Variation in Environmental Parameters in Research and Aquaculture: Effects on Behaviour, Physiology and Cell Biology of Teleost Fish

Over the last few years the increasing use of fish as animal models in scientific research and the increased fish breeding for human consumption have stressed the need for more knowledge on the effect of variations in environmental parameters on fish biology and on the welfare of specimens used both in research and aquaculture contexts. Experimental evidence shows that environmental variations can affect fish biology at various levels, from the molecular to that of the population, sometimes in a different way depending on the species considered. In order to achieve reproducible results in experiments involving fish it is necessary to set and maintain all environmental parameters constant at the optimal value to guarantee the wellness of the animal. The effects of the variation in environmental parameters on the behaviour, physiology and cell biology of teleosts are here discussed in order to provide useful information for research based on fish models

Capacity analysis of suburban rail networks

As is well known, capacity evaluation and the identification of bottlenecks on rail networks are complex issues depending upon several technical elements. This is even more perceptible in metropolitan areas where different services (freight, long distance, metro/regional, etc.) are operated using the same limited infrastructures; as a consequence, these facilities may represent bottlenecks of the rail system since they are often highly utilized and congested. This paper tries to explore the issue of capacity evaluation of complex rail networks, proposing synthetic indicators and analyses for feasibility studies or strategic planning. The presented methodology suggests taking into account the main differences in infrastructure characteristics (e.g. single or double lines, signalling systems, terminus or passing stations, etc.) and rail services (e.g. diverse rolling stock, various frequencies, average distances and number of stops, etc.) in order to propose a general approach applicable for capacity analysis of a network as a whole, hence evaluating the utilization rate and the congestion on both lines and stations. To better explore and validate the methodology, an application to a line of the Naples’ suburban network is presented. The results confirm the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach; the outcomes indicate the capacity utilization rate of the considered facilities, pointing out likely bottlenecks and possible actions to improve the system efficiency

Feeding behaviour of larval European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) in relation to temperature and prey density

The feeding behaviour of larval European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.) was analysed in relation to temperature and prey density under controlled laboratory conditions with the aim to assess the ability of larval fish to change the feeding tactic as a response to environmental changes. Larvae were acclimated for 20 days at three different temperatures (19, 22 and 26°C), and their feeding behaviour was then video-recorded in experimental trials, at two prey densities, consisting of swarms of 400/l and 1440/l Artemia nauplii. Results showed that there was a significant effect of the interaction between temperature and prey density on the proportion of swimming activity that was reduced at the high temperature-high prey density combination. This suggested a switching in the larval feeding behaviour from an active to an ambush tactic, when the temperature reached 26°C and the prey density was 1440 /l Artemia nauplii. These results are consistent with the current literature on fish larval behaviour in showing that the foraging tactic can be modulated by the interaction of different abiotic and biotic factors characterising the rearing environment

Evidence of a pressure-induced metallization process in monoclinic VO2_2

Raman and combined trasmission and reflectivity mid infrared measurements have been carried out on monoclinic VO$_2$ at room temperature over the 0-19 GPa and 0-14 GPa pressure ranges, respectively. The pressure dependence obtained for both lattice dynamics and optical gap shows a remarkable stability of the system up to P*$\sim$10 GPa. Evidence of subtle modifications of V ion arrangements within the monoclinic lattice together with the onset of a metallization process via band gap filling are observed for P$>$P*. Differently from ambient pressure, where the VO$_2$ metal phase is found only in conjunction with the rutile structure above 340 K, a new room temperature metallic phase coupled to a monoclinic structure appears accessible in the high pressure regime, thus opening to new important queries on the physics of VO$_2$.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Decoding the Tumour Microenvironment: Molecular Players, Pathways, and Therapeutic Targets in Cancer Treatment

The tumour microenvironment (TME) is a complex and constantly evolving collection of cells and extracellular components. Cancer cells and the surrounding environment influence each other through different types of processes. Characteristics of the TME include abnormal vasculature, altered extracellular matrix, cancer-associated fibroblast and macrophages, immune cells, and secreted factors. Within these components, several molecules and pathways are altered and take part in the support of the tumour. Epigenetic regulation, kinases, phosphatases, metabolic regulators, and hormones are some of the players that influence and contribute to shaping the tumour and the TME. All these characteristics contribute significantly to cancer progression, metastasis, and immune escape, and may be the target for new approaches for cancer treatment

Review: Assessing fish welfare in research and aquaculture, with a focus on European directives.

The number of farmed fish in the world has increased considerably. Aquaculture is a growing industry that will in the future provide a large portion of fishery products. Moreover, in recent years, the number of teleost fish used as animal models for scientific research in both biomedical and ecological fields has increased. Therefore, it is increasingly important to implement measures designed to enhance the welfare of these animals. Currently, a number of European rules exist as requirements for the establishment, care and accommodation of fish maintained for human purposes. As far as (teleost) fish are concerned, the fact that the number of extant species is much greater than that of all other vertebrates must be considered. Of further importance is that each species has its own specific physical and chemical requirements. These factors make it difficult to provide generalized recommendations or requirements for all fish species. An adequate knowledge is required of the physiology and ecology of each species bred. This paper integrates and discusses, in a single synthesis, the current issues related to fish welfare, considering that teleosts are target species for both aquaculture and experimental models in biological and biomedical research. We first focus on the practical aspects, which must be considered when assessing fish welfare in both research and aquaculture contexts. Next, we address husbandry and the care of fish housed in research laboratories and aquaculture facilities in relation to their physiological and behavioural requirements, as well as in reference to the suggestions provided by European regulations. Finally, to evaluate precisely which parameters described by Directive 2010/63/EU are reported in scientific papers, we analysed 82 articles published by European researchers in 2014 and 2015. This review found that there is a general lack of information related to the optimal environmental conditions that should be provided for the range of species covered by this directive

Solid-state Nonlinear Optical Properties of Mononuclear Copper(II) Complexes with Chiral Tridentate and Tetradentate Schiff Base Ligands

Salen-type metal complexes have been actively studied for their nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, and push-pull compounds with charge asymmetry generated by electron releasing and withdrawing groups have shown promising results. As a continuation of our research in this field and aiming at solid-state features, herein we report on the synthesis of mononuclear copper(II) derivatives bearing either tridentate N2O Schiff bases L(a-c)- and pyridine as the forth ancillary ligand, [Cu(La-c)(py)](ClO4) (1a-c), or unsymmetrically-substituted push-pull tetradentate N2O2 Schiff base ligands, [Cu(5-A-5'-D-saldpen/chxn)] (2a-c), both derived from 5-substituted salicylaldehydes (sal) and the diamines (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethanediamine (dpen) and (1S,2S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (chxn). All compounds were characterized through elemental analysis, infrared and UV/visible spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry in order to guarantee their purity and assess their charge transfer properties. The structures of 1a-c were determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The geometries of cations of 1a-c and of molecules 2a-c were optimized through DFT calculations. The solid-state NLO behavior was measured by the Kurtz-Perry powder technique @1.907 µm. All chiral derivatives possess non-zero quadratic electric susceptibility (χ(2)) and an efficiency of about 0.15-0.45 times that of standard urea

The Future of the Post. New Insights in the Postmodern Debate

This book collects the proceedings of the International conference "The Postmodern Condition: Forty Years Later" held at University of Genova on December 2019. The conference took advantage of the fortieth anniversary of the publication of "The Postmodern Condition" by Jean- François Lyotard as a “trigger” to relaunch the still actual and ongoing debate about the meaning of postmodernity, the end of postmodernism and the advent of new aesthetics, philosophy and social “structure of feelings” that have overcome (or tried to) the postmodern paradigm. The book aims at interweaving the two main faces of the problem: on the one hand, the analysis of the vitality, legacy, topicality and historicizing process of postmodernity and postmodernism; on the other, the analysis of the debate on the crisis of postmodern paradigm and of the advent of new conceptual frames, often born as a direct refusal of postmodern critical discourse and philosophy

CD22 expression in b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Biological significance and implications for inotuzumab therapy in adults

CD22 is a surface molecule expressed early during the ontogeny of B cells in the bone marrow and spleen, and can be found on B cells isolated from the different lymphoid compartments in humans. CD22 is expressed by most blasts from the majority (60–90%) of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Current therapies in adults with newly diagnosed B-ALL are associated with complete remission (CR) rates of 50–90%. However, 30–60% of these patients relapse, and only 25–40% achieve disease-free survival of three years or more. Chemotherapy regimens for patients with refractory/relapsed B-ALL are associated with CR rates ranging from 31% to 44%. Novel immune-targeted therapies, such as blinatumomab and inotuzumab (a humanized anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic antibiotic agent calicheamicin), provide potential means of circumventing chemo-refractory B-ALL cells through novel mechanisms of action. Eighty percent of inotuzumab-treated B-ALL patients may achieve a CR state. This review is focused on the biological and clinical activities of CD22 antibodies in BALL, and provides evidence about the potential role played by qualitative and quantitative analysis of the CD22 molecule on individual B-ALL blasts in predicting the depletion of leukemic cells, and, ultimately, leading to better clinical response rates