Non-volcanic CO2 and CH4 degassing in an actively extending orogen, southern Apennines, Italy

The southern Apennines fold and thrust belt has been undergoing post-orogenic extension since ca. 700 kyr. Crustal extension controls active tectonics and seismogenesis in the mountain chain [1], with seismicity being characterized by low to moderate magnitude events punctuated by strong earthquakes [2]. Effective decoupling between deep and shallow structural levels is related to the strong rheological contrast produced by a fluid-saturated, clay-rich mélange zone interposed between buried autochthonous carbonates – continuous with those exposed in the Apulian foreland – and the allochthonous units. This mélange zone also acts as a seal preventing the migration of deep-seated aqueous fluids – as well as oil in the Basilicata region, which hosts the largest Europe’s onshore oil fields – towards the surface. On the other hand, the mountain belt is characterized by substantial gas flow, recorded as both distributed soil gas emissions and vigorous gas vents, associated with active faults at the surface. We measured a CO2 flux up to 34000 g/m-2 per day at a gas vent, as well as large amounts of He (up to 52 ppm), Rn (up to 228 kBq/m3) and CH4 (up to 5000 ppm). Overpressured CO2, which has been proposed as triggering normal fault earthquakes in the Apennines, has been interpreted as mostly of mantle origin. However, our new results from isotope analyses carried out on the carbon contained in both CO2 and CH4 indicate a dominant thermogenic origin for these gases, probably associated with the emplacement of magmatic sills within the lower section of the thick carbonate platform succession occurring at the base of the sedimentary cover in the southern Apennines. Our results bear major implication concerning the postulated occurrence of crustal faults allowing fluids to migrate directly from mantle depths to the surface

Effects of partially defatted Hermetia illucens meal in rainbow trout diet on hepatic methionine metabolism.

This study investigated, for the first time, the effects of replacement of fishmeal (FM) with insect meal from Hermetia illucens (HI) on the transcript levels of three genes involved in methionine (Met) metabolism in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver. Two target genes\u2014betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH)\u2014are involved in Met resynthesis and the third one\u2014cystathionine \u3b2 synthase (CBS)\u2014is involved in net Met loss (taurine synthesis). We also investigated the levels of two Met metabolites involved in the maintenance of methyl groups and homocysteine homeostasis in the hepatic tissue: S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). Three diets were formulated, an FM-based diet (HI0) and two diets in which 25% (HI25) and 50% (HI50) of FM was replaced with HI larvae meal. A 78-day feeding trial involved 360 rainbow trout with 178.9 \ub1 9.81 g initial average weight. Dietary replacement of up to 50% of FM with HI larvae meal, without any Met supplementation, did not negatively affect rainbow trout growth parameters and hepatic Met metabolism. In particular, Met availability from the insect-based diets directly modulated the transcript levels of two out of three target genes (CBS, SAHH) to maintain an optimal level of one-carbon metabolic substrates, i.e., the SAM:SAH ratio in the hepatic tissue

Comparative investigation on the soil burial degradation behaviour of polymer films for agriculture before and after photo-oxidation

Polymer films based on biodegradable polymers, polyethylene (PE) and modified PE with oxo-degradable additive were prepared by film blowing. Carbon black (1%) was added to all the films. Commercial biodegradable Ecovio\uae and Mater-Bi\uae samples were used. Mechanical properties, soil burial degradation and surface wettability were investigated, before and after UV irradiation. Chemical modifications induced by UV and soil degradation, or a synergic effect, were highlighted by Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infra-Red (ATR-FTIR). Photo-oxidized film samples with an elongation at break equal to 50% and 0.5 the initial value were selected for the soil burial degradation test at 30 \ub0C. Weight loss measurements were used to follow biodegradation in soil. Predictably, the degradation in soil was higher for biodegradable polymer-based films than for the PE-based ones. UV irradiation increased surface wettability and encouraged the disintegration in soil of all the samples. In fact, photo-oxidation produced a molar mass reduction and hydrophilic end groups, thus increasing surface erosion and weight loss. This paper not only supplies new criteria to evaluate the performance of biodegradable films in agriculture, before and after lifetime, but also provides a comparative analysis on the soil burial degradation behaviour with traditional ones

Generation of human scFvs antibodies recognizing a prion protein epitope expressed on the surface of human lymphoblastoid cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A hallmark of prion disease is the transformation of normal cellular prion protein (PrPc) into an infectious disease-associated isoform, (PrPsc). Anti-prion protein monoclonal antibodies are invaluable for structure-function studies of PrP molecules. Furthermore recent <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>studies indicate that anti-PrP monoclonal antibodies can prevent the incorporation of PrPc into propagating prions.</p> <p>In the present article, we show two new human phage antibodies, isolated on recombinant hamster prion protein (rHaPrP).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We adopted an antibody phage display strategy to isolate specific human antibodies directed towards rHaPrP which has been used as a bait for panning the synthetic ETH-2 antibody phage library. Two phage antibodies clones named MA3.B4 and MA3.G3 were isolated and characterized under genetic biochemical and immunocytochemical aspects. The clones were found to recognize the prion protein in ELISA studies. In flow-cytometry studies, these human single chain Fragment variable (scFv) phage-antibodies show a well defined pattern of reactivity on human lymphoblastoid and myeloid cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Sequence analysis of the gene encoding for the antibody fragments and antigen recognition patterns determined by flow-cytometry analysis indicate that the isolated scFvs recognize novel epitopes in the PrPc molecule. These new anti PrPc human antibodies are unique reagents for prion protein detection and may represent a biologic platform to develop new reagents to treat PrPsc associated disease.</p

Development and Preliminary Testing of Porcine Blood-Derived Endothelial-like Cells for Vascular Tissue Engineering Applications:Protocol Optimisation and Seeding of Decellularised Human Saphenous Veins

Functional endothelial cells (EC) are a critical interface between blood vessels and the thrombogenic flowing blood. Disruption of this layer can lead to early thrombosis, inflammation, vessel restenosis, and, following coronary (CABG) or peripheral (PABG) artery bypass graft surgery, vein graft failure. Blood-derived ECs have shown potential for vascular tissue engineering applications. Here, we show the development and preliminary testing of a method for deriving porcine endothelial-like cells from blood obtained under clinical conditions for use in translational research. The derived cells show cobblestone morphology and expression of EC markers, similar to those seen in isolated porcine aortic ECs (PAEC), and when exposed to increasing shear stress, they remain viable and show mRNA expression of EC markers similar to PAEC. In addition, we confirm the feasibility of seeding endothelial-like cells onto a decellularised human vein scaffold with approximately 90% lumen coverage at lower passages, and show that increasing cell passage results in reduced endothelial coverage

A rare case of solitary fibrous tumour of the pelvis in an 18-year-old young man: Ct and mri features with pathologic correlations

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms of fibroblastic origin, even if commonly seen in the pleura, they can occur anywhere in the body. SFT presents as a slow growing, often asymptomatic mass, generally affecting middle-aged adults regardless of the sex. We report a rare case of an 18-year-old man referred to our institution to perform computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to investigate a pelvic mass incidentally discovered at abdominal ultrasound examination. A well circumscribed, heterogenous and hypervascular lesion was described at imaging, with absence of calcifica-tions, hemorrhage, necrosis nor cystic degeneration. The mass removal was performed via the Da Vinci-assisted robotic surgery. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of SFT. CT and MRI can aid the identification of SFT, providing useful information which needs to be supported by histopathological analysis

The Big Ten IPE Academic Alliance: A regional approach to developing Interprofessional Education and practice

Interprofessional practice and education (IPE) efforts has greatly increased in the past few years, primarily through the leadership of several national and international organizations. These organizations have sponsored forums for information exchange and best practices, which has significantly influenced the development of programs across various educational institutions and practice environments. Several regional groups have emerged, organized around a common purpose and geographic proximity, to share ideas and implement new IPE programs across the cooperating organizations. This article describes the history and growth of one of the newer regional groups, the Big Ten IPE Academic Alliance. Included in this discussion is how the group was created, its governing structure and the various results of its efforts. The intent is to provide expanded guidance how to develop regional groups that are effective vehicles for the successful implementation of IPE within educational and health settings