Les chasseurs Italiens et le Pigeon ramier: recherches et gestion

La Paloma Torcaz (Columba palumbus) es un ave migratoria muy importante en Italia desde el punto de vista cinegético, sobre todo en la parte norte central del país donde se caza con escopeta utilizando métodos tradicionales de caza, es decir, utilizando reclamos vivos. A partir de esto los cazadores de aves migratorias coordinados por los clubs especializados, han puesto en marcha conjuntamente estudios específicos para hacer el censo de las poblaciones de Paloma Torcaz que anidan, invernan y transitan en Italia durante el doble periodo de migración post-nupcial (final de septiembre-comienzos de noviembre) y pre-nupcial (marzo-abril). El análisis de las muestras y los censos visuales de la Paloma Torcaz, efectuados en el ámbito del programa normalizado Sky-Way Project, nos permite afirmar que ha ampliado mucho su presencia en Italia (en particular durante los últimos 12 años) durante la reproducción y la invernada, y por lo tanto que sus poblaciones están en buen estado como en la mayoría de los territorios del Paleártico occidental.Pagausoa (Columba palumbus) hegazti migratzaile oso garrantzitsua da Italian ikuspuntu zinegetikotik, batez ere herrialdearen ipar-erdialdean. Hor eskopetaz ehizatzen dute, metodo tradizionalak erabiliz, hau da, abata biziak erabiliz. Hegazti migratzaileen ehiztariek ikerketa espezifikoak jarri dituzte abian, talde espezializatuek koordinatuta, eztei-ondoko (irailaren amaieratik azaroaren hasierara) eta eztei-aurreko (martxoa-apirila) migrazio-garaietan Italian habia egin, hibernatu eta bertatik igarotzen diren pagausoen populazioen errolda egiteko. Lagin azterketak eta pagausoaren ikus-erroldak, Sky-Way Project programa normalizatuaren eremuan egiten denak, pagausoaren presentzia oso handitu dela Italian erakusten digu ugalketa eta hibernatze-sasoietan, (batez ere azken 12 urteetan), eta, beraz, populazioak egoera onean daudela, Mendebaldeko Paleartikoko lurralderik gehienetan bezala.Le Pigeon Ramier (Columba palumbus), est un oiseaux migrateur très important en Italie au point de vue cynégétique, surtout au Centre-Nord du pays, où il est chassé au fusil avec des methodes traditionnelles, c'est-à-dire en utilisant les appelants vivants. A partir de ça, les passionnés de cette espéce, coordonnés par des Clubs spécialisés, ont mis en place des recherches spécifiques pour dénombrer les populations de Pigeon ramier quinichent, qui hivernent et qui transitent sur l'Italie pendant la double période de migration post-nuptiale (fin septembre-début novembre) et pre-nuptiale (mars-avril). L'analyse des prélévements et les dénombrements visuels du Ramier, realisés dans le cadre du programme standardisé Sky-Way Project, nous permettent d'affirmer que a bien élargi sa présence en Italie (en particulier, dans les derniers 12 ans) pendant la réproduction et l'hivernage, et donc que ses populations se portent très bien comme dans la majorité des territoires du Paléarctique occidental.The Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a very important migratory bird in the hunting world in Italy, especially in the central-northern part of the country where it is hunted with shotguns using traditional methods, using live bait. As a result of this, enthusiasts of this species in general, co-ordinated by specialised clubs, have started specific joint studies to draw up a census of the Wood Pigeon populations that breed, winter and pass through Italy throughout the double post-nuptial migration period (end of September-beginning of No-vember) and the pre-nuptial period (March-April). With the analysis of the samples and the visual censuses of the Wood Pigeon, carried out within the standard Sky-Way Project, we can state that its presence has greatly increased in Italy (especially over the last 12 years) during reproduction and wintering, and therefore their populations are in a good state like in most of the territories of the Western Palearctic

The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Production and Cell Migration in Human Immune Cells: Implications for Multiple Sclerosis

In multiple sclerosis (MS), compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity contributes to inflammatory T cell migration into the central nervous system. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is associated with BBB disruption and subsequent T cell migration into the CNS. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on MMP-9 levels and T cell migration. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy controls were pretreated with two types of omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Cell supernatants were used to determine MMP-9 protein and activity levels. Jurkat cells were pretreated with EPA and DHA and were added to fibronectin-coated transwells to measure T cell migration. EPA and DHA significantly decreased MMP-9 protein levels, MMP-9 activity, and significantly inhibited human T cell migration. The data suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may benefit patients with multiple sclerosis by modulating immune cell production of MMP-9

pdzrn3 is required for pronephros morphogenesis in Xenopus laevis

Pdzrn3, a multidomain protein with E3-ubiquitin ligase activity, has been reported to play a role in myoblast and osteoblast differentiation and, more recently, in neuronal and endothelial cell development. The expression of the pdzrn3 gene is developmentally regulated in various vertebrate tissues, including muscular, neural and vascular system. Little is known about its expression during kidney development, although genetic polymorphisms and alterations around the human pdzrn3 chromosomal region have been found to be associated with renal cell carcinomas and other kidney diseases. We investigated the pdzrn3 spatio-temporal expression pattern in Xenopus laevis embryos by in situ hybridization. We focused our study on the development of the pronephros, which is the embryonic amphibian kidney, functionally similar to the most primitive nephric structures of human kidney. To explore the role of pdzrn3 during renal morphogenesis, we performed loss-of-function experiments, through antisense morpholino injections and analysed the morphants using specific pronephric markers. Dynamic pdzrn3 expression was observed in embryonic tissues, such as somites, brain, eye, blood islands, heart, liver and pronephros. Loss of function experiments resulted in specific alterations of pronephros development. In particular, at early stages, pdzrn3 depletion was associated with a reduction of the pronephros anlagen and later, with perturbations of the tubulogenesis, including deformation of the proximal tubules. Rescue experiments, in which mRNA of the zebrafish pdzrn3 orthologue was injected together with the morpholino, allowed recovery of the kidney phenotypes. These results underline the importance of pdzrn3 expression for correct nephrogenesis

Sensitivity Analysis of Whole-Room Indirect Calorimeters at the Steady-state Condition

Whole-Room Indirect Calorimeters (WRIC) are accurate tools to precisely measure energy metabolism in humans via calculation of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Yet, overall accuracy of metabolic measurements relies on the validity of the dynamic model for gas exchange inside the calorimeter volume in addition to experimental and environmental conditions that contribute to the uncertainty of WRIC outcome variables. The aim of this work is to formally study the sensitivity of a WRIC system operated in a push configuration at the steady-state condition to identify the optimal experimental conditions to obtain the best degree of accuracy for outcome metabolic measurements. The results of our sensitivity analysis are then validated with measurements obtained during propane combustion tests performed at the WRIC located at the University Hospital of Pisa. Our results demonstrate that achieving a fractional concentration of carbon dioxide inside the calorimeter >0.2% leads to relative uncertainty <5% for the outcome metabolic measurements when assuming an accuracy class of 1% for gas analyzer instruments

Static sensitivity of whole-room indirect calorimeters

Whole-room indirect calorimeters (WRIC) are accurate tools to precisely measure energy metabolism in humans via calculation of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Yet, overall accuracy of metabolic measurements relies on the validity of the theoretical model for gas exchange inside the WRIC volume in addition to experimental and environmental conditions that contribute to the uncertainty of WRIC outcome variables. The aim of this study was to quantitatively study the static sensitivity of a WRIC operated in a push configuration and located at the laboratories of the University Hospital of Pisa with the goal to identify the experimental conditions required to reach the best degree of accuracy for outcome metabolic measurements. Herein we demonstrate that achieving a fractional concentration of carbon dioxide inside the WRIC>0.2% at the steady state conditions allows to obtain a relative uncertainty <5% for the outcome metabolic measurement

Neurosensory Alterations in Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Window to Neurological Impairments Associated to Preterm Birth

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the main blinding diseases affecting preterm newborns and is classically considered a vascular disorder. The premature exposure to the extrauterine environment, which is hyperoxic in respect to the intrauterine environment, triggers a cascade of events leading to retinal ischemia which, in turn, makes the retina hypoxic thus setting off angiogenic processes. However, many children with a history of ROP show persistent vision impairment, and there is evidence of an association between ROP and neurosensory disabilities. This is not surprising given the strict relationship between neuronal function and an adequate blood supply. In the present work, we revised literature data evidencing to what extent ROP can be considered a neurodegenerative disease, also taking advantage from data obtained in preclinical models of ROP. The involvement of different retinal cell populations in triggering the neuronal damage in ROP was described along with the neurological outcomes associated to ROP. The situation of ROP in Italy was assessed as well

Experimental analysis of overcharged Li-polymer batteries

Since safety hazards can occur during the life of a Li-ion battery, understanding its behavior under abusive conditions is important for the development of a safe cell. In this work, overcharge tests on commercial Li-polymer cells were conducted in a climatic chamber, resulting in gas evolution. A comprehensive post-mortem analysis of the abused cells was carried out: the exhaust gases were identified by gas phase chromatography coupled with a thermal conductivity detector (micro-GC/TCD), then flammable and toxic species were detected; the cathode and anode materials were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), while the electrolyte composition was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Interestingly, the ambient temperature seemed to affect the degradation of the cell materials and hence the composition of the evolved gas