Spermatocyte chromosome analysis of the slug Lehmannia melitensis (Lessona and Pollonera, 1891) (Mollusca, Pulmonata) using conventional, NOR- and C-banding techniques

SUMMARYDiploid number 2n = 40 and haploid number n = 20 for the slug Lehmannia melitensis have been determined. These chromosome values being considerably different from those reported for slugs belonging to other limacid genera support the notion that the genus Lehmannia is particular within the family Limacidae. Nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) and C-banding pattern of L. melitensis are described

New data on Protaetia (Potosia) Opaca (Coleoptera Cetoniidae) from Pantelleria island (Sicilian Channel, Italy)

Gli autori segnalano la presenza di Protaetia (Potosia) opaca (Fabricius 1787) nell\u2019isola di Pantelleria (Canale di Sicilia, Mediterraneo centrale, Italia). Essi inoltre forniscono ulteriori osservazioni tassonomiche, biologiche e sulla distrubuzione di questa specie.Protaetia (Potosia) opaca (Fabricius 1787) (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea Cetoniidae) is here being reported for the first time from the island of Pantelleria (Sicilian Channel, Central Mediterranean Sea, Italy). Taxonomic, distribution and biological data on this species are presented

Pachydema lopadusanorum n.sp. (Coleoptera Melolonthidae) from Lampedusa Island (Sicily Channel, Central Metditerranean Sea, Italy)

In this paper the populations of Pachydema Castelnau, 1832 (Coleoptera Melolonthidae) living in Lampedusa Island (Sicily Channel, Central Mediterranean Sea, Italy), so far attributed to P. hirticollis (Fabricius, 1787) of North Africa, are examined. The comparison of the main morphological characters between these two populations allowed to attribute those of Lampedusa to a new species that is described in the present work. Faunistic and biological observations on these species are provided

The genus Mauritanica O. Boettger, 1879 (Gastropoda Sty-lommatophora Clausiliidae) in Tunisia

Currently, the genus Mauritanica O. Boettger, 1879 (Gastropoda Stylommatophora Clausiliidae) is widespread in north-eastern Algeria and central-northern Tunisia with six taxa. The taxonomic position of this genus has often been interpreted differently and the relationship with other similar genera, in particular with Siciliaria Vest, 1867, still remains to be clarified. In this paper, we provide a further contribution to the knowledge of Mauritanica by analyzing morphologically (shell, genitalia, and the type museum material) all the known Tunisian populations. In particular, the geographical spread and taxonomy of M. tristrami s.l. (L. Pfeiffer, 1861), M. philora s.l. (Letourneux, 1887), M. perinni polygyra (O. Boettger, 1879), and M. cossoni (Letourneux, 1887) are redefined. Mauritanica perinni zaghouanica (Letourneux, 1887) could be a valid taxon. M. tristrami zribensis n. ssp., M. tristrami nouirasaidi n. ssp. and M. philora bognanii n. ssp. are described

New and little known Cerambycidae (Coleoptera Chrysomeloidea) from Pantelleria Island (Sicily Channel, Italy)

Cerambycidae (Coleoptera Chrysomeloidea) nuovi e poco conosciuti dell’isola di Pantelleria (Cana-le di Sicilia, Italia).In questa nota riportiamo nuovi dati di due specie di Cerambycidae raccolte sul-l’isola di Pantelleria (Canale di Sicilia, Italia). In particolare, la presenza di Trichoferus holosericeus(Rossi, 1790) è confermata e Cephalocrius syriacus(Reitter, 1895) è riportato come nuovo recor

Adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines and outcomes in the hospitalized elderly with different types of pneumonia

Background: Few studies evaluated the clinical outcomes of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) and Health Care-Associated Pneumonia (HCAP) in relation to the adherence of antibiotic treatment to the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in hospitalized elderly people (65 years or older). Methods: Data were obtained from REPOSI, a prospective registry held in 87 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards. Patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia (ICD-9 480-487) or prescribed with an antibiotic for pneumonia as indication were selected. The empirical antibiotic regimen was defined to be adherent to guidelines if concordant with the treatment regimens recommended by IDSA/ATS for CAP, HAP, and HCAP. Outcomes were assessed by logistic regression models. Results: A diagnosis of pneumonia was made in 317 patients. Only 38.8% of them received an empirical antibiotic regimen that was adherent to guidelines. However, no significant association was found between adherence to guidelines and outcomes. Having HAP, older age, and higher CIRS severity index were the main factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines was poor, particularly for HAP and HCAP, suggesting the need for more adherence to the optimal management of antibiotics in the elderly with pneumonia

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

The role of loquat to maintain entomological diversity in the Conca d'Oro orchards

The loquat [Eriobotryo japonica (Thumb.) Lindl.] is an allochthonous species long cultivated in Sicily. In some parts of Sicily such as the Siracusa province, the loquat is cultivated in mono-specific orchards. In other sites, like Conca d'Oro and other places near the town of Palermo, loquat is intercropped with other tree species such as citrus, apricot, peach, mulberry, walnut, Mediterranean hackberry. The loquat plays an important role in order to increase biodiversity within these orchards. The old or dead loquat trees host a variety of xylophagous insects and more in particular Coleoptera: Cerambycidae beetles Dynastidae, and Cetoniidae. Longhorn beetles, rhinoceros beetles and flower beetles are usually considered excellent indicators for woodland biodiversity and, particularly, for the wood decomposer community. However they have never been associated to fruit orchards. Instead, in old or abandoned orchards, it is common to find live trees with dead parts or dead trees which host a rich community of decomposer insects. Today, farming changes or collapses in the urban surroundings have partly contributed to erasing this diversity. Research carried out in the past years has pinpointed that the loquat plays an important role in the preservation of different species, particularly Cerambycidae, such as: Aegosoma scabricorne, Cerambyx scopolii, Penichroa fasciata and Niphona picticornis. These species have been recorded as stable populations in many loquat orchards of the agricultural surroundings of the town of Palermo, where the presence of suitable natural environments for these beetles is rare. Some of these species are included in the red list of the sapro-xylophagous insects