Reproductive features of the deep-water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris (Crustacea: Penaeidae), in the Strait of Sicily

The deep‑water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846), is one of the most valuable and heavily exploited demersal species of the Mediterranean bottom trawl fisheries. The basic life traits of this shrimp, in particular its reproductive aspects, are regularly monitored during experimental trawl surveys carried out in the Mediterranean Sea. Gonadic condition and maturity status for estimating the size at onset of sexual maturity are commonly assessed in females, using macroscopic color scales, histologically validated only in a few geographical areas. In this study, histological analyses were performed on rose shrimps collected from a trawl survey carried out in the Strait of Sic…

Trawl mesh selectivity and body engagement pattern in the red shrimpAristaeomorpha foliacea(Risso, 1827) (Crustacea: Decapoda)

The paper presents selectivity data and utilizes an elliptic surface index (maximum height and width of the folded body), in order to explain the selectivity differences between sexes and to investigate the body engagement pattern of the red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea. The results show that males are retained more, with significant differences, and demonstrates a previously unknown morphological difference between sexes (folded males are significantly higher than females of the same carapace length, while the latter are larger, but not significantly, than males of similar size). Nevertheless, in practice the overall escapement rate should not change dramatically with sex, since the resu…

Cytology, Histology and Histochemistry

Evidence of lipofuscin accumulation in the deep-water red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827)

Lipofuscin, a non-degradable, degenerative fluorescent pigment which accumulates in post-mitotic cells, represents a promising method for ageing marine crustaceans. The presence and accumulation of lipofuscin has been studied in the deep-water red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) to assess its use as a tool for ageing larger (i.e., older) specimens and thus improve knowledge of the growth and longevity of this species. Specimens, gathered during experimental trawl surveys carried out in the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea), were stored directly on-board in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution; their brain was thereafter removed, prepared with various current histological techn…

Diagnosi differenziale tra sindrome neurologica alterna e idrocefalo normoteso: un caso clinico

L’idrocefalo consiste in una dilatazione del sistema ventricolare dovuta ad un disturbo della circolazione liquorale. Nell’anziano l’idrocefalo è di frequente riscontro in associazione a demenza, come forma ex vacuo. L’idrocefalo normoteso colpisce prevalentemente soggetti d’età superiore ai 65 anni con un esordio clinico subdolo, che spesso è causa di ritardo nella diagnosi. Le sindromi neurologiche alterne sono espressione di lesioni di varia natura a carico del tronco encefalico, caratterizzate dalla coesistenza di un deficit neurologico centrale controlaterale alla lesione ed un deficit neurologico periferico omolateralmente alla lesione. Descriviamo il caso di un paziente di sesso masc…

Spinodal demixing, percolation and gelation of biostructural polymers

We present a variety of new experiments which concern the self-assembly of a polymeric network from homogeneous solutions of Agarose, a representative biostructural polysaccharide used for previous studies at our laboratories. They allow deriving a semi-quantitative phase diagram in the T, C plane. The diagram includes both the spinodal and gelation lines. Below a value of about 2% w/v, concentration is not sufficient for direct gelation; however, quenching of the sol from high temperatures to below the spinodal line initiates the spinodal demixing. The latter generates two sets of regions having respectively, higher- and lower-than-average polymer concentrations. In the higher-concentratio…

Osteoporosis in pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature

Time-Resolved study of network self-organization from a biopolymeric solution

Time-resolved studies of network self-organization from homogeneous solutions of the representative biostructural polymer agarose are presented. Solutions are temperature quenched and observed by several techniques. Consistent with previous suggestions by the authors, experiments at concentrations up to about 1.75% w/v provide direct kinetic evidence for the occurrence of at least two distinct processes, leading, in sequence, to self-assembly. These are as follows: (a) a liquid–liquid phase separation of the solution occurring via spinodal demixing and resulting in two sets of regions that have, respectively, higher and lower than average concentrations of random-coiled polymers; and (b) th…

CPK increase as an occult marker of cerebrovascular disease: a case report.

Effectiveness of a project to prevent HIV vertical transmission in the Republic of Congo

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of a prevention programme against the vertical transmission of HIV in a resource-limited setting and to investigate variables associated with compliance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Kento-Mwana project (2005-2008) provided counselling, serological and biomolecular testing and prophylaxis/therapy to HIV-positive pregnant women and their children attending four antenatal clinics in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo. Expected and actual rates of vertical transmission of HIV were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in order to identify variables associated with non-compliance. RESULTS: The observed transmission rate in the group wh…