Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of human influenza A viruses in three consecutive seasons with different epidemiological profiles

Introduction. Influenza activity and influenza virus circulation were observed in Lombardy (northern Italy) during three con- secutive seasons and the molecular characteristics of circulating viruses analysed to control for introduction of new variants. Methods. The molecular characterization of 38 isolates, namely 20 A/H3N2 and 18 A/H1N1 influenza strains from the 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons, was performed by sequence analy- sis of the globular head region of the HA protein (HA1 subunit), specific for influenza virus A/H3 and A/H1. Results and discussion. The last three influenza seasons in the study region were characterized by medium-low activity. A typical co-circulation of several variants was shown for A/H3 viruses for approximately two years and were subsequently almost entirely substituted by new emerging variants. Vice versa, A/H1 viruses had a more homogeneous circulation with a single lineage clearly dominating each season. The HA sequences of the A/H3 and the A/H1 viruses isolated in the last three seasons fell into 4 and 3 principal phylogenetic groups, respectively. No evidence of positive or negative selection in the sequence align- ments was observed. Conclusions. Molecular characterization of the influenza viruses in three consecutive seasons highlighted considerable heteroge- neity in their HA sequences. A careful surveillance of genetic changes in the HA1 domain during seasonal influenza epidemics may reveal immune escape and provide early information on newly emerging strains with epidemiologic inference

Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 1

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of six plant species according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment at global level of Linaria tonzigii Lona, Allium garganicum Brullo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi, Ferula arrigonii Bocchieri, Orchis patens Desf. subsp. patens and Armeria saviana Selvi and the assessment at regional level (Italy) of Viola jordanii Hanry

Salgari nella giungla degli Hanbury

La mostra \ue8 stata allestita in occasione del 150\ub0 anniversario della nascita dello scrittore Emilio Salgari. Le opere di Emilio Salgari sono splendidi viaggi immaginari, non vissuti personalmente, ma fondati su una conoscenza acquisita con assidua, precisa e dettagliata ricerca documentale. I romanzi salgariani sono mirabili rappresentazioni della storia naturale di paesi lontani che consentono al lettore di penetrare nella misteriosa giungla tropicale. Sono anche una sintesi botanica dove ogni nome di pianta ha un riscontro reale, tangibile nei paesi delle Antille, del Borneo, del Venezuela, ma anche attraverso la visita di un Giardino botanico. Il Corsaro nero, tra i romanzi avventurosi di Salgari, mostra un legame con l\u2019estremo ponente della Riviera. Il protagonista, Emilio di Roccabruna, signore di Ventimiglia, s\u2019ispira forse a Capitan Romero, le cui navi percorrevano le rotte corsare del Mediterraneo. Al romanzo, ai suoi paesaggi e, soprattutto, alle innumerevoli specie vegetali che li popolano \ue8 ispirata la mostra, come un semplice invito a guardare con occhi diversi i Giardini Botanici Hanbury, dove ponti immaginari e reali fra letteratura e scienza sono possibili. L\u2019itinerario culturale comprende l\u2019esposizione di pannelli e oggetti che illustrano soprattutto la corrispondenza reale delle specie e degli ambienti in cui si svolgono le vicende del Corsaro Nero e la segnalazione di alcune piante \u201csalgariane\u201d lungo i percorsi dei Giardini Botanici

Remarks on the exotic flora of Capo Mortola (Ventimiglia, northern Italy) and its changes over time

In this study, we compared current data and data of the census made in the 1990s related to the vascular flora of Capo Mortola (Ventimiglia, Italy), considering 270 taxa not dependent on crop management. The current status reported 198 alien species: 5 invasive, 65 naturalized 75 casual, 38 occurring as casual in human-dominated systems, but without direct intervention by humans and not close to parent plant, 15 occurring as casual alien, but still with some uncertainties for a definitive classification, and plus 3 cryptogenic and 1 eradicated (extinct) taxa, while in 1996 were 229 species: 87 naturalized and 142 adventitious (casual). Of these, 40 taxa show an increasing trend and 41 a decreasing or disappearing trend. If we consider the wild areas of Capo Mortola, 10 taxa are new to the Italian flora (7 casual and 3 naturalized) while 13 are new to the Ligurian flora only (all casual). If we also consider the neglected areas of the Botanical Gardens, 18 new casual species for the Italian flora and 10 for the Ligurian one would be added. In addition, 9 status changes are proposed on a national scale and 17 on a regional scale. An in-depth analysis was conducted on the presence and the local history of a subset of 34 exotic plants, 11 of which are new or have a new status for the Italian flora

Ex Situ conservation of Ligurian subpopulations of the CWR Brassica montana Pourr. (Brassicaceae)

The work is focused on Ex Situ conservation activities and requirements for seed germination of Ligurian subpopulation of Brassica montan

Habilidades del egresado de enfermería para incursionar en el mercado laboral, 2013

El objetivo es determinar las habilidades del egresado en Enfermería para incursionar en el mercado laboral. Se realizó un estudio Descriptivo de corte transversal, con enfoque cuali-cuantitativo, muestreo no probabilístico mediante encuesta aplicada a 40 egresados de la Universidad de Córdoba, 5 empleadores de las instituciones de salud donde laboran los egresados y 20 usuarios de los servicios de salud escogidos al azar de estas instituciones. Los resultados arrojaron que dentro de las principales habilidades por los egresados del programa de Enfermería de la Universidad de Córdoba encierran principalmente liderazgo en 52.5 %, trabajo en equipo 25%, manejo administrativo 40% y/o gerencial 45%, atención integral y compromiso. Igualmente refleja que sectores como los constituidos por usuarios de servicios de salud y empleadores de las instituciones prestadoras, coinciden con estas habilidades agregando además algunas tales como; conocimiento 40%, humanización 40%, honestidad e iniciativa que permiten al profesional de Enfermería brindar cuidado integral y humanizado logrando satisfacer las necesidades en salud de los usuarios; para concluir se evidenció que un alto porcentaje de los egresados del programa de Enfermería de la Universidad de Córdoba considera que si adquirieron durante la formación académica las habilidades para su desarrollo en el mercado laboral.Pregrad