Comunidad de paseriformes nidificantes de la Península Valdés (Patagonia, Argentina)

The Valdes Peninsula is a high-natural value area, located on the east coast of Argentine Patagonia. The aim of the reported research was to analyze the community of breeding passerine birds of the inland areas, with the purpose to identify the species that characterize each community, determining the main environmental typologies frequented, in order to study the relationships between bird richness and abundance, and environmental structure. During the breeding season 2011, 107 point counts were performed. 869 birds belonging to 23 passerine species were contacted and analyzed through a cluster analysis using the Indicator Value method. Results revealed the existence of two different communities: one that essentially refers to the grassy steppe where the characteristic species are Shortbilled Pipit (Anthus furcatus) and Common Miner (Geositta cunicularia), and the other one, which occupies the shrub-steppe consisting of more characteristic species, starting from the Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), the most widespread species. These results update previous results on the community of passerines living in the study area and provide some useful insights for management purposes.La Península de Valdes es un area de gran riqueza natural, localizada en la costa Este de la Pa- tagonia Argentina. El propósito de este trabajo fue analizar la comunidad de aves Passeriformes de las areas internas de la región, con el proposito de identificar las especies que caracterizan cada comuni- dad, determinando las principales tipologias ambientales frecuentadas, para poder estudiar las rela- ciones entre la riqueza y abundancia de aves y la estructura del ambiente. Se realizaron 107 puntos de conteo durante la temporada reproductiva de 2011, en donde se detectaron 869 aves pertenecientes a 23 especies de Passeriformes. Para los análisis se usó el método de agrupamiento por el método del Indicator Value. Los resultados evidencian la existencia de dos diferentes comunidades: una asociada exclusivamente a la estepa herbácea y caracterizada por las especies Cachirla uña corta (Anthus furca- tus) y Minero común (Geositta cunicularia); mientras que la otra, asociada a la estepa arbustiva, es car- acterizada por diferentes especies típicas, como el Chingolo (Zonotrichia capensis), que es la especie de mayor distribución. Estos resultados constituyen una actualización al conocimiento de la fauna de la Península de Valdés, los cuales pueden ser útiles para el manejo y conservación de la avifauna de la región.Fil: Pruscini, Fabio. Università Di Urbino; ItaliaFil: Morelli, Federico. Università Di Urbino; ItaliaFil: Sisti, Davide. Università Di Urbino; ItaliaFil: Perna, Paolo. Universita Degli Di Camerino. Scuola Di Scienze Ambientale; ItaliaFil: Catorci, Andrea. Universita Degli Di Camerino. Scuola Di Scienze Ambientale; ItaliaFil: Bertellotti, Nestor Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Rocchi, Marco Bruno Luigi. Università Di Urbino; ItaliaFil: Santolini, Ricardo. Università Di Urbino; Itali

A Modified Rabbit Ulna Defect Model for Evaluating Periosteal Substitutes in Bone Engineering: A Pilot Study

The present work defines a modified critical size rabbit ulna defect model for bone regeneration in which a non-resorbable barrier membrane was used to separate the radius from the ulna to create a valid model for evaluation of tissue-engineered periosteal substitutes. Eight rabbits divided into two groups were used. Critical defects (15 mm) were made in the ulna completely eliminating periosteum. For group I, defects were filled with a nanohydroxyapatite poly(ester urethane) scaffold soaked in PBS and left as such (group Ia) or wrapped with a tissue-engineered periosteal substitute (group Ib). For group II, an expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) (GORE-TEX\uae) membrane was inserted around the radius then the defects received either scaffold alone (group IIa) or scaffold wrapped with periosteal substitute (group IIb). Animals were euthanized after 12\u201316 weeks, and bone regeneration was evaluated by radiography, computed microtomography (\ub5CT), and histology. In the first group, we observed formation of radio-ulnar synostosis irrespective of the treatment. This was completely eliminated upon placement of the e-PTFE (GORETEX\uae) membrane in the second group of animals. In conclusion, modification of the model using a non-resorbable e-PTFE membrane to isolate the ulna from the radius was a valuable addition allowing for objective evaluation of the tissue-engineered periosteal substitut

Alterations in the α2 δ ligand, thrombospondin-1, in a rat model of spontaneous absence epilepsy and in patients with idiopathic/genetic generalized epilepsies

Objectives Thrombospondins, which are known to interact with the α2δ subunit of voltage-sensitive calcium channels to stimulate the formation of excitatory synapses, have recently been implicated in the process of epileptogenesis. No studies have been so far performed on thrombospondins in models of absence epilepsy. We examined whether expression of the gene encoding for thrombospondin-1 was altered in the brain of WAG/Rij rats, which model absence epilepsy in humans. In addition, we examined the frequency of genetic variants of THBS1 in a large cohort of children affected by idiopathic/genetic generalized epilepsies (IGE/GGEs). Methods We measured the transcripts of thrombospondin-1 and α2δ subunit, and protein levels of α2δ, Rab3A, and the vesicular glutamate transporter, VGLUT1, in the somatosensory cortex and ventrobasal thalamus of presymptomatic and symptomatic WAG/Rij rats and in two control strains by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoblotting. We examined the genetic variants of THBS1 and CACNA2D1 in two independent cohorts of patients affected by IGE/GGE recruited through the Genetic Commission of the Italian League Against Epilepsy (LICE) and the EuroEPINOMICS-CoGIE Consortium. Results Thrombospondin-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were largely reduced in the ventrobasal thalamus of both presymptomatic and symptomatic WAG/Rij rats, whereas levels in the somatosensory cortex were unchanged. VGLUT1 protein levels were also reduced in the ventrobasal thalamus of WAG/Rij rats. Genetic variants of THBS1 were significantly more frequent in patients affected by IGE/GGE than in nonepileptic controls, whereas the frequency of CACNA2D1 was unchanged. Significance These findings suggest that thrombospondin-1 may have a role in the pathogenesis of IGE/GGEs

Semi-extended tibial nail insertion using an extra-articular lateral parapatellar approach: a 24-month follow-up prospective cohort study

To analyze the outcomes of tibial shaft fractures treated with a lateral parapatellar approach in the semi-extended position for IMN insertion

HABITAT PREFERENCES AND SPATIAL OVERLAP BETWEEN THREE SPECIES OF BUNTING (EMBERIZA HORTULANA, EMBERIZA CIRLUS, MILIARIA CALANDRA) IN FARMLANDS OF CENTRAL ITALY

Buntings species are mainly associated to agricultural landscapes and constitute a high conservation concern because farmlands are ecosystems subject to rapid changes and may cause the loss of animal species in just a few years. We studied the occurrence of Ortolan Bunting, Cirl Bunting and Corn Bunting (Emberiza hortulana, Emberiza cirlus, Miliaria calandra) on farmlands of Central Italy, considering the landuse composition, crop typologies and several structural parameters of environment occupied by these species, as presence of power lines, road type and Shannon biodiversity index of landscape. Furthermore the geographical overlap among the three bunting species was studied, in order to find witch species show an habitat overlap. The study was carried out in central-eastern Italy, between the end of April and mid-July 2010, through 159 sampled sites, uniformly distributed on in the study area. Cirl Bunting is the most widespread species of Bunting in the farmlands that were studied. Ortolan Bunting and Corn Bunting are the two species with greater spatial habitat overlap, even though land-use composition in their territories was different. However, Ortolan Bunting can be found at a lower altitude range than Corn Bunting (less 550 m a.s.l.) and it is associated to territories with minor landscape heterogeneity. Preferences by crop types seem to be a possible cause of the spatial habitat overlap between Ortolan and Corn Bunting (both species had selected sugar beet, and coriander, avoiding mainly vegetables, vineyards and orchards). On the other hand, Cirl Bunting was less related to crop types

Political affiliation in post-parliamentary careers in Italian public enterprises

It has long been recognized that the presence of politicians on the boards of directors of public firms may create inefficiencies. Nevertheless, research has so far neglected the effect of political affiliation on the appointment of Members of Parliament to the boards of public firms. This article intends to fill this gap by conducting an empirical analysis on a sample of 945 deputies of the Italian Parliament elected over the period 1996–2001. Regression discontinuity estimates show that the centre-left coalition is about 25 percentage points more likely to appoint its Members of Parliament to the board of public enterprises than the centre-right coalition. Political appointments become more pronounced when the centre-left forms a governing coalition

Does political affiliation matter on post-parliamentary careers in the boards of public enterprises?

Research on post-parliamentary careers has so far neglected the effect of political affiliation on the appointment of ex-members of Parliament to public firms boards of director. This article intends to fill this gap by conducting an empirical analysis on a sample of 1,419 deputies of Italian Parliament elected over the period 1994-2001. The regression discontinuity estimates show that the probability of being appointed to the board of public enterprises of center-left ex-deputies is about 15 percentage points higher than that of center-right ex-deputies. This result brings to light the politicization of Italian public firms, put in place through the appointment of ex-deputies in managerial positions

Aetiology of trauma-related acute compartment syndrome of the leg: A systematic review

Background: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is characterised by abnormal pressure inside a compartment, resulting in ischemia of muscles and nerves. Most orthopaedic surgeons, especially those who work in major trauma centres, have been or will be facing a case of ACS in their clinical activity. Fortunately, complications related to untreated compartment syndrome have become less frequent thanks to a better understanding of pathogenesis and to early recognition and prompt surgical treatment. The aim of this study is to identify the existing evidence regarding aetiology of trauma-related ACS of the leg.Methods: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken using PubMed Medline, Ovid Medline and the Cochrane library, extended by a manual search of bibliographies. Retrieved articles were eligible for inclusion if they reported data about aetiology of trauma-related compartment syndrome of the tibia.Results: Ninety-five studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were identified. By dividing the studies into three groups according to the traumatic aetiology, we were able to classify traumatic ACS as fracture related, soft tissue injury related and vascular injury related. Fracture related was the most represented group, comprising 58 papers, followed by the soft tissue injury related group which includes 44 articles and vascular injury related group with 24 papers.Conclusions: Although traditionally ACS has been associated mainly with fractures of tibial diaphysis, literature demonstrates that other localisations, in particular in the proximal tibia, are associated with an increased incidence of this serious condition.The forms of ACS secondary to soft tissues injuries represent an extremely variable spectrum of lesions with an insidious tendency for late diagnosis and consequently negative outcomes. In the case of vascular injury, ACS should always be carefully considered as a priority, given the high incidence reported in the literature, as a result of primitive vascular damage or as a result of revascularisation of the limb.Knowledge of aetiology of this serious condition allows us to stratify the risk by identifying a population of patients most at risk, together with the most frequently associated traumatic injuries. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Optimum timing of conversion from DCO to definitive fixation in closed fractures of the lower limb: When and how?

Introduction: In damage control orthopaedics (DCO), fractures are initially stabilised with external fixation followed by delayed conversion to definitive internal fixation. The aim of this study is to determine whether the timing of the conversion influences the development of deep infection and fracture healing in a cohort of patients treated by DCO after a closed fracture of the lower limb. Furthermore, we wanted to evaluate whether the one-stage conversion procedure is always safe. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single level 1 trauma centre. Ninety-four cases of closed fractures of lower limb treated by DCO subsequently converted to internal fixation from 2012 to 2019 were included. Development of deep infection, superficial infection, non-union and time to union were recorded. Patients were then divided into three groups according to the timing of conversion: Group A (<7 days), Group B (7-13 days), Group C (> 14 days). Comparison between groups was performed to assess intergroup variabilty. Results: The mean number of days between DCO and conversion was 6.7±4.52 (range 1-22). We observed one case of deep infection (1.1%), one case of non-union (1.1%), four cases of superficial infection (4.3%) and mean time to union was ±1.38 months. Comparison between groups demonstrated no significant correlation between timing of conversion and development of superficial or deep infection and non-union, while it highlighted that complexity of the fracture and longer surgical time of conversion procedure were significantly higher in Group C. Conclusions: One-stage conversion to definitive internal fixation within 22 days from DCO is a safe and feasible procedure, which does not influence the incidence of infection or non-union