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

Ultrasonographic changes of submandibular glands in irradiated patients for head and neck cancers

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Monitoring the invasion of an exotic tree (Ailanthus altissima) (Mill.) Swingle with Landsat satellite time series imagery in urban forest.

In the Mediterranean area, one the most threat tree to various ecosystems is Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. This is an aggressive invasive species common in natural and semi-natural habitat. Monitoring and mapping of invasive species is an important information for the conservation and management of ecosystems. The study of distribution and diffusion of invasive species are useful to assess their environmental impacts, formulate effective control strategies, and forecast potential spread. The main target of this work is to examine the feasibility of mapping the expansion of A. altissima using remote sensing techniques in a highly complex urban forest setting. Remote sensing has been a useful tool to map the invasive plant. We mapped the pattern of ailanthus expansion from 1990 to 2015 in a suburban area of Palermo, the Favorita park, using time series of Landsat image. This images are nowadays available at no cost. We used that images to analyze larger areas but the 30 m resolution does not permit mapping of individual trees; the combinations of dates and medium spatial resolution with the phenology information allowed the detection of the species. Indeed, the ailanthus is a deciduous tree that we compared with the other evergreen vegetation. Time series of Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and supervised classification were used as a dataset in the classification process. These results provide a basis for more detailed investigations on invasive species and the possibility to increase the spatial resolution with the new platforms might lead to further improvements plant species identification and their distribution patterns recognition

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

The nutraceuticals : a new therapeutic strategy in the management of digestive and respiratory disorders

Nutraceuticals represents an intriguing challenge in clinical practice. They are currently used worldwide in all fields of Medicine. The present Supplement reports two Italian surveys concerning a probiotic mixture employed in patients with chronic intestinal disorders and a Medical Device used in patients with upper respiratory diseases. These surveys were conducted on a group of Italian gastroenterologists and on a group of Italian otolaryngologists respectively. Both surveys demonstrated that these compounds may represent a useful therapeutic option in clinical practice

An overview of functionalized graphene nanomaterials for advanced applications

Interest in the development of graphene-based materials for advanced applications is growing, because of the unique features of such nanomaterials and, above all, of their outstanding versatility, which enables several functionalization pathways that lead to materials with extremely tunable properties and architectures. This review is focused on the careful examination of relationships between synthetic approaches currently used to derivatize graphene, main properties achieved, and target applications proposed. Use of functionalized graphene nanomaterials in six engineering areas (materials with enhanced mechanical and thermal performance, energy, sensors, biomedical, water treatment, and catalysis) was critically reviewed, pointing out the latest advances and potential challenges associated with the application of such materials, with a major focus on the effect that the physicochemical features imparted by functionalization routes exert on the achievement of ultimate properties capable of satisfying or even improving the current demand in each field. Finally, current limitations in terms of basic scientific knowledge and nanotechnology were highlighted, along with the potential future directions towards the full exploitation of such fascinating nanomaterials

The impact of winter flooding with saline water on foliar carbon uptake and the volatile fraction of leaves and fruits of lemon (Citrus limon) trees

We investigated the consequences of recurrent winter flooding with saline water on a lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f.) orchard, focussing on photosynthesis limitations and emission of secondary metabolites (isoprenoids) from leaves and fruits. Measurements were carried out immediately after flooding (December), at the end of winter (April) and after a dry summer in which plants were irrigated with optimal quality water (September). Photosynthesis was negatively affected by flooding. The effect was still visible at the end of winter, whereas the photosynthetic rate was fully recovered after summer, indicating an unexpected resilience capacity of flooded plants. Photosynthesis inhibition by flooding was not due to diffusive limitations to CO2 entry into the leaf, as indicated by measurements of stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration. Biochemical and photochemical limitations seemed to play a more important role in limiting the photosynthesis of flooded plants. In young leaves, characterised by high rates of mitochondrial respiration, respiratory rates were enhanced by flooding. Flooding transiently caused large and rapid emission of several volatile isoprenoids. Emission of limonene, the most abundant compound, was stimulated in the leaves, and in young and mature fruits. Flooding changed the blend of emitted isoprenoids, but only few changes were observed in the stored isoprenoids pool.

Allergen immunotherapy in children with otitis media with effusion: a preliminary experience

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