Search

Mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) from 24 Carduelini species including crossbills, bullfinches, grosbeaks, rosefinches, and other related, but not conclusively classified species, was sequenced. These sequences were also compared with all the available sequences from the genera Carduelis, Serinus, and Passer. Phylogenetic analyses consistently gave the same groups of finches and the calculated divergence times suggest that speciation of the studied species occurred between 14 and 3 million years ago (Miocene-Pliocene), appearing before the Passer, Carduelis, and Serinus genera. Pleistocene glaciations may have been important in subspeciation. Crossbills are integrated within the genus Carduelis, and within redpolls; the common crossbill shows subspeciation with Loxia japonica in the Pleistocene epoch. Pinicola enucleator groups together with bullfinches and is probably the ancestor of the group. Hawfinch is only distantly related to the studied groups, and might either represent an isolated genus or be related to the New World genus Hesperiphona. The grosbeak genera Eophona and Mycerobas are clearly sister groups, and species belonging to the former might have given rise to Mycerobas species. The isolated (in classification) Uragus sibiricus and Haematospiza sipahi are included within the genus Carpodacus (rosefinches); Carpodacus nipalensis is outside the genus Carpodacus in the molecular analyses and might be an isolated species or related to the genus Montifringilla., Depto. de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Fac. de Medicina, TRUE, pub

Introduction: South American siskins (Genus Carduelis/Spinus) are the outcome of regional evolutionary radiation from an extant (or other extinct) species: C. notata, a North America siskin, which thrives in Mexico subtropical areas and is parental of one of the three described North American siskin radiations. Methods: Speciation and/or subspeciation of this South American siskin radiation have probably occurred during Pleistocene Epoch. In the present paper, a new species/subspecies akin to C./S. atrata is described by genetic and phenotypic parameters: this new species/subspecies was previously considered a subspecies of C./S. xanthogastra, which thrives further North and is separated about 1,762 km, 1,094 miles, from this described subspecies, Carduelis/ Spinus xanthogastra stejnegeri. Results: Our genetic study using mt cyt b, phenotypic and behavior observations show that this putative C./S. xanthogastra subspecies is either a different species or a C./S.atrata subspecies; we have proposed a provisional name for this finch, C./S. lapazensis, instead of C./S. x. stejnegeri. Conclusion: Species definition is movable and controversial, and it is uncertain in South American siskins, which all show a close genetic and phenotypical relationship, which may be still immersed in speciation processes since Pleistocene Epoch.

When we speak about conserving nature, we are really talking about taking care of our future, because nature provides essential resources for our survival and enjoyment. We asked an international group of scientists working on different environmental issues worldwide to identify important practical actions that we can all do to help conserve nature. We obtained nearly 100 responses and grouped them into three main categories: (1) Actions to reduce our ecological footprint; (2) Actions to conserve nature; and (3) Actions that help us connect with nature. We briefly explain actions that can be performed daily to reduce our impact on nature, and provide some useful links for further reading

Il tema migratorio è presente da vari decenni a Brescia e provincia, dove si è sviluppato un lento ma inesorabile processo di cambiamento socio-demografico (nei quartieri, nei servizi, nella distribuzione delle opportunità economiche, nelle espressioni culturali, ecc.). Dopo trend in costante e vertiginoso aumento, da 4-5 anni si assiste a una stasi dei nuovi arrivi, a un rallentamento delle nascite da genitori stranieri, e nello stesso tempo vi sono, per alcuni stranieri residenti, rischi di impoverimento e perdita dei diritti. Il CIRMiB ha monitorato l’andamento di questi processi, e in particolare l’accesso al “paniere dei diritti” da parte degli immigrati, in modo costante, dal 1998 ad oggi, e in particolare, con l’Annuario CIRMiB, dal 2008

Il tema migratorio è presente da vari decenni a Brescia e provincia, dove si è sviluppato un lento ma inesorabile processo di cambiamento socio-demografico (nei quartieri, nei servizi, nella distribuzione delle opportunità economiche, nelle espressioni culturali, ecc.). Dopo trend in costante e vertiginoso aumento, da 4-5 anni si assiste a una stasi dei nuovi arrivi, a un rallentamento delle nascite da genitori stranieri, e nello stesso tempo vi sono, per alcuni stranieri residenti, rischi di impoverimento e perdita dei diritti. Il CIRMiB ha monitorato l’andamento di questi processi, e in particolare l’accesso al “paniere dei diritti” da parte degli immigrati, in modo costante, dal 1998 ad oggi, e in particolare, con l’Annuario CIRMiB, dal 2008

Il paper vuole essere un elemento di continuità con i rapporti precedenti, proponendo di fare luce sulla situazione nell’anno formativo 2016/17 riguardo alle caratteristiche della presenza degli studenti stranieri nello scenario bresciano. In particolare, si intendono approfondire i seguenti aspetti: • Le dimensioni della presenza straniera nelle scuole bresciane. Si vogliono fornire i numeri degli studenti con cittadinanza non italiana, la loro incidenza rispetto al totale degli studenti, in ogni ordine e grado di scuola, la loro distribuzione nei differenti indirizzi di scuola secondaria di secondo grado (compresa la formazione professionale), nonché la loro origine. • Gli stranieri nelle università bresciane. Si prendono in esame alcuni dati relativi alla presenza degli studenti stranieri all’università (immatricolati e iscritti), confrontandone la distribuzione e l’incidenza rispetto al singolo ateneo e all’area di studio scelti. • Gli esiti scolastici degli studenti stranieri. Vengono forniti dati sugli apprendimenti, in Italiano e Matematica, in alcuni livelli scolastici, con un approfondimento sulle situazioni di difficoltà (low achieving) e di eccellenza (high achieving). Per indagare il fenomeno, ci si avvarrà dei dati forniti dal Miur e dalla sua Anagrafe Nazionale degli Studenti (circa la portata numerica della presenza straniera nella scuola e nell’università) e dall’Invalsi attraverso l’annuale rivelazione standardizzata degli apprendimenti (in merito agli esiti scolastici). Le analisi non solo terranno conto della situazione bresciana 2016/17 ma cercheranno di mostrare l’evoluzione complessiva nel tempo, fornendo paragoni tra studenti italiani e studenti stranieri, collocando tale fenomeno nel contesto lombardo e italiano, a volte con puntuali confronti con le province limitrofe.

Introduction Genus Carduelis (Fringillidae family) includes goldfinches, siskins, redpolls, greenfinches and crossbills. Many of the species classified within this genus and other related genera have been grouped by using molecular systematics and the mitochondrial cytochrome b (mt cyt b) gene. According to this, the Eurasian siskin (C. spinus) is the only one extant direct ancestor of several North American finches; North American / South American radiations may have been originated by Eurasian siskin (or extinct relative). In the present work, we aim to perform a study of transpecies and transcontinental analyses of MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) Class I alleles in several genus Carduelis / Spinus species in order to draw evolutionary conclusions in several wild bird species belonging to the genus Carduelis / Spinus. Materials and Methods Blood was taken from worldwide wild bird species. Passerine phylogeny was done after analysing mtDNA with Maximun Likelihood and Bayesian dendrograms. Major histocompatibility complex alleles were obtained by standard DNA cloning and sequencing. Results We found two matches between MHC-I DNA alleles from different South American siskins at DNA level. Also, it was observed that the Eurasian siskin shares a protein with pine siskin and another with three South American siskins. Eight South American siskins species also share the same MHC protein. In addition, studied songbirds MHC class I intron 2 is longer than that of Gallus gallus. Conclusion We have drawn the following conclusions 1) We present the first direct evidence that “Minimal Essential MHC” does not exist for birds; one of its main definition characters, i.e. small intron size does not hold for songbirds. 2) We also report that MHC genes transpecies evolution exist in birds by showing also for the first time that worldwide bird species keep the same MHC protein and DNA alleles. 3) New evidences on MHC alleles conservation from Eurasian Carduelis spinus (most anc

A clay rock sample from the Tournemire Underground Research Laboratory (Averyon, France) was subjected to a fast desiccation in the laboratory, from 98 to 33% relative humidity. At the millimetre scale, fracture locations were identified and desiccation strains and fracture apertures were calculated by digital image correlation on a surface of 5.5x4.1 mm2. After the desiccation, the microstructure of this surface was mapped under scanning electron microscopy by a large mosaic of back scattered electron images in high resolution. The aim of the study is a quantitative comparison between local strains and crack apertures to the local proportion of clay matrix and rigid inclusions of the sample, in order to understand better the role of microstructure in desiccation mechanisms in clay rocks. The results have shown that: a) the crack apertures are heterogeneous and seem to be higher at some interfaces between rigid inclusions and matrix, and b) the strains are heterogeneous and their intensity is not directly related to the proportion of clay matrix at the millimetre scale. The interpretation of the dataset emphasizes the need for a microstructural approach to understand and model desiccation deformation and cracking mechanisms in clay rocks.

In the laboratory, the desiccation fracture apertures in Tournemire clay rock were investigated at different scales (millimetre and centimetre) and compared to the variations of the average water content and mean strains of the sample. The induced hydric strains and desiccation fractures were monitored by digital image correlation (H-DIC). At the centimetre scale, the results revealed the fracture aperture kinematics were separated into a first phase of opening and closure, and a second phase of only gradual closure. Closure of the cracks was only observed at the millimetre scale, revealing that the kinematics of cracks depends on the scale observed. The interpretation of the entire dataset emphasizes the need for a multi-scale approach to understand and model desiccation cracking mechanisms and their associated hydric strains in clay rocks.

A clay rock sample from the Tournemire Underground Research Laboratory (Averyon, France) was subjected to a fast desiccation in the laboratory, from 98 to 33% relative humidity. At the millimetre scale, fracture locations were identified and desiccation strains and fracture apertures were calculated by digital image correlation on a surface of 5.5x4.1 mm2. After the desiccation, the microstructure of this surface was mapped under scanning electron microscopy by a large mosaic of back scattered electron images in high resolution. The aim of the study is a quantitative comparison between local strains and crack apertures to the local proportion of clay matrix and rigid inclusions of the sample, in order to understand better the role of microstructure in desiccation mechanisms in clay rocks. The results have shown that: a) the crack apertures are heterogeneous and seem to be higher at some interfaces between rigid inclusions and matrix, and b) the strains are heterogeneous and their intensity is not directly related to the proportion of clay matrix at the millimetre scale. The interpretation of the dataset emphasizes the need for a microstructural approach to understand and model desiccation deformation and cracking mechanisms in clay rocks.

In the laboratory, the desiccation fracture apertures in Tournemire clay rock were investigated at different scales (millimetre and centimetre) and compared to the variations of the average water content and mean strains of the sample. The induced hydric strains and desiccation fractures were monitored by digital image correlation (H-DIC). At the centimetre scale, the results revealed the fracture aperture kinematics were separated into a first phase of opening and closure, and a second phase of only gradual closure. Closure of the cracks was only observed at the millimetre scale, revealing that the kinematics of cracks depends on the scale observed. The interpretation of the entire dataset emphasizes the need for a multi-scale approach to understand and model desiccation cracking mechanisms and their associated hydric strains in clay rocks.

TEN-ELEVEN-TRANSLOCATION-2 (TET2) and DNA-METHYLTRANSFERASE-3A (DNMT3A), both encoding proteins involved in regulating DNA methylation, are mutated in hematological malignancies affecting both myeloid and lymphoid lineages. We previously reported an association of TET2 and DNMT3A mutations in progenitors of patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas (AITL). Here, we report on the cooperative effect of Tet2 inactivation and DNMT3A mutation affecting arginine 882 (DNMT3A(R882H)) using a murine bone marrow transplantation assay. Five out of eighteen primary recipients developed hematological malignancies with one mouse developing an AITL-like disease, two mice presenting acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-like and two others T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)-like diseases within 6 months following transplantation. Serial transplantations of DNMT3A(R882H) Tet2(-/-) progenitors led to a differentiation bias toward the T-cell compartment, eventually leading to AITL-like disease in 9/12 serially transplanted recipients. Expression profiling suggested that DNMT3A(R882H) Tet2(-/-) T-ALLs resemble those of NOTCH1 mutant. Methylation analysis of DNMT3A(R882H) Tet2(-/-) T-ALLs showed a global increase in DNA methylation affecting tumor suppressor genes and local hypomethylation affecting genes involved in the Notch pathway. Our data confirm the transformation potential of DNMT3A(R882H) Tet2(-/-) progenitors and represent the first cooperative model in mice involving Tet2 inactivation driving lymphoid malignancies.

Data derived from epidemiologic surveillance adopted at our center in hematologic and stem cell transplant patients during the 2009 influenza A (H1N1)v pandemic are reported. Of the 52 patients with influenza-like disease we observed, 37 underwent a real-time PCR evaluation and 21 had a confirmed diagnosis. Of the RT-PCR-confirmed cases, 23.8% were children (age <18 years) and 9.5% were >65 years; 47.6% presented with a pulmonary infiltrate and 33.3% with respiratory failure. Pulmonary involvement was observed more frequently in patients with comorbidities. All patients received a course of oseltamivir therapy starting an average of 1 day (range <1-2) after the onset of symptoms. No patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. The viral disease had a generally favorable outcome despite the high frequency of pulmonary involvement. A prompt clinical evaluation with an early antiviral and supportive therapy may have played a beneficial role in the outcome.

Oncogenic activation of tyrosine kinase signaling pathway is recurrent in human leukemia. To gain insight into the oncogenic process leading to acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL), we performed sequence analyses of a subset of oncogenes known to be activated in human myeloid and myeloproliferative disorders. In a series of human AMKL samples from both Down syndrome and non-Down syndrome patients, mutations were identified within KIT, FLT3, JAK2, JAK3, and MPL genes, with a higher frequency in DS than in non-DS patients. The novel mutations were analyzed using BaF3 cells, showing that JAK3 mutations were activating mutations. Finally, we report a novel constitutively active MPL mutant, MPLT487A, observed in a non-Down syndrome childhood AMKL that induces a myeloproliferative disease in mouse bone marrow transplantation assay.

High frequency waves have a great potential in Food technology, both at house-cooking or industrial use. At home, microwave oven is a widely used equipment at kitchens of developed world. By contrast, in the Food Industry, the use of microwave and radio-frequency techniques is relatively small as a consequence of the need of equipment and specialised staff. The low application of such technology is related to the poor knowledge of the heating process through high frequencies as well as their critical factors that determine the quality of the heating process (dielectric constants, product geometry, distribution in the packaging, etc.). This article intends to clarify the basis of this technology besides describing some applications., Las altas frecuencias tienen un gran potencial dentro de la tecnología de alimentos, tanto en el ámbito doméstico como en el industrial. En el ámbito doméstico, el horno microondas es un equipo conocido que hoy en día se ha convertido en un elemento importante en las cocinas del mundo desarrollado. En el caso de la industria alimentaria, el uso de las microondas y radiofrecuencias es todavía escaso debido a la necesidad de equipos y personal especializado. La falta de aplicación de esta tecnología viene relacionada con la falta de conocimiento de lo que es un calentamiento por altas frecuencias y el desconocimiento de los factores críticos que determinarán la calidad de este calentamiento (constantes dieléctricas, geometría del producto, distribución en el envase, etc.). Con este artículo se busca aclarar las bases de esta tecnología, además de describir algunas aplicaciones.

High frequency waves have a great potential in Food technology, both at house-cooking or industrial use. At home, microwave oven is a widely used equipment at kitchens of developed world. By contrast, in the Food Industry, the use of microwave and radio-frequency techniques is relatively small as a consequence of the need of equipment and specialised staff. The low application of such technology is related to the poor knowledge of the heating process through high frequencies as well as their critical factors that determine the quality of the heating process (dielectric constants, product geometry, distribution in the packaging, etc.). This article intends to clarify the basis of this technology besides describing some applications., Las altas frecuencias tienen un gran potencial dentro de la tecnología de alimentos, tanto en el ámbito doméstico como en el industrial. En el ámbito doméstico, el horno microondas es un equipo conocido que hoy en día se ha convertido en un elemento importante en las cocinas del mundo desarrollado. En el caso de la industria alimentaria, el uso de las microondas y radiofrecuencias es todavía escaso debido a la necesidad de equipos y personal especializado. La falta de aplicación de esta tecnología viene relacionada con la falta de conocimiento de lo que es un calentamiento por altas frecuencias y el desconocimiento de los factores críticos que determinarán la calidad de este calentamiento (constantes dieléctricas, geometría del producto, distribución en el envase, etc.). Con este artículo se busca aclarar las bases de esta tecnología, además de describir algunas aplicaciones.