Relaciones entre talla del otolito y talla del pez en algunos peces mesopelágicos y batipelágicos del Mediterráneo (estrecho de Messina, Italia)

The length-weight relationships and the regressions between otolith size (length and width) and fish length of some mesopelagic and bathypelagic fishes living in the central Mediterranean Sea were provided. Images and morphological description of otoliths (sagittae) from 16 species belonging to the families of Gonostomatidae (1), Microstomatidae (2), Myctophidae (8), Phosichthyidae (2), Sternoptychidae (2) and Stomiidae (1) were given. The length-weight relationship showed an isometric growth in 13 species. No differences between right and left otolith sizes were detected by t-test, so a single linear regression was plotted against standard length (SL) for otolith length (OL) and otolith width (OW). Data fitted well to the regression model for both OL and OW to SL, for each species (R2 > 0.8). These relationships offer a helpful tool in feeding studies and also provide support to palaeontologists in their research on fish fossils.En este trabajo se presentan las relaciones talla-peso y las regresiones entre la talla del otolito (longitud y anchura) y la talla del pez (SL) para algunos peces meso y batipelágicos que viven en el Mediterráneo central. Se incluyen imágenes y descripciones morfológicas de los otolitos (sagittae) de 16 especies de las familias Gonostomatidae (1), Microstomatidae (2), Myctophidae (8), Phosichthyidae (2), Sternoptychidae (2) y Stomiidae (1). La relación talla-peso muestra un crecimiento isométrico en 13 especies. No se encontraron diferencias relevantes (t-test) entre la talla del otolito derecho e izquierdo, por lo que se representó una sola regresión lineal entre la longitud estándar y los siguientes parámetros: longitud de otolite (OL) y la anchura (OW). Los datos se ajustaron bien al modelo de regresión lineal para OL y OW, para todas las especies (R2 > 0.8). Las relaciones obtenidas puede ser utilizadas como instrumento en estudios de alimentación y para sustentar estudios de paleontología sobre peces fósiles

Novi podaci o maču srebrnjaku Trachipterus trachypterus Gmelin, 1789. i srporibi srebrnici Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1820) (Pisces: Trachipteridae) iz Sredozemnog mora

In this paper we report data on four juvenile individuals of T. trachypterus and one adult of Z. cristatus, from the Strait of Messina and southern Tyrrhenian Sea, respectively (Mediterranean Sea). Information on morphometric and meristic characters are provided together with some biological data such as prey and age estimation. Only stomachs of T. trachypterus contained prey: copepods, amphypods and pelagic snails. The analysis of growth patterns in vertebrae of Z. cristatus allowed to estimate an age of 4 years for this individual. We also combined our data together with information from bibliographic sources and estimated the relationships between total length and standard length, as well as total length and body mass, for these two species.U ovom radu objavljujemo podatke o četiri juvenilne jedinke T. trachypterus i jednoj zreloj jedin- ki. Z. cristatus, iz Mesinskog tjesnaca, odnosno južnog Tirenskog mora (Sredozemno more). Podaci o morfometrijskim i merističkim značajkama daju se zajedno s nekim biološkim podacima kao što su plijen i procjena starosti. Samo želuci T. trachypterus sadržavali su plijen: kopepode, amfipode i pelagične puževe. Samo želuci T. trachypterus sadržavali su plijen: kopepode, amfipode i pelagične puževe. Anali- za obrazaca rasta u kralješcima Z. cristatus omogućila je procjenu starosti ove jedinke od 4 godine. Također smo spojili naše podatke zajedno s informacijama iz bibliografskih izvora i procijenili odnose između ukupne duljine i standardne duljine, kao i ukupne duljine i tjelesne mase za ove dvije vrste

Alohtone vrste glavonožaca u Sredozemnom moru: pregled

The present review critically assesses the records of cephalopods that have entered the Mediterranean Sea in the last few decades. It includes 13 species, namely Sepia dollfusi, Stoloteuthis leucoptera, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, Architeuthis dux, Cranchia scabra, Taonius pavo, Megalocranchia sp., Teuthowenia megalops, Cycloteuthis sirventi, Taningia danae, Octopus cyanea, Amphioctopus sp. and Tremoctopus gracilis. The presence of Sepia pharaonis needs to be confirmed, whereas that of Sepia gibba and Spirula spirula is excluded. The arrivals from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar are related to the entrance surface current, which either carried passively planktonic paralarvae or favoured in some other way the entrance of subadult and adult stray specimens. As a matter of fact, all Atlantic cephalopods are pelagic oegopsid squids, with the exception of the nekto-benthic sepiolid S. leucoptera; all of them have been found only in the western Mediterranean basin. None of them seemingly established a stable population there, apart from the latter species. On the contrary, the cephalopods entering the Mediterranean from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal (Lessepsian migrants) lead a benthic mode of life. At least two of them, namely S. lessoniana and Amphioctopus sp., set up stable populations in the eastern basin. Lastly the occurrences of the pelagic octopod T. gracilis are ascribed, in the literature, to human-mediated transfer.U ovom radu autori kritički procjenjuju nalaze glavonožaca koji su ušli u Sredozemno more u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća, što uključuje 13 vrsta, a to su: Sepia dollfusi, Stoloteuthis leucopte-ra, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, Architeuthis dux, Cranchia scabra, Taonius pavo, Megalocranchia sp., Teuthowenia megalops, Cycloteuthis sirventi, Taningia danae, Octopus cyanea, Amphioctopus sp. i Tremoctopus gracilis. Prisutnost vrste Sepia pharaonis treba biti potvrđena, dok je prisutnost Sepia gibba i Spirula spirula isključena. Dolasci vrsta iz Atlantskog oceana kroz Gibraltarski tjesnac povezani su s ulaznom površinskom strujom koja je nosila pasivno planktonske paralarve ili je na neki drugi način favorizirala ulaz subadultnih i odraslih zalutalih primjeraka. Zapravo su svi atlantski glavonošci pelagične lignje, s izuzetkom nekto-bentoskog sepiolida S. leucoptera. Čini se da nijedna vrsta od navedenih tamo nije uspostavila stabilnu populaciju, osim potonje navednih vrsta. Naprotiv, glavonošci koji ulaze u Sredozemno more iz Crvenog mora kroz Sueski kanal (lesepsijski migranti) vode bentoski način života. Ipak, dvije vrste S. lessoniana i Amphioctopus sp., uspostavile su stabilne populacije u istoč-nom dijelu. Konačno, pojave pelagične hobotnice T. gracilis pripisuju se, u literaturi, prijenosu posredovanim antropogenim utjecajem

Permissive role for mGlu1 metabotropic glutamate receptors in excitotoxic retinal degeneration

Neuroprotection is an unmet need in eye disorders characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, such as prematurity-induced retinal degeneration, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. In all these disorders excitotoxicity is a prominent component of neuronal damage, but clinical data discourage the development of NMDA receptor antagonists as neuroprotectants. Here, we show that activation of mGlu1 metabotropic glutamate receptors largely contributes to excitotoxic degeneration of RGCs. Mice at postnatal day 9 were challenged with a toxic dose of monosodium glutamate (MSG, 3g/kg), which caused the death of >70% of Brn-3a+ RGCs. Systemic administration of the mGlu1 receptor negative allosteric modulator (NAM), JNJ16259685 (2.5mg/kg, s.c.), was largely protective against MSG-induced RGC death. This treatment did not cause changes in motor behavior in the pups. We also injected MSG to crv4 mice, which lack mGlu1 receptors because of a recessive mutation of the gene encoding the mGlu1 receptor. MSG did not cause retinal degeneration in crv4 mice, whereas it retained its toxic activity in their wild-type littermates. These findings demonstrate that mGlu1 receptors play a key role in excitotoxic degeneration of RGCs, and encourage the study of mGlu1 receptor NAMs in models of retinal neurodegeneration

Dieta del pez de San Francisco Synodus saurus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pisces, Synodontidae) en el Mediterráneo central

The diet composition of the Atlantic lizardfish Synodus saurus, caught on sandy bottoms of the north-western coast of Sicily (southern Tyrrhenian Sea) is described. The stomachs of 224 specimens (from 73 to 280 mm TL) were collected between June 2005 and May 2006. The analysis of stomach contents showed that this species is almost exclusively piscivorous. Unlike other benthic predators of the study area, it mainly feeds on pelagic school-forming fish, such as Clupeidae, Engraulidae and Myctophidae and juveniles of Sparidae and Centracanthidae, and benthic prey play a secondary role. The diet of S. saurus is related to the seasonal availability of resources, depending on the occurrence of juveniles of several species and on the migration of pelagic fishes in the study area. There were no significant changes in prey items between predator length groups, but a positive, significant linear relationship between prey size and predator size was recorded.El presente trabajo ha estudiado la composición de la dieta del pez de San Francisco Synodus saurus, pescado sobre fondos arenosos en la costa nor-occidental de Sicilia (Tirreno meridional). El análisis del contenido estomacal de 224 individuos (entre 73 y 280 mm LT), pescados entre junio 2005 y mayo 2006, evidenció que S. saurus es una especie casi exclusivamente ictiófaga. A diferencia de otros depredadores bentónicos, S. saurus se alimenta fundamentalmente de peces que forman bancos pelágicos como Clupeidae, Engraulidae y Myctophidae y de los juveniles de las familias Sparidae y Centracanthidae, mientras las presas bentónicas resultaron secundarias. S. saurus exhibió una estrategia alimentaria relacionada con la disponibilidad estacional de recursos, dependiendo de la ocurrencia de juveniles de varias especies y de la migración de peces pelágicos en el área de estudio. No hubo cambio significativo de presas entre grupos de tallas pero se evidenció una relacción positiva, lineal y estadísticamente significativa entre el tamaño de la presa y del depredador

La complessit? della comunicazione scientifica in ambito epidemiologico: il caso Sebiorec

noViene presentata l\u27esperienza in corso nella Regione Campania per accomp agnare la trasmissione dei risultati dell\u27indagine epidemiologica Sebiorec, svolta tramite campionamento di sangue e latte materno. Si ? ritenuto cruciale dedicare particolare attenzione alle problematiche della comunicazione, grazie alla costituzione di un gruppo multidisciplinare, che ha contribuito alla realizzazione di una indagine qualitativa basata su interviste in profondit? e che fornir? strumenti utili alla comunicazione dei risultati. L\u27esperienza si inscrive nell\u27obiettivo di far evolvere l\u27approccio epidemiologico classico verso una eco-epidemiologia basata sull\u27integrazione di conoscenze sull\u27individuo e sulla comunit?, attraverso lo studio dei fattori di rischio, di esposizione e suscettibilit? individuale e di contesto sociale

Pelagic cephalopods of the central Mediterranean Sea determined by the analysis of the stomach content of large fish predators

The pelagic cephalopod fauna of the central Mediterranean Sea was investigated through stomach content analyses of large fish predators. A total of 124 Xiphias gladius, 22 Thunnus thynnus, 100 Thunnus alalunga, and 25 Tetrapturus belone were analyzed. Overall, 3,096 cephalopods belonging to 23 species and 16 families were identified. The cephalopod fauna in the study area is dominated by Sepiolidae, Ommastrephidae, and Onychoteuthidae. The sepiolid Heteroteuthis dispar was the most abundant species (n = 1,402) while the ommastrephid Todarodes sagittatus showed the highest biomass. They can be considered key-species in the pelagic food web of the study area. The neutrally buoyant Histioteuthis bonnellii, H. reversa, and Chiroteuthis veranyi seem to characterize the deeper water layers. Given the difficulty in sampling pelagic cephalopods, the presence of cephalopod beaks in the stomach of predators represents a fundamental tool to assess the biodiversity and the ecological importance of these taxa in the marine ecosystem

Greening competitiveness for hotels and restaurants

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey-based study performed on Italian SMEs in the “hotel, restaurant, café” (HORECA) sector, aimed at investigating the relationship between pro-environmental strategies and competitiveness and how such strategies can be exploited to outperform competitors. Design/methodology/approach – The survey involved 317 Italian SMEs. Regression models have been developed to analyze the causal relationship between three dimensions of competitiveness (competitive advantage over competitors, customer satisfaction and employees’ motivation), and environmental practices that can be adopted by HORECA SMEs. Findings – Top management commitment emerges as a key driver of competitiveness, confirming the strategic relevance of a sound approach to sustainability also in SMEs operating in the tourism sector. Moreover, actions aimed at investing in green food products (e.g. organic food) and awareness campaigns emerge as strong predictors of good business performance. Finally, at managerial level, entrepreneurs and owners evaluate the implementation of internal sustainability monitoring systems as a relevant support to increase their competitive performance. Research limitations/implications – Since the results are limited to Italian HORECA businesses, a cross-country comparison could represent a potential improvement of the research. Moreover, since the sector is characterized by the predominance of small and micro firms, specific attention should be devoted to the role played by entrepreneurs’ personal values in shaping business strategies. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the ongoing debate on the relationship between SMEs in the tourism sector and the environmental dimension analyzing the link between the adoption of “green” practices and the competitive performance. The results suggest that customer involvement represents an essential pre-requisite to turn sustainability into an opportunity of market distinctiveness and stress the strategic role of the implementation of performance monitoring systems

Edad y crecimiento del pámpano, Trachinotus ovatus, del Estrecho de Messina (Mediterráneo central)

This is the first paper to provide detailed information on the age and growth of Trachinotus ovatus. The size of the 244 individuals collected in the Strait of Messina ranged from 2.7 to 30.4 cm in fork length (LF) and 0.31 to 508.6 g in body mass (M). The relationship between these parameters (M - LF) was investigated and showed a good fit. Age estimation based on vertebrae and otoliths yielded similar results, suggesting a maximum age of five years. However, the precision and accuracy tests, such as percentage of agreement (PA), mean coefficient of variation (ACV) and average percent error (APE) indicated that the otolith readings (97.83% PA, 0.54% ACV and 0.38% APE) were more reliable for age estimation than vertebrae readings (82.17% PA, 5.33% ACV and 3.77% APE). The multi-model inference approach allowed us to compare different non-linear growth models. The von Bertalanffy model (L∞=29.139, k=0.496 and t0=−0.347) fitted the length-at-age data best. This species has a relatively rapid growth and an estimated longevity of five to seven years. This information could be used for management and first stock assessment studies on T. ovatus in the Mediterranean Sea.Este es el primer artículo que proporciona información detallada sobre la edad y el crecimiento de Trachinotus ovatus. El tamaño de los 244 individuos recolectados en el Estrecho de Messina osciló entre 2.7 y 30.4 cm de longitud a la horquilla (LF) y 0.31 a 508.6 g de masa corporal (M). Se investigó la relación entre estos parámetros (M - LF) y mostró un buen ajuste. La estimación de la edad basada en vértebras y otolitos arrojó resultados similares, lo que sugiere una edad máxima de cinco años. Sin embargo, las pruebas de precisión y exactitud, como el porcentaje de concordancia (PA), el coeficiente medio de variación (ACV) y el porcentaje de error medio (APE), indicaron que las lecturas del otolito (97.83% PA, 0.54% ACV y 0.38 % APE) fueron más confiables para la estimación de la edad que las lecturas de vértebras (82.17% PA, 5.33% ACV y 3.77% APE). El enfoque de inferencia de modelos múltiples nos permitió comparar diferentes modelos de crecimiento no lineal. El modelo de von Bertalanffy (L∞=29.139, k=0.496 and t0=−0.347) se ajusta mejor a los datos de talla por edad. Esta especie tiene un crecimiento relativamente rápido y una longevidad estimada de cinco a siete años. Esta información podría utilizarse para la ordenación y los primeros estudios de evaluación de poblaciones de T. ovatus en el mar Mediterráneo

Determinants of Failure in the Reconstruction of the Tympanic Membrane: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: The recurrence rate after tympanoplasty is variable between 0% and 50%. The causes of failure may be different and frequently interrelated, making the surgical choice difficult and the prognosis not always favourable. In this study, we analysed recurrence rate and the possible causes of failure of tympanoplasty in the treatment of tympanic perforations.   Materials and Methods: This prospective case-control study was carried out on patients undergoing tympanoplasty. The main outcome was closure of the tympanic membrane.   Results: Among the studied 72 patients, the overall recurrence rate was 19.4%. The average follow-up was 28 months; no recurrence was observed over 12 months of follow-up. We observed a recurrence of 30.7% (OR 2.9) in near total perforations. In 32 subjects with a perforation of over half size of the membrane, a recurrence rate of 31.2% was noted (OR 4.09; P< 0.05). In 22 out of the 72 patients, there was a bilateral chronic otitis where the rate of recurrence was 27.2% (OR 1.9). During the postoperative period, 10 patients contracted infection of the middle/external ear, and in all of these cases failure of the surgical intervention was recorded (