A Reappraisal of the Eruptive History and Recent (1991-2009) Volcanic Eruptions of the Barren Island, Andaman Sea

The Barren Island volcano in the Western Sunda Arc has displayed explosive Strombolian eruptions for more than two decades. This recent explosive event, together with the historic and prehistoric volcanic landforms, present reliable information about explosive Strombolian eruptions and the volcanological evolution of the Barren Island volcano. This study is a re-evaluation of existing knowledge and incorporates new information and interpretations of the recent and past volcanic activity on Barren Island. Direct observations of explosive eruptions since 1991 showed discrete events of bursting and ballistic transport of blocks and formation of sustained ash plumes, indicating Strombolian and violent Strombolian eruptions. Active lava flows were not seen during the observations which, instead, reveal intact preservation of the historic lava flows. A prehistoric mafic stratocone with a central depression (caldera), a central scoria cone with summit crater and abundant basaltic lava flows of historic eruptions and the scoria cones of the recent activity are the major volcanic landforms. They bear evidence of alternating effusive and explosive activity during prehistoric times accompanied by caldera forming activity; scoria cone Strombolian activity switches over to effusive events during the historic period and exclusively Strombolian activity during recent times. The results of this study differ from previous studies that interpreted several episodes of active lava flows and Hawaiian, Plinian and Vulcanian styles of the recent eruptions. It also provides new insights into the volcanological evolution of the Barren Island volcano which is crucial in understanding the future behaviour of the volcano and risk assessment

Egg hatching at different temperatures and relative humidities in Idaea inquinata (Scopoli) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Idaea inquinata (Scopoli) feeds mainly on dried plants, nevertheless, it is also a potential pest of stored products as it is able to develop on cereal products. The few references on the biology of this species do not deal with the influence of temperature and relative humidity on egg hatching. To fill this gap, groups of 100 eggs, 24-48 hours old, were exposed to five constant temperatures (17, 21, 26, 29 and 34±1°C), two relative humidities (35 and 70±5%) and a photoperiod of 0:24 (light:dark); ten tests were carried out. Each test was replicated four times and egg hatching was observed daily. The highest mean number of hatched eggs was observed at 26 and 29±1°C, 70±5% r.h. with 91.5 and 91.0 eggs, respectively. The lowest mean number of hatched eggs was 61.5 observed at 17°C and 70±5% r.h. The mean numbers of hatched eggs, 83.5, 77.5, 78.5 and 79.8 were similar at 21, 26, 29 and 34±1°C, 35±5% r.h., respectively. Eggs hatched between the sixth and the eighth day at all the temperatures tested, except for 17±1°C and 35±5% r.h., where hatching started on the twelfth day. At this temperature, the duration of the hatching period increased with increasing humidity: 11 d at 35% r.h. and 15 d at 70% r.h. Keywords: Egg, Hatching, Temperature, Relative humidity, Rusty wave mot

ACA12 IS A DEREGULATED ISOFORM OF PLASMA MEMBRANE CA2+-ATPASE OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

Several environmental and endogenous stimuli activate plant signal transduction pathways through transient increases in cytosolic free calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]cyt). Strong evidence indicates that plant response specificity is triggered by the amplitude, shape, frequency and localization of these stimulus-induced Ca2+ oscillations. Due to their role in Ca2+ efflux from the cytosol, plant auto-inhibited Ca2+-ATPases (ACAs) are involved in restoring the cytosolic basal concentration of Ca2+ after its rise due to stimulus perception, therefore affecting the specificity of plant response to different stimuli. Ten ACA isoforms are present in Arabidopsis thaliana, which are divided into four clusters based on gene structure and sequence homology. Cluster I, II and IV ACAs share a common mechanism of regulation based on a N-terminal auto-inhibitory domain whose action is suppressed by the interaction with the Ca2+-sensor protein calmodulin (CaM). Cluster III isoforms (ACA12 and ACA13) compared to the other ACAs, are almost unknown and show unique features at sequence and expression levels: in particular ACA12 and ACA13 show divergences in residues involved in CaM binding and regulation while the expression levels, normally very low, are increased upon exposure to pathogens or UV stresses. By confocal microscopy, a GFP-tagged ACA12 (expressed in Arabidopsis plants) was localized at the plasma membrane (PM). ACA12 was then expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain K616, which lacks endogenous Ca2+ pumps. Our results reveal that ACA12 allows the grow of K616 in a Ca2+-depleted medium, therefore indicating that it is a functional and deregulated Ca2+ transporter. Yeast-expressed ACA12 was then purified by CaM-affinity chromatography and its activity was tested in vitro in order to study its biochemical properties. Biochemical assays results show that ACA12 is a functional Ca2+-ATPase. Moreover, as expected, its activity is not regulated by CaM. Finally, in order to try to explain ACA12 deregulated behaviour, single point mutants of ACA12 were generated and tested for K616 phenotype complementation. Taken together our results show that ACA12 has unique biochemical features suggesting for it a distinctive physiological role within the ACA family. In particular ACA12 may be involved in Ca2+-dependent signaling pathways in response to plant specific stresses such as pathogens and UV

Mean movements and strategy in sport climbing : determinant variables and performance factors

Introduction Climbing, in all its disciplines, is a emergent sport with a increasing number of athletes involved in competition. The major discipline is the leading, characterized by strength and endurance movements on overhanging artificial structures. Score depends on the height reached by athletes. The ascent needs physical, technical and interpretation ability. Increasing performances and specializations need well specified training programs but, at the moment, this kind of sports lacks in scientific studies about kinematics variables and movement strategy. The aim of this study is to collect preliminary kinematics data to identify mean movements and strategy in sport climbing and to verify if it\u2019s possible to find determinant variables and performance factors. Methods Data of kinematics variables were extracted from a video analysis of 8 female athletes who participated at 2007 Lombardia Regional Cup match. The athletes (20\ub14 years old, 49\ub15 kg, 162\ub14 cm) involved in this study are all well experienced climbers with at least 2 years of competition participation. Following variables were collected: total time, number of holds, speed (mean time for hold), number and time of rests, number and time of clipping, number of hands and feet movements, contraction type (concentric or isometric) time per holds, support type (on holds or on structure) time, technical movements (frontal, lateral, etc) used. All these variables were extrapolated by the digital video analysis frame per frame with \u201cfinal cut pro\u201d software. Data were imported in excel file format witch ensures simple charts vision and different manipulations to identify differences among athletes on the same route or between different route climbed by one athletes. For each athlete, data were analyzed on the entire height climbed. For interindividual analysis, data were compared normalizing the minimum height reached among all climbers. These information were related with the difficulties of any segments of the routes. Results The 2 matches analyzed were characterized by overhanging structures where a lot of endurance movements interrupted by two bouldery sections with strength and technical needing. In both competitions the best results were reached by the fastest athletes with less per cent time spent in concentric phases and clipping. We see that the best athletes are more time in double feet support than the worst ones, and use less movements to reach the same height. Different climbing styles (dominant movements and rhythms) demonstrate to be efficacy at the same way. Comparison between the 2 routes climbed by the same athletes shows that, when it is possible, they choice the climbing style according to their technical and conditioning characteristics. Discussion It seems that technical and conditional characteristics are the major variables and their influence is dominant on kinematics data. Total climbing time and technical movements choice are not statistically correlated with results because they depend by individual muscular characteristics, specific technique awareness and routes interpretation. The variables related with results are: clipping time, concentric phase time, mean holding time, movements number and support type time. Finally this analysis method can help to have a better view of athletes profile and to find out weakness points in respect of the racing routes. Interpretation of kinematics data related with physiological aspects is the way to discover determinant results factors and to improve training technique

Cellular and molecular biology of cancer stem cells in melanoma : possible therapeutic implications

Malignant melanoma is a tumor characterized by a very high level of heterogeneity, responsible for its malignant behavior and ability to escape from standard therapies. In this review we highlight the molecular and biological features of the subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), well known to be characterized by self-renewal properties, deeply involved in triggering the processes of tumor generation, metastasis, progression and drug resistance. From the molecular point of view, melanoma CSCs are identified and characterized by the expression of stemness markers, such as surface markers, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, embryonic stem cells and intracellular markers. These cells are endowed with different functional features. In particular, they play pivotal roles in the processes of tumor dissemination, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, mediated by specific intracellular signaling pathways; moreover, they are characterized by a unique metabolic reprogramming. As reported for other types of tumors, the CSCs subpopulation in melanoma is also characterized by a low immunogenic profile as well as by the ability to escape the immune system, through the expression of a negative modulation of T cell functions and the secretion of immunosuppressive factors. These biological features allow melanoma CSCs to escape standard treatments, thus being deeply involved in tumor relapse. Targeting the CSCs subpopulation is now considered an attractive treatment strategy; in particular, combination treatments, based on both CSCs-targeting and standard drugs, will likely increase the therapeutic options for melanoma patients. The characterization of CSCs in liquid biopsies from single patients will pave the way towards precision medicine

Anticancer properties of tocotrienols : a review of cellular mechanisms and molecular targets

Vitamin E is composed of two groups of compounds: \u3b1-, \u3b2-, \u3b3-, and \u3b4-tocopherols (TPs), and the corresponding unsaturated tocotrienols (TTs). TTs are found in natural sources such as red palm oil, annatto seeds, and rice bran. In the last decades, TTs (specifically, \u3b3-TT and \u3b4-TT) have gained interest due to their health benefits in chronic diseases, based on their antioxidant, neuroprotective, cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory activities. Several in vitro and in vivo studies pointed out that TTs also exert a significant antitumor activity in a wide range of cancer cells. Specifically, TTs were shown to exert antiproliferative/proapoptotic effects and to reduce the metastatic or angiogenic properties of different cancer cells; moreover, these compounds were reported to specifically target the subpopulation of cancer stem cells, known to be deeply involved in the development of resistance to standard therapies. Interestingly, recent studies pointed out that TTs exert a synergistic antitumor effect on cancer cells when given in combination with either standard antitumor agents (i.e., chemotherapeutics, statins, \u201ctargeted\u201d therapies) or natural compounds with anticancer activity (i.e., sesamin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, ferulic acid). Based on these observations, different TT synthetic derivatives and formulations were recently developed and demonstrated to improve TT water solubility and to reduce TT metabolism in cancer cells, thus increasing their biological activity. These promising results, together with the safety of TT administration in healthy subjects, suggest that these compounds might represent a new chemopreventive or anticancer treatment (i.e., in combination with standard therapies) strategy. Clinical trials aimed at confirming this antitumor activity of TTs are needed

Районирование нефтегазоносности пласта ю15 нюрольской мегавпадины (на основе результатов палеотемпературного моделирования)

Ранее было выполнено палеотемпературное моделирование, картирование по геотемпературному критерию палеоочагов генерации тогурских нефтей в пределах Нюрольской мегавпадины. В настоящей работе рассчитано распределение относительной плотности ресурсов первично-аккумулированных тогурских нефтей с учетом толщин пласта Ю15, выполнено районирование резервуара для постановки поисковых работ

Polarità commerciali in Lombardia: tendenze evolutive e geografie a supporto della governance territoriale

Il settore della distribuzione commerciale in Italia è segnato negli ultimi anni da una serie di trasformazioni che hanno influenzato l’assetto del mercato nazionale. Il sistema d’offerta risultante non è omogeneamente distribuito nel territorio e uno degli elementi caratterizzanti è la presenza di “polarità commerciali” che si differenziano per dinamismo, attrattività e rilevanza degli impatti a scala sovralocale. L’obiettivo di questo contributo è quello di evidenziare l’insieme degli “effetti territoriali” delle Grandi Strutture di Vendita (GSV) con un approfondimento particolare per le “polarità commerciali pianificate”, usando come caso di studio il contesto regionale della Lombardia anche attraverso gli esiti di alcune recenti esperienze di ricerca curate dal Laboratorio Urb&Com del Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani. Per farlo sono stati elaborati dati complessi relativi alle polarità pianificate e alla loro competizione per il presidio del mercato lombardo, identificando le pratiche insediative ricorrenti di queste strutture e i processi di adattamento al conteste regionale di strategie globali sviluppate dagli operatori. Questo approfondimento si è dimostrato un fertile campo di esplorazione, che ha permesso (a.) di definire una metodologia originale di studio delle Grandi Strutture di Vendita e, al contempo, (b.) di elaborare un quadro originale ed aggiornato della situazione lombarda, contributo di conoscenza utile a supportare le future politiche regionali sul tema e le programmazioni settoriali ad esso collegate (attività economiche, mobilità, lavoro, territorio, ecc.).Over the last two decades, the retail sector in Italy suffered a set of transformations that changed the national market. The resulting retail network is not homogeneously distributed over the national space and the presence of a variety of "retail polarities" – different in dynamism, appeal to users and spatial impacts – marks the offer. This contribution is aimed at focusing the impacts of the Grandi Strutture di Vendita (GSV), a typology of retail structures defined by Italian law that gathers together shopping malls, retail parks and large specialty stores. These are intended as "planned retail polarities" because developers need local and regional authorizations in their settlement process. Using the Lombardy Region as a case study and presenting the outcomes of a recent research developed by Urb&Com Lab research team, we propose a reading of several global trends, a new map of these structures and a critical interpretation of these information. Results of this exploration allowed us (a.) to define an original methodology to study GSVs and, at the same time, (b.) to provide an original and updated map of regional situation. This map could contribute to future regional policies on this topic and, more in general, to integrate the current sectoral view on retail to a wider regional agenda (that involve economy, mobility, labor market, sustainability, etc.)

The microbiota of Idaea inquinata developing on dry herbs

Idaea inquinata (Scopoli) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Idaeini) is a potential pest of stored food, mainly dry herbs. In this study, the role of diet in the shaping of the I. inquinata-associated bacterial community was investigated and its impact on insect performance (i.e., proportion of adult emergence and duration of postembryonic development). Larvae were reared on three diets with different nutritional compositions: (1) Matricaria chamomilla L. flowers, (2) Angelica archangelica L. roots, and (3) artificial diet. A DNA metabarcoding approach targeting V1-V2 and V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA was adopted to characterize the bacterial communities associated with adults and larvae reared on different diets, and estimate their composition and diversity. The core microbiota of this species was found to include some bacterial genera commonly associated with Lepidoptera. When a coverage-based integration of rarefaction and extrapolation of Hill numbers was used to compare groups of samples, the microbial diversity (estimated as phylogenetic diversity) differed among individuals reared on different diets, and also between larvae vs. adults. The lowest taxon diversity was found associated with individuals reared on M. chamomilla. Larvae fed with this fiber-rich diet had also a significantly slower development. The composition of the microbial community varied among individuals with different diets, but not between adults vs. larvae. This study highlights the important role of diet in shaping I. inquinata microbiota, but also suggests that the microbiota of non-feeding adult moths could be partially inherited from larvae

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists reduce the migratory and the invasive behavior of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells by interfering with the activity of IGF-I

Androgen-independent prostate carcinoma is characterized by a high proliferation rate and by a strong metastatic behavior. We have previously shown that GnRH agonists exert a direct and specific inhibitory action on the proliferation of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells (DU 145). These compounds mainly act by interfering with the mitogenic activity of growth factors, such as the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). The present experiments were performed to clarify whether GnRH agonists might also affect the migratory and the invasive behavior of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells and to define their mechanism of action. First we showed that the GnRH agonist Leuprolide reduces the migration of DU 145 cells towards a chemoattractant and their ability to invade a reconstituted basement membrane. Experiments were then performed to clarify whether the GnRH agonist might act by interfering with the pro-metastatic activity of IGF-I. We found that, in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, Leuprolide: a) interferes with the IGF-I system (receptor protein expression and tyrosine-phosphorylation); b) abrogates the IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of Akt (a kinase previously shown by us to mediate the pro-metastatic activity of IGF-I in prostate cancer cells); c) counteracts the migration and the invasive activity of the cells stimulated by IGF-I; d) abolishes the effects of IGF-I on cell morphology, on actin cytoskeleton organization and on alpha v beta 3 integrin expression/cellular localization. These data indicate that GnRH agonists, in addition to their well known antiproliferative effect, can also exert a significant inhibitory activity on the migratory and invasive behavior of androgen- independent prostate cancer cells, expressing the GnRH receptor. GnRH agonists act by interfering with the pro-metastatic activity of the growth factor IGF-I