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Climate change and invasive alien species pose a significant threat to biodiversity and the survival of native species. This study considered the impact of drought conditions on the escape behaviour through terrestrial dispersal ability of two invasive freshwater crayfish species, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Using an experimental design simulating drought conditions and Mediterranean summer temperatures, we tested the hypothesis that P. clarkii exhibits a greater tendency to terrestrial migration and a higher land-walking speed than the P. leniusculus. The results indicated that both species demonstrated strong escape behaviour, with P. clarkii showing escape success higher than P. leniusculus, and increasing with decreasing mean night temperature and crayfish weight. Although drought conditions did not trigger escape, invasive species showed increased resistance and the ability to move to more favourable environments, suggesting that drought is not an effective geographic barrier against the spread of these species. These results underline the importance of considering invasive species' ability to escape and climb as part of management and control strategies.

Copulatory organs are a key trait in reproductive compatibility and sexual isolation. The role of male genitalia in boosting mating success is well known and is often the outcome of behavioural and biological constraints, although no clear and common interpretation about their evolution appears broadly applicable. In snakes, hemipenial morphology has often been described under the perspective of sexual selection, taking into consideration both behavioural and morphological traits of both sexes. We investigated hemipenial morphology and ornamentation in the two subspecies of Hierophis viridiflavus, a male-male combating colubrid, and compared it to the sister species H. gemonensis, to assess intraspecific variation in size of genitalia and ornamentation richness. The male intromitted organ of this species is unilobed and bulbous, with rich ornamentations consisting of basal spines and apical calyculations. We detected no statistically significant difference in hemipenial size, basal spine count, and spine length between the two subspecies, suggesting that no copulatory barrier is present between the two clades. Although hemipenial morphology and anatomy do not seem suitable to assess intraspecific variability as shown in this study, they are often highly variable at the family or genus level, suggesting that the evolution of male genitalia is linked to phylogenetic relationships and that hemipenial divergence might be correlated to lineage splitting despite not being necessarily the main cause. Future studies should be aimed at investigating hemipenial morphology and anatomy across species under the perspective of comparative phylogeny and reproductive behaviours to address thoroughly the constraints of hemipenial evolution and development.

The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is approximately doubled in subjects with hypercholesterolemia compared to those with normal blood cholesterol levels. Monacolin K (MK), the main active substance in rice fermented by the Monascus purpureus, acts on cholesterol metabolism. Rice also contains other bioactive compounds such as γ-oryzanol (OZ) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, the efficacy and tolerability of a food supplement (FS) based on an ingredient standardized to contain monacolins (4.5%), OZ, and GABA were evaluated in subjects with mild dyslipidemia. For the duration of the trial, enrolled subjects (n = 44, each group) received the FS or placebo and were instructed to use an isocaloric diet. Compared to the placebo group, after a 3 months of the FS, the mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mean TC values were reduced by 19.3 and 8.3%, respectively, while the mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol value increased by 29.3%. On average, the subjects shifted from very high to moderate CVD risk. Glucose metabolism and hepatic and renal parameters did not change after the treatment and no adverse events were reported. Guidelines to handle hypercholesterolemia with food supplements in specific clinical settings are needed to better manage mild dyslipidemia.

Irradiations at Ultra-High Dose Rate (UHDR) regimes, exceeding 40 Gy/s in single fractions lasting less than 200 ms, have shown an equivalent antitumor effect compared to conventional radiotherapy with reduced harm to normal tissues. This work details the hardware and software modifications implemented to deliver 10 MeV UHDR electron beams with a linear accelerator Elekta SL 18 MV and the beam characteristics obtained. GafChromic EBT XD films and an Advanced Markus chamber were used for dosimetry characterization, while a silicon sensor assessed the machine’s beam pulses stability and repeatability. The dose per pulse, average dose rate and instantaneous dose rate in the pulse were evaluated for four experimental settings, varying the source-to-surface distance and the beam collimation, i.e., with and without the use of a cylindrical applicator. The results showed a dose per pulse from 0.6 Gy to a few tens of Gy and an average dose rate up to 300 Gy/s. The obtained results demonstrate the possibility to perform in vitro radiobiology experiments and test new technologies for beam monitoring and dosimetry at the upgraded LINAC, thus contributing to the electron UHDR research field.

A study on 81 individuals (18–75 years old) with mildly impaired fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations (98–125 mg/dL) was undertaken to investigate the tolerability of a food supplement (FS) based on Zea mays and Gymnema sylvestre extracts, zinc, and chromium and its efficacy on glucose and lipid metabolism. The subjects were randomized into three groups (27 in each group) and supplemented with one or two tablet(s)/day of FS (groups 1 and 2, respectively), or two tablets/day of placebo (group 3). Blood sampling was carried out at baseline (t0) and after a 3-month treatment (t1), and biochemical parameters associated with glucose and lipid metabolism and kidney and liver toxicity were evaluated. Compared to the placebo, FBG and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in group 1 subjects. In contrast, at the doses of one and two tablet(s)/day, the FS exerted no effect on the other parameters examined. We conclude that in subjects with slightly impaired FBG, ingestion of a FS based on Z. mays and G. sylvestre extracts, zinc, and chromium over 3 months lowers FBG and modulates glucose homeostasis by improving glucose metabolism. These beneficial effects occur in the absence of biochemical evidence of kidney and liver toxicity.

Monitoring Ultra-High Dose Rate (UHDR) beams is one of the multiple challenges posed by the emergent FLASH radiotherapy. Technologies (i.e., gas-filled ionization chambers) nowadays used in conventional radiotherapy are no longer effective when applied to UHDR regimes, due to the recombination effect they are affected by, and the time required to collect charges. Exploiting the expertise in the field of silicon sensors’ applications into clinics, the medical physics group of the University and INFN Torino is investigating thin silicon sensors as possible candidates for UHDR beam monitoring, exploiting their excellent spatial resolution and well-developed technology. Silicon sensors of 30 and 45 µm active thicknesses and 0.25, 1 and 2 mm2 active areas were tested at the SIT ElectronFlash machine (CPFR, Pisa) on 9 MeV electron beams, featuring a pulse duration of 4 µs, a frequency of 1 Hz, and a dose-per-pulse ranging from 1.62 to 10.22 Gy/pulse. The silicon sensors were positioned at the exit of the ElectronFlash applicator, after a solid water build-up slab, and were readout both with an oscilloscope and with a multi-channel front-end readout chip (TERA08). A response linearity extending beyond 10 Gy/pulse was demonstrated by comparison with a reference dosimeter (FlashDiamond), thus fulfilling the first requirement of a potential application in UHDR beam monitoring.

Tendinopathy is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal disorders characterized by sustained tissue inflammation and oxidative stress, accompanied by extracellular matrix remodeling. Patients suffering from this pathology frequently experience pain, swelling, stiffness, and muscle weakness. Current pharmacological interventions are based on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; however, the effectiveness of these strategies remains ambiguous. Accumulating evidence supports that oral supplementation of natural compounds can provide preventive, and possibly curative, effects. Vitamin C (Vit C), collagen peptides (Coll), resveratrol (Res), and astaxanthin (Asx) were reported to be endowed with potential beneficial effects based on their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Here, we analyzed the efficacy of a novel combination of these compounds (Mix) in counteracting proinflammatory (IL-1β) and prooxidant (H2O2) stimuli in human tenocytes. We demonstrated that Mix significantly impairs IL-6-induced IL-1β secretion, NF-κB nuclear translocation, and MMP-2 production; notably, a synergistic effect of Mix over the single compounds could be observed. Moreover, Mix was able to significantly counteract H2O2-triggered ROS production. Together, these results point out that Mix, a novel combination of Vit C, Coll, Resv, and Asx, significantly impairs proinflammatory and prooxidant stimuli in tenocytes, mechanisms that contribute to the onset of tendinopathies.

Abstract The evolution of chemical signals is subject to environmental constraints. A multicomponent signal may combine semiochemical molecules with supporting compounds able to enhance communication efficacy. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are ubiquitous enzymes catalysing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide, a reaction involved in a variety of physiological processes as it controls the chemical environment of the different tissues or cellular compartments, thus contributing to the overall system homeostasis. CA-IV isoform has been recently identified by mass spectrometry in the femoral gland secretions (FG) of the marine iguana, where it has been hypothesized to contribute to the chemical stability of the signal, by regulating blend pH. Lizards, indeed, use FG to communicate by delivering the waxy secretion on bare substrate, where it is exposed to environmental stressors. Therefore, we expect that some molecules in the mixture may play supporting functions, enhancing the stability of the chemical environment, or even conferring homeostatic properties to the blend. CA-IV may well represent an important candidate to this hypothesized supporting/homeostatic function, and, therefore, we can expect it to be common in FG secretions of other lizard species. To evaluate this prediction and definitely validate CA identity, we analysed FG secretions of eight species of wall lizards (genus Podarcis), combining mass spectrometry, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. We demonstrate CA-IV to actually occur in the FG of seven out of the eight considered species, providing an immunochemistry validation of mass-spectrometry identifications, and localizing the enzyme within the secretion mass. The predicted structure of the identified CA is compatible with the known enzymatic activity of CA-IV, supporting the hypothesis that CA play a signal homeostasis function and opening to new perspective about the role of proteins in vertebrate chemical communication.

Functional dyspepsia is a form of dyspepsia lacking in clear causes following clinical assessment. Dyspepsia is characterized by episodic or persistent abdominal pain or discomfort of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Its onset has been linked with a deficiency or dysfunction of digestive enzymes. Thus, consumption of digestive multi-enzymatic preparations may be effectively used for the reduction of symptoms. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of the supplementation of a normal diet with a multi-enzyme blend obtained from fungal fermentation, in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial. Enrolled subjects (n = 120, male: 63, female: 57), aged 18–59 years, were randomized (allocation ratio 1:1) to receive either 2 capsules per day of the food supplement (containing 200 mg of the multi-enzyme blend/capsule) or placebo, for 2 months. The primary outcome of the study (i.e., improvements in quality of life) was evaluated by the Nepean Dyspepsia Index-SF (NDI-SF) questionnaire, while the secondary outcomes (i.e., severity of pain and the quality of sleep) were assessed through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. The results showed an improvement in NDI-SF1, NDI-SF2–5, VAS, and PSQI scores in subjects treated with the multi-enzyme blend, indicating an improvement in quality of life and of sleep, and a decreased severity of pain, following the supplementation with digestive enzymes, without side effects. In conclusion, treatment with digestive enzymes was found to be effective in the reduction of functional dyspepsia symptoms and in the improvement of sleep quality, and is well-tolerated.

Preclinical studies have shown that the combination of Cistus × incanus L. and Scutellaria lateriflora L. extracts exerts beneficial effects on oral health against gingivitis. Thus, this study aimed to assess the tolerability of a chewing gum and its efficacy on gingivitis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Enrolled subjects (n = 60, 18–70 years) were randomized to receive two chewing gums or a placebo daily for 3 months. At baseline (t0) and monthly (t1, t2, and t3) timepoints, the Quantitative Gingival Bleeding Index (QGBI), the Modified Gingival Index (MGI), and the Oral Health 15 items (OH-15)] were employed to assess potential improvements in gingivitis. Pain was self-quantified via the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Clinical Global Impression Scale for Severity of illness (CGI-S) helped in evaluating the oral general conditions. This study is listed on the ISRCTN registry. At t3, the QGBI, MGI, OH-15, VAS, and CGI-S values decreased in the treated but not in the placebo group (β = 0.6 ± 0.1, t176 = 3.680, p < 0.001; β = 0.87 ± 0.21, t115 = 4.263, p < 0.001; β = 5.3 ± 2.5, t172 = 2.086, p = 0.038; β = 3.16 ± 0.51, t88 = 6.253, p < 0.001; and β = 1.09 ± 0.32, t83 = 3.419, p < 0.001, respectively). A significant improvement in gingival health occurred after a 3-month intervention with the chewing gums containing S. lateriflora and C. incanus extracts.

Nello scritto si affronta la questione legata ai limiti del sindacato giudiziale sulle operazioni con parti correlate. In particolare, è discusso se si applichi la c.d. business judgement rule, che implica un arretramento dello scrutinio giudiziale. Dopo aver evidenziato gli equivoci in cui sovente si incorre nell’impostazione del problema, viene esaminato il rapporto fra qualità delle procedure in tema di operazioni con parti correlate e intensità del controllo dei giudici e si evidenzia il costo, in termini di indeterminatezza, della tesi che pone in rapporto di proporzionalità inversa qualità del processo e intensità del vaglio giudiziale. In alternativa si propone di subordinare l’applicazione della business judgement rule alla circostanza che le operazioni di maggiore rilevanza con soci correlati siano sottoposte all’assemblea con applicazione del meccanismo del c.d. whitewash, anche in presenza di parere favorevole degli amministratori indipendenti.

Abstract The evolution of sexual dimorphism (SD) is driven by intricate interplays between sexual and natural selection. When it comes to SD variation within populations, however, environmental factors play a major role. Sexually selected traits are expected to be strongly dependent on individual body condition, which is influenced by the local environment that individuals experience. As a consequence, the degree of SD may also depend on resource availability. Here, we investigated the potential drivers of SD expression at two sexually dimorphic morphometric traits, body size (snout vent length) and head shape (head geometric morphometrics), in the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). We assessed the existence of condition- and context-dependent SD across ten islands of the Aeolian archipelago (southern Italy), at within- and among-population scales. We observed strong geographical variation of SD among islands, and tested three potential SD predictors related to resource availability (individual body condition, ecosystem productivity, temperature). Body condition and ecosystem productivity were the main drivers of body size SD variation, and body condition was also the main driver for head shape SD. Our results highlight that the expression of SD in the Italian wall lizard is both condition- and context-dependent. These results are congruent at within- and among-populations scales highlighting that spatial multi-scale analysis represents a useful approach to understand patterns of SD expression.

Depression is one of the most serious chronic psychiatric disorders affecting people worldwide. Subthreshold depression (SD) is a form of subclinical depression with increased risk of major depressive disorder (MDD). Patients diagnosed with SD may not be eligible for antidepressant drugs and, particularly in the case of MDD, these antidepressants may have adverse effects which outweigh their therapeutic effects, leading to discontinuation of therapy. Food supplements could provide an alternative strategy. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of a food supplement based on a combination of S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe, 200 mg/day) and probiotics (Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®−52, Bifidobacterium longum Rosell®−175, 3 ×109 CFU/day) in reducing depression symptoms in a monocentric, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial. 80 Subjects were recruited and offered the food supplement or placebo daily for three months, according to a cross-over clinical trial design, followed by a six-week follow-up period. The efficacy of the food supplement was measured by means of the “Hamilton Depression Rating Scale” (HAM-D) and ''Patient Health Questionnaire-9'' (PHQ-9), using a mixed analysis of variance model, with random intercept, for statistical analysis. The food supplement showed a significant decrease of PHQ-9 and HAM-D scores resulting in reduced SD and MDD symptoms as compared to placebo. In conclusion, the daily intake of the food supplement based on SAMe and probiotic strains for a period of three months is effective in improving the quality of life of SD subjects who are not eligible for antidepressant therapies, and patients suffering from mild-to-moderate depression who are not sensitive or cannot tolerate conventional drugs.

We here report the unexpected presence of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus campestris) on Gorgona Island, in the Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano (Tuscan Archipelago, Tyrrhenian Sea, Tuscany, Central Italy). Field observations were carried out in 2020 confirming its presence on the island, where it had never been reported before. We recorded 37 GPS points of the species in three major areas of Gorgona (with 50 lizard records) and about 180 visual counts regarding all age classes (newborns, juveniles and adults). The species was found in the urban area (site of state prison) and in two grassy and bushed areas, around and along olive tree plantations. Seven individuals were captured and their tails were used to assess the sequence variation of the mitochondrial CYB gene. Biometrical parameters were also evaluated for six of these individuals. We detected three distinct CYB haplotypes that were compared to Podarcis siculus CYB sequences available in public databases. They resulted identical or phylogenetically closest to those found in mainland Tuscany. One haplotype, found in three specimens, was identical to one previously detected at Orti Bottagone (WWF Oasis in Piombino), while the other two haplotypes were most similar to haplotypes reported in the Giannella peninsula and Pisa, respectively.

Prolonged fatigue is associated with non-pathological causes and lacks an established therapeutic approach. The current study is aimed at assessing the efficacy of a new food supplement (Improve™) based on a chemically characterized pomegranate extract and hydro-soluble vitamins (B complex and C). UHPLC-HRMS analysis of pomegranate extract showed the presence of 59 compounds, with gallotannins and ellagitannins being the most abundant phytochemicals. For the clinical study, 58 subjects were randomized into two groups, 1 and 2 (n = 29, each), which received either the food supplement or placebo. The effects of the food supplement against fatigue were assessed via validated questionnaires, recorded at time intervals t0 (at baseline), t1 (after 28 days), t2 (56 days), and t3 (after follow-up) in combination with the analysis of biochemical markers at t0 and t2. Fatigue severity scale (FSS) questionnaire scores were significantly decreased at the t2 and t3 time intervals in subjects treated with the food supplements, while the effect of the food supplement on a 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) was not considerable. Moreover, the food supplement did not significantly affect biochemical parameters associated with fatigue and stress conditions. This study shows that the food supplement tested reduces prolonged fatigue following two months of supplementation in healthy subjects with mild prolonged fatigue.

Sexual selection contributes to the diversity of chemical signals in various animal groups. Lizards are good model species to study how sexual selection shapes signal diversity, as they are a chemically oriented taxonomic group with different levels of social interactions. Many lizard species bear epidermal glands secreting a waxy mixture of lipids and proteins, which are used in intraspecific communication. Previous among-species comparative analyses failed to find a relationship between the strength of sexual selection with the composition of the lipid blend in lizards. Here, we extend the investigation to the proteinaceous fraction. By using a phylogenetically informed approach, we correlated the average electrophoretic profiles of the protein from the femoral glands of 36 lacertid lizard species with the level of sexual dimorphism in size and shape, which are proxies for the strength of sexual selection. We found that as sexual size dimorphism advances, five distinct molecular weight regions in the protein profile increased their expression. Using tandem mass spectrometry, we successfully identified one of these five proteins: a carbonic anhydrase—an enzyme catalyzing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. Our findings suggest that proteins may be the target of sexual selection, as an active semiochemicals or as a dynamic support to other molecules: sexual selection may act indirectly on semiochemicals (namely lipids) by modifying the matrix (namely proteins).

The status and habitat selection of the three species of gazelle indigenous to Eritrea, i.e., Nanger soemmerringii, Gazella dorcas and Eudorcas tilonura, are not well known. In this study, we analyzed the present distribution of the three species in the country in order to identify preferred habitats and assess the effect of human disturbance (land use for agricultural purposes and livestock) on species occurrence. These data represent baseline information for evidence-based strategies for conservation of the three species in Eritrea. Presence/absence data of the three species in each of the 67 administrative subregions (Sub Zoba) composing the country were collected using direct (field surveys) and indirect methods (questionnaires). For each sampling unit, we collected fifteen environmental variables, of which three are associated with climatic features, eight with vegetation structure and four with human disturbance (human-related land use and livestock). The occurrence probability of each species was modeled through Generalized Linear Models (GLM). The analyses showed that Dorcas gazelle occurred more frequently in warmer conditions and in a wide range of natural vegetation types. Heuglin’s gazelle occurred in warmer regions with higher seasonality in both temperature and precipitation with a preference for closed woody and open grassland areas. In the case of Soemmerring’s gazelle, the GLM with climatic variables predicted a preference for warmer conditions but with lower seasonality of temperature and precipitation. The species also seemed to prefer arid and semi-arid open vegetation. Human disturbance is the variable with the strongest, negative, effect on the species occurrence. Indeed, the occurrence probability of each species decreased with increasing livestock density and agricultural land use. Most of these gazelle occurred in unprotected areas, thus the human-related activities are undoubtedly the most important threat for the three species of gazelle in Eritrea. Therefore, the establishment of protected areas that preserve the potential optimal habitats for gazelle and reduce the impact of livestock ranching are essential to ensure a future for these gazelle in Eritrea.

The evolution of sexual dimorphism (SD) results from intricate interactions between sexual and natural selections. Sexually selected traits are expected to depend on individual condition, while natural selected traits should not be. Islands offer an ideal context to test how these drivers interact with one another, as the size is a reliable proxy for resource availability. Here, we analysed SD in body size (snout-vent length) and head shape (assessed by geometric morphometric) in two species of lizards (Podarcis muralis and P. siculus) inhabiting the Tuscan archipelago (Central Italy). We found a strong SD variation among islands in both species. Furthermore, in P. muralis emerged some significant correlations between SD and island size, supporting the occurrence of possible effects of individual condition on SD. By contrast, SD in P. siculus followed opposite trajectories than in P. muralis, suggesting that in this species, natural selection could play a major role as a driver of SD. Our findings show that natural and sexual selection can interact in complex ways, and the responses are species-specific. Therefore, spatial patterns of variation in SD may strongly differ among species, even when they settle in the same geographic contest.

Introduction: Extensive evidence suggests that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is effective in diabetic neuropathy pain management. However, little is known on its safety and efficacy in reducing idiopathic pain in normoglycemic subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate ALA food supplement safety and efficacy in the reduction of different forms of idiopathic pain. Methods: Two-hundred and ten normoglycemic adults suffering from idiopathic pain (i.e. 57 subjects with primitive neuropathic pain, 141 subjects with arthralgia with unknown etiology, and 12 subjects with idiopathic myalgia) were randomized to receive placebo, 400 mg/day, or 800 mg/day of ALA. Participants underwent two visits (at baseline = t0, and after 2 months = t1) in which two validated questionaries for pain (numerical rating scale [NRS] and visual analogue scale [VAS]) were collected; fasting blood glucose assessment, adverse effects, and renal and hepatic toxicity were also monitored. Results: At t1, none of subjects treated with ALA reported a decreased glycemia or adverse effects. The treated subjects showed a significant reduction in NRS (p

Research on animal colouration has grown exponentially in the last decade thanks to multidisciplinary approaches. Most studies are focused on trade-offs between communication and mimicry, which represent the two main constraints and drivers of the evolution of body colourations. Reptiles are excellent model species for investigating this field of study and lizards in particular show great variability of body colourations and their functions. We studied the lizard Podarcis siculus, analysing the variations of dorsal colour of three populations and obtained clear patterns of seasonal and ontogenetical variation of dorsal colour. According to baseline colour, males were greener and brighter than females, although no difference in saturation was recorded. According to seasonal variations, analyses showed that both sexes significantly vary in colour over the year: males reached higher peaks of hue and saturation later than females during spring, while females showed higher peaks of brightness and reached earlier similarly to hue and saturation. Ontogenetic variations were recorded only in males, which become greener, less bright and saturated with growing size. Therefore, our results suggest the occurrence of two opposing strategies in colour expression between sexes: males’ dorsal colouration plays a major role in communication, while females are more crypsis-oriented.

This work presents the tests of a multi-gap detector (MGD), composed of three parallel-plate ionization chambers (ICs) with different gap widths, assembled to prove the capability of correcting for charge volume recombination which is expected to occur when high fluence rates are delivered. Such beam conditions occur with a compact accelerator for charged particle therapy developed to reduce the costs, to accomplish faster treatments and to exploit different beam delivery techniques and dose rates as needed, for example, for range modulation and FLASH irradiations, respectively. The MGD was tested with carbon ions at the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO Pavia, Italy), and with protons in two different beam lines: at Bern University Hospital with continuous beams and at the Laboratori Nazionale del Sud (Catania, Italy) of the Italian National Center of Nuclear Physics (INFN) with pulsed beams. For each accelerator, we took measurements with different beam intensities (up to the maximum rate of ionization achievable) and changed the detector bias voltage (V) in order to study the charge collection efficiency. Charge recombination models were used to evaluate the expected collected charge and to measure the linearity of the rate of ionization with the beam fluence rate. A phenomenological approach was used to determine the collection efficiency (f1) of the chamber with thinnest gap from the relative efficiencies, f1/f2 and f1/f3, exploiting the condition that, for each measurement, the three chambers were exposed to the same rate of ionization. Results prove that two calibration curves can be determined and used to correct the online measurements for the charge losses in the ICs for recombination.

Dietary fiber exerts beneficial effects on human health reducing the risk factors of metabolic related diseases such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of a food supplement based on brewer’s spent grain (BSG) extract in the reduction of postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in normoglycemic subjects. BSG was chemically characterized, revealing the presence of resistant starch (14.64 g/100 g), arabinoxylans (7.50 g/100 g), β-glucans (1.92 g/100 g) and other soluble fibers (6.43 g/100 g), and bioaccessible ferulic acid (91.3 mg/100 g). For the clinical study, 40 normoglycemic subjects were randomized into two groups, 1 and 2 (n = 20), for a cross-over clinical design and received either BSG extract-based food supplement or placebo. Postprandial blood glucose values were significantly lower than corresponding values in the placebo group after 90 and 120 min, while at the baseline and in the first 60 min, the two glycemic curves overlapped substantially. This improved clinical outcome was corroborated by significant reductions in postprandial insulinemia. None of the subjects reported adverse effects. This study showed that the tested BSG extract-based food supplement improves glucose metabolism and insulinemic response in normoglycemic subjects with at most a mild insulin resistance.

Depression is a common and serious health issue affecting around 280 million people around the world. Suicidal ideation more frequently occurs in people with moderate to severe depression. Psychotherapy and pharmacological drugs are the mainstay of available treatment options for depressive disorders. However, pharmacological options do not offer complete cure, especially in moderate to severe depression, and are often seen with a range of adverse events. S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) supplementation has been widely studied, and an impressive collection of literature published over the last few decades suggests its antidepressant efficacy. Probiotics have gained significant attention due to their wide array of clinical uses, and multiple studies have explored the link between probiotic species and mood disorders. Gut dysbiosis is one of the risk factors in depression by inducing systemic inflammation accompanied by an imbalance in neurotransmitter production. Thus, concomitant administration of probiotics may be an effective treatment strategy in patients with depressed mood, particularly in resistant cases, as these can aid in dysbiosis, possibly resulting in the attenuation of systemic inflammatory processes and the improvement of the therapeutic efficacy of SAMe. The current review highlights the therapeutic roles of SAMe and probiotics in depression, their mechanistic targets, and their possible synergistic effects and may help in the development of food supplements consisting of a combination of SAMe and probiotics with new dosage forms that may improve their bioavailability.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in adult men. Especially in Europe, increasing attention has been focused on E. angustifolium extracts (EAEs), which are widely used for their positive effects on the symptoms of BPH, although human clinical trials are limited. The aim of this monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is to evaluate if a daily intake of hard, gastric-resistant capsules containing a chemically characterized EAE (500 mg) for 6 months may allow a significant improvement in symptoms in subjects with BPH. This study was conducted in 128 adult men, randomly assigned to receive either EAE food supplement (N = 70) or placebo (N = 58), who underwent four visits (baseline = t0, after 15 days = t1, after 2 months = t2 and after 6 months = t3) in an outpatient setting to evaluate post-void residual (PVR) and prostate volume (PV) by means of prostate ultrasound, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and neutrofile/lymphocyte ratio (N/L), nocturia before the clinical visits and International Prostate Specific Score (IPSS) registered by the physicians. EAE food supplement induced a significant decrease in the PVR and consequently nocturia improving the quality of life as suggested by the decrease of IPSS. No subjects reported adverse effects related to oral intake of EAE food supplement. Moreover, EAE food supplement did not show hepatic or renal toxicity. In conclusion, EAE food supplements can be used in subjects with BPH, to improve their quality of life and general renal function.

The Aeolian wall lizard Podarcis raffonei is an island endemic that survives only on three tiny islets, and on the Capo Grosso peninsula of the Vulcano island, thus is among the European vertebrates with the smallest range and one of the most threatened by extinction. This species is declining due to competition and hybridization with the non-native lizard Podarcis siculus, but a regular monitoring program is lacking. Here we assessed the size and status of the Capo Grosso population of P. raffonei on Vulcano. In September 2015 we captured 30 individuals showing the typical brown phenotype of P. raffonei, while one single male showed a green phenotype, apparently intermediate between P. raffonei and the non-native Podarcis siculus. In May 2017, only 47% of 131 individuals showed the typical brown phenotype (P. raffonei-like) and 53% showed the green phenotype (P. siculus-like). Based on N-mixture models and removal sampling the estimated size of the Capo Grosso population was of 800-1300 individuals in 2017, being similar to 2015; available data suggest that the total range of the species could be as small as 2 ha. The frequency of individuals with the typical P. raffonei phenotype dramatically dropped between two samplings with a parallel increase of individuals displaying the green phenotype. Observation on outdoor captive-bred individuals demonstrates plasticity for colouration in P. raffonei individuals from Capo Grosso, with several individuals showing the typical brown pattern in September 2017 and a green pattern in March 2021. Non-exclusive hypotheses, including hybridization with P. siculus and plasticity in colour pattern of P. raffonei, are discussed to explain the phenotypic shifts of the P. raffonei population of Capo Grosso. While genomic evidence is required to reach conclusions and investigate eventual hybridization, it is urgent to undertake a programme for the monitoring and management of this lizard.

The persistence of colour polymorphism (CP) within a given population is generally associated with the coexistence of alternative reproductive strategies, each one involving specific trade-offs among behavioural, morphological, physiological, and other life histories. Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), is a medium-sized diurnal lizard, showing CP in three main colours (yellow, white, and red) on throat and belly, and a morph-specific pattern for both immunocompetence and seasonal variation of T levels. Yellow males show low stamina with high plasma T levels at the beginning of the season, while white males show high stamina with a higher plasma T levels at the end of the season. We hypothesised the presence of two strategies: a risky one, characterised by high aggressiveness played by yellow-morph, and a conservative one by white morph with low aggressiveness. Thus, we tested the aggressive response to conspecifics of yellow and white morphs using a mirror inserted into their cage, mimicking an intrusion of a stranger in their territories, throughout the breeding season (from April to July, 117 trials). We considered three types of aggressive response, with different levels of aggressiveness: (i) bite against the image reflected in the mirror, (ii) seconds spent by the individuals into the half mirrored cage, and (iii) number of times the lizard entered the half mirrored cage. We also considered the number of tongue flicking as explorative behaviour variable. All lizards were tested after a period of acclimatisation to the captivity conditions. Results demonstrate that yellow males showed a higher aggressive response in the early season and a decrease aggressive response towards the end, whereas white males showed an opposite pattern.

The emergent FLASH RadioTherapy (RT) uses ultrahigh dose-rate irradiation (up to 107 Gy/s instantaneous dose-rate in each μs pulse) to deliver a single high dose of irradiation in a very short time (

The leukocyte profile has the potential to be a reliable method to measure health conditions and stress in wild animals, but limitations occur because current knowledge on reference intervals is largely incomplete, especially because data come from studies on captive animals involving few individuals from single populations. Here we propose a general framework for achieving reliable leukocyte reference intervals, encompassing a set of internal and external factors, potentially affecting the leukogram. To do so, we present a systematic survey of the hematology of the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis, involving 794 lizards from 54 populations over the whole geographic range of the species in Italy. Reference intervals for white blood cell (WBC) and leukocyte differential count were obtained by using linear mixed models in a Bayesian framework. The application of the procedure clearly showed that both internal (sex and size) and external (latitude and season) factors are a source of variation of leukocyte profile. Furthermore, the leukogram of common wall lizard has a strong variability among populations, which accounts for more than 50% of the whole variation. Consequently, some common assumptions used in studies on captive individuals are no longer supported in wild populations, namely, i) any group of individuals is a representative sample, ii) any population is representative of all others, iii) geographic clines do not occur over the species range, and iv) seasonal variation has limited effects. We encourage researchers aimed at the definition of leukocyte reference intervals for wild populations of reptiles to involve a large number of populations over a wide geographic range in ad hoc statistical models to disentangle local and geographic effects on leukocyte profile variation.

How a native gecko manages to coexist with an alien rodent in the Mediterranean since thousands of years? What kind of eco-ethological adaptations or evolutionary adjustments enables this gecko to persist? The present study explores the interaction between the endemic European Leaf-toed gecko (Euleptes europaea) and the alien Black rat (Rattus rattus). In the last 30 years, we compared 26 populations inhabiting “rat” and “rat-free” islands and islets in Tunisia, Sardinia, Corsica and Southern France. Geckos’ populations can persist despite the occurrence of rats. In the presence of rats: 1) geckos’ average body size tends to decrease towards medium-sized individuals; 2) geckos shift their spatial behaviour avoiding to forage “in the open”; 3) geckos’ body condition is not affected by the presence of rats. Moreover, shortly after rats’ eradication, geckos’ population structure seems to change and larger sized geckos prevail while the spatial behaviour is much more conservative. The mechanisms driving the interactions between the two species still need to be explained. Rats could represent a stressor for geckos, compete for space, be pest vectors and even predators. Coexistence of natives and aliens requires adaptive plasticity and evolutionary adjustments. In contexts where the risk of reinvasion is high, eradication programs need to be carefully evaluated, since the arrival of “new rats” on an island could have much more damaging effects on the insular biota than those caused by the eradicated population.

Disentangling the effects of single releasers in animal communication is a demanding task because a releaser often consists of a combination of different key stimuli. Territorial communication in reptiles usually depends on visual, chemical, and acoustic stimuli, but the role of each of them depends on phylogeny. Lacertids are modern lizards that rely mainly on chemical cues for their communication, but they also use aggressive displays based on visual recognition. We experimentally tested the visual stimuli that release an aggressive response in the males of a typical lacertid, the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), testing the effects of silicone models and mirrored images in captivity. The response to models and control (a blank sheet) was not significantly different and these stimuli did not release any aggressive behaviour. On the contrary, the reflected image in a mirror caused overt aggression (i.e., bites against it) in 63% of tested individuals. The results clearly demonstrate the role of visual stimuli in territorial communication, but only as a combined effect of shape and motion, differently from other lizard families for which shape is enough to stimulate aggressive responses. Mirrors can be useful tools to investigate aggression related to physiological and morphological aspects in lacertid lizards.

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity and alien herpetofauna already caused conservation problems in Italy and in the world. Pelophylax kurtmuelleri (Gayda, 1940) is a water frog native to Southern Balkans, that was introduced in NW Italy (Liguria) in 1941, from where it has spread to Piedmont, Lombardy and recently to Emilia Romagna. Surprisingly, during its expansion, the Balkan frog seemed not to be able to cross the Po River (with a single exception). So, we investigated the reasons for such directional limitation of range expansion, focusing on the potential role of the Po River. Combining ecological niche and connectivity models, we adopted a two-step process in order to assess: (i) if the habitat suitability differs between the two sides of the Po Plain; (ii) if the Po River could act as a barrier in terms of dispersal. Results showed that the northern side of the plain seems less suitable than the southern one, even if many suitable patches occur along the main left tributaries of the Po River and in the hilly part of the plain. The Po River behaves like a barrier for the Balkan frog, but the only known point on the north bank of the river indicates that it may be able to only slow the dispersal and not to completely stop it. So, the most probable interpretation for the absence of the Balkan frog from the Northern Po Plain, is the combination of habitat suitability and connectivity issues: the former makes less probable that new viable populations can establish in the North, the latter decreases the northwards flux of the frogs. Given these findings, the Balkan frog seems able to spread in the whole Northern Italy and the colonization of the northern Po plain could happen shortly.

Biological invasions are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. In spite of human aided (anthropogenic) dispersal being the key element in the spread of invasive species, no framework published so far accounts for its peculiar characteristics, such as very rapid dispersal and independence from the existing species distribution. We present a new method for modelling biological invasions using historical spatio-temporal records. This method first discriminates between data points of anthropogenic origin and those originating from natural dispersal, then estimates the natural dispersal kernel. We use the expectation-maximisation algorithm for the first step; we then use Ripley's K-function as a spatial similarity metric to estimate the dispersal kernel. This is done accounting for habitat suitability and providing estimates of the inference precision. Tests on simulated data show good accuracy and precision for this method, even in the presence of challenging, but realistic, limitations of data in the invasion time series, such as gaps in the survey times and low number of records. We also provide a real case application of our method using the case of Litoria frogs in New Zealand. This method is widely applicable across the field of biological invasions, epidemics and climate change induced range shifts and provides a valuable contribution to the management of such issues. Functions to implement this methodology are made available as the R package Biolinv (https://cran.r-project.org/package=Biolinv).

Introduction Hadron-therapy is an effective technique used to treat tumors that are located between or nearby vital organs. The Italian National Center of Oncological Hadron-therapy (CNAO) has been realized as the first facility in Italy to treat very difficult tumors with protons and Carbon ions. The on-line monitor system for CNAO has been developed by the Department of Physics of the University of Torino and Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN). The monitoring system performs the on-line checking of the beam intensity, dimension, and beam position. Materials and Methods The monitor system is based on parallel plate ionization chambers and is composed of five ionization chambers with the anodes fully integrated or segmented in pixels or strips that are placed in two boxes. A series of measurements were performed that involve the background current and the detectors have been characterized by means of a series of preliminary testes in order to verify reproducibility and uniformity of the chambers using an X-ray source. Results The measured background currents for StripX, StripY and Pixel chambers are five orders of magnitude smaller than the nominal treatment current. The reproducibility error of chambers is less than 1%. The analysis of the uniformity showed that the monitor devices have a spread in gain that varies, but only about 2%. Conclusion The reproducibility and the uniformity values are considered as a good result, taking into account that the X-ray energy range is several orders of magnitude smaller than the particle energies used at CNAO.

Photo-identification is used for individual recognition of several animal species. It gives the possibility to take photos of large species from a distance or to avoid invasive marking techniques in small animals. For amphibians, the use of non-invasive marking methods is even more relevant in the light of their global decline. Here we use the photo-identification data from a population of Triturus carnifex to validate the photo-identification software I3S Pattern. This recently developed utility has never been applied to amphibians. The software proved to be efficient and accurate for individual recognition for this species. Contrarily to the previous releases of the I3S family, I3S Pattern is particularly suitable for amphibians characterized by a complex individual pattern of large blotches or irregular spots, which are not readily identified by eye.

In insects, allometries of exaggerated traits such as horns or mandibles are often considered species specific and constant during a season. However, given that constraints imposed by the advancing season affect the developmental processes of organisms, these allometries may not be fixed, and the switch point between morphs may vary between populations and within populations during a season. The hypothesis of such a seasonal variation in exaggerated traits was tested using the dimorphic males of the beetle Lucanus cervus. The remains of specimens killed by predators were collected along forest tracks from mid May to late August 2008 in a protected lowland forest in northern Italy. The largest beetles were collected in mid May and average size thereafter decreased. Males collected early in the season mostly had large mandibles (i.e. they belonged to the major morph). In contrast, late in the season the probability of finding males with large mandibles was very low. The threshold body size determining morph expression also shifted during the season. Early in the season, the threshold pronotum width for a 50% chance of developing into the major morph was 1.74 cm, whereas later in the season it was 1.90 cm. This shift in the threshold body size was interpreted as the effect of phenotypic plasticity in a population exposed to constraints imposed by the advancing season.

Assessing the population structure and understanding growth patterns is crucial to manage freshwater resources and to solve fundamental questions concerning endangered species conservation. Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet, 1858) species complex has been declining on a widespread basis in Europe, including Italy, but detailed data on population structure and growth are lacking. In four mountain streams populated by the species, water temperature data were collected by data-loggers. In July 2012, a total of 746 crayfish were collected at night and their length was measured. Females and males size distributions were analysed separately for each stream using Bhattacharya’s Method. Age was assigned to each length class. The mean values of the age classes were used to evaluate the growth rate of Von Bertalanffy, by the seasonalized equation. Up to six age classes were identified in two populations. Results show that three out of four populations are well-structured, and they confirm that A. pallipes complex is a K-selected species. We stress the need for long-term monitoring and the importance of obtained results in development of conservation plans of endangered crayfish.

Ecological immunology attempts to explain the variability of immune response among individuals by invoking costs and trade-offs, which may optimize the immune defence against pathogens. In ectotherms body temperature is correlated to that of the surrounding environment, so that their entire physiology, including immune functions, is influenced by the environmental temperature. We used in vitro phytohaemoagglutinin (PHA) stimulation in order to assess the effects of temperature on cell mediated adaptive response in male and female Common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). Cell cultures were prepared from blood samples, inoculated with PHA and incubated at 22°C, 25°C, 32°C, and 38°C for three days. PHA stimulation caused proliferation of T-lymphocytes, but the effect depended on the incubation temperature. Lymphocyte proliferation was significantly impaired at both 22°C and 38°C compared to 32°C, which represented the highest levels of activation. Furthermore, lymphocyte activation was more variable in males while females were less immune suppressed than males at low temperatures. Differences between sexes suggest a possible influence of steroid hormones.

The Montpellier snake Malpolon monspessulanus is a wide-ranging species that inhabits Western and Eastern Europe, North Africa and Middle East. Four clades have been recognised as two species, M. insignitus and M. monspessulanus, each with two subspecies. Clades have been substantially identified on the basis of molecular data, pholidosis and colouration, while morphometric traits have been ignored. We compared head shape of 54 specimens belonging to three out of the four clades (M. insignitus insignitus, M. i. fuscus, and M. monspessulanus monspessulanus) by means of geometric morphometrics. We found a significant differentiation: the supraocular and frontal area showed the largest amount of variation, being respectively much thinner in M. i. insignitus, a bit less thin in M. i. fuscus and definitely wider in M. m. monspessulanus. Our findings are fully in agreement with the genetic studies and phylogeny explains more than 20% of the observed variation, supporting the taxonomic distinction inside the genus Malpolon. The functional and/or adaptive meaning of the observed differences is not clear, but it seems unlikely that it may be related to diet. Combining morphological data with phylogeography and environmental features, we formulated an explanatory hypothesis that allowed a precise and testable prediction.

For their rapid and alarming decline, the Italian populations of the Italian spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus insubricus) are of high conservation importance. In this study we examined habitat use by the spadefoot toads in north-west Italy, where one of the largest remaining populations lives. We used compositional analysis and logistic regression models to elaborate land-use and soil composition in order to determine the habitat preferences of the spadefoot toads. We found that the two main variables predicting the occurrence of spadefoot toads in the study area were the percentages of sandy-loam soil texture and the presence of Entisols. Our results showed that spadefoot toads preferred soils that keep soft and malleable structure: Entisols with sand texture, where sand represents the major component, and mature soils, with a high degree of pedogenesis and a relatively high natural fertility and humidity. Conversely, Pelobates fuscus avoids Inceptisols, probably too hard to be dug by the species. This study demonstrates that, at least in the Italian range, the choice of areas in which to reintroduce P. fuscus, or where re-create favourable habitats for it, must take into account the soil types, which, in intensely cultivated areas, seems to be decisive for the possibility of survival of the species in the medium and long time.

Patch context is a way to describe the effect that the surroundings exert on a landscape patch. Despite anthropogenic context alteration may affect species distributions by reducing the accessibility to suitable patches, species distribution modelling have rarely accounted for its effects explicitly. We propose a general framework to statistically detect the occurrence and the extent of such a factor, by combining presence-only data, spatial distribution models and information-theoretic model selection procedures. After having established the spatial resolution of the analysis on the basis of the species characteristics, a measure of anthropogenic alteration that can be quantified at increasing distance from each patch has to be defined. Then the distribution of the species is modelled under competing hypotheses: H0, assumes that the distribution is uninfluenced by the anthropogenic variables; H1, assumes the effect of alteration at the species scale (resolution); and H2, H3 … Hn add the effect of context alteration at increasing radii. Models are compared using the Akaike Information Criterion to establish the best hypothesis, and consequently the occurrence (if any) and the spatial scale of the anthropogenic effect. As a study case we analysed the distribution data of two insular lizards (one endemic and one naturalised) using four alternative hypotheses: no alteration (H0), alteration at the species scale (H1), alteration at two context scales (H2 and H3). H2 and H3 performed better than H0 and H1, highlighting the importance of context alteration. H2 performed better than H3, setting the spatial scale of the context at 1 km. The two species respond differently to context alteration, the introduced lizard being more tolerant than the endemic one. The proposed approach supplies reliably and interpretable results, uses easily available data on species distribution, and allows the assessing of the spatial scale at which human disturbance produces the heaviest effects.

Female common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) typically reproduce annually and lay more than one clutch per season. In this study, we tested whether females store sperm between clutches and between years by manipulating mating opportunities of females through appropriate experiments. Our results revealed that females are definitely unable to store sperm for medium or long-term, suggesting they necessary need to repeatedly mate with males to fertilize their eggs. Finally, by comparing our results to other similar multi-clutched species, we conclude that sperm storage probably does not constitute a selective advantage for species with a promiscuous reproductive system based on multiple mating in populations with high densities.

In species where females mate promiscuously, the reproductive success of males depends both on their ability to acquire mates (pre-copulatory sexual selection) and ability of their ejaculates to outcompete those of other males (post-copulatory sexual selection). Sperm competition theory predicts a negative relationship between investment in body traits favouring mate acquisition (secondary sexual characters, SSCs) and investment in ejaculate size or quality, due to the inherent costs of sperm production. In contrast, the phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis posits that male fertilizing efficiency is reliably reflected by the phenotypic expression of male SSCs, allowing females to obtain direct benefits by selecting more ornamented males as copulation partners. In this study, we investigated the relationships between male SSCs and size and quality (viability and longevity) of ejaculates allocated to females in mating trials of the freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius italicus. We showed that the relative size of male weapons, the chelae, was negatively related to ejaculate size, and that chelae asymmetry, resulting from regeneration of lost chelipeds, negatively covaried with sperm longevity. Moreover, males allocated more viable sperm to mates from their own rather than different stream of origin. Our findings thus suggest that, according to sperm competition theory, pre-copulatory sexual selection for large weapons used in male fighting may counteract post-copulatory sperm competition in this crayfish species, and that investment in cheliped regeneration may impair ejaculate quality.

Abstract GIS supplies a useful way for analysing and modelling spatial distribution of brown rats Rattus norvegicus in urban areas, supplying maps that predict the occurrence of rats over larger areas. However, two alternative procedures can be used: landscape-based models, which use habitat variables derived from remote sensing satellites or other thematic maps, and interpolation techniques, which convert point samples of species abundance. The first procedure has been previously applied, while the second has never been used until now. In this study, we valued the effectiveness of the interpolating procedure by modelling the distribution of brown rats in a large urban area of northern Italy. During spring and autumn 2004, we positioned non toxic baits in 119 spots distributed over the whole urbanized area of the city and we generated maps of rat presence/absence for the two seasons. Brown rats were irregularly scattered over the city and concentrated mainly around rivers and ditches, as well in the historic centre, particularly where buildings suffer poor maintenance. Seasonal variation of rat occurrence was also detected. Brown rat occurrence may be reliably predicted by the interpolation procedure, which appeared to be a more efficient approach to rat distribution modelling compared with landscape-based procedures. Riassunto Modelli GIS della distribuzione di Rattus norvegicus in ambiente urbano con utilizzo di esche non tossiche. I programmi GIS rappresentano un utile strumento per analizzare e modellizzare la distribuzione del ratto delle chiaviche Rattus norvegicus nelle aree urbane, fornendo mappe in grado di predire la presenza di questa specie su vaste aree. A questo scopo possono essere impiegate due procedure alternative: i) modelli basati sul paesaggio, che utilizzano le caratteristiche ambientali desunte da mappe tematiche o immagini satellitari oppure ii) tecniche di interpolazione che convertono insiemi di punti di presenza accertata in stime di abbondanza. Il primo approccio è già stato utilizzato, mentre il secondo non ci risulta essere ancora stato applicato nella gestione del ratto delle chiaviche. In questo studio è valutata l’efficacia del metodo di interpolazione nel predire la distribuzione di questo roditore in una grande area urbana del nord Italia. Nel corso della primavera e dell’autunno 2004, sono state posizionate esche non tossiche in 119 punti distribuiti sull’intera area urbana. I dati così raccolti sono stati utilizzati per generare mappe di presenza/assenza della specie nelle due stagioni di indagine. I ratti delle chiaviche sono risultati irregolarmente distribuiti in città e concentrati principalmente lungo i corsi d’acqua e nel centro storico soprattutto in presenza di edifici soggetti a scarsa manutenzione. Nel corso dell’indagine sono emerse differenze nella distribuzione fra le due stagioni di ricerca. La presenza del ratto delle chiaviche può effettivamente essere predetta mediante il processo di interpolazione: questo metodo risulta essere più efficiente rispetto a quello basato sull’analisi delle sole caratteristiche ambientali.

Photographic identification is a promising marking technique alternative to the toe-clipping, but is time consuming, particularly when a large number of individuals is involved. For this reason several authors had frequently preferred the toe-clipping. In this study we analysed the black spot pattern of ventral scales of wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) and we showed that photographic identification is an effective method for recognizing individuals, and the error of this technique is much less than that of the toe-clipping arising from natural toe loss. Moreover, the numerically encoding of the black spot pattern may radically reduce the time needed to compare the pictures of large samples of individuals, solving one of the more important obstacle against the use of photographic identification.

Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) is the terrestrial snake showing the widest distribution in the world, occuring from Great Britain, France and Northern Italy to the Sakhalin Island and North Korea (Nilson, 1980; Saint Girons, 1980; Nilson et al., 1994; Nilson & Andrén, 1997a). However, adders do not occur uniformly over their distribution area, but are scattered in several isolated populations (Nilson & Andrén, 1997a). Frequently, ecological traits of borderline and isolated populations differ from those living in the core area of the distribution range of the species, and might be subjected to higher risks of stochastic extinction and higher differentiation rates (Mayr, 1970). For example, meadow vipers (Vipera ursinii) show a highly fragmented distribution, many of isolated groups being different subspecies (Nilson & Andrén, 1997b, 2001).

The courtship and mounting behavior of promiscuous tortoises is based on a multiple signaling system that includes visual, olfactory, tactile, and acoustic signals. Vocalizations related to mounting seem to be particularly intriguing because tortoises vocalize mainly at this time. Vocalizations and courtship behavior might be costly for males, and if these costs increase differentially for different males, then the potential exists for vocalizations and displays to reveal male individual quality on which females could base their mate choice. In the present study, by using individuals breeding in seminatural enclosures, we experimentally investigated whether the mounting call of male Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) represents a relevant stimulus to both males and females. We also looked for potential preference toward different acoustic stimuli in order to determine which call features, if any, played a role in attracting potential partners or deterring rivals. Females were sensitive to call playback, whereas males apparently paid little attention to playback. In addition, females showed a significant preference toward high-pitched calls emitted at high rate. Also, females exhibited a strong tendency toward short-duration calls. Because call rate is related to hematocrit in Hermann's tortoise males, by responding to fast-rate calls females are also choosing high-quality partners as sires of their offspring. This is the first study in which an attractive function of tortoise vocalizations has been documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between haematozoan parasites, cell-mediated immune response, territory features and colour morph were investigated in tawny owls Strix aluco, in the Park of Monza in Milan, northern Italy. Rufous and grey birds were found to differ significantly in their blood parasite loads, particularly during the breeding season, when rufous birds hosted more parasites than grey birds. The increase in parasitaemia of rufous owl was not, however, owing to the breeding status of sampled individuals. Although body condition was similar between the two colour morphs, immune response was higher in grey than in rufous owls for the same level of parasites. Moreover, parasites seemed to influence breeding of rufous birds negatively, because only individuals with no or few parasites reproduced. Both these results suggested a higher susceptibility to parasites of rufous owls. Nevertheless, a habitat effect existed because parasite loads increased significantly with woodland extent and tree-density within owl territories, and rufous birds defended more wooded territories than grey ones. Thus, the differential parasitaemia between colour morphs in tawny owls may be the result of both a differential exposure to flying vectors depending on habitat selection and a differential colour-based susceptibility of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altricial offspring of birds solicit food provisioning by complex begging displays, implying acoustic and visual signals. Different components of begging behavior may function as reliable signals of offspring state and thus reproductive value, on which parents base optimal parental decisions about allocation of critical resources (e.g., food). We experimentally manipulated components of general condition of nestling barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) by (1) altering brood size by cross-fostering an unbalanced number of nestlings between pairs of synchronous broods and thus manipulating the level of within-brood competition for food, (2) injecting some nestlings with a harmless immunogen, simulating an infection, and (3) preventing part of the nestlings from receiving food for a short period while establishing control groups. We recorded rate of begging response by individual nestlings as parents visited the nest and recorded begging calls using a DAT recorder to analyze six sonagraphic features of vocalizations. Our factorial experiment revealed that nestlings deprived of food begged more frequently when parents visited the nest compared to their non—food-deprived nest mates. Food deprivation increased duration of syllables forming begging calls, whereas brood size enlargement resulted in increased latency of response to parental calls. Heavy nestlings in good body condition vocalized at a relatively low peak frequency. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which begging rate and sonagraphic structure of begging calls are shown to reliably reveal a diverse set of components of offspring general state, on which parental decisions may be based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]