of the control group showed no laryngotracheal lesions, while five COVID-19 patients had different types of lesions, two located in the vocal folds and three in the trachea. No difference was identified between the two groups regarding the VHI-10 score, while the control group showed a significantly worse MDADI score. Conclusions COVID-19 patients subjected to prolonged invasive ventilation are more likely to develop a laryngotracheal complication in the short and medium term. A rigorous clinical follow-up to allow early identification and management of these complications should be set up after discharge

Helix straminea Briganti, 1825 in Italy (Gastropoda: Pulmonata): taxonomic history, morphology, biology, distribution and phylogeny

The land snail taxon Helix straminea Briganti, 1825 has been reintroduced as a valid species in 2014. We provide here a comprehensive account of its taxonomy, distribution, anatomy, phylogeny and karyology in Italy. An overview of the historical views on the validity of the species is presented and faunistic data are reviewed and implemented with new records from Campania and Basilicata. A lectotype is fixed for H. straminea from the syntypes stored in the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle of Genève, as well as for three other taxa (Helix straminiformis Bourguignat, 1876, Helix yleobia Bourguignat, 1883 and Helix straminea ssp. elongata Bourguignat, 1860). Genital system, radula and karyotype are described for the first time. Molecular analysis of two mitochondrial genes combining GenBank data and the new sequences presented in this paper showed no differentiation between the northern and southern Italian populations. The conservation status of the species and its possible threats are discussed

Multipoint pacing by a left ventricular quadripolar lead improves the acute hemodynamic response to CRT compared with conventional biventricular pacing at any site

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Efficiency Optimization of Ge-V Quantum Emitters in Single-Crystal Diamond upon Ion Implantation and HPHT Annealing

The authors report on the characterization at the single-defect level of germanium-vacancy (GeV) centers in diamond produced upon Ge− ion implantation and different subsequent annealing processes, with a specific focus on the effect of high-pressure-high-temperature (HPHT) processing on their quantum-optical properties. Different post-implantation annealing conditions are explored for the optimal activation of GeV centers, namely, 900 °C 2 h, 1000 °C 10 h, 1500 °C 1 h under high vacuum, and 2000 °C 15 min at 6 GPa pressure. A systematic analysis of the relevant emission properties, including the emission intensity in saturation regime and the excited state radiative lifetime, is performed on the basis of a set of ion-implanted samples, with the scope of identifying the most suitable conditions for the creation of GeV centers with optimal quantum-optical emission properties. The main performance parameter adopted here to describe the excitation efficiency of GeV centers as single-photon emitters is the ratio between the saturation optical excitation power and the emission intensity at saturation. The results show an up to eightfold emission efficiency increase in HPHT-treated samples with respect to conventional annealing in vacuum conditions, suggesting a suitable thermodynamic pathway toward the repeatable fabrication of ultra-bright GeV centers for single-photon generation purposes

Diamond-based sensors for in vitro cellular radiobiology: Simultaneous detection of cell exocytic activity and ionizing radiation

The investigation of secondary effects induced by ionizing radiation represents a new and ever-growing research field in radiobiology. This new paradigm cannot be investigated only using standard instrumentation and methodologies, but rather requires novel technologies to achieve significant progress. In this framework, we developed diamond-based sensors that allow simultaneous real-time measurements with a high spatial resolution of the secretory activity of a network of cells cultured on the device, as well as of the dose at which they are exposed during irradiation experiments. The devices were functionally characterized by testing both the above-mentioned detection schemes, namely: amperometric measurements of neurotransmitter release from excitable cells (such as dopamine or adrenaline) and dosimetric evaluation using different ionizing particles (alpha particle and X-ray photons). Finally, the sensors were employed to investigate the effects induced by X-rays on the exocytotic activity of PC12 neuroendocrine cells by monitoring the modulation of the dopamine release in real-time

Diabete Tipo 1, Tipo 2 e Tipo X

Il muro concettuale secondo il quale il diabete in età pediatrica ha preferibilmente una patogenesi autoimmune sta ormai definitivamente crollando. Il diabete in età infantile e adolescenziale è molto più eterogeneo dal punto di vista eziopatogenetico di quanto si pensasse. In presenza di una qualsiasi iperglicemia è ormai diventato importantissimo chiedersi la patogenesi di questo sintomo utilizzando tutti gli strumenti che abbiamo oggi a disposizione