Spectral broadening of µJ-level pulses around 8 µm in a Germanium-based multi-pass scheme.

A 2.6-fold spectral broadening of mid-infrared femtosecond µJ-level pulses has been achieved using an unfolded multi-pass configuration of germanium plates and zinc selenide lenses. This method maintains a throughput higher than 60% while preserving the spatial quality and the temporal duration of the input beam.

Lineshape of Amplitude-Modulated Stimulated Raman Spectra.

The amplitude modulation of a pump field and the phase-sensitive detection of a pump-induced intensity change of a probe field encompass a common practice in nonlinear spectroscopies to enhance the detection sensitivity. A drawback of this approach arises when the modulation frequency is comparable to the width of the spectral feature of interest, since the presence of sidebands in the amplitude-modulated pump field provides distortion to the observed spectral lineshape. This represents a problem when accurate measurements of spectral lineshapes and line positions are pursued, as recently happened in our group with the metrology of the Q(1) line in the 1-0 band of molecular hydrogen.

Synthesis, Characterization, Fluorescence Properties, and DFT Modeling of Difluoroboron Biindolediketonates.

We report a simple and efficient strategy to enhance the fluorescence of biocompatible biindole diketonates (bdks) in the visible spectrum through difluoroboronation (BFbdks complexes). Emission spectroscopy testifies an increase in the fluorescence quantum yields from a few percent to as much as >0.7.

Mercury Clathration-Driven Phase Transition in a Luminescent Bipyrazolate Metal-Organic Framework: A Multitechnique Investigation.

Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metals. By virtue of its triple bond, the novel ligand 1,2-bis(1-pyrazol-4-yl)ethyne (HBPE) was expressly designed and synthesized to devise metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibiting high chemical affinity for mercury. Two MOFs, Zn(BPE) and Zn(BPE)·DMF [interpenetrated i-Zn and noninterpenetrated ni-Zn·S, respectively; DMF = dimethylformamide], were isolated as microcrystalline powders.

Double-stranded flanking ends affect the folding kinetics and conformational equilibrium of G-quadruplexes forming sequences within the promoter of KIT oncogene.

G-quadruplexes embedded within promoters play a crucial role in regulating the gene expression. KIT is a widely studied oncogene, whose promoter contains three G-quadruplex forming sequences, c-kit1, c-kit2 and c-kit*. For these sequences available studies cover ensemble and single-molecule analyses, although for kit* the latter were limited to a study on a promoter domain comprising all of them.

Nanomechanics of G-quadruplexes within the promoter of the KIT oncogene.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are tetrahelical DNA structures stabilized by four guanines paired via Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds into quartets. While their presence within eukaryotic DNA is known to play a key role in regulatory processes, their functional mechanisms are still under investigation. In the present work, we analysed the nanomechanical properties of three G4s present within the promoter of the KIT proto-oncogene from a single-molecule point of view through the use of magnetic tweezers (MTs).

Soil and Regulated Deficit Irrigation Affect Growth, Yield and Quality of 'Nero d'Avola' Grapes in a Semi-Arid Environment.

The present work studied the effect of two consecutive years of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) compared to rain fed management on the vegetative growth, yield, and quality of 'Nero d'Avola' grapes. The trial was conducted separately in two soils (vertisol and entisol) located at the top and bottom hillside of the same vineyard. Vertisol was characterized by greater depth, organic matter, exchangeable KO, and total N than entisol.

Multispacer sequence typing of Coxiella burnetii from milk and hard tick samples from ruminant farms in Lebanon.

his study was carried out to detect and characterize Coxiella burnetii in ruminant milk samples and in different tick species from seropositive farms in four Lebanese regions. Milk and tick samples were screened for C. burnetii presence by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting IS1111 region followed by multispacer sequence typing (MST).

Demonstration of fibrinogen-FcRn binding at acidic pH by means of Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) interacts with IgG and albumin at acidic pH within endosomes, thus protecting these plasma proteins from degradation. Recently, we proposed fibrinogen as a new binding partner of FcRn. This work was aimed at providing a direct demonstration of FcRn-fibrinogen binding at acidic pH by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.

Analysis of interferon-gamma producing cells during infections by Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 and Brucella abortus in cattle.

One of the major constraints in the diagnosis of animal brucellosis is the cross-reactivity that occurs between Brucella and Yersinia surface antigens. With the aim to find a method to distinguish Brucella from Yersinia infection, the expansion of interferon gamma producing (IFN-γ+) T cell subsets obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from cattle either infected by Brucella abortus or experimentally immunized with Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 were compared. The lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry after PBMC were in vitro re-exposed to Yersinia or Brucella antigens.

Occurrence and risk factors of Coxiella burnetii in domestic ruminants in Lebanon.

Coxiella burnetii causes diseases in humans (Q fever) and animals, domestic ruminants playing a major role in the epidemiology of the infection. Information on C. burnetii infection in Lebanon is scanty.

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of 2-(het)Aryl Perimidine Derivatives with Enhanced Fluorescence Quantum Yields.

Perimidines are a particularly versatile family of heterocyclic compounds, whose properties are exploited in several applications ranging from industrial to medicinal chemistry. The molecular structure of perimidine incorporates a well-known efficient fluorophore, i.e.

Cross-reactivity in serological tests for brucellosis: a comparison of immune response of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 vs Brucella spp.

According to European Union (EU) regulations, the serological tests for the eradication of bovine and ovine brucellosis are the Rose Bengal Test, Complement Fixation Test, and i-ELISA. These methods, also recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for international trades, have limitations related to the use of suspensions of smooth Brucellae or LPS extracts. Limitations include false-positive serological reactions to brucellosis, which in turn impedes accurate diagnosis in some herds.

The First Serological Study of Q Fever in Humans in Lebanon.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate, for the first time, the human seroprevalence of Q fever in Lebanon, by assessing the presence of antibodies against the causative agent, Coxiella burnetii. A total number of 421 serum samples (226 females and 196 males) were collected in February 2015 from hospitals and laboratories dispersed in five Lebanese provinces: Akkar, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, Nabatieh, and South Lebanon.

Methods: Serial testing approach was used.

Diversity and distribution of ticks from domestic ruminants in Lebanon.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are ectoparasites infesting livestock in every geographic area in the world and they are vectors of several viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens to animals and humans worldwide. A deep knowledge of the geographical distribution of these arthropods would have a key role in the control of tick-borne diseases. Few data are available about tick presence in domestic ruminants in Lebanon.

Nutraceutical effects of table green olives: a pilot study with Nocellara del Belice olives.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse the nutraceutical properties of table green olives Nocellara del Belice, a traditional Mediterranean food. The Mediterranean Diet has as key elements olives and extra virgin olive oil, common to all Mediterranean countries. Olive oil is the main source of fat and can modulate oxidative stress and inflammation, whereas little is known about the role of olives.

Analysis of seroprevalence against Coxiella burnetii in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily.

Introduction And Objective: Little is known about the development of chronic Q fever caused by Coxiella burnetii in occupational risk groups and in the general population in Italy, as well as in many countries in the world. The aim of this study was to highlight the presence of the infection in a sample of workers operating outdoors (but not directly in contact with animals), in three provinces of western Sicily, in order to detect the human seroprevalence and compare the obtained data with those found in animals raised in the same territory.

Materials And Methods: The study included 126 generic seasonal agricultural workers (labourers), 84 male and 42 female; none of whom were aware of any previous contact with Coxiella burnetii.

Serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis using B. melitensis strain B115.

Bovine brucellosis is diagnosed by official tests, such as Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and Complement Fixation test (CFT). Both tests detect antibodies directed against the lipolysaccharide (LPS) of Brucella cell wall. Despite their good sensitivity, those tests do not discriminate between true positive and false positive serological reactions (FPSR), the latter being generated by animals infected with other Gram negative microorganisms that share components of Brucella LPS.

Antigen-specific T cells and cytokines detection as useful tool for understanding immunity against zoonotic infections.

Zoonoses include a broad range of diseases, that are becoming of great interest, due to the climate changing, that cause the adaptation of vectors to new niches and environments. Host immune responses play a crucial role in determining the outcome of infections, as documented by expansion of antigen-specific T cells during several zoonotic infections. Thus, understanding of the contribution of antigen-specific T-cell subsets in the host immune response is a powerful tool to evaluate the different immunological mechanisms involved in zoonotic infections and for the development of effective vaccines.

What do we know about risk factors for infection in humans with Toxoplasma gondii and how can we prevent infections?

Fourteen case-control studies evaluating the importance of different risk factors for infection of humans with Toxoplasma gondii were identified. Surprisingly, up to two-thirds of infections could not be explained by risk factors such as consuming raw or undercooked meat or poor kitchen hygiene. Few studies reported population attributable risk, and when reported, it was low.

Risk factors for toxoplasmosis in pigs bred in Sicily, Southern Italy.

The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs raised and slaughtered in Sicily, Southern Italy, and to evaluate the risk factors associated with the infection. Samples were collected in seven slaughterhouses and on-site on 274 raising farms across Sicily, in the period from January 2006 until March 2007. For each sampled pig born and raised in Sicily, information was obtained on gender, age, origin, final destination of meat and farm management.