Qualità pomologica e sensoriale di 10 varietà di mango (Mangifera indica L.) coltivate in Sicilia

Il mango (Mangifera indica L.) è una pianta arborea originaria della regione Indo-Burmese, che appartiene botanicamente alla famiglia delle Anacardiaceae, principalmente coltivata nei paesi a clima tropicale e subtropicale ed oggi, complice il cambiamento climatico, diffusa anche nel bacino del mediterraneo. In Italia il mango viene coltivato solo in Sicilia dove areali della costiera tirrenica hanno fatto registrare produzioni di pregio e una crescente diffusione di nuove cultivar provenienti dai luoghi di origine. Limiti vegetazionali piuttosto stretti, soprattutto in termini di minime termiche stagionali, hanno, in passato, causato l’insuccesso di numerosi nuovi impianti basati sull’introduzione di varietà inedite negli areali a clima mediterraneo-subtropicale come in Sicilia. Per evitare il verificarsi di tali situazioni occorre, quindi, valutare con attenzione il comportamento vegeto-produttivo delle nuove introduzioni varietali. Il presente lavoro ha avuto come obiettivo quello di valutare l’adattamento di 10 cultivar di mango mettendo in relazione gli stadi fenologici con gli andamenti termici stagionali utilizzando la scala BBCH (Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) e valutando la qualità fisico-chimica dei frutti. Per ciascun frutto delle 10 varietà in esame sono state analizzate le seguenti caratteristiche: peso del frutto, diametro trasversale del frutto, diametro longitudinale del frutto, consistenza della polpa, peso della polpa, peso della buccia, peso del seme, diametro trasversale del seme, diametro longitudinale del seme. Del succo di ogni frutto sono stati analizzati il contenuto in solidi solubili e l’acidità titolabile. Le prove sono state svolte presso l’azienda Cupitur sita in Caronia Marina, provincia di Messina. Le cv prese in esame sono state: Glenn, Osteen, Maya, Nam Dok Mai, Irwin, Calypso, Valencia Pride, Keitt, Kent e Tommt Atkyns. La correlazione tra stadi fenologici e temperatura nonché il confronto con i risultati ottenuti in ambienti vocati indicano che, seppur con alcuni limiti legati all’inverno, le aree della costa tirrenica della Sicilia, dove queste varietà sono state coltivate, risultano un ambiente climaticamente idoneo per il corretto evolversi delle fasi vegetative e produttive e l’ottenimento di frutti dalle interessanti qualità organolettiche. Tuttavia, l’analisi dei dati di questo ultimo anno ha evidenziato alcune problematiche in grado di influenzare negativamente lo sviluppo delle piante. Temperature al di sotto dei valori critici, infatti, ci obbligano all’uso di frangivento, per ridurre il rischio di esposizione a venti freddi, e al ricorso ad apprestamenti protettivi delle singole piante nei primi anni dell’impianto. Dalle analisi pomologiche risulta un’ampia variabilità delle caratteristiche fisico-chimiche in grado di offrire una ampia scelta commerciale. L’introduzione di queste nuove cultivar in Sicilia consentirebbe un ampliamento del calendario di maturazione da agosto fino a novembre, limitando il ricorso all’importazione, ma va ulteriormente approfondito in relazione ai fattori sopra esposti

p53 mutations in L3-loop zinc-binding domain, DNA-ploidy, and S phase fraction are independent prognostic indicators in colorectal cancer: A prospective study with a five-year follow-up

p53 gene alterations are among the most common events observed in colorectal cancer, and are accompanied frequently by DNA aneuploidy and high proliferative activity. The prognostic significance of such mutations remains controversial. We prospectively evaluated the prognostic significance of p53 mutations, DNA-ploidy, and S phase fraction (SPF) in a consecutive series of 160 colorectal cancer patients (median follow-up 71 months). Tumor DNA was screened for p53 mutations by PCR/single-strand conformational polymorphism/sequencing. DNA-ploidy and SPF were assessed by DNA flow cytometry. p53 mutations were detected in 68 of 160 (42.5%) cases. In 56% (38 of 68) of these, p53 mutations were found in conserved areas of the gene and in 44% (30 of 68 cases) outside the conserved regions. Eighteen of the 68 cases (26%) had mutations in the L3 loop, 11 of 68 (16%) in the L1 loop-sheet-\u3b1 helix motif, and 39 of 68 (58%) outside L3 and loop-sheet-\u3b1 helix. Seventy-five percent of the cases (120 of 160) showed DNA aneuploidy, whereas 18% of these (22 of 120) were multiclonal. The major independent predictors for both disease relapse and death were advanced Dukes' stage, p53 mutations affecting L3 loop, DNA-aneuploid tumors, and high SPF (>18.5%). Our results show that mutations in L3 functional domain, more than any mutations, are important biological indicators to predict the outcome of patients indicating that these mutations have biological relevance in terms of colorectal cancer disease course

ANATOMICAL DISSECTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURES OF THE UPPER LIMB

In 2015, a whole body dissection course was proposed by the University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, thanks to the cooperation with the University of Malta, Msida, Malta. The purpose of this study was to show the the difference between the studyof anatomy on books and on corpses. The article focuses its attention on the dissection method of the upper limb. The astudy was performed on two corpses, a male and a female, by using a basic surgeon kit. Blunt dissection method was used for fasciae, innards and to isolate vascular-nervous structures from the fat; we used scalped for cutis, sub cutis, muscles, fasciae, veins, arteries and nerves of the upper limb from the shoulder to the hand. The upper limb dissection shows the difference between how a real body appears and shows the difference between how a real body appears and how books represent it

Havep53 gene mutations and protein expression a different biological significance in colorectal cancer?

p53 alterations are considered the most common genetic events in many types of neoplasms, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). These alterations include mutations of the gene and/or overexpression of the protein. The aim of our study was to assess whether in 160 patients undergoing resective surgery for primary operable CRC there was an association between p53 mutations and protein over-expression and between these and other biological variables, such as cell DNA content (DNA-ploidy) and S-phase fraction (SPF), and the traditional clinicopathological variables. p53 mutations, identified by PCR-SSCP-sequencing analysis, were found in 68/160 patients (43%) and positive staining for p53 protein, detected with the monoclonal antibody DO-7, was present in 48% (77/160) of the cases, with agreement of 57% (91/160). In particular, a significant association was found between increased p53 expression and genetic alterations localized in the conserved regions of the gene or in the L3 DNA-binding domain and the specific type of mutation. Furthermore, both overexpression of p53 and mutations in the conserved areas of the gene were found more frequently in distal than in proximal CRCs, suggesting that they might be "biologically different diseases." Although p53 mutations in conserved areas were associated with flow cytometric variables, overexpression of p53 and mutations in its L3 domain were only related respectively to DNA-aneuploidy and high SPF. These data may reflect the complex involvement of p53 in the different pathways regulating cell-cycle progression. In conclusion, the combination of the mutational status and immunohistochemistry of p53, and flow cytometric data may provide an important insight into the biological features of CRCs

Behaviour of motor unit action potential rate, estimated from surface EMG, as a measure of muscle activation level

BACKGROUND: Surface electromyography (EMG) parameters such as root-mean-square value (RMS) are commonly used to assess the muscle activation level that is imposed by the central nervous system (CNS). However, RMS is influenced not only by motor control aspects, but also by peripheral properties of the muscle and recording setup. To assess motor control separately, the number of motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) per second, or MUAP Rate (MR) is a potentially useful measure. MR is the sum of the firing rates of the contributing MUs and as such reflects the two parameters that the CNS uses for motor control: number of MUs and firing rate. MR can be estimated from multi-channel surface EMG recordings. The objective of this study was to explore the behaviour of estimated MR (eMR) in relation to number of active MUs and firing rate. Furthermore, the influence of parameters related to peripheral muscle properties and recording setup (number of fibers per MU, fiber diameter, thickness of the subcutaneous layer, signal-to-noise-ratio) on eMR was compared with their influence on RMS. METHODS: Physiological parameters were varied in a simulation model that generated multi-channel EMG signals. The behaviour of eMR in simulated conditions was compared with its behaviour in experimental conditions. Experimental data was obtained from the upper trapezius muscle during a shoulder elevation task (20–100 N). RESULTS: The simulations showed strong, monotonously increasing relations between eMR and number of active MUs and firing rate (r(2 )> 0.95). Because of unrecognized superimpositions of MUAPs, eMR was substantially lower than the actual MUAP Rate (aMR). The percentage of detected MUAPs decreased with aMR, but the relation between eMR and aMR was rather stable in all simulated conditions. In contrast to RMS, eMR was not affected by number of fibers per MU, fiber diameter and thickness of the subcutaneous layer. Experimental data showed a strong relation between eMR and force (individual second order polynomial regression: 0.96 < r(2 )< 0.99). CONCLUSION: Although the actual number of MUAPs in the signal cannot be accurately extracted with the present method, the stability of the relation between eMR and aMR and its independence of muscle properties make eMR a suitable parameter to assess the input from the CNS to the muscle at low contraction levels non-invasively

Detection of bridge emission above 50 GeV from the Crab pulsar with the MAGIC telescopes

The Crab pulsar is the only astronomical pulsed source detected at very high energy (VHE, E>100GeV) gamma-rays. The emission mechanism of VHE pulsation is not yet fully understood, although several theoretical models have been proposed. In order to test the new models, we measured the light curve and the spectra of the Crab pulsar with high precision by means of deep observations. We analyzed 135 hours of selected MAGIC data taken between 2009 and 2013 in stereoscopic mode. In order to discuss the spectral shape in connection with lower energies, 4.6 years of {\it Fermi}-LAT data were also analyzed. The known two pulses per period were detected with a significance of $8.0 \sigma$ and $12.6 \sigma$. In addition, significant emission was found between the two pulses with $6.2 \sigma$. We discovered the bridge emission above 50 GeV between the two main pulses. This emission can not be explained with the existing theories. These data can be used for testing new theoretical models.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

First broadband characterization and redshift determination of the VHE blazar MAGIC J2001+439

We aim to characterize the broadband emission from 2FGL J2001.1+4352, which has been associated with the unknown-redshift blazar MG4 J200112+4352. Based on its gamma-ray spectral properties, it was identified as a potential very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emitter. The source was observed with MAGIC first in 2009 and later in 2010 within a multi-instrument observation campaign. The MAGIC observations yielded 14.8 hours of good quality stereoscopic data. The object was monitored at radio, optical and gamma-ray energies during the years 2010 and 2011. The source, named MAGIC J2001+439, is detected for the first time at VHE with MAGIC at a statistical significance of 6.3 {\sigma} (E > 70 GeV) during a 1.3-hour long observation on 2010 July 16. The multi-instrument observations show variability in all energy bands with the highest amplitude of variability in the X-ray and VHE bands. We also organized deep imaging optical observations with the Nordic Optical Telescope in 2013 to determine the source redshift. We determine for the first time the redshift of this BL Lac object through the measurement of its host galaxy during low blazar activity. Using the observational evidence that the luminosities of BL Lac host galaxies are confined to a relatively narrow range, we obtain z = 0.18 +/- 0.04. Additionally, we use the Fermi-LAT and MAGIC gamma-ray spectra to provide an independent redshift estimation, z = 0.17 +/- 0.10. Using the former (more accurate) redshift value, we adequately describe the broadband emission with a one-zone SSC model for different activity states and interpret the few-day timescale variability as produced by changes in the high-energy component of the electron energy distribution.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, Accepted for publication in A&

The 2009 multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 421: Variability and correlation studies

We performed a 4.5-month multi-instrument campaign (from radio to VHE gamma rays) on Mrk421 between January 2009 and June 2009, which included VLBA, F-GAMMA, GASP-WEBT, Swift, RXTE, Fermi-LAT, MAGIC, and Whipple, among other instruments and collaborations. Mrk421 was found in its typical (non-flaring) activity state, with a VHE flux of about half that of the Crab Nebula, yet the light curves show significant variability at all wavelengths, the highest variability being in the X-rays. We determined the power spectral densities (PSD) at most wavelengths and found that all PSDs can be described by power-laws without a break, and with indices consistent with pink/red-noise behavior. We observed a harder-when-brighter behavior in the X-ray spectra and measured a positive correlation between VHE and X-ray fluxes with zero time lag. Such characteristics have been reported many times during flaring activity, but here they are reported for the first time in the non-flaring state. We also observed an overall anti-correlation between optical/UV and X-rays extending over the duration of the campaign. The harder-when-brighter behavior in the X-ray spectra and the measured positive X-ray/VHE correlation during the 2009 multi-wavelength campaign suggests that the physical processes dominating the emission during non-flaring states have similarities with those occurring during flaring activity. In particular, this observation supports leptonic scenarios as being responsible for the emission of Mrk421 during non-flaring activity. Such a temporally extended X-ray/VHE correlation is not driven by any single flaring event, and hence is difficult to explain within the standard hadronic scenarios. The highest variability is observed in the X-ray band, which, within the one-zone synchrotron self-Compton scenario, indicates that the electron energy distribution is most variable at the highest energies.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 18 pages, 14 figures (v2 has a small modification in the acknowledgments, and also corrects a typo in the field "author" in the metadata

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF BOCEPREVIR-BASED THERAPY IN HCVG1 TREATMENT-EXPERIENCED PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED FIBROSIS/CIRRHOSIS: THE ITALIAN AND SPANISH NPP EARLY ACCESS PROGRAM

Background and Aims: To maximize cost/efficay of boceprevirbased triple therapy (BOC) in patients with HCV-related advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis. Methods: ITT SVR12, safety and futility rules value were evaluated in the multicenter national Italian and Spanish early access Name- Patient-Program which includes treatment-experienced patients with HCVG1-related advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis (Metavir F3/4) treated with BOC in both countries. Results: 402 patients (mean age 55 years; range 22–75), 316 (78.6%) G1b, 255 (63.4%) F4, 60 (30.9%) with oesophageal varices, 137 (34.1%) relapsers, 95 (23.6%) partial and 168 (41.8%) null responders were enrolled. Platelets count <100,000 and albumin levels <3.5 g/dl were present in 49 (12.2%) and 22 (6.3%) patients, respectively. 369 (91.8%) received at least 1 dose of BOC. Overall ITT SVR12 rates and according to prior response to P/R, fibrosis stage and TW8 HCV-RNA value to P/R/BOC are reported in the table. At multivariate analysis, the strongest predictors of SVR12 were TW8 HCV-RNA undetectability (RR, 30.8; 95% CI, 8.7–108.7) and HCV-RNA detectable but <1000 IU/mL (RR, 9.1; 95% CI, 2.6–31.8) compared to those with HCV-RNA ≥1000 IU/mL. Two patients (0.5%) died from multi-organ failure, 13 (3.2%) developed hepatic decompensation, 41 (10.2%) had severe anemia (<8.5 g/dl) and 31 (7.7%) required at least one blood transfusion. Conclusions: In treatment-experienced patients with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis, SVR12 attained by BOC was satisfactory. Mortality, life-threatening adverse events and severe anemia rates were similar to those reported in other real-practice studies. A TW8 futility rule enables a safely discontinuation of BOC in patients who are extremely unlikely to achieve SVR, thus optimizing the effectiveness of treatment in this difficult-to-cure population