Biological Tools to Study the Effects of Environmental Contaminants at the Feto–Maternal Interface

The identification of reproductive toxicants is a major scientific challenge for human health. Pre-natal life is the most vulnerable and important time-span of human development. For obvious ethical reasons, in vivo models cannot be used in human pregnancy and animal models do not perfectly reflect human physiology. This review describes the in vitro test models representative of the human feto-maternal interface and the effects of environmental chemicals with estrogen-like activity, mainly bisphenol A (BPA) and para-nonylphenol (p-NP), with a particular emphasis to the effects at low, non-toxic doses, similar to concentrations commonly detected in the population

Notulae Oribatologicae L. The redescription of Steganacarus (Steganacarus) spinosus (Sellnick, 1920) (Acarida, Oribatida)

The Authors redescribe the classical taxon Steganacarus (Steganacarus) spinosus (Sellnick, 1920) from typical material preseved in Berlese's Collection in Florence (ISZA). The diagnostic characters are redefined and the collocation of this species in the Steganacaridae system discussed

Notulae Oribatologicae LIX. Taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Steganacarus Ewing 1917 (Acari Oribatida) in Italy

The Italian species of the genus Steganacarus are revised on the basis of recent research. Three new species are described, Steganacarus (Steganacarus) donatoi, S.(S.) manganellii and S. (Tropacarus) malatestai. The first is characterized, among the Italian steganacarid species, by a deep hole in the corner of the genito-aggenital plates, the second by a globular sensillus head and the third by tuberculated notogastral microsculpture. The Italian steganacarid species described now number 14, a great many in comparison to other Mediterranean countries. The revision allowed to the authors to identify the best diagnostic character-states for future revision of the genus. The ecological and biogeographic characterization of the species examined, moreover, clarified the contribution of the various faunistic waves (the ancient autochthonous, the Messinian and the Plio-Pleistocene) to Italian steganacarid fauna