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Although multiple structural, mechanical, and molecular factors are definitely involved in osteoporosis, the assessment of subregional bone mineral density remains the most commonly used diagnostic index. In this study, we characterized bone quality in the femoral neck of one osteoporotic patients as compared to an age-matched control subject, and so used a multiscale and multimodal approach including X-ray computed microtomography at different spatial resolutions (pixel size: 51.0, 4.95 and 0.9 µm), microindentation and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Our results showed abnormalities in the osteocytes lacunae volume (358.08 ± 165.00 for the osteoporotic sample vs. 287.10 ± 160.00 for the control), whereas a statistical difference was found neither for shape nor for density. The osteoporotic femoral head and great trochanter reported reduced elastic modulus (Es) and hardness (H) compared to the control reference (-48% (p < 0.0001) and -34% (p < 0.0001), respectively for Es and H in the femoral head and -29% (p < 0.01) and -22% (p < 0.05), respectively for Es and H in the great trochanter), whereas the corresponding values in the femoral neck were in the same range. The spectral analysis could distinguish neither subregional differences in the osteoporotic sample nor between the osteoporotic and healthy samples. Although, infrared spectroscopic measurements were comparable among subregions, and so regardless of the bone osteoporotic status, the trabecular mechanical properties were comparable only in the femoral neck. These results illustrate that bone remodeling in osteoporosis is a non-uniform process with different rates in different bone anatomical regions, hence showing the interest of a clear analysis of the bone microarchitecture in the case of patients' osteoporotic evaluation.

Macroscopic mapping and hyperspectral imaging in the mid-infrared region (2500-25000 nm/4000-400 cm-1) are promising technologies in the field of analysis of cultural heritage. So far they have been successfully employed to study paintings and illuminated manuscripts, gathering important information on spatial distribution of artists’ materials. The present paper reports on the application of mid-infrared macroscopic mapping and hyperspectral imaging to the study of artworks. For an exhaustive overview, instrumental details, working principles and image processing methods will be also presented and discussed.

In view of the restricted knowledge on the diversity of coronaviruses in poultry other than chicken, this study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of coronaviruses in quail, pheasant, and partridge from two regions of Northern Italy. To this end, pools of tracheal and cloacal swabs from European quail (Coturnix Coturnix) and intestinal tract from pheasants (Phasianus Colchicus) and partridge (Perdix Perdix) flocks, with or without enteric signs, were collected during 2015. Avian coronavirus (Gammacoronavirus) was detected in quail not vaccinated against Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) and in pheasants vaccinated with an IBV Massachusetts serotype. Based on DNA sequences for the gene encoding the S protein, the avian coronaviruses detected in the quail and pheasant are related to the IBV 793B and Massachusetts types, respectively. However, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) analyses showed the susceptibility of quail also to Deltacoronaviruses, suggesting that quail and pheasant avian coronaviruses share spike genes identical to chicken IBV spike genes and quail might host Deltacoronavirus.

Preliminary results of the characterization of red pigmentations on paleolithic artefacts from the southern area of Montes Albanos (Rome, Italy) are presented. The set of materials consists of three decorated rounded pebblestones and a cortical flint blade typologically attributable to the Upper Paleolithic (Final Epigravetense, 14,000-12,000 cal BP). The findings were observed with optical microscope Nikon SMZ 1000/800 with magnifications of 1x to 6.3x. In two pebblestones, one decorated with parallel engravings, residues of ocher were detected in association with traces of use. In the third one, stained red dye was observed to form geometric patterns. Finally, reddish pigmentations were located on the cortical dorsal surface of a flint blade. To characterize chemically the coloring agent detected, macro-microscopically, Raman spectroscopy was used, a technique that allowed the study of the nature of the residues and the detection of additional organic materials whose presence must be related to post-depositional contaminations produced by the manipulation or/and surface exposure of artifacts., Se presentan los resultados preliminares de la caracterización de pigmentaciones rojas sobre artefactos paleolíticos de la zona sur de Montes Albanos (Roma, Italia). El conjunto de materiales está formado por tres cantos rodados decorados y una lámina cortical de sílex tipológicamente atribuibles al Paleolítico Superior (Epigravetiense final, 14.000-12.000 cal BP). Los hallazgos se observaron con microscopio óptico Nikon SMZ 1000/800 con magnificaciones de 1x a 6.3x. En dos cantos, uno decorado con grabados paralelos, se detectaron residuos de ocre en asociación a huellas de uso. En un tercer canto rodado se observaron manchas de colorante rojo organizadas formando motivos geométricos. Por último, pigmentaciones rojizas se localizaron en la cara dorsal cortical de una lámina de sílex. Para caracterizar químicamente el agente colorante detectado macro-microscópicamente, se utilizó la espectroscopia Raman, una técnica que permitió el estudio de la naturaleza de los residuos y la detección de materiales orgánicos adicionales cuya presencia debe ser relacionada a contaminaciones post-deposicionales producidas por la manipulación o/y exposición en superficie de los artefactos.

IBV genotype QX causes suficient disease in Europe for several commercial companies to have started developing live attenuated vaccines. Here, one of those vaccines (L1148) was fully consensus sequenced alongside its progenitor ield strain (1148-A) to determine vaccines markers, thereby enabling detection on farms. Twenty eight single nucleotide substitutions were associated with the 1148-A attenuation, of which any combination can identify vaccine L1148 in the ield. Sixteen substitutions resulted in amino acid coding changes of which half were in spike. One change in the 1b gene altered the normally highly conserved inal 5 nucleotides of the transcription regulatory sequence of the S gene, common to all IBV QX genes. No mutations can currently be associated with the attenuation process. Field vaccination strategies would greatly beneit by such comparative sequence data being mandatorily submitted to regulators prior to vaccine release following a successful registration process

The poultry production sector is tightly centred in Northern Italy, where chickens, turkey and other minor species are reared closely. Among the several well-know and managed respiratory issues, avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) is growing as a concern also in chicken production, especially in broiler farming. Consistent data on its prevalence are lacking, so aMPV detections were summarized from longitudinal studies and diagnostic one-off samplings from Northern Italy from 2014 to 2016. The results demonstrated the wide circulation of aMPV subtype B and its presence in subsequent cycles in the same farm. aMPV sequences from chickens and turkeys showed high homology from the comparison, excluding a host-based strain separation. A ield vaccination trail was also performed in two aMPV positive farms to verify the beneits of a subtype B-based vaccine administration in broilers, which appeared to fully control the clinical signs even if the persistence of a ield strain was revealed in one of the farms.

White striping (WS) is an alteration of broiler muscle characterized by the presence of white striations parallel to the direction of muscle ibers. WS affects mainly heavier birds, and is increasing his economic impact on meat production. To evaluate the evolution of lesions 240 broilers were breed under ield condition and groups of 80 birds were sacriiced at 12, 25 and 51 days. Breast were scored for WS (0=absence, 1=mild, 2=severe) and sampled for histology. Each histological lesion (cell degeneration, presence of adipocytes inside the iber, presence of ibrosis inside the iber, presence of diffused inlammation, presence of vasculitis) was scored and an overall score was create to summarize microscopic alterations. The scores of cells degeneration, presence of adipocytes and ibrosis inside the muscular iber correlates very well, indicating the 3 lesions develops together. Inlammation (both diffused and vasculitis) develops independently from others lesions. The average scores at 12, 25 and 51 days of all parameters, and of macroscopic scores were compared and there was a signiicant difference in all parameters evaluated at different ages, conirming the evolution of lesions along time.

Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) causes an upper respiratory tract infection in turkeys and in some other avian species. Based on genome sequence differences, four subtypes of aMPV (A, B, C and D) have been identified but subtypes A and B have an almost worldwide distribution. Nowadays control strategies are mainly based on vaccination and different commercial live vaccines, originating from both subtype A and B strains, are available. The not absolute coverage of animal population achieved by ordinary mass vaccination in poultry industry allows a prolonged circulation of vaccine viruses in bird populations. Diseases outbreaks have been reported due to reversion to virulence of vaccines; and multiple nucleotide mutations in the aMPV genome associated to this phenomenon have been identified. In the current study, the presence of subpopulations in a subtype B vaccine was investigated by deep sequencing. Of the 19 positions where vaccine (strain VCO3/50) and progenitor (strain VCO3/60616) consensus sequences differed, subpopulations were found to have sequence matching progenitor sequence in 4 positions. However none of these mutations occurred in a virulent revertant of that vaccine, thereby demonstrating that the majority progenitor virus population had not survived the attenuation process, hence were not obviously involved in any return to virulence. However within the vaccine, a single nucleotide variation was found which agreed with consensus sequence of a derived virulent revertant virus, hence this and other undetected, potentially virulent subpopulations, can be involved in reversion. Much deeper sequencing of vaccine derived strains obtained during experimental infections or in the field may clarify if reversion to virulence was due to selective pressure acting on a homogeneous but rapidly evolving vaccine population or to the selection of virulent subpopulations already present in the vaccine batches.

White striping (WS) is a muscle alteration characterized by the presence of white striations parallel to the direction of muscle fibers that affects poultry meat. To evaluate the age of WS onset in broiler chickens, and the effect of diet and different coccidiosis control programs on WS prevalence an experimental study was conducted on 180 chickens. One-day-old chicks were randomly divided into four experimental treatments: control, coccidiostat, vaccinated, and vaccinated fed with a low energy diet. Twenty animals per treatment were sacrifi ced at 12 and 25 days of age, breasts were scored for WS (0=absence, 1=mild, 2=severe) and a sample of each breast was collected for histology. The remaining chickens were slaughtered at 51 days of age and breasts were scored for WS. WS appearance was detected grossly only at 25 and 51 days, but histological lesion were present since 12 days of age. At 51 days the WS prevalence was above 90% in all groups, no differences were found between the two different diets, but a signifi cantly higher prevalence of score 2 was present in the Coccidiostat group vs others (P