Scelte direzionali di Balia nera (Ficedula hypoleuca) posta in situazioni di conflitto tra informazioni visive e magnetiche

Gli uccelli migratori utilizzano diverse fonti di informazione per scegliere e mantenere la direzione appropriata, quali ad esempio il campo magnetico o i riferimenti di tipo astronomico. Recenti studi hanno evidenziato che il piano di polarizzazione della luce all’alba e al tramonto può essere utilizzato dai migratori per derivare la posizione del nord geografico. L’esistenza di molteplici fonti di informazione richiede però che vi sia un certo grado di integrazione e gerarchizzazione tra le diverse bussole. Per indagare l’utilizzo delle informazioni magnetiche e dei riferimenti forniti dal pattern di luce polarizzata sono stati condotti esperimenti su esemplari di balia nera (Ficedula hypoleuca), migratore notturno trans-sahariano appartenente all’ordine dei Passeriformi e alla famiglia dei Muscicapidi. Gli animali sono stati catturati e saggiati durante la migrazione primaverile presso l’isola di Ventotene (Arcipelago Pontino, Riserva Naturale Statale) che costituisce un importante sito di stop-over per diverse specie di migratori soprattutto durante il volo pre-nuziale. Dopo le procedure standard di inanellamento e rilievo dei dati biometrici gli animali sono stati mantenuti per alcuni giorni in cattività, nutrendoli con alimenti proteici e zuccherini e registrando quotidianamente le loro variazioni di peso e di grasso sottocutaneo. Durante il periodo di cattività gli esemplari sono stati ripetutamente esposti all’alba e al tramonto a situazioni di conflitto tra l’informazione fornita dal campo magnetico locale e quella fornita dal pattern di luce polarizzata. Tale conflitto veniva ottenuto manipolando il piano di polarizzazione mediante l’utilizzo di appositi filtri opportunamente posizionati all’interno di gabbie di esposizione. L’orientamento individuale è stato saggiato sia subito dopo la cattura sia al termine dell’esposizione in modo da valutare come gli animali rispondessero al conflitto e se una delle due informazioni fosse gerarchicamente dominante rispetto all’altra. Le prove sperimentali sono state condotte mediante imbuti di Emlen modificati rivestiti internamente con una particolare carta presso-sensibile, in grado di registrare l’attività e l’orientamento dell’animale come in termini di graffi. Durante i test il soggetto sperimentale non aveva libero accesso a riferimenti di tipo visivo, ma soltanto ad informazioni derivate dal campo magnetico naturale. I dati sono stati poi analizzati con le tecniche di statistica circolare. Nel complesso le balie hanno evidenziato scelte direzionali ben definite anche in assenza di riferimenti visivi sia prima che dopo l’esposizione al conflitto. A livello individuale si è rilevata una significativa variabilità, probabilmente da ascrivere alle diverse capacità di adattamento alla cattività

Análise da variabilidade genética das pisciculturas de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum, Cuvier 1818) do estado do Pará, utilizando marcadores microssatelites.

FAPESPA e CAPESA piscicultura na região Norte do Brasil vem apresentado um desenvolvimento significativo. O tambaqui sendo uma espécie amazônica e a segunda mais cultivada na piscicultura continental, já vem sendo objeto de estudos de programas de melhoramento genéticos desenvolvidos em todo Brasil. A principal preocupação em criações em cativeiro é a determinação da variabilidade genética dessa população, a qual constitui a força que dá às populações capacidade de suportar pressões ambientais e antrópicas. A determinação da variabilidade genética é importante uma vez que pode mostrar a relação genética entre indivíduos, populações e até mesmo entre espécies diferentes. Com isso o presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o nível de variabilidade e relacionamento genético, de populações cultivadas de tambaqui em municípios de diferentes regiões do estado do Pará, utilizando marcadores microssatélites. Foram analisados 216 tambaquis cultivados provenientes de 10 municípios da região do Nordeste Paraense, Oeste do Pará e Sudeste do Pará. Para genotipagem utilizou-se um painel multiplex de 10 marcadores microssatélite tri e treta nucleotídeo. Foram calculados os índices de diversidade genética (heterozigosidade esperada e observada, número de alelos por locus, riqueza alélica e freqüência alélica), o relacionamento genético foi verificado por RST e FST, teste de atribuição de assinatura genética e análise bayesiana para determinar o numero de populações geneticamente homogêneas. Os resultados mostram que as populações cultivadas de tambaqui provenientes das três regiões em estudo apresentaram perda de variabilidade genética, e estão estruturadas geneticamente, com a formação de dois estoques (clusters), um amalgamando todos as pisciculturas de oeste do Pará e outro com as do nordeste paraense e Sudeste do Pará.Fish farming in northern Brazil has shown a significant development. The tambaqui being an Amazonian species and the second most cultivated in continental fish farming, has already been the subject of studies of genetic breeding programs developed across Brazil. The main concern in captive creations is to determine the genetic variability of this population, which is the force that gives people ability to withstand environmental pressures and anthropogenic. The determination of the genetic variability is important since it can show the genetic relationship between individuals, communities and even among different species. The present study aims to evaluate the level of variability and genetic relationship, cultivated populations of tambaqui in cities from different regions of the state of Pará, using microsatellite markers. They analyzed 216 tambaquis grown from 10 municipalities of Pará Northeast, West of Pará and southeast of Pará. These were genotyped using a multiplex panel of 10 microsatellite markers and beef tri-nucleotide. They analyzed 216 tambaquis grown from 10 municipalities of Pará Northeast, West of Pará and southeast of Pará. These were genotyped using a multiplex panel of 10 microsatellite markers tri and tetranucleotide. The genetic diversity indices were calculated (expected and observed heterozygosity, number of alleles per locus, allelic richness and allele frequency), the genetic relationship was checked by FST and RST, assigning test genetic signature and Bayesian analysis to determine the number of populations genetically homogeneous The results show that the cultivated populations of tambaqui from the three regions under study showed loss of genetic variability, and are structured genetically, with the formation of two stocks (clusters), an amalgamating all the west of fish farms in Pará and another with the Para northeast and southeast of Pará

Effect of the iodine atom position on the phosphorescence of BODIPY derivatives: a combined computational and experimental study

A new BODIPY derivative (o-I-BDP) containing an iodine atom in the ortho position of the meso-linked phenyl group was prepared. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of the molecule were compared to previously reported iodo BODIPY derivatives, as well as to the non-iodinated analog. While in the case of derivatives featuring iodine substituents in the BODIPY core, efficient population of the triplet state is accompanied by a substantial positive shift of the reduction potential compared to pristine BODIPY, o-I-BDP displays phosphorescence and simultaneously maintains the electrochemical properties of unsubstituted BODIPYs. A theoretical investigation was settled to analyze results and rationalize the influence of iodine position on electronic and photophysical properties, with the purpose of preparing a fully organic phosphorescent BODIPY derivative. TD-DFT and spin-orbit coupling calculations shed light on the subtle effects played by the introduction of iodine atom in different positions of BODIPY

An ovine model of postinfarction dilated cardiomyopathy in animals with highly variable coronary anatomy

Studies on cardiac regeneration require large mammalian models of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and pig and sheep models are increasingly used in this field of preclinical research. Given the large interindividual variability in ovine left anterior descending artery (LAD) anatomy, protocols based on the coronary arteries to be ligated often lead to significant variation in infarct sizes and hence to heterogeneous results, ranging from no ventricular remodeling to acute, lethal left ventricular (LV) failure. We designed an ovine model of postinfarction DCM based on estimated infarct size rather than on a predetermined menu of coronary artery ligatures. In seven adult sheep we induced an anterolateral AMI of approximately 25% of the LV mass by ligating the branches of the LAD that, by visual inspection, would lead to such an infarct size. In 10 to 12 weeks, LV end-diastolic volume more than doubled and LV end-systolic volume almost tripled. LV ejection fraction decreased dramatically, as did LV percent fractional shortening and LV percent wall thickening. Infarct size (planimetry) was approximately 25% of the LV endocardial surface. We conclude that in sheep, an anterolateral AMI of approximately 25% of the LV mass--regardless of the coronary branches ligated to attain that infarct size--results in a model of postinfarction DCM that may prove useful in preclinical research on myocardial regeneration.Fil: Locatelli, Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Olea, Fernanda Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Mendiz, Oscar. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Salmo, Fabián. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Fazzi, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Hnatiuk, Anna. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Laguens, Rubén. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Crottogini, Alberto Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; Argentin

The rhythm of the night: patterns of~activity of the European wildcat in the Italian peninsula

The European wildcat is a threatened carnivore, whose ecology is still scarcely studied, especially in Mediterranean areas. In this study, we estimated activity rhythm patterns of this felid, by means of camera-trapping at three spatial scales: (i) whole country (Italy); (ii) biogeographical areas; (iii) latitudinal zones. The activity rhythms patterns were also calculated according to temporal scales: (1) warm semester; (2) cold semester and (3) seasonal scales. Lastly, we also tested whether the effect of moon phases affected the wildcat activity. We conducted the analysis on a total of 975 independent events collected in 2009-2021, from 285 locations, in 65,800 camera days. We showed that the wildcat in Italy exhibits a > 70% nocturnal behaviour, with 20% of diurnal activity, at all spatial scales, and throughout the whole year, with peaks at 10.00 p.m. and 04.00 a.m. We observed a high overlap of wildcat activity rhythms between different biogeographical and latitudinal zones. The wildcat was mainly active on the darkest nights, reducing its activity in bright moonlight nights. Diurnal activity was greater in the warm months and decreased with the distance from shrubs and woodlands, most likely according to activity rhythms of its main prey, water presence in summer, the care of offspring and the availability of shelter sites. Conversely, the distance to paved roads seems to have no significant effects on diurnal activity, suggesting that, in presence of natural shelters, the wildcat probably may tolerate these infrastructures. We suggested limited plasticity in activity rhythm patterns of the wildcat, emphasizing the importance of dark hours for this species

Efficient Transmission and Characterization of Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease Strains in Bank Voles

Transmission of prions between species is limited by the “species barrier,” which hampers a full characterization of human prion strains in the mouse model. We report that the efficiency of primary transmission of prions from Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease patients to a wild rodent species, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), is comparable to that reported in transgenic mice carrying human prion protein, in spite of a low prion protein–sequence homology between man and vole. Voles infected with sporadic and genetic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease isolates show strain-specific patterns of spongiform degeneration and pathological prion protein–deposition, and accumulate protease-resistant prion protein with biochemical properties similar to the human counterpart. Adaptation of genetic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease isolates to voles shows little or no evidence of a transmission barrier, in contrast to the striking barriers observed during transmission of mouse, hamster, and sheep prions to voles. Our results imply that in voles there is no clear relationship between the degree of homology of the prion protein of the donor and recipient species and susceptibility, consistent with the view that the prion strain gives a major contribution to the species barrier. The vole is therefore a valuable model to study human prion diversity and, being susceptible to a range of animal prions, represents a unique tool for comparing isolates from different species

Caratterizzazione del profilo istolesivo ed immunolocalizzazione della PrP_sc in casi naturali di scrapie ovina

Gli autori descrivono i quadri istopatologici e l’immunolocalizzazione della GFAP e della PrPsc in 25 aree del SNC di 8 ovini con scrapie naturale, provenienti da due allevamenti della Sardegna. Il quadro clinico e lesivo sostanzialmente omogeneo portano a supporre una identità del ceppo, o dei ceppi conoivoli nei due focolai di malattia

Psychological treatments and psychotherapies in the neurorehabilitation of pain. Evidences and recommendations from the italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly recognized that treating pain is crucial for effective care within neurological rehabilitation in the setting of the neurological rehabilitation. The Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation was constituted with the purpose identifying best practices for us in this context. Along with drug therapies and physical interventions, psychological treatments have been proven to be some of the most valuable tools that can be used within a multidisciplinary approach for fostering a reduction in pain intensity. However, there is a need to elucidate what forms of psychotherapy could be effectively matched with the specific pathologies that are typically addressed by neurorehabilitation teams. OBJECTIVES: To extensively assess the available evidence which supports the use of psychological therapies for pain reduction in neurological diseases. METHODS: A systematic review of the studies evaluating the effect of psychotherapies on pain intensity in neurological disorders was performed through an electronic search using PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Based on the level of evidence of the included studies, recommendations were outlined separately for the different conditions. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 2352 results and the final database included 400 articles. The overall strength of the recommendations was medium/low. The different forms of psychological interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, cognitive or behavioral techniques, Mindfulness, hypnosis, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Brief Interpersonal Therapy, virtual reality interventions, various forms of biofeedback and mirror therapy were found to be effective for pain reduction in pathologies such as musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Central Post-Stroke pain, Phantom Limb Pain, pain secondary to Spinal Cord Injury, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating syndromes, diabetic neuropathy, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, migraine and headache. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological interventions and psychotherapies are safe and effective treatments that can be used within an integrated approach for patients undergoing neurological rehabilitation for pain. The different interventions can be specifically selected depending on the disease being treated. A table of evidence and recommendations from the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation is also provided in the final part of the pape

Candidate biomarkers from the integration of methylation and gene expression in discordant autistic sibling pairs

While the genetics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been intensively studied, resulting in the identification of over 100 putative risk genes, the epigenetics of ASD has received less attention, and results have been inconsistent across studies. We aimed to investigate the contribution of DNA methylation (DNAm) to the risk of ASD and identify candidate biomarkers arising from the interaction of epigenetic mechanisms with genotype, gene expression, and cellular proportions. We performed DNAm differential analysis using whole blood samples from 75 discordant sibling pairs of the Italian Autism Network collection and estimated their cellular composition. We studied the correlation between DNAm and gene expression accounting for the potential effects of different genotypes on DNAm. We showed that the proportion of NK cells was significantly reduced in ASD siblings suggesting an imbalance in their immune system. We identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) involved in neurogenesis and synaptic organization. Among candidate loci for ASD, we detected a DMR mapping to CLEC11A (neighboring SHANK1) where DNAm and gene expression were significantly and negatively correlated, independently from genotype effects. As reported in previous studies, we confirmed the involvement of immune functions in the pathophysiology of ASD. Notwithstanding the complexity of the disorder, suitable biomarkers such as CLEC11A and its neighbor SHANK1 can be discovered using integrative analyses even with peripheral tissues

Multicenter Observational Retrospective Study on Febrile Events in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treated with Cpx-351 in "Real-Life": The SEIFEM Experience

: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the absolute risk of infection in the real-life setting of AML patients treated with CPX-351. The study included all patients with AML from 30 Italian hematology centers of the SEIFEM group who received CPX-351 from July 2018 to June 2021. There were 200 patients included. Overall, 336 CPX-351 courses were counted: all 200 patients received the first induction cycle, 18 patients (5%) received a second CPX-351 induction, while 86 patients (26%) proceeded with the first CPX-351 consolidation cycle, and 32 patients (10%) received a second CPX-351 consolidation. A total of 249 febrile events were recorded: 193 during the first or second induction, and 56 after the first or second consolidation. After the diagnostic work-up, 92 events (37%) were classified as febrile neutropenia of unknown origin (FUO), 118 (47%) were classifiable as microbiologically documented infections, and 39 (17%) were classifiable as clinically documented infections. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 14% (28/200). The attributable mortality-infection rate was 6% (15/249). A lack of response to the CPX-351 treatment was the only factor significantly associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis [p-value: 0.004, OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.39]. Our study confirms the good safety profile of CPX-351 in a real-life setting, with an incidence of infectious complications comparable to that of the pivotal studies; despite prolonged neutropenia, the incidence of fungal infections was low, as was infection-related mortality