Testicular activity and sperm glycoproteins in giant red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea

The reproduction of male giani red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea, collected from thè late winterto thè summer in thè north-western lonian Sea (Mediterranean Sea), was investigated using histological and histochemistry methods. Seasonal changes in thè spermiogenesis and thè glycoprotein pattern were found and sperm glycoproteins matured as gametes moved from thè testis to thè terminal ampliila. In serial sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin thè testicular activity appeared to be discontinuous. In late winter thè testes had no meiotic activity and thè seminiferous epithelium consisted of interkinetic spermatogonia and spermatozoa. In spring, spermiogenetic activity was high and thè seminiferous epithelium mainly consisted of spermatocytes and spermatozoa while in summer, thè testes were again inactive since both spermatocytes and spermatozoa were lacking. The use of twelve different lectins indicated that thè intratesticular spermatozoa from late winter to summer contain surface binding sites for SNA, MAA, Con A and KOH-sialidase (si)-WGA. In March and July they also exhibited nuclear and cytoplasmic reactivity for SNA and Con A. In thè hemispermatophore thè spermatozoa displayed a more complex lectin-binding pattern because they also reacted with PNA, DBA, HPA, OSA II. The staining with DBA, KOH-si- DBA, and OSA II showed differences between thè spermatozoa from late winter-spring hemispermatophores and summer hemispermatophores: thè former showed a nuclear affinity whereas thè latter displayed surface and/or cytoplasm staining. No reaction was observed with SBA, GSAI-B4, UEA I, and LTA

Avaliacoes da infeccao de explantes de feijoeiro por Agrobacterium tumefaciens por meio de microscopia.

Phaseolus vulgaris L. e considerada recalcitrante a transformacao por Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Contudo, alteracoes no meio de co-cultivo, utilizacao de linhagens hipervirulentas de Agrobacterium e de vetores binarios contendo genes vir demostraram que o feijoeiro e susceptivel a essa bacteria. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar o efeito da sonificacao nos tecidos vegetais de feijoeiro, bem como a penetracao da Agrobacterium nas camadas subepidermicas do tecido vegetal, usando a metodologia SAAT ("Sonification-Assisted Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation"). A variedade de feijoeiro utilizada foi a Olathe Pinto, a linhagem de A. tumefaciens foi LBA4404:pTOK.Os embrioes de feijao foram pre-tratados po 14 dias em meio de multibrotacao e, entao submetidos a sonificacao (de 0 ou 60 segundos) na presenca de Agrobacterium. Apos a inoculacao foram co-cultivados por 24 horas em meio liquido seguido de 48 horas em meio solido, ambos, contendo 20 m. L -1 de acetoceringona. Os explantes inoculados foram fixadas em solucao de Karnovsk para avaliacoes em microscopia optica e eletronica de varredura. As analises da microspia demostraram a presenca de rupturas na epiderme, quebras da parede celular e invasao da Agrobacterium nos tecidos subepidermicos. Os reultados demostraram que o metodo SAAT e uma tecnica viavel para a inoculcao de Agrobacterium em explantes de P. vulgaris.bitstream/CPAC-2010/23710/1/bolpd-04.pd

Acceleration with Self-Injection for an All-Optical Radiation Source at LNF

We discuss a new compact gamma-ray source aiming at high spectral density, up to two orders of magnitude higher than currently available bremsstrahlung sources, and conceptually similar to Compton Sources based on conventional linear accelerators. This new source exploits electron bunches from laser-driven electron acceleration in the so-called self-injection scheme and uses a counter-propagating laser pulse to obtain X and gamma-ray emission via Thomson/Compton scattering. The proposed experimental configuration inherently provides a unique test-bed for studies of fundamental open issues of electrodynamics. In view of this, a preliminary discussion of recent results on self-injection with the FLAME laser is also given.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, 44 references - Channeling 2012 conferenc

Incomplete ileocecal bypass for ileal pathology in horses: 21 cases (2012–2019)

Background: Incomplete ileocecal bypass can be performed in cases in which an ileal disfunction is suspected but resection of the diseased ileum is not necessary. Objectives: To describe the clinical findings, the surgical technique, and the outcome of 21 cases of colic with ileal pathologies that underwent an incomplete ileocecal bypass. Methods: Historical, clinical, and surgical features of cases diagnosed with pathologies involving the ileum or the ileocecal valve that underwent ileocecal anastomosis without ileal resection were retrieved. Clinical (heart rate, duration of symptoms, presence of reflux, age, weight at arrival) and surgical (surgical pathology, duration of surgery, type of anastomosis) data were retrieved and analysed. Data on short term survival and postoperative complications (colic, post-operative reflux, incisional infection, fever), length of hospital stay, and long term follow up were also obtained. Results: A total of 21 horses met the criteria; 13 horses had ileal impaction (one with muscular hypertrophy), 5 horses had epiploic foramen entrapment, and 3 horses had a pedunculated lipoma. An incomplete ileocecal bypass was performed with a two-layer hand-sewn side-to-side technique in 19 cases and with a stapled side-to-side technique in 2 cases. Short term survival was 95.2%. At 12-months follow up, all horses but two were alive, and 13 of the 14 sport horses returned to their previous level of activity. Long term survival was 90.47%. Conclusions Incomplete ileocecal bypass may represent a valid surgical technique in case of ileocecal valve disfunction when ileum resection is not necessary; this technique may represent an alternative to extensive manipulation without subsequent recurrence of ileal impaction

An Overview of the Obese-Asthma Phenotype in Children

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Overweight and obesity are included among the comorbidities considered in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma, suggesting a specific phenotype of the disease. Therefore, the constant increase in obesity prevalence in children and adolescents raises concerns about the parallel increase of obesity-associated asthma. The possible correlation between obesity and asthma has been investigated over the last decade by different authors, who suggest a complex multifactorial relationship. Although the particular non-eosinophilic endotype of obesity-related asthma supports the concept that high body weight precedes asthma development, there is ongoing debate about the direct causality of these two entities. A number of mechanisms may be involved in asthma in combination with obesity disease in children, including reduced physical activity, abnormal ventilation, chronic systemic inflammation, hormonal influences, genetics and additional comorbidities, such as gastroesophageal reflux and dysfunctional breathing. The identification of the obesity-related asthma phenotype is crucial to initiate specific therapeutic management. Besides the cornerstones of asthma treatment, lifestyle should be optimized, with interventions aiming to promote physical exercise, healthy diet, and comorbidities. Future studies should clarify the exact association between asthma and obesity and the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these two related conditions with the aim to define personalized therapeutic strategies for asthma management in this population

Light Ion Accelerating Line (L3IA): Test Experiment at ILIL-PW

The construction of a novel Laser driven Light Ions Acceleration Line(L3IA) is progressing rapidly towards the operation, following the recent upgrade of the ILIL-PW laser facility. The Line was designed following the pilot experimental activity carried out earlier at the same facility to define design parameters and to identify main components including target control and diagnostic equipment, also in combination with the numerical simulations for the optimization of laser and target parameters. A preliminary set of data was acquired following the successful commissioning of the laser system >100 TW upgrade. Data include output from a range of different ion detectors and optical diagnostics installed for qualification of the laser-target interaction. An overview of the results is given along with a description of the relevant upgraded laser facility and features.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, 18 references, presented at the EAAC 201

Test of candidate light distributors for the muon (g−-2) laser calibration system

The new muon (g-2) experiment E989 at Fermilab will be equipped with a laser calibration system for all the 1296 channels of the calorimeters. An integrating sphere and an alternative system based on an engineered diffuser have been considered as possible light distributors for the experiment. We present here a detailed comparison of the two based on temporal response, spatial uniformity, transmittance and time stability.Comment: accepted to Nucl.Instrum.Meth.

Time resolved pattern evolution in a large aperture laser

We have measured quasi-instantaneous transverse patterns in a broad aperture laser. Non-ordered patterns yielding to boundary determined regular structures in progressive time-integrated recording are observed. The linear analysis and numerical integration of the full Maxwell-Bloch equations allow us to interpret the features of the experiment. We show that this system being far from threshold cannot be fully understood with a perturbative model.Comment: 7 pages, 5 GIF figures . To be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Vaccines in children with inflammatory bowel disease: Brief review

Incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasing worldwide. Children with IBDs have a dysfunctional immune system and they are frequently treated with immunomodulating drugs and biological therapy, which significantly impair immune system functions and lead to an increased risk of infections. Vaccines are essential to prevent at least part of these infections and this explains why strict compliance to the immunization guidelines specifically prepared for IBD patients is strongly recommended. However, several factors might lead to insufficient immunization. In this paper, present knowledge on the use of vaccines in children with IBDs is discussed. Literature review showed that despite a lack of detailed quantification of the risk of infections in children with IBDs, these children might have infections more frequently than age-matched healthy subjects, and at least in some cases, these infections might be even more severe. Fortunately, most of these infections could be prevented when recommended schedules of immunization are carefully followed. Vaccines given to children with IBDs generally have adequate immunogenicity and safety. Attention must be paid to live attenuated vaccines that can be administered only to children without or with mild immune system function impairment. Vaccination of their caregivers is also recommended. Unfortunately, compliance to these recommendations is generally low and multidisciplinary educational programs to improve vaccination coverage must be planned, in order to protect children with IBD from vaccine-preventable diseases