12 research outputs found

    The genus Albinaria Vest, 1867 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Clausiliidae), part II: Albania, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon (except the islands)

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    The genus Albinaria Vest, 1864 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Clausiliidae) live on limestone rocks and show a remarkable diversity in the eastern Mediterranean region. This is mainly caused by the tendency of these populations to split up into local forms with highly restricted areas of distribution. This phenomenon is also furthered by geological and environmental factors and, often, by geographic isolation. In this work, we present further results on our studies on the genus Albinaria. An updated check-list of the populations coming from Albania, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon (except the islands) is provided and most of these populations are illustrated

    Evaluating the Effects of a Message on Attitude and Intention To Eat Raw Meat: Salmonellosis Prevention

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    Salmonellosis is one of the most common foodborne human diseases. The risk of infection can be reduced by communication campaigns. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of a food safety message that underlines that eating well-cooked meat is an effective strategy for preventing salmonellosis. The target audience was young adults (university students). They were presented with one of two messages, a prevention message or a control message. The prevention message proved to be very effective. First, it changed the attitude toward raw or rare meat, which after having read the prevention message was evaluated less positively and more negatively. Second, intentions to eat raw or rare meat were weaker in those who read the prevention message compared with those who read the control message. Third, after the message, participants in the experimental condition, but not in the control condition, associated the self-image more with well-done meat than with raw or rare meat

    Food safety and young consumers: Testing a serious game as a risk communication tool

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    Raising consumers' awareness about food safety issues is one of the primary objectives of Italian public health organizations. New dynamic and interactive tools, based on web applications, are already playing a leading role in health promotion campaigns targeted at adolescents. Among the web-based tools specifically designed for young people, educational videogames have proved especially effective in furthering learning and disseminating information, as they arouse adolescents' interest and curiosity. When a number of cases of Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) were reported in 2010, particularly among children, the Italian Ministry of Health stressed the need to implement communication initiatives aimed at raising consumers' awareness of the potential risks associated with raw milk consumption at home. The pilot study described in the article is a relevant example of educational projects implemented in Italy, oriented to transmit knowledge about food risks to young consumers (aged 16e18). To provide correct information on safe milk handling practices and to reduce health issues, including serious ones, the videogame \u201cA mysterious poisoning\u201d was developed. This tool was administered online to 359 upper secondary school students from four different provinces in Italy. The videogame covered all stages of the milk supply chain, from stable to table, and enabled players to identify the crucial moments when milk can be contaminated and to discover safe milk handling practices. By completing a series of tasks, students helped a detective discover the cause of a food poisoning outbreak. This videogame provided an opportunity for students to test their knowledge of the product and to receive more detailed and accurate information. Data collected through two structured questionnaires that were administered before and after the controlled use of the videogame showed that this serious game was capable of changing players' perception of risk exposure and their cognitive associations, particularly increasing their levels of knowledge about the risks associated with raw milk consumption

    The land malacofauna from Vesuvius National Park and neighbouring areas (Naples, Southern Italy): Preliminary results

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    The faunistic data on the recent land molluscs of Vesuvius National Park (Naples, Southern Italy) and neighbouring areas sampled during field surveys from 2005 to 2006 are reported here. The data were obtained through a careful research on museum collections and literature and were supplemented with observations from field surveys. Up to now, only 23 land snails species were known from the Vesuvius National Park through bibliographical data. The faunistic research, carried out in 25 stations of different environment typologies, allowed us to discriminate 31 species: 15 of these species are reported here for the first time for the study area. The presence of 16 species was confirmed by other field investigations. Other 19 taxa are reported in the literature, but not confirmed in our research -  Helix turriculatella O. G. Costa, 1839 (obsolete nomenclature), Trochoidea trochoides Poiret, 1789, Hygromia cinctella (Draparnaud, 1801), Campylaea planospira (Lamarck, 1822), Vitrea sp. (cf. contracta (Westerlund, 1871)), Cecilioides acicula (O. F. Müller, 1774), Cochlicella acuta (O. F. Müller, 1774), Theba pisana O. F. Müller, 1774). Another 12 taxa are highly doubtful, because of possibilities for confusion with species living in other European or Italian regions, as well as previous misidentifications (Deroceras agreste (Linnaeus, 1758), Monacha gregaria (Rossmässler, 1839), Cochlicella barbara (Linnaeus, 1758), Monachoides incarnatus (O. F. Müller, 1774),Cernuella (Cernuella) cisalpina (Rossmässler, 1837), Cernuella aradasii (Pirajno, 1842), Oxychilus cellarius (O. F. Müller, 1774), O. alliarius (J. S. Miller, 1822), Zonitoides nitidus (O.F. Müller, 1774), Hyalina pseudohydatina, Ferussacia lubrica, Aegopinella nitens (Michaud, 1831); it was impossible in these cases to refer to their current specific name. Eobania vermiculata (O. F. Müller, 1774), Rumina decollata (Linnaeus, 1758), Papillifera papillaris (O. F. Müller, 1774) appear to be the most common species. Interesting are the records of Marmorana muralis (O.F. Müller, 1774), Helix cf. ligata (O.F. Müller, 1774) and Charpentiera gibbula gibbula (Rossmässler, 1836). Charpentieria gibbula honii (Tiberi, 1878) needs genetic investigations in order to confirm its taxonomic status. One allochthonous species (Paralaoma servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852)) was surveyed for the first time in the study area. A Red List of Threatened Species is proposed and the species are classified according to the IUCN criteria (Version 2019-2.1). The malacofauna of Vesuvius - Somma Mountain Complex is composed by 38 land mollusc species and represents 36.2% of the total species present in Campania (about 105 species, personal data) and 12.8% of the Italian fauna (about 530 species of land molluscs extrapolated from the list of Bank (2017). It is assumed that the poor biodiversity of the Vesuvian land malacofauna can be attributed essentially to the scarcity of calcareous substrates and the absence of permanent water sources

    Consuming traditional food products of one's province: A test of planned behavior theory

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    In this paper we tested the predictive power of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), when the target behavior is consuming traditional foods of one’s province (Trentino, Italy). Meat-based products were considered, and students attending senior high schools were surveyed. TPB and TPB + past behavior were tested, using structural equation models. We found that consumption intentions were predicted by attitude, subjective norms and past behavior; behavior was in turn predicted by intentions, perceived control, and past behavior. Both TPB and TPB + past behavior explained a large amount of variance in intentions, and a moderate amount in behavior. We also examined the relationship between TPB constructs and behavioral beliefs and identification (with the province). Findings demonstrate the predictive power of TPB; they also suggest strategies that can be followed to orient consumption in directions beneficial to health

    Consuming traditional food products of one's province: A test of planned behavior theory

    No full text
    In this paper we tested the predictive power of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), when the target behavior is consuming traditional foods of one's province (Trentino, Italy). Meat-based products were considered, and students attending senior high schools were surveyed. TPB and TPB + past behavior were tested, using structural equation models. We found that consumption intentions were predicted by attitude, subjective norms and past behavior; behavior was in turn predicted by intentions, perceived control, and past behavior. Both TPB and TPB + past behavior explained a large amount of variance in intentions, and a moderate amount in behavior. We also examined the relationship between TPB constructs and behavioral beliefs and identification (with the province). Findings demonstrate the predictive power of TPB; they also suggest strategies that can be followed to orient consumption in directions beneficial to health
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