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Summary: Foot health represents an issue in wild avifauna breeding practices. In particular, prevalence of digital ulceration (DU) and foot pad dermatitis (FPD) are valid indicators of welfare in wildlife conservation centres and may be interpreted as to fitness for bird's reintroduction into the wild. This study meant to test the effects of raising practices on foot pad health in captive Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) reared for biodiversity conservation, to assess welfare and fitness to reintroduction into nature. A total of 22 couples were allotted into two experimental groups. In one group, 10 couples were housed in 10 cages for breeding partridges, consisting of two animals each, with metal wire flooring system, above trays where droppings were collected. The remaining 12 couples were housed in six aviaries, consisting of four animals each, on natural (earth and stones) ground. In both groups, partridges were fed identical diets. No significant differences of food pad scoring were found between birds housed in cages (2.3 ± 0.4) and those reared in aviaries on natural ground (2.5 ± 0.6). Moreover, scores of male foot pads for both groups (2.4 ± 0.6) had no significant differences in comparison with female foot pads, independently on housing (2.5 ± 0.4). Body mass (BM) was higher (+4.36%) than average BM reported for wild Sardinian partridges. Digital ulceration was found in the 20% of females, exclusively from the cage group. Body mass of females in cages with metal wire flooring appeared to be significantly (p < .001) and negatively correlated (r = −.528) with DU prevalence. These results suggest that housing conditions impacts differently on behaviour of females and males in one same couple, and this relates to foot health, in particular as to DU prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing and feeding practices of wild birds for conservation management of biodiversity or restocking play a crucial role in determining the survival rates of animals when released into nature. Failure in coping with the environment might be one of the main flaws captive animals can experience when put into natural habitat. The present investigation aimed at exploring feeding habits and related morphometric traits of gizzard with respective content from wild partridges in comparison with captive ones. A total of 52 hunted wild Sardinian adult partridges ( Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) were used. By comparison, 42 captive adult partridges reared in cages were enrolled. From each animal, the morphology of gizzard was investigated and respective content analysed for gross composition and taxonomical determination of fractions. Wet sieving analysis of each gizzard content was carried out (four-sieve towers with different mesh sizes: 1 mm, 500 μm, 250 μm and 125 μm), and relative and absolute weight of fresh filled and empty gizzards were recorded. Thickness of muscular layer of gizzard wall was measured by stereomicroscope. Carcass weight significantly (p < 0.05) differed between captive vs. wild partridges (478 ± 21 and 305 ± 35 g respectively). Post-mortem inspection highlighted gross morphological differences of gizzards between the two groups. Fresh weight of empty gizzards was 6.37 ± 0.80 vs. 11.25 ± 1.82 g, with average pH values of digesta 4.97 ± 0.11 vs. 4.38 ± 0.28 in captive vs. wild partridges respectively. Gizzard content from wild partridges accounted a 61.7% vs. 38.3% of biological vs. non-biological material proportions ( DM basis). The non-biological material was mostly represented by lithic fragments and minerals (quartz, feldspar, calcite and mica) with specific peculiarities in terms of granulometry and morphometry. Feeding the captive partridges should point to support morphological and functional adaptation of gizzards to the feeding stuffs naturally available in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical form of the diet plays an important role for morphological adaptations of organs in the gastrointestinal tract. It was hypothesized that different physical forms of one diet could exert extra-enteric effects, under local and systemic neuroendocrine regulation. Gross morphology, fresh mass and cytoarchitecture of mandibular glands ( MG) were studied in growing pigs fed with one diet processed under four different physical forms. Four dietary treatments were offered for 4 weeks to 32 growing pigs (initial BW: 8.30 ± 0.83 kg) allotted into 4 experimental groups: FP, finely ground pellet (dMean, 0.46 mm); CM, coarsely ground meal ( dMean, 0.88 mm); CP, coarsely ground pellet ( dMean, 0.84); CE, coarsely ground extruded ( dMean, 0.66). Conventional and immuonohistochemical techniques were used to immunolocalize, in particular, leptin (Ob) and its receptor (ObR). A significant effect was observed on the relative mass of the MG, depending on the diet (p < 0.03) and on the BW (p < 0.04), with no interactions (diet* BW). The immunohistochemical reactions for Ob and ObR showed a marked positivity in the MG from the group fed with the CM diet, displaying Ob-positive acinar cells and ObR-positive cells in the striated ducts, together with endocrine-like cells. The intensity of chromogenic reactions positively testing to ObR was used to evaluate the cytoarchitecture of the MG and its possible correlations. Pearson's correlation coefficient resulted to positively link (p < 0.0001) the ObR expression with the absolute mass of MG in the 61.1% of pigs. The physical form of the diet is related to extra-enteral effects, inducing changes in gross and microscopic morphology of the MG in the growing pig. The local production of Ob and the expression of the respective ObR in the striated duct cells shed a new light on the mitogenic activity of Ob in extra-enteral organs, like the MG, in relation to the physical form of the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenolic compounds, namely dietary tannins, are biologically active substances capable to induce an increased proline rich proteins (PRPs) content in the salivary secretions of the parotid gland, in different animal species and in man. In general terms, a pulsed increased secretion of salivary PRPs could be observed mainly in browsing animal species and to a lesser extent in grazers, which rely on an evolutionary adaptation to cope with seasonal feeding stuffs, varying in tannin content. Therefore, PRPs secretion might appear to be a first line of defense from severe intoxications, which can occur in animals incapable to code for tannin binding proteins (TBP) in the saliva. Pigs appeared to be tolerant to high intake of raw acorns, known to be rich in hydrolysable tannins. The parotid gland (PG) response to an experimental acorn combined diet (50% inclusion of raw shredded acorns in the diet, as fed, high in hydrolysable tannins: 25 g tannic acid equivalents TAE/kg dry matter in the diet) offered to pigs (growing vs. finishing pigs) was studied and compared to the morphometry and functional activity of the PG in pigs fed on a control conventional diet (0% acorns in the diet). A total of 32 cross-bred pigs were involved in two feeding trials (1 vs. 4 weeks of experimental feeding) and divided into groups according to the experimental diets (0% vs. 50% acorns included in the diet). The bilateral parotidomegaly (hypertrophy of the parotid gland) occurred constantly and significantly (p<0.01) in the totality of pigs fed with the acorn combined diets, displaying different extents of hypertrophy, according to the age of the pigs: growers, 2-3 folds of the control PG vs. finishers, 1.30-1.40 folds of the respective control PG, either after an exposure of 1 or 4 weeks. No statistic significance could be pointed out after 1 week vs. 4 weeks of experimental feeding, testing on a tannin concentration of 25 g TAE/kg DM from acorns in the diet offered, either to growers and to finishers. The morphometry and functionality of the PG is more strongly stimulated in the growing pigs than observed in the finishing pigs, independently of the duration of consumption of the acorn combined diet, rich in hydrolysable tannins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors report results emerging from gastric content analysis from n. 96 wild boars hunted in Sardinia isle, during the hunting tide (2001–2005), from November to January. Mean pH of the gastric content was 3.77 ± 0.69. Mean total capacity (TC) of each stomach was 1702 ± 680 g. Mean Stuff ratio (CW/TC) between the content weight (CW) and stomachs TC was 0.45. Food categories found in animal stomachs were: 19 categories of vegetal species ( Allium spp., Arbutus unedo, Arisarum vulgare, Avena fatua, Avena sativa, Castanea sativa, Ceratonia siliqua, Chamaerops umilis, Cichorium intybus, Hordeum sativum, Juniperus oxycedrus, Myrtus communis, Olea europea, Pirus amygdaliformis, Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus spp., Rhamnus alaternus, Triticum durum, Zea mais); 11 categories of animal species ( Agriotes lineatus, Apodemus sylvaticus dicrurus, Chalcides chalcides, Chalcides ocellatus tiligugu, Crematogaster scutellaris, Forficula auricularia, Helix aspersa, Lumbricus terrestris, Ovis aries, Podarcis tiliguerta tiliguerta, Scolopendra cingulata); three categories were identified in general terms (insects larvae, hairs of mammals, feathers of birds). Food categories found in the stomach contents of Sus scrofa meridionalis confirm observations by other researchers who report the prevalence of vegetables in spite of animal food sorts in the wild boar diet in Italian regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The silkworm converts about the 20% of body biomass into silk when ready to pupate. • Cocoon shell to cocoon shell weight (S/C) ratio represents an economic trait of silkworm farming. • Metabolites involved in silk synthesis are useful indicators of production attitude of silkworm. • Na+ and K+ significantly together with AST correlate with favourable S/C ratio (>0.20). • Genetic strains of silkworms were clustered through a hierarchical analysis based on metabolites. Biochemical profile of silkworms can depict the profound body biomass conversion throughout the larval stages. In view of this, the determination of metabolite levels in the hemolymph of caterpillars ready to pupate may be interpreted in relation to the imminent silk filament synthesis. Due to different extents of silk production according to the genetic strain of silkworm, it was hypothesized that a potential effect of selection of desirable traits of economic importance could have conditioned levels of some biochemical parameters. To test this hypothesis, twenty silkworm strains from Iranian gene bank were used. Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), phosphorus (P) sodium (Na), potassium (K) and iron (Fe) were determined in the haemolymph of caterpillars ready to pupate (5th day of the 5th instar stage) of each genetic strain. Enzymes and electrolytes were selected in the light of acquaintances on the terminal larval metabolism and development, potentially involved in synthesizing and spinning fibroin and sericin filaments for cocoon creation. Biochemical profiles pointed to differences between strains that were used in the hierarchical clustering analysis. Results showed that the highest level of (AST) was found in strain 113-K (191.63 U/L) and the lowest in 31(94.81 U/L) reflecting the different activity of protein transamination, likely related to body protein conversion into fibroin and sericine. Significantly, Na+ (p = 0.032) and K+ (p = 0.022) displayed to vary in relation to cocoon shell weight categories among the genetic strains investigated. However, AST varied only closed to significance (p = 0.062). The canonical discriminant analysis (CANDISC) pointed to a good discrimination of high performance strains on the basis of the metabolic profile, from those with performance below the median value, but in a non significant way. Dendrograms of hierarchical clustering analyses pointed to 3 distinct groups with different apparent metabolic levels for silk synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a fuzzy model is presented for predicting the possibility of degradation due to salt crystallisation cycles. The formalization of the proposed model has been based on the multivariable approach which considers environmental data (such as temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, rain quantity, relative humidity), characteristic inflection points of specific salts and stone features derived from laboratory characterizations (including mechanical properties, porosity, and mineralogical composition). Modeling results have been compared with experimental data elaborations acquired by monitoring a semi-confined archaeological site situated in the city of Cagliari (Munatius Irenaus cubicle), revealing substantial alignment in the degradation kinetics trends. Moreover, the achieved outcomes show the remarkable capability to identify salt crystallisation phenomenon type (efflorescence or subflorescence)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Salt crystallization is a particularly relevant issue in the conservation of limestones used in Cultural Heritage sites. In this study, various facies of limestones were characterized through porosimetric and mechanical tests. The samples were subjected to experiments to determine their resistance to salt crystallization by verifying the number of cycles at which 50% of them began to lose weight. This number of experimental cycles was compared with the result calculated by the analytical procedure of a chemomechanical model found in the literature. The comparison showed a significant capability of the model to predict the experimental data.

The fight against climate change has delineated new objectives, among which one of the most crucial is the replacement of high-energy-intensity materials in the construction sector with more sustainable and thermally efficient alternatives to reduce indirect emissions. Consequently, the thermal properties of materials assume fundamental importance. In this regard, the large-scale use of earth represents a promising option, not only due to its widespread availability but especially for its minimal embodied energy. However, to enhance its durability, it is necessary to stabilize the mixtures of raw materials. This study analyzes experimental systems based on earth stabilized with bio-based polymers to evaluate their thermal properties and how these vary depending on the selected mix-design. The experimental measurements showed thermal properties comparable to conventional materials. As expected, thermal conductivity increases when porosity decreases. The minimum value is equal to 0.216 W/m·K vs. a porosity of 43.5%, while the maximum is 0.507 W/m·K vs. a porosity of 33.2%. However, the data obtained for individual systems may vary depending on the topological characteristics, which were analyzed through a model for granular materials. The modeling suggests correlations between microstructures and thermal behaviour, which can be useful to develop tools for the mix-design procedure.

Background: Observational studies highlighted high rates of psychotropic medication in persons with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) with or without intellectual disability, which seems to be associated with the management of problem behaviors more than co-occurrent psychiatric disorders. The purpose of the study is to investigate psychopharmacology use and diagnoses of co-occurrent psychiatric disorder (PD) in persons with ASD attending a public mental health service in Emilia Romagna, Italy., Methods: The present study is a multicenter, cross-sectional study., Results: 275 persons out of 486 (56.5%) resulted to receive at least one psychotropic drug, compared to 74 persons (15.2%) that were diagnosed with a PD. 63.6% were on poly-pharmacotherapy (2-10 compounds), with 37.8% receiving 3 or more medications. Antipsychotics were the most frequently prescribed class of psychotropic drugs (89%), followed by antiepileptics/mood stabilizers/lithium (42.1%) and anxiolytics (BDZ) (38.5%). Most common psychiatric disorders were psychotic disorders (29.7%), followed by anxiety disorders (17.5%), bipolar disorders (12.2%), and depressive disorders (9.4%)., Conclusions: Our findings support earlier research showing that many individuals with ASD receive pharmacotherapy without being diagnosed with a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, indicating that the main reasons for prescription and the type of compound frequently have little to no link with specific psychopathology.

Hearing loss is one of the most common congenital sensory disorders. It can be associated with several comorbidities, in particular developmental disabilities (DD). In Emilia-Romagna (ER), a region in Northern Italy, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide the diagnostic framework and treatment for these conditions. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the prevalence of hearing loss, both isolated or in association with comorbidities, in the juvenile population. The study draws its data from the ER Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Information System (SINPIAER), an Administrative Healthcare Database collecting the clinical data of all those who have attended CAMHS since 2010. The most frequent type of hearing loss was bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which was present in 69-72% of the cases, while bilateral conductive hearing loss was the second most common type, ranging from 8 to 10%. Among DD, congenital malformations, mental retardation, visual impairment, and cerebral palsy were the most common. In particular, autism spectrum disorders show increasing incidence and prevalence among CAMHS users in ER region. In-depth knowledge of hearing loss epidemiology and related conditions, such as developmental disabilities, in the juvenile population is crucial for disease prevention, health planning, and resource allocation.

Pododermatitis is a disorder with a complex etiology, because potentially determined by various factors such as posture, nutrition and genetics. In the case of presence of pododermal lesions, it is often noticed that rabbits go to eat at the bowl less frequently, but an evident weight loss is not always perceptible. In fact, similarly to poultry, overweight animals seem to be prone to the onset of pododermatitis. An experiment was carried out to test the effect of different types of bedding material (straw vs. wood shavings vs. coarse bark mulch vs. cotton) on the prevalence of pododermatitis in 30 fattening Separator rabbits. Once a week, the four experimental runs were assessed for contamination (macroscopic contamination by faeces/urine/litter) as well as for lesion scoring of the footpad. In addition, the water and ammonia binding behaviour of bedding was tested. The most favourable values as to dry matter, NH 3 (p < .05) and also scoring of the litter were generally observed when cotton was used as bedding material. This is probably due to the high water binding capacity, the faster water release and the structural effects of the material itself (softness). By contrast, the structure of the coarse bark mulch was not suitable for binding liquids (especially urine) and led to increased contamination of the barrels. These results suggest that rabbits with an increased tendency to sore soles should be kept on bedding materials with desirable physical properties (e.g. cotton litter)., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to test the effect of replacing soybean hulls with different doses of cocoa husk (CH) on milk production traits and the hematological profile of dairy ewes. Twenty-four mid-lactating Sarda dairy ewes were allotted to 3 homogeneous experimental groups (8 animals per group divided into 4 pens). Each group received a total mixed ration as a basal diet and a supplement that differed among groups. The first group was supplemented with 100 g of soybean hulls/d per head (SBH group). In the second group, soybean hulls were replaced with 50 g of CH/d (CH50 group). In the third group, soybean hulls were replaced with 100 g of CH/d per head (CH100 group). The study lasted 8 wk, with 3 wk of adaptation and 5 wk for the experimental period. The replacement of soybean hulls with 50 and 100 g of CH/d did not affect dry matter intake, milk production, and milk coagulation properties. Milk fat, protein, casein, and somatic cell count concentration and curd-firming time showed a significant interaction between treatment and sampling date. During the experiment, the somatic cell counts were lower in both the CH50 and CH100 groups than in the SBH group. Most of the hematological parameters were not affected by treatments except for basophiles, which were significantly higher in the SBH group than in the CH50 and CH100 groups. In conclusion, CH can be substituted for soybean hulls in the diet of dairy sheep without adverse effects on milk production or apparent negative effects on animal health conditions., (Copyright © 2020 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: None

The paper represents the "state of the art" on sustainability in construction materials. In Part 1 of the paper, issues related to production, microstructures, chemical nature, engineering properties, and durability of mixtures based on binders alternative to Portland cement were presented. This second part of the paper concerns the use of traditional and innovative Portland-free lime-based mortars in the conservation of cultural heritage, and the recycling and management of wastes to reduce consumption of natural resources in the production of construction materials. The latter is one of the main concerns in terms of sustainability since nowadays more than 75% of wastes are disposed of in landfills.

This review presents "a state of the art" report on sustainability in construction materials. The authors propose different solutions to make the concrete industry more environmentally friendly in order to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and consumption of non-renewable resources. Part 1-the present paper-focuses on the use of binders alternative to Portland cement, including sulfoaluminate cements, alkali-activated materials, and geopolymers. Part 2 will be dedicated to traditional Portland-free binders and waste management and recycling in mortar and concrete production.

A 79-year old man was diagnosed with an episode of hypomania during the use of fluticasone intranasal spray. After discontinuation the patient recovered completely. Patients with oral corticosteroid treatment have an increased risk of developing severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. This case-report shows that adverse systemic effects can also occur when using local corticosteroids. While the incidence of systemic side effects after using local treatment is not well known, there are various case reports. It is advised to be cautious when using multiple corticosteroids simultaneously due to the additive effect, when treating risk groups and when treating patients with a history of psychiatric disease.

The hospital activity of physicians in training mainly consists in direct contacts with patients, tasks indirectly linked to patients such as administration, as well as clinical and theoretical training. In our era of digitalization, an important administrative work load without any added medical value fills their daily chores. In parallel activities of medical secretaries are getting more partitioned, with their desks situated far from physicians' and tasks often limited to finalizing discharge letters. Added to multiple overtime, this reduces physicians' and secretaries' work satisfaction. This article describes the context and development of delegating medico-administrative tasks to secretaries in our department of internal medicine., Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Background: Italian Law 81/08 (so-called "Unified Text of Laws on Health and Safety at Work"), came into force on 15 May 2008 and incorporates provisions related to medical surveillance of drug and alcohol dependency at the workplace., Objectives: Occupational health traditionally addresses the issue of protection of worker from occupational hazards. The issue of protection of third parties from behaviour of workers resulting from drug and alcohol dependency implies an original methodological approach, involving full cooperation of employer, employees, and health and safety consultants., Methods: A consensus development meeting was organized under the leadership of the Italian Study Group on Hazardous Workers (La.R.A. group). The meeting brought together physicians of different specialties, legal experts and bioethicists, labour and management policy-makers, to discuss the issue and define the research data available, the standards that were appropriate, and which policies were fair., Results: The efficacy of medical surveillance, including workplace drug-testing, relies on a comprehensive policy, including written and verbal information on the use of alcohol and drugs on the job, training for supervisors and management, employee education, and employee assistance structures. Sample collection and testing should be carried out in accordance with standardized and tested procedures. Small businesses will need assistance, including development of model policies, setting up consortia for testing services and if necessary request for National Insurance benefits to reduce costs., Conclusions: The recently introduced Italian legislation on occupational safety and health closely resembles Finnish law since it consists of a "double channel" for workplace drug testing. At recruitment, the employer is entitled to ask a job applicant for a certificate of "Job fitness", including drug tests, that can be issued only by a public health institution, where the job applicant works on a well-defined set of tasks which require accuracy, trustworthiness, independent judgement or a very good reaction capacity. The employer may also refer the employee to the public health institution to obtain a certificate in the course of an employment contract when there is a legitimate suspicion that the employee is working while under the effects of drugs or alcohol or that the employee is a drug addict. After recruitment, the physician responsible for medical surveillance of workers (the so-called "Competent Physician") is entitled to perform drug tests on employees. The need for a test is decided by the health care professional, not by the employer, and only a general report on the health of the employee ("fit", fit with restrictions" or "unfit") may be given to the employer. Workers positive for drug tests will be referred to a public health institution for re-testing and treatment.

The sensitive and autonomic innervation of the prostate was studied in some mammals (rat, rabbit, horse, donkey and bull) using gold chloride impregnation. In all the species considered the gland was supplied with conspicuous innervation located in the thickness of the capsule and in trabeculae. The autonomic innervation was constituted by ganglion cells of different sizes (small, medium and large), isolated or in groups of large ganglia also, always located along the course of nerve bundles. The sensitive nervous component, placed more frequently in the most superficial layer of the capsule, consisted of delicate networks originating by more fibres and, above all, of capsulated receptors such as Pacini and Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles. A characteristic finding, but only present in the horse, donkey and bull, was the helicoidal disposition of thin collagen fibres around thin nervous bundles that ended up to the point where the nerve trunk divided.

It has been studied the vascular territory of the base of the brain and it has been pointed out the presence of characteristical structural arrangements of the vasal wall and artero-venous anastomoses. The just mentioned characteristical structures are placed in points where a vessel divides itself or creates a collateral branch and their functional engagement is target-oriented to control the blood flux.

We report the results of a study carried out upon samples of urine from 19,021 patients in various departments of medical school in Sassari and in the hospitals of Alghero and Ozieri. The 34.7% of samples examined proved to be positive. Among these we isolated Escherichia coli (32%), Proteus spp. (24%), Staphylococcus (12%), Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia (KES) spp. (9%), Pseudomonas spp. (5%). We found microbic associations in 11% of cases. We also studied the sensitivity of microorganisms to various chemoantibiotics, and the efficacy of therapy on 964 patients. In the various checks made, the results point out a persisting positivity (53%). E. coli strains show a major sensitivity to the various antibiotics (aminoglycosides, quinolones, cephalosporins, etc.); Proteus spp. and KES are less sensitive; Pseudomonas spp. strains are very resistant and respond mainly to norfloxacin and ceftazidime.

A survey has been carried out on 336 strains of staphylococci isolated in a hospital environment in order to assess the validity of the lyogroup classifying method, to know their epidemiological behavior in our territory and to test their sensitivity to various antibiotics. The findings of the survey can be summed up as follows: the practical test for bacteriolysis activity appears to be a valid method of identifying staphylococci in so far as it allows to classify them, but also to differentiate them from micrococci; lyogroup VI appears to be prevalent both as a whole and in nearly all materials of origin; the incidence of resistance is highest for piperacillin (47%), gentamicin (20%), tobramycin (19%); it is lowest for netilmicin (1.2%) and amikacin (2.6%); among meticilline resistant strains (18%) there is a marked resistance towards nearly all antibiotics tested.