Epidemiology and control of cattle ticks and tick-borne infections in Central Nigeria

Cattle ticks and tick-borne infections (TBIs) undermine cattle health and productivity in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including Nigeria. In this West African country, two thirds of the cattle population are reared in the central-northern regions, kept under the traditional pastoral husbandry of Fulani herders. Under the Fulanis’ management, cattle are grazed extensively, being exposed to infestation by several tick genera (i.e. Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus spp., sub-genus Boophilus spp. included), vectors of the causative agents of the most important bovine TBIs in West Africa: anaplasmosis, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis (cowdriosis). Nevertheless, the Fulani pastoralists do not usually employ chemicals to control ticks in their cattle, merely relying on traditional methods (i.e. manual removal of the most conspicuous specimens). This approach, however, does not prevent cattle from being re-infested, leaving the animals challenged by a broad variety of other tick species, most of which are vectors of economically relevant TBIs. Knowledge of tick and TBIs occurrence is an essential pre-requisite to assist field diagnosis and devising effective control strategies for a given area. Existing information on tick infestation of cattle in Nigeria is rather out-dated, mostly derived from studies carried out in the south of the country. Similarly, all studies published to date on cattle TBIs in the country do not include any molecular analysis, being based instead on cytological and/or serological diagnostics. Therefore, the aim of the present thesis was to assess the presence of cattle ticks and TBIs occurring in an area of Central Nigeria (i.e. Plateau State). This is a densely populated area with traditionally managed cattle, where no acarides have historically been employed on livestock. The work undertaken herein firstly reviews the information available to date on ticks and TBIs known to be endemic in Nigerian cattle, identifying gaps present in the existing knowledge, leading to the rationale of this study. An initial survey was conducted documenting the tick species infesting cattle in Central Nigeria, in order to assess the infestation rate of surveyed animals at the time of the year when the tick load on the host is known to be most abundant (i.e. the wet season). The survey provided novel information on tick populations in cattle in Nigeria disclosing the presence of a broad variety of species, most of which are vectors of hazardous TBIs. In order to conduct a molecular diagnosis of the TBIs within the study area, a novel methodology was developed (i.e. reverse line blotting, RLB). The application of this approach was based on a thorough review of its application to the diagnosis of TBIs worldwide as well as in SSA. The optimisation of the RLB at the University of Edinburgh to enable the detection of a broad-spectrum of TBIs in Nigeria, caused by an array of five genera of microorganisms (i.e. Ehrlichia and Anaplasma, Theileria and Babesia, Rickettsia spp.) is presented. The assessment of the analytical sensitivity of this technique for the detection of Anaplasma marginale, a highly endemic tick-borne pathogen in SSA, demonstrated a detection threshold of ≥ 7 infected cells (keeping the limit of a natural infection). The occurrence of TBIs in cattle in the study area was assessed during a large-scale epidemiological survey through the application of the validated RLB. This study disclosed the occurrence of a high prevalence of several bovine TBIs in Central Nigeria, some of which are of great veterinary and zoonotic concern. The RLB enabled the detection of carrier status as well as of numerous multiple infections (69.5%, 95% CI: 65.5–73.6%). Based on the findings presented, endemic stability for highly prevalent haemoparasites (i.e. Theileria mutans, Theileria velifera, Theileria taurotragi, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia species Omatjenne) is postulated, whereas a more instable epidemiological scenario is hypothesized for other microorganisms (i.e. Anaplasma centrale and Babesia bovis), which might be connected with outbreaks of clinically apparent disease, sporadically seen in the study area. The effect of a monthly tsetse-borne trypanosomiasis-focused control programme (based on the application 0.005% deltamethrin spray formulation, applied only to the lower quarters of cattle) on the kinetics of bovine TBIs was assessed at the village level. Longitudinal monitoring of control and treated cattle was conducted over the period of eleven months. Results generated provide input to the improvement of future control strategies to be rolled out across SSA, aiming to achieve an integrated control of both trypanosomiasis and TBIs. The present thesis contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of bovine TBIs in Nigeria as well as in the rest of West Africa, using a highly sensitive tool of wide applicability. These findings will be shared with the local pastoralist communities to further promote effective yet sustainable, vector control, in tune with the traditional long-established practices

Arte, scienza e storia in un mondo globalizzato: il caso Italia-Cina

Art and science, over the centuries, though starting from different positions, have very often led to the same conclusions. History, on the other hand, establishes identities that derive from our past and allows for exchanges and unity between people of different nationalities, in both a commercial and scientific context, in a world without borders, in spite of obvious contradictions related to this globalized world. The case of Italy-China bears witness to this in a significant way.A case in point is represented by the scientific collaboration between the Alma Mater University of Bologna and Zhejiang University, as well as that between the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome and Fudan University in Shanghai, Zhejiang University and the Foreign Studies University of Beijing.In the first case, the ongoing research project “Historical anamnesis, preservation and valorization of the statues of the Longxing Buddhist Temple of Qingzhou (China)” is being carried out between the Department of Cultural Heritage Diagnostic Laboratory for Cultural Heritage of the University of Bologna and the Cultural Heritage Institute of Zhejiang University. In the second case, collaboration between the Salesian Pontifical University and the Chinese Universities, covers activities relating to the study of philosophy, pedagogy and Latin language and literature.The paper highlights the importance of drawing value of a cultural, conservative, social, identitary nature within the context of the holistic value of cultural heritage and respecting ethical aspects at a personal and interpersonal level, in particular, by offering young people the opportunity to enter the employment market and of which they are currently experiencing all the problematic fluctuations.Arte e scienza, nel corso dei secoli, pur partendo da posizioni iniziali differenti, molto spesso conducono alle stesse conclusioni. D’altra parte la storia stabilisce le identità che nascono dal passato e permette scambi e coesioni fra genti di diversa nazionalità, in campo sia commerciale sia scientifico, in un mondo senza confini. Pur con contraddizioni evidenti riconducibili a questo mondo globalizzato, una significativa testimonianza è rappresentata da Italia-Cina. Al riguardo, si fa riferimento alla collaborazione scientifica fra l’Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna e Zhejiang University nonché fra l’Università Pontificia Salesiana di Roma e Fudan University di Shanghai, Zhejiang University e Beijing Foreign Studies University. Nel primo caso è in atto il progetto di ricerca “Historical anamnesis, preservation and valorization of the statues of the Longxing Buddhist Temple of Qinzhou (Cina)” fra il Dipartimento di Beni Culturali - Laboratorio Diagnostico per i Beni Culturali dell’Università di Bologna e il Cultural Heritage Institute di Zhejiang University. Nel secondo caso la collaborazione fra l’Università Pontificia Salesiana e le Università cinesi riguarda attività relative agli studi di filosofia, pedagogia e lettere latine. Si fa presente l ’importanza di trarre benefici di carattere culturale, conservativo, sociale, identitario nell’ ambito del valore olistico del bene culturale e nel rispetto degli aspetti etici a livello personale e interpersonale, offrendo in particolare ai giovani la possibilità di entrare nel mercato del lavoro del quale vivono le attuali e problematiche fluttuazioni

Novel voltage compressor circuit by transmission lines

0034-674

Laser-induced softening analysis of a hardened aluminum alloy by physical simulation

AbstractThe study focuses on the analysis of the softening effects of the work-hardened aluminum alloy sheets EN AW 5754 H32 1.5 mm thick, through the physical simulation of thermal cycles induced in the material by laser heat treatments (LHTs). A numerical-experimental approach was implemented to define the laser thermal cycles and to subsequently reproduce them on the GleebleTM 3180 physical simulator. The obtained softening was measured by microhardness and metallographic analysis tests. For the definition of laser thermal cycles, preliminary tests with a 2.5 kW CO2 laser source have been realized, and a three-dimensional transient finite element thermal models were developed and calibrated with the experimental results. The investigated laser heat treatment parameters explored thermal cycles with different shape, interaction time, and peak temperature. Physical simulation tests were performed using laser thermal cycles that showed the maximum softening of the aluminum alloy. A three-dimensional transient finite element thermoelectric model was developed to design the shape of the Gleeble specimens, which satisfy the heating and cooling rate required by laser thermal cycles. Results obtained show that it is possible to physically simulate the investigated laser thermal cycles, reducing the cross section of the shaped part of the specimen. Softening effects depend on the thermal cycle shape. Greater softening is observed by increasing the interaction time and the peak temperature, but beyond a peak temperature threshold value, negligible effects are detected

La valutazione della ricerca scientifica sulla base dei parametri di stima in economia

Below are some considerations following on from a past Editorial entitled “The evaluation of scientific research: the result of merit-based or discretionary criteria?” published in issue No.11 (2011) of the historical-technical journal “Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage”. The Editorial looked at various tools for evaluating scientific research and expressed some reservations about the bibliometric criteria:- Impact Factor (IF), the most well-known bibliometric tool, owned by Thomson Reuters – Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), which collects data from over 14,000 journals in its web portal: an evaluation system that determines the frequency with which an article is cited in a given period;- Peer Review, a quality indicator typically used in selecting articles for publication;- Open Linking, a reference service offered by aggregators which transforms citations into hyperlinks and allows researchers to browse online from article to article regardless of the journal or publisher;- H Factor or H Index, which aims to quantify the overall scientific contribution of a researcher.Si fa prosieguo alle considerazioni riportate in un Editoriale pubblicato sul fascicolo N. 11 (2011) del Journal storico-tecnico “Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage” dal titolo “La valutazione della ricerca scientifica: risultato di criteri meritocratici o discrezionali?”, in cui si prendevano in considerazione i criteri di valutazione della ricerca scientifica e si esprimevano delle riserve relativamente ai singoli criteri bibliometrici, in riferimento a: - Impact Factor (IF), lo strumento bibliometrico più noto, di proprietà della Thompson Reuters - Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), che raccoglie i dati di oltre 14 mila riviste presenti nel suo portale web: si tratta di un sistema di valutazione che determina la frequenza con cui un articolo viene citato in un determinato periodo. - Peer Review, indicatore di qualità tipicamente utilizzato nella selezione degli articoli pubblicabili; - Open Linking, servizio di referenza offerto dagli aggregatori, che trasforma le citazioni in hyperlink e consente ai ricercatori di navigare online da articolo a articolo, indipendentemente dalla rivista e dalla casa editrice; - Fattore H o h index che punta a quantificare il contributo scientifico complessivo di un ricercatore

Genetic Effects of Trabecular Titanium on MG-63 Cell Line: A Genetic Profiling Evaluation

Pure titanium and titanium alloys are materials widely used in orthopaedics because of their mechanical properties, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. Recently, a new highly porous titanium biomaterial named Trabecular Titanium (TT) has been developed. In this in vitro study, we tested the genetic effects of TT on osteoblast-like cells (MG63) using DNA microarrays technology: cDNA microarrays provides the ability to comparatively analyze mRNA expression of thousands of genes in parallel thus showing activated and repressed genes by the presence of the TT. Several genes that were significantly up- or downregulated have been identified. Globally, it was demonstrated that TT stimulates osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation, and reduces apoptosis. Therefore, all these effects can contribute to improve the osseointegration of this material. These results encourage the clinical application of Trabecular Titanium to prosthetic devices

Genetic Effects of Trabecular Titanium on MG-63 Cell Line: A Genetic Profiling Evaluation

Pure titanium and titanium alloys are materials widely used in orthopaedics because of their mechanical properties, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. Recently, a new highly porous titanium biomaterial named Trabecular Titanium (TT) has been developed. In this in vitro study, we tested the genetic effects of TT on osteoblast-like cells (MG63) using DNA microarrays technology: cDNA microarrays provides the ability to comparatively analyze mRNA expression of thousands of genes in parallel thus showing activated and repressed genes by the presence of the TT. Several genes that were significantly up- or downregulated have been identified. Globally, it was demonstrated that TT stimulates osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation, and reduces apoptosis. Therefore, all these effects can contribute to improve the osseointegration of this material. These results encourage the clinical application of Trabecular Titanium to prosthetic devices