<i>Vibrio communis</i> sp. nov., isolated from the marine animals <i>Mussismilia hispida, Phyllogorgia dilatata, Palythoa caribaeorum, Palythoa variabilis</i> and <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>

Eight Vibrio isolates originating from the marine corals Mussismilia hispida and Phyllogorgia dilatata and the zoanthids Palythoa caribaeorum and Palythoa variabilis in Brazil and the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in Ecuador were studied by means of a polyphasic approach. The novel isolates formed a tight monophyletic group in the genus Vibrio and were closely related to species of the Vibrio harveyi group, to which they showed more than 99?% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Analysis based on concatenated sequences of the following seven genes, 16S rRNA, gyrB, recA, rpoA, topA, pyrH and mreB (5633 bp in length), showed clear separation between the isolates and species of the V. harveyi group. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, performed previously, revealed that a representative isolate of this group, LMG 20370, was clearly separate from known Vibrio species (it belonged to the so-called AFLP cluster A31). DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) experiments with representative isolates and type strains of the V. harveyi species group revealed high DDH between the novel isolates (more than 74?%) and less than 70?% DDH towards type strains of related Vibrio species, proving the novel species status of the isolates. Phenotypically, the novel species belongs to the arginine dihydrolase (A)-negative, lysine decarboxylase (L)-positive and ornithine decarboxylase (O)-positive (A-/L+/O+) cluster reported previously. Most species of the V. harveyi group (i.e. Vibrio rotiferianus, V. harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus) also belong to this A-/L+/O+ cluster. However, several phenotypic features can be used for the identification of the novel species. In contrast to its closest phylogenetic neighbours, the novel species exhibits esterase (C4) and N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase activities, but it does not produce acetoin, does not use citrate, a-ketoglutaric acid or propionic acid and does not ferment melibiose. The novel species can also be differentiated on the basis of the presence of the fatty acids C17?:?0, C17?:?1?8c, iso-C17?:?0 and iso-C13?:?0 and the absence of the fatty acid C18?:?0. The name Vibrio communis sp. nov. is proposed for this taxon. Strain R-40496T (=LMG 25430T =CAIM 1816T) is the type strain

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

Improving a Very Light Aircraft Dedicated Flight Test Instrumentation System

We report on the enhancements to MNEMOSINE, the Flight Test Instrumentation system designed and developed by the Department to meet the specific requirements of Flight Testing Ultra Light Machine. The system, initially conceived and put up to fulfill bot research and didactic activities carried out on the Department’s owned and operated TECNAM P92, after dozens of Flight Test missions has shown it’s quality, reliability ad dependability. It has recently been signed an agreement between the Department and Nando Groppo, one of the leading Italian Ultra Light Machine (ULM) manufacturers, aimed to the execution of Flight Testing activities on Groppo’s brand new machine, in a joint effort. Using this occasion, and capitalizing the feedback from the completed Flight Test activities, MNEMOSINE has undergone a major improvement in order to be ready to be used as one of the principal resources for the planned certification of the XL. Enhancements and additions include a brand new, rough and accurate Air Data system, an experimental Flight Control force measurement system, a very accurate Data Time Stamping feature and finally a Top Switch counter

Experiences in Academic Flight Testing Education

The paper aims to detail the educational flight testing activities performed at the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at the Politecnico di Milano (DSTA-PoliMi), including the development of low-cost, reliable flight testing instrumentation (FTI) and the administration of the graduate course in flight testing. Design/methodology/approach - The flight testing course program closely adheres to the typical content of an introductory course offered in a professional flight testing school. However, within academic courses, it has a unique feature: each student is required to plan, perform and report on a real flight test experience, acting as a flight test engineer. Educational activities in this framework have been successfully matched to applied research and technical support for private companies. Findings - At the educational level, several elements arise that are rarely concentrated within a single course, such as multidisciplinary integration, individual conceive-design-implement-operate (CDIO) project, real-life experimental procedures and techniques, teamwork, communication and reporting, relation with non-academic partners. Practical implications - Based on the development of a FTI system for light aviation and on the flight testing course, DSTA-PoliMi has built a solid capability in flight testing, introducing graduate students to this specific niche of expertise and empowering co-operation with companies in the light aviation environment, while offering capabilities and tools that are typically regarded as a prerogative of major aerospace companies. Originality/value - The paper discusses an original approach to flight testing education in an academic setting that avoids the high costs and complexity connected to certified aircraft flight operations and instrumentation, nevertheless allowing the achievement of significant results, also in applied engineering research

Quantitative Detection of Active Vibrios Associated with White Plague Disease in Mussismilia braziliensis Corals

Over recent decades several coral diseases have been reported as a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems causing the decline of corals cover and diversity around the world. The development of techniques that improve the ability to detect and quantify microbial agents involved in coral disease will aid in the elucidation of disease cause, facilitating coral disease detection and diagnosis, identification and pathogen monitoring, pathogen sources, vectors, and reservoirs. The genus Vibrio is known to harbor pathogenic strains to marine organisms. One of the best-characterized coral pathogens is Vibrio coralliilyticus, an aetilogic agent of White Plague Disease (WPD). We used Mussismilia coral tissue (healthy and diseased specimens) to develop a rapid reproducible detection system for vibrios based on RT-QPCR and SYBR chemistry. We were able to detect total vibrios in expressed RNA targeting the 16S rRNA gene at 5.23 × 10 6 copies/μg RNA and V. coralliilyticus targeting the pyrH gene at 5.10 × 10 3 copies/μg RNA in coral tissue. Detection of V. coralliilyticus in diseased and in healthy samples suggests that WPD in the Abrolhos Bank may be caused by a consortium of microorganism and not only a single pathogen. We developed a more practical and economic system compared with probe uses for the real-time detection and quantif ication of vibrios from coral tissues by using the 16S rRNA and pyrH gene. This qPCR assay is a reliable tool for the monitoring of coral pathogens, and can be useful to prevent, control, or reduce impacts in this ecosystem

Marinomonas brasilensis sp nov., isolated from the coral Mussismilia hispida, and reclassification of Marinomonas basaltis as a later heterotypic synonym of Marinomonas communis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)A Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain R-40503(T), was isolated from mucus of the reef-builder coral Mussismilia hispida, located in the Sao Sebastiao Channel, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain R-40503(T) belongs to the genus Marinomonas. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of R-40503(T) was above 97% with the type strains of Marinomonas vaga, M. basaltis, M. communis and M. pontica, and below 97% with type strains of the other Marinomonas species. Strain R-40503(T) showed less than 35% DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) with the type strains of the phylogenetically closest Marinomonas species, demonstrating that it should be classified into a novel species. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses provided further evidence for the proposal of a novel species. Concurrently, a close genomic relationship between M. basaltis and M. communis was observed. The type strains of these two species showed 78% DDH and 63% AFLP pattern similarity. Their phenotypic features were very similar, and their DNA G+C contents were identical (46.3 mol%). Collectively, these data demonstrate unambiguously that Marinomonas basaltis is a later heterotypic synonym of Marinomonas communis. Several phenotypic features can be used to discriminate between Marinomonas species. The novel strain R-40503(T) is clearly distinguishable from its neighbours. For instance, it shows oxidase and urease activity, utilizes L-asparagine and has the fatty acid C(12:1) 3-OH but lacks C(10:0) and C(12:0). The name Marinomonas brasilensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain R-40503(T) (=R-278(T) =LMG 25434(T) =CAIM 1459(T)). The DNA G+C content of strain R-40503(T) is 46.5 mol%.61511701175Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)IFSFederal Public Planning Service - Science Policy, BelgiumFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Il progetto pro-dsa di bologna: assessment dinamico e interventi precoci nel primo biennio della scuola primaria.

Il primo biennio della scuola primaria costituisce un periodo di primaria importanza per l’individuazione precoce delle difficoltà di apprendimento. L’individuazione precoce tuttavia deve essere accompagnata da interventi di potenziamento didattico e da valutazioni dinamiche che permettano di comprendere le traiettorie di sviluppo, come indicato dall’approccio RTI (Response to Intervention) (Fuchs & Fuchs, 2006). Nel presente contributo verranno presentati i dati relativi al progetto PRO-DSA di Bologna. Il progetto prevede la somministrazione, da parte delle insegnanti, di prove collettive di letto scrittura (Prove ZERO) a Gennaio e Maggio della classe prima e ad Aprile della classe seconda. Sono previste attività di potenziamento didattico, approfondimenti diagnostici e interventi specifici lungo il percorso. Verranno discussi i dati relativi alla rilevazione di indicatori di difficoltà di apprendimento nella letto-scrittura nelle diverse fasi del progetto