102,067 research outputs found
Poveri ma belli
No full textMostra promossa da Les Ateliers de CriBeau, con il patrocinio de Mairie de 1er arrondissement de Paris e prodotta da Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna. Mostra fotografica che raccoglie circa cinquanta fotografie prodotte dal fotografo Rodrigo Pais nel suo primo decennio di attività (1955-1964). Anni che coincidono con l’incalzante sviluppo economico e sociale, dell’Italia uscita dalle miserie del secondo dopoguerra e percorsa da un fremito di rinnovamento che la cambierà profondamente. Un’Italia in cui la capitale diviene un punto nevralgico di situazioni ed eventi. L’obiettivo fotografico di Pais raccoglie il clima di cambiamento e la voglia di trasformazione che si mescola inevitabilmente alla condizione di sofferenza ed inadeguatezza che ha investito il tessuto sociale italiano negli anni della grande rinascita. Un’Italia rurale e provinciale che in molti casi si riversa nelle aree urbane in cerca di lavoro e fortuna, caratterizzata da una forte spinta verso la modernizzazione ma allo stesso tempo ancora profondamente radicata al passato. Sono gli anni delle gite domenicali sulle nuove auto appena acquistate e della voglia di spensieratezza, in un clima di brulicante fermento e di boom economico
Nitrogen and carbon mineralisation of different Meliaceae derivatives
No full textAmong Meliaceae derivatives, neem cake is usually used as a fertilizer; however its origin and industrial processing are often unknown, so that its effect on soil fertility is not predictable. In this study, the effect of soil incorporation of 6 commercial neem cakes and leaves of Melia azedarach L. on nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) dynamics was investigated in a 118-day laboratory incubation experiment. Neem cake at a rate of 8 g/kg of soil and melia leaves at 16 g/kg were incorporated into the soil and their net N and C mineralisation were evaluated 2 h after application and at day 1, 2, 6, 12, 26, 54 and 118, by analysing a 50-g soil sample placed in 250 glass jars. The apparent net N mineralisation was well predicted by N concentration and C/N ratio of derivatives. The derivatives with a C/N ratio < 24 caused a net N mineralisation, whereas those with a C/N ratio ≥ 24 caused net N immobilisation. C mineralisation ranged between 15% and 25% and was not related to chemical composition of the derivative. Neem cake with a C/N ratio < 24 can be used to add N, while neem cake with a C/N ratio > 24 can be used to reduce soil mineral N
Changes in cathepsin gene expression and relative enzymatic activity during gilthead sea bream oogenesis
No full textThe aim of this study was to provide evidence on the modulation of lysosomal enzymes in terms of both gene expression and enzymatic activity during follicle maturation. For this purpose three lysosomal enzymes, cathepsins B, D, and L, were studied in relation to yolk formation and degradation, during the main phases of ovarian follicle growth in the pelagophil species, the sea bream Sparus aurata. Specific attention was focused on the gene expression quantification method, on the assay of enzymatic activities, and on the relationship between the proteolytic cleavage of yolk proteins (YPs), cathepsin gene expression and cathepsin activities. For the gene expression study, the cathepsins B-like and L-like mRNAs were isolated and partially or fully characterized, respectively; the sequences were used as design specific primers for the quantification of cathepsin gene expression by real-time PCR, in follicles at different stages of maturation. The enzymatic assays for cathepsins B, D, and L were optimized in terms of specificity, sensitivity and reliability, using specific substrates and inhibitors. In ovulated eggs, the lipovitellin I (LV I) was degraded and the changes in electrophoretic pattern were preceded by an increase in the activity of a cysteine proteinase, cathepsin L, and its mRNA. Cathepsin B did not appear to be involved in YP changes during the final maturation stage
Versatility of the O-Z flap for back reconstruction after giant basal cell carcinoma resection: A case report and review of the literature
No full textIntroduction: Giant basal cell carcinomas are rare and potentially aggressive skin malignancies that are infrequently reported in the Literature, and they usually require aggressive surgical resection and immediate soft tissue reconstruction with skin grafts or flaps. The large size of GBCCs has relevant implications not only for the metastatic potential, but even for the reconstructive challenging due to the possible limited availability of tissues for flap coverage. Presentation of case: We report the peculiar case of an old patient who underwent to GBCC resection of the back measuring 16 × 13 cm, and immediate reconstruction with a large O to Z flap harvested from the back; one-year follow-up examination revealed a satisfactory result and no recurrence of the disease was observed. Discussion: The review of the Literature showed that reconstructive options are mainly determined by the site and extent of the defect, exposed structures and patient characteristics and comorbidities, and previous series reported the use of skin grafts only, pedicled myocutaneous or perforator flaps, exclusively free flaps and a combination of techniques. Therefore, in this scenario local flaps such as O-Z flaps are less invasive procedures, that usually have lower rate of postoperative complications and shorter hospitalization compared to more complex procedures. Conclusions: Despite the use of O-Z flap is quite unusual for back reconstruction, we believe that this flap represents a valid and safe alternative in selected cases, particularly in the elderly and medically compromised patients with multiple comorbidities
Growth improvement by probiotic in European sea bass juveniles (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.), with particular attention to IGF-1, myostatin and cortisol gene expression
No full textIn the present study a Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strain Lactobacillus delbrueckii delbrueckii, acting as probiotic, was administered to Dicentrarchus labrax (European sea bass) juveniles for a short (25 days) and a long (59 days) time and the effects of the bacteria on gut colonization in sea bass juveniles cortisol level and growth were evaluated with respect to fish fed on live preys solely (control group). Measures of body weight and standard length (S.L.) were performed to assess juveniles growth, while cortisol, a hormone directly involved in stress responses, was chosen as a stress marker. In addition, the expression of two antagonistic genes involved in muscular growth (IGF-I and myostatin (MSTN) was analyzed through real-time PCR. Fish fed on live preys added with L. delbrueckii delbrueckii showed a high gut colonization by this Lactic Acid Bacteria strain. In the same fish a significantly (p < 0.05) lower cortisol level was observed with respect to those fed on live preys solely (control 5.1 ± 0.47 ng/g; group A: 3.6 ± 0.36 ng/g; group B: 4.5 ± 0.48 ng/g). In addition, an increase of IGF-I transcription was observed in fish treated with LAB, being IGF-I mRNA levels six times higher in both treated groups with respect to the control (control: 1 ± 0.01 a.u.; group A: 6.63 ± 0.18 a.u.; group B: 6.16 ± 0.15 a.u.). On the contrary, MSTN mRNA transcription was significantly inhibited in treated groups (control 1 ± 0.02 a.u.; group A: 0.71 ± 0.01 a.u.; group B: 0.26 ± 0.003 a.u.). These results are in agreement with the increase of body weight recorded in this study. Fish fed on LAB showed 81% higher body weight in long treated group and 28% in short treated one with respect to control. © 2006
De novo transcriptome assembly, functional annotation and characterization of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larval stage
No full textIn the present work, we assembled and characterized a de novo larval transcriptome of the Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus by taking advantage of publicly available databases with the goal of better understanding its larval development. The assembled transcriptome comprised 37,117 protein-coding transcripts, of which 13,633 full-length (>80% coverage), with an Ex90N50 of 3061 bp and 76% of complete and single-copy core vertebrate genes orthologues. Of these transcripts, 34,980 had a hit against the EggNOG database and 14,983 with the KEGG database. Codon usage bias was identified in processes such as translation and muscle development. By comparing our data with a set of representative fish species, 87.1% of tuna transcripts were included in orthogroups with other species and 5.1% in assembly-specific orthogroups, which were enriched in terms related to muscle and bone development, visual system and ion transport. Following this comparative approach, protein families related to myosin, extracellular matrix and immune system resulted significantly expanded in the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Altogether, these results provide a glimpse of how the Atlantic bluefin tuna might have achieved early physical advantages over competing species in the pelagic environment. The information generated lays the foundation for future research on the more detailed exploration of physiological responses at the molecular level in different larval stages and paves the way to evolutionary studies on the Atlantic bluefin tuna
Alkylphenolic contaminants in the diet: Sparus aurata juveniles hepatic response
No full textA wide range of endocrine disrupter chemicals can mimic steroid hormones causing adverse health
effects. Nonylphenol (NP) and t-octhylphenol (t-OP) are man-made alkylphenolic environmental contaminants
possessing controversial endocrine disruption properties. This study has investigated the
effects of NP and t-OP enriched diets on hepatic tissue and biotransformation activities in the liver.
To this aim, sea bream juveniles were fed with commercial diet enriched with three different doses
of NP (NP1: 5 mg/kg bw, NP2: 50 mg/kg bw and NP3: 100 mg/kg bw) or t-OP (t-OP1: 5 mg/kg bw,
t-OP2: 50 mg/kg bw and t-OP3: 100 mg/kg bw) for 21 days. A significant increase of the hepatosomatic
index was observed in NP1 and t-OP1. Alteration of liver morphology was observed in both NP and
t-OP exposed juveniles although the most altered endpoints were observed in t-OP2 with 100% of tissue
degeneration. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity was significantly inhibited by NP and t-OP
(p < 0.05), while catalase activity was significantly induced, at both doses. A different pattern of protein
expression of different isoforms of both vitellogenin and zona radiata protein was evidenced
within the treatments. In addition, a significant increase in the abundance of the stress induced heat
shock protein 70 gene in the liver of t-OP2 fish and a significant increase in the abundance of the
estrogen induced cathepsin D gene in the liver of NP1 and t-OP2 fish, were observed. Finally, estradiol-
17b (E2) and testosterone (T) plasma levels and E2/T showed significantly different patterns in NP
and t-OP exposed against control fish
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