Histochemical data on the skin mucous cells during the development of the trout [Translation from: Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 45, 1273-1276, 1969]

In the skin of Salmo irideus the production of mucus is due to one type of cell specialized as a mucus cell. The histochemical research presented in this paper describes the mucous cells of Salmo irideus and demonstrates observable variation in such cells during the fish's development

Ileocecal appendix involvement in fabry disease mimicking an acute abdomen

Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is a rare, X-linked, lysosomal storage disorder due to a deficiency of alphagalactosidase A. The direct consequence is a lipid storage with the accumulation of glycosphingolipids throughout the body. The clinical picture is highly variable and depends on cellular storage deposition ranging from neurological, cutaneous and renal symptoms to cardiac and gastrointestinal ones. We are reporting about the case of a young female carrier of alpha-galactosidase A (agalA) gene mutation who was treated at our out-clinic practice for minimal neurological involvement (achroparaestesia). She was subsequently admitted in order to undergo appendectomy because of an acute severe abdominal pain. The histological examination of her appendix revealed only a deposition of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) without any sign of acute inflammation. This case confirms the extreme clinical variability of Fabry disease and how the gastrointestinal involvement diagnosis can be misse

First evidence of fully spatially mixed first and second generations in globular clusters: the case of NGC 6362

We present the first evidence of multiple populations in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6362. We used optical and near-UV Hubble Space Telescope and ground based photometry, finding that both the sub giant and red giant branches are split in two parallel sequences in all color magnitude diagrams where the F336W filter (or U band) is used. This cluster is one of the least massive globulars (M_tot~5x10^4 M_sun) where multiple populations have been detected so far. Even more interestingly and at odds with any previous finding, we observe that the two identified populations share the same radial distribution all over the cluster extension. NGC 6362 is the first system where stars from different populations are found to be completely spatially mixed. Based on N-body and hydrodynamical simulations of multiple stellar generations, we argue that, to reproduce these findings, NGC 6362 should have lost up to the 80% of its original massComment: Accepted for publication by ApJ Letters; 6 pages, 5 figure

Numerical and experimental investigation of leaks in viscoelastic pressurized pipe flow

Abstract. This paper extends the analysis concerning the importance in numerical models of unsteady friction and viscoelasticity to transients in plastic pipes with an external flow due to a leak. In fact recently such a benchmarking analysis has been executed for the cases of a constant diameter pipe (Duan et al., 2010), a pipe with a partially closed in-line valve (Meniconi et al., 2012a), and a pipe with cross-section changes in series (Meniconi et al., 2012b). Tests are based on laboratory experiments carried out at the Water Engineering Laboratory (WEL) of the University of Perugia, Italy, and the use of different numerical models. The results show that it is crucial to take into account the viscoelasticity to simulate the main characteristics of the examined transients

The genomic organisation of the tra/trd locus validates the peculiar characteristics of dromedary δ-chain expression

The role of γδ T cells in vertebrate immunity is still an unsolved puzzle. Species such as humans and mice display a low percentage of these T lymphocytes (i.e., “γδ low species”) with a restricted diversity of γδ T cell receptors (TR). Conversely, artiodactyl species (i.e., “γδ high species”) account for a high proportion of γδ T cells with large γ and δ chain repertoires. The genomic organisation of the TR γ (TRG) and δ (TRD) loci has been determined in sheep and cattle, noting that a wide number of germline genes that encode for γ and δ chains characterise their genomes. Taking advantage of the current improved version of the genome assembly, we have investigated the genomic structure and gene content of the dromedary TRD locus, which, as in the other mammalian species, is nested within the TR α (TRA) genes. The most remarkable finding was the identification of a very limited number of variable germline genes (TRDV) compared to sheep and cattle, which supports our previous expression analyses for which the somatic hypermutation mechanism is able to enlarge and diversify the primary repertoire of dromedary δ chains. Furthermore, the comparison between genomic and expressed sequences reveals that D genes, up to four incorporated in a transcript, greatly contribute to the increased diversity of the dromedary δ chain antigen binding-site

Double Blue Straggler sequences in GCs: the case of NGC 362

We used high-quality images acquired with the WFC3 on board the HST to probe the blue straggler star (BSS) population of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 362. We have found two distinct sequences of BSS: this is the second case, after M 30, where such a feature has been observed. Indeed the BSS location, their extension in magnitude and color and their radial distribution within the cluster nicely resemble those observed in M 30, thus suggesting that the same interpretative scenario can be applied: the red BSS sub-population is generated by mass transfer binaries, the blue one by collisions. The discovery of four new W UMa stars, three of which lying along the red-BSS sequence, further supports this scenario. We also found that the inner portion of the density profile deviates from a King model and is well reproduced by either a mild power-law (\alpha -0.2) or a double King profile. This feature supports the hypothesis that the cluster is currently undergoing the core collapse phase. Moreover, the BSS radial distribution shows a central peak and monotonically decreases outward without any evidence of an external rising branch. This evidence is a further indication of the advanced dynamical age of NGC 362: in fact, together with M 30, NGC 362 belongs to the family of dynamically old clusters (Family III) in the "dynamical clock" classification proposed by Ferraro et al. (2012). The observational evidence presented here strengthens the possible connection between the existence of a double BSS sequence and a quite advanced dynamical status of the parent cluster.Comment: Accepted for publication by ApJ; 39 pages, 16 figures, 1 tabl

A reliable rainfall–runoff model for flood forecasting: review and application to a semi-urbanized watershed at high flood risk in Italy

Many rainfall–runoff (RR) models are available in the scientific literature. Selecting the best structure and parameterization for a model is not straightforward and depends on a broad number of factors, including climatic conditions, catchment characteristics, temporal/spatial resolution and model objectives. In this study, the RR model 'Modello Idrologico Semi-Distribuito in continuo' (MISDc), mainly developed for flood simulation in Mediterranean basins, was tested on the Seveso basin, which is stressed several times a year by flooding events mainly caused by excessive urbanization. The work summarizes a compendium of the MISDc applications over a wide range of catchments in European countries and then it analyses the performances over the Seveso basin. The results show a good fit behaviour during both the calibration and the validation periods with a Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient index larger than 0.9. Moreover, the median volume and peak discharge errors calculated on several flood events were less than 25%. In conclusion, we can be assured that the reliability and computational speed could make the MISDc model suitable for flood estimation in many catchments of different geographical contexts and land use characteristics. Moreover, MISDc will also be useful for future support of real-time decision-making for flood risk management in the Seveso basin

New insight into the genomic structure of dog T cell receptor beta (TRB) locus inferred from expression analysis

Here is an updated report on the genomic organization of T cell receptor beta (TRB) locus in the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) as inferred from comparative genomics and expression analysis. The most interesting results we found were a second TRBD–J–C cluster, which is absent from the reference genome sequence, and the annotation of two additional TRBV genes. In dogs, TRB locus consists of a library of 37 TRBV genes positioned at the 50 end of two in tandem aligned D–J–C gene clusters, each composed of a single TRBD, 6 TRBJ and one TRBC genes, followed by a single TRBV gene with an inverted transcriptional orientation. The TRB genes are distributed in less than 300 kb, making the canine locus, one of the smaller mammalian TRB locus studied so far. The small size may be ascribed to reduced gene duplication occurrences and a lower density of total interspersed repeats compared to humans and mice. Despite the low TRBV gene content, a large and diversified beta chain repertoire is displayed in the dog peripheral blood. A full usage of TRBV and TRBJ genes, including pseudogenes, and a high level of allelic polymorphism contribute to generate diversity. Finally, this study suggests that the overall TRB locus organization is evolutionarily conserved supporting the dog as a highly suited model system for immune development and diseases

Acutely Symptomatic Hypoperfusion Through an Occluded Subclavian to Internal Carotid Artery Bypass Graft: Salvage Mechanical Thrombectomy and Graft Revascularization

This middle-aged patient had undergone surgical placement of a left subclavian to internal carotid artery bypass graft five years ago for treatment of symptomatic, chronic, bilateral carotid occlusions. The patient was neurologically intact after the procedure and until the day of presentation with symptoms of an acute left anterior circulation stroke. Initial workup confirmed acute occlusion of the graft as the cause of the patient\u27s symptoms. Endovascular recanalization of the bypass graft in the setting of chronic bilateral carotid occlusions was a technical and conceptual challenge. Simultaneous radial and femoral vascular access allowed for direct recanalization of the graft (through thrombectomy, angioplasty, and stent placement) with intraoperative patency surveillance of the circle of Willis via the posterior circulation. Most of the neurological deficits improved, and the patient was discharged to rehabilitation close to neurologic baseline