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In this contribution we will show the results of a non-invasive GPR prospecting performed in the archaeological site of San Vito dei Normanni, in the outskirts of Brindisi, Apulia region, southern Italy, where the ancient population of the Messapians had an important settlement. The present work was performed in the framework of a school in the field financed by the Basilicata Region. The interpretation of the data has been based on the depth slices, on the processed Bscans and on the a-priori available information is provided. Future excavations will be driven also by the results achieved from this GPR prospecting.

This chapter provides some numerical examples of measure of propagation velocity based on the diffraction curves. The real ground penetrating radar (GPR) pulses cannot have zero duration, because the band of the system (in particular the band of the antennas) is never infinite. In the real word, the diffraction curves have some "thickness," and this constitutes an unavoidable source of uncertainty, both with regard to the propagation velocity of the waves and with regard to the depth of the buried targets. The chapter describes some examples about the needed spatial step, frequency step and the correlated achievable horizontal and vertical resolutions. It shows some examples regarding the effect of the height of the observation domain and background removal. The chapter demonstrates application of 2D and 3D migration algorithms to field data

Prolactin (PRL) shares structural and functional features with haemopoietic factors and cytokine peptides. Dendritic cells (DC) are involved in both initiating the primary and boosting the secondary host immune response and can be differentiated in vitro from precursors under the effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus other factors. Because PRL has been shown to functionally interact with GM-CSF, we have addressed its role on GM-CSF-driven differentiation of DC. Monocytic DC precursors from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were enriched either by adhesion to a plastic surface or CD14-positive selection and cultured for 7 days in serum-free medium containing GM-CSF, interleukin (IL)-4 and PRL, alone or in combination. Cells with large, veiled cytoplasm, expressing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and the costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86 and CD40 and lacking the monocyte marker CD14, were considered as having the phenotype of cytokine-generated DC. Functional maturation was assessed by proliferation and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) release of allogeneic T lymphocytes. Physiological (10-20 ng/ml) concentrations of PRL interacted synergistically with GM-CSF and the effect was similar to that induced by IL-4 on GM-CSF-driven DC maturation. When used alone, the physiological concentrations of PRL were inhibitory, whereas higher concentrations (80 ng/ml) were stimulatory. The synergistic effect of PRL may in part be caused by its ability to counteract the down-modulation of the GM-CSF receptor observed in serum-free conditions. These data provide further evidence of the significance of PRL in the process of T lymphocyte activation.

Pretreatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia cells with the hemopoietic growth factor interleukin 3 (IL3) increased their susceptibility to lymphokine activated killing (LAK) but did not affect their constitutive resistance to native natural killer activity. In addition, IL3 treatment did not alter the LAK cell-mediated killing of CD34+ hemopoietic progenitors present in normal bone marrow. Increased 3H-thymidine uptake was generally observed after IL3 treatment. However, failure to proliferate in response to IL3, observed in some cases, did not prevent changes in LAK susceptibility. Enhanced lysis of IL3-treated leukemic cells was accompanied by a moderate increase of the effector-target binding. Increased LAK susceptibility was already observed at 18 h, while optimal cytolysis and expression of the cell adhesion molecule (CAM) LFA-3 (CD58) by IL3-treated AML cells were concomitantly observed at later culture times. In contrast, the CAM ICAM-1 (CD54) was not modulated by IL3, nor were significant changes in the expression of either CAMs observed in normal hemopoietic cells. Blocking experiments with the anti-CD58 monoclonal antibody demonstrated a variable neutralizing effect on the IL3-induced increase of LAK activity, depending on the leukemia cell studied. The effect described here, together with the known role of IL3 in normal hemopoiesis makes it a factor of potential therapeutic value for the treatment of leukemic patients.

The susceptibility of human myeloid and lymphoid leukemic blasts to the lytic action of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-generated lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells was analyzed. With the exception of the K562 cell line, all 9 leukemic cell lines tested were resistant to the natural killer activity of freshly isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from healthy donors but were susceptible to the lytic action of PBL cultured for 3 days in the presence of rIL-2. Of the 32 primary myeloid and lymphoid acute leukemia samples investigated, the great majority were natural killer cell-resistant but were variably sensitive to LAK effectors. Variations in LAK activity were observed according to the donor of PBL, while little or no difference was documented in the capacity to elicit LAK activity of PBL cultured with 100 or 1,000 U of rIL-2/ml. Pretreatment of the leukemic target cells with neuraminidase did not increase substantially their sensitivity to LAK activity. LAK cells generated from the PBL of patients at the onset of the disease or in complete clinicohematological remission lysed Raji cells as efficiently as normal LAK effectors. Finally, LAK cells were capable of abrogating the tumor growth in nude mice of a human leukemic T cell line. These findings demonstrate the susceptibility in vitro and in vivo of human leukemic blasts to the lytic effect of LAK cells and point to a possible clinical exploitment of this new form of adoptive immunotherapy in the management of acute leukemia.

A phenotypic and functional analysis of the circulating natural killer (NK) cell population was carried out in a series of patients with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). The overall mean NK activity of both the mononuclear and T cell fractions was reduced compared to that of normal controls (466 lytic units (lu) v 573 lu and 226 lu v 381 lu, respectively), though this difference did not reach statistical significance (P less than 0.05). Individual analysis of the data showed that in five out of 15 and in seven out of 16 cases the K562 killing by the mononuclear and T cells respectively was below the lowest s.d. limit for normal subjects. This reduced NK function was associated with a decreased ability of the effector cells to bind the target. The NK response to exogenous human leucocyte interferon was also generally depressed in cases with a low basal NK activity. The functional studies were complemented with the evaluation of the membrane expression of NK associated antigens. The percentage of circulating T cells recognized by the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) Leu-7 was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in HCL than in normal blood (25.2% +/- 10.2 v 11.9 +/- 5.9 s.d.). However, the reactivity with two other NK-related MoAb, Leu-11 and AB8.28, was significantly lower (7.1% +/- 6.9 and 9.8% +/- 8.5; P less than 0.002) than with Leu-7 and moderately reduced compared with that of normal circulating T cells (11.7% + 6.1 & 12% + 5.5). These findings suggest that in a proportion of patients with HCL there is an impairment of the NK compartment, which may contribute towards the occurrence of the infective complications which are the primary cause of death in this disease.

Freshly isolated B cells from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients (B-CLL) have been previously shown to induce a strong proliferative response and high levels of NK-like activity in lymphocytes from healthy donors. The present paper deals with the origin, mitotic state, target spectrum and cell surface phenotype of the NK-like effectors generated after stimulation with B-CLL. Experiments using large granular lymphocytes (LGL) and T cells as responders demonstrated that most of the precursors of the newly generated NK-like effectors express the CD3 antigen. The induction of NK-like activity paralleled cell activation, as judged by blast transformation, thymidine uptake and appearance of cell surface activation markers. The newly generated NK-like effectors displayed a T cell phenotype and a broader target repertoire than native NK cells.

The expression of surface markers was analyzed on human peripheral blood lymphocytes after exposure to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a tumor promoter which is known to have a mitogenic effect on human T-cells. A significant decrease in the proportion of cells capable of binding to SRBC under different experimental conditions (active (EA), high affinity (EH), total (ET) rosettes) was observed after 20 hr exposure to TPA. After 4 days incubation, the ability to form EH and ET rosettes was recovered, while a significant increase in the proportion of EA and temperature stable (ES) rosettes compared with control cultures was observed. Using monoclonal antibodies directed against different T-lymphocyte subpopulations, a depression in the proportion of cells reacting with OKT3 (pan T) and OKT4 (helper/inducer) antibodies was observed, after both early and late exposure to TPA. On the contrary, the positivity with OKT8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) antibody was not affected at any time of culture. These findings suggest that, in normal blood, TPA can modulate the expression of T-cell receptors, and that T-lymphocytes with helper/inducer phenotype appear to be the target of the TPA-induced membrane changes.

A human leukemia T-cell line (PF-382) spontaneously derived from the pleural effusion of a child with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is described. The cell line, which has been maintained in culture for over 10 months, has a modal number of 46 chromosomes and is characterized by a chromosomal abnormality, present in most of the cells, consisting of a translocation between chromosome X and chromosome 15 (46X,Xq-,15p+). The cells are not recognized by the OKT3 and OKT11 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb), nor do they form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. By contrast, they react with the OKT6, Leu-1, and Leu-9 MoAb, which detect early T-lymphocytes, and express the more mature OKT8 antigen. The presence of the OKT8 marker is associated with suppressor activity on the pokeweed mitogen-induced proliferation and differentiation of normal B-cells, both by the PF-382 cells and by their supernatant. However, no cytotoxic activity against natural killer (NK)-sensitive target cells (K562) was found, indicating that the proliferating cells do not correspond to the subset of NK cells expressing the OKT8 antigen. Furthermore, the cells are incapable of both spontaneous and mitogen-induced interleukin-2 and interferon production. The ability of the PF-382 cell line to release a soluble factor(s) capable of modulating the differentiation of the B-cell compartment suggests that this new cell line represents a valuable model for the investigation of the interrelationships between T-cell subsets and other hematopoietic cell lineages.

CD73 is a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored purine salvage enzyme (ecto-5'-nucleotidase (ecto-5'-NT), E.C. 3.1.3.5) whose expression on lymphocytes is dependent on their differentiation state and function. CD73 behaves as an agonistic molecule in signaling via the CD3/TCR and CD2 pathways and is associated with CTL generation, IgG production, and activation of resting naive CD8+ T cells. CD73 deficiency has been reported in a variety of patients with impaired T and/or B cell function. Thus, CD73 holds promise as a molecular target for intervention in the immune system, but the mechanisms regulating its expression are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the regulation of CD73 expression in human lymphocytes. CD38, another cell surface differentiation Ag with ecto-enzyme activities (NAD+ glycohydrolase, ADP-ribosyl cyclase, and cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) hydrolase), was found to specifically induce CD73 expression in T and B cell lines as well as in normal adult T and NK cells, cord blood T cells, and thymocytes. CD38 cross-linking induced a rapid export to the cell surface of pre-formed CD73 derived from an intracellular pool and not from de novo biosynthesis. This translocation was dependent on protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity and lasted approximately eight hours, after which CD73 was removed from the cell surface by enzymatic cleavage. CD73 was not induced by other agents that activate T cells and CD73 was the only GPI-anchored molecule up-regulated by CD38 ligation out of six analyzed. These results document a novel pathway in human lymphocytes leading from CD38 ligation to CD73 expression, which may result in the rapid acquisition of new functions, including increased purine salvage, increased sensitivity to Ag-induced activation, and the generation of adenosine (Ado) for Ado receptor signaling.

The application of high-speed autoradiography to histologic brain sections of in vivo [3H] thymidine labeled rats is reported. Low doses of isotope have been used. With Kodak NTB3 emulsion, specific nuclear labelling of the subependymal layer was reached after 48 h of exposure. With llford K2 emulsion, the maximal nuclear labelling was achieved within 20 days. The fitness of this technique for studying the nervous tissue kinetics is discussed.

Here we present the characterization of a new antigen called CB02 which is present on B cells and on a subset of CD16+ large granular lymphocytes. The pattern of reactivity of this molecule on normal cells, B cell lines, leukemic cells and tissue sections suggests that the CB02 molecule is expressed by B cells before isotype switch and is lost during terminal differentiation. Furthermore, the CB02+ population encompassed natural killer (NK) cells exerting significant cytotoxic activity: in fact, peripheral blood lymphocytes depleted of the CB02+ subset display a marked reduction in NK activity.

An active supernatant (Ly Con A) was prepared by stimulating the normal human lymph node lymphocytes with Concanavalin A (Con A). Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 3 healthy subjects and from 8 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) were cultured in the presence of Con A and Ly Con A. The latter induced a significant DNA synthesis both in normal and CLL lymphocytes. A proliferative response was still present in CLL after T lymphocytes depletion. The Con A and Ly Con A treatment also induced morphological changes in CLL lymphocytes consistent with plasma cell differentiation. In 3 cases the appearance of cytoplasmic light chains was detected by immunofluorescence. These findings suggest that peripheral blood B lymphocytes from CLL patients can be stimulated to maturation when helper factor(s) released by mitogen activated lymph node lymphocytes are provided.

Previously, we demonstrated an 81% reduction in pediatric Emergency Room (ER) visits in Italy during the strict lockdown due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Since May 2020, lockdown measures were relaxed until 6 November 2020, when a strict lockdown was patchily reintroduced. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the relaxed lockdown on pediatric ER visits in Italy. We performed a retrospective multicenter study involving 14 Italian pediatric ERs. We compared total ER visits from 24 September 2020 to 6 November 2020 with those during the corresponding timeframe in 2019. We evaluated 17 ER specific diagnoses grouped in air communicable and non-air communicable diseases. We recognized four different triage categories: white, green, yellow and red. In 2020 total ER visits were reduced by 51% compared to 2019 (16,088 vs. 32,568, respectively). The decrease in air communicable diseases was significantly higher if compared to non-air communicable diseases (−64% vs. −42%, respectively). ER visits in each triage category decreased in 2020 compared to 2019, but in percentage, white and red codes remained stable, while yellow codes slightly increased and green codes slightly decreased. Our results suggest that preventive measures drastically reduced the circulation of air communicable diseases even during the reopening of social activities but to a lesser extent with regard to the strict lockdown period (March–May 2020).

From March 9 to May 3, 2020, lockdown was declared in Italy due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Our aim was to evaluate how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and related preventive strategies affected pediatric emergency rooms (ERs) during this period. We performed a retrospective cohort multicenter study, comparing the lockdown period to the corresponding period in 2019. We examined 15 Italian pediatric ERs in terms of visit rates, specific diagnoses (grouped as air communicable diseases and non-air communicable diseases), and triage categories. During the lockdown period, ER admissions decreased by 81% compared to 2019 (52,364 vs. 10,112). All ER specific diagnoses decreased in 2020 and this reduction was significantly higher for air communicable diseases (25,462 vs. 2934, p &lt, 0.001). Considering the triage category, red codes remained similar (1% vs. 1%), yellow codes increased (11.2% vs. 22.3%), and green codes decreased (80.3% vs. 69.5%). We can speculate that social distancing and simple hygiene measures drastically reduced the spread of air communicable diseases. The increase in yellow codes may have been related to a delay in primary care and, consequently, in ER admissions.

This paper deals with the shape of the GPR diffraction curve in dependence of the distance of the measurement line from to the air/soil interface. It will be shown that the diffraction curve changes with respect to the case of data gathered at the air-soil interface, and the calculation of the diffraction curve requires the solution of a fourth degree algebraic equation. The solution in closed form of this equation will be presented, and a physical discussion of the effects of the non-null height of the observation line will be provided.

In this work, three different techniques, namely time domain reflectometry (TDR), ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were experimentally tested for water leak detection in underground pipes. Each technique was employed in three experimental conditions (one laboratory or two field experiments), thus covering a limited but significant set of possible practical scenarios. Results show that each of these techniques may represent a useful alternative/addition to the others. Starting from considerations on the obtained experimental results, a thorough analysis on the advantages and drawbacks of the possible adoption of these techniques for leak detection in underground pipes is provided. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.