APPLICATION OF A ONE-STEP REAL TIME RT-PCR PROTOCOL FOR NOROVIRUS DETECTION IN SHELLFISH HARVERSTED AND COMMERCIALIZED IN CAMPANIA REGION

Shellfish are recognized as a potential vehicle of viral diseases. However, according to European Regulations, only bacteriological parameters (Salmonella and E. coli) are used to establish their microbiological quality. Because of the lack of a standard reference method for the detection of viruses, data on the incidence of enteric viruses in European production areas are still limited. Aim of the present study was the evaluation of the Norovirus (NoV) contamination in shellfish from different harvesting areas (both class A and B) and from registered and not- registered retails of the Campania region (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Seventy shellfish (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were collected from 15 harvesting areas, one authorized and two not authorized retails and were examined for virus presence (NoV genogroups I and II) by Real Time PCR. Ten harvesting areas (66%) showed presence of viral contamination, with three of them belonging to A areas and seven to B areas. The shellfish collected from the registered retail tested positive for Norovirus presence, whereas the shellfish collected from not-authorized retails didn't show viral contamination. Twenty-nine samples were positive for genogroup II, ten of which tested positive also for NoV genogroup I

Novel anticancer drug 5h-pyro[3,2-a] phenoxazin-5-one (PPH) regulates lncRNA HOTAIR and HOXC genes in human MCF-7 cells

Breast cancer in women is the second most commonly cancer, after skin cancer. The percentage of mortality risk for breast cancer is 1 in 37 women (2.7%), which makes breast cancer represent the second cause of cancer death in women. Recently, new research based on previously published work in systemic chemotherapy and endocrine therapy field, have improved the incidence rates. The quinonic nucleus is common to many natural and synthetic products associated with anticancer and antibacterial activities, these compounds are typically DNA-intercalating agents. The Class I Homeobox genes (HOX in human and hox in mouse) control embryonic development and specific determination of positional identity anteroposterior axis of the human body. The HOX genes, are 39 transcription factors related to morphological, physiological disease. It has been demonstrated that any deregulation into the network is able to induce neoplastic transformation. Particularly, HOXC locus collaborating with lncRNA HOTAIR play a key role in breast cancer. In this study, our group evaluated the chemical and metabolic stability of new anticancer molecule 5H-pyro[3,2-a] phenoxazin-5-one (PPH). In a recent paper, we have already demonstrated that a new and potent anticancer synthetic iminoquinone, the 5H-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazin-5-one (PPH), is able to inhibit a large number of lymphoblastoid and solid-tumor-derived cells at submicromolar concentrations. Based on our previous research, we decided to analyze the cytotoxic effect and capability of PPH to control the lncRNA HOTAIR and HOXC locus gene expression in human breast cancer cells MCF-7, in order to demonstrate its role like potential new breast cancer antitumor drug

Evidence for a spectroscopic direct detection of reflected light from 51 Peg b

The detection of reflected light from an exoplanet is a difficult technical challenge at optical wavelengths. Even though this signal is expected to replicate the stellar signal, not only is it several orders of magnitude fainter, but it is also hidden among the stellar noise. We apply a variant of the cross-correlation technique to HARPS observations of 51 Peg to detect the reflected signal from planet 51 Peg b. Our method makes use of the cross-correlation function of a binary mask with high-resolution spectra to amplify the minute planetary signal that is present in the spectra by a factor proportional to the number of spectral lines when performing the cross correlation. The resulting cross-correlation functions are then normalized by a stellar template to remove the stellar signal. Carefully selected sections of the resulting normalized CCFs are stacked to increase the planetary signal further. The recovered signal allows probing several of the planetary properties, including its real mass and albedo. We detect evidence for the reflected signal from planet 51 Peg b at a significance of 3\sigma_noise. The detection of the signal permits us to infer a real mass of 0.46^+0.06_-0.01 M_Jup (assuming a stellar mass of 1.04\;M_Sun) for the planet and an orbital inclination of 80^+10_-19 degrees. The analysis of the data also allows us to infer a tentative value for the (radius-dependent) geometric albedo of the planet. The results suggest that 51Peg b may be an inflated hot Jupiter with a high albedo (e.g., an albedo of 0.5 yields a radius of 1.9 \pm 0.3 R_Jup for a signal amplitude of 6.0\pm0.4 x 10^-5). We confirm that the method we perfected can be used to retrieve an exoplanet's reflected signal, even with current observing facilities. The advent of next generation of observing facilities will yield new opportunities for this type of technique to probe deeper into exoplanets.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Novel Anticancer Drug 5H-pyro[3,2-a] Phenoxazin-5-one (PPH) Regulates lncRNA HOTAIR and HOXC genes in Human MCF-7 Cells

Breast cancer in women is the second most commonly cancer, after skin cancer. The percentage of mortalityrisk for breast cancer is 1 in 37 women (2.7%), which makes breast cancer represent the second cause of cancerdeath in women. Recently, new research based on previously published work in systemic chemotherapy andendocrine therapy field, have improved the incidence rates. The quinonic nucleus is common to many naturaland synthetic products associated with anticancer and antibacterial activities, these compounds are typicallyDNA-intercalating agents. The Class I Homeobox genes (HOX in human and hox in mouse) control embryonicdevelopment and specific determination of positional identity anteroposterior axis of the human body. The HOXgenes, are 39 transcription factors related to morphological, physiological disease. It has been demonstratedthat any deregulation into the network is able to induce neoplastic transformation. Particularly, HOXC locuscollaborating with lncRNA HOTAIR play a key role in breast cancer. In this study, our group evaluated the chemical and metabolic stability of new anticancer molecule 5H-pyro[3,2-a] phenoxazin-5-one (PPH). In a recent paper, we have already demonstrated that a new and potent anticancersynthetic iminoquinone, the 5H-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazin-5-one (PPH), is able to inhibit a large number oflymphoblastoid and solid-tumor-derived cells at submicromolar concentrations. Based on our previous research, we decided to analyze the cytotoxic effect and capability of PPH to control thelncRNA HOTAIR and HOXC locus gene expression in human breast cancer cells MCF-7, in order to demonstrateits role like potential new breast cancer antitumor drug

The RoPES project with HARPS and HARPS-N. I. A system of super-Earths orbiting the moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986

We report the discovery of a system of two super-Earths orbiting the moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986. This work is part of the RoPES RV program of G- and K-type stars, which combines radial velocities (RVs) from the HARPS and HARPS-N spectrographs to search for short-period terrestrial planets. HD 176986 b and c are super-Earth planets with masses of 5.74 and 9.18 M$_{\oplus}$, orbital periods of 6.49 and 16.82 days, and distances of 0.063 and 0.119 AU in orbits that are consistent with circular. The host star is a K2.5 dwarf, and despite its modest level of chromospheric activity (log(R'hk) = - 4.90 +- 0.04), it shows a complex activity pattern. Along with the discovery of the planets, we study the magnetic cycle and rotation of the star. HD 176986 proves to be suitable for testing the available RV analysis technique and further our understanding of stellar activity.Comment: 21 pages, 24 figures, 7 table

The Quest for Light Sea Quarks: Algorithms for the Future

As part of a systematic algorithm study, we present first results on a performance comparison between a multibosonic algorithm and the hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm as employed by the SESAM collaboration. The standard Wilson fermion action is used on 32*16^3 lattices at beta=5.5.Comment: LaTeX, 3 pages, Lattice2001(algorithms

The SOPHIE search for northern extrasolar planets. II. A multi-planet system around HD9446

We report the discovery of a planetary system around HD9446, performed from radial velocity measurements secured with the spectrograph SOPHIE at the 193-cm telescope of the Haute-Provence Observatory during more than two years. At least two planets orbit this G5V, active star: HD9446b has a minimum mass of 0.7 M_Jup and a slightly eccentric orbit with a period of 30 days, whereas HD9446c has a minimum mass of 1.8 M_Jup and a circular orbit with a period of 193 days. As for most of the known multi-planet systems, the HD9446-system presents a hierarchical disposition, with a massive outer planet and a lighter inner planet.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in A&

On the relationships between tectonics and volcanism in the offshore Capo Vaticano, SE Tyrrhenian Sea, during the Plio-Pleistocene

High-resolution bathymetry and a grid of single-channel reflection seismic profiles (Sparker and Chirp) were recently recorded in a sector of the upper slope of Capo Vaticano (CV) promontory (Tyrrhenian coast, W Calabria) where forward and inverse modeling of previously acquired aeromagnetic data highlight the presence of a WNW©\ESE elongated, 20 km long and 3¨C5 km wide, magnetized body extending from sea floor to about 3 km below sea level. Magnetic properties of this body are consistent with those of the medium to highly evolved volcanic rocks of the Aeolian Arc (De Ritis et al., 2010). Forthwith offshore promontory, the bathymetry highlights a complex-shape seamount that develops along a WNW direction, orthogonally interrupted by NE-trending ridges (Loreto et al., 2013), the largest of which shows major- and minor-axes of ca. 11 and 2 km, respectively. Summit elevation is ca. 70 m. Several vented fluids points were imaged on top of the seamount by chirp profiles. The largest of which rises from seafloor up to 6/7 m within water column, assuming the acoustic water velocity of 1500 m/s. Two faults systems associated with extensional faults are mainly observed on seismic profiles. High-angle NW-trending normal faults, SW-dipping, formed along the continental slope connecting the south-west continental shelf of the CV promontory to the Gioia Tauro basin (Pepe et al., 2013). These faults generally have small displacements, up to 40 m, and are sealed by Pleistocene deposits. A NE-trending normal fault, SE-dipping, is also observed on both chirp and sparker profiles. Its length is estimate to be more than 30 km, partially borders the NE-trending ridge intersecting the NW-trending fault. Landward, another NE-trending normal fault affects Pliocene and lower Pleistocene, and is sealed by upper Pleistocene. The described new geophysical data lead to a re-examination of the magnetic anomaly field interpretation. In fact, the revealed NE-trending ridge encounters the CV NW-SE ridge just where the peak value of the Reduced-to-the-Pole magnetic anomaly lies. Therefore, the inherent source body is emplaced where the maximum fracturing occurs. This suggests highly magnetized material crystallized in a vertical conduit that fed a volcanic system, likely fault-controlled, surrounded by the almost not magnetized rocks of the Gioia and the Paola sedimentary basins and of the Arco Calabro Peloritano units

Understanding stellar activity-induced radial velocity jitter using simultaneous K2 photometry and HARPS RV measurements

One of the best ways to improve our understanding of the stellar activity-induced signal in radial velocity (RV) measurements is through simultaneous high-precision photometric and RV observations. This is of prime importance to mitigate the RV signal induced by stellar activity and therefore unveil the presence of low-mass exoplanets. The K2 Campaign 7 and 8 field-of-views were located in the southern hemisphere, and provided a unique opportunity to gather unprecedented simultaneous high precision photometric observation with K2 and high-precision RV measurements with the HARPS spectrograph to study the relationship between photometric variability and RV jitter. We observed nine stars with different levels of activity; from quiet to very active. We probe the presence of any meaningful relation between measured RV jitter and the simultaneous photometric variation, and also other activity indicators (e.g. BIS, FWHM, $logR'_{HK}$, and F8), by evaluating the strength and significance of the correlation between RVs and each indicator. We found that for the case of very active stars, strong and significant correlations exist between almost all the observables and measured RVs; however, for lower activity levels the correlations become random. Except for the F8 which its strong correlation with RV jitter persists over a wide range of stellar activity level, and thus our result suggests that F8 might be a powerful proxy for activity induced RV jitter. Moreover, we examine the capability of two state-of-the-art modeling techniques, namely the FF' method and SOAP2.0, in accurately predicting the RV jitter amplitude using the simultaneous photometric observation. We found that for the very active stars both techniques can reasonably well predict the amplitude of the RV jitter, however, at lower activity levels the FF' method underpredicts the RV jitter amplitude.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in A&