La Separazione mediante HPLC dei due fenoli isomeri Timolo (p-isopropil-m-cresolo) e Carvacrolo (p-isopropil-o-cresolo)

A method is described for the separation by HPLC of two isomer phenols thymol and carvacrol. Satisfactory resu1ts have been obtained by using a chromatographic column μ Bondapak ,C18 and a solvent system constitued by acetonitrile (40%) and water (60%). The flow rate was 1,5 ml/min. The use of this technique permits determination and dosage of these two phenols in essential oils

Time-dependent analysis of precast segmental bridges

Prestressed segmentally constructed balanced cantilever bridges are often subjectedto larger deflections than those predicted by calculations, especially for long-termeffects. In this paper, the case of modular balanced cantilever bridges, which areprestressed segmental bridges obtained through a repetition of the same doublecantilever, is investigated. The considered bridges are two typical cases of modular balanced cantilever both subjected to large deformations during their lifetime. In this case, due to the unusual employed static scheme, creep deflections indefinitely evolve over time particularly at the end of the cantilevers and in correspondence of the central joint. These remarkable deflections cause discomfort for vehicular traffic and in certain cases can lead to the bridge collapse. Important extraordinary maintenance interventions were necessary to restore the viability of the bridges and to replace the viaduct design configuration. To this aim, the static schemes of the structures were varied, introducing new constraints, new tendons and carbon fiber reinforcements. In the present work, time analysis was performed to compare the time-dependent behavior of the bridge according to two different creep models, the CEB-FIP Model Code 2010 and the RILEM Model B3, with the real time dependent behavior of the bridge observed during its lifetime. The two different employed models exhibit different behaviors in terms of displacements and bending moments acting on the bridge. Interesting considerations are made on their reliability in simulating the long-term creep effects that evolve indefinitely over time. Moreover, retrofitting techniques have been proposed and modeled to predict their effectiveness in reducing time-dependent deflections

STUDIO ANA TOMICO, ISTOLOGICO, ULTRASTRUTTURALE E FISIOLOGICO DEL RETTO ED OSSERVAZIONI ETOLOGICHE IN RELAZIONE ALLA POSSIBILE PRODUZIONE DI FEROMONI SESSUALI NEL MASCHIO DI DACUS OLEAE GMEL.

ANA TOMICAL , HISTOLOGICAL,UL TRASTRUCTURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TH E RECTUM AND ETHOLOGICAL OllSERVATIONS IN RELATION TO THE HYPOTHETICAL SEX PHEROMONE PRODUCTION BY THE MALE OF Dacus oleae GMEL. The production and storage of a sex pheromone in glands associated with the rectum, described for the first time by FLETCHER (1968) in the male of Dacus tryoni (Froggatt), h a s b e e n h y p o t h e s i z e d (SCHUL TZ a n d B u s H , 1 9 7 1 ; EcoNOMOPOULUS, GrANNAKAKIS, TzANAKAKIS, VoYADJOGLOU, 1971) also for Dacus oleae Gmel. This paper proves that the said hypothesis is correct on anatomica!, histological, . ultrastructural and physiological ground, together with complementary ethological observations. In particular, the results of the anatomica!, histological, ultrastructural and physiological observations on D. oleae rectum bring to light: i) a functional organization of the rec.tal muscular coat, particolarly suitable for accomplishing graduai (intermittent) but vigorous expulsion of some substances, that (like sex pheromones) must be diffused as widely as possible, in the environment air; ii) four morphologically and physiologically different types of epithelium: a typical ab- sorbent epithelium, from the rectal valve to the opening of the rectal ampulla; an epi- thelium « of transition », among the bases of the rectal papillae; a squamous epithelium, in the fore third (except the opening) and along a dorsal strip of the rectal ampulla, and in the anal tube; and a typical glandular epithelium, which lines the mid and hind parts of the rectal ampulla. In sexually immature males, the glandular epithelium secretes an « oily substance » without any odor, while in sexually mature males, the said epithelium secretes together with the «oily substance», other substances with an odor (vaguely ammoniaca!) well- known as « sex odor » of the D. oleae males. The ethological observations, particularly the olfactometric ones, prove that D. oleae males strongly attract females by a sex pheromone, at the time of the day when the species is sexually active. Critica! comparison and integration of the results obtained thus far, clearly show that D. oleae male «sex odor» is the same as the sex pheromone, and that the «oily substance » may act as a carrier for this very much volatile pheromone.La produzione e la conservazione di feromoni sessuali in ghiandole associate all'am· polla rettale, messa in luce per la prima volta da FLETCHER (1968) nel maschio Dacus tryoni (Froggatt), è stata anche ipotizzata (ScHULTZ e BusH, 1971; EcONOMOPOULOS, GrAN- NAKAKIS, TZANAKAKIS, VoYADJOGLOU, 1971) per il Dacus oleae Gmel. Il presente lavoro, attraverso indagini anatomiche, istologiche, ultrastrutturali e fisiologiche, unitamente ad osservazioni etologiche complementari, conferma detta ipotesi. In particolare, i risultati delle ricerche di anatomia, istologia, ultrastruttura e fisiologia del retto di Dacus oleae mettono in luce: a) un'organizzazione funzionale della tunica muscolare rettale partico- larmente idonea per attuare un'espulsione graduale (intermittente) ed energica di sostanze che (come i feromoni sessuali) debbono essere diffuse il più ampiamente possibile nell'aria circostante; b) la presenza di tipi morfologicamente e fisiologicamente diversi di epitelio: uno tipicamente assorbente, nel tratto anteriore del retto e fino all'imboccatura dell'am- polla rettale; uno «di transizione», in corrispondenza dell'origine delle papille rettali; uno pavimentoso, nel terzo anteriore (esclusa l'imboccatura) e lungo una striscia dorsale dell'ampolla rettale e nel tubo anale; ed uno tipicamente ghiandolare, nella parte mediana e posteriore dell'ampolla rettale. L'epitelio ghiandolare nei maschi sessualmente immaturi secerne una « sostanza oleosa » inodora; mentre nei maschi sessualmente maturi, insieme con la «sostanza oleosa» esso produce altre sostanze dall'odore (vagamente ammoniacale) noto come «odore sessuale del maschio di D. oleae. Le osservazioni etologiche e particolarmente quelle olfattometriche dimostrano che i maschi durante le ore (pomeridiane e crepuscolari) di attività sessuale della specie. attirano fortemente le femmine mediante un feromone sessuale. Il confronto critico ed il coordi- namento dei risultati delle diverse indagini chiaramente evidenziano che l'« odore sessuale » del maschio di D. oleae s'identifica co! feromone sessuale del medesimo, e che la sostanz~ oleosa » funge da veicolo ( carrier ») al feromone.

ASPETTI ANATOMICI, STRUTTURALI, ULTRASTRUTTURALI E FISIOLOGICI DELLE GHIANDOLE GENITALI ACCESSORIE DEL MASCHIO DI DACUS OLEAE GMEL. IN RELAZIONE ALLA MATURITÀ ED ALL'ATTIVITÀ SESSUALE

 ANATOMICAL, STRUCTURAL, ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICÀL ASPECTS OF THE MALE ACCESSORY REPRODUCTIVE GLANDS OF Dacus oleae GMEL., IN RELATION TO SEXUAL MATURITY AND ACTIVITY In the present work the authors explain on anatomica! and physiological bases, some known ethological findings about male reproductive biology of Dacus oleae Gmel., e.g.: l) neonate Dacus males, although mature spermatozoa are present in their testiculi, do not exibit sexual activity soon after emergence, but only some days later; 2) sexually mature males after a mating do not resume sexual activity before a relatively long (soine 24 h) time has elapsed. The following features a-re described and illustred in detail: a) the topographical anatomy of the male reproductive system of Dacus oleae, with particular regard to the accessory glands (4 p~irs); b) physiological histology both in the « sacciform » ( l pair) and « tub~lose » (3 pairs) accessory glands , in neonate males , in sexually mature males , before and after mating; c) ultrastructure of sacciform and tubulose glands in the three cases cohsidered above. The results obtained are discussed, and the following conclusions are drawn: l) Dacus oleae males emerge with immature accessory reproductive glands. This is why they do not mate soon after emergence, but only some days later. 2) The maturation process of these glands consists: a) for the sacciform glands. almost solely in producing and accumulating secretion into the lumen; b) for the tubulose glands, in an evid~nt modification of the morphology and physiology of secretory cells in addition to the production . and accumulation of secretion into peculiar cellular reservoirs and in the lumen. Both development and functionality of the aci:essory glands are directly controlled by the centrai nervous system. 3) The sacciform glands are of Ùiee apocrine type and they give a (most probably) proteinaceous secretion . 4) The tubulòse' g1ands are of the merocrine type and they give a secretion that most probably consists,.of carboxylate mucopolisaccarides. . . 5) Thé presence of secretion in the accessory glands is required ·by the Dacus male in the search female for mating. Gli autori nel presente lavoro vogliono dare un contributo alla conoscenza della biologia della riproduzione del Dacus oleae Gmel. In particolare si vuole dare una spiegazione su basi anatomo-istologiche e fisiologiche a due fatti importanti: a) i maschi neosfarfallati del Dacus, nonostante dispongano già di spermatozoi maturi, non sono sessualmente attivi subito, ma lo diventano solamente dopo un certo numero di giorni (periodo immaginale preriproduttivo); b) i maschi sessualmente maturi non sono in grado di ripetere subito la copula, ma hanno bisogno, tra un accoppiamento e l'altro, di un periodo di riposo rela- tivamente lungo (almeno 24 ore). Vengono descritti ed illustrati con disegni e fotografie a) l'anatomia topogra- fìca dell'apparato genitale maschile di Dacus oleae, con particolare riferimento alle ghiandole accessorie; b) l'istologia funzionale dei due tipi di ghiandole pre- senti (l paio « sacciformi » e 3 paia « tubulose »), in soggetti appena sfarfallati ed in altri sessualmente maturi, prima e dopo l'accoppiamento; c) l'ultrastruttura dei due tipi di ghiandole nei tre casi menzionati. Vengono discussi i risultati ottenuti, giungendo sostanzialmente alle conclu- sioni seguenti. I maschi neosfarfallati hanno bisogno di un periodo immaginale preriprodut- tivo per fare maturare le ghiandole genitali accessorie ed accumulare nei serbatoi delle medesime una certa quantità di secreti; la mancanza (o l'insufficienza) dei quali lascia i maschi medesimi sessualmente inattivi. Per la stessa ragione questi ul- timi, divenuti maturi ed una volta accoppiatisi, non sono in grado di ripetere la copula se non dopo un periodo di riposo relativamente lungo, necessario alle ghiandole genitali accessorie per la nuova produzione e l'accumulo di secreto in quantità sufficiente

Animal models are reliably mimicking human diseases? A morphological study that compares animal and human NAFLD

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to 20% of western population and, when untreated, it can progress from simple fatty liver or steatosis to a more severe condition, such as NASH (non alcoholic steatohepatitis) and cirrhosis (1). NAFLD is a clinical-pathological syndrome that include a wide spectrum of morphological alteration but such studies on humans are not copious, as human samples are difficult to obtain because of ethical limitations. Experimental models are crucial to study steatosis’ progression, not only for elucidating the pathogenesis of NAFLD but also in examining therapeutic effects of various agents. Animal models may be developed on genetic or nutritional basis, or a combination of both. It is important to select the best model fitted to the aim of the study. But the question that arises is: can the animal model reflect hepatic histopathology and pathophysiology of human NAFLD? This question is always neglected as well as the evaluation of ultrastructural features of NAFLD. In order to overcome this lack of investigations we compared ultrastructural features of NAFLD in an animal model and in human samples of NAFLD patients. NAFLD animal model was obtained using Sprague Dawley rats fed by a high fat diet (HFD) (71% of energy from fat), while control rats were fed by a standard diet (35% of energy from fat). Diets were given ad libitum and rats were killed after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Human specimens were obtained from patients with fatty liver disease undergoing to liver biopsies. Normal liver was taken from patients undergoing surgery for other pathologies. Hepatic steatosis and normality of the liver were assessed by parallel examinations at light microscopy, transmission and high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Light microscopy results showed that different degrees of NAFLD observed in human samples corresponded to similar morphological changes in treated rats. Ultrastructural examination revealed that in the HFD model the histopathology closely reflected that of human NAFLD, although the first did not replicate the full spectrum of the disease in humans. In summary, we showed that, at least morphologically, HFD model overlays to human NAFLD. This could point out for reliability in evaluating other pathological features in animal models. Moreover, animal HFD mimics human nutritional dysregulation that may induce the same biochemical and molecular modifications observed in human patients and might represent a more appropriate tool for studying the pathogenesis of NAFLD over genetic models (2)

Efficacy of a new technique - INtubate-RECruit-SURfactant-Extubate - "IN-REC-SUR-E" - in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Although beneficial in clinical practice, the INtubate-SURfactant-Extubate (IN-SUR-E) method is not successful in all preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome, with a reported failure rate ranging from 19 to 69 %. One of the possible mechanisms responsible for the unsuccessful IN-SUR-E method, requiring subsequent re-intubation and mechanical ventilation, is the inability of the preterm lung to achieve and maintain an "optimal" functional residual capacity. The importance of lung recruitment before surfactant administration has been demonstrated in animal studies showing that recruitment leads to a more homogeneous surfactant distribution within the lungs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the application of a recruitment maneuver using the high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) modality just before the surfactant administration followed by rapid extubation (INtubate-RECruit-SURfactant-Extubate: IN-REC-SUR-E) with IN-SUR-E alone in spontaneously breathing preterm infants requiring nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) as initial respiratory support and reaching pre-defined CPAP failure criteria. Methods/design: In this study, 206 spontaneously breathing infants born at 24+0-27+6 weeks' gestation and failing nCPAP during the first 24 h of life, will be randomized to receive an HFOV recruitment maneuver (IN-REC-SUR-E) or no recruitment maneuver (IN-SUR-E) just prior to surfactant administration followed by prompt extubation. The primary outcome is the need for mechanical ventilation within the first 3 days of life. Infants in both groups will be considered to have reached the primary outcome when they are not extubated within 30 min after surfactant administration or when they meet the nCPAP failure criteria after extubation. Discussion: From all available data no definitive evidence exists about a positive effect of recruitment before surfactant instillation, but a rationale exists for testing the following hypothesis: a lung recruitment maneuver performed with a step-by-step Continuous Distending Pressure increase during High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (and not with a sustained inflation) could have a positive effects in terms of improved surfactant distribution and consequent its major efficacy in preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome. This represents our challenge. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02482766. Registered on 1 June 2015