Mitochondrial heteroplasmy in an avian hybrid form (Passer italiae: Aves, Passeriformes)

Mitochondrial heteroplasmy is the result from biparental transmission of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to the offspring. In such rare cases, maternal and paternal mtDNA is present in the same individual. Though recent studies suggested that mtDNA heteroplasmy might be more common than previously anticipated, that phenomenon is still poorly documented and was mostly detected in case studies on hybrid populations. The Italian sparrow, Passer italiae is a homoploid hybrid form that occurs all across the Italian Peninsula mostly under strict absence of either of its parent species, the house sparrow (P. domesticus) and the Spanish sparrow (P. hispaniolensis). In this study, we document a new case of mitochondrial heteroplasmy from two island populations of P. italiae (Ustica and Lipari). Our analysis was based on the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) that allows for a clear distinction between mitochondrial lineages of the two parental species. We amplified and sequenced the mitochondrial ND2 gene with specifically designed primer combinations for each of the two parental species. In two of our study populations, a single individual carried two different ND2 haplotypes from each of the two parental lineages. These findings contribute to current knowledge on the still poorly documented phenomenon of paternal leakage in vertebrates

Sustainable Tourism in Campania Region: Statistical Analysis and Metrics for the Development of Tourist Destinations

This paper deals with the issue of the sustainable tourism in Campania region and its touristic offer in the four territorial clusters: art cities, marine, thermal and hilly locations. In the paper it is pointed out that the way the regional authorities incentivize or assist touristic firms to diversify into tourism may have implications for sustainability. In this work we measured the potential of tourism by the aggregation of 11 indicators. In this study was estimated by the Global Tourism Index (G) for the region and for the four territorial areas (cluster), obtained from the combination of structural variables (number of accommodation facilities and of beds) and of flows (arrivals and presences) registered in Campania tourism. Finally, some emerging territorial strategies are proposed for the integrated development of a tourist system in the Campania Region. That is, the tourist destinations and the territorial brand. The final aim of this research is to develop and test a new Global Index for evaluating the sustainable development in tourism industry context to address the integration of social, economic, and ecological elements of sustainable development

A Generalized Error Distribution Copula-based method for portfolios risk assessment

In this paper, we deal with the evaluation of Conditional Value-at-Risk in the framework of portfolio theory by using a modified Gaussian Copula – where the modification is obtained by introducing the Generalized Correlation Coefficient – and by assuming a Generalized Error Distribution with properly estimated shape parameter for the returns of the considered risky assets. In so doing, we add to the connection between standard Copula theory and financial risk assessment. A comparison analysis of our findings with those obtainable through a standard Gaussian Copula-based procedure in a set of real data is also presented

A Nonparametric Approach for Testing Long Memory in Stock Returns’ Higher Moments

In this paper, by considering a model-based approach for conditional moment estimation, a nonparametric test was performed to study the long-memory property of higher moments. We considered the daily returns of the stocks included in the S&P500 index in the last ten years (for the period running from the 1st of January 2011 to the 1st of January 2021). We found that mean and skewness were characterized by short memory, while variance and shape had long memory. These results have deep implications in terms of asset allocation, option pricing and market efficiency evaluation

Biometrical analyses of a Sicilian Green Toad, Bufo siculus (St\uf6ck et al. 2008), population living in Sicily (Italy).

Morphometry structure of Sicilian green toad from the Nature Reserve "Monte Pellegrino" (north-western Sicily) was studied. A total of 666 individuals (354 males and 312 females) were captured in 2003 during reproduction period. Meaningful differences have statistically emerged among the two sexes and the body weight is the best parameter (up to 92% correct classification), followed by the length of the body (up to 90% correct classification). The simultaneous use of all the examined characters only increases of 1% the probability for correct discrimination of the sex. In comparison to the dimension of other green toad populations studied by other authors, the body size of this sicilian population results elevated, similar to that of Corsica and of Sardinia. It is possible that the high dimension of the Sicilian population is the result of low competition with other amphibians species and/or to the absence of a winter latency

Evaluation of the economic and environmental performance of low-temperature heat to power conversion using a reverse electrodialysis - Multi-effect distillation system

In the examined heat engine, reverse electrodialysis (RED) is used to generate electricity from the salinity difference between two artificial solutions. The salinity gradient is restored through a multi-effect distillation system (MED) powered by low-temperature waste heat at 100 ◦C. The current work presents the first comprehensive economic and environmental analysis of this advanced concept, when varying the number of MED effects, the system sizing, the salt of the solutions, and other key parameters. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) has been calculated, showing that competitive solutions can be reached only when the system is at least medium to large scale. The lowest LCOE, at about 0.03 €/kWh, is achieved using potassium acetate salt and six MED effects while reheating the solutions. A similar analysis has been conducted when using the system in energy storage mode, where the two regenerated solutions are stored in reservoir tanks and the RED is operating for a few hours per day, supplying valuable peak power, resulting in a LCOE just below 0.10 €/kWh. A life-cycle assessment has been also carried out, showing that the case with the lowest environmental impact is the same as the one with the most attractive economic performance. Results indicate that the material manufacturing has the main impact; primarily the metallic parts of the MED. Overall, this study highlights the development efforts required in terms of both membrane performance and cost reduction, in order to make this technology cost effective in the future

Morphological variation of the newly confirmed population of the javelin sand boa, Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes, erycidae) in Sicily, Italy

The presence of the Javelin sand boa in Sicily has recently been confirmed. Here the morphological characters and sexual dimorphism of the Sicilian population of Eryx jaculus are presented. Seven meristic and six metric characters in 96 specimens from Sicily were examined. The results show that tail length, snout-vent length, the distance between nostrils and the number of ventral and subcaudal scales are different between sexes. The characters found in the Sicilian population of the Javelin sand boa resemble those of the African population (ssp. jaculus) rather than the Eurasian population (ssp. turcicus), but biomolecular studies are necessary to understand its taxonomic identity

The mixing of interplanetary magnetic field lines: A significant transport effect in studies of the energy spectra of impulsive flares

Using instrumentation on board the ACE spacecraft we describe short-time scale (~3 hour) variations observed in the arrival profiles of ~20 keV nucleon^(–1) to ~2 MeV nucleon^(–1) ions from impulsive solar flares. These variations occurred simultaneously across all energies and were generally not in coincidence with any local magnetic field or plasma signature. These features appear to be caused by the convection of magnetic flux tubes past the observer that are alternately filled and devoid of flare ions even though they had a common flare source at the Sun. In these particle events we therefore have a means to observe and measure the mixing of the interplanetary magnetic field due to random walk. In a survey of 25 impulsive flares observed at ACE between 1997 November and 1999 July these features had an average time scale of 3.2 hours, corresponding to a length of ~0.03 AU. The changing magnetic connection to the flare site sometimes lead to an incomplete observation of a flare at 1 AU; thus the field-line mixing is an important effect in studies of impulsive flare energy spectra