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Graphoderus bilineatus is a predacious diving beetle, widely distributed across Europe. Its poor dispersal ability and the fragmentation and deterioration of its habitats have been indicated as the major causes of decline. In several western European countries, the species is extinct, justifying its inclusion as "vulnerable" in the IUCN red list. Aiming for the conservation of the last known population of G. bilineatus in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna, at the lake Pratignano, we surveyed its genetic diversity at the mitochondrial COI gene and compared it to that of other European populations. Two fixed COI haplotypes were found in the Italian and Austrian populations, respectively. Both haplotypes were unique among the European populations surveyed, suggesting these populations suffered a bottleneck and geographic isolation. Populations in western Europe showed lower genetic diversity and higher degree of differentiation than eastern populations. The uniqueness of Pratignano haplotype makes it difficult to choose a source population from which to transfer animals for a possible restocking. Selection of the source population should be based mainly on ecological considerations, but at the same time ensuring a good genetic diversity to maximize the adaptive potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study investigating a reengineering project based on theory of constraints fundamental measurements is presented. Bad bottom line results triggered the project. The main constraint is the market itself. Moreover, a policy constraint encouraging local optima in the planning and scheduling process limits the company from reaching its goal and prevents it from exploiting the market constraint. The paper also discusses briefly a risk analysis of such projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy protocol can destroy the reproductive potential of young cancer patients. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent anthracycline commonly used in the treatment of numerous malignancies. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ovarian toxicity of DOX via inflammation and the possible protective effect of the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Ovarian tissue of three patients was cultured with 1 μg/ml DOX and/or 10 μg/ml EGCG for 24 and 48 h. Levels of inflammatory factors were determined by quantitative Real-Time PCR, western blot, zimography, and multiplex bead-based immunoassay. Morphological evaluation, damaged follicle count and TUNEL assay were also performed. DOX influenced inflammatory responses by inducing a significant increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2), of inflammatory interleukins (IL), such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), and the inflammatory proteins mediators metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP2 and MMP9). IL-8 secretion in the culture supernatants and MMP9 activity also significantly raised after DOX treatment.Moreover, a histological evaluation of the ovarian tissue showed morphological damage to follicles and stroma after DOX exposure. EGCG significantly reduced DOX-induced inflammatory responses and improved the preservation of follicles. DOX-induced inflammation could be responsible for the ovarian function impairment of chemotherapy. EGCG could have a protective role in reducing DOX-mediated inflammatory responses in human ovarian tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which analyzed boron-silicon (Si) and germanium-Si thin-film solid solution on Si at different compositions using multiple-crystal x-ray diffraction. Preparation of the films; Implementation of x-ray procedures; Simulations of the symmetric experimental rocking curves of the boron-implanted sample.

Examines the solid-phase epitaxial growth in germanium-implanted silicon wafers as a function of germanium fluence, annealing temperature and time. Kinetics of recrystallization of silicon layers amorphized by germanium implants; Rutherford backscattering spectra in channeling conditions along the <100> direction before and after annealing; Amorphous thickness in low-fluence sample as a function of annealing time at different temperature.

Provides information on a study concerning the electrical activity and structural evolution of arsenic and silicon specimens which are laser-annealed and thermally annealed. Application of thermal annealing in silicon and arsenic; Process of transmission electron microscopy and double-crystal x-ray diffractometry; Deactivation phenomena and its electrical measurement.

Deals with a study which determined the parallel stress and perpendicular strain depth distributions in silicon amorphized by ion implantation. Utilization of x-ray diffraction techniques on silicon wafers; Methodology of the study; Results and discussion.

Copyright of Gynecological Endocrinology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Study Question: Which is the best method for human ovarian tissue cryopreservation: slow freezing/rapid thawing (SF/RT) or vitrification/warming (V/W)?Summary Answer: The conventional SF/RT protocol used in this study seems to better preserve the morpho-functional status of human cryopreserved ovarian tissue than the used open carrier V/W protocol.What Is Known Already: Cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue is generally performed using the SF/RT method. However, reduction in the follicular pool and stroma damage are often observed. An emerging alternative procedure is represented by V/W which seems to allow the maintenance of the morphological integrity of the stroma.Study Design, Size, Duration: This is a retrospective cohort study including six patients affected by oncological diseases and enrolled from January to December 2014.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: Ovarian tissue was laparoscopically harvested from the right and left ovaries and was cryopreserved using a routinary SF/RT protocol or a V/W method, involving tissue incubation in two solutions (containing propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and sucrose at different concentrations) and vitrification in an open system. For each patient, three pieces from each ovary were collected at the time of laparoscopy (fresh tissue) and after storage (SF/RT or V/W) and processed for light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to assess the morphological and ultrastructural features of follicles and stroma, and for laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), to determine the functional energetic/redox stroma status. The preservation status of SF/RT and V/W ovarian tissues was compared with that of fresh ones, as well as between them.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: By LM and TEM, SF/RT and V/W samples showed cryodamage of small entity. Interstitial oedema and increased stromal cell vacuolization and chromatin clumping were observed in SF/RT samples; in contrast, V/W samples showed oocyte nuclei with slightly thickened chromatin and irregular shapes. The functional imaging analysis by LSCM revealed that the mitochondrial activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels were reduced both in SF/RT and in V/W samples compared with fresh samples. The study also showed progressive dysfunction of the mitochondrial activity going from the outer to the inner serial section of the ovarian cortex. The reduction of mitochondrial activity of V/W samples compared with fresh samples was significantly higher in the inner section than in the outer section.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: The results report the bioenergetic and oxidative status assessment of fresh and cryopreserved human ovarian tissue by LSCM, a technique recently applied to tissue samples. The use of LSCM on human ovarian tissues after SF/RT or V/W is a new application that requires validation. The procedures for mitochondrial staining with functional probes and fixing are not yet standardized. Xenografting of the cryopreserved ovarian tissue in severe combined immunodeficient mice and in vitro culture have not yet been performed.Wider Implications Of the Findings: The identification of a cryopreservation method able to maintain the morpho-functional integrity of the ovarian tissue and a number of follicles comparable with those observed in fresh tissue might optimize results in clinical practice, in terms of recovery, duration of ovarian function and increased delivery outcomes after replanting. The SF/RT protocol allowed better morpho-functional tissue integrity than the V/W procedure.Study Funding/competing Interests: Funding was provided by Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna, Italy. Dr N.A.M. was granted by the project ONEV MIUR PONa3 00134-n.254/R&C 18 5 2011 and the project GR-2011-02351396 (Ministry of Health, Young Researchers Grant 2011/2012). There are no competing interests.Trial Registration Number: Clinical trial 74/2001/0 (approved:13 2 2002): 'Pilot study on cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue: morphological and immunohistochemical analysis before and after cryopreservation'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four-year investigation comparing organic and conventional horticultural vegetable rotation systems was carried out in Central Italy using soil arthropods as bioindicators. The indexes of biodiversity showed, in general, higher values on organic in comparison with conventional management, but the differences were strongly affected by the crops. An index specifically designed to select the Carabid species, which benefit from organic versus conventional, was calculated in order to understand faunistic data on this group. Our data demonstrated that the spray intensity adversely affects the Carabid species richness, as proved by the lowest diversity values recorded in the conventional plots. The experiment, planned by following a “system approach research,” was suitable to understand the ecological sustainability in organic farming in comparison with conventional. The better conservation of arthropod fauna in the organic seems to be coherent also with the enhancement of organic matter in this system. For this reason, a holistic effect of the organic system can provide a reasonable interpretation of the better conservation of the living component and, in particular, of Carabid beetle biodiversity, during the four-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The efficacy of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rh FSH) in the treatment of normogonadotropic patients with male-factor infertility was assessed. Forty-five infertile men with moderate/severe oligoasthenozoospermia and normal FSH, luteinizing hormone ( LH) and testosterone (T) levels were treated with high rh FSH dose (300 IU) on alternate days for ≥4 months. In all, the seminal parameters, endocrine profile ( FSH, LH, prolactin (PRL), total and free T and estradiol) and pregnancy rate were evaluated before, during and after rh FSH treatment. Fifteen infertile men were treated with placebo and studied in the same way, as control group. rh FSH treatment induced a marked increase in sperm count and no change in sperm motility, morphology and viability. No changes in seminal parameters were observed in the placebo group. FSH levels increased during treatment with rh FSH and not with placebo. No variations in LH, PRL, free and total T and estradiol were evidenced during treatment. A significant pregnancy rate in rh FSH versus placebo patients was also highlighted. Prolonged treatment with high rh FSH doses leads to increase sperm count and improve the spontaneous pregnancy rate in normogonadotropic infertile patients with oligoasthenozoospermia. rh FSH may represent a rational and useful tool in the treatment of male-factor infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer treatments improve the survival rate of children and adolescents; however chemo- and radiotherapy result in gonadal damage leading to acute ovarian failure and sterility. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation allows long-term storage of primordial follicles and represents the only possibility of preserving the potential fertility in prepubertal girls. The aim of the present study is to describe our experience in ovarian tissue cryopreservation in 45 pediatric patients. The number of follicles per square millimeter of the overall section area and follicle quality were evaluated histologically. A strong negative correlation was found between age and follicular density in patients both prior to and after chemotherapy (P < 0.0001). Damage in follicular quality, that is, increased oocyte vacuolization and detachment of the oocyte from granulosa cells, was found after chemotherapy. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation, preferably performed before initiation of chemotherapy, should be offered to pediatric patients, including prepubertal girls, at risk of sterility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the organophosphorus pesticide Malathion, Pestanal®on the activity of the enzymes Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Glutathione-S-transferase and on survival were evaluated in Tigriopus fulvus. The mortality of the organisms after 96 hours (acute toxicity) and after 7 days (chronic toxicity) of treatment was evaluated. LC50 was not calculable after 24 hours of exposition; after 48, 72 and 96 hours it resulted 905.72, 552.78 and 248.94 µg l-1 respectively. After 7 days the NOEC value was 25 µg l-1 The LOEC value for the inhibition of AChE was 25 µg l-1 and for the stimulation of GST was 12.5 µg l-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Totally endoscopic management (all-endo) of patients with a duplicated renal system (DS) associated with severe vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or obstructive ureterocele (UC) is an attractive alternative to traditional open procedures. The authors discuss feasibility and results of an all-endo approach on a consecutive series of patients. Methods. From 1999 to 2009, all patients with a complete DS associated with UC and/or VUR were proposed for primary all-endo approach. UC puncture was performed using a 3 Fr Bugbee electrode. Deflux (dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer) injection was administered for VUR. The need for secondary surgery was evaluated on followup. Results. Of the 62 patients recruited, 46 were treated using a primary allendo approach and 16 patients received no treatment. Of the 46 treated patients with 56 affected renal units, 32 (97%) UCs collapsed following puncture and 29 (63%) VURs were resolved or downgraded. Secondary VUR occurred in 13 (39%) renal units. Secondary surgery was performed on 23 (41%) renal units. Conclusion. The all-endo approach for VUR in DS is an effective therapeutic option. UC collapse was achieved by puncture in most of the patients; secondary VUR was the main complication in a small group of extravesical UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which analyzed fertility preservation among cancer patients. Different options for fertility cryopreservation in cancer patients are discussed, including embryo cryopreservation, oocyte cryopreservation and ovarian tissue cryopreservation. The factors that affect graft function after ovarian tissue reimplant are examined. The type of drug used, combined regimes, the dosage, length of treatment, and the patient's age at the time of exposure are factors affecting ovarian damage from chemotherapy. The history of ovarian grafting is also highlighted.

A wide range of environmental chemicals have been shown to alter the endocrine system of both wildlife and humans. There is increasing evidence that many of these endocrine disruptors (EDs), in particular estrogenic chemicals, can rapidly affect cellular homeostasis and signaling in mammalian Ca2+ systems. In this work, in vitro and in vivo data are summarised on the effects of different compounds known or suspected as EDs on homeostasis in Ca2+ marine invertebrate, the blue mussel Mytilus spp. Both synthetic estrogens and different EDs (DES, BPA, NP, PCB congeners, etc.) rapidly increased sytosolic [Ca2+] in mussel hemosytes, as evaluated by FURA2 single cell fluorescence microscopy. The observed [Ca2+] increase was unaffected by the antiestrogen Tamoxifen and was due to either increased influx or release from Ca2+ intracellular stores, depending on the compound. Moreover, different EDs, including the brominated flame retardant TBBPA (tetrabromo bisphenol A) induced a dose-dependent inhibition of the plasma membrane Ca2+ -ATPase (PMCA) activity from mussel gills in vitro, this supporting a direct effect on membrane pumps. The in vitro effects of EDs were observed at concentrations generally higher than those of E2. However, in vivo, mussel exposure to environmetal concentrations of Bisphenol A (BPA) and of the polybrominated diphenyl ether TBDE-47 resulted in large inhibition of PMCA activity in the digestive gland. The results indicate that, in invertebrate like in mammalian systems, interference with Ca2+ homeostasis may represent a significant mode of action of a variety of EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual biological effects of the 1991 HAVEN oil spill off the Ligurian (Arenzano) coast were assessed in this study. Samples of the fish species Boops boops, Mullus barbatus, and Uranoscupus scaber were collected from two polluted sites near the HAVEN wreck and from an uncontaminated area. In addition to this, mussels were caged along the coast affected by the HAVEN disaster. The physiological status of fish and mussels was assessed using a battery of stress and exposure biomarkers. The PAH content of mussel and fish tissues was also analyzed. Significant biological responses were observed in lysosomal membrane stability, neutral lipid and lipofuscin accumulation and micronucleus frequency for mussels caged at two sites close to the HAVEN wreck. Chemical analyses indicated, however, that these effects are not caused by aromatic hydrocarbons. For this reason, we suggest that the aftermath of the HAVEN disaster contributes very little to coastal ecosystem pollution. This was also confirmed by the few biological effects observed in fish specimens ( Boops boops) collected from surface waters. Nevertheless, it is important to point out that benthic fish displayed a stress syndrome potentially caused by aromatic hydrocarbons released from the oil tanker, as witnessed by an enhanced EROD activity and increased lipofuscin and neutral lipid lysosomal contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We state and prove an integral manifold theorem for non autonomous differential systems when the vector field is multiplied by a small parameter. We use an averaging technique together with methods of Hirsch-Pugh-Shub-Foster-Irwin; these last are adapted to the context of the topology of "integral smallness". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the different protein supports in the cryopreservation solution on improving human ovarian tissue preservation after frozen–thawed procedures. Biopsies of ovarian cortical tissue were obtained from 14 subjects. All specimens were cryopreserved using a slow freezing/rapid thawing method in a solution consisting of propanediol and sucrose in different proportions of 3 protein supports: 30% human serum (HS) (solution A), 20% HS (solution B), or 20% fetal calf serum (solution C). After thawing, 191 follicles and a total of 70 samples were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The post-thaw preservation rate of the follicles in solution A was significantly higher with respect to solution C ( p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We build template maps for the polarized Galactic synchrotron emission on large angular scales (7° full width at half maximum), in the 20–90 GHz microwave range, by using Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe ( WMAP) data. The method, presented in recent work, requires a synchrotron total-intensity survey and the polarization horizon to model the polarized intensity and a starlight polarization map to model polarization angles. The basic template is obtained directly at 23 GHz with about 94 per cent sky coverage by using the synchrotron map released by the WMAP team. Extrapolations to 32, 60 and 90 GHz are performed by computing a synchrotron spectral-index map, which strongly reduces previous uncertainties in passing from low (1.4 GHz) to microwave frequencies. Differing from low-frequency data, none of our templates present relevant structures out of the Galactic plane. Our map at 90 GHz suggests that the synchrotron emission at high Galactic latitudes is low enough to allow robust detection of the E-mode component of the cosmological signal on large scale, even in models with low reionization . Detection of the weaker B-mode on the largest scales might be jeopardized unless the value found by WMAP is confirmed, and tensor-to-scalar fluctuation power ratio . For lower levels of the gravitational-wave background the B-mode seems to be accessible only at the peak and in selected low-synchrotron emission areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present a new approach to modelling the polarized Galactic synchrotron emission in the microwave range (20–100 GHz), where this radiation is expected to play the leading role in contaminating the cosmic microwave background data. Our method is based on real surveys and aims at providing the real spatial distributions of both polarized intensity and polarization angles. Its main features are the modelling of a polarization horizon to determine the polarized intensity, and the use of starlight optical data to model the polarization angle pattern. Our results are consistent with several existing data, and our template is virtually free from Faraday rotation effects as required at frequencies in the cosmological window. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of human oocyte cryopreservation depends on morphological and biophysical factors that could influence oocyte survival after thawing. Various attempts to cryopreserve human oocytes have been performed with contrasting results. Therefore the effect of some factors, such as the presence or absence of the cumulus oophorus, the sucrose concentration in the freezing solution and the exposure time to cryoprotectants, on human oocyte survival after thawing were investigated. The oocytes were cryopreserved in 1,2-propanediol added with sucrose, using a slow-freezing-rapid-thawing programme. After thawing, the oocytes were inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the outcomes of insemination and subsequent embryo development were also recorded. The post-thaw cryosurvival rate was not different for the oocytes cryopreserved with their cumuli partially removed mechanically (56%) when compared with those cryopreserved with their cumuli totally removed enzymatically (53%). On the contrary, a significantly higher survival rate was obtained when the oocytes were cryopreserved in the presence of a doubled sucrose concentration (0.2 mol/l) in the freezing solution and the survival rate was even higher when the sucrose concentration was tripled (0.3 mol/l) (60 versus 82% P < 0.001). Furthermore, a longer exposure time (from 10.5 to 15 min) to cryoprotectants, before lowering the temperature, significantly increased the oocyte survival rate (P < 0.005). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection produced a good fertilization rate (57%) of thawed oocytes and a high embryo cleavage rate (91%) and a satisfactory embryo morphology was observed (14 and 34% for grade I and grade II embryos respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of human oocyte cryopreservation depends on morphological and biophysical factors that could influence oocyte survival after thawing. Various attempts to cryopreserve human oocytes have been performed with contrasting results. Therefore the effect of some factors, such as the presence or absence of the cumulus oophorus, the sucrose concentration in the freezing solution and the exposure time to cryoprotectants, on human oocyte survival after thawing were investigated. The oocytes were cryopreserved in 1,2-propanediol added with sucrose, using a slow-freezing-rapid-thawing programme. After thawing, the oocytes were inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the outcomes of insemination and subsequent embryo development were also recorded. The post-thaw cryosurvival rate was not different for the oocytes cryopreserved with their cumuli partially removed mechanically (56%) when compared with those cryopreserved with their cumuli totally removed enzymatically (53%). On the contrary, a significantly higher survival rate was obtained when the oocytes were cryopreserved in the presence of a doubled sucrose concentration (0.2 mol/l) in the freezing solution and the survival rate was even higher when the sucrose concentration was tripled (0.3 mol/l) (60 versus 82% P < 0.001). Furthermore, a longer exposure time (from 10.5 to 15 min) to cryoprotectants, before lowering the temperature, significantly increased the oocyte survival rate (P < 0.005). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection produced a good fertilization rate (57%) of thawed oocytes and a high embryo cleavage rate (91%) and a satisfactory embryo morphology was observed (14 and 34% for grade I and grade II embryos respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We analyse the statistical distribution of temperature maxima and minima in COBE-DMR maps. For power law spectra this distribution implies a quadrupole amplitude consistent with more conventional analyses of COBE data using fits of several harmonics, but not with the directly measured quadrupole. In our test the dependence of the quadrupole on the spectral index is relatively weak, so the discrepancy remains large even for a spectral index n≈2. We thereby provide further support for the existence of an infrared cut-off in the cosmic spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)