Measles in Italy: Viral strains and crossing borders.

In 2017, Italy experienced one of the largest outbreaks of measles in recent years, with 5404 notified cases and 4347 confirmed cases. A further 2029 cases were notified during the first 6 months of 2018, and 1516 of them were laboratory-confirmed. The B3 and D8 genotypes were identified as those responsible for the outbreak. Possible transmission routes can be established by monitoring the circulating measles virus strains in support of the national health authorities to warn people and travellers

Infrared study of the charge-ordered multiferroic LuFe(2)O(4)

The reflectivity of a large LuFe(2)O(4) single crystal has been measured with the radiation field either perpendicular or parallel to the c axis of its rhombohedral structure, from 10 to 500K, and from 7 to 16000 cm-1. The transition between the two-dimensional and the three-dimensional charge order at T_(CO) = 320 K is found to change dramatically the phonon spectrum in both polarizations. The number of the observed modes above and below T_(CO), according to a factor-group analysis, is in good agreement with a transition from the rhombohedral space group R{bar 3}m to the monoclinic C2/m. In the sub-THz region a peak becomes evident at low temperature, whose origin is discussed in relation with previous experiments.Comment: Physical Review B in pres

Optical properties of V2O3 in its whole phase diagram

Vanadium sesquioxide V2O3 is considered a textbook example of Mott-Hubbard physics. In this paper we present an extended optical study of its whole temperature/doping phase diagram as obtained by doping the pure material with M=Cr or Ti atoms (V1-xMx)2O3. We reveal that its thermodynamically stable metallic and insulating phases, although macroscopically equivalent, show very different low-energy electrodynamics. The Cr and Ti doping drastically change both the antiferromagnetic gap and the paramagnetic metallic properties. A slight chromium content induces a mesoscopic electronic phase separation, while the pure compound is characterized by short-lived quasiparticles at high temperature. This study thus provides a new comprehensive scenario of the Mott-Hubbard physics in the prototype compound V2O3

Valoración del riesgo de contaminación de las aguas subterráneas por nitratos mediante el uso de los modelos paramétricos Drastic y Sintacs

[ES] Para la valoración del riesgo de contaminación por nitratos de las aguas subterráneas de una parte de la Llanura Apuana (comprendida en los terminos municipales de Montignoso, Massa y Carrara), se confrontan dos modelos paramétricos de puntuación: el DRASTIC (acrónimo de Deep water; Recharge, net; Aquifer media; Soil media; Topography; Impact of vadose zone; Conductivity hydraulic) y el SINTACS (acrónimo de Soggiacenza-nivel freático-; Infiltración; efecto de autodepuración de la zona No saturada; Tipología de los suelos de cobertera; litología del Acuífero; Conductividad hidraúlica; pendiente de la Superficie topográfica). En el área de estudio, ubicada a SO de los Alpes Apuanos, hay un acuífero principal formado prevalentemente por gravas y, en una estrecha franja costera, por unas arenas.Para la aplicación del modelo DRASTIC el área entera ha sido dividida en varias sub-áreas sobre la base de los valores de los parámetros que están sujetos a variaciones (D, R, A, 1). Para cada zona se calcula el índice de vulnerabilidad PP que nos permite la subdivisión de la superficie total en dos clases de riesgo: un sector de riesgo elevado y otro de riesgo muy elevado. La aplicación del modelo SINTACS se basa en una división de la superficie total en un retículo compuesto por 253 celdas cuadradas de 0,5 km de lado. El índice de vulnerabilidad se calcula para cada celda de tal manera que se puedan agrupar, sucesivamente, en clases de riesgo. De este modo se obtienen tres zonas que presentan clases de riesgo: muy elevado, elevado y alto. En conclusión, comparando los resultados obtenidos, se confirma la presencia de dos clases coincidentes y con igual riesgo de contaminación. Además, el SINTACS evidencia también una pequeña área en la cuál el riesgo cae en una clase ligeramente inferior a las otras dos.Nicoletti, FP.; Spandre, R. (1996). Valoración del riesgo de contaminación de las aguas subterráneas por nitratos mediante el uso de los modelos paramétricos Drastic y Sintacs. Ingeniería del Agua. 3(4):7-24. https://doi.org/10.4995/ia.1996.2705SWORD72434Aller L., Bennet t., Lehr J.H., Petty R.J., Hackett G. (1987) DRASTIC: A standardized system for evaluating ground water pollution potential using hydrogeologic settings. NWWA/EPA Ser., 600/2-87-035, 455 pp.Civita M. (1994) Le carte della vulnérabilitá degli aquiferi all'inquinamento: teoria e pratica. Pitagora Editrice Bologna 325 pp.OCSE (1987) Acque inquinate. Franco Muzio Editore, Padova.Persicani D., De Santi M., Gasparetti G., Siro P. (1991) Rischio di inquinamento idrico da nitrati. valutazione della pianura piacentina con il modello DRASTIC. Geología Técnica 2/91, 41- 47.Salvatori I. (1994) La falda e le caratteristiche fisico-chimiche delle acque della pianura apuana. Università di Pisa, Tésis en Ciencias Geológicas (inédita).Salvatori I., Spandre R. (1996) Aspetti idrogeologici ed idrochimici della pianura apuana. Atti Società Toscanà di Scienze Naturali (in press)Sestini A.(1950) Un 'antica ripa marina nella pianura costiera Apuana. Att. Soc. Tosc. Sc. Nat. Mem. 57, 1-

Electrodynamics near the Metal-to-Insulator Transition in V3O5

The electrodynamics near the metal-to-insulator transitions (MIT) induced, in V3O5 single crystals, by both temperature (T) and pressure (P) has been studied by infrared spectroscopy. The T- and P-dependence of the optical conductivity may be explained within a polaronic scenario. The insulating phase at ambient T and P corresponds to strongly localized small polarons. Meanwhile the T-induced metallic phase at ambient pressure is related to a liquid of polarons showing incoherent dc transport, in the P-induced metallic phase at room T strongly localized polarons coexist with partially delocalized ones. The electronic spectral weight is almost recovered, in both the T and P induced metallization processes, on an energy scale of 1 eV, thus supporting the key-role of electron-lattice interaction in the V3O5 metal-to-insulator transition.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Migraine and cluster headache show impaired neurosteroids patterns

Background: Perturbation of neuronal excitability contributes to migraine. Neurosteroids modulate the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid A and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, and might be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine. Here, we measured plasma levels of four neurosteroids, i.e., allopregnanolone, epiallopregnanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and deydroepiandrosterone sulfate, in patients affected by episodic migraine, chronic migraine, or cluster headache. Methods: Nineteen female patients affected by episodic migraine, 51 female patients affected by chronic migraine, and 18 male patients affected by cluster headache were recruited to the study. Sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (31 females and 16 males) were also recruited. Patients were clinically characterized by using validated questionnaires. Plasma neurosteroid levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: We found disease-specific changes in neurosteroid levels in our study groups. For example, allopregnanolone levels were significantly increased in episodic migraine and chronic migraine patients than in control subjects, whereas they were reduced in patients affected by cluster headache. Dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were reduced in patients affected by chronic migraine, but did not change in patients affected by cluster headache. Conclusion: We have shown for the first time that large and disease-specific changes in circulating neurosteroid levels are associated with chronic headache disorders, raising the interesting possibility that fluctuations of neurosteroids at their site of action might shape the natural course of migraine and cluster headache. Whether the observed changes in neurosteroids are genetically determined or rather result from exposure to environmental or intrinsic stressors is unknown. This might also be matter for further investigation because stress is a known triggering factor for headache attacks in both migraineurs and cluster headache patients

Selective reduction in the expression of type-1 metabotropic glutamate receptors in the hippocampus of adult rats born by caesarean section

Perinatal hypoxia causes long-term neurobiological consequences, including alterations in mechanisms of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and cognitive dysfunction. Changes in neurotransmitter receptors have been associated with these alterations, but little is known on how early hypoxia influences the expression and function of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors in adult life. This is an important issue because mGlu receptors are implicated in mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Here, we examined the expression of mGlu1, mGlu5, and mGlu2/3 receptor subtypes in the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and dorsal striatum in 6-month old Wistar rats (a) born by vaginal delivery; (b) born by caesarean section; and (c) born by caesarean section followed by 20 min of asphyxia. Unexpectedly, we found a large reduction of mGlu1α protein levels in the hippocampus of rats born by caesarean section regardless of the presence of asphyxia. No changes in mGlu1α receptor protein levels were found in the other brain regions. Levels of mGlu5 and mGlu2/3 receptors and levels of GluA2/3 and GluN1 subunits of AMPA and NMDA receptors did not differ among the three groups of rats in any brain region. These results are consistent with previous findings showing that changes in mGlu1 receptors occur within the epigenetic programming caused by early-life events

The Italian registry of cystic echinococcosis (RIEC): the first prospective registry with a European future

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