Isolation and characterization of an H9N2 influenza virus isolated in Argentina

As part of our ongoing efforts on animal influenza surveillance in Argentina, an H9N2 virus was isolated from a wild aquatic bird (Netta peposaca), A/rosy-billed pochard/Argentina/CIP051-559/2007 (H9N2) - herein referred to as 559/H9N2. Due to the important role that H9N2 viruses play in the ecology of influenza in nature, the 559/H9N2 isolate was characterized molecularly and biologically. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene revealed that the 559/H9N2 virus maintained an independent evolutionary pathway and shared a sister-group relationship with North American viruses, suggesting a common ancestor. The rest of the genome segments clustered with viruses from South America. Experimental inoculation of the 559/H9N2 in chickens and quail revealed efficient replication and transmission only in quail. Our results add to the notion of the unique evolutionary trend of avian influenza viruses in South America. Our study increases our understanding of H9N2 viruses in nature and emphasizes the importance of expanding animal influenza surveillance efforts to better define the ecology of influenza viruses at a global scale.Fil: Xu, Kemin. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Ferreri, Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Rimondi, Agustina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Olivera, Valeria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Romano, Marcelo. Wildlife Conservation Society; ArgentinaFil: Ferreyra, Hebe. Wildlife Conservation Society; ArgentinaFil: Rago, María Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Uhart, Marcela María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chen, Hongjun. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Sutton, Troy. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Pereda, Ariel Julián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Daniel R.. University of Maryland; Estados Unido

Low elasticity of thyroid nodules at ultrasound elastography is correlated with malignancy, degree of fibrosis and high expression of galectin-3 and fibronectin-1

ackground: Thyroid ultrasound (US) elastography provides an estimation of tissue stiffness and is helpful to differentiate malignant from benign lesions. Tissue proprieties and molecules causing stiffness are not established. The aim of the study was to correlate US elastography findings with tissue properties in thyroid nodules. Methods: A total of 115 thyroid nodules from 112 patients who underwent surgery for the presence of Thy 3 (indeterminate) cytology (n = 67), Thy 4-5 (suspicious - indicative of carcinoma) cytology (n = 47), or large goiter in the presence of Thy 2 cytology (n = 1) and suspicious US features were examined by US elastography. Tissues obtained after surgery were characterized for cell number, microvessel density, fibrosis, and expression of galectin-3 (Gal-3) and fibronectin-1 (FN-1). Results: Low elasticity on qualitative US elastography (LoEl) was found in 66 nodules (one benign and 65 carcinomas); high elasticity (HiEl) was found in 49 nodules (46 benign and three carcinomas; p < 0.0001). Quantitative analysis, performed in 24 nodules and expressed as elastic ratio between the strain of the nodule and that of the surrounding thyroid parenchyma, showed a mean of 1.90 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.18-2.77) in 14 nodules with LoEl, and a mean of 1.01 (IQR 0.91-1.10) in 10 nodules with HiEl (p = 0.002). Stiffness did not correlate with cell number and was inversely correlated with microvessel density. Fibrosis was higher in nodules with LoEl than in those with HiEl (p = 0.009) and in carcinomas than in benign nodules (p = 0.02). Fibrosis was higher in nodules with high expression of Gal-3 (p < 0.001) and FN-1 (p = 0.004). Fibrosis and expression of Gal-3 and FN-1 were higher in the classic compared with the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma and lower in follicular adenomas. Conclusions: Low elasticity at US elastography is highly correlated with malignancy. Nodule stiffness is correlated with fibrosis and expression of Gal-3 and FN-1. These features are more evident in the classic than in the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Liderazgo del capital intelectual en el marco organizacional

La investigación exploró la influencia de las Competencias Genéricas Transversales (CGT) sobre el fortalecimiento del Capital Intelectual (CI) en las organizaciones, desde la perspectiva y necesidades del liderazgo. Las CGT constituyen habilidades de las personas que son determinantes de los resultados organizacionales, mientras que el CI es el conjunto de activos intangibles que agregan valor a la organización. La consideración de ambas áreas del conocimiento permitió identificar las competencias que debía poseer un líder para desarrollar el CI como principal ventaja competitiva en las organizaciones.La bibliografía consultada permitió consensuar cuatro componentes del CI: el capital Humano, el capital Estructural, el capital Cliente y el capital Innovación. Sobre dichos componentes, las CGT con mayor influencia sobre el CI fueron las competencias que transfieren conocimientos y habilidades en la coordinación de acciones, la resolución de conflictos, el pensamiento sistémico y crítico, la toma efectiva de decisiones, el aprendizaje continuo y autónomo, las habilidades interpersonales —en particular las ligadas al uso del lenguaje—, la autogestión de las emociones, las habilidades en el manejo de las Tecnologías de la Información, el uso de un segundo idioma en la comunicación, la creatividad, la responsabilidad social y el conocimiento de la profesión. La Gestión del Conocimiento (conjunto de acciones de gestión orientadas a manejar las dinámicas del conocimiento para favorecer los fines institucionales), a pesar de no estar en la lista de CGT, fue identificada como una competencia determinante en el fortalecimiento del CI.El equipo de investigación desarrolló un “Cuestionario de Autoevaluación de Conciencia del CI” que puede servir, como primer paso, para aquellas empresas que no disponen de los conocimientos ni los recursos para la administración de su CI. Asimismo, como resultado del análisis correlacional entre las CGT y los componentes y dimensiones de CI, se elaboró una “Guía de Fortalecimiento del CI” para la implementación de estrategias de desarrollo del CI con base en las CGT.La exploración confirmó que el desarrollo de las CGT contribuye a fortalecer de un modo general el CI en prácticamente todos sus componentes. Consecuentemente, es posible concebir una agenda de acción para el liderazgo del CI, basada en el desarrollo de las CGT. Por último, se identificaron futuras líneas de investigación, como por ejemplo, la convergencia conceptual entre Capital Humano y Talento Humano, la influencia del CI en la formación y capacitación en CGT y la investigación empírica del cuestionario de autoevaluación de conciencia del CI y de la guía de fortalecimiento mencionados anteriormente

High-Conductance Channel Formation in Yeast Mitochondria is Mediated by F-ATP Synthase e and g Subunits

Background/Aims: The permeability transition pore (PTP) is an unselective, Ca2+-dependent high conductance channel of the inner mitochondrial membrane whose molecular identity has long remained a mystery. The most recent hypothesis is that pore formation involves the F-ATP synthase, which consistently generates Ca2+-activated channels. Available structures do not display obvious features that can accommodate a channel; thus, how the pore can form and whether its activity can be entirely assigned to F-ATP synthase is the matter of debate. In this study, we investigated the role of F-ATP synthase subunits e, g and b in PTP formation. Methods: Yeast null mutants for e, g and the first transmembrane (TM) α-helix of subunit b were generated and evaluated for mitochondrial morphology (electron microscopy), membrane potential (Rhodamine123 fluorescence) and respiration (Clark electrode). Homoplasmic C23S mutant of subunit a was generated by in vitro mutagenesis followed by biolistic transformation. F-ATP synthase assembly was evaluated by BN-PAGE analysis. Cu2+ treatment was used to induce the formation of F-ATP synthase dimers in the absence of e and g subunits. The electrophysiological properties of F-ATP synthase were assessed in planar lipid bilayers. Results: Null mutants for the subunits e and g display dimer formation upon Cu2+ treatment and show PTP-dependent mitochondrial Ca2+ release but not swelling. Cu2+ treatment causes formation of disulfide bridges between Cys23 of subunits a that stabilize dimers in absence of e and g subunits and favors the open state of wild-type F-ATP synthase channels. Absence of e and g subunits decreases conductance of the F-ATP synthase channel about tenfold. Ablation of the first TM of subunit b, which creates a distinct lateral domain with e and g, further affected channel activity. Conclusion: F-ATP synthase e, g and b subunits create a domain within the membrane that is critical for the generation of the high-conductance channel, thus is a prime candidate for PTP formation. Subunits e and g are only present in eukaryotes and may have evolved to confer this novel function to F-ATP synthase

Elotuzumab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a multicenter, retrospective real-world experience with 200 cases outside of controlled clinical trials

In the ELOQUENT-3 trial, the combination of elotuzumab, pomalidomide and dexamethasone (EloPd) proved a superior clinical benefit over Pd with a manageable toxicity profile, leading to its approval in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), who had received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI). We report here a real-world experience of 200 RRMMs treated with EloPd in 35 Italian centers outside of clinical trials. In our dataset, the median number of prior lines of therapy was 2, with 51% of cases undergoing autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and 73% exposed to daratumumab. After a median follow-up of 9 months, 126 patients stopped EloPd, most of them (88.9%) because of disease progression. The overall response rate (ORR) was 55.4%, in line with the pivotal trial results. Regarding adverse events, our cohort experienced a toxicity profile similar to the ELOQUENT-3 trial, with no significant differences between younger (<70 years) and older patients. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7 months, shorter than that observed in the ELOQUENT-3, probably due to the different clinical characteristics of the two cohorts. Interestingly, the ISS stage III (HR:2.55) was associated with worse PFS. Finally, our series's median overall survival (OS) was shorter than that observed in the ELOQUENT-3 trial (17.5 versus 29.8 months). In conclusion, our real-world study confirms EloPd as a safe and possible therapeutic choice for RRMM who received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a PI

Landslide inventory and main geomorphological features affecting slope stability in the Picentino river basin (Campania, southern Italy)

The landslide inventory of the Picentino basin was realized at 1:25,000, with focus on main geomorphological features affecting slope stability. It is based on different sets of air-photos (scales 1:33,000–1:18,000, dated up to 1998), and on field surveys. Among shallow landslides, channelized debris flows strongly prevail, originated as debris slides on moderately steep slopes. Further sectors are affected by deeper slope movements of greater extent. Items related to tectonics, erosion processes, and anthropized sectors are also mapped. Relevant predisposing factors to slope instability are shown in 1:100,000 thematic maps. In addition, shallow landslides of the 1998 inventory were compared to those derived from two event-based inventories (PSAI 2002, PSAI 2011, dated 1998–2005 at 1:13,000–1:10,000). Discrepancies are mainly ascribable to types of employed air-photos, age of surveys, scale of mapping, and freshness of forms, remarking the relevance of suitable shallow-landslide inventories for susceptibility evaluations

La società che cambia. Stranieri a scuola: scenari, buone prassi e criticità

In Italy, combined to the immigration of a temporary nature, in the last years, it has been possible to register a progressive and widespread stabilization of the foreign population. At the same time, however, it is still impossible to establish predefined behaviors of integration. In order to draw strategies of composition of the different ethnicities avoiding processes of assimilation or “subordinate integration”, it would be more appropriate to consider the “multiple belongings”. The young generations of immigrants play fundamental role. In particular, learning the language of the destination country is unanimously considered as a conditio sine qua non for the schooling success and for the integration latu sensu. Education represents a substantial investment for the young and for his family since it constitutes a key to social mobility, especially for the “second generations”. The principal aim of this paper is to analyze the integration level of foreign students in the school system particularly from a linguistic point of view taking into account the level of the command of the Italian language as an indicator of integration in the receiving society. More precisely we intended to determine both the proportion of foreign students (and their main characteristics) who manifest linguistic lacks and the demographic and socio-economic factors that influence the indicator. Concerning the data, we mainly used data of the field survey we conducted ad hoc

La lingua italiana: fattore chiave di integrazione dei minori stranieri

Molteplici sono gli ambiti che costituiscono oggetto dell’intervento in campo sociale. Fra di essi, l’integrazione dei minori stranieri nel sistema scolastico, rappresenta un tema di crescente interesse e di estrema attualità. Il presente lavoro - incentrato sullo studio della tipologia delle risorse umane e finanziarie impiegate nonché degli strumenti utilizzati - si pone l’obiettivo di analizzare l’efficacia degli interventi realizzati in questo campo evidenziandone le criticità. Il contesto pugliese ed, in particolar modo, il territorio della Provincia di Bari, offrono, in tal senso, numerosi spunti di approfondimento.Among the numerous fields of the social intervention, the integration of young immigrants in the education system of the receiving country, represents one of the most interesting and topical. The principal aim of this paper – centred on the study of the typology of the adopted measures as well as of the financial and human resources employed - is to analyse the effectiveness of the policies realised in this field focusing on their critical aspects. The Apulia context and, in particular, the territory of the Bari province, offer many interesting starting points for the thorough examination of this subject