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The first undisputed colonization of the island has been linked to Late or Final Epigravettian groups after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), as evidenced by the fossil record. Two significant sites to investigate this issue are the Grotta di San Teodoro (Acquedolci, Messina) and the Grotta d’Oriente (Favignana island). The Grotta di San Teodoro has yielded the oldest and largest human skeletal sample yet found in Sicily. Inside the cave, during field excavations carried out in the 1937-1947 years, seven human adults have been discovered (ST1-ST7). In the Grotta d’Oriente four prehistoric burials assigned to Late Upper Paleolithic (Oriente A and C) and Mesolithic (Oriente B and X) were unearthed during two campaign of ex-cavations (1972 and 2005). Thanks to the recent development of new methods for the analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) coupled with Next Generation Sequencing technologies (NGS), it is nowadays possible to go deep inside the migration movements of human past populations. In order to better understand the peopling dynamics of Sicily during the Late Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic, we analyzed and compared three complete mitochondrial genome sequences of ST2, Oriente C and Oriente B specimens. ST2 is an almost complete cranium attributed to a male, housed at the “G.G. Gemmellaro” Geo-logical Museum of the University of Palermo. The ST2 individual was buried near the ST1 skeleton, which was radiocarbon dated to 15,232-14,126 cal. BP. Oriente C individual was found during excavations of 2005. Two radiocarbon dates on char-coals are consistent with typical Late Epigravettian stone assemblages and refer Oriente C, a female only represented by the upper half of the skeleton, to a period spanning about 14,200-13,800 cal. BP. The Mesolithic Oriente B was unearthed in 1972. This individual, an almost complete skeleton attributed to an adult female, has been directly dated to 10,683-10,544 cal. BP. Paleogenetic analysis reveals a significant homogeneity in Sicilian Paleo-Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, and our data suggest a strong genetic relationship with Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers from Southern Italy, supporting the hypothesis that the first humans to arrive in Sicily could have originated from Epigravettian groups that migrated from the Italian pen-insula soon after the LGM.

In two publications from 1967 and 1971, M. Masali described human skeletal remains presumed to have been found in the Balzi Rossi caves (Ventimiglia, Italy), based on a signed note dated to 1908. Since then, the remains - dubbed "Conio's Finds" and preserved at the University of Torino - had not been further studied. We performed a multidisciplinary investigation aimed at clarifying the geographical and chronological attribution of these specimens. Collagen extraction for AMS dating was unsuccessful, but we obtained two direct dates on the best- preserved crania via 231Pa/235U direct gamma-ray spectrometry (10,500±2,000 years BP and 12,500±2,500 years BP). We analyzed the metrics and morphology of the crania and femora by comparing them with samples belonging to the Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods, and evidenced that the "Conio's Finds" are morphologically more compatible with a Late Pleistocene rather than Holocene attribution. We analyzed the literature regarding the history of excavations at Balzi Rossi, and we propose that - if any credence should be given to the note accompanying the material - the remains may have been found in front of Grotta dei Fanciulli or Grotta del Caviglione, in the redeposited soil dug up during the installation of lime kilns carried out between the late 18th and the early 19th centuries. These hypotheses may be tested in the future by comparing the speleothem deposited on one of the crania and the remaining deposit at the site.

Scenarios for the dispersal of Homo sapiens in Southern Europe and in the Mediterranean basin have been uncertain, given the scarceness of osteological samples and the simplicity of the proposed archaeologically-based settlement hypotheses. According to available data, the first anatomically modern humans entered Sicily during the Late Pleistocene, coming from the Italian peninsula. A presumably small Late Epigravettian population colonised coastal sites. Later, North-Western archaeological horizons gave hospitality to a significant Mesolithic expansion. In order to verify a hypothesis of continuity in the peopling of the island, we analyzed Sicilian skulls from the Late Epigravettian site of San Teodoro, Eastern Sicily (AMS 14C dated at 14,500 BP) and from the Mesolithic period (14C dated from 9,500 to 8,500 BP) coming from various sites (Uzzo, Molara, Grotta d'Oriente) located on the North Western coast of the island. The aims were to test the biological variability through time within the island as well as to evaluate the relationships of Sicilian Pleistocene hunter-gatherers with Old World populations. We also evaluated the Sicilian Mesolithic uniformity especially between the Uzzo and Grotta d'Oriente sites, given their vicinity and accessibility during the Early Holocene. We applied 3D geometric morphometric methods to assess shape variation as well as geographic and diachronic morphological patterns. All analyzed specimens, plus a comparative sample from the Old World dated from the Upper Paleolithic to recent periods, were transformed in digital images and standard craniofacial landmarks were extracted from the 3D models. Our results underline a high variability among the Mesolithic specimens, as well as a large craniometric distance from the presumed founder Paleolithic settler representatives (San Teodoro specimens) that have closer morphological affinities with other European Upper Paleolithic specimens.

Grotta d’Oriente, a coastal cave located on the island of Favignana (Sicily, Italy) is a key site for the study of the early human colonization of Sicily. Inside the cave, during different field excavations, three burials attributable to the Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic were found. The Mesolithic Oriente B individual, directly dated at 9,377 ± 25 uncal BP, was previously assigned to HV1 haplogroup using a traditional approach. However, it is well known that PCR based methods are prone to erroneous haplotype or haplogroup determination. In order to redefine the mitochondrial lineage of this Mesolithic hunter-gatherer and explore its phylogenetic position, we target-enriched and sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Oriente B. Moreover, we conducted a morphometric analysis to assess its phenetic affinities. Oriente B individual was classified into U2′3′4′7′8′9 haplogroup. In Sicily, this lineage has also been found on the Upper Palaeolithic Oriente C and Early Mesolithic individuals from Grotta dell’Uzzo. Our results show significant genetic and morphological similarities in Sicilian Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, presumably because of genetic drift processes. Furthermore, dating the emergence of the “Sicilian clade”, we speculate that Epigravettian hunter-gatherers carrying U2′3′4′7′8′9 haplogroup might be the first settlers of Sicily arrived from the Italian peninsula by the crossing of a temporary land-bridge around the Last Glacial Maximum.

The aim of this work is to explore the pattern of craniofacial morphometric variation and the relationships among five prehistoric Sardinian groups dated from Late Neolithic to the Nuragic Period (Middle and Late Bronze Age), in order to formulate hypotheses on the peopling history of Sardinia. Biological relationships with coeval populations of central peninsular Italy were also analysed to detect influences from and towards extra-Sardinian sources. Furthermore, comparison with samples of contemporary populations from Sardinia and from continental Italy provided an indication of the trend leading to the final part of the peopling history. Finally, Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic samples were included in the analyses to compare the prehistoric Sardinians with some of their potential continental ancestors. The analysis is based on multivariate techniques including Mahalanobis D 2 distance, non-parametric multidimensional scaling (MDS) and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed the tendency to progressive differentiation between Sardinian groups and peninsular Italian groups, with the possible exception of a discontinuity showed by the Bonnanaro (Early Bronze Age) Sardinian sample. Several aspects of the morphological results were found to agree with the current genetic evidence available for the present-day Sardinian population and a Nuragic sample: (1) biological divergence between the Sardinian and peninsular Italian populations; (2) similarity/continuity among Neolithic, Bronze Age and recent Sardinians; (3) biological separation between the Nuragic and Etruscan populations; (4) contribution of a Palaeo-Mesolithic gene pool to the genetic structure of current Sardinians.

The site of Grotta d'Oriente, Island of Favignana, Sicily has yielded the complete skeleton of an adult female (OB) dated to the Mesolithic age. The cranial morphometry of this individual can provide us with some useful information about the peopling of Sicily in the Early Holocene period.Morphological affinities of OB and other Sicilian Mesolithic specimens were assessed to verify hypotheses concerning the early peopling of Sicily.Craniofacial metric data were employed in a comparative analysis with European Upper Palaeolithic (UP), Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Copper/Bronze age samples, and contemporary Italians. Both a model-free and a model-bound approach were used not only to calculate craniometric distances, but also to assess the role played by gene flow and drift to produce the resulting pattern of variations and relationships.A Sicilian Mesolithic (SM) sample, including OB, resulted morphologically very close to an Italian Late UP comparative group. A general similarity among Western/Central European UP and Mesolithic groups was also detected.Intense gene flow among hunter-gatherer populations accounts for close resemblances among various UP and Mesolithic groups. The beginning of a regional characterization is suggested by the morphological similarity between Italian Late UP and SM, and by decreasing gene flow among populations during the transition from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Mesolithic period.

Thymic carcinoma is a rare, aggressive neoplasm with low 5-year survival rates ranging from 28 to 67%. Initial presentation with spinal or bone metastasis in primary thymic carcinoma is extremely rare. Thymic carcinoma, compared with thymoma, has higher recurrence rates and worse survival. We report one patient, a 29-year-old African-American male, with thymic carcinoma with metastasis to the epidural space (with cord compression), multiple bony structures (T10–L1) and left supraclavicular lymph node. Immunohistochemical staining was CD5 and c-Kit positive, consistent with thymic carcinoma. Patient underwent T12–L1 laminectomy with tumor resection to relieve cord compression and leg numbness/weakness. Patient was deemed a good candidate for rehabilitation. Soon after starting a rehabilitation program, he quickly demonstrated gains in gait distance with little to no assistance. Follow-up appointments with oncology were scheduled, and further planning of radiation and chemotherapy treatments were discussed.

Late Pleistocene human evolution in Sicily: comparative morphometric analysis of Grotta di San Teodoro craniofacial remains. D'Amore G, Di Marco S, Tartarelli G, Bigazzi R, Sineo L. Source Laboratorio di Archeoantropologia, Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana, Via dei Rossi 26/A, 50018 Scandicci, Firenze, Italy. Abstract The paleoanthropological remains from Grotta di San Teodoro near Acquedolci (province of Messina, Italy) represent the oldest and largest skeletal collection yet found documenting human settlement of Sicily. The sample, attributed to the Late Epigravettian (between 14,000 and 10,000 years B.P.), consists of seven variously complete adult individuals (San Teodoro 1-7). We compare the cranial sample to an array of both prehistoric and recent samples using multivariate techniques including D(2) distance analysis, canonical variate analysis, cluster analysis, and multidimensional scaling. Overall, the San Teodoro cranial sample displays a morphometric pattern close to Western European groups of similar antiquity, in particular those from Central and Southern Italy. The morphometric affinities indicate that these people probably came from peninsular Italy by sea during the Late Epigravettian epoch. An alternative hypothesis is that they descended from immigrants that arrived by land during a low sea level episode corresponding to the maximum Würmian regression, about 18,000 years B.P, with gene flow accounting for the morphological homogeneity with the populations of peninsular Italy. The San Teodoro skeletal sample provides the first reliable evidence for human settlement of Sicily. PMID: 19446307 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Malate dehydrogenase has not revealed any consistent change of the percent ratio between its components during the post-natal maturation of the normal and dystrophic retina. The same minor change of the enzyme affinity for oxaloacetate has been measured after birth in both rat strains. Determinations of the specific activities of malate dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase have not discriminated between normal rats and animals with inherited retinal degeneration. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase have exhibited different developmental curves in the two strains: post-natal drop of enzyme activity in normal rats, in contrast with the increase and subsequent decrease of both enzymes in affected animals.

Electrophoretic and catalytic studies have been carried out on lactate dehydrogenase of normal and transected sciatic nerves of the rat. Lactate dehydrogenase of the intact nerve exhibits an almost even distribution of activity among its component iso-enzymes. The complete transection of the nerve is responsible for a deep and immediate shift of the enzyme towards the so-called muscle type pattern. Seven days after the nerve section the percentage activity of iso-enzyme 5 is almost three times higher than in the intact nerve. After a short lag period lactate dehydrogenase specific activity (activity/mg protein) undergoes a sharp decrease in transected nerves. The return of the electrophoretic composition of the enzyme to a pattern similar to that of the intact nerve is not paralleled by any subsequent modification of specific activity. Some kinetic properties of the enzyme have shown changes parallel to those revealed by the electrophoretic analysis. The inhibition by excess lactate has exhibited, in fact, an increase and a subsequent decrease, which have been in keeping with the observed changes in the percentage activity of iso-enzyme 5 and related hybrid forms. Other kinetic parameters, such as the affinity for the substrates, have not shown significant modifications. The relationships of these neurochemical findings to the quantitative cytology of nerve degeneration and the metabolic significance of changes in the iso-enzymic patterns of lactate dehydrogenase are discussed.

The biochemical immaturity of the rat brain at birth has been largely investigated in recent years (see for references, Sperry, 1955, 1962; Himwich, 1962). It has been tempting to relate neurochemical data to older findings on the physiological maturation of the organ.

The Wallerian degeneration of the sectioned peripheral nerve has long been regarded as a merely regressive phenomenon. Some twenty years ago, Abercrombie and Johnson (1) did show, however, that a large increase of the number of nuclei within Schwann tubes and endoneurium is associated with regressive events of nerve degeneration. This article provides a preliminary answer to the question as to whether changes in the isoenzymic composition of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) can be determined by experimental induction of cell proliferation and degeneration in a defined nervous tissue such as the distal segment of a cut nerve. Molecular changes of LDH's in growing and spontaneously degenerating nervous tissues have been recently reported by Bonavita et al. (2, 3, 4). The sciatic nerve of the rat has been chosen since previous studies in our laboratory (2,3,4) have provided data on the electrophoretic and catalytic properties of the enzyme in the nervous tissues of this species.

In the framework of the EU-FP7 SCOUT project, RECOVER is a subsystem that enables a satellite infrastructure, and more specifically the ground control segment, with traffic control capabilities. Basically, RECOVER applies rules (forward, drop, re-route) to traffic flows. In this paper, we discuss the preliminary architecture of the RECOVER subsystem. The design is based on SDN, a novel approach for computer networking that allows network administrators to manage network services through the abstraction of higher-level functionalities. The core of the subsystem is a new traffic control application that provides policy-based secure routing, i.e., the ability to take on routing decisions driven by physical or network security targets.

In this paper we propose a solution to improve the search among compress data. A Linux filesystem have been implemented by combining the advantages of squashfs (compression) and hixosfs (for research). We test our idea with DICOM file used to store medical images.

THE immaturity and the lack of differentiation of the rat brain at birth has been shown some fifty years ago by Sugita1 in a classic paper on the postnatal morphogenesis of the brain in this animal. The sequence of physiological and biochemical changes which parallel the histological maturation of the rat brain has been investigated, however, only recently.