Feline large granular lymphocyte lymphoma: An Italian Society of Veterinary Oncology (SIONCOV) retrospective study

Feline large granular lymphocyte (LGL) lymphoma is an uncommon subtype of lymphoma characterized by a grave prognosis and scarce response to chemotherapy. There are limited reports on clinico-pathological and prognostic factors. One-hundred and 9 cats with newly diagnosed LGL lymphoma that underwent initial staging (including hematology, serum biochemistry, thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound), and followed-up were retrospectively evaluated. LGL lymphoma was localized within the gastrointestinal tract with or without extra-intestinal involvement in 91.7% of the cases, and at extra-gastrointestinal sites in 8.3%. Symptoms were frequent. Anemia (31.2%) and neutrophilia (26.6%) were commonly observed, and 14 (12.8%) cats had neoplastic circulating cells. Frequent biochemistry abnormalities included elevated ALT (39.4%) and hypoalbuminemia (28.4%). Twenty (54.1%) of 37 cats had elevated serum LDH. Treatment varied among cats, and included surgery (11%), chemotherapy (23%), corticosteroids (38.5%) and no treatment (27.5%). Median time to progression (MTTP) was 5 days, and median survival time (MST) 21 days. MST was significantly shorter in the case of substage b, circulating neoplastic cells, lack of chemotherapy administration, and lack of treatment response. A small subset of cats (7.3%) survived more than 6 months, suggesting that a more favorable clinical course can be found among LGL lymphoma patients

A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the geo-chemo-mechanical data gathered through an innovative multidisciplinary investigation campaign in the Mar Piccolo basin, a heavily polluted marine bay aside the town of Taranto (Southern Italy). The basin is part of an area declared at high environmental risk by the Italian government. The cutting-edge approach to the environmental characterization of the site was promoted by the Special Commissioner for urgent measures of reclamation, environmental improvements and redevelopment of Taranto and involved experts from several research fields, who cooperated to gather a new insight into the origin, distribution, mobility and fate of the contaminants within the basin. The investigation campaign was designed to implement advanced research methodologies and testing strategies. Differently from traditional investigation campaigns, aimed solely at the assessment of the contamination state within sediments lying in the top layers, the new campaign provided an interpretation of the geo-chemo-mechanical properties and state of the sediments forming the deposit at the seafloor. The integrated, multidisciplinary and holistic approach, that considered geotechnical engineering, electrical and electronical engineering, geological, sedimentological, mineralogical, hydraulic engineering, hydrological, chemical, geochemical, biological fields, supported a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the contamination on the hydro-mechanical properties of the sediments, which need to be accounted for in the selection and design of the risk mitigation measures. The findings of the research represent the input ingredients of the conceptual model of the site, premise to model the evolutionary contamination scenarios within the basin, of guidance for the environmental risk management. The study testifies the importance of the cooperative approach among researchers of different fields to fulfil the interpretation of complex polluted eco-systems

A new application of SIMS to the analysis of nitrogen in mica minerals: tobelite.

Muscovite, KAl2[AlSi3O10](OH)2, is a common rock-forming mineral in igneous and metamorphic-rocks, sediments, hydrothermal alteration and ore deposits. The site between two adjacent T-O-T (tetrahedral-octahedral-tetrahedral) layers is shared between K and NH4 in any proportion leading to the building of the “ammonium micas”. Mica with: (i) NH4>K, □ (vacancy); (ii) Si ≥ 3 apfu (atoms per formula unit); (iii) layer charge (T-O-T) less than one, is named tobelite [Brigatti M F and Guggenheim S 2002 Rev. Mineral. Geochem. 46 1-97]. The NH4-analog of muscovite, i.e., tobelite, has been predominantly associated to two distinct geological settings: a) diagenetic to low grade metamorphic shales from meta- anthracite and anthracite coal fields; b) hydrothermal areas alteration [Ruiz Cruz M D and Sanz de Galdeano C 2010 Clays Clay Miner. 58 558-572]. In this work three crystals labelled Tob_M2, Tob_M3, Tob_3 were investigated by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) in terms of major constituents, and in terms of nitrogen by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in order to gain information on the presence and amount of NH4. Nitrogen was detected as secondary positive ions by means of a Cameca IMS 4f ion microprobe installed at CNR-IGG, Pavia. SIMS analysis on 14N+ was performed with 16O- primary beam at a mass resolution (M/ΔM) of ~ 1250 required to discriminate the 28Si2+ and 12CH2 + interferences at the nominal mass number 14 (a.m.u.). In spite of the severe inhomogeneity of nitrogen in each crystal, the SIMS data put Tob_M2 as the N-richest crystal of the set. The crystal, analyzed at different spots, is characterized by an ion signal in the range 399 - 560 (c/s). For Tob_M3 the 14N+ average ion signal is 91 (c/s). In Tob_3 the N content is likely the lowest in the sample set with an average count rate of 61 (c/s). The lack of calibration standards did not allow so far to obtain quantitative results for N at the ion microprobe. Nevertheless, our SIMS data agree qualitatively with constraints derived from EPMA and charge-balance crystal chemical considerations, and point out that the ion probe is a valuable tool for the investigation of N in mica minerals

Otodectes cynotis (Acari : Psoroptidae): examination of survival off-the-host under natural and laboratory conditions

The biological and environmental factors affecting survival off-the-host of Otodectes cynotis (Acari: Psoroptidae) ear mites were investigated under natural and laboratory conditions. From November 2000 to November 2002 mites were collected monthly from cats and divided into four groups according to sex and stage. In laboratory conditions, the mites were placed in an incubator with a steady 95% relative humidity (r.h.), at 10degreesC. All the plates were examined by stereomicroscopy every 24 h until all the mites had died. The data were analysed statistically by multiple linear regression and survival analysis. At 10degreesC, the maximum survival time of mites was between 15 and 17 days, while at 34degreesC, it was between 5 and 6 days. The maximum survival time of adult females was significantly longer than that of other stages. No differences were observed in maximum survival times of mites that had been offered food and those that had not, or in the time ( in days) to reach 50% mortality (LT50). When exposed to environmental conditions, the maximum survival time ( 12 days) was observed at temperatures ranging from 12.3 to 14.2degreesC and r.h.s between 57.6 and 82.9%. Multiple regression analysis showed that temperature alone influenced the maximum survival time and LT50 of mites, and that the rate of survival declined linearly with increasing mean temperature. This basic understanding of off-host survival suggests that, places which have been inhabited by infected animals may need to be disinfected or remain vacated for at least 12 days before occupancy by clean cats or dogs

“Interaction of PdCl2-2-(b-diphenilphosphine)ethylpyridine complex with Diols and CO: synthesis of new alkoxycarbonyl complexes, key intermediate to cyclic carbonates”

PdCl2PN (PN ) 2-(â-diphenylphosphine)ethylpyridine) was found to be effective in the promotion of the alkoxycarbonylation of diols [(1,2-hydroxyethane (HE); 1,2- and 1,3-hydroxypropane (1,2HP, 1,3HP), 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-hydroxybutane (1,2HB, 1,3HB, 1,4HB)]. The relevant mono-alkoxycarbonyl complexes of the diols, of formula PdClPN(COO-R-OH), were isolated, characterized in solution, and studied for their reactivity. All complexes in the presence of different reagents release the alkoxycarbonyl group directly as cyclic carbonate or as chloroformate, which “in situ” converts into cyclic carbonate or other valuable carbonyl products. The structure of the complexes PdCl[(COO-CH2-CH2-CH2(OH)](PN) (4c) and PdCl(COO-CH2-CH(OH)-C2H5)(PN) (4d) was also derived by single-crystal X-ray diffraction

Alcohol Oxidations by Schiff Base Manganese(III) Complexes

Asymmetric Schiff base manganese(III) complexes involving salen ligands, N,N'-bis(salicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine, N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine, N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine and N,N'-bis(3,5-di-chloro-salicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine were prepared and their catalytic activity was investigated in the oxidation of some primary and secondary alcohols. During optimization of oxidation reactions, Mn-4, bearing electron withdrawing N,N'-Bis(3,5-di-chloro-salicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine ligand, showed higher activity than other catalysts tested. The catalytic reactions were carried out in the presence of various oxidants such as oxygen, hydrogen peroxide or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and additives such as acetic acid and imidazole. The oxidant/additive combination of TBHP and imidazole was shown to be effective for the oxidation process and the degree of their impact on oxidation reaction was found highly dependent on a balanced ratio between them. Mn-4 was selected as the most effective catalyst under optimized reaction conditions and revealed efficient for the oxidation of secondary alcohols

Catalytic Alcohol oxidation using Cationic Schiff based manganese III complexes with flexible diamino bridge

Four Schiff base manganese(III) complexes with derivatives of [(R,R)-N,N’-bis(salicy1idene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminato)] including substituents on salicylaldehyde such as 3-methoxy, 3,5-di-tert-butyl and 3,5-chloro were synthesized and characterized using a combination of IR, UV-Vis, and HR ESI-MS techniques and, in one case, XRD. The catalytic activity of these complexes was tested in the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone, revealing very good performances for all of the four manganese complexes. The catalytic reactions were carried out in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant and imidazole as co-catalyst. Complex Mn-4, bearing electron withdrawing [(R,R)-N,N’-bis(3,5-di-chloro-salicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminato)] ligand was found to be the most stable of the tested Mn(III) complexes and was selected for the oxidation of several primary and secondary alcohols

Revealing the effects of the ball milling pretreatment on the ethanosolv fractionation of lignin from walnut and pistachio shells

In this work, a detailed study on the ethanosolv lignin fractionation from endocarps, aiming at understanding the role played by the ball milling (BM) pretreatment, is presented. Walnut and pistachio shells were chosen as a case study, since they exhibit excellent mechanical properties and their tissues have been extensively studied in terms of structure, composition, and lignin distribution. Here, it was demonstrated that the BM pretreatment is not particularly suited for these biomasses, since it is not able to promote the lignin fractionation from the whole tissue, and additionally, it triggers the oxidation of the substrate. Although in the case of walnut shell this oxidation can be prevented thanks to the remarkable radical scavenger activity (RSA) of its extractives, in the case of pistachio shell the BM is responsible for a partial lignin condensation. Pistachio shells resulted a particularly attractive feedstock since they can be easily delignified using mild ethanosolv processes, leading to highly regular lignin fractions, rich in S units (86%) and beta-O-4 linking motif (>60% C-9 units), so particularly suited for the chemical upgrading to added-value aromatics