vortex R: an R package for post Vortex simulation analysis

1.Population viability analysis is an important tool for wildlife ecologists, geneticists and managers, which is used for the assessment of extinction risks, the evaluation of threatening processes and the establishment of conservation targets. 2.Vortex is among the leading population modelling software and the latest release includes an automated sensitivity test module. However, an equivalent automation of the post-simulation data inspection and analysis is currently missing. 3.vortexR is an R package to automate the analysis and visualisation of outputs from the population viability modelling software Vortex. vortexR facilitates collating Vortex output files, data visualisation and basic analyses (e.g. pairwise comparisons of scenarios), as well as providing more advanced statistics, such as searching for the best regression model(s) from a list of predictors to investigate the main effect and the interaction effects of the variables of interest. 4.This package speeds up and greatly facilitates the reproducibility and portability of post-simulation analysis results

Relation between biometric parameters and autumn-winter food availability in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population in central Italy

The numerical increase of roe deer has resulted in a noticeable growth of hunting activities allowing to have a great availability of biometrical data from both the hunted samples and the population by describing trends and variations and, then, optimize the consequent wildlife management decisions. Specifically, we analyzed biometric data of a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population at the Macerata Province, in central Italy. We focused on two animal groups: fawns (<11 months old) and adults (>2 years old). We assessed the relationship between body parameters and trophic resources available during the autumn-winter period. In particular, we analyzed live weight, head–trunk length, height at shoulders, chest circumference, length of hock, total length of the cranium, condilo-basal length, mastoid width, zygomatic width, ectorbital width, entorbital width, teeth row length and mandible length. In the context of studying trophic resources, we identified three environmental categories based on their carrying capacity and then assigned a specific environmental category to each sample. Statistical analysis was performed. In fawn, only zygomatic width showed significant differences both between sexes and among the environmental categories. In adult, the analysis showed significant differences between sexes for live weight, head–trunk length, length of hock and zygomatic width, with the highest values for males. Among environmental categories, the analysis showed significant differences for live weight, head–trunk length, length of hock chest circumference, length of hock, ectorbital width and teeth row length. This approach, applied to a broader database could be useful to identify suitable parameters to be used in planning the optimum selective hunting of roe deer

Low-lipid diet reduces frequency and severity of acute migraine attacks

Background and aim: There is uncertainty regarding the prevention of migraine crises by changing the lifestyle of patients. The aim of this randomized, crossover intervention trial was to evaluate the effects of a low lipid intake on the incidence and severity of migraine crises, in comparison to a diet with moderate lipid intake. Methods and results: After a 2-month run-in when patients received preventive medication but were left on their habitual diet, a low-lipid or a normal-lipid diet was randomly prescribed for 3 months and thereafter diets were crossed over for the following 3 months. Headache was diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders (IHCD) III criteria. The number and severity of attacks were assessed using a self-reported calendar. Adherence to the diet was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. An analysis was performed on the 83 episodic or chronic migraineurs (63 female and 20 male), in the age range of 18e57 years, who completed both intervention periods. Obese subjects had a significantly higher number of attacks than those overweight or with normal body weight (24.7 8, 16.3 12, and 15.6 11, respectively, p < 0.03) with a significant relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the number of monthly attacks (r Z 0.238, p < 0.03). The number (2.9 3.7 vs. 6.8 7.5, p < 0.001) and severity (1.2 þ 0.9 vs. 1.7 0.9, p < 0.01) of attacks significantly decreased during both intervention periods, with a significant difference in favour of the lowlipid diet. Conclusions: In this group of patients, the low-lipid diet significantly affected the number and severity of migraine attacks in comparison to a normal-lipid diet

THE "OLIVA ASCOLANA DEL PICENO DOP": PRODUCTION ASPECTS AND SELF-CONTROL PROGRAMS IN FACTORIES OF MARCHE REGION

The "Oliva Ascolana del Piceno" is a traditional product of the central part of Italy, which obtained the official designation of Denomination of Protected Origin (DOP) in 2006. This study analyzes the production aspects and the self-control programs in different tipologies of industries in Marche Region. The artisanal production is still used, but lately is growing up the industrial one. The industrial product shows an improvement of the healthy standards, but is not always able to ensure the preservation of the full taste and flavour. . The scrupulous respect of GMP and CCP in the handmade product can ensure, on the other hand, hight healthy standards and, at the same time, a better preservation of the organoleptic features

Assessing learning and memory in pigs

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in (mini) pigs (Sus scrofa) as species for cognitive research. A major reason for this is their physiological and anatomical similarity with humans. For example, pigs possess a well-developed, large brain. Assessment of the learning and memory functions of pigs is not only relevant to human research but also to animal welfare, given the nature of current farming practices and the demands they make on animal health and behavior. In this article, we review studies of pig cognition, focusing on the underlying processes and mechanisms, with a view to identifying. Our goal is to aid the selection of appropriate cognitive tasks for research into pig cognition. To this end, we formulated several basic criteria for pig cognition tests and then applied these criteria and knowledge about pig-specific sensorimotor abilities and behavior to evaluate the merits, drawbacks, and limitations of the different types of tests used to date. While behavioral studies using (mini) pigs have shown that this species can perform learning and memory tasks, and much has been learned about pig cognition, results have not been replicated or proven replicable because of the lack of validated, translational behavioral paradigms that are specially suited to tap specific aspects of pig cognition. We identified several promising types of tasks for use in studies of pig cognition, such as versatile spatial free-choice type tasks that allow the simultaneous measurement of several behavioral domains. The use of appropriate tasks will facilitate the collection of reliable and valid data on pig cognition