The Effects of Non-Indigenous Macrophytes on Native Biodiversity: Case Studies from Sicily

Biological invasions are widely recognized as a major threat to native biodiversity, ecosys tem functioning and services. Non-indigenous species (NIS) may in time become invasive (invasive alien species (IAS)), determining significant environmental, socioeconomic and human health impacts such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem service degradation. The Mediterranean islands, particu larly Sicily and the circum-Sicilian islands (northwestern Mediterranean Sea), which are important hotspots of biodiversity, are notably vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures such as biological in vasions. Therefore, monitoring NIS distribution as well as understanding their effects on native biodiversity is critical in these areas for planning effective conservation strategies. Here, we report four different case studies from Sicily that highlight how NIS may affect native biodiversity and habitats. The first three case studies were carried out within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and highlight (1) the ability of Caulerpa cylindracea to promote the establishment of other NIS, including biofouling worms belonging to the genus Branchiomma; (2) how the shift in habitat from the native Ericaria brachycarpa to the invasive Asparagopsis taxiformis may drastically erode the primary producer biomass and associated biodiversity; and (2) that the presence of Lophocladia lallemandii can affect the molluscan assemblage inhabiting the canopy-forming Gongolaria montagnei. The fourth case study, performed along the northwestern coast of Sicily, shows how Halophila stipulacea can affect the growth of the co-occurring native seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. Overall, these case studies demonstrate various ways in which NIS can interact with native biodiversity and habitats. Furthermore, they emphasize that MPAs are ineffective at preventing the introduction and spread of NIS

Understanding the purchasing behavior of consumers in response to sustainable marketing practices: An empirical analysis in the food domain

Sustainability has become an important driver in defining business strategies, affecting most critical corporate functions and changing the way in which value is created, communicated, and distributed. This is increasingly impacting marketing practices, in particular, through promoting the development of sustainable marketing in the food sector. In line with this, our study aimed to investigate if and how sustainable marketing practices affect consumer loyalty to a specific brand. To answer our research questions, we relied on the results of a survey submitted to a sample of 907 Italian consumers of biscuits. Results showed that the consumers’ attention to sustainable issues (in the absence of adequate information that can guide them in choosing a brand) did not result in brand loyalty. The same outcome was found when consumers were overloaded by marketing campaigns, which had the effect of confusing users and making them unfaithful. Ultimately, when consumers showed both engagement with sustainable concerns and sensitivity to marketing initiatives (i.e., they are sensitive to sustainable marketing practices), a positive effect on brand loyalty was observed. Our results contribute to the emerging stream of literature discussing the relevance and potential impact of sustainable marketing

Conserving Marine Forests: Assessing the Effectiveness of a Marine Protected Area for Cystoseira sensu lato Populations in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are vital for biodiversity conservation, yet their effectiveness in preserving foundation seaweeds remains understudied. This study investigates the diversity and distribution of Cystoseira sensu lato (including Cystoseira, Ericaria and Gongolaria, hereafter referred to as Cystoseira s.l.) populations in an MPA located in the central Mediterranean Sea, comparing them with those in two unprotected sites. We hypothesized MPA Cystoseira s.l. populations would display higher diversity and structure compared to outside unprotected sites. Results revealed a total of 19 Cystoseira s.l. species at depths of 0-20 m, with the MPA exhibiting a higher diversity than unprotected sites. Thus, MPAs can play a crucial role in fostering the diversity of Cystoseira s.l. populations. However, no significant differences were observed among the MPA's protection zones, raising questions about the zoning effectiveness. Additionally, our survey uncovered a substantial presence of non-indigenous seaweeds within the MPA. In conclusions, while MPAs improved Cystoseira s.l. diversity compared to unprotected sites, the varying efficacy of protection within MPA zones suggested a necessity for site-specific conservation strategies. The presence of non-indigenous seaweeds emphasizes ongoing challenges. This study provides a baseline for understanding Cystoseira s.l. population dynamics, crucial for future monitoring and conservation efforts in the face of global change

Optimizing critical illness outcomes through the family experience-A theoretical review

An estimated six to eight million patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the United States every year [1, 2]. It is possible that new and innovative medical therapies have provided patients with treatment options that enhance survival of a critical illness and allow them go home with more medical support than previously available in earlier years. This may explain why there are now millions of ICU survivors are a result of declining mortality rates (8-19%) even though there are increased ICU admissions [3, 4]. This also indicates a change in direction of the attitudes and beliefs of the family unit today and their desire for the family member to return home after critical illness instead of moving to a tertiary facility for care

Application of an artificial neural network (ANN) for the identification of grapevine genotypes

Neural networks were employed to distinguish between 15 accessions of "coloured" (fruit gives intense red colour to the wine) grapevines found in some viticultural zones of Tuscany. Our results enabled us to distinguish, with considerable certainty, between 9 accessions and to denote three pairs of synonyms. The use of neural networks opens interesting prospects for ampelography; its advantages over traditional ampelographic methods are demonstrated

mtDNA diversity in rabbit population from Sicily (Italy)

The European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (O.c) lives all over the world and it represents an important resource for many predators. It has been classified as a Near-Threatened species in the Red List of Vertebrates of Italy. It is present in mediterranean basin as two known subspecies: O.c. cuniculus and O.c. algirus. The mediterranean geographic distribution of the two subspecies is still not well known. In particular, in Sicily, lacking of deep studies, is based on the body size and morphological characteristics; there wasn’t a complete description of the actual existing subspecies and previous studies only reported the morphological characteristics of the sicilian rabbit population. In this study, we analyzed genetic data, mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome b (cytb), from the rabbit population in Sicily in a phylogenetic framework. This is the first study concerning the genetics of the sicilian rabbit, to reconstruct intraspecific phylogeny by comparing cytb mtDNA sequences of 13 newly isolated O.cuniculus haplotypes from Sicily and 7 individuals from other countries (Canada, France, Mexico, North Italy, South Africa, Spain, Sweden). Our results show that the rabbit population from Sicily has a mitochondrial type (Lineage B) that has been previously shown to be associated with O. c. cuniculus and is similar to sequences from rabbits in North-Est Spain, Southern France, Sweden and South Africa

Capsular closure after hip arthroscopy: our experience

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: In the last decade, arthroscopic treatment of hip diseases has significantly spread and evolved and currently it represents the gold standard for the treatment of femoral- acetabular impingement. In the recent years, the function of the joint capsule (and therefore the results of an arthroscopic capsulotomy) has been hugely developed, opening a heated debate. The Literature is still torn about the need for a capsular suture, but more recent studies are more oriented in its execution at the end of the surgical procedure. According to these recent studies, the joint capsule performs an essential function of primary stability, and its closure is therefore necessary to restore the native anatomy and physiology. Nevertheless, capsular management remains a controversial topic. This is a retrospective study with the aim of assessing the influence of capsular suture on the patient's functional outcome in a cohort of patients with femoral-acetabular impingement arthroscopically treated. HYPOTHESIS: Our hypothesis is that an adequate capsular suture positively influences the patient's functional outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: 50 patients treated with hip arthroscopy for femoral-acetabular impingement have been retrospectively enrolled at the Orthopaedic Clinic of Academic Hospital of Udine during a period of two-years (2017-2018); collected data have been analysed and compared with a retrospective model. Patients have been divided into two equivalent groups, 25 treated with capsular suture, 25 without performing the suture. Patient's post-operative functional outcome has been analysed using the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), the Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) and the Hip Outcome Score-Sport Scale (HOS-SS). The functional outcome in patients where capsular sutures were performed was better than in non-sutured patients, in all three analysed scales. CONCLUSIONS: Capsular suture with a single side-to-side stitch at the end of the procedure can positively influence the patient's functional outcome