PRESENZA DEL RARO MACCABEUS TENTACULATUS POR, 1973 (PRIAPULIDA) NEL MAR LIGURE

An adult female specimen, an exuvia and several larvae of Priapulida identified as Maccabeus tentaculatus were found off Livorno (Ligurian Sea). Specimens were collected at about 100 m water depth and show morphological traits that match the original description. The finding widens the geographic range of the species, which previously was known only from the eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea. The actual population appears viable but scarce. These rare animals assume particular relevance in phylogenetic analyses aimed at shedding light on the in-group relationships of the Priapulida

Immunity to poliovirus among children and the elderly in north-east Italy

Introduction. Italy and Europe were declared polio-free in June 2002, but increasing migration, even from undeveloped countries where polio still exists, may lead to a come-back of circulating poliovirus (PV) and infection in previously polio-free areas. It is consequently advisable to continue to monitor the immunity of the population in polio-free areas. The aim of this study was to assess the current prevalence of neutralizing antibodies in recently-immunized children and in elderly people who were never vaccinated. Methods. Sera from 511 healthy subjects resident in the Veneto Region were examined to assay their antibody titer for PV 1, 2 and 3, using the microneutralization test. Data were analyzed by chi-squared test, Student?s t-test and linear regression analysis, using EPI-Info 2000 supplied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA, USA). Results. Neutralizing antibodies in group A (231 subjects aged 1-17 years) showed significantly higher geometric mean titers (GMTs) than in group B (280 subjects aged 65-100 years) for all three PV serotypes (P : 0.001). Nobody simultaneously lacked neutralizing antibodies for all three serotypes. There were no difference between the two groups in terms of male/female GMTs for the three PV. Antibodies decreased with time since vaccination, but the difference was only significant for PV 3. GMTs were lower in the elderly, with no significant difference among the three PV. Discussion. The population examined showed a good level of protection against the three PV strains: both groups A (vaccinated) and B (naturally immunized) revealed a valid immunity to poliovirus. Conclusion. Immunization programs and immunity status population screening are still advisable until polio has been worldwide eradicated

Relatório Final de Estágio

Relatório Final de Estágio Supervisionado, agregando os resultados das disciplinas de ESI e ESII, apresentado como requisito à obtençao do titulo de licenciado em Letras - Espanhol, na modalidade a distância, da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), realizado no Colégio Estadual Jorge Schmmelpfeng

CHANGE AND GENETIC ASPECTS OF BODY CONDITION SCORE (BCS) IN ITALIAN BROWN CATTLE

Body condition score (BCS) at approximately four-week intervals were taken during over 2 years (from 2001 to 2002) on 1,323 Italian Brown cattle reared in 50 farms. The aims of this study were to investigate the pattern of changes during lactation of BCS and to estimate heritability value of BCS and its genetic correlations with daily milk yield, using a test-day model. A total of 10,460 records of BCS were available for statistical analysis. Only cows with at least two records were analyzed and repeated observations per cows were considered repeated measurements of the same trait. Data were analyzed using ANOVA according to a time-dependent model based on days in milk. R_ accounted for 72% of total variation of test-day BCS. The pattern of change in BCS appeared closely related to stage of lactation. Body reserves decreased from calving until first 3 months of lactation and were restored in mid and late lactation. Variance and covariance components and related parameters were estimated using a REML bi-trait procedure (unequal design) for BCS and milk yield. Heritability estimates for BCS and daily milk yield were 0.31 and 0.19, respectively. Condition score was negatively correlated (-0.32) with daily milk yield

Studio della meiofauna nei pressi di un rigassificatore offshore

We report herein an investigation of spatial and temporal variations of meiofauna around an offshore regasification terminal located about 22 km offshore the coast of Livorno and Pisa (Ligurian Sea). Samples were collected in 12 sites located at three different distances from the plant. A total of six surveys were carried out, starting before the installation of the terminal. The investigation revealed the presence of 29 major taxa, with total meiofauna average densities ranging from 69 to 360 ind./10 cm2. The meiobenthic community varied significantly over years, irrespective to the distance from the terminal. No significant spatial variations of meiofauna around the regasification terminal were detected

Manufacturing Component Parts of Mining Equipment With Application of Hardening Technologies

To ensure highest hardness and wear resistance the authors develop an aggregate technology of manufacturing mining equipment component parts. The aggregate technology of manufacturing faced component parts includes the following operations: plasma-jet hard-facing with high-speed steels; high-temperature tempering after the facing, ultrasonic surface strengthening treatment, additional tempering, reconstructive facing

Italian patients with hemoglobinopathies exhibit a 5-fold increase in age-standardized lethality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns have been expressed worldwide for patients with hemoglobinopathies and their vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data from Lebanon confirmed a role of underlying comorbidities on COVID-19 severity, but no deaths among a cohort of thalassemia patients.1 Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) displayed a broad range of severity after SARS-CoV-2 infection, spanning from a favorable outcome unless pre-existing comorbidities (UK cohort)2 to high case mortality in US.3 History of pain, heart, lung, and renal comorbidities was identified as risk factors of worse COVID-19 outcomes by the US SECURE-SCD Registry.4 While Italy experienced a death rate in the general population among the highest in the world, preliminary data from the first wave of the pandemic showed a lower than expected number of infected thalassemia patients (updated up to April 10, 2020), likely due to earlier and more vigilant self-isolation compared to the general population.