Molecular insights into the mating system of the marine diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata using genetic and genomic approaches

Sexual reproduction is a fundamental phase in the life cycle of diatoms, linked to the production of genotypic diversity and the formation of large-sized initial cells that ensure population persistence. It occurs only within cells below a certain threshold size and, in heterothallic diatoms, only between strains of opposite mating types. We aim at identifying genes involved in mating type determination in the marine planktonic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. This species is recorded in coastal waters worldwide and produces the neurotoxin domoic acid. A reference genome has been generated and transcriptomes have been produced for strains of opposite mating type (MT + and MT-). Differential expression analysis provided a list of candidate MT-biased genes validated with qPCR. Four MT-biased genes were identified, two in MT+ and two in MT-. The expression pattern of the candidate genes was followed in a 24 hours' time course experiment to verify whether they were regulated in dependence of light or cell cycle phases. Experimental evidences demonstrated their involvement during mating recognition in early stages of sexual reproduction while preliminary genetic analyses excluded that they could be the master gene responsible for mating type determination. The description of the four genes was improved through computational characterization to understand their role in the chemical communication occurring between opposite mating types. A further step towards the identification of the MT locus will include a Bulked Segregant Analysis applied to a library of 30 MT+ and 30 MT- F1 strains obtained through DNA deep sequencing. Elucidating the molecular and genetic basis of MT determination and sexual reproduction in diatoms will contribute to a better understanding of the regulation and evolution of their life cycles and reproductive strategies. Results from this study could also provide molecular markers to trace the distribution of MT + and MT - cells in environmental samples

Dalla segregazione al diritto all’abitare

Questo capitolo introduce la quarta parte del volume, relativa a casi di politiche locali finalizzate a superare la formula del “campo nomadi” e aumentare la varietà delle misure di inserimento abitativo1. L’abitare è una dimensione cruciale della vita in società, e il fatto che a partire dagli anni Settanta i gruppi zigani siano stati forzati dentro un’unica tipologia abitativa, il campo nomadi, ha avuto grandi conseguenze non solo sulla qualità di vita delle persone lì residenti, ma anche sui rapporti fra questi gruppi e le società urbane in cui risiedono (...)

The 3R principle: 60 years taken well. Preface

Abstrac

Importance of perforating vessels in nipple-sparing mastectomy. an anatomical description

BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM), understood as an oncologically valid procedure, is relatively new, and is an evolution of traditional mastectomy, particularly in relation to breast-conserving surgery. The anterior perforating branches are responsible for the cutaneous vascularization of the breast skin, and their preservation is a fundamental step to avoid possible postoperative necrosis. Therefore, evaluating the potential complications of cancer-related reconstructive surgical procedures such as NSM, both the distance of the tumoral lesion from the skin and the surgical incision site should be carefully considered. The preferred site of incision corresponds to the inframammary fold or possibly the periareolar area. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 113 patients who underwent NSM from January 2005 to October 2012 to evaluate skin complications. The anatomical study was performed by magnetic resonance imaging of the breast. RESULTS: Only one of the 113 women who had undergone a NSM procedure had total necrosis (0.9%) and six patients had partial necrosis (5.8%) of the nipple-areola complex

Les justes et les brutes : la littérature de témoignage sur les violences de Gênes 2001

Les évènements, survenus à Gênes en juillet 2001 lors de la contestation du G8, se sont constitués progressivement comme référence politique et culturelle dans l'histoire en train de se faire - à la fois identité et récit partagé - du mouvement altermondialiste et, en particulier, de sa composante italienne. On analyse ici un genre de récit qui a connu un essor exceptionnel en Italie après les évènements de Gênes : le témoignage de la violence subie. Des récits qui ont fortement contribué à définir l'" après-Gênes ", c'est-à-dire un nouveau rapport entre le mouvement altermondialiste italien comme acteur politique et l'État comme appareil répressif

Sensitivity Comparison of Searches for Binary Black Hole Coalescences with Ground-based Gravitational-Wave Detectors

Searches for gravitational-wave transients from binary black hole coalescences typically rely on one of two approaches: matched filtering with templates and morphology-independent excess power searches. Multiple algorithmic implementations in the analysis of data from the first generation of ground-based gravitational wave interferometers have used different strategies for the suppression of non-Gaussian noise transients, and targeted different regions of the binary black hole parameter space. In this paper we compare the sensitivity of three such algorithms: matched filtering with full coalescence templates, matched filtering with ringdown templates and a morphology-independent excess power search. The comparison is performed at a fixed false alarm rate and relies on Monte-carlo simulations of binary black hole coalescences for spinning, non-precessing systems with total mass 25-350 solar mass, which covers the parameter space of stellar mass and intermediate mass black hole binaries. We find that in the mass range of 25 -100 solar mass the sensitive distance of the search, marginalized over source parameters, is best with matched filtering to full waveform templates, to within 10 percent at a false alarm rate of 3 events per year. In the mass range of 100-350 solar mass, the same comparison favors the morphology-independent excess power search to within 20 percent. The dependence on mass and spin is also explored.Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables, 25 figure

The brain tissue reaction to blunt trauma: a field of possible cooperation between neuroanatomists and forensic pathologists

The goal of this presentation is to describe, through the histological examination, the evolution over time of the biological processes, at the cellular and molecular level, in the neurological tissue after a blunt trauma. The origin of the secondary ischemia, that often occurs after a brain trauma, leading to death the patient, is almost studied on animal models and is not well known yet. It is presumed that hemorrhages and contusions result in brain ischemia, and that also brain edema arises intra-cranial pressure producing ischemia. Forensic pathology deals everyday with cases of traumatic deaths, and is therefore able to study the inflammatory reaction to trauma in a human casuistry giving information to other disciplines like neuroanatomy. The time-dependent appearance of different leucocyte subtypes can contribute to a forensic wound age estimation but, in contrast to peripheral tissue, the cellular reaction in the CNS is characterized by a minimal neutrophil exsudation and a delayed increase in mononuclear cell numbers. 62 deaths due to head injury with a survival time from few minutes till 30 days were studied. Samples of brain tissue were stained with immunohistochemistry using selectin P and E, GFAP, HIF1-α, CD 117 (c-kit), LCA. The schematic information about chronology of head trauma are given as follows: survival of a few minutes, of 1 hour, of 2-4 hours, of 4-12 horus, of 12-24 hours, 24-48 hours, 2-6 days, 6-14 days, 15-30 days. The number of platelets microthrombi increases with TBI age up to 3 days, afterward leukocytes start to take their place. Platelets aggregates may impair cerebral circulation causing ischemia. Cerebral ischemia plays an important role in SBD. There is also an involvement of CD 117+ cells and HIF-1 α in the modulation and progression of the brain injury. After brain injury a cascade of events occurs leading sometime to a brain secondary ischemic injury. Thanks to the availability of injured human brain tissues, forensic histopathologists might work together with neuroanatomists in order to help in the identification of glial cells and leukocytes communication with endothelial cells, and on the post-traumatic ischemic process that causes the death in prolonged survival time after brain injury

Les justes et les brutes : la littérature de témoignage sur les violences de Gênes 2001

Les évènements, survenus à Gênes en juillet 2001 lors de la contestation du G8, se sont constitués progressivement comme référence politique et culturelle dans l’histoire en train de se faire – à la fois identité et récit partagé – du mouvement altermondialiste et, en particulier, de sa composante italienne. On analyse ici un genre de récit qui a connu un essor exceptionnel en Italie après les évènements de Gênes : le témoignage de la violence subie. Des récits qui ont fortement contribué à définir l’« après-Gênes », c’est-à-dire un nouveau rapport entre le mouvement altermondialiste italien comme acteur politique et l’État comme appareil répressif

A Stage-Based Approach to Therapy in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that features progressive, disabling motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, rigidity, and resting tremor. Nevertheless, some non-motor symptoms, including depression, REM sleep behavior disorder, and olfactive impairment, are even earlier features of PD. At later stages, apathy, impulse control disorder, neuropsychiatric disturbances, and cognitive impairment can present, and they often become a heavy burden for both patients and caregivers. Indeed, PD increasingly compromises activities of daily life, even though a high variability in clinical presentation can be observed among people affected. Nowadays, symptomatic drugs and non-pharmaceutical treatments represent the best therapeutic options to improve quality of life in PD patients. The aim of the present review is to provide a practical, stage-based guide to pharmacological management of both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. Furthermore, warning about drug side effects, contraindications, as well as dosage and methods of administration, are highlighted here, to help the physician in yielding the best therapeutic strategies for each symptom and condition in patients with PD

The Proper Ki-67 Cut-Off in Hormone Responsive Breast Cancer. A Monoinstitutional Analysis with Long-Term Follow-Up

Introduction: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Our study focuses on a monoinstitutional series of patients affected by Hormone Responsive carcinomas (luminal A and luminal B) and aims to define an optimal Ki-67 cut-off, to correctly stratify these patients into risk classes, using the ImmunoHistoChemical (IHC) surrogates of the Molecular Subtypes, according to the St. Gallen guidelines. Methods: We analyzed 1685 patients. These patients underwent both radical and conservative surgeries with Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy eventually followed by Axillary Dissection (AD). Furthermore, all the patients underwent adjuvant therapies according to the guidelines. A retrospective univariate analysis was performed and survival curves (Disease-Related Survival, DRS, and Disease-Free Survival, DFS) were carried out according to the following ki-67 risk classes: Low Risk (Ki-67 ≤ 14%); Intermediate Risk (Ki-67 15% ÷ 20%); High Risk (Ki-67 > 20%). Results: 14 yy DRS was 98% in LA and 85% in LB with a ki-67 cut-off of 14% (p=0.037) vs 95% (LA) and 83% (LB) with a ki-67 cut-off of 20% (p=0.003). 14yy DFS was 85% in LA and 72% in LB with a ki-67 cut-off of 14% (p=0.017) vs 83% (LA) and 66% (LB) with a ki-67 cut-off of 20% (p<0.000). Discussion: Our results confirmed that the 20% Ki-67 cut-off is more reliable in differentiating patients at low or high risk of recurrence and death, and stratifying patients eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy. Thus, despite its poor reproducibility, the identification of the most accurate ki-67 index assumes a pivotal relevance in guiding a tailored strategy among patients with this specific profile of breast cancer, as well as the molecular surrogates, in order to avoid harmful overtreatments