The Occurrence of Phellinus torulosus in Apulia and Basilicata (Southern Italy) : IDentification of Isolates by Morphologic, Microscopic, and Molecular Means

Basidiomes of Phellinus torulosus were found in 9 oak woods in Apulia and Basilicata (Southern Italy); from these basidiomes 138 isolates of P. torulosus were obtained and identified by their morphologic, microscopic, and molecular characteristics. Based on the type of aerial mycelium (fluffy, cottony or powdery) and its growth, 9 morphotypes were identified. The morphology of the cultures was not correlated with the microscopic character of the 9 morphotypes. Molecular analysis, such as intergenic transcribed spacers-restriction fragment length polymorphism (ITS-RFLP) and sequencing of the ITS region, confirmed the results obtained with microscopy analysis

Serum Levels of Tryptophan, 5-Hydroxytryptophan and Serotonin in Patients Affected with Different Forms of Amenorrhea

Tryptophan (Trp) is present in the serum, partly bound to albumine and in the free form. The unbound portion of circulating tryptophan has the property of crossing the hematoencephalic barrier and being converted within the brain into serotonin (5-HT) through the enzymatic processes of hydroxylation and decarboxylation. The serotoninergic system plays an important role in neuroendocrine control of reproductive hormone secretion, and in particular, it may influence GnRH pulsatility, a function essential for reproductive processes. In this study, we analysed serum levels of tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in women with three different forms of amenorrhea: 16 patients were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, 60 patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, and 14 patients with hyperprolactinemia. Data were compared with those of a group of 25 healthy women. Serum Trp levels were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower in the anorexic (11.64 ± 0.53 μg/ml, mean ± S.E.) than in the control (12.98 ± 0.37 μg/ml) groups. In addition, in the anorexic group a statistical dispersion of Trp values was shown indicating a bimodal data distribution suggesting the existence of two different subgroups of patients. Regarding 5-HTP, an increase of its serum level was observed in all the groups with amenorrhea with the highest value in hyperprolactinemic patients. On the contrary, no statistical differences in serum 5-HT levels among the four analyzed groups were observed

Pathogenicity of Armillaria Isolates Inoculated on Five Quercus Species at Different Watering Regimes

One of three fungal isolates of Armillaria mellea (Vahl: Fr.) P. Kummer, A. gallica Marxm. et Romagn. and A. tabescens (Scop.: Fr.) Emel. was inoculated on 1,440 three-year-old potted seedlings of five Quercus species (Q. cerris L., Q. ilex L., Q. pubescens Willd., Q. robur L. and Q. trojana Webb.) grown at different watering regimes in a greenhouse. Inoculum was represented by a piece of an oak branch colonised with the fungus (or sterile, as a control), which was attached to the unwounded main root of each oak seedling. During the growing season, differences in water availability among seedlings were measured monthly using minimum water potential assessments on noninoculated seedlings receiving an equal amount of water. Although all three Armillaria isolates induced infection, the A. mellea isolate was most pathogenic in all cases, while the A. gallica isolate showed a statistically equal degree of pathogenicity only on the least watered seedlings. Of the Quercus species, Q. ilex showed the greatest number of infected seedlings, Q. robur the smallest. Reducing the water supply to potted oak seedlings could be a useful indicator for detecting differences in pathogenicity between Armillaria species

A spatial model of autocatalytic reactions

Biological cells with all of their surface structure and complex interior stripped away are essentially vesicles - membranes composed of lipid bilayers which form closed sacs. Vesicles are thought to be relevant as models of primitive protocells, and they could have provided the ideal environment for pre-biotic reactions to occur. In this paper, we investigate the stochastic dynamics of a set of autocatalytic reactions, within a spatially bounded domain, so as to mimic a primordial cell. The discreteness of the constituents of the autocatalytic reactions gives rise to large sustained oscillations, even when the number of constituents is quite large. These oscillations are spatio-temporal in nature, unlike those found in previous studies, which consisted only of temporal oscillations. We speculate that these oscillations may have a role in seeding membrane instabilities which lead to vesicle division. In this way synchronization could be achieved between protocell growth and the reproduction rate of the constituents (the protogenetic material) in simple protocells.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Occurrence and distribution of Armillaria gallica genets in a declining oak stand of southern Italy

Outbreaks of Armillaria root rot in conifer plantations and declining oak stands are frequently due to the spread of the fungus in the soil over long periods. This paper examines the occurrence and distribution of Armillaria genets in a declining mixed oak stand of southern Italy. Samples of rhizomorphs, mycelial mats and fruit bodies of Armillaria were collected from the soil, stumps, and living and dead trees. A total of 111 Armillaria isolates were collected, all belonging to the species A. gallica. They were grouped in 28 genets by somatic incompatibility. The largest genet covered an area of about 2.6 ha with a linear extent of 300 m. On the basis of an estimated 0.5 m annual growth in the soil, its age was assumed to be about 3 centuries. The results confirm the ability of A. gallica to remain alive and stable in a large area over a long time

Small cells lung epidermoid carcinoma in a HTLV1-infected patient: case report and literature review

The human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the first human retrovirus discovered. Since then, it has spread worldwide and is mainly associated with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV1-associated myelopathy (HAM). Its relationship, however, with other types of cancer is controversial. We describe the case of a patient presenting with small cells lung epidermoid carcinoma who had recently developed HAM, and a review of the literature related to these conditions. This is the first case of this type of lung cancer, the same of the first description in the literature, associated with HAM outside Japan

Computing, Design, Art: Reflections on an Innovative Moment in History

The paper is concerned with the role of art and design in the history and philosophy of computing. It offers insights arising from research into a period in the 1960s and 70s, particularly in the UK, when computing became more available to artists and designers, focusing on John Lansdown (1929-1999) and Bruce Archer (1922-2005) in London. Models of computing interacted with conceptualisations of art, design and related creative activities in important ways

Formyl Peptide Receptor as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Anxiety-Related Disorders

Formyl peptide receptors (FPR) belong to a family of sensors of the immune system that detect microbe-associated molecules and inform various cellular and sensorial mechanisms to the presence of pathogens in the host. Here we demonstrate that Fpr2/3-deficient mice show a distinct profile of behaviour characterised by reduced anxiety in the marble burying and light-dark box paradigms, increased exploratory behaviour in an open-field, together with superior performance on a novel object recognition test. Pharmacological blockade with a formyl peptide receptor antagonist, Boc2, in wild type mice reproduced most of the behavioural changes observed in the Fpr2/3(-/-) mice, including a significant improvement in novel object discrimination and reduced anxiety in a light/dark shuttle test. These effects were associated with reduced FPR signalling in the gut as shown by the significant reduction in the levels of p-p38. Collectively, these findings suggest that homeostatic FPR signalling exerts a modulatory effect on anxiety-like behaviours. These findings thus suggest that therapies targeting FPRs may be a novel approach to ameliorate behavioural abnormalities present in neuropsychiatric disorders at the cognitive-emotional interface