Genetic evaluation of gestation length in Italian Holstein breed

Gestation length (GL) can potentially affect health and performance of both the dam and the newborn calf, and it is controlled by two genetic components, direct and maternal. This means that both the calf (direct effect) and the cow (maternal effect) genotypes contribute to determine GL and its variability. The aims of the present study were to estimate direct and maternal variance components of GL, develop a routine genetic evaluation of GL in Italian Holstein and evaluate potential (un)favourable associations with traits for which selection is undertaken in this population. A multiple-trait repeatability linear animal model was employed for the estimation of variance components considering GL in first and later parities as different traits. The posterior mean (PM) of heritability of the direct effect was 0.43 for first parity and 0.35 for later parities. The PM of heritability of the maternal effect was lower, being 0.08 for primiparae and 0.06 for pluriparae. The posterior standard deviation (PSD) of the heritability estimates was small, ranging from 0.001 to 0.005. The relationship of direct and maternal effects with important traits such as milk yield and fertility indicated that selecting for extreme GL, longer or shorter, may have negative consequences on several traits, suggesting that GL has an intermediate optimum in dairy cattle. In conclusion, this study reveals that selecting an intermediate GL in the Italian Holstein population is advisable. Although scarcely variable compared to other conventional traits for which Italian Holstein is selected, GL is heritable and a deeper knowledge can be useful for decision-making at the farm level

Probing transference and field-induced polymer velocity in block copolymer electrolytes

Concentration polarization in an electrolyte comprising dissociated ions and a solvent is often modeled using concentrated solution theory developed by Newman. This theory is built upon two differential equations for electrolyte concentration and solvent velocity fields. We characterize the concentration and solvent velocity fields in a polystyrene-block-polyethylene oxide (SEO) block copolymer electrolyte using operando X-ray transmission measurements and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy, respectively. Using calculations based on the assumption that the SEO chain behaves as a single species, we show that the experimental data are consistent with a cation transference number, t+0, ≈ 0.7. Previously published electrochemical experiments using small polarizations led to the conclusion that t+0 is less than 0.3. The discrepancy indicates that the block copolymer electrolyte cannot be approximated as a three-component system (cation, anion, and a single solvent), and frictional interactions involving the glassy polystyrene cannot be lumped with those involving rubbery poly(ethylene oxide) segments

A seismic array on Mt. Vesuvius

In November 1997 a seismic antenna (array) of short period seismometers was installed on the south-western flank of Mt. Vesuvius; aim of the experiment was to test the use of non-conventional devices for the seismic monitoring of this volcano. In 7 months local seismicity, regional earthquakes and samples of seismic noise were recorded by the array and organised in a data base. Local earthquakes and seismic noise have been analysed with array techniques to investigate the spectral, kinematic and polarization properties of the wavefield. Preliminary results show that the backazimuth of local earthquakes is oriented in the direction of the crater area. For some events, the source location has been constrained using a simplified back propagation in a 2-D velocity structure. The noise wavefield is characterized by the predominance of a sustained low frequency component (< 1Hz) whose source is located S-SE of the array. This low frequency signal has been interpreted as associated to the sea-loading in the gulf of Naples.Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio VesuvianoPublished1.4. TTC - Sorveglianza sismologica delle aree vulcaniche attiveope

A seismic array on Mt. Vesuvius

In November 1997 a seismic antenna (array) of short period seismometers was installed on the south-western flank of Mt. Vesuvius; aim of the experiment was to test the use of non-conventional devices for the seismic monitoring of this volcano. In 7 months local seismicity, regional earthquakes and samples of seismic noise were recorded by the array and organised in a data base. Local earthquakes and seismic noise have been analysed with array techniques to investigate the spectral, kinematic and polarization properties of the wavefield. Preliminary results show that the backazimuth of local earthquakes is oriented in the direction of the crater area. For some events, the source location has been constrained using a simplified back propagation in a 2-D velocity structure. The noise wavefield is characterized by the predominance of a sustained low frequency component (< 1Hz) whose source is located S-SE of the array. This low frequency signal has been interpreted as associated to the sea-loading in the gulf of Naples

Urban Disaster-Prevention Strategies Using Macroseismic Fields and Fault Sources

This contribution presents the general framework of the European project UPStrat-MAFA "Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources" and its ongoing activities. A unique probabilistic procedure is being used for seismic hazard evaluation, using both macroseismic fields and characteristics of fault sources for the analysis of data from volcanic and tectonic areas: Mt. Etna, Mt. Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei (Italy), Azores Islands (Portugal), South Iceland (Iceland), Alicante-Murcia (Spain), and mainland and offshore Portugal. An improvement of urban scale vulnerability information on building and network systems (typologies, schools, strategic buildings, lifelines, and others) is proposed in the form of a global Disruption Index, with the objective to provide a systematic way of measuring earthquake impact in urbanized areas considered as complex networks. Disaster prevention strategies are considered based on an education information system, another effective component of the disaster risk reduction given by long-term activities

Urban Disaster-Prevention Strategies Using Macroseismic Fields and Fault Sources

This contribution presents the general framework of the European project UPStrat-MAFA "Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources" and its ongoing activities. A unique probabilistic procedure is being used for seismic hazard evaluation, using both macroseismic fields and characteristics of fault sources for the analysis of data from volcanic and tectonic areas: Mt. Etna, Mt. Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei (Italy), Azores Islands (Portugal), South Iceland (Iceland), Alicante-Murcia (Spain), and mainland and offshore Portugal. An improvement of urban scale vulnerability information on building and network systems (typologies, schools, strategic buildings, lifelines, and others) is proposed in the form of a global Disruption Index, with the objective to provide a systematic way of measuring earthquake impact in urbanized areas considered as complex networks. Disaster prevention strategies are considered based on an education information system, another effective component of the disaster risk reduction given by long-term activities.Co-financed by the EU - Civil Protection Financial Instrument, in the framework the European project ”Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources (Acronym: UPStrat-MAFA, Grant Agreement N. 23031/2011/613486/SUB/A5). http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/cp_projects2011_en.htmPublishedLisbon - Portugal4.1. Metodologie sismologiche per l'ingegneria sismicaope

In Vitro Identification and Characterization of CD133pos Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Lines

Background: Recent publications suggest that neoplastic initiation and growth are dependent on a small subset of cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs). Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma (ATC) is a very aggressive solid tumor with poor prognosis, characterized by high dedifferentiation. The existence of CSCs might account for the heterogeneity of ATC lesions. CD133 has been identified as a stem cell marker for normal and cancerous tissues, although its biological function remains unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: ATC cell lines ARO, KAT-4, KAT-18 and FRO were analyzed for CD133 expression. Flow cytometry showed CD133pos cells only in ARO and KAT-4 (6469% and 57612%, respectively). These data were confirmed by qRT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. ARO and KAT-4 were also positive for fetal marker oncofetal fibronectin and negative for thyrocyte-specific differentiating markers thyroglobulin, thyroperoxidase and sodium/iodide symporter. Sorted ARO/ CD133pos cells exhibited higher proliferation, self-renewal, colony-forming ability in comparison with ARO/CD133neg. Furthermore, ARO/CD133pos showed levels of thyroid transcription factor TTF-1 similar to the fetal thyroid cell line TAD-2, while the expression in ARO/CD133neg was negligible. The expression of the stem cell marker OCT-4 detected by RT-PCR and flow cytometry was markedly higher in ARO/CD133pos in comparison to ARO/CD133neg cells. The stem cell markers c- KIT and THY-1 were negative. Sensitivity to chemotherapy agents was investigated, showing remarkable resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in ARO/CD133pos when compared with ARO/CD133neg cells. Conclusions/Significance: We describe CD133pos cells in ATC cell lines. ARO/CD133pos cells exhibit stem cell-like features - such as high proliferation, self-renewal ability, expression of OCT-4 - and are characterized by higher resistance to chemotherapy. The simultaneous positivity for thyroid specific factor TTF-1 and onfFN suggest they might represent putative thyroid cancer stem-like cells. Our in vitro findings might provide new insights for novel therapeutic approaches

Sustained proliferation in cancer: mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets

Proliferation is an important part of cancer development and progression. This is manifest by altered expression and/or activity of cell cycle related proteins. Constitutive activation of many signal transduction pathways also stimulates cell growth. Early steps in tumor development are associated with a fibrogenic response and the development of a hypoxic environment which favors the survival and proliferation of cancer stem cells. Part of the survival strategy of cancer stem cells may manifested by alterations in cell metabolism. Once tumors appear, growth and metastasis may be supported by overproduction of appropriate hormones (in hormonally dependent cancers), by promoting angiogenesis, by undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition, by triggering autophagy, and by taking cues from surrounding stromal cells. A number of natural compounds (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, indole-3-carbinol, brassinin, sulforaphane, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein, ellagitannins, lycopene and quercetin) have been found to inhibit one or more pathways that contribute to proliferation (e.g., hypoxia inducible factor 1, nuclear factor kappa B, phosphoinositide 3 kinase/Akt, insulin-like growth factor receptor 1, Wnt, cell cycle associated proteins, as well as androgen and estrogen receptor signaling). These data, in combination with bioinformatics analyses, will be very important for identifying signaling pathways and molecular targets that may provide early diagnostic markers and/or critical targets for the development of new drugs or drug combinations that block tumor formation and progression

TOMO-ETNA experiment at Etna volcano: Activities on land

In the present paper we describe the on-land field operations integrated in the TOMO-ETNA experiment carried out in June-November 2014 at Mt. Etna volcano and surrounding areas. This terrestrial campaign consists in the deployment of 90 short-period portable three-component seismic stations, 17 broadband seismometers and the coordination with 133 permanent seismic station belonging to Italy’s Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). This temporary seismic network recorded active and passive seismic sources. Active seismic sources were generated by an array of air-guns mounted in the Spanish oceanographic vessel “Sarmiento de Gamboa” with a power capacity of up to 5200 cubic inches. In total more than 26,000 shots were fired and more than 450 local and regional earthquakes were recorded. We describe the whole technical procedure followed to guarantee the success of this complex seismic experiment. We started with the description of the location of the potential safety places to deploy the portable network and the products derived from this search (a large document including full characterization of the sites, owners and indication of how to arrive to them). A full technical description of the seismometers and seismic sources is presented. We show how the portable seismic network was deployed, maintained and recovered in different stages. The large international collaboration of this experiment is reflected in the participation of more than 75 researchers, technicians and students from different institutions and countries in the on-land activities. The main objectives of the experiment were achieved with great success.PublishedS04272SR. VULCANI - Servizi e ricerca per la SocietàJCR Journalope