Unlike rolling stones: not every Myrmecina species actively rolls away from danger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Actively rolling away is a very rare escape strategy in the animal kingdom, which to date has only been documented in a few arthropod and one vertebrate species. One of these arthropods is a West-Palearctic ant, Myrmecina graminicola, which has very recently been demonstrated to actively curb into a ball-like shape rolling away upon disturbance, and to selectively display this behavior only under particular circumstances. We tested whether one of the other three W-Palearctic Myrmecina species, the rare insular endemism M. sicula, exhibited the same behavioral response, using the same experimental approach used for M. graminicola. Our results showed that M. sicula reacted to moderate disturbance by either freezing its body or walking away. Only when the individual lost contact with the substratum, it could curl into a ball-like shape, yet this was significantly less refined than the one displayed by M. graminicola, as the appendages of M. sicula are not tightly kept close to its body. However, M. sicula never performed the active rolling behavior that is readily exhibited by M. graminicola. Ecological, morphological, and phylogenetic constraints may have determined the lack of a developed active rolling escape-strategy in M. sicula. Further investigations are required to assess the presence or absence of this unique behavior across Myrmecina lineages

Generation of donor-specific T regulatory type 1 cells from patients on dialysis for cell therapy after kidney transplantation

Background. Tregulatory type 1 (Tr1) cell-mediated induction of tolerance in preclinicalmodels of transplantation is remarkably effective. The clinical application of such a therapy in patients on dialysis undergoing kidney transplantation should take into account the possible alterations of the immune systemobserved in these patients. Herein, we aimed at testing the ability to generate donor-specific Tr1 cell-enriched lymphocytes from patients on dialysis on the waiting list for kidney transplantation. Methods. The Tr1 cell-enriched lymphocytes were generated by coculturing interleukin-10-producing dendritic cells obtained from healthy donors with peripheral bloodmononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients on dialysis, following the same protocol used in a previous cell therapy clinical trial to prevent graft-versus-host disease. Alternatively, purified CD4+ Tcells were used instead of total PBMCs. The ability to generate clinical-grade Tr1 cell-enriched products was defined by testing the reduced response to restimulation withmature dendritic cells generated fromthe original donor (i.e., anergy assay). Results. The Tr1 cell-enrichedmedicinal products generated from PBMCs of patients on dialysis showed a low anergic phenotype, incompatible with their eventual clinical application. This was irrespective of HLA matching with the donor or the intrinsically reduced ability to proliferate in response to alloantigens. On the contrary, the use of purified CD4+ T cells isolated from patients on dialysis led to the generation of a highly anergic donor-specific medicinal product containing an average of 10% Tr1 cells. Conclusions. The Tr1 cell-enriched medicinal products can be efficiently generated from patients on dialysis by carefully tailoring the protocol on the patients' immunological characteristics

First report on the acrobat ant Crematogaster scutellaris storing live aphids in its oak-gall nests

This study provides new data about the role of ants in mutualistic interactions with aphids mediated by galls. We focused our investigation on galls induced by the cynipid Andricus kollari by conducting a survey and a subsequent experiment in an Italian oak forest. The ants Crematogaster scutellaris, Colobopsis truncata and Temnothorax italicus frequently used the galls as nests: Crematogaster scutellaris occupied galls which were located higher on the oak trees, while C. truncata and T. italicus were located at lower positions. In addition, galls occupied by C. scutellaris showed varied internal architecture in relation to the colony composition. Importantly, field surveys revealed for the first time that C. scutellaris nest galls also contained live individuals of the non-galligenous aphid Panaphis juglandis. Field experiments suggested that the ants actively seek, collect and stock live aphids. No signs of predation and injuries were detected on the stored aphids, which were probably kept for safe overwintering, though we cannot exclude a possible occasional use as food. This report reveals a possible novel relationship which could have important consequences on the phenology and presence of aphids on the host plant

First report on the acrobat ant Crematogaster scutellaris storing live aphids in its oak-gall nests

This study provides new data about the role of ants in mutualistic interactions with aphids mediated by galls. We focused our investigation on galls induced by the cynipid Andricus kollari by conducting a survey and a subsequent experiment in an Italian oak forest. The ants Crematogaster scutellaris, Colobopsis truncata and Temnothorax italicus frequently used the galls as nests: Crematogaster scutellaris occupied galls which were located higher on the oak trees, while C. truncata and T. italicus were located at lower positions. In addition, galls occupied by C. scutellaris showed varied internal architecture in relation to the colony composition. Importantly, field surveys revealed for the first time that C. scutellaris nest galls also contained live individuals of the non-galligenous aphid Panaphis juglandis. Field experiments suggested that the ants actively seek, collect and stock live aphids. No signs of predation and injuries were detected on the stored aphids, which were probably kept for safe overwintering, though we cannot exclude a possible occasional use as food. This report reveals a possible novel relationship which could have important consequences on the phenology and presence of aphids on the host plant

Aplicação clínica da ressonância magnética em pacientes com traumatismo craniencefálico agudo

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI): to identify the type, quantity, severity; and improvement clinical-radiological correlation. METHOD: Assessment of 55 patients who were imaged using CT and MRI, 34 (61.8%) males and 21 (38.2%) females, with acute (0 to 5 days) and closed TBI. RESULTS: Statistical significant differences (McNemar test): ocurred fractures were detected by CT in 29.1% and by MRI in 3.6% of the patients; subdural hematoma by CT in 10.9% and MRI in 36.4 %; diffuse axonal injury (DAI) by CT in 1.8% and MRI in 50.9%; cortical contusions by CT in 9.1% and MRI in 41.8%; subarachnoid hemorrhage by CT in 18.2% and MRI in 41.8%. CONCLUSION: MRI was superior to the CT in the identification of DAI, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cortical contusions, and acute subdural hematoma; however it was inferior in diagnosing fractures. The detection of DAI was associated with the severity of acute TBI.PROPÓSITO: Avaliar a aplicação clínica da ressonância magnética (RM) em pacientes vítimas de traumatismo craniencefálico (TCE) agudo, na identificação do tipo, número, gravidade e correlação clínica-radiológica. MÉTODO: Foram estudados prospectivamente 55 pacientes vítimas de TCE agudo fechado (0-5 dias), por TC e RM, sendo 34 do sexo masculino e 21 do feminino. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença estatisticamente significante (teste McNemar): fraturas de crânio foram detectadas em 29,1% pacientes na TC e 3,6% pela RM; hematoma subdural 10,9% na TC e 36,4% pela RM; lesão axonal difusa (LAD) 1,8% pela TC e 50,9% na RM; contusões corticais 9,1% na TC e 41,8% pela RM, hemorragia subaracnóidea 18,2% na TC e 41,8% pela RM. CONCLUSÃO: A RM foi superior à TC na identificação da LAD, hemorragia subaracnóidea, contusões corticais e hematoma subdural agudo, porém inferior no diagnóstico de fraturas. A detecção de LAD pela RM foi associada com maior gravidade do TCE agudo

Assessing ant diversity in agroecosystems: The case of italian vineyards of the adige valley

Assessing ant diversity in agroecosystems: The case of Italian vineyards of the Adige Valley Agroecosystems have gained a dominant position on worldwide land-usage, and therefore preserving their biodiversity is crucial for environmental sustainability. Ants are one of the most widespread groups of terres-Trial arthropods, and, thanks to their significant diversification, they are considered as a good proxy group for bio-diversity monitoring, also in agroecosystems. Vineyards are economically valuable cultures widespread worldwide, and hosting many ant species, that provide meaningful ecosystem services and disservices. Despite the important role that ants play in these agroecosystems, ant biodiversity in vineyards is still poorly studied, especially in Italy. In this context, we present a first detailed quantitative and qualitative assessment of the ant fauna of Italian vine-yards from the Adige Valley based on pitfall traps data, and discuss the results in comparison with the few other similar assessments from Europe and other continents. We document an assemblage of 22 species (7-16 per or-chard), mostly dominated by three disturbance-Tolerant species (including an introduced species). Vineyards ant faunas appear to be rather heterogeneous worldwide, mainly following local ecological and biogeographical con-straints, and the role that most ant species play in these agroecosystems is presently unknown

A new exception to the dominance-discovery trade-off rule in ant communities

Interspecific competition is one of the main factor shaping ant community structure. The “dominance-discovery trade-off’’, an inverse relationship between interference and exploitative competitive ability, is thought to be a fundamental mechanism facilitating coexistence of ants. Despite its widely acceptance in literature, this trade-off appears to be broken in several cases and needs further investigations. Thus, the aim of the present study was to detect the presence/absence of the dominance-discovery trade-off in Mediterranean ant communities. Samplings were conducted inside the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano (Rome, Italy) and seven sampling sites were selected according to their vegetation structure. In each site, baiting was conducted to assess two behavioural indices for each species: the monopolization index and the discovery ability index. Correlation analyses showed no evidence for the existence of a dominance-discovery trade-off. Furthermore, a positive correlation between the two indices was detected in some of the sampling sites. The dominance-discovery trade-off seems therefore to be just one of the possible mechanisms facilitating species coexistence in ant communities

Cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator improves long-term survival compared with cardiac resynchronization therapy-pacemaker in patients with a class IA indication for cardiac resynchronization therapy: Data from the Contak Italian Registry

Aims In candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), the choice between pacemaker (CRT-P) and defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation is still debated. We compared the long-term prognosis of patients who received CRT-D or CRT-P according to class IA recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and who were enrolled in a multicentre prospective registry. Methods and results A total of 620 heart failure patients underwent successful implantation of a CRT device and were enrolled in the Contak Italian Registry. This analysis included 266 patients who received a CRT-D and 108 who received a CRT-P according to class IA ESC indications. Their survival status was verified after a median follow-up of 55 months. During follow-up, 73 CRT-D and 44 CRT-P patients died (rate 6.6 vs. 10.4%/year; log-rank test, P = 0.020). Patients receiving CRT-P were predominantly older, female, had no history of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, and more frequently presented non-ischaemic aetiology of heart failure, longer QRS durations, and worse renal function. However, the only independent predictor of death from any cause was the use of CRT-P (hazard ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–3.16; P = 0.007). Conclusion The implantation of CRT-D, rather than CRT-P, may be preferable in patients presenting with current class IA ESC indications for CRT. Indeed, CRT-D resulted in greater long-term survival and was independently associated with a better prognosis

Novel naturally derived whey protein isolate and aragonite biocomposite hydrogels have potential for bone regeneration

This work explores novel biocomposite hydrogels fabricated using 40% (wt/vol) solution of whey protein isolate (WPI, from the food industry) mixed with increasing concentrations of synthetic aragonite rod-like powder of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/ml (named WPI0, WPI100, WPI200 and WPI300). FTIR results showed that aragonite was successfully incorporated into the WPI hydrogel network. SEM and micro-CT investigations revealed that aragonite was mainly concentrated near the edges of the composite samples, except in WPI300, which had homogeneous aragonite distribution. The pore diameters ranged from 18 to 778 μm while averaged pore size was the lowest for WPI0 at 30 μm and highest for WPI200 at 103 μm. The mean compression modulus was highest for WPI300 at 3.16 MPa. After 28 days in physiological conditions WPI300 had maximum mean swelling of 4.3% and there was the highest degradation rate for WPI200 and WPI300 and lowest for WPI100 and WPI0. The osteoblast-like MG63 cell metabolic and alkaline phosphatase activities in direct contact experiments with composites increased with increasing aragonite content over 3 weeks. Moreover, the degradation products of these composites were non-cytotoxic and led to mineral-like deposits in extracellular matrix. These WPI-aragonite biocomposite hydrogels are potent candidates for bone repair applications