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Pelagic seabirds are tied to their breeding colonies throughout their long‐lasting breeding season, but at the same time, they have to feed in a highly dynamic marine environment where prey abundance and availability rapidly change across space and seasons. Here, we describe the foraging movements of yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, a seabird endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that spends its entire life cycle within this enclosed basin and whose future conservation is intimately linked to human‐driven and climatic changes affecting the sea. The aim was to understand the main factors underlying the choice of foraging locations during the reproductive phases. A total of 34 foraging trips were obtained from 21 breeding adults tagged and tracked on Tavolara Archipelago (N Sardinia, Italy). This is the largest and most important breeding area for the species, accounting for more than 50% of the world population. The relationships between foraging movements during two different breeding stages and the seasonal changes of primary productivity at sea were modeled. Movements appeared to be addressed toward inshore (<20 km), highly productive, and relatively shallow (<200 m) foraging areas, often in front of river mouths and at great distances from the colony. During incubation, the Bonifacio Strait and other coastal areas close to North and West Sardinia were the most preferred locations (up to 247 km from the colony). During the chick‐rearing phase, some individuals reached areas placed at greater distances from the colony (up to 579 km), aiming at food‐rich hotspots placed as far north as the Gulf of Lion (France). The need for such long distance and long‐lasting foraging trips is hypothesized to be related to unfavorable conditions on the less productive (and already depleted) Sardinian waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Endovascular aneurysm repair is well established as the gold standard in treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Generally, endovascular repair is performed using a bi or trimodular stent graft, requiring placement of a contralateral iliac limb. Deployment of the contralateral iliac limb requires retrograde gate cannulation of the endograft main body contralateral limb. This step represents the crucial point of a standard endovascular repair procedure and can become challenging, especially in the case of high iliac tortuosity. This study compares the procedural times between the retrograde gate cannulation and the contralateral snare cannulation to demonstrate the possibility of directly performing the contralateral snare cannulation in the case of a complex iliac anatomy assessed by the iliac tortuosity index. Methods: One hundred and forty-eight patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Cannulation times between retrograde gate cannulation and contralateral snare cannulation were compared for each degree of iliac tortuosity. The degree of iliac tortuosity was assessed through the iliac tortuosity index. Cannulation times were detected from inserting the wire into the introducer to passing through the radio-opaque gate markers. Results: The cannulation times were 2.94 min for the retrograde gate cannulation group and 3.15 min for the contralateral snare cannulation group, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.33). Overall cannulation times were 2.98 min. For the iliac tortuosity index grade 0, the cannulation times were 2.71 min for the retrograde gate cannulation group and 3.85 min for the contralateral snare cannulation group, respectively, with a significant difference in favor of the retrograde gate cannulation group (p < 0.0001). For the iliac tortuosity index grade 1, the cannulation times were 2.74 min for the retrograde gate cannulation group and 2.8 min for the contralateral snare cannulation group, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.63). Regarding the iliac tortuosity index grades 2 and 3, the cannulation times were 3.01 and 4.93 min for the retrograde gate cannulation group and 2.71 and 3.28 min for the contralateral snare cannulation group, respectively. The first group's times were significantly higher than the second group's (p = 0.01 and p = 0.0001). Conclusions: In patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms undergoing endovascular aortic repair, the gate cannulation times were significantly shorter for the contralateral snare cannulation method than the retrograde gate cannulation method in the iliac tortuosity index grades 2 and 3. Therefore, performing the contralateral snare cannulation method would be appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seabirds are compelled to nest on land, away from their feeding areas, which they can only reach by leaving eggs or chicks in the nest, often for long periods of time. For this reason, almost all of them have evolved social monogamy as a reproductive system, cooperation between partners for incubation and chick rearing, and long-lasting pair bonds. Additionally, nesting conditions are essential for successful reproduction, and the nest can be considered a resource if it provides more guarantees in this aspect. As a result, the nest may be a source of contention and intraspecific competition, especially among males. In this work, we analyze long-term data of the Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) population to address the fitness consequences of nest change regarding survival and reproductive success. We used capture–recapture multistate models and the AICc model selection approach to test three hypotheses: breeding failure triggers nest change; nest change affects breeding success probability; nest change affects survival. Each year, about 5% of the breeders move to a new nest. For males, it was mainly a way to improve their breeding conditions and was observed in their early years as a breeder. Conversely, for females, it was a way to improve their reproductive performance by trying with a new mate after a failure. Males that changed nests improved their breeding success probability. Instead, in females, there was no causal relation between nest change and breeding success, the latter having been more influenced by the intrinsic quality of the female as a breeder. We did not even find a link between nest change and survival. Instead, we demonstrated that reproductive failure could affect the apparent survival of females, probably because it induces breeding dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We sought to evaluate if patients with proximal critical circumflex (CX) lesions did better with single SV-CABG on the best obtuse marginal (OM), or with sequential SV-CABG on two OM branches. Design. Ninety patients were prospectively randomised to single SV-CABG on the best OM (sSV-CABG-45 patients; Group A) or to sequential SV-CABG on 2 OM (seqSV-CABG 45 patients; Group B). Transit-time flowmetry (TTF), and graft flow reserve were evaluated. Recurrent angina, acute myocardial infarction, readmission for coronary reintervention were defined "treatment failure" during follow-up. Results. SeqSV-CABG showed better intraoperative maximum (119.1±57.5 ml/min vs. sSV-CABG 62.4±29.6; p=0.001), mean (56.3±31.5 ml/min vs. 30.8±12.8; p=0.0001), minimum flow (22.8±9.2 ml/min vs. 11.8±8.9; p=0.001) and P.I. (0.71±0.4 vs.1.46±0.9; p=0.006). Graft flow reserve also proved to be higher (95.4±29.7 ml/min mean flow vs. sSV-CABG 42.3±15.2 ml/min mean flow; p=0.0001; flow reserve 1.72±0.99 vs 1.32±1.09; p=0.001) as well as freedom from treatment failure (97.5±0.5% vs 88.7±0.4%; p=0.05). Conclusions. SeqSV-CABG showed higher TTF flows, with no incremental risk for perioperative morbidity. Higher flows and graft flow reserve may allow lower treatment failure at mid-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social monogamy is the most common social mating system in birds. However, the persistence of pair bonds between breeding seasons varies among species, populations and individuals. Understanding fitness causes and consequences of mate change is critical for understanding population dynamics and the evolution of social monogamy. We used 12 years of data from Scopoli's shearwater breeding population to estimate mate change probabilities and test whether they affect the probabilities of (1) skipping breeding, (2) apparent survival and (3) breeding success. Widowing was the most common cause of mate change, with more males changing mates at least once in their lives than females. Females' probability of skipping a breeding season increased significantly just before pairing with a new partner. Also, we found that females' apparent survival, but not males', might increase after mate change. A possible explanation is that a longer adult life expectancy of females after mate change could at least partially offset the cost of skipping breeding. We found no relation between mate change and breeding success. Our study suggests that the costs and benefits of mate fidelity may be sex specific in this species. Future research on this topic should focus on the effects of mate change on each sex's lifetime reproductive success, which we could not address specifically in this study. Future studies will hopefully be able to delve deeper into how mate change, caused by divorce or widowhood, shifts the balance of reproduction or survival, determining lifetime reproductive success. • We investigated the fitness consequences of mate change. • Widowing was the most common cause of mate change. • Females that changed mates increased survival and skipping breeding probabilities. • Future studies should focus on sex-differential effects of mate change on fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reintroductions represent an opportunity to restore local biodiversity and reverse the effect of taxa extinction. However, they need feasibility and monitoring plans before and during their implementation to ensure concrete and lasting results. During the 20th century, the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) underwent a severe population decline in many European countries due to direct persecution and coast exploitation. In the 1960s–1970s, it was declared extinct as a breeder in Italy. In 2004, the Maremma Regional Park (Tuscany, central Italy) started a reintroduction project by capturing and releasing, from 2006 to 2010, 33 juvenile Corsican ospreys on the southern coast of Tuscany. The settlement of the first breeding pair in 2011 was the initial sign of the success of the reintroduction project, then further pairs settled from 2011 onward. A total of 81 feather or blood samples were collected for DNA extraction from both translocated (2006–2010) and newborn individuals (2011–2021). Individuals were analyzed at 16 microsatellite loci to verify any changes in genetic variability over time and to set out a protocol for the reconstruction of kinship for conservation and management purposes. We did not observe a reduction in genetic variability between the two sampling periods, although we found a slight sign of the founder effect in the reestablished population. A strong genetic differentiation was observed between this Mediterranean population and an injured osprey from a Northern European population, thus confirming the importance of considering the local genetic pool in any reintroduction project. Monogamous behavior was confirmed by family reconstruction, which allowed the identification of clear kinship relationships. Our findings indirectly inform on the genetic variability of the population during the 16-year period from the start of the project and provide useful insights for its long-term conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying sex-related differences/variables associated with 30 day/1 year mortality in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Methods: Multicenter/retrospective/observational study. A database was sent to all the Italian vascular surgeries to collect all the patients operated on for CLTI in 2019. Acute lower-limb ischemia and neuropathic-diabetic foot are not included. Follow-up: One year. Data on demographics/comorbidities, treatments/outcomes, and 30 day/1 year mortality were investigated. Results: Information on 2399 cases (69.8% men) from 36/143 (25.2%) centers. Median (IQR) age: 73 (66–80) and 79 (71–85) years for men/women, respectively (p < 0.0001). Women were more likely to be over 75 (63.2% vs. 40.1%, p = 0.0001). More men smokers (73.7% vs. 42.2%, p < 0.0001), are on hemodialysis (10.1% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.006), affected by diabetes (61.9% vs. 52.8%, p < 0.0001), dyslipidemia (69.3% vs. 61.3%, p < 0.0001), hypertension (91.8% vs. 88.5%, p = 0.011), coronaropathy (43.9% vs. 29.4%, p < 0.0001), bronchopneumopathy (37.1% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.0001), underwent more open/hybrid surgeries (37.9% vs. 28.8%, p < 0.0001), and minor amputations (22% vs. 13.7%, p < 0.0001). More women underwent endovascular revascularizations (61.6% vs. 55.2%, p = 0.004), major amputations (9.6% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.024), and obtained limb-salvage if with limited gangrene (50.8% vs. 44.9%, p = 0.017). Age > 75 (HR = 3.63, p = 0.003) is associated with 30 day mortality. Age > 75 (HR = 2.14, p < 0.0001), nephropathy (HR = 1.54, p < 0.0001), coronaropathy (HR = 1.26, p = 0.036), and infection/necrosis of the foot (dry, HR = 1.42, p = 0.040; wet, HR = 2.04, p < 0.0001) are associated with 1 year mortality. No sex-linked difference in mortality statistics. Conclusion: Women exhibit fewer comorbidities but are struck by CLTI when over 75, a factor associated with short- and mid-term mortality, explaining why mortality does not statistically differ between the sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When selecting a breeding site, individuals can use social information to reduce the uncertainty regarding habitat quality. Individuals of several bird species tend to reuse nests previously occupied by conspecific or heterospecific competitors but the proximate mechanisms underlying this behaviour remain unclear. Reoccupying nests previously used by competitors could result from individuals copying competitors' choices (the 'social information' hypothesis). Alternatively, it could allow individuals to fulfil their need for a soft nest substrate (e.g. by improving thermal insulation or reducing egg breakage risks) at low costs, regardless of previous occupancy (the 'comfort' hypothesis). Here, we aimed to determine which of these nonmutually exclusive mechanisms triggered the preference for old conspecific nest material in a secondary cavity-nesting raptor that does not add lining material to its nests, the lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni. Using an experimental design forcing settling lesser kestrels to choose between two adjacent nestboxes containing different substrates, we detected a strong preference for soft substrates (peat moss or old conspecific or European roller, Coracias garrulus , nest material) over coarse mineral substrate, especially when the soft substrate also provided social information about previous nest use by a competitor. Despite the apparent absence of preference when directly comparing settlement patterns in soft substrates with and without social information, early settling individuals favoured the substrate with social information, while late settling ones favoured the substrate without social information. This could reflect intraspecific competition avoidance by late arriving individuals that may be competitively inferior to early arriving ones. This hypothesis is supported by a later laying date of young breeders in our population. Our findings suggest that both comfort seeking and social information use explain the preference for previously used nest cavities, and that nest site choices may depend on individual competitive abilities and experience. • The proximate mechanisms underlying the reuse of old nest material are diverse. • Lesser kestrels preferred soft nest substrates, with or without social cues. • Between two soft substrates, early breeders favoured the one providing social cues. • Late breeders, mostly young, preferred soft substrates with no social cues. • Lesser kestrels may adjust social information use according to individual traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population dynamics of Antarctic seabirds are influenced by variations in winter sea ice extent and persistence; however, the type of relationship differs according to the region and the demographic parameter considered. We used annual presence/absence data obtained from 1,138 individually marked birds to study the influence of environmental and individual characteristics on the survival of Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae at Edmonson Point (Ross Sea, Antarctica) between 1994 and 2005. About 25% of 600 birds marked as chicks were reobserved at the natal colony. The capture and survival rates of Adélie penguins at this colony increased with the age of individuals, and five age classes were identified for both parameters. Mean adult survival was 0.85 (SE = 0.01), and no effect of sex on survival was evident. Breeding propensity, as measured by adult capture rates, was close to one, indicating a constant breeding effort through time. Temporal variations in survival were best explained by a quadratic relationship with winter sea ice extent anomalies in the Ross Sea, suggesting that for this region optimal conditions are intermediate between too much and too little winter sea ice. This is likely the result of a balance between suitable wintering habitat and food availability. Survival rates were not correlated with the Southern Oscillation Index. Low adult survival after a season characterized by severe environmental conditions at breeding but favorable conditions during winter suggested an additional mortality mediated by the reproductive effort. Adélie penguins are sensitive indicators of environmental changes in the Antarctic, and the results from this study provide insights into regional responses of this species to variability in winter sea ice habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among mammals, female searching behaviour for a mate has been poorly investigated in behavioural studies on sexual selection. The social organization of roe deer and its physiological constraints suggest the existence of searching strategies by females. Using radiotracking and direct observation we studied the spatial behaviour and intersexual interactions of 32 roe does during the rut in two areas of Tuscany, central Italy. Respectively, 55% and 33% of females performed excursions outside their usual home ranges during the peak of the rut (15 Jul.–15 Aug.). Excursions ranged from 0.6 to 3.0 km, if measured in a straight line, and lasted 30–52 h. During excursions, females (1) moved quickly in one direction; (2) met and were courted by a male; (3) copulated with a male and (4) returned to their home ranges after mating. Before starting an excursion, roaming females were observed to approach unsuccessfully males already courting other females. Most likely excursions represent a condition dependent mating tactic adopted by a variable proportion of females and involving active searching behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension has been traditionally considered a risk factor for restenosis following carotid arteriotomy. Genetic and morphological response to carotid arteriotomy in normotensive Wystar-Kyoto (WKY), spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), and Milan hypertensive (MHS) rats were analyzed. Material and Methods: C-myc, angiotensin II receptor-1 (AT1), angiotensin II receptor-2 (AT2), endothelin-1 receptor A (ETA), endothelin-1 receptor B (ETB), Bcl-2 family-members (Bcl-2/Bax, Bcl-XL/S) were analyzed in surgically injured as well as uninjured carotids of WKY and hypertensive strains (HS). Thirty-day histology and morphometry were accomplished on injured and uninjured carotids. Results: C-myc mRNA is activated earlier and/or to a greater extent in hypertensive strains than in WKY. AT1 mRNA increases in WKY after injury, while it decreases in SHR and MHS. AT2 shows the opposite, decreasing in WKY and increasing in hypertensive strains. ETA mRNA decreases in all strains although with different timing and levels, associated with a replacement by ETB mRNA. Bcl-2/Bax ratio gradually decreases in WKY, while it shows only a transient decrease in SHR and MHS 4 h after the injury. Negative remodeling is observed in all injured carotids, although neointima was detected in WKY only. Thirty days following arteriotomy, morphometry demonstrated a significant decrease of luminal area, with consistent gain in the medial area in WKY, whereas hypertensive strains showed significant increase of the luminal area, consistent with a contemporary decrease of the medial area. Conclusions: Vaso-relaxant AT2 and ETB induced limited vasoconstriction in HS. Less apoptosis in hypertensive rats reduced cell proliferation, contrasting c-myc. These responses favorably modulated media/lumen area ratio following arteriotomy in HS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVF) are rare malformations. Opinions vary on which operation should be offered to these patients, particularly those asymptomatic. We report four patients operated on for CAVF referred to our institution over the course of a year. Three patients had associated cardiac lesions. In all of them CAVF was identified and closed with running sutures. There was no operative mortality or operative morbidity. All patients were asymptomatic at follow-up. In patients undergoing surgical treatment of cardiac disease, associated CAVF should always be treated. Although in patients with giant CAVF it is safer to patch the outflow of CAVF from the outflow chamber, in the majority of cases CAVF should be identified intraoperatively and closed with multiple running stitches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]