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Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant paediatric brain tumor, is currently treated using a combination of surgery, craniospinal radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Owing to MB stem cells (MBSCs), a subset of MB patients remains untreatable despite standard therapy. CD133 is used to identify MBSCs although its functional role in tumorigenesis has yet to be determined. In this work, we showed enrichment of CD133 in Group 3 MB is associated with increased rate of metastasis and poor clinical outcome. The signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway are selectively activated in CD133 + MBSCs and promote tumorigenesis through regulation of c-MYC, a key genetic driver of Group 3 MB. We screened compound libraries for STAT3 inhibitors and treatment with the selected STAT3 inhibitors resulted in tumor size reduction in vivo . We propose that inhibition of STAT3 signaling in MBSCs may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to treat patients with recurrent MB.

Due to increasingly numerous international migrations, estimating the age of unaccompanied minors is becoming of enormous significance for forensic professionals who are required to deliver expert opinions. The third molar tooth is one of the few anatomical sites available for estimating the age of individuals in late adolescence. This study verifies the accuracy of Cameriere's cut-off value of the third molar index (I3M) in assessing 18 years of age. For this purpose, a sample of orthopantomographs (OPTs) of 397 living subjects aged between 13 and 22 years (192 female and 205 male) was analyzed. Age distribution gradually decreases as I3M increases in both males and females. The results show that the sensitivity of the test was 86.6%, with a 95% confidence interval of (80.8%, 91.1%), and its specificity was 95.7%, with a 95% confidence interval of (92.1%, 98%). The proportion of correctly classified individuals was 91.4%. Estimated post-test probability, p was 95.6%, with a 95% confidence interval of (92%, 98%). Hence, the probability that a subject positive on the test (i.e., I3M<0.08) was 18 years of age or older was 95.6%.

Learning the art of exploiting the interplay between different units at the atomic scale is a fundamental step in the realization of functional nano-architectures and interfaces. In this context, understanding and controlling the magnetic coupling between molecular centers and their environment is still a challenging task. Here we present a combined experimental-theoretical work on the prototypical case of the bis(phthalocyaninato)-lanthanide(III) (LnPc 2 ) molecular nanomagnets magnetically coupled to a Ni substrate. By means of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism we show how the coupling strength can be tuned by changing the Ln ion. The microscopic parameters of the system are determined by ab-initio calculations and then used in a spin Hamiltonian approach to interpret the experimental data. By this combined approach we identify the features of the spin communication channel: the spin path is first realized by the mediation of the external (5d) electrons of the Ln ion, keeping the characteristic features of the inner 4 f orbitals unaffected, then through the organic ligand, acting as a bridge to the external world.

Some morphometric relationships were studied in the hermit crab Paguristes erythrops to describe its relative growth and the size at which sexual maturity is reached, as well as the shell influence on this process. Individuals were collected monthly from January to December/1999, by SCUBA diving and 12 different characters were measured on males and females. Sexual size dimorphism was observed in length and width of left cheliped. Size at sexual maturity was estimated between 2.8 and 3.5 mm shield length based on the left cheliped relations of the males and on the endopod and exopod of the second pleopod of the females. Differences in the allometry of individuals occupying different shell species were observed. The present work demonstrated the importance of characterizing the type of growth of some parts (pleopods) not yet used in other studies on relative growth of hermit crabs that may correspond to indicators of the size at sexual maturity.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

We register the occurrence of Isocheles sawayai intersex individuals and analyse their external primary and secondary sexual characters. Specimens were collected monthly from July 2001 to June 2003 from the benthic sand habitat in the Caraguatatuba region of the northern littoral coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The sex of individuals was checked based on the position of gonopores and pleopod morphology was also analysed. A total of 374 hermit crabs (297 males, 67 females, and 10 intersexes) was captured and examined. All intersex individuals bore a gonopore on the basis of each coxae of the fifth pereopods as well as male pleopods, associated with gonopores (only one or a pair) on the coxae of the third pereopods. A greater degree of similarity among the analysed sexual characters was observed between males and intersex individuals than between intersexes and females. The results obtained suggest that, at least in this population, intersex individuals are functional males and that hermaphroditism does not play a significant role in the natural history of I. sawayai. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant paediatric brain tumor, is currently treated using a combination of surgery, craniospinal radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Owing to MB stem cells (MBSCs), a subset of MB patients remains untreatable despite standard therapy. CD133 is used to identify MBSCs although its functional role in tumorigenesis has yet to be determined. In this work, we showed enrichment of CD133 in Group 3 MB is associated with increased rate of metastasis and poor clinical outcome. The signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway are selectively activated in CD133 super(+) MBSCs and promote tumorigenesis through regulation of c-MYC, a key genetic driver of Group 3 MB. We screened compound libraries for STAT3 inhibitors and treatment with the selected STAT3 inhibitors resulted in tumor size reduction in vivo. We propose that inhibition of STAT3 signaling in MBSCs may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to treat patients with recurrent MB.

In the Anomura, studies on growth patterns are infrequent, possibly because the heterogeneity of the group, especially in terms of morphology, makes it difficult to construct generalized growth models. Particularly hermit crabs are an interesting group to evaluate aspects of growth, because of their unique body. Isocheles sawayai, a hermit crab found only in the Western Atlantic Ocean, poorly known with respect to its sexual dimorphism and maturity, was investigated here based an morphometry. Monthly collections (July 2001 through June 2003) were made from a shrimp fishing boat in the Caraguatatuba region on the northern coast of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The specimens were measured and weighed, and had their Sex checked. Throughout the sampling period, 374 specimens of I. sawayai were collected (11.23% nonovigerous females, 6.69% ovigerous females, 79.41% males and 2.67% intersexes). The size at which morphological sexual maturity was reached by both sexes ranged from 4.0 to 4.3 mm shield length, according to the relative growth and the size of the smallest ovigerous female. Sexual dimorphism was shown by males, which were significantly larger than females, and by differences in growth pattern between the sexes, especially for relationships that involved the pleopods, which is related to their different functions in males and females. The present study is one of the first to use pleopod morphometry to determine sexual maturity and dimorphism in hermit crabs, especially for species with intersexuality such as I sawayai.

The 20th Congress of the Animal Science and Production Association (ASPA), is held in the prestigious home of the oldest university of the world: Bologna. The anniversary also celebrates the 40th year of the founding of the Society and is an occasion to remember the past and plan for the future of Animal Sciences in Italy. In this Congress, 137 oral presentations and 155 posters are presented, for a total of 292 scientific contributions. The Congress sessions with their relative number of papers are listed as follows: Animal breeding and genetics 109, Nutrition and feeding 45, Dairy production 42, Animal welfare, health and behaviour 39, Meat quality 35, Poultry and rabbit production 11 and Aquaculture 11. I would like to point out that 3 main lectures will be presented in the Animal breeding and genetics, Nutrition and feeding and Animal welfare, health and behaviour sessions, respectively. I would thank, first of all, Prof. Vincenzo Russo, Honorary President of the Congress and Emeritus of ASPA, for the contribution of the University of Bologna in organizing this event. I would also thank all the members of the Scientific Committee, Prof. Andrea Piva (Chairperson), Prof. Anna Badiani, Prof. Giacomo Biagi, Dr. Alessio Bonaldo, Prof. Paolo Bosi, Prof. Roberta Davoli, Prof. Luca Fontanesi, Prof. Giovanna Martelli, Prof. Adele Meluzzi, Dr. Attilio Mordenti, Prof. Luca Sardi, Dr. Federico Sirri, Dr. Paolo Trevisi, and of the Organizing Committee, Prof. Claudio Cavani (Chairperson), Prof. Stefania Dall’Olio, Prof. Andrea Formigoni, Prof. Pier Giorgio Monetti, Prof. Leonardo Nanni Costa, Dr. Massimiliano Petracci, Prof. Giuliano Zaghini, Dr. Paolo Zambonelli. A special thanks to the secretary of the Congress, MV Congressi. Indeed, I would like to congratulate and thank all those who have organized the meeting and have collaborated in reviewing the summaries for what they have done for ASPA and the Italian Animal Science. A special thanks to Prof. Rosanna Scipioni, Editor-in-Chief of the Italian Journal of Animal Science, for having contributed to the edition of these proceedings. Finally, I acknowledge the University of Bologna and the institutional agencies, in particular the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF), the Regione Emilia Romagna and the Comune di Bologna, and the main sponsors, namely Associazione Italiana Foraggi Essiccati, DSM, Vetagro and Fatro.