Stress-induced changes to the flora in a geothermal field in central Italy

The vegetation profile and the photosynthetic efficiency, oxidative damage, and stomatal conductance in the evergreen dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris (L.). Hull was analyzed in a Mediterranean ecosystem characterized by intense geothermal activity. Among the higher plants present in the area, this species appears to be the sole to possess the ability to grow near the geothermal sources. The hot fluid springs strongly alter the environment in their proximity: the emitted water vapor, CO2, H2S, CH4, H3BO3, SO42-, and NH4+ partly condensate and precipitate to the soil, thus leading to its extreme acidification and nutrient depletion. Furthermore, the temperature starts to rise sharply just a few centimeters under the soil surface. Under this multiple stress, the individuals of C. vulgaris growing within a few meters from the springs showed lower photosystem II efficiency, higher oxidative damage to the biomembranes, and lower stomatal conductance than the individuals growing farther away. Drought and high air temperatures occurring in summer exacerbate these harsh conditions, but only the plants closer to the springs did undergo an acute, yet transient crisis, as shown by the analyzed parameters. These results suggest that the main factors of stress are related to the physical and chemical features of the soil, while the adverse climate conditions apparently are of secondary importance. The possible role of reduced stomatal conductivity in enhancing the resistance of C. vulgaris to this hostile environment is discussed

THE GEOMATICS CONTRIBUTION FOR THE VALORISATION PROJECT IN THE ROCCA OF SAN SILVESTRO LANDSCAPE SITE

This paper proposes an emblematic project where several multi-sensor strategies for spatial data acquisition and management, range based and image based, were combined to create a series of integrated territorial and architectural scale products characterized by a rich multi-content nature. The work presented here was finalized in a test site that is composed by an ensemble of diversified cultural deposits; the objects that were surveyed and modelled range from the landscape with its widespread mining sites, the main tower with its defensive role, the urban configuration of the settlement, the building systems and techniques, a medieval mine. For this reason, the Rocca of San Silvestro represented a perfect test case, due to its complex and multi-stratified character. This archaeological site is a medieval fortified village near the municipality of Campiglia Marittima (LI), Italy. The Rocca is part of an Archaeological Mines Park and is included in the Parchi della Val di Cornia (a system of archaeological parks, natural parks and museums in the south-west of Tuscany). The fundamental role of a deep knowledge about a cultural artefact before the planning of a restoration and valorisation project is globally recognized; the qualitative and quantitative knowledge provided by geomatics techniques is part of this process. The paper will present the different techniques that were used, the products that were obtained and will focus on some mapping and WEB GIS applications and analyses that were performed and considerations that were made

THE GEOMATICS CONTRIBUTION FOR THE VALORISATION PROJECT IN THE ROCCA OF SAN SILVESTRO LANDSCAPE SITE

This paper proposes an emblematic project where several multi-sensor strategies for spatial data acquisition and management, range based and image based, were combined to create a series of integrated territorial and architectural scale products characterized by a rich multi-content nature. The work presented here was finalized in a test site that is composed by an ensemble of diversified cultural deposits; the objects that were surveyed and modelled range from the landscape with its widespread mining sites, the main tower with its defensive role, the urban configuration of the settlement, the building systems and techniques, a medieval mine. For this reason, the Rocca of San Silvestro represented a perfect test case, due to its complex and multi-stratified character. This archaeological site is a medieval fortified village near the municipality of Campiglia Marittima (LI), Italy. The Rocca is part of an Archaeological Mines Park and is included in the Parchi della Val di Cornia (a system of archaeological parks, natural parks and museums in the south-west of Tuscany). The fundamental role of a deep knowledge about a cultural artefact before the planning of a restoration and valorisation project is globally recognized; the qualitative and quantitative knowledge provided by geomatics techniques is part of this process. The paper will present the different techniques that were used, the products that were obtained and will focus on some mapping and WEB GIS applications and analyses that were performed and considerations that were made

Children and adults affected by Cri du Chat syndrome: Care's recommendations

Our objective is to collect data and information for a better care and follow up in Cri du Chat patients. We conducted a literature review in August 2017 and then discuss the outcomes within the ABC (Associazione Bambini Cri du Chat, Italian CdC families support group). A proposal for clinical, laboratory and imaging work up should be performed at various ages in CdC patients. Follow up and rehabilitation should continue lifelong as some improvements can be obtained also in older ages and not to lose acquired skills

Understanding Dwarf Galaxies in order to Understand Dark Matter

Much progress has been made in recent years by the galaxy simulation community in making realistic galaxies, mostly by more accurately capturing the effects of baryons on the structural evolution of dark matter halos at high resolutions. This progress has altered theoretical expectations for galaxy evolution within a Cold Dark Matter (CDM) model, reconciling many earlier discrepancies between theory and observations. Despite this reconciliation, CDM may not be an accurate model for our Universe. Much more work must be done to understand the predictions for galaxy formation within alternative dark matter models.Comment: Refereed contribution to the Proceedings of the Simons Symposium on Illuminating Dark Matter, to be published by Springe

Bi-allelic variants in CELSR3 are implicated in central nervous system and urinary tract anomalies

CELSR3 codes for a planar cell polarity protein. We describe twelve affected individuals from eleven independent families with bi-allelic variants in CELSR3. Affected individuals presented with an overlapping phenotypic spectrum comprising central nervous system (CNS) anomalies (7/12), combined CNS anomalies and congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) (3/12) and CAKUT only (2/12). Computational simulation of the 3D protein structure suggests the position of the identified variants to be implicated in penetrance and phenotype expression. CELSR3 immunolocalization in human embryonic urinary tract and transient suppression and rescue experiments of Celsr3 in fluorescent zebrafish reporter lines further support an embryonic role of CELSR3 in CNS and urinary tract formation.</p

Bi-allelic variants in CELSR3 are implicated in central nervous system and urinary tract anomalies

CELSR3 codes for a planar cell polarity protein. We describe twelve affected individuals from eleven independent families with bi-allelic variants in CELSR3. Affected individuals presented with an overlapping phenotypic spectrum comprising central nervous system (CNS) anomalies (7/12), combined CNS anomalies and congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) (3/12) and CAKUT only (2/12). Computational simulation of the 3D protein structure suggests the position of the identified variants to be implicated in penetrance and phenotype expression. CELSR3 immunolocalization in human embryonic urinary tract and transient suppression and rescue experiments of Celsr3 in fluorescent zebrafish reporter lines further support an embryonic role of CELSR3 in CNS and urinary tract formation.</p

Sex difference and intra-operative tidal volume: Insights from the LAS VEGAS study

BACKGROUND: One key element of lung-protective ventilation is the use of a low tidal volume (VT). A sex difference in use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) has been described in critically ill ICU patients.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a sex difference in use of LTVV also exists in operating room patients, and if present what factors drive this difference.DESIGN, PATIENTS AND SETTING: This is a posthoc analysis of LAS VEGAS, a 1-week worldwide observational study in adults requiring intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals in 29 countries.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women and men were compared with respect to use of LTVV, defined as VT of 8 ml kg-1 or less predicted bodyweight (PBW). A VT was deemed 'default' if the set VT was a round number. A mediation analysis assessed which factors may explain the sex difference in use of LTVV during intra-operative ventilation.RESULTS: This analysis includes 9864 patients, of whom 5425 (55%) were women. A default VT was often set, both in women and men; mode VT was 500 ml. Median [IQR] VT was higher in women than in men (8.6 [7.7 to 9.6] vs. 7.6 [6.8 to 8.4] ml kg-1 PBW, P &lt; 0.001). Compared with men, women were twice as likely not to receive LTVV [68.8 vs. 36.0%; relative risk ratio 2.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.1), P &lt; 0.001]. In the mediation analysis, patients' height and actual body weight (ABW) explained 81 and 18% of the sex difference in use of LTVV, respectively; it was not explained by the use of a default VT.CONCLUSION: In this worldwide cohort of patients receiving intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery, women received a higher VT than men during intra-operative ventilation. The risk for a female not to receive LTVV during surgery was double that of males. Height and ABW were the two mediators of the sex difference in use of LTVV.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01601223

Clinical pitfalls in the diagnosis of segmental overgrowth syndromes: a child with the c.2740G > A mutation in PIK3CA gene

Abstract Background Overgrowth syndromes are known as a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by a generalized or segmental, symmetric or asymmetric, overgrowth that may involve several tissues. These disorders, which present a wide range of phenotypic variability, are often caused by mosaic somatic mutations in the genes associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cellular pathway, a signaling cascade that plays a key role in cellular growth. Overgrowth syndromes are frequently misdiagnosed. Given that they are also associated to an increased oncologic risk, it is important to distinguish the clinical characteristic of these disorders since the first months of life. Case presentation We report the case of a seven-year-old male child with macrocephaly and right lateralized overgrowth, reported from birth. The patient arrived to our attention after an initial diagnosis of isolated benign macrocephaly was formulated at the age of 12 months. Afterwards, the child presented a moderate intellectual disability and pain episodes at right lower limb. We repeated a brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging that revealed ventriculomegaly, cerebellar tonsillar ectopia, a markedly thick corpus callosum, and white matter abnormalities. The diagnosis of segmental overgrowth syndrome was formulated according to the clinical presentation and confirmed by the finding of the variant c.2740G > A in the gene PIK3CA presented in somatic mosaicism. Conclusions Our patient is the first children with the c.2740G > A variant in PIK3CA gene reported in Italy. We underline the importance of the genotype-phenotype correlation in the diagnostic process of overgrowth syndromes and emphasize the strict correlation between the mutation c.2740G > A in the PIK3CA gene and the Megalencephaly-Capillary Malformation syndrome phenotype