Haplotype affinities resolve a major component of goat (<i>Capra hircus</i>) MtDNA D-loop diversity and reveal specific features of the Sardinian stock

Goat mtDNA haplogroup A is a poorly resolved lineage absorbing most of the overall diversity and is found in locations as distant as Eastern Asia and Southern Africa. Its phylogenetic dissection would cast light on an important portion of the spread of goat breeding. The aims of this work were 1) to provide an operational definition of meaningful mtDNA units within haplogroup A, 2) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of diversity by considering the modes of selection operated by breeders and 3) to identify the peculiarities of Sardinian mtDNA types. We sequenced the mtDNA D-loop in a large sample of animals (1,591) which represents a non-trivial quota of the entire goat population of Sardinia. We found that Sardinia mirrors a large quota of mtDNA diversity of Western Eurasia in the number of variable sites, their mutational pattern and allele frequency. By using Bayesian analysis, a distance-based tree and a network analysis, we recognized demographically coherent groups of sequences identified by particular subsets of the variable positions. The results showed that this assignment system could be reproduced in other studies, capturing the greatest part of haplotype diversity. We identified haplotype groups overrepresented in Sardinian goats as a result of founder effects. We found that breeders maintain diversity of matrilines most likely through equalization of the reproductive potential. Moreover, the relevant amount of inter-farm mtDNA diversity found does not increase proportionally with distance. Our results illustrate the effects of breeding practices on the composition of maternal gene pool and identify mtDNA types that may be considered in projects aimed at retrieving the maternal component of the oldest breeds of Sardinia.</br

Clinical assessment instruments validated for nursing practice in the Italian context: a systematic review of the literature

Aims. With the aim to identify the instruments validated for Italian nursing practice, a systematic review of the literature was undertaken.Results. A total of 101 instruments emerged. The majority (89; 88.1%) were developed in other countries; the remaining (14; 13.9%) were developed and validated in the Ital-ian context. The instruments were developed to measure patient’s problems (63/101; 62.4%), outcomes (27/101; 26.7%), risks (4/101; 4%) and others issues (7/101; 6.9%). The majority of participants involved in the validation processes were younger adults (49; 48.5%), older adults (40; 39.5%), children (4; 4%), adolescents (3; 3%), and children/adolescents (1; 1%). The instruments were structured primarily in the form of questionnaires (61; 60.4%), as a grid for direct observation (27; 26.7%) or in other forms (12; 11.9%). Among the 101 instruments emerged, there were 1 to 7 validation measures documented with on average 3.2 (95% CI 2.86-3.54) for each instrument.Conclusions. Developing validation studies giving priority to those instruments widely adopted in the clinical nursing practice is recommended.  

Haplotype Affinities Resolve a Major Component of Goat (Capra hircus) MtDNA D-Loop Diversity and Reveal Specific Features of the Sardinian Stock

Goat mtDNA haplogroup A is a poorly resolved lineage absorbing most of the overall diversity and is found in locations as distant as Eastern Asia and Southern Africa. Its phylogenetic dissection would cast light on an important portion of the spread of goat breeding. The aims of this work were 1) to provide an operational definition of meaningful mtDNA units within haplogroup A, 2) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of diversity by considering the modes of selection operated by breeders and 3) to identify the peculiarities of Sardinian mtDNA types. We sequenced the mtDNA D-loop in a large sample of animals (1,591) which represents a non-trivial quota of the entire goat population of Sardinia. We found that Sardinia mirrors a large quota of mtDNA diversity of Western Eurasia in the number of variable sites, their mutational pattern and allele frequency. By using Bayesian analysis, a distance-based tree and a network analysis, we recognized demographically coherent groups of sequences identified by particular subsets of the variable positions. The results showed that this assignment system could be reproduced in other studies, capturing the greatest part of haplotype diversity

Changes in soil organic carbon and climate change: application of the RothC model in agro-silvo-pastoral Mediterranean systems

Due to the complexity of soil organic carbon (SOC), models have proved very useful in helping to improve our understanding of the soil–plant–atmosphere system. In this study we used the Rothamsted carbon model (RothC), which considers the effect of climate (temperature, rainfall and evaporation), soil texture (clay content) and crop management on the decomposition processes, to predict changes in SOC under different land uses and the different climate that may occur in the future. SOC turnover was evaluated in land uses under different levels of agricultural intensification. The agriculture of the study-area is mainly extensive and markedly agro-silvo-pastoral, and is typical of north-eastern Sardinia (Italy) and similar areas of the Mediterranean basin. The following land uses were considered: vineyards, hay crops, pastures, semi-natural systems (formerly vineyards) and cork oak forests. Since the study-area is characterized by the same soil type (Haplic Endoleptic Cambisols, Dystric) derived from granitic rocks and potential native vegetation (Quercus suber L.), this was considered as the model baseline to study soil organic carbon dynamics. Climate change scenarios for 90 yr were generated from the baseline climate with two Global Climate Models: GISS (Goddard Institute of Space Studies, USA), and HadCM3 (Met Office, Hadley Centre, UK), for two of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emission scenarios (SRES A2 and B2). Land uses at low cropping intensity were more efficient than intensive agricultural systems in terms of SOC storage in the order: hay crop &gt; pasture &gt; cork oak forest &gt; semi-natural systems. Land use change to vineyards decreased the carbon balance significantly between 0.09 and 0.15 t C ha−1 yr−1. However, former vineyards have almost recovered from soil disturbance following the establishment of the vineyards

Functional Fitness and Self-Reported Quality of Life of Older Women Diagnosed with Knee Osteoarthrosis: A Cross-Sectional Case Control Study

Aim. Utilizing a cross-sectional case control design, the aim of this study was to evaluate the functional fitness and self-reported quality of life differences in older people diagnosed with knee osteoarthrosis (O) who participated in health promotion groups. Methods. Ninety older women were distributed into two groups: control without O of the knee (C, n=40) and a group diagnosed with primary and secondary knee O with grade II or higher, with definite osteophytes (OA, n=50). Functional fitness was evaluated by specific tests, and the time spent in physical activity and quality of life was evaluated by the IPAQ and WHOQOL (distributed in four domains: physical: P, psychological: PS, social: S, and environmental: E) domain questionnaires. Results. No differences were found between ages of groups (C: 66±7; OA: 67±9; years). The values of the chair stand test (rep) in the OA (13±5) group were different when compared to C group (22±5). For the 6-minute walk test (meters), the values obtained for the C (635±142) were higher (P<0.01) than the OA (297±143) group. The time spent in physical activity (min) was greater (P<0.001) in the control (220±12) group compared to OA (100±10) group. Higher values (P<0.001) in all domains were found in the C (P: 69±16, PS: 72±17, S: 67±15, E: 70±15) group compared to OA (P: 48±7, PS: 43±8, S: 53±13, E: 47±14) group. Conclusion. Our data suggests that knee O, in older women, can promote a decline in time spent performing physical activity and functional fitness with decline in quality of life with an increase in sitting time

Prevenzione e controllo delle infezioni da patogeni respiratori nei centri italiani per la cura della fibrosi cistica: risultati di un’indagine

Le infezioni da patogeni respiratori, in particolare da Burkholderia cepacia e Pseudomonas aeruginosa sono associate ad un’aumentata morbilità e mortalità nei pazienti affetti da fibrosi cistica, la malattia genetica a prognosi grave più comune della popolazione caucasica. La prevenzione delle infezioni è importante per questi pazienti. Sono state valutate, raccogliendo i dati con un questionario inviato ai 28 centri e servizi italiani per la fibrosi cistica, le misure adottate per la prevenzione ed il controllo delle infezioni da patogeni respiratori. Sono stati restituiti 21 questionari. Tutti i centri adottano misure per il controllo delle infezioni ma esistono differenze per le misure di segregazione. Anche se i risultati potrebbero essere influenzati da altre variabili, le misure di segregazione sembrano essere associate più direttamente di altre misure di prevenzione (ad esempio la disinfezione intensiva, interventi comportamentali per ridurre il contatto tra pazienti) ad una minore prevalenza di Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR 0.36 CI95% 0.31-0.42), di Pseudomonas aeruginosa appartenente a ceppi multiresistenti (OR 0.30 CI95% 0.22-0.40), e di Staphylococcus aureus meticillino-resistente (OR 0.67 CI95% 0.48-0.94