Application of Patients Reported Outcome measures in Cochlear Implant patients: implications for the design of specific rehabilitation programs

Introduction: Cochlear implants (CI) had been developed to enable a satisfying verbal communication, music experiences have remained in the background of research and development and consequently many CI users are dissatisfied by the music they listen to. Nonetheless, concise indications for clinicians to test music abilities and prescribe rehabilitation programs are still lacking. The main aim of the present study was to test the utility of the application of two different Patient Reporting Outcomes (PRO) measures in a group of CI users. A secondary objective was to identify items capable of driving the indication and design specific music rehabilitation programs for CI patients. Material and Methods: A consecutive series of 73 CI patients referred to the Audiology Unit - University of Padova - was enrolled from November 2021 to May 2022 and evaluated with audiological battery test and PRO measures: Musica e Qualità della Vita (MUSQUAV) and Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ) Italian version. Results: The Reliability analysis showed good consistency between the different PRO measures, (Cronbach alpha = 0.873). After accounting for epidemiological and clinical variables, PRO measures showed a correlation with audiological outcomes in only one case (rho=-0.170 for NCIQ-T with CI-Pure Tone Average. A willingness for musical rehabilitation was present in 63% of patients, (Rehab Factor, mean value of 0.791±0.675). Conclusions: we support the role of the application of MUSQUAV and NCIQ to improve the clinical and audiological evaluation of CI patients. Moreover, we proposed a derivative item, called Rehab Factor, which could be used in clinical practice and future studies to clarify the indication and priority of specific music rehabilitation programs

Roots Damages In Etruscan Tombs And Biomolecular Tools For Their Identification

Plant roots represent a treat for building structures and especially for underground historical artefacts. Etruscan tombs and their fragile painted walls are root-endangered heritages due to their proximity to the ground level. For this reason, as a preventive measure in the archaeolog- ical sites trees and bushes are generally rare and monitored, instead of spontaneous herbs are subject to periodic mowing. Nevertheless, root penetration in the burial chambers is a quite frequent phenomenon and customized measures are needed. The first step in customizing new control measures is tied to identifying the most dangerous herbaceous species through root identification. In this study, recent data and evidence are reported and discussed

Natural habitats of typical plants growing on ruins of Roman archaeological sites (Rome, Italy)

In this study, we support the hypothesis that wall plant species come mainly from rocky habitats, taking into account that ancient walls show similar characteristics to rocks. The occurrence of wall species in natural habitats was investigated. The main literature concerning wall and natural vegetation of central-southern Italy was viewed. Vegetation synoptic tables were analysed through statistical procedures for comparing occurrence and behaviour of wall species in ruderal habitats as archaeological sites and natural ones.The study pointed out that wall species show similar ecological and coenological features in both habitats. This confirms that the main natural habitat from which wall species come from are rocks, but secondarily also ephemeral Mediterranean meadows and garrigues. Particularly, some wall species belonging to Parietarietea judaicae class are participating in the formation of natural rocky communities of Asplenietea trichomanis. Species occurring on emerging ruins form ephemeral meadows belonging to Helianthemetea guttati, also found in natural Mediterranean environment. On wide tops of ruins, where community dynamism is higher, some perennial herbaceous and shrubby species participate in the formation of impoverished communities matching to natural aspects of Mediterranean maquis. The knowledge of the natural habitat of wall species can be useful for a better management of archaeological sites

Plant DNA Barcode as a Tool for Root Identification in Hypogea: The Case of the Etruscan Tombs of Tarquinia (Central Italy)

Roots can produce mechanical and chemical alterations to building structures, especially in the case of underground historical artifacts. In archaeological sites, where vegetation plays the dual role of naturalistic relevance and potential threat, trees and bushes are under supervision. No customized measures can be taken against herbaceous plants lacking fast and reliable root identifi‐ cation methods that are useful to assess their dangerousness. In this study, we aimed to test the efficacy of DNA barcoding in identifying plant rootlets threatening the Etruscan tombs of the Ne‐ cropolis of Tarquinia. As DNA barcode markers, we selected two sections of the genes rbcL and matK, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS), and the intergenic spacer psbA‐trnH. All fourteen root samples were successfully sequenced and identified at species (92.9%) and genus level (7.01%) by GenBank matching and reference dataset implementation. Some eudicotyledons with taproots, such as Echium italicum L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., and Reseda lutea L. subsp. lutea, showed a certain recurrence. Further investigations are needed to confirm this promising result, increasing the number of roots and enlarging the reference dataset with attention to meso‐Mediter‐ ranean perennial herbaceous species. The finding of herbaceous plants roots at more than 3 m deep confirms their potential risk and underlines the importance of vegetation planning, monitoring, and management on archaeological sites

Ecological and taxonomic characterisation of Trentepohlia umbrina (Kützing) Bornet growing on stone surfaces in Lazio (Italy)

bstract Purpose The colonisation of building material by photosynthetic organisms is highly dependent on the environmental conditions and the nature of the substrate. The growths of red-orange phototrophic biofilms have been widely reported in the literature and have commonly been associated with the order Trentepohliales, whose ecological and taxonomical information needs to be improved. Considering the recurrent presence of such biofilms throughout the Lazio region, we would identify the occurring species and define their favourable environmental conditions, through morphological, genetic and ecological analyses. Results Biofilms were collected across an altitude range of 0 to 860 m asl, occurring from the coast to 60-km inland. A dominant presence of the filamentous terrestrial green alga Trentepohlia umbrina (Kützing) Bornet was confirmed in all sites sometimes mixed with cyanobacteria of the genus Gloeocapsa. The distribution of Trentepohliales is generally given as pan-tropical, but some species, such as T. umbrina, are also distributed in temperate climates. Here, it is reported for the first time a Mediterranean occurrence of the species. Low humidity and light conditions, such as those occurring on vertical surfaces with mainly northern aspects, are the preferred environmental conditions. Coastal areas were more favourable for its growth, probably due to the higher nocturnal condensation that occurs here. Concrete and mortars were particularly bioreceptive to T. umbrina, but marble and trachyte were also colonised under favourable conditions. Conclusions The findings better define the ecological range of this species, suggesting a wider biogeographic distribution, and adding information on morphological features and genetic data

TAXONOMICAL AND ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF REDDISH PATINAS OF TRENTEPOHLIA UMBRINA (KÜTZING) BORNET GROWING ON STONE SURFACES IN LAZIO (ITALY)

Stone surfaces can be subjected to biodeterioration due to the growth of photosynthetic organisms where favourable conditions of the environment and specific substrate materials are present. In this work, we investigated through genetic analysis and ecological observations the widely occurring reddish patinas, which are spread on stones in particular environmental conditions. We collected patina occurrence and environmental data at sites in the Lazio region covering an altitude range of 0 to 650 m asl and distances up to 70 km from the coast to define the ecological range. The results of blast analysis of DNA sequences confirmed a dominant presence of the filamentous terrestrial green alga Trentepohlia umbrina (Kützing) Bornet in all sites, sometimes mixed to cyanobacteria of the genus Gloeocapsa. In one site we identified T. aurea (L.) C. Martius, which occurs in different micro-environmental conditions. Originally the distribution of Trentepohliales was given as pan-tropical, but some temperate taxa have now been identified, such as T. umbrina. Preferred environmental conditions of this species were a relatively low humidity, vertical (or near vertical) surfaces, temporal diurnal shade-exposure and a mainly northern aspect. Coastal areas were more favourable for its growth, as the patinas were much more developed compared to sites further inland. Cement materials and mortars resulted particularly bioreceptive, possibly due to their soluble salt content, but tuffs and marble were also colonised under favourable conditions. The findings here suggest that the ecological preference of this species is wider than previously thought and urges the need for detailed studies on its biodeteriogenic nature

Application of Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Cochlear Implant Patients: Implications for the Design of Specific Rehabilitation Programs

Introduction: Cochlear implants (CI) have been developed to enable satisfying verbal communication, while music perception has remained in the background in both the research and technological development, thus making CI users dissatisfied by the experience of listening to music. Indications for clinicians to test and train music abilities are at a preliminary stage compared to the existing and well-established hearing and speech rehabilitation programs. The main aim of the present study was to test the utility of the application of two different patient reporting outcome (PRO) measures in a group of CI users. A secondary objective was to identify items capable of driving the indication and design specific music rehabilitation programs for CI patients. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 73 CI patients referred to the Audiology Unit, University of Padova, was enrolled from November 2021 to May 2022 and evaluated with the audiological battery test and PRO measures: Musica e Qualità della Vita (MUSQUAV) and Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ) Italian version. Results: The reliability analysis showed good consistency between the different PRO measures (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.873). After accounting for the epidemiological and clinical variables, the PRO measures showed a correlation with audiological outcomes in only one case (rho = −0.304; adj. p = 0.039) for NCIQ-T with the CI-pure tone average. A willingness for musical rehabilitation was present in 63% of patients (Rehab Factor, mean value of 0.791 ± 0.675). Conclusions: We support the role of the application of MUSQUAV and NCIQ to improve the clinical and audiological evaluation of CI patients. Moreover, we proposed a derivative item, called the rehab factor, which could be used in clinical practice and future studies to clarify the indication and priority of specific music rehabilitation programs