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Fibre reinforced concretes (FRCs) are composite materials now largely adopted in structural applications given their mechanical properties in terms of the residual tensile strength, almost absent for plain concrete. The short-term mechanical behaviour of these material has been deeply studied, while their time-dependent deformations have received less attention from the scientific community. The present paper presents the experimental characterization of the creep deformations of a concrete reinforced with polypropylene fibers by means of different types of tests, together with an analysis of the temperature effect. Innovative test set-ups are used to this aim. The paper presents the results of shrinkage, compression creep, uniaxial tension and flexural creep tests and discusses the contribution of the different components of the FRC to the composite creep behavior.

Extracellular vesicles isolated from follicular fluid of antral and preovulatory follicles present a different miRNA profile related to follicular development and breeding season in buffalo (bubalus bubalis)

Buffalo is a short-day breeder, and reproductive seasonality is a major factor impairing buffalo farming. An evident effect of season was demonstrated on oocyte developmental competence, known to be affected by follicular environment (Di Francesco et al. 2011 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 123, 48-53). The aim of this work was to evaluate the differences in the follicular metabolome between seasons. Buffalo ovaries were collected at a slaughterhouse in autumn (breeding season, BS), and in mid-winter (non-breeding season, NBS). Follicular fluid (FF) was aspirated from follicles (Ø < 0.8 cm), poured into a dish to remove the oocyte, and centrifuged (300 g × 10 min at 4°C) to separate FF from granulosa cells. The supernatant was centrifuged (2000 g × 10 min and 6500 g × 30 min) and stored at −80°C. After chemical extraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on 4 FF samples (pool of 30/35 follicles) per each season. Orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and Variable importance in projection (VIP) were carried out. The OPLS-DA showed that samples collected in BS and NBS clustered separately, indicating seasonal differences in the metabolomic composition of FF. Among the 15 metabolites showing the greatest variation between seasons (VIP), most were reduced (lactate, trimethylamine, lysine, serine, cysteine, glutamate, glutathione, glycerophosphocholine, proline, choline, and phosphocholine), with only three increased (β-hydroxybutyrate, leucine, and isoleucine) in NBS. Particularly interesting is the finding of lower levels of glutathione and its precursors (cysteine and glutamate) and of serine (a precursor of cysteine) in the FF of NBS, indicating impaired protection from oxidative stress that may account for decreased oocyte competence. Furthermore, choline and its derivatives, fundamental for biological membranes and markers of human oocyte competence (Wallace et al. 2012 Fertil. Steril. 97, 1078-1084), were reduced in NBS. Among amino acids, particular attention goes to leucine and isoleucine, also known to be decreased in bovine follicles associated with more competent oocytes (Sinclair et al. 2008 Reprod. Biomed. Online 16, 859-868). Finally, β-hydroxybutyrate, a marker of negative energetic balance (NEB), was higher in FF of NBS, in agreement with the observations that buffalo, due to their tropical origins, undergo NEB more easily during colder months, coinciding in Italy with NBS. In conclusion, new potential fertility markers were identified in buffalo FF, laying the basis for corrective strategies to implement IVM media, and improve the developmental competence of oocytes collected during the NBS.

Stallion semen is damaged by oxidative stress during cooling and transport. Semen processing and extenders have been tested to improve the fertilizing capacity of semen and to preserve semen during transport. Dietary supplementation with natural antioxidants has been proposed to prevent oxidative damages. In this study, for the first time, the effect of dietary supplementation with Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on the characteristics of fresh and chilled stallion semen was evaluated. Maca is a traditional Andean crop used as a nutraceutical for the fertility-enhancing properties that are linked with antioxidant activity. The diet of five stallions was supplemented with 20 g of Maca powder daily for a total of 60 days. A control group of five stallions received the same diet without Maca. Semen was collected once before the administration of Maca (D0), twice during the administration at 30 and 60 days (D30 and D60), and finally twice at 30 and 60 days after the end of the administration (D90 and D120). Ejaculates were processed for cooled shipping at 5 °C and evaluated in the laboratory for total and progressive motility, acrosome integrity, and lipid peroxidation after collection and after 24, 48, and 72 h of storage. Dietary supplementation with Maca improved sperm concentration (from 213 ± 80.4 to 447 ± 73.1 × 106 spz/mL) and total sperm count (from 10,880 ± 4377 to 24,783 ± 4419 × 106 spz). The beneficial effects of Maca supplementation on motility and acrosome integrity in the raw semen were detected from the end of treatment with Maca (D60) until the end of the study (D120). Furthermore, during cooling storage, total motility, progressive motility, and acrosome integrity declined more slowly in the Maca-treated group than in the control group. Lipid peroxidation did not change during cooling storage in either group and did not show a significant difference between the two groups. In this study, the dietary supplementation with Maca increased sperm production and stabilized semen quality during chilled storage.

Given the growth in structural applications of fibre reinforced concretes (FRCs), the characterization of their mechanical performance, and the formulation of predictive models are necessary. When dealing with FRCs long-term behaviour, concrete creep deformations can be predicted but the fiber–matrix interaction produces new effects, i.e. non-linear bond behaviour, creep of polymeric fibres, affecting the long-term performance of cracked elements. The present paper introduces a novel computational framework simulating the long-term behaviour of cracked FRC elements with polymeric fibres, adopting the Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) theory. The innovative contributions of the research concern the inclusion of the fibre viscoelastic behaviour.

The development of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) techniques in Felis catus is a fitting model with potential application to the conservation of endangered felid species. To improve the quality of IVEP techniques an appropriate balance of pro- and antioxidants should be provided. Under in vitro conditions, high levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) mRNA provide a defence mechanism against oxidative stress for embryos. In order to improve the development of cat oocytes, the effects of SOD and CAT supplemented to in vitro maturation (IVM) medium and of GPx supplemented to in vitro fertilization (IVF) medium on development and embryo production in vitro were evaluated. Data showed an increase of 70 and 77 % of cleaved embryo and blastocyst formation, respectively, in the experiment with SOD and CAT addition to IVM medium; in the experiment with GPx addition to IVF medium the number of cleaved embryos doubled and the number of embryos increased by 96 %. Therefore, our results were positive and encourage us to continue studies on cat oocytes evaluating the effects of various dosages and combination of antioxidants.

Since the composite nature of Fibre Reinforced Concrete materials, their performance is strictly dependent on the mechanical properties of their components, matrix and fibres, but, above all, on their interaction. The collaboration of the two materials is directly responsible of the force transferring mechanism from concrete to fibres that reflects their contribute in the residual flexural strength performance. This paper aims at understanding how the concrete admixture components might affect the bond of polypropylene crimped fibres, and presents the preliminary results of an experimental campaign consisting of pull-out and compression tests. Four water cement ratios and three cement-sand ratios were considered. The experimental analysis is also supported by the calibration of a numerical model that simulates the pull-out behaviour of a single fibre.

The development of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) techniques in Felis catus is a fitting model with potential application to the conservation of endangered felid species. To improve the quality of IVEP techniques an appropriate balance of pro- and antioxidants should be provided. Under in vitro conditions, high levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) mRNA provide a defence mechanism against oxidative stress for embryos. In order to improve the development of cat oocytes, the effects of SOD and CAT supplemented to in vitro maturation (IVM) medium and of GPx supplemented to in vitro fertilization (IVF) medium on development and embryo production in vitro were evaluated. Data showed an increase of 70 and 77 % of cleaved embryo and blastocyst formation, respectively, in the experiment with SOD and CAT addition to IVM medium; in the experiment with GPx addition to IVF medium the number of cleaved embryos doubled and the number of embryos increased by 96 %. Therefore, our results were positive and encourage us to continue studies on cat oocytes evaluating the effects of various dosages and combination of antioxidants.

Resumen Introduccion La orquiectomia radical (OR) se considera todavia la opcion estandar de atencion para los tumores malignos de celulas germinales, que representan la gran mayoria de las masas testiculares palpables. En pacientes diagnosticados con pequenas masas testiculares la cirugia conservadora testicular (CCT) podria ser un tratamiento alternativo a la OR. El objetivo de esta revision actualizada es evaluar las indicaciones actuales para la CCT y debatir los resultados oncologicos y funcionales de los pacientes sometidos a cirugia conservadora testicular por pequenas masas testiculares. Adquisicion de la evidencia Se ha llevado a cabo una revision no sistematica de la literatura empleando la base de datos Medline, que incluyo un protocolo de texto libre utilizando los terminos «cirugia conservadora de los testiculos», «cirugia conservadora testicular», «orquiectomia parcial», «tumor de testiculo», «tumor del cordon sexual» y «funcion testicular». Tambien se evaluaron otros estudios significativos citados en las listas de referencia de los trabajos seleccionados. Sintesis de la evidencia Aun no se ha registrado ningun ensayo controlado aleatorizado comparando la CCT con la OR. En aquellos pacientes con testiculos contralaterales normales el uso de la CCT todavia resulta controvertido. En casos seleccionados de masas gonadales Conclusiones La CCT es un tratamiento efectivo para las pequenas masas testiculares en pacientes seleccionados, limitando los sobretratamientos quirurgicos innecesarios, sin comprometer los resultados oncologicos y funcionales. Se requieren mas estudios para confirmar la seguridad oncologica.

Introduction Radical orchiectomy (RO) is still considered the standard of care for malignant germ cell tumours, which represent the vast majority of the palpable testicular masses. In those patients diagnosed with small testicular masses (STMs), testis-sparing surgery (TSS) could be an alternative treatment to RO. The aim of this updated review is to evaluate the current indications for TSS, and discuss the oncological and functional results of patients who had undergone organ-sparing surgery for STMs. Evidence acquisition A non-systematic review of the Literature using the Medline database has been performed, including a free-text protocol using the terms “testis-sparing surgery”, “testicular sparing surgery”, “partial orchiectomy”, “testis tumour”, “sex cord tumour”, and “testis function”. Other significant studies cited in the reference lists of the selected papers were also evaluated. Evidence synthesis No randomized controlled trials comparing TSS with radical orchiectomy have been reported yet. In those patients with normal contra-lateral testis, the use of TSS is still controversial. In selected cases of gonadal masses Conclusions TSS is an effective treatment for STMs in selected patients, limiting the unnecessary surgical over-treatments, without compromising the oncological and functional outcomes. Further studies are needed in order to confirm the oncological safety.

Background. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for coronary artery disease. The objective of our study was to examine the impact of obesity on long-term survival after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Materials and Methods. Using prospectively gathered data, we reviewed records of 1163 consecutive patients who underwent isolated primary CABG between 1997 and 2007. We compared outcomes of obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ; n = 472) and non-obese patients (BMI < 30 kg/m 2 ; n = 691). Long-term survival was assessed by using Kaplan-Meier curves generated by log-rank tests and adjusted for confounding factors with Cox logistic regression analysis. Results. Obese patients were slightly younger (60 ± 8 versus 63 ± 9y; P < 0.0001), were less likely to be current tobacco smokers (30% versus 41%; P < 0.0001), had a higher incidence of diabetes (51% versus 33%; P < 0.0001), and had a lower incidence of cerebral vascular disease (18% versus 24%; P = 0.009) than non-obese patients. The two groups of patients had similar 30-d rates of mortality (1.3% versus 1.5%; P = 0.8) and major adverse cardiac events (2.3% versus 2.5%; P = 0.9). Adjusted Cox regression survival curves were also similar between the two groups of patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.8―1.8; P = 0.28). Conclusions. Obese patients who underwent CABG had 30-d mortality rates and early outcomes similar to those of non-obese patients. Long-term survival was also similar between these two groups of patients after adjustment for confounding variables.

INTRODUCTION: Radical orchiectomy (RO) is still considered the standard of care for malignant germ cell tumors, which represent the vast majority of the palpable testicular masses. In those patients diagnosed with small testicular masses (STMs), testis-sparing surgery (TSS) could be an alternative treatment to RO. The aim of this updated review is to evaluate the current indications for TSS, and discuss the oncological and functional results of patients who had undergone organ-sparing surgery for STMs. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A non-systematic review of the Literature using the Medline database has been performed, including a free-text protocol using the terms «testis sparing surgery», «testicular sparing surgery», «partial orchiectomy», «testis tumor», «sex cord tumor», and «testis function». Other significant studies cited in the reference lists of the selected papers were also evaluated. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: No randomized controlled trials comparing TSS with radical orchiectomy have been reported yet. In those patients with normal contra-lateral testis, the use of TSS is still controversial. In selected cases of gonadal masses

The Italian populations of Viola pumila Chaix. Their ecological and genetic characterization for an integrated conservation strategy Buldrini F.¹, Dallai D.¹, Conte L.², Del Prete C.¹, Ferrari C.² ¹ Dep. of Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia ² Dep. of Experimental Evolutionary Biology, University of Bologna Viola pumila Chaix is an Eurasian species linked to large alluvial grasslands. Ecology and conservation problems of its Central European populations have been studied by Hölzel (2003), Eckstein & al. (2004, 2006, 2009) and Danihelka & al. (2009). In Italy, it grows only in 4 Po valley sites, in grasslands and fresh meadows regularly mown, along ditches and cultivated fields. These populations are peripheral with respect to the European distribution of the species. They contain a very low number of individuals in each site (max. 46) and are very distant and strictly isolated from the nearest populations of Central Europe. According to IUCN (2001), this species is critically endangered in Italy (Buldrini & Dallai, in press). Since the best conservation strategy for endangered species implies a detailed knowledge of habitat requirements as well as of its genetic diversity, an ecological characterization of the 4 sites is in progress, by Ellenberg’s Indexes modified by Pignatti & al. (2005). Moreover, the genetic diversity of the Italian populations of the species will be evaluated through ISSR markers: semi-arbitrary anchored primers designed from tandem repeat motifs of microsatellites will be used to estimate the level and the distribution of genetic diversity and to provide suggestions for effective conservation programs. A comparison between Italian populations and Central European ones will performed in the next stage of the research. Eckstein R.L., Danihelka J., Hölzel N., Otte A. (2004), Acta Oecol. 25: 83–91 Eckstein R.L., Hölzel N., Danihelka J. (2006), Perspect. Pl. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 8: 45-66 Eckstein R.L., Danihelka J., Otte A. (2009), Biologia 64/1: 69-80 Danihelka J., Niklfeld H., Šípošová H. (2009), Preslia 81: 151-171 Hölzel N. (2003), Folia Geobot. 38: 281-298 Pignatti S., Menegoni P., Pietrosanti S. (2005), Braun-Blanquetia 39: 1-97

La flora dell’Isola di Montecristo è generalmente ritenuta ben conosciuta, grazie soprattutto al lavoro di Paoli e Romagnoli (1) che compendia tutte le informazioni reperibili in bibliografia e/o desumibili dagli exsiccata in FI, dove sono conservate le raccolte storiche di Caruel, Sommier e quelle relativamente più recenti di Fabbri, Chiarugi etc. Allo stato attuale però, il contingente floristico di Montecristo necessitava di una revisione, a causa dei notevoli mutamenti avvenuti nell’isola in seguito a fenomeni meteorologici, a interventi di rinaturalizzazione delle aree in passato destinate ad uso agricolo e militare e, soprattutto, all’eccessivo carico del pascolo dopo l’istituzione della riserva naturale e la conseguente protezione anche delle capre. Dal 2001, in collaborazione coll’Ufficio Territoriale per la Biodiversità di Follonica e con altri centri del CFS, è stato iniziato un progetto di revisione della flora e della vegetazione per verificarne lo stato attuale e per valutare gli effetti della disciplina di tutela integrale su un ecosistema chiuso in cui insistono consumatori demograficamente incontrollati. Un primo esame della flora pteridofitica ha evidenziato che, se Paoli e Romagnoli elencavano 22 taxa, attualmente ben pochi di essi sono reperibili nell’isola. Molti erano probabilmente già scomparsi al momento della stesura del lavoro, in quanto elencati sulla base di campioni/citazioni ottocentesche o dei primi del ’900; altri non sono stati rinvenuti (si disponeva di localizzazioni precise più volte verificate) per le mutate situazioni ecologico-ambientali: si è quindi evidenziata una notevole riduzione qualitativa della flora pteridofitica dell’Isola. Specie oggi presenti (talune anche abbondanti) sono Selaginella denticulata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-foemina, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Polypodium australe, Ceterach officinarum, Anogramma leptophylla, Polystichum setiferum, Cheilanthes fragrans, Pteridium aquilinum, Asplenium trichomanes, A. forisiense, A. adiantum-nigrum. Tra le specie non ritrovate di cui esistono campioni ricordiamo Isoëtes duriei e Cystopteris fragilis. Nel 2007 è stato avviato un progetto palinologico articolato inerente l’Isola (2). Per le ricerche di Brio- e Copropalinologia è stata finora analizzata una trentina di campioni (tra muschi ed escrementi di capra). I generi di pteridofite identificati sono: Anogramma, Asplenium, Botrichium, Isoëtes cf., Pteridium, Selaginella. Ad essi si aggiungono altre spore monolete e trilete non identificabili o non identificate in modo più preciso, ma che, per la variabilità morfologica, suggeriscono la presenza di altri 4-5 generi. I campioni con più abbondanti spore sono quelli di escrementi di capra raccolti tra giugno e agosto 2007. Il ritrovamento di Isoëtes (in escremento di capra), da confermare, suggerisce che vi sia ancora qualche stazione di calamaria. Il ritrovamento di Botrichium, geobotanicamente non armonico, è problematico: all’ipotesi di una stazione sfuggita all’osservazione si affianca quella più probabile di un apporto aereo o antropico.

Germination tests were carried out using immature seeds of Limodorum abortivum and applying in vitro techniques. The results proved that BM1 culture medium is suitable to promote both germination and further growth stages. Details of the developmental pattern, and some micromorphological features, are described.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerance of propinox administered i.v., and establish a dose-response relation according to three dose levels (10, 20 and 30 mg), vs. placebo in patients with moderate to severe acute biliary pain. Three hundred and fifty patients were included: 85 received placebo treatment, 81 were treated with propinox 10 mg, 91 with propinox 20 mg and 93 received propinox 30 mg. Spontaneous pain intensity was assessed according to a visual analog and a verbal scale before treatment and 20, 60 and 120 min after. All treatments induced significant and progressive pain reduction at all controls, but patients treated with 20 and 30 mg of propinox showed significantly lower pain intensity after 120 min compared to the placebo group. The last control revealed that 28% of patients receiving placebo had no pain while 60% of patients treated with propinox 30 mg reported absence of pain with a statistically significant difference (p0.001). All treatments were very well tolerated and there were no dropouts due to adverse events. Mouth dryness was the adverse effect occurring with a significantly higher frequency than that observed with placebo although it was only seen in patients treated with 20 mg and 30 mg active doses. The results of this study showed that propinox was an effective drug in the treatment of moderate to severe colic pain of biliary origin. Concerning efficacy and side effects, a clear dose-response relation was observed; the 20 mg and 30 mg doses being significantly superior to placebo.