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Mitochondrial DNA easily undergoes alterations due to exposure to stress factors. In particular, mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) variation can be used as a biomarker of the effect of exposure to various environmental contaminants. In this study, a molecular investigation based on the evaluation of mtDNAcn variation was applied for the first time to individuals belonging to the species Opsius heydeni. A total of 20 samples were collected from two sites in eastern Sicily: Priolo Gargallo, a site with a strong anthropic impact, and the Simeto river Oasis, a control site. Specimens identified based on morphological traits were used to obtain COI gene sequences from this species that were not previously available in GenBank. After processing, the relative mtDNAcn was evaluated using real-time PCR of a portion of the COI and 18S genes. A decrease in the mtDNAcn in the specimens from the polluted site was observed. These results highlight how environmental contaminants can alter the mitochondrial genome and how Opsius heydeni can be considered a potential bioindicator species of environmental quality.

Twenty-four new records of Auchenorrhyncha are reported from the Maltese Islands. Up to now 71 species are known from the territory. Among the new recorded species, 1 belongs to Cixiidae, 5 to Delphacidae, 2 to Tettigometridae, 1 to Issidae and 15 to Cicadellidae., peer-reviewed

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, belonging to the 16SrXII-A subgroup, is associated with grapevine Bois Noir (BN). It is usually transmitted by Hyalesthes obsoletus from a wide range of weeds to grapevine, which is considered a dead-end host. Moreover, other alternative vectors can play a role in the epidemiology of the disease. In Sicily, the presence of BN was reported in 1996, both on typical and on newly introduced cultivars. Furthermore, high BN incidence was observed on native grape cultivars grown close to ‘Chardonnay’ vineyards. In summer 2014 and 2015, the spread and the severity of BN were recorded in a 10 year-old vineyard located in San Giuseppe Jato (PA, Western Sicily), grown with cultivars Chardonnay, Nero d'Avola, and Pinot Noir. Preliminary surveys showed the presence of a rich leafhopper fauna and the absence of H. obsoletus. The presence of ‘Ca. P. solani’ in randomly sampled vines from all cultivars was confirmed by amplifying DNA through nested-PCR and RFLP, and no other phytoplasma were found. The percentage of symptomatic grapevines was the lowest in cv Pinot Noir and the highest in cv Chardonnay. Ca. P. solani’ was also detected in some herbaceous plants and in leafhoppers collected inside the rows and at the border of the vineyard. Considering the importance of the disease and the recent finding of Euscelidius variegatus, Neoaliturus fenestratus, and Exitianus taeniaticeps as alternative vectors in vineyards of Eastern Sicily, there is the need to clarify the epidemiology of BN in Western Sicily vineyards to set up appropriate management strategies.

We report data from two consecutive growing seasons {2012/13 and 2013/14, i.e., after 21-22 years of continuous application of the treatments) on grain yield and some technological and nutritional quality parameters of durum wheat. On average, grain yield was higher with CT than NT, but the effects of tillage varied greatly by crop sequence. On average, NT caused a decrease in both grain protein and gluten contents with respect to CT when wheat was grown after faba bean, whereas no differences between NT and CT were observed for these traits for continuous wheat or berseem clover. Significant interactions between tillage system and crop sequence were observed for alveographic parameters and for both polyphenols and carotenoids contents. On the contrary, no effect on ash content, yellow index, and betaglucans content was found due to the applied treatments.

At the present time seven subgroups have been described among phytoplasmas of group 16SrIX: -A, Pigeon Pea Witches-Broom (PPWB); -B and -D, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium' (Almond witches broom, AlmWB); -C, Pichris echiodes yellows (PEY); -E, Juniper witches-broom; -F and -G, characterized in stone fruits in Lebanon. These phytoplasmas are associated with diseases affecting herbaceous and woody plants in different areas worldwide. In Italy they have been signalled in Dimorphoteca sinuata and Pichris echioides. Preliminary studies have shown the presence, just in Lebanon, of different leafhoppers genera as potential vectors of Almond witches-broom phytoplasma. During a survey for phytoplasma diseases in Sicily insects have been collected with sticky yellow traps or by insect net and tested by nested-PCR with universal primer pairs for detection of phytoplasmas. Among the trapped insects, the leafhopper Osbornellus horvathi resulted positive to phytoplasma. The four obtained sequences showed identity between 98,6% and 99% with 16SrDNA gene of the reference strain of 'Ca. Phytoplasma phoenicium' (AF515636). In virtual RFLP analysis with iPhyClassifier three of them (Osb1, Osb3, Osb4) shared a similarity coefficient (F) of 0,95 - 0,89 with the reference strain of subgroup16SrIX-E, while Osb2 shared a similarity coefficient (F) of 0,95 with the reference strain of subgroup16SrIX-C. To our knowledge this is the first report of O. horvathi as potential vector of phytoplasmas as well as the first report of potential vector of phytoplasmas of group 16SrIX.

Spartium junceum is an important pioneer species of Mediterranean Basin. Spartium witches' broom (SWB) disease occurs in Italy and Spain. Besides the characteristic symptom, the plants show fasciation, yellowing of twigs, flower malformation and death of the whole plant. Both 'Candidatus Phytoplasma spartii' (16SrX-D) and a phytoplasma member of the group 16SrV-C have been associated to SWB. Since 2010 increasing reports of this syndrome were registered in Sicily region (South Italy) and particularly in the Etna area, a valuable viticultural territory. The rapid spread of the disease suggested the presence of an active vector of the phytoplasma/s. Detection and molecular characterization of phytoplasmas was carried out through analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplified by nested-PCR using universal primer pairs on samples of spartium and insects collected. Obtained sequences allowed to classify the detected phytoplasmas, on the basis of virtual RFLP analysis performed by iPhyClassifier, in 16rRNA V-C and X-D groups and subgroups. Further phylogenetic analysis of sec-y gene of 16SrV-C isolates evidenced a homogeneous cluster distinguishable from other reference strains of group 16Sr-V including the flavescence dorée associated phytoplasmas. Among all the insects species collected only one monophagous psyllid of S. junceum (Livilla spectabilis) resulted positive to both phytoplasmas. The epidemic of SWB in Sicily and the finding of a potential vector pose interest on the disease especially in consideration of a potential risk of occasional trasmission of 16SrV-C to grapevine in a region free of flavescence dorée.

The present study describes the psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of two self-report scales for fear of flying assessment: the Flight Anxiety Situations questionnaire (FAS), which measures anxiety related to specific flying phases, and the Flight Anxiety Modality questionnaire (FAM), which focuses on somatic and cognitive modalities occurring in air travel situations. Although both questionnaires have been translated in various languages and tailored to several local frameworks, this is the only study that provides an evaluation of the adapted instruments’ validity and reliability. Validation procedures were done on 259 participants, including patients who experienced fear of flying as well as a group of non-clinical subjects. Exploratory factor analysis was used to investigate the optimal design for the dimensional structure of both instruments. Confirmatory analyses showed that the envisaged models provided an acceptable fit for the available data. A three-factor solution for FAS and a two-factor solution for FAM were therefore detected. Construct validity was supported by convergent and criterion-related data, internal consistency was satisfactory for all subscales, and both instruments revealed a high level of sensitivity to change. Overall, psychometric quality of both measures showed to be fairly good and comparable to those found in the original study, thus suggesting their application in treatment programs for non-English speakers.

L'articolo presenta i primi risultati di un esperimento, svolto all'interno del Progetto FIRB-MIUR "Nuove tecnologie per la formazione permanente e reti nel sistema socioeconomico italiano", che si è proposto di valutare l'utilizzazione di Facce Parlanti ed Espressive (FPE) come interfacce uomo-macchina all'interno di un sistema e-learning. L'ipotesi di partenza prevedeva che risultasse preferita, rispetto alle interfacce grafiche e vocali, l'interfaccia costituita da una FPE in grado di riprodurre le condizioni di comunicazione multimodale e multicanale delle interazioni umane faccia-afaccia, in particolare per quanto riguarda l'espressione delle emozioni e degli stati affettivi e quindi di superare le limitazioni della CMC. Per confrontare le diverse strategie di mantenimento della social presence nei tre diversi tipi di interfaccia sono state analizzate innanzi tutto le modalità linguistiche e grafiche (scelte lessicali, morfologiche, interiezioni, segni di interpunzione, grafismi, emoticon) con cui nei messaggi scritti di chat e forum vengono trasmessi stati affettivi ed emozioni di studenti, docenti, tutor. L'individuazione di questi mezzi linguistici ha costituito un dato essenziale anche in funzione dell'etichettatura tramite l'Affective Presentation Mark-up Language (APML) dei testi da sintetizzare vocalmente e bimodalmente. Il materiale del test è stato creato con un sistema di risintesi basato sui programmi LUCIA, FESTIVAL, INTERFACE, EMOTION PLAYER, messi a punto presso la Sezione di Padova dell'ISTC. I risultati del test di valutazione confrontativa delle interfacce grafica, vocale e bimodale uditivo-visiva ai fini di una maggiore o minore motivazione all'e-learning hanno evidenziato una complessa interazione tra la tipologia dell'interfaccia e l'emozione veicolata.

The morphology of the internal male and female reproductive apparatus in Cixidia sikaniae is described and illustrated. It is compared with the reproductive apparatus of other Achilidae taxa. In the male of C. sikaniae, the structure of the “ejaculatory duct” is peculiar. The presence of lateral ejaculatory ducts, known up to now exclusively in Cicadomorpha, is here described for the first time in a species belonging to the Fulgoromorpha. The phylogenetic value of some characters of the internal male and female reproductive apparatus within Fulgormorpha and between Fulgoromorpha and Cicadomorpha is discussed.

The composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna of Sardinia (Italy) was studied from a faunistic, ecological and zoogeographical point of view, with a special focus on the most significant natural environments of the area. Two intensive field research campaigns carried out in July 1980 and August 1997, gave 103 identified species, 34 of them being new records for Sardinia and two also for Italy. These records increase the taxa known from this Island up to 240.