Feeling Threatened by the War in Ukraine: A Study in Italy on Identification, Entitativity and Attitudes Toward the EU

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 posed a practical and symbolic threat to EU citizens. Did this threat affect citizens’ identification with the EU? This was the main research question addressed in the current paper. In addition, we sought to evaluate whether the influence of perceived threat on the identification with the EU was mediated by perceived entitativity of the EU. Finally, we expected perceived threat to improve participants’ attitudes towards EU integration and enlargement, through the mediation of entitativity (Mediator 1) and identification with the EU (Mediator 2). We conducted a survey (N = 349, 186 females; Mage = 34.52) to assess this pattern of relations through structural equation models. Results show that perceived threat affects identification with the EU only indirectly, through the mediation of entitativity. In addition, perceived threat and entitativity have a significant indirect effect on attitude toward EU integration and attitude toward EU enlargement, yet they are directly associated only to the former. From a theoretical perspective, results are discussed in relation to previous research that shows the effect of perceived threat on identification, failing to consider the mediating role of entitativity. From a practical point of view, results may provide new insights on communication commonly used to reinforce the ingroup identity—mainly by threat-based strategies—through a re-consideration of the critical role of entitativity

Consumer Intention to Buy Electric Cars: Integrating Uncertainty in the Theory of Planned Behavior

The EU’s political agenda has included among its priorities the issue of sustainable mobility, with the aim of curbing CO2 emissions and reducing air pollution. This objective implies the introduction into the EU car market of low-polluting cars, such as cars powered by an electric battery (BEV). The current research was guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The intention to buy a BEV has been measured, as well as the major TPB constructs, namely attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. In addition, we were interested to understand the influence of individuals’ uncertainty on the intention to buy a BEV. Data collected through an online survey (N = 335) were analyzed by means of a multiple mediation model, involving the three TPB constructs as parallel mediators. Results show that (1) attitude (β = 0.67), subjective norm (β = 0.23), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.22) significantly predict the intention to buy BEVs; (2) uncertainty has a significant negative indirect effect (b = −0.03) on intention via perceived behavioral control. Results are discussed in relation to previous research and possible practical implications

Italian Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Medical Doctor Residents’ interest in a Preventive Medicine Physician: a national survey

Introduction: The growing importance of Preventive Medicine is creating a need for specialised professional figures, that are often missing in the actual national and international contexts. This study aimed to assess attitudes, knowledge, and compliance with preventive measures among 193 Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Medical Doctor Residents (HPMMDRs) in Italy, addressing the unrecognized significance of their role and inadequate Public Health education. Methods: Conducted from May 1st to May 31st, 2023, a web-based survey covered demographics, health behaviors, Preventive Medicine education, and interest. Statistical analyses included parametric tests, hierarchical cluster analysis, and ordered logit regression. Results: Demographically, 57.0% were female, median age 31, with central Italy having the highest representation (52.3%). Analyses revealed associations between demographics, health behaviors, and attitudes. Ordered logit regression showed a significant correlation (OR=11.3, p=0.03) between a healthier lifestyle and belief in specialists' usefulness. Conclusion: Despite the lack of recognition and insufficient education, the study unveiled substantial interest and willingness to learn among HPMMDRs in Italy. Findings emphasize the need for recognizing shared priorities and implementing actions for effective Preventive Medicine interventions, guiding future research and policy decisions.&nbsp

High mobilization of CD133+/CD34+ cells expressing HIF-1α and SDF-1α in septic abdominal surgical patients

Background: The control of endothelial progenitor cells (CD133+/CD34+ EPCs) migrating from bone marrow to peripheral blood is not completely understood. Emerging evidence suggests that stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) mediates egression of EPCs from bone marrow, while the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) transcriptional system regulates SDF-1α expression. Our study aimed to investigate the time course of circulating CD133+/CD34+ EPCs and its correlation with the expression of HIF-1α protein and SDF-1α in postoperative laparoscopic abdominal septic patients. Methods: Postoperative patients were divided in control (C group) and septic group (S group) operated immediately after the diagnosis of sepsis/septic shock. Blood samples were collected at baseline (0), 1, 3 and 7 postoperative days for CD133+/CD34+ EPCs count expressing or not the HIF-1α and SDF-1α analysis. Results: Thirty-two patients in S group and 39 in C group were analyzed. In C group CD133+/CD34+ EPCs count remained stable throughout the study period, increasing on day 7 (173 [0-421] /μl vs baseline: P = 0.04; vs day 1: P = 0.002). In S group CD133+/CD34+ EPCs count levels were higher on day 3 (vs day 1: P = 0.006 and day 7: P = 0.026). HIF-1α expressing CD133+/CD34+ EPCs count decreased on day 1 as compared with the other days in C group (day 0 vs 1: P = 0.003, days 3 and 7 vs 1: P = 0.008), while it was 321 [0-1418] /μl on day 3 (vs day 1; P = 0.004), and 400 [0-587] /μl on day 7 in S group. SDF-1α levels were higher not only on baseline but also on postoperative day 1 in S vs C group (219 [124-337] pg/ml vs 35 [27-325] pg/ml, respectively; P = 0.01). Conclusion: Our results indicate that sepsis in abdominal laparoscopic patients might constitute an additional trigger of the EPCs mobilization as compared with non-septic surgical patients. A larger mobilization of CD133+/CD34+ EPCs, preceded by enhanced plasmatic SDF-1α, occurs in septic surgical patients regardless of HIF-1α expression therein. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT02589535. Registered 28 October 2015

Screening of olive germplasm for resistance to Xylella fastidiosa ST53: the state of the art

While different sources of natural resistance to X. fastidiosa have been described in grapevines and citrus, lack of solid information exists on possible sources of resistance/tolerance in the cultivars that characterize the wide olive germplasm. Preliminary field observations and laboratory analyses of a few cultivars, have shown that differential responses to X. fastidiosa infections exist. To confirm these preliminary findings, a large panel of olive cultivars is being specifically investigated. Currently, the screening procedure relies on field observations looking for symptomless subjects (trees of known cultivars/volunteer seedlings), mechanical inoculations, qualitative and quantitative diagnostic assays (ELISA & qPCR) and, in selected cases, comparative transcriptomic profiling. Field experiments include the planting of the target cultivars/selections in an infected area under high inoculum pressure. All the plots are located in the Apulia Region (Italy) in the demarcated infected area, surrounded by X. fastidiosa heavily affected olive groves. A first experimental plot was established in April 2015 with 10 different cultivars, which was extended in 2016 to 49 cultivars, and will be further enlarged in 2017 with the addition of 40 new accessions. Other plots, comprising newly planted or grafted cultivars (over 260 cvs) have been also established, bringing to over 300 the total number of accessions under evaluation. Cvs Leccino and FS-17®, both expressing interesting traits of resistance, have already been identified

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of the low-resolution structure of the ribosomal GTPase EFL1, the SBDS protein and their complex

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A survey in natural olive resources exposed to high inoculum pressure indicates the presence of traits of resistance to Xylella fastidiosa in Leccino offspring

IntroductionThe epidemic spread of the harmful bacterium Xylella fastidiosa causing the “olive quick decline syndrome”, decimating olive trees in southern Italy, in the region of Apulia, prompted investigations to search for olive genotypes harbouring traits of resistance.MethodsA prospecting survey was carried out to identify, in the heavily infected area of Apulia, olive genotypes bearing resistance. Given the limited genetic diversity in the commercial olive groves with few cultivars widely cultivated, surveys targeted predominantly spontaneous olive genotypes in natural and uncultivated areas. Trees, selected for the absence of symptoms, were subjected to diagnostic tests and parentage analysis to disclose their genetic background. Transcriptomic analyses were also employed to decipher the molecular pathways in resistant genotypes. Artificial inoculations were carried out to confirm the resistant phenotypes of four open-pollinated seedlings of the cultivar Leccino.ResultsAmong the 171 olive collected genotypes, 139 had unique simple sequence repeat (SSR) profiles, with the cultivars Leccino, Cellina di Nardò, and Ogliarola salentina being the most frequent candidate parents. Among the Leccino progeny (n. 61), 67% showed a highly resistant (HR), resistant (R), or tolerant (T) phenotype to infection by X. fastidiosa. The occurrence of such phenotypes among those deriving from Cellina di Nardò and Ogliarola salentina was 32% and 49%, respectively. Analyses of the transcriptomic profiles of three Leccino-bearing genotypes, naturally infected and not showing symptoms, unravelled that a total of 17,227, 13,031, and 4,513 genes were found altered in the expression, including genes involved in photosynthesis, cell wall, or primary and secondary metabolism.DiscussionIndeed, transcriptomic analyses showed that one of these genotypes (S105) was more resilient to changes induced by the natural bacterial infection than the remaining two (S215 and S234). This study consolidates the evidence on the presence and heritage of resistance traits associated with the cv. Leccino. Moreover, valuable insights were gathered when analysing their transcriptomic profiles, i.e., genes involved in mechanisms of response to the bacterium, which can be used in functional genetic approaches to introduce resistance in susceptible cultivars and initiate strategies in olive-breeding programs through marker-assisted selection

Genetic characterization of Erve virus, a European Nairovirus distantly related to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Erve virus (ERVEV) is a European Nairovirus that is suspected to cause severe headache (thunderclap headache) and intracerebral hemorrhage. The mode of transmission to humans (ticks or mosquitoes) is still unknown. Currently, no standardized testing method for ERVEV exists and only a small partial sequence of the polymerase gene is available. Here, we present the first complete genome sequence of ERVEV S, M, and L segments. Phylogenetic comparison of the amino acid sequence of the L-protein (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) revealed only 48 % homology to available L-protein sequences of other Nairoviruses like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Nairobi sheep disease virus, Hazara virus, Kupe virus, and Dugbe virus. Among themselves, these Nairoviruses show 62-89 % homology in the L-protein sequences. Therefore, ERVEV seems to be only distantly related to other Nairoviruses. The new sequence data can be used for the development of diagnostic methods and the identification of the natural vector

Familial aggregation of MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery scores in a large sample of outpatients with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives

Background The increased use of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) to investigate cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia fostered interest in its sensitivity in the context of family studies. As various measures of the same cognitive domains may have different power to distinguish between unaffected relatives of patients and controls, the relative sensitivity of MCCB tests for relative-control differences has to be established. We compared MCCB scores of 852 outpatients with schizophrenia (SCZ) with those of 342 unaffected relatives (REL) and a normative Italian sample of 774 healthy subjects (HCS). We examined familial aggregation of cognitive impairment by investigating within-family prediction of MCCB scores based on probands' scores.Methods Multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze group differences in adjusted MCCB scores. Weighted least-squares analysis was used to investigate whether probands' MCCB scores predicted REL neurocognitive performance.Results SCZ were significantly impaired on all MCCB domains. REL had intermediate scores between SCZ and HCS, showing a similar pattern of impairment, except for social cognition. Proband's scores significantly predicted REL MCCB scores on all domains except for visual learning.Conclusions In a large sample of stable patients with schizophrenia, living in the community, and in their unaffected relatives, MCCB demonstrated sensitivity to cognitive deficits in both groups. Our findings of significant within-family prediction of MCCB scores might reflect disease-related genetic or environmental factors