Identifiability for a class of symmetric tensors

We use methods of algebraic geometry to find new, effective methods for detecting the identifiability of symmetric tensors. In particular, for ternary symmetric tensors T of degree 7, we use the analysis of the Hilbert function of a finite projective set, and the Cayley-Bacharach property, to prove that, when the Kruskal's rank of a decomposition of T are maximal (a condition which holds outside a Zariski closed set of measure 0), then the tensor T is identifiable, i.e. the decomposition is unique, even if the rank lies beyond the range of application of both the Kruskal's and the reshaped Kruskal's criteria

Morphological e molecular identification of Anagrus \u2018atomus\u2019 group (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) individuals from different geographic areas and plant hosts in Europe.

Morphological identification and molecular study on the COI gene were simultaneously conducted on Anagrus Haliday \u2018atomus\u2019 group individuals collected in the field in Italy or supplied from a UK biofactory. Females were morphologically identified as A. atomus L. and A. parvus Soyka sensu Viggiani (\ubcA. ustulatus sensu Chiappini). Alignment of COI gene sequences from this study permitted recognition of a total of 34 haplotypes. Phylogenetic and network analyses of molecular data not only confirmed that A. atomus is a species distinct from A. parvus, but also suggested that two species may be included within morphologically identified A. parvus. Different geographical distribution and frequency of haplotypes were also evidenced. For males considered in this study, morphometric analyses revealed a character that could be useful to discriminate A. atomus from A. parvus. Both species were found in vineyards and surrounding vegetation, confirming the potential role of spontaneous vegetation as a source of parasitoids for leafhopper control in vineyards

Taxonomic identification and biological traits of Platystethynium triclavatum (Donev & Huber, 2002), comb. n. (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae), a newly recorded egg parasitoid of the Italian endemic pest Barbitistes vicetinus (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)

The little known fairyfly (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae), Platystethynium (Platystethynium) triclavatum (Donev & Huber, 2002), comb. n. from Pseudocleruchus Donev & Huber, 2002, is newly recorded as an egg parasitoid of Barbitistes vicetinus Galvagni & Fontana, 1993 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae). This bush-cricket is endemic to northeastern Italy (mainly Euganean Hills of Veneto Region), where it has recently become an economically significant agricultural and forest pest. Data on discovery, distribution, and some remarkable biological traits of this gregarious egg parasitoid are presented. Its identification and availability of many well-preserved fresh specimens have made possible to re-define Pseudocleruchus Donev & Huber, 2002 syn. n., with type and the only described species Pseudocleruchus triclavatus Donev & Huber, 2002, as a synonym of Platystethynium Ogloblin, 1946 and its nominate subgenus, P. (Platystethynium), and also to describe the brachypterous male of P. (Platystethynium) triclavatum. It is the first known male for the entire genus. Enlarged mandibles of the megacephalous males are used to chew holes in the hard chorion of the host egg, allowing fully winged females, whose mandibles are strongly reduced and do not cross over, to emerge after mating with the males inside it. Up to 136 individual parasitoids (about 77 on average) can hatch from a single egg of B. vicetinus, with their sex ratio being strongly female biased (80–97% females per egg)

Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of Eligibility Criteria for CAR-T Cell Therapy

Patients (pts) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) refractory to second-line therapy or relapsed after an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) have a very poor clinical outcome with a median overall survival (OS) of 5 and 8-10 months, respectively. Autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CD19 CAR) T cells have been associated with sustained complete remissions and long-term survivals in a large proportion of pts with R/R DLBCL by the two pivotal clinical trials Zuma1 and Juliet. This has led to the rapid approval by FDA and then by EMA of CAR-T cells for the third-line treatment of R/R DLBCL. Despite being a potentially revolutionary treatment for pts with advanced disease, the costs are much greater than any previously approved cancer therapy and this may become a substantial economic challenge for the health care system. The definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria capable of identifying more precisely pts who can successfully undergo CAR-T cell therapy, minimizing the severity of the toxicity, still remains a matter of discussion. Moreover, some eligible pts run the risk of becoming ineligible because of poor disease control. Indeed, one of the major obstacles to the successful use of CAR-T cells is the 4-5 week period so far required for the manufacturing and transfer of CAR-T cells. To address this issue, we have examined data of R/R DLBCL pts managed between 2010 and 2018 at our Center in order to: 1) better identify the characteristics and outcome of a cohort of R/R DLBCL pts potentially eligible, according to the approval criteria, for CAR-T cell therapy; 2) define factors influencing CAR-T cell eligibility; 3) make a realistic estimate of pts eligible for CAR-T cells. In this retrospective real-life cohort of R/R DLBCLs, 82/480 pts (17%) were R/R tosecond-line treatment including ASCT. Considering Juliet's inclusion/exclusion criteria for CAR-T cell therapy, only 50 pts (10.4%) would be eligible for CAR-T cells. Our analysis suggests that elevated LDH plus ECOG ≥2 have to be considered the two most significant features of very rapid disease progression. These variables should be taken in account in order to better select DLBCL pts potentially eligible to CAR-T therapy

A unique midgut-associated bacterial community hosted by the cave beetle \u3cem\u3eCansiliella servadeii\u3c/em\u3e (Coleoptera: Leptodirini) reveals parallel phylogenetic divergences from universal gut-specific ancestors

Background Cansiliella servadeii (Coleoptera) is an endemic troglobite living in deep carbonate caves in North-Eastern Italy. The beetle constantly moves and browses in its preferred habitat (consisting in flowing water and moonmilk, a soft speleothem colonized by microorganisms) self-preens to convey material from elytra, legs, and antennae towards the mouth. We investigated its inner and outer microbiota using microscopy and DNA-based approaches. Results Abundant microbial cell masses were observed on the external appendages. Cansiliella’s midgut is fully colonized by live microbes and culture-independent analyses yielded nearly 30 different 16S phylotypes that have no overlap with the community composition of the moonmilk. Many of the lineages, dominated by Gram positive groups, share very low similarity to database sequences. However for most cases, notwithstanding their very limited relatedness with existing records, phylotypes could be assigned to bacterial clades that had been retrieved from insect or other animals’ digestive traits. Conclusions Results suggest a history of remote separation from a common ancestor that harboured a set of gut-specific bacteria whose functions are supposedly critical for host physiology. The phylogenetic and coevolutionary implications of the parallel occurrences of these prokaryotic guilds appear to apply throughout a broad spectrum of animal diversity. Their persistence and conservation underlies a possibly critical role of precise bacterial assemblages in animal-bacteria interactions

Co-haplotyping symbiont and host to unravel invasion pathways of the exotic pest Halyomorpha halys in Italy

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) is a globally invasive species that harbors a primary bacterial symbiont ‘Candidatus Pantoea carbekii’. In this work, P. carbekii was used here as another genetic marker to investigate the biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of this important pest, in native and newly invaded areas, especially in Italy. The correlation between the genetic structure of the symbiont and that of its host was studied through the analyses of one bacterial and one host marker, the putative pseudogene ΔybgF and the mitochondrial gene COI, respectively. As a result, five new P. carbekii haplotypes were identified, and an association pattern between host-symbiont haplotypes was observed. Host species showed higher haplotype diversity than symbiont, which can be expected in a long term host-symbiont association. Populations from the north-eastern Italy showed the highest values of genetic diversity for both markers, highlighting that this particular Italian area could be the result of multiple ongoing introductions. Moreover, some of the symbiont-host haplotypes observed were shared only by populations from north-eastern Italy and native areas, especially Japan, suggesting further introductions from this native country to Italy. Overall, our findings improve the understanding of the potential origin of multiple accidental introductions of H. halys in Italy

cave hygropetric beetles and their feeding behaviour a comparative study of cansiliella servadeii and hadesia asamo coleoptera leiodidae cholevinae leptodirini

Several Leptodirini beetles (Leiodidae) are known to dwell in hygropetric habitats where films of water run down the cave walls, but observations of their behaviour are lacking. The ultra- specialised hygropetricolous beetles belonging to the genera Cansiliella and Hadesia are biogeographically and phylogenetically unrelated leptodirines. As the species of the former genus are known to be associated with the moonmilk deposits our study aimed to obtain data on their foraging behaviour, as well as to compare the feeding strategies of both genera. In situ monitoring of C. servadeii from the cave Grotta della Foos (Italy) and H. asamo from Bravenik Cave (Bosnia and Herzegovina), was complemented by video recordings to ensure accurate results. Mouthparts and tarsi of both species were examined using scanning electron microscopy and compared with H. weiratheri from Montenegro to evaluate potential morphological adaptations to the hygropetricolous ecological niches. The three species had significantly different mouthpart morphologies, likely due to differences in semi-aquatic feeding strategies and overall ecology. A series of new observations on site movement and feeding behaviour are presented, compared and discussed. Key words: Coleoptera, ecology, behaviour, moonmilk, cave hygropetric. Primerjava jamskih higropetricnih hroscev in njihovegaprehranjevanja; Cansiliella servadeii in Hadesia asamo (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae, Leptodirini) Stevilni hrosci iz poddružine Leptodirinae (Leiodidae) so prilagojeni na življenje v posebnem habitatu »jamskem higropetriku «, t.j. tankem sloju tekoce vode, ki tece po sigi. Zaenkrat je njihovo vedenje se precejsnja neznanka. Visoko specializirani higropetricni vrsti Cansiliella servadeii in Hadesia asamo sta geografsko loceni in filogenetsko nesorodni. Ker je prva ocitno vezana na depozite mehke sige (t.i. jamsko mleko), smo želeli raziskati iskanje hrane pri tej vrsti ter primerjati strategijo hranjenja obeh vrst. Da bi povecali zanesljivost rezultatov, smo poleg in situ opazovanja C. servadeii iz jame Grotta della Foos (Italija) in H. asamo iz jame Bravenik (Bosna in Hercegovina), njuno vedenje tudi posneli. Z vrsticnim elektronskim mikroskopom smo raziskali obustne okoncine in stopalca obeh vrst in jih primerjali s H. weiratheri iz Crne gore, da bi preverili potencialne morfoloske prilagoditve na specificno ekolosko niso. Bistvene razlike v zgradbi ustnega aparata so najverjetneje posledica razlik v strategiji hranjenja, kot tudi razlicne splosne ekologije omenjenih vrst. V prispevku predstavljamo, primerjamo in razpravljamo o novih opažanjih povezanih z gibanjem in prehranjevanjem higropetricnih hroscev. Kljucne besede: Coleoptera, ekologija, vedenje, jamsko mleko, jamski higropetrik

First report in italy of the exotic mosquito species Aedes (Finlaya) koreicus, a potential vector of arboviruses and filariae

BACKGROUND: In the Veneto region (north-eastern Italy) an entomological surveillance system has been implemented since the introduction of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) in 1991. During the routine monitoring activity in a tiger mosquito-free area, an unexpected mosquito was noticed, which clearly did not belong to the recorded Italian fauna. FINDINGS: At the end of May 2011, twelve larvae and pupae were collected in a small village in Belluno province (Veneto region) from a single manhole. Ten adults reared in the laboratory were morphologically and genetically identified as Aedes (Finlaya) koreicus (Edwards, 1917), a species native to Southeast Asia. The subsequent investigations carried out in the following months in the same village provided evidence that this species had become established locally. Entomological and epidemiological investigations are currently ongoing in the surrounding area, to verify the eventual extension of the species outside the village and to trace back the route of entry into Italy. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report in Italy of the introduction of the exotic mosquito Ae. koreicus. This species has been shown experimentally to be competent in the transmission of the Japanese encephalitis virus and of the dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis and is considered a potential vector of other arboviruses. Thus, the establishment of this species may increase the current risk or pose new potential threats, for human and animal health. This finding considerably complicates the entomological monitoring of the Asian tiger mosquito Ae. albopictus in Italy and stresses the importance of implementing the entomological surveillance for the early detection of and the rapid response against invasive mosquito species