Characterizing the molecular and morphophysiological diversity of Italian red clover

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is the third major forage species in Europe, but there is limited information on the biodiversity and the genetic structure of landraces and natural populations which evolved in this region. The objective of this study was producing such information for Italian germplasm on the ground of molecular and morphophysiological diversity. The study included 16 Italian natural populations from a wide range of environments, four landraces representing the four traditional commercial ecotypes, and two varieties. Eight morphophysiological traits were assessed in a replicated trial under field conditions, whereas two AFLPs primer combinations with 140 polymorphic markers were recorded on a random sample of 13 genotypes per population. Ordination and classification results based on morphophysiological data clearly kept track of the type of germplasm (i.e. landrace or natural population) and its geographic origin, unlike results based on molecular markers. Euclidean distances among populations based on morphophysiological traits were not correlated with Nei’s genetic distances based on molecular markers according to Mantel’s test. Geographical distances among landrace or natural population material was correlated with distances based on morphophysiological traits but not with those based on molecular markers. The average within-population variation stimated via molecular markers was about 2.6-fold higher than that among populations, preventing an acceptable discrimination among most populations. On average, natural populations tended to have within-population variation similar to varieties and somewhat lower than landraces. Our results have implications for collection, conservation, exploitation and registration in a sui generis system of red clover genetic resources.L’articolo è disponibile sul sito dell’editore http://www.springerlink.com

Comparison between invasive breast cancer with extensive peritumoral vascular invasion and inflammatory breast carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study of 161 cases.

Objectives: Extensive peritumoral neoplastic lymphovascular invasion (ePVI) is a marker of aggressiveness in invasive breast carcinoma (BC). Methods: We explored the impact of ePVI on different BC subtypes. In a total of 2,116 BCs, 91 ePVI-BCs, 70 inflammatory breast carcinomas (IBCs), and 114 casual BCs as a control group (CG-BC) were recruited. Results: Patients affected by ePVI-BC were younger, had larger tumors, higher histologic grade, elevated Ki-67 score, Her2/neu overexpressed, and more lymph node metastases compared with CG-BC ( P < .001). Interestingly, only younger mean age at diagnosis differentiated patients with ePVI-BC from patients affected by IBC. ePVI-BC showed a clinical outcome intermediate between the prognoses of IBC and CG-BC. Conclusions: Results suggest that ePVI-BC and IBC may share some pathologic processes, providing a novel perspective on the heterogeneity of BC. Epidemiologic data and molecular studies on gene expression features are needed to rationally classify these tumors into their identified subtypes

Periprocedural outcome in patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion with the Watchman FLX device: The ITALIAN-FLX registry

IntroductionThe Watchman FLX is a novel device for transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) specifically designed to improve procedural performance in more complex anatomies with a better safety profile. Recently, small prospective non-randomized studies have shown good procedural success and safety compared with previous experiences. Results from large multicenter registries are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of the Watchman FLX device in a real-world setting.MethodsItalian FLX registry is a retrospective, non-randomized, multicentric study across 25 investigational centers in Italy including consecutive patients undergoing LAAO with the Watchman FLX between March 2019 and September 2021 (N = 772). The primary efficacy outcome was the technical success of the LAAO procedure (peri-device flow ≤ 5 mm) as assessed by intra-procedural imaging. The peri-procedural safety outcome was defined as the occurrence of one of the following events within 7 days after the procedure or by hospital discharge: death, stroke, transient ischemic attack, major extracranial bleeding (BARC type 3 or 5), pericardial effusion with tamponade or device embolization.ResultsA total of 772 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 76 ± 8 with a mean CHA2DS2-VASc score of 4.1 ± 1.4 and a mean HAS-BLED score of 3.7 ± 1.1. Technical success was achieved in 772 (100%) patients with the first device implanted in 760 (98.4%) patients. A peri-procedural safety outcome event occurred in 21 patients (2.7%) with major extracranial bleeding being the most common (1.7%). No device embolization occurred. At discharge 459 patients (59.4%) were treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).ConclusionsThe Italian FLX registry represents the largest multicenter retrospective real-world study reporting periprocedural outcome of LAAO with the Watchman FLX device, resulting in a procedural success rate of 100% and a low incidence of peri-procedural major adverse events (2.7%)

Non-Standard Errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence-generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Architettura religiosa e forma urbis dopo la città romana. Una ricerca su Parma

La città, nelle sue continue trasformazioni, rappresenta l’elemento centrale e costitutivo all’interno della storia della civiltà europea. Essa si configura innanzitutto su due direttive che si influenzano reciprocamente: quella delle architetture e dei manufatti urbani nella loro materialità, con le loro diversificate funzioni, e quella del senso, cioè di tutti quegli elementi di significato che nella loro connotazione ideale e simbolica contribuiscono in modo determinante sul piano storico politico e culturale alla costruzione polisemica dell’idea di città nelle sue molteplici realizzazioni spaziali e architettoniche. Di questa duplice direttiva costituisce un esempio inequivocabile l’influenza determinante che il Cristianesimo e la Chiesa hanno avuto nella costruzione e nell’organizzazione in Europa delle città sorte sulle macerie dei fasti delle città romane. Il contributo sulla scorta dell'esempio di una ricerca avvenuta sulla città Parma cerca di evidenziare questi nessi storici politici culturali e urbanistici dovuti al radicamento istituzionale del Cristianesimo all'interno della città post-romana

Architettura religiosa e forma urbis dopo la città romana. Una ricerca su Parma

La città, nelle sue continue trasformazioni, rappresenta l’elemento centrale e costitutivo all’interno della storia della civiltà europea. Essa si configura innanzitutto su due direttive che si influenzano reciprocamente: quella delle architetture e dei manufatti urbani nella loro materialità, con le loro diversificate funzioni, e quella del senso, cioè di tutti quegli elementi di significato che nella loro connotazione ideale e simbolica contribuiscono in modo determinante sul piano storico politico e culturale alla costruzione polisemica dell’idea di città nelle sue molteplici realizzazioni spaziali e architettoniche. Di questa duplice direttiva costituisce un esempio inequivocabile l’influenza determinante che il Cristianesimo e la Chiesa hanno avuto nella costruzione e nell’organizzazione in Europa delle città sorte sulle macerie dei fasti delle città romane. Il contributo sulla scorta dell'esempio di una ricerca avvenuta sulla città Parma cerca di evidenziare questi nessi storici politici culturali e urbanistici dovuti al radicamento istituzionale del Cristianesimo all'interno della città post-romana

Analysis of Diagnostic Images of Artworks and Feature Extraction: Design of a Methodology

none6Digital images represent the primary tool for diagnostics and documentation of the state of preservation of artifacts. Today the interpretive filters that allow one to characterize information and communicate it are extremely subjective. Our research goal is to study a quantitative analysis methodology to facilitate and semi-automate the recognition and polygonization of areas corresponding to the characteristics searched. To this end, several algorithms have been tested that allow for separating the characteristics and creating binary masks to be statistically analyzed and polygonized. Since our methodology aims to offer a conservator-restorer model to obtain useful graphic documentation in a short time that is usable for design and statistical purposes, this process has been implemented in a single Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application.mixedAmura, Annamaria; Aldini, Alessandro; Pagnotta, Stefano; Salerno, Emanuele; Tonazzini, Anna; Triolo, PaoloAmura, Annamaria; Aldini, Alessandro; Pagnotta, Stefano; Salerno, Emanuele; Tonazzini, Anna; Triolo, Paol