Illicit drugs in Emergency Department patients injured in road traffic accidents

Urine and blood samples from 1730 drivers involved in road accidents (July 2012- December 2015) were analyzed for the evaluation of driving under influence of drug of abuse according to the Lombardia Region guideline. The 22.5 % of urine screenings tested positive for at least one class of drugs. 10.6% of the 1730 drivers were under the influence of drug, being blood concentration above the cut-off limit for at least one active substance; the prevalence of illicit drugs in blood was cocaine (5.7 %), cannabinoids (3.7 %), opiates (1.4 %), methadone (1.4 %), amphetamines (0.2 %). Trend in prevalence showed similar percentage (about 5 %) of cocaine and cannabinoids consumption in the last two years. Poly-drug of abuse consumption emerged in the 10.4 % of the positive blood and alcohol was above the legal limit in 47 % of the subjects driving under the influence of drugs

Variation in leaf traits of an Apennine grass Sesleria nitida along a narrow altitudinal gradient at Mount Terminillo (Italy)

The forecasted increase of air temperature could determine the reduction of alpine habitat and loss of many European high-mountain plants (Pauli et al., 2012. Science 336: 353-355) and an increasing number of studies show altitudinal range shifts for mountain species for alpine ecosystems. The current rate of global warming might be too rapid for natural migration to successfully deliver species to suitable habitats. Thus, knowledge on alpine species response to temperature changes can provide insights into our standing how these plants are responding to current and future warming (Shen et al., 2009. J Plant Ecol 2: 207-216). The genus Sesleria Scop. constitutes a complex group of similar and closely related taxa distributed mostly throughout Europe (Kuzmanovi et al., 2009. Bot Serb 33: 51-67). The species Sesleria nitida Ten. grows in Italy from 600 to 2000 m a.s.l. in the central and southern Apennine (Pignatti, 1982. Flora d’Italia. Edagricole). The aim of this research was to analyze morphological and physiological traits of S. nitida growing at different altitudes at Mount Terminillo (42 28’ 28” N, 13 00’ 24” E, Italy) on calcareous rocky slopes. We addressed the question if altitudinal variations in morphological and physiological traits could be indicative of their future adaptive potential to global warming. The results underline a significant variation among morphological and anatomical traits with an increased specific leaf mass area (LMA) and leaf thickness (Lt) in response to variations in microsite from the low altitude (L, 1100 m a.s.l.) toward the top (T, 1895 m a.s.l.). The reduced leaf area and the increased Lt associated to the largest lateral xilem vessels size in T than in L favor the hydraulic conductivity. A higher hydraulic conductivity is adaptive in habitats with high irradiance as it allows water transport rate from roots to the foliage for photosynthesis (Barigah et al., 2006. Tree Physiol 26: 1505-15 16; Nardini et al., 2012. Tree Physiol 32: 1434-1441). The photosynthetic rates (Pn) are 18% higher in L than in T where the temperature is, on an average, 3C lower than in L, associated to a stronger wind and high irradiance causing a condition of physiological aridity. Leaf respiration shows an opposite Pn trend with 28% higher rates in T than in L. An important role to the strategy of S. nitida to the natural habitat is leaf rolling which increases in altitude. Leaf rolling reduces leaf transpiration through changes in both stomatal conductance and leaf area. The plasticity index sensu Valladares (0.27, mean value of morphological, anatomical and physiological traits of the two monitored populations) is higher compared to other mountain species (Carpenter et al. 1980. Can J Bot 59: 1393-1396) thus, reflecting S. nitida capability to maintain function under diverse environmental conditions. The results on the whole suggest that S. nitida may sustain the air temperature increasing by shifting toward higher elevation, accordin to Jump and Penuelas 2005 (Ecology Letters 8: 1010-1020) and Gratani et al. 2012 (Photosynthetica 50: 15-23) for other species

La lastra incisa

Il volume ricostruisce la figura di Luigi Bartolini nella sua produzione poetica ed artistic

Project “Biodiversity MARE Tricase”: biodiversity research, monitoring and promotion at MARE Outpost (Apulia, Italy).

none21noThe project “Biodiversity MARE Tricase” aims to research and promote coastal and marine biodiversity at the MARE Outpost (Avamposto MARE), a marine station established in Tricase (Lecce, Italy) in 2015. From March 2016 to September 2017, the first biodiversity inventory of the Tricase coastal area (Ionian Sea) was realized with the aid of citizen scientists (e.g. local fishermen, divers, bathers, and tourists). Preliminary results include 556 taxa, of which the 95% were identified at the species level. Despite the broad knowledge on Mediterranean coastal biodiversity, 71 species represented new records for the Ionian Sea. In parallel with the research activities, people’s awareness of the value of biodiversity was raised with scientific dissemination initiatives, involving about 1700 people. The “Biodiversity MARE Tricase” project realized a first small-scale species inventory contributing to the distributional, taxonomic, and ecological knowledge of the present Mediterranean biota. The coastal area of Tricase will be soon included in a new Marine Protected Area and this project represents a step forward for the sustainable development of the community of this coast.noneMicaroni, V.; Strano, F.; Di Franco, D.; Langeneck, J.; Gravili, C.; Bertolino, M.; Costa, G.; Rindi, F.; Froglia, C.; Crocetta, F.; Giangrande, A.; Nicoletti, L.; Medagli, P.; Zuccarello, V.; Arzeni, S.; Bo, M.; Betti, F.; Mastrototaro, F.; Lattanzi, L.; Piraino, S.; Boero, F.Micaroni, V.; Strano, F.; Di Franco, D.; Langeneck, J.; Gravili, C.; Bertolino, M.; Costa, G.; Rindi, F.; Froglia, C.; Crocetta, F.; Giangrande, A.; Nicoletti, L.; Medagli, P.; Zuccarello, V.; Arzeni, S.; Bo, M.; Betti, F.; Mastrototaro, F.; Lattanzi, L.; Piraino, S.; Boero, F

MaT\ub2SMC: materials for teaching together: science andmMathematics teachers collaborating for better results

Let us start with an important statement: Mathematics and Science teachers do a good, and often an outstanding, job in teaching young people the basic knowledge of their respective fields! It is not the intent of this book to criticize what they do or how they do it. Keeping that in mind, and noting the fact that the teaching content of these fields intersects and overlaps, we observed \u2013 and this took us by surprise \u2013 that there is hardly any collaboration or consultancy between mathematics and science teachers (or textbook authors). Mathematics teachers often use science contexts in tasks, and science teachers often use mathematics, however they are usually working independently. Science context is often arbitrarily chosen, mathematics used with little regard towards learning. Looking through existing teaching and learning materials, we quickly discovered that these materials, too, were mostly designed by either science, or mathematics educators, and that they do not offer active support or lots of opportunities for collaboration. Being an international team of mathematics and science teacher educators, we set out to improve the situation. We developed materials that are useful for both mathematics and science teachers, materials that are designed to increase the competences in both subjects at the same time, allowing for interdisciplinary learning and for collaboration between science and mathematics teachers, ranging from common lesson planning to team teaching. These materials have been piloted and tested by students, teachers and teacher educators in several countries, as well as reviewed by two education specialists. Based on this feedback, the materials were then revised and brought into their final form. The materials in this book, containing lesson descriptions, work sheets etc., can be used as they are by mathematics and science teachers. They however also can be taken apart and set together in a new and different way, or bits and pieces of them can be used in teaching, as the teachers see fit. They also can be used in teacher training, making science and mathematics teacher trainees aware that working together \u2013 now and in their later careers \u2013 can improve their experience and the learning of their future students. We hope that with this book we encourage teachers to actively seek collaboration, so regardless whether you are a science or a mathematics teacher, go ahead and join forces with a colleague from the other field

IDPlanT: the Italian database of plant translocation

IDPlanT is the Italian Database of Plant Translocation, an initiative of the Nature Conservation Working Group of the Italian Botanical Society. IDPlanT currently includes 185 plant translocations.The establishment of a national database on plant translocation is a key step forward in data sharing and techniques improvement in this field of plant conservatio