Finding of a living population of Panopea glycimeris (Von Born, 1778) (Bivalvia; Hiatellidae) in Eastern Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

A consistent living population of Panopea glycimeris (von Born, 1778) was documented underwater along the eastern coast of Sicily. Twenty specimens were counted over an area of 1000 m(2), with an estimated total population of less than 300 individuals. The morphometric measurements of an adult specimen captured are provided. Proposals to adopt protection measures for this species are discussed

Combined abnormalities of femoral version and acetabular version and McKibbin Index in FAI patients evaluated for hip preservation surgery.

Frequencies of combined abnormalities of femoral version (FV) and acetabular version (AV) and of abnormalities of the McKibbin index are unknown. To investigate the prevalence of combined abnormalities of FV and AV and of abnormalities of the McKibbin index in symptomatic patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), a retrospective, Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved study of 333 symptomatic patients (384 hips) that were presented with hip pain and FAI was performed. The computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging based measurement of central AV, cranial AV and FV was compared among five subgroups with distinguished FAI subgroups and patients that underwent a hip preservation surgery. The allocation to each subgroup was based on AP radiographs. Normal AV and FV were 10-25°. The McKibbin index is the sum of central AV and FV. Of patients that underwent a hip preservation surgery, 73% had a normal McKibbin index (20-50°) but 27% had an abnormal McKibbin index. Of all patients, 72% had a normal McKibbin index, but 28% had abnormal McKibbin index. The prevalence of combined abnormalities of FV and AV varied among subgroups: a higher prevalence of decreased central AV combined with decreased FV of patients with acetabular-retroversion group (12%) and overcoverage (11%) was found compared with mixed-type FAI (5%). Normal AV combined with normal FV was present in 41% of patients with cam-type FAI and in 34% of patients with overcoverage. Patients that underwent a hip preservation surgery had normal mean FV (17 ± 11°), central AV (19 ± 7°), cranial AV (16 ± 10°) and McKibbin index (36 ± 14°). Frequency of combined abnormalities of AV and FV differs between subgroups of FAI patients. Aggravated and compensated McKibbin index was prevalent in FAI patients. This has implications for open hip preservation surgery (surgical hip dislocation or femoral derotation osteotomy) or hip arthroscopy or non-operative treatment

Genetic variability and population structuring in the European Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus feldeggii

We analysed variation in 10 polymorphic microsatellites and a variable portion of control region of mtDNA in 24 specimens from 3 populations of European Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus feldeggii living in Sicily, continental Italy and the Balkan area to assess species' genetic diversity and population structure in the poorly investigated range of this threatened subspecies. We considered also a dataset of previously published mtDNA sequences of the other Lanner Falcon subspecies and of Hierofalco subgenus members (F. cherrug, F. rusticolus and F. jugger) to outline the genetic variation in the region on a wide-ranging basis. Regard with mtDNA we identified 6 haplotypes from our 24 European Lanner Falcon specimens, 3 of which were new and unique (1 Sicilian, 2 Balkans) and the 3 others already known and shared with other Hierofalcons. The 62.5% of our sample, including 14 of Sicilians and one Apulia specimen, belonged to haplotype H_24 shared with F. c. cherrug, F. rusticolus and F. jugger. MtDNA analyses of European Lanner Falcons showed a dispersed pattern of our specimens inside the main Hierofalco clades and haplo-groups in a way congruent to what found in recent literature. These analyses confirmed that none of the Hierofalcons form a monophyletic group, nonetheless the Lanner Falcons can be subdivided in two major Palaearctic (F. b. feldeggii, F. b. erlangeri and F. b. tanypterus) and sub-Sahara African (F. b. biarmicus and F. b. abyssinicus) clades. Microsatellites analysis yielded a first outline of population genetic structure, with genetic identity between continental Italy and Sicily and a moderate degree of differentiation of the Balkan area with Sicily and continental Italy. The 3 populations did not show significant departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with low values of the inbreeding coefficients and had allele richness and haplotype diversity consistent with literature. Microsatellites analysis (Nm, frequency of private alleles) suggests a gene flow among the three examined populations and the connection of Sicilian population to those of mainland

An occasional diagnosis of myasthenia gravis - a focus on thymus during cardiac surgery: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Myasthenia gravis, an uncommon autoimmune syndrome, is commonly associated with thymus abnormalities. Thymomatous myasthenia gravis is considered to have worst prognosis and thymectomy can reverse symptoms if precociously performed.</p> <p>Case report</p> <p>We describe a case of a patient who underwent mitral valve repair and was found to have an occasional thymomatous mass during the surgery. A total thymectomy was performed concomitantly to the mitral valve repair.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The diagnosis of thymomatous myasthenia gravis was confirmed postoperatively. Following the surgery this patient was strictly monitored and at 1-year follow-up a complete stable remission had been successfully achieved.</p

Absorbing customer knowledge: how customer involvement enables service design success

Customers are a knowledge resource outside of the firm that can be utilized for new service success by involving them in the design process. However, existing research on the impact of customer involvement (CI) is inconclusive. Knowledge about customers’ needs and on how best to serve these needs (articulated in the service concept) is best obtained from customers themselves. However, codesign runs the risk of losing control of the service concept. This research argues that of the processes of external knowledge, acquisition (via CI), customer knowledge assimilation, and concept transformation form a capability that enables the firm to exploit customer knowledge in the form of a successful new service. Data from a survey of 126 new service projects show that the impact of CI on new service success is fully mediated by customer knowledge assimilation (the deep understanding of customers’ latent needs) and concept transformation (the modification of the service concept due to customer insights). However, its impact is more nuanced. CI exhibits an “∩”-shaped relationship with transformation, indicating there is a limit to the beneficial effect of CI. Its relationship with assimilation is “U” shaped, suggesting a problem with cognitive inertia where initial learnings are ignored. Customer knowledge assimilation directly impacts success, while concept transformation only helps success in the presence of resource slack. An evolving new service design is only beneficial if the firm has the flexibility to adapt to change

Customer Interaction and Innovation in Hybrid Offerings:Investigating Moderation and Mediation Effects for Goods and Services Innovation

Hybrid offerings are bundles of goods and services offerings provided by the same firm. Bundling value offerings affects how firms innovate, interact with customers, and customize their goods and services. However, it remains unclear how customer interaction might drive the innovation performance of various bundled components. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of customer interactions and service customization on both goods and services innovations in a hybrid offering context, using a unique data set of 146 information technology and manufacturing firms. Customer interaction appears beneficial to both goods and services innovation in a hybrid offerings context, but service customization has different direct effects on goods versus services innovation. As a potential mediator, customer knowledge mobilization resources exert different effects on the goods and services elements of hybrid offerings. Furthermore, for high-interaction customers, medium levels of technical modularity lead to most favorable innovation outcomes for services innovation. The results thus suggest that providers of hybrid offerings should foster customer interactions, to drive the innovation performance of the good and service components, while still making sure to implement service customization strategies. These findings have notable implications for service innovation research

Comparative Analysis of Lanner and Peregrine Trophic Niche in the Mediterranean

Predators are highly sensitive to availability and changes of their prey, which are limiting factors for successful reproductive performances. We studied the diet of the increasing Peregrine falcon (F. p. brookei) and the declining Lanner falcon (F. b. feldeggii) populations in Sicily. The two species coexist in the same habitats of this large Mediterranean island and require similar feeding resources. We described the type and diversity of prey taken by both species in order to understand whether differences in foraging ecology could explain their diverse population status. During 2014-2016, we collected prey remains and pellets in 15 Peregrine and 6 Lanner nests and we compared the current diets with past data from Sicily (Peregrine: 1978-81; Lanner: 1981-88). We identified 805 Peregrine and 250 Lanner prey. Prey remains per Peregrine nest was on average higher (55.3±28.6) than per Lanner nest (42.0±25.6). Peregrine confirmed to be strictly ornitophagous (100% of prey) while Lanner preyed on birds (92.9%) and also on small mammals (4.0%) reptiles (2.4%) and arthropods (0.8%). The average avian prey of Peregrine is smaller (97.7 g) than that of Lanner (122.5 g). Columbidae, starlings, magpies formed the bulk of prey in both species; swifts and orioles were important prey in Peregrine, while rabbit gave a significant contribution to prey biomass in Lanner. Currently both species are preying upon the collared dove a taxon not present in past ’80 diets. The comparison of trophic diversity showed some striking differences, as Lanner in the past preyed upon much more taxa (Spast = 55 vs Scurrent = 33) while the reverse occurred in the Peregrine (Spast = 38 vs Scurrent = 63). A similar figure occurs also for the alpha-diversity index, while the Simpson (1-D) diversity dropped in the current Lanner diet (0.83) respect with the past Lanner, current and past Peregrine diets (all Simpson values > 0.90). The past/current diet overlap, as showed by the Whittaker index, was generally medium in both species (Peregrine = 0.44; Lanner = 0.48) and across species (past Peregrine/Lanner = 0.42; current Peregrine/Lanner = 0.48). Both species are responding to change of habitats and prey populations (e.g. more predation upon wood pigeon, collared dove, etc) with the more flexible and aerial-hunting Peregrine performing better than the Lanner in altered agro-ecosystems

A comparison of peregrine Falco peregrinus and lanner Falco biarmicus trophic niche in Sicily

Prey availability is a crucial factor for the reproductive success of apex predators and the analysis of their diets can provide meaningful information about the quality of their habitats. In Sicily the declining lanner falcon Falco biarmicus feldeggii and the increasing peregrine falcon Falco peregrines brookei share similar habitats and trophic needs. By studying their current and past diets, we have investigated whether the characteristics of their foraging ecology could explain these different demographic trends. In 2014-2016, we identified 805 peregrine and 250 lanner Vertebrate prey from 15 peregrine and 6 lanner nests, and compared our dataset with previous data from Sicily (Peregrine 1978-81; Lanner 1981-88). The average number of Vertebrate prey in peregrine nests (53,7 ± 28,7) was higher than in lanner nests (42,0 ± 25,6). Expectedly, peregrine preyed exclusively upon birds, while lanner upon birds (92,9%), small mammals (4%), and reptiles (2,4%). Orioles and common swifts were significant prey for the former, while the european rabbit was important for the latter in terms of biomass. Pigeons, starlings and magpies formed the majority of prey for both species, and collared dove, previously absent in Sicily, appears in their current diet. The average avian prey was smaller for peregrine (97,7 g) than for lanner (122,5 g). Over decades, the lanner richness of prey species (S) decreased (from 55 to 33) while the one of peregrine increased (from 38 to 63). Alfa-diversity index showed a similar figure, while dominance as expressed by the Simpson index (1-D) was lower in present lanner diet (0,83) than in past lanner, as well as in past and present peregrine diets (all indexes >0,90). Trophic niche overlap between the past and present datasets is medium according to Whittaker's index (0,44 peregrine; 0,48 lanner; 0,42 peregrine/lanner past; 0,48 peregrine/lanner present). Lanner preyed also on insects in both periods, with considerable differences (npast = 341 and ncurrent = 2) which can be attributed to different seasons of data collection. The two predators are responding to variations in habitats and prey populations; however the more aerial-hunting peregrine, demonstrates to be flexible and more successfully adapted to the alteration of traditional agro-ecosystems