The Wikiplantbase project: the role of amateur botanists in building up large online floristic databases

The Wikiplantbase project, started in 2013, provides a framework where the full set of georeferenced floristic records of Tuscany and Sardinia can be entered, stored, updated and freely accessed through the Internet. Mainly thanks to the collaboration of amateur botanists, data have accumulated quickly. All records entered by collaborators are submitted to the project coordinators, who are enabled to accept, modify, or reject them. As of 22 November 2016, Wikiplantbase #Toscana holds 116,402 verified floristic records (90% based on published literature, 5% on unpublished herbarium specimens, 5% on field observations), and Wikiplantbase #Sardegna 40,043 (77% published literature, 18% unpublished herbarium specimens, 5% on field observations ). The records include over 90% of the specific and subspecific taxa known for Tuscany and about 70% – but rapidly growing – of those known for Sardinia. The most recorded species are Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae) for Tuscany and Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) for Sardinia. With minor software tweaking, the online platform Wikiplantbase might be adopted in other contexts, resulting in a well connected network of regional floristic databases suited to exploit the involvement – still largely untapped – of nonacademic collaborators, as advocated by citizen science

The Wikiplantbase project: the role of amateur botanists in building up large online floristic databases

The Wikiplantbase project, started in 2013, provides a framework where the full set of georeferenced floristic records of Tuscany and Sardinia can be entered, stored, updated and freely accessed through the Internet. Mainly thanks to the collaboration of amateur botanists, data have accumulated quickly. All records entered by collaborators are submitted to the project coordinators, who are enabled to accept, modify, or reject them. As of 22 November 2016, Wikiplantbase #Toscana holds 116,402 verified floristic records (90% based on published literature, 5% on unpublished herbarium specimens, 5% on field observations), and Wikiplantbase #Sardegna 40,043 (77% published literature, 18% unpublished herbarium specimens, 5% on field observations ). The records include over 90% of the specific and subspecific taxa known for Tuscany and about 70% – but rapidly growing – of those known for Sardinia. The most recorded species are Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae) for Tuscany and Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) for Sardinia. With minor software tweaking, the online platform Wikiplantbase might be adopted in other contexts, resulting in a well connected network of regional floristic databases suited to exploit the involvement – still largely untapped – of nonacademic collaborators, as advocated by citizen science

Concorso nazionale ad inviti per la progettazione del complesso parrocchiale “ Santi Patroni Martiri di Selva Candida” in Roma, Diocesi Suburbicaria di Porto-Santa Rufina. C.E.I. Conferenza episcopale italiana

La dimensione mistica dello spazio sacro può essere trasmessa con più forza se alla sua costruzione partecipano sensibilità diverse. Questo progetto, che ha visto la collaborazione di importanti artisti di fama internazionale quali Nicola Carrino e Pietro Consagra, ha inteso perseguire questa comunione d'intenti attraverso alcune significative integrazioni tra espressioni artistiche e figurazioni dello spazio costruito. contemporanea

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: how to identify eligible patients for biologics in clinical practice

Obiettivo. Questo studio confrontava 3 differenti indici di gravità della rinosinusite cronica con poliposi nasale (RSCcPN). L’obbiettivo era individuare i pazienti eleggibili al trattamento con farmaci biologici. Metodi. 330 pazienti adulti con RSCcPN erano arruolati. Tutti i pazienti venivano valutati mediante nasal polyp score (NPS), sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) e clinical-cytological grading (CCG). Inoltre erano considerati la storia clinica, i pregressi interventi chirurgici ed il controllo dell’asma. Risultati. Solamente 45 (13,6%) pazienti avevano i 3 indici positivi. La concordanza tra i 3 indici era bassa/modesta. I pazienti con la malattia grave (contestuale positività a tutti i test) avevano peggiori parametri. Il citotipo misto (OR = 4,07), l’ostruzione nasale (OR = 10,06), il post-nasal drip (OR = 1,98), il disagio (OR = 2,53), e la difficoltà ad addormentarsi (OR = 1,92) erano significativamente associati con la malattia grave. Conclusioni. È preferibile utilizzare contemporaneamente i 3 test per individuare i pazienti candidati alla terapia biologica. In questo modo si può avere un quadro generale della malattia, comprendente la morfologia dei polipi, lo stato di infiammazione, le comorbidità, i sintomi e la qualità della vita.Objective. This study compared three severity measures for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The outcome was to identify patients who are eligible for biological therapy. Methods. 330 adult patients with CRSwNP were examined. Nasal polyp score (NPS), sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) and clinical-cytological grading (CCG) were compared. Clinical history, past surgery and asthma control test were also considered. Results. Only 45 (13.6%) patients had a contextual positivity to the three severity measures. The concordance among tests was slight/fair. Patients with severe disease (all tests positive) had more impaired parameters. The mixed cytotype (OR = 4.07), nasal obstruction (OR = 10.06), post-nasal drip (OR = 1.98), embarrassment (OR = 2.53) and difficulty falling asleep (OR = 1.92) were significantly associated with severe CRSwNP. Conclusions. To identify candidates for biological therapy, the contextual use of NPS, SNOT-22 and CCG is preferable. In this way, global assessment of CRSwNP, including morphology, inflammation, comorbidity, symptoms and quality of life is possible