Diagnosis of centrocestus formosanus infection in zebrafish (Danio rerio) in Italy: A window to a new globalization-derived invasive microorganism

Centrocestus formosanus is a digenetic trematode with a complex life cycle, involving invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, humans included. In particular, it causes gill lesions and mortality in freshwater fish species, and gastrointestinal symptoms in infected humans. Here, we describe the occurrence of C. formosanus infection in zebrafish imported in Italy and propose a newly designed species-specific primer pair to ameliorate the diagnostic investigations for C. formosanus. Gill arches of 30 zebrafish were examined for the presence of encysted metacercariae under a stereomicroscope and processed through molecular analyses targeting the ribosomal internal transcribed sequence 2 (ITS2). Although C. formosanus distribution was originally restricted to Asia, it has been subsequently reported in new countries, revealing itself as an invasive species and raising important concerns for biodiversity, economy, scientific research, as well as animal and public health. Given the crucial role played by the ornamental fish industry in spreading this parasite, there is an urgent need for control measures to prevent the introduction and establishment of C. formosanus in non-endemic areas, including Europe. We also suggest developing new strategies in microbiology and epidemiology to better explore this new globalization-derived invasive species

Yield and Forage Quality in Alfalfa-Weeping Lovegrass Mixtures

Little is known about the relative performance of weeping lovegrass in mixtures with alfalfa. Our objective was to compare the productivity and forage quality of monocultures and binary mixtures of the species. Mixtures always gave higher yields than any of the monocultures and the highest was obtained in the mixture with the largest proportion of alfalfa. In the second year weeping lovegrass N concentration in the mixtures were higher than in monoculture. Weeping lovegrass did not affect the alfalfa N concentration. There was not differences in the NDF, for between these species

A Case for Nebula Scale Mixing Between Non-Carbonaceous and Carbonaceous Chondrite Reservoirs: Testing the Grand Tack Model with Chromium Isotopic Composition of Almahata Sitta Stone 91A

There is an increasing number of Cr-O-Ti isotope studies that show solar system materials are divided into two main populations, one carbonaceous chondrite (CC)-like and the other is non-carbonaceous (NC)-like, with minimal mixing attributed to a gap opened in the protoplanetary disk due to Jupiter's formation. The Grand Tack model suggests there should be large-scale mixing between S- and C-type asteroids, an idea supported by our recent work on chondrule (Delta)17O-54Cr isotope systematics. The Almahata Sitta (AhS) meteorite provides a unique opportunity to test the Grand Tack model. The meteorite fell to Earth in October 2008 and has been linked to the asteroid 2008 TC3 which was discovered just prior to the fall of the AhS stones. The AhS meteorite is composed of up to 700 individual pieces with approx.140 of those pieces having some geochemical and/or petrologic studies. Almahata Sitta is an anomalous polymict ureilite with other meteorite components, including enstatite, ordinary, and carbonaceous chondrites with an approximate abundance of 70% ureilites and 30% chondrites. This observation has lead to the suggestion that TC3 2008 was a loosely aggregated rubble pile-like asteroid with the non-ureilite sample clasts within the rubble-pile. Due to the loosely-aggregated nature of AhS, the object disintegrated during atmospheric entry resulting in the weakly held clasts falling predominantly as individual stones in the AhS collection area. However, recent work has identified one sample of AhS, sample 91A, which may represent two different lithologies coexisting within a single stone. The predominate lithology type in 91A appears to be that of a C2 chondrite based on mineralogy but also contains olivine, pyroxene, and albite that have ureilite-like compositions. Previous Cr isotope investigations into AhS stones are sparse and what data is available show nearly uniform isotopic composition similar to that of typical ureilites with negative 54Cr values

A Unique Amphibole- and Magnetite-Rich Carbonaceous Chondrite from Almahata Sitta

Almahata Sitta (AhS) 202 from the UoK collection represents a clast from the polymict breccia asteroid 2008 TC3. AhS 202 was recognized as a unique carbonaceous chondrite (CC) with a high magnetite content. Here we report that it also contains a significant amount of amphibole, a mineral that is very rare in chondrites and has not previously been reported in significant abundance in a CC. We present new petrographic, oxygen isotope, and micro-FTIR data. We discuss petrogenesis and possible relationships to known CC

Evapotranspiración y balance energético de un cultivo de soja en la región semiárida de Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Cargnel, M. D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Orchansky, A. L. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Brevedan, R. E. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Baioni, S. S. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires´, Argentina.Fioretti, M. N. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.181-189Two field experiments were carried out in a semiarid region of Argentina over a soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) field. The sites of study were San Adolfo (39˚ 23’ S, 62˚ 22’ W, 22 m.a.s.l.) and Nueva Roma (38˚ 29’ S, 62˚ 39’ W, 70 m.a.s.l.). Soybeans were planted on Jan 4 (San Adolfo) and Nov 27 (Nueva Roma) in 0.75 m wide rows and at 400000 pl/ha during two consecutive growing seasons. Energy balance and evapotranspiration (ET) were estimated during the reproductive stages from full bloom (R2) to full maturity (R8). In Nueva Roma ET or latent heat flux (LE) was estimated using the Bowen ratio-energy balance (BREB) (LEb) and the Priestley -Taylor equation (LEPT) with αPT=1.26, 48 h after irrigation or rain. Both methods could be used to predict ET since the ratio LEb/LEPT ranged between 0.83 and 0.95. The observed Bowen ratio values were almost 0 during and after rain and increased to approximately 0.45 several days after rain. In San Adolfo LE was estimating using the Priestley -Taylor equation. For both sites the regression analysis for comparison available energy (Rn-G) and LE using BREB or LEPT indicated that, approximately 90% of the available energy was consumed by LE without detecting significative advective conditions

Evapotranspiración y balance energético de un cultivo de soja en la región semiárida de Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Cargnel, M. D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Orchansky, A. L. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Brevedan, R. E. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Baioni, S. S. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires´, Argentina.Fioretti, M. N. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.181-189Two field experiments were carried out in a semiarid region of Argentina over a soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) field. The sites of study were San Adolfo (39˚ 23’ S, 62˚ 22’ W, 22 m.a.s.l.) and Nueva Roma (38˚ 29’ S, 62˚ 39’ W, 70 m.a.s.l.). Soybeans were planted on Jan 4 (San Adolfo) and Nov 27 (Nueva Roma) in 0.75 m wide rows and at 400000 pl/ha during two consecutive growing seasons. Energy balance and evapotranspiration (ET) were estimated during the reproductive stages from full bloom (R2) to full maturity (R8). In Nueva Roma ET or latent heat flux (LE) was estimated using the Bowen ratio-energy balance (BREB) (LEb) and the Priestley -Taylor equation (LEPT) with αPT=1.26, 48 h after irrigation or rain. Both methods could be used to predict ET since the ratio LEb/LEPT ranged between 0.83 and 0.95. The observed Bowen ratio values were almost 0 during and after rain and increased to approximately 0.45 several days after rain. In San Adolfo LE was estimating using the Priestley -Taylor equation. For both sites the regression analysis for comparison available energy (Rn-G) and LE using BREB or LEPT indicated that, approximately 90% of the available energy was consumed by LE without detecting significative advective conditions

Neuromuscular Control Modelling of Human Perturbed Posture Through Piecewise Affine Autoregressive With Exogenous Input Models

In this study, the neuromuscular control modeling of the perturbed human upright stance is assessed through piecewise affine autoregressive with exogenous input (PWARX) models. Ten healthy subjects underwent an experimental protocol where visual deprivation and cognitive load are applied to evaluate whether PWARX can be used for modeling the role of the central nervous system (CNS) in balance maintenance in different conditions. Balance maintenance is modeled as a single-link inverted pendulum; and kinematic, dynamic, and electromyography (EMG) data are used to fit the PWARX models of the CNS activity. Models are trained on 70% and tested on the 30% of unseen data belonging to the remaining dataset. The models are able to capture which factors the CNS is subjected to, showing a fitting accuracy higher than 90% for each experimental condition. The models present a switch between two different control dynamics, coherent with the physiological response to a sudden balance perturbation and mirrored by the data-driven lag selection for data time series. The outcomes of this study indicate that hybrid postural control policies, yet investigated for unperturbed stance, could be an appropriate motor control paradigm when balance maintenance undergoes external disruption