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We present the dataset “SArdinian GRAsslands” (SAGRA), a collection of georeferenced vegetation surveys sourced from different areas of Sardinia (Italy). SAGRA addresses a geographic gap in current databases, as plots from Sardinian grasslands are underrepresented. We collected vegetation data from different projects and organized it within a framework that allows for scalability to larger scales or integration into existing databases. The surveys include three categories of information: general, vegetation and management, and environmental. Overall, SAGRA comprises 1277 vegetation surveys, some of which were performed in different years in the same plots. This dataset encompasses 685 plots and 434 species, primarily therophytes.

New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 9 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 34 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Calabria, Latium, Lombardy, Marche, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria.

Abstract This data descriptor presents a novel dataset collected using the quadrupedal robot ANYmal C in the Mediterranean coastal dune environment of the European Union (EU) habitats 2110 and 2120 in Sardinia, Italy. The dataset mainly consists of photos, videos, and point clouds of the coastal dunes, providing valuable information on the structure and composition of this habitat. The data was collected by a team of robotic engineers and plant scientists as result of a joint effort towards robotic habitat monitoring. The dataset is publicly available through Zenodo and can be used by researchers working in both the fields of robotics and habitat ecology and conservation. The availability of this dataset has the potential to inform future research and conservation efforts in the EU habitats 2110 and 2120, and it highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of habitat monitoring. This paper serves as a comprehensive description of the dataset and the methods used to collect it, making it a valuable resource for the scientific community.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal regulators of gene expression, influencing key cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In the realm of sarcomas—a diverse group of malignant tumors affecting soft tissues and bone sarcomas—miRNAs have emerged as crucial players in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. This review delves into the intricate roles of miRNAs across various soft tissue sarcoma subtypes, including rhabdomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, angiosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). We explore how dysregulated miRNAs function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, modulating critical pathways that define the aggressive nature of these cancers. Furthermore, we discuss the diagnostic and prognostic potential of specific miRNAs and highlight their promise as therapeutic targets. By understanding the miRNA-mediated regulatory networks, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current research while pointing towards future directions for miRNA-based therapies. Our findings underscore the potential of miRNAs to transform the landscape of sarcoma treatment, offering hope for more precise, personalized, and effective therapeutic strategies.

The genetic basis of plant response to light and heat stresses had been unveiled, and different molecular mechanisms of leaf cell homeostasis to keep high physiological performances were recognized in grapevine varieties. However, the ability to develop heat stress tolerance strategies must be further elucidated since the morpho-anatomical and physiological traits involved may vary with genotype × environment combination, stress intensity, and duration. A 3-year experiment was conducted on potted plants of Sardinian red grapevine cultivars Cannonau (syn. Grenache) and Carignano (syn. Carignan), exposed to prolonged heat stress inside a UV-blocking greenhouse, either submitted to low daily UV-B doses of 4.63 kJ m−2 d−1 (+UV) or to 0 kJ m−2 d−1 (−UV), and compared to a control (C) exposed to solar radiation (4.05 kJ m−2 d−1 average UV-B dose). Irrigation was supplied to avoid water stress, and canopy light and thermal microclimate were monitored continuously. Heat stress exceeded one-third of the duration inside the greenhouse and 6% in C. In vivo spectroscopy, including leaf reflectance and fluorescence, allowed for characterizing different patterns of leaf traits and metabolites involved in oxidative stress protection. Cannonau showed lower stomatal conductance under C (200 mmol m−2 s−1) but more than twice the values inside the greenhouse (400 to 900 mmol m−2 s−1), where water use efficiency was reduced similarly in both varieties. Under severe heat stress and −UV, Cannonau showed a sharper decrease in primary photochemical activity and higher leaf pigment reflectance indexes and leaf mass area. UV-B increased the leaf pigments, especially in Carignano, and different leaf cell regulatory traits to prevent oxidative damage were observed in leaf cross-sections. Heat stress induced chloroplast swelling, plastoglobule diffusion, and the accumulation of secretion deposits in both varieties, aggravated in Cannonau −UV by cell vacuolation, membrane dilation, and diffused leaf blade spot swelling. Conversely, in Carignano UV-B, cell wall barriers and calcium oxalate crystals proliferated in mesophyll cells. These responses suggest an adaptive divergence among cultivars to prolonged heat stress and UV-B light. Further research on grapevine biodiversity, heat, and UV-B light interactions may give new insights on the extent of stress tolerance to improve viticulture adaptive strategies in climate change hotspots.

Olfactory dysfunction is a prevalent non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting approximately 65–90% of subjects. PD patients may also report odor perception in the absence of any external source, often referred to as olfactory hallucinations (OHs) or phantosmia. This study aims to explore the current understanding of OHs in PD and offer a comprehensive overview of their prevalence and characteristics. We conducted a systematic search of the literature published on PubMed from inception to July 2023 regarding OHs in PD, following PRISMA guidelines. From the 2875 studies identified through database searching, 29 studies fulfilled the necessary criteria and underwent data extraction. The frequency of OHs in PD patients varies widely, ranging from 0.5% to 18.2%, with female prevalence ranging from 36% to 75% of the patients. Olfactory experiences may vary widely, ranging from pleasant scents to unpleasant odors. Several studies have indicated the concurrent presence of other types of hallucinations alongside phantosmia, especially visual and auditory hallucinations. OHs in PD are a type of hallucination that has been largely overlooked. To gain a deeper understanding of OHs in PD patients, the next crucial step should involve the development and validation of a dedicated questionnaire.

New Italian data on the distribution of 17 Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 11 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 30 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Apulia, Campania, Calabria, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily and Tuscany.

In this contribution, new chromosome data obtained on material collected in Italy are presented. It includes the first count for Dianthus carthusianorum subsp. tenorei, Helosciadium nodiflorum, Hieracium hypochoeroides subsp. cilentanum, H. lesimanum, H. scopolioides, H. terraccianoi. In addition, first Italian counts for Crupina vulgaris, Damasonium alisma, and Illecebrum verticillatum are reported.

Mediterranean grasslands stand out as biodiversity hotspots due to their inclusion of diverse habitats that foster a remarkable range of biological diversity, characterized by inter-annual variability of floristic composition. This study aims to assess the inter-annual dynamics of the floristic composition in a grassland within a typical silvopastoral system in the Mediterranean basin, within the framework of rainfall variability. The study was performed on a farm representative of Mediterranean silvopastoral systems in Central-Western Sardinia (Italy). Vegetation surveys started in the spring of 2018 and concluded in the spring of 2022. They were conducted annually in the spring (S) and winter (W) seasons, using the point quadrat method along eight permanent transects. The dynamics of floristic composition were compared within and between years in terms of variability of specific percentage contribution (CSP) of each plant species. The results highlighted substantial differences in the composition of plant assemblages between the two seasons (W vs S) and between surveys within each season for all a posteriori comparisons. Anthemis arvensis, Lolium rigidum, Festuca ligustica and Medicago polymorpha were the main discriminating plant species between seasons. Considering the discriminant species between the four winter surveys, we found a positive effect of August rain on Cynodon dactylon CSP and a negative one on Trifolium subterraneum CSP. Considering the spring surveys, we found a positive effect of January rain on L. rigidum and a negative effect on Plantago lanceolata. The rain affected the inter-annual dynamics of floristic composition in the Mediterranean grasslands. Other factors, such as temperature, remain to be investigated. Moreover, a more extended data series may allow us to strengthen our results.

Abstract Incorporating archaeology within the ecosystem services (ES) framework can offer decision‐makers lessons from the past and a broader sustainability perspective. Given the claimed archaeology‐ES link, the island of Sardinia (Italy) offers an unparalleled opportunity where a unique archaeological heritage occurs in an area of high biodiversity value. More than 5000 nuraghi, megalithic edifices distinctive of the Nuragic civilization (1700–580 BCE), are still present on the island. By crossing the map of Vegetation Series (VS) with nuraghi occurrences, we aimed at acquiring a long‐term perspective on the interactions between Nuragic people and the vegetation as ES provider, so as to enrich our understanding of the past and the present, and potentially inform future practice for the region of Sardinia. A VS is here intended as a hypothesis of a succession of plant communities that can potentially succeed each other over time in a particular land unit. The vegetation‐derived ES represented a driving force in the land occupation strategies of the Nuragic people, who preferred, for their settlements, the mesophiluos cork oak VS and secondary the deciduous broad‐leaved ones, which, with fresh climatic conditions on fertile substrates and gentle slopes on effusive magmatic rocks, can provide land for grazing and agriculture. Conversely, the Nuragic land occupation strategies shaped the VS, transforming the landscape into agro‐silvo‐pastoral systems. Our results suggest that the origin of the present agro‐silvo‐pastoral landscapes (i.e. Pascolo arborato/Dehesa) in Sardinia could be traced back to the Nuragic civilization. The interaction between humans and vegetation in Sardinia is ancient, reciprocal and dynamic. This interaction is crucial for the survival of the present agro‐silvo‐pastoral landscapes that represent important suppliers of provisioning, regulating and cultural ES. Among others, these landscapes are a good example of intimate and sustainable relationships between people and nature and provide a marked sense of place and identity for Sardinia inhabitants. This transdisciplinary approach linking plant ecology with archaeology offered archaeology a better understanding of the environmental settings and subsistence of the Nuragic civilization and provided plant ecology with a long‐term perspective on human‐vegetation interactions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 8 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 49 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Campania, Calabria, Marche, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria. Relevés and figures are provided as Supplementary material respectively 1 and 2.

Abstract Ecological variables may be expressed on four basic measurement scales (nominal, ordinal, interval or ratio), whereas circular variables and those combining a nominal state with other scale types are also common. However, existing methods are not suited to calculate correlations between all pairwise combinations of such variables, preventing the application of standard multivariate techniques. The essence of the new approach is to derive a so‐called difference semimatrix for all pairs of observations for each variable, and then to calculate the matrix correlation based on two such semimatrices. The advantage of this function, termed d‐correlation, is that comparisons are made on the same logical basis regardless of the measurement scale, allowing for the use of principal components analysis to visualize interrelationships among many variables simultaneously. Further advantages are that missing values in the data are tolerated and that the Gower index of dissimilarity between objects may also be computed. The use of the method is demonstrated on a small toy matrix, an artificial plant trait matrix and a large dataset summarizing ecological features of all vascular plant species of Sardinia, Italy. The source code in R and FORTRAN, and applications for three different operation systems, are provided for computations with results serving as input for other statistical software. The new computational framework will allow the comparison of any types of ecological traits in a mathematically meaningful manner. This option was not available earlier in the field of multivariate statistics, and the method is expected to receive applications in other subject areas as well in which many objects are described in terms of variables expressed on different measurement scales.

In this paper, we first discuss the challenges related to habitat monitoring and review possible robotic solutions. Then, we propose a framework to perform terrestrial habitat monitoring exploiting the mobility of legged robotic systems. The idea is to provide the robot with the Natural Intelligence introduced as the combination of the environment in which it moves, the intelligence embedded in the design of its body, and the algorithms composing its mind. This approach aims to solve the challenges of deploying robots in real natural environments, such as irregular and rough terrains, long-lasting operations, and unexpected collisions, with the final objective of assisting humans in assessing the habitat conservation status. Finally, we present examples of robotic monitoring of habitats in four different environments: forests, grasslands, dunes, and screes.

In 2014, UNAIDS launched renewed global targets for HIV control to achieve by 2025, known as “the three 95”: 95% of people living with HIV (PWH) diagnosed, of which 95% are receiving treatment, of which 95% are on sustained virological suppression. In Italy, new HIV diagnoses have been steadily decreasing since 2012. However, in 2020, 41% of new diagnoses presented with less than 200 CD4+ cells/µL and 60% with less than 350 CD4+ cells/µL. Implementing testing and early treatment is a key strategy to prevent AIDS, late presentation, and HIV transmission. We selected non-Infectious Diseases Units based on the European project HIDES and engaged colleagues in a condition-guided HIV screening strategy. We enrolled 300 patients, of which 202 were males (67.3%) and 98 were females (32.7%). Most of the screening was performed in Infectious Diseases (ID) and Hematologic wards. In total, we diagnosed eleven new HIV infections with a hospital prevalence in the study population of 3.7%. Five (45.4%) had a CD4 count 3, one (9.1%) 3, and one (9.1%) 3. Regarding risk factors, 81.8% declared having had unprotected sexual intercourse and 54.5% were heterosexual. All patients promptly started a combination antiretroviral regimen and 10 (90.9%) obtained an undetectable HIV-RNA status. Eight of the eleven (72.7%) patients are currently on follow-up in our outpatient clinic. A proactive indicator disease-guided screening can help avoid missed opportunities to diagnose HIV infection in a hospital setting. Implementing this kind of intervention could favor early diagnosis and access to treatment.

New Italian data on the distribution of Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 8 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 27 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Apulia, Campania, Calabria, Lazio, Tuscany, Umbria, Sardinia, and Sicily.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. material 1.

Introduction: Colchicine-binding site inhibitors are some of the most interesting ligands belonging to the wider family of microtubule-destabilising agents.Results: A novel series of 4′-fluoro-substituted ligands (5–13) was synthesised. The antiproliferative activity assays resulted in nM values for the new benzotriazole-acrylonitrile derivatives. Compound 5, the hit compound, showed an evident blockade of HeLa cell cycle in the G2-M phase, but also a pro-apoptotic potential, and an increase of early and late apoptotic cells in HeLa and MCF-7 cell cycle analysis. Confocal microscopy analysis showed a segmented shape and a collapse of the cytoskeleton, as well as a consistent cell shrinkage after administration of 5 at 100 nM. Derivative 5 was also proved to compete with colchicine at colchicine-binding site, lowering its activity against tubulin polymerisation. In addition, co-administration of 5 and doxorubicin in drug-resistant A375 melanoma cell line highlighted a synergic potential in terms of inhibition of cell viability.Discussion: The 4′-fluoro substitution of benzotriazole-acrylonitrile scaffold brought us a step forward in the optimisation process to obtain compound 5 as promising MDA antiproliferative agent at nanomolar concentration.

In this contribution, Italian new data concerning the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3150, 3170*, 3260, 4090, 91L0, 91M0, 9340 are reported. In detail, 20 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 30 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Campania, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, and Umbria.

Abstract Background There is a long-term trend towards the abandonment of agro-pastoral activities in the mountain areas of Europe: the following encroachment process of semi-natural grasslands by shrubs is one of the main severe threats to the conservation of biodiversity in mountain environments. To better understand the impact of land abandonment, we analysed the reliability of plant functional groups, ant traits, and ant functional groups as indicators of land use changes. We carried out the research in Italy at four sites along a latitudinal/altitudinal gradient in three biogeographic regions (Mediterranean, Continental, Alpine). We identified three stages of a chronosequence at each site as representative of the plant succession in response to pastoral land-use abandonment. Results As expected, both the plant and ant assemblages considerably differed across sites at the species level and, within each site, among the three stages. This trend was found also using ant traits, functional groups of ants, and plant functional groups. Ant and plant communities were related in terms of composition and functionality. Harvester ants and ants with collective foraging strategy were associated with annual legumes and grasses (Therophytes); ants with a strictly individual foraging strategy with Phanerophytes. Ant traits and plant functional groups indicated significant differences among the three stages of the chronosequence. However, ant functional groups could not discriminate between the stages represented by secondary grasslands currently grazed and shrub-encroached grasslands ungrazed. Conclusion Despite some limitations of ant functional groups in explaining the succession stages of land abandonment, our results suggest that ants are a good surrogate taxon and might be used as bioindicators of land-use changes and ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the functional group approach should be applied to other European ecosystems. Finally, reducing the taxonomic complexity could contribute to developing predictive models to detect early environmental changes and biodiversity loss in mountain habitats.

The ‘Habitats’ Directive (HD 92/43/EEC) is one of the primary legal tools aiming at conserving nature in Europe. Due to the complex iter to revise it, the habitats listed in the Annex I have been seldom updated after the HD adoption. Basing on already available information and expert knowledge, this paper presents a preliminary list of relevant habitats occurring in Sardinia, not yet considered and worth to be placed in the Annex I. Two new habitat proposals, one habitat new for Italy, and nine new subtypes of already existing HD habitats are here described. Most of the proposed new habitats and subtypes have a limited distribution range, due to the high number of narrow, often endangered, endemic species that characterize them. Being neglected, they are consequently poorly investigated, inconstantly monitored and unprotected. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to promote their conservation through implementation of HD and its interpretation manuals.

New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 1510*, 2130*, 2250*, 3180*, 3260, 5230*, 6410, 7140, 7220*, 9320 are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 14 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 20 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Marche, Molise, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria.

New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3170*, 6110*, 91E0*, 9320, 9330 are reported in this contribution. Specifically, one new occurrence in Natura 2000 sites is presented and six new cells are added in the European Environment Agency 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Sardinia, Sicily and Umbria.

Habitat monitoring in Europe is regulated by Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, which suggests the use of typical species to assess habitat conservation status. Yet, the Directive uses the term “typical” species but does not provide a definition, either for its use in reporting or for its use in impact assessments. To address the issue , a n online workshop was organized by the Italian Society for Vegetation Science (SISV) to shed light on the diversity of perspectives regarding the different concepts of typical species, and to discuss the possible implications for habitat monitoring. To this aim, we inquired 73 people with a very different degree of expertise in the field of vegetation science by means of a tailored survey composed of six questions. We analysed the data using Pearson's Chi-squared test to verify that the answers diverged from a random distribution and checked the effect of the degree of experience of the surveyees on the results. We found that most of the surveyees agreed on the use of the phytosociological method for habitat monitoring and of the diagnostic and characteristic species to evaluate the structural and functional conservation status of habitats. With this contribution, we shed light on the meaning of “typical” species in the context of habitat monitoring.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1.

New data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3120, 3260, 6310, 9180* and 92A0 are reported in this contribution. In detail, 3 new occurrences in Natura 2000 Sites are presented and 5 new cells in the EEA 10 km x 10 km Reference grid are added. The new data refer to Italy and in particular to the Administrative Regions of Liguria, Sardinia, Sicily and Umbria. This issue of the section “Habitat records” includes an Errata corrige referring to the last released issue.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Artemisia, Chaetonychia, Cirsium, Cynanchum, Genista, Hieracium, Iberis, Melica, Misopates, Myosotis, Thalictrum, Trifolium, Utricularia, Veronica, and Vicia. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as supplementary material.

New data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3160, 7210* and 9320 are reported in this contribution. In detail, 24 new occurrences in Natura 2000 Sites are presented and 42 new cells in the EEA 10 km x 10 km Reference grid are added. The new data refer to Italy and in particular to the Administrative Regions Lombardy, Sardinia, and Sicily.

The current issue is the first one of the new version of Plant Sociology, the international peer-reviewed journal of the "Società Italiana di Scienza della Vegetazione" (SISV). The technical management of the journal has been entrusted to the editorial platform Pensoft, the Editorial Board has been largely reshaped, now including also a dedicated Social media team. Plant Sociology is focused on all aspects of vegetation from phytocoenosis to landscape level, through time and space, at different geographic and ecological scales; the journal contributes to spread around the issues related to management and conservation of plant communities and plant diversity. All the articles are freely available in Open Access (OA) with affordable article processing charge (APC). In the present Editorial, we briefly discuss the importance of opening the access to knowledge and data about vegetation. We believe that disseminating plant science might be a precious tool for understanding ecological processes, modelling future trends and supporting decision makers. The introduced technological improvement will hopefully allow a larger visibility and circulation for the papers published on Plant Sociology.

This study provides a first step toward the knowledge of the alien-dominated and co-dominated plant communities present in Italy. The first ever checklist of the alien phytocoenoses described or reported in literature for the Italian territory has been compiled, produced by data-mining in national and local thematic literature. The resulting vegetation-type draft-list has been checked in the light of the most recent syntaxonomic documentation and updated with regards to syntaxonomy and nomenclature, with special reference to the frame proposed in the Italian Vegetation Prodrome. The list includes 27 vascular and one bryophyte vegetation classes, hosting 194 low rank alien-dominated syntaxa. The different vegetation types detected for each syntaxonomic class and macro-vegetation group, defined by physiognomical and ecological attributes, are discussed.

Introduction. Olfactory and cognitive disorders represent important non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). No clear evidence was reported about association of specific cognitive domains and olfactory impairment. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between olfactory dysfunction and specific cognitive domains in PD patients compared to controls. Methods. 178 PD patients and 98 controls were enrolled and evaluated for odor threshold (OT), discrimination (OD), identification (OI), and TDI score using the Sniffin’ Sticks test. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale with six sub-scores: Orientation (OIS), Attention (AIS), Language (LIS), Visuospatial (VIS), Memory (MIS), and Executive index scores (EIS). Results. Statistically significant correlations were observed between OT versus, LIS, and between TDI score versus EIS. Multivariate linear regression analysis, including age and sex which are well-known predictors of olfactory dysfunction, showed that, among specific cognitive domains, only LIS was significant predictor for OT, VIS was a significant predictor for OD, while both EIS and AIS were significant predictors for OI, and finally only EIS was significant predictor for TDI score. Conclusions. Olfactory disorders in PD patients appear commonly related to dysfunction of specific cognitive domains, with strict association between global olfactory impairment and executive function deficits.

Forests host most terrestrial biodiversity and their sustainable management is crucial to halt biodiversity loss. Although scientific evidence indicates that sustainable forest management (SFM) should be assessed by monitoring multi-taxon biodiversity, most current SFM criteria and indicators account only for trees or consider indirect biodiversity proxies. Several projects performed multi-taxon sampling to investigate the effects of forest management on biodiversity, but the large variability of their sampling approaches hampers the identification of general trends, and limits broad-scale inference for designing SFM. Here we address the need of common sampling protocols for forest structure and multi-taxon biodiversity to be used at broad spatial scales. We established a network of researchers involved in 41 projects on forest multi-taxon biodiversity across 13 European countries. The network data structure comprised the assessment of at least three taxa, and the measurement of forest stand structure in the same plots or stands. We mapped the sampling approaches to multi-taxon biodiversity, standing trees and deadwood, and used this overview to provide operational answers to two simple, yet crucial, questions: what to sample? How to sample? The most commonly sampled taxonomic groups are vascular plants (83% of datasets), beetles (80%), lichens (66%), birds (66%), fungi (61%), bryophytes (49%). They cover different forest structures and habitats, with a limited focus on soil, litter and forest canopy. Notwithstanding the common goal of assessing forest management effects on biodiversity, sampling approaches differed widely within and among taxonomic groups. Differences derive from sampling units (plots size, use of stand vs. plot scale), and from the focus on different substrates or functional groups of organisms. Sampling methods for standing trees and lying deadwood were relatively homogeneous and focused on volume calculations, but with a great variability in sampling units and diameter thresholds. We developed a handbook of sampling methods (SI 3) aimed at the greatest possible comparability across taxonomic groups and studies as a basis for European-wide biodiversity monitoring programs, robust understanding of biodiversity response to forest structure and management, and the identification of direct indicators of SFM.

Although coppice forests represent a significant part of the European forest area, especially across southern Countries, they received little attention within the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) processes and scenarios, whose guidelines have been mainly designed to high forests and national scale. In order to obtain “tailored” information on the degree of sustainability of coppices on the scale of the stand, we evaluated (i) whether the main coppice management options result in different responses of the SFM indicators, and (ii) the degree to which the considered SFM indicators were appropriate in their application at stand level. The study considered three different management options (Traditional Coppice TC, coppice under Natural Evolution NE, and coppice under Conversion to high forest by means of periodical thinning CO). In each of the 43 plots considered in the study, which covered three different European Forest Types, we applied a set of eighteen “consolidated” SFM indicators, covering all the six SFM Criteria (FOREST EUROPE, 2020) and, additionally, tested other sixteen novel indicators shaped for agamic forests and/or applicable at stand level. Results confirmed that several consolidated indicators related to resources status (Growing stock and Carbon stock), health (Defoliation and Forest damage), and socio-economic functions (Net revenue, Energy and Accessibility) were highly appropriate for evaluating the sustainability of coppice at stand level. In addition, some novel indicators related to resources status (Total above ground tree biomass), health (Stand growth) and protective functions (Overstorey cover and Understorey cover) proved to be highly appropriate and able to support the information obtained by the consolidated ones. As a consequence, a subset of consolidated SFM indicators, complemented with the most appropriate novel ones, may represent a valid option to support the evaluation of coppice sustainability at stand level. An integrated analysis of the SFM indicators showed that NE and CO display significant higher environmental performances as compared with TC. In addition, CO has positive effects also on socio-economic issues, while TC -which is an important cultural heritage and a silvicultural option that may help to keep local communities engaged in forestry – combines high wood harvesting rates with dense understory cover. Overall, each of the three management options showed specific sustainability values; as a consequence, their coexistence at a local scale and in accordance with the specific environmental conditions and the social-economic context, is greatly recommended since it may fulfill a wider array of sustainability issues.

Paola Bagella,1 Nicola Squillace,2 Elena Ricci,3 Roberto Gulminetti,4 Giuseppe Vittorio De Socio,5 Lucia Taramasso,6 Giovanni Pellicanò,7 Barbara Menzaghi,8 Benedetto Maurizio Celesia,9 Chiara Dentone,10 Giancarlo Orofino,11 Paolo Bonfanti,12 Giordano Madeddu13On behalf of the C.I.S.A.I. Study Group, Italy1Unit of Post-acute Long Term Care, ATS Sardegna, Sassari, Italy; 2Infectious Diseases Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy; 3Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy; 4Unit of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy; 5Infectious Diseases Unit Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Perugia, Santa Maria Hospital, Perugia, Italy; 6Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca‘ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; 7Department of Human Pathology of the Adult and the Developmental Age ‘G. Barresi‘, Unit of Infectious Diseases, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 8Unit of Infectious Diseases, ASST della Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Italy; 9Unit of Infectious Diseases, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy; 10Unit of Infectious Diseases, Sanremo Hospital, Sanremo, Italy; 11Unit of Infectious Diseases, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Turin, Italy; 12Unit of Infectious Diseases, A. Manzoni Hospital, Lecco, Italy; 13Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical, Surgical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyIntroduction: Metabolic disorders are common amongst HIV-infected patients. Data from real-life setting on the impact of DTG/ABC/3TC in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients are scarce.Methods: We investigated the modification of metabolic profile including fasting glucose, lipid profile and markers of insulin resistance (IR) in experienced patients switching from a boosted protease inhibitors (bPI) or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimen to DTG/ABC/3TC in a prospective, observational, multicenter study.Results: We enrolled 131 HIV-infected patients, of whom 91 (69.5%) males, mean age was 50.5±10.6 years. CDC stage was A in 66 (50.4%) patients, of whom 91 (69.5%) had acquired HIV through sexual contacts. The previous regimen was bPI-based in 79 patients (60.3%) and NNRTI-based in 52 (39.7%). Patients switching from NNRTI showed a significant reduction at week 24 in total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). Triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio, HDL, median TG and TG/HDL ratio did not show significant modification during follow-up times. Among patients switching from a bPI, we observed a significant reduction in TC and LDL at both follow-up times and a slight increase in HDL. Triglycerides/HDL ratio, median TG and TG/HDL ratio showed a decrease over time that became significant at weeks 24 and 48. Blood glucose levels did not significantly vary during the observation period in patients switching from both bPI and NNRTI-based regimens.Conclusion: Our data suggest an improvement in lipid profile and TG/HDL ratio in pretreated HIV-1-infected patients who switched to DTG/ABC/3TC over 48 weeks, especially in those previously receiving a bPI-based regimen.Keywords: HIV-1 infection, dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine, lipid profile

The beef livestock system in Sardinia is based on suckler cows, often belonging to autochthonous breeds, such as the Sarda breed, and they often graze silvopastoral areas. Besides beef meat, silvopastoral systems (SPSs) provide several Ecosystem Services (ESs), such as timber provision, harvested as wood, and watershed protection. Livestock distribution is a critical factor for the sustainable use of SPSs (e.g., to avoid uneven grazing patterns) and information on patterns of spatial use are required. A study was conducted to determine: (i) the spatial distribution and (ii) the habitat selection of Sarda cattle grazing in a Mediterranean silvopastoral area. Over different seasons, 12 free-roaming adult Sarda cows were fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) Knight tracking collars to calculate an index mapping of the incidence of livestock in the landscape (LRI) and a preference index (PI) for different areas. Since the PI data were not normally distributed, the Aligned Rank Transform (ART) procedure was used for the analysis. LRI was able to represent the spatial variability in resource utilization by livestock as a LRI map. Overall, the areas where the animals drank and received supplementation were strongly preferred by the cows, reaching PI values in the summer of 19.3 ± 4.9 (median ± interquartile range), whereas areas with predominantly rocks were strongly avoided (the worst PI value in the spring was 0.2 ± 0.6). Grasslands were, in general, used in proportion to their presence in the area, with slightly increased use in the spring (PI 1.1 ± 0.5). Forest area was avoided by cows, except in the spring when it was used in proportion to their presence in the area.

Burkitt lymphoma is a very aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although remarkable progress has been made in the therapeutic scenario for patients with Burkitt lymphoma, search and development of new effective anticancer agents to improve patient outcome and minimize toxicity has become an urgent issue. In this study, the antitumoral activity of Inula viscosa , a traditional herb obtained from plants collected on the Asinara Island, Italy, was evaluated in order to explore potential antineoplastic effects of its metabolites on Burkitt lymphoma. Raji human cell line was treated with increasing Inula viscosa extract concentration for cytotoxicity screening and subsequent establishment of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, gene expression profiles were performed to identify molecular mechanisms involved in the anticancer activities of this medical plant. The Inula viscosa extract exhibited powerful antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities on Raji cell line, showing a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability, obtained by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and an increase in cell apoptosis. The treatment with Inula viscosa caused downregulation of genes involved in cell cycle and proliferation (c-MYC, CCND1) and inhibition of cell apoptosis (BCL2, BCL2L1, BCL11A). The Inula viscosa extract causes strong anticancer effects on Burkitt lymphoma cell line. The molecular mechanisms underlying such antineoplastic activity are based on targeting and downregulation of genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis. Our data suggest that Inula viscosa natural metabolites should be further exploited as potential antineoplastic agents against Burkitt lymphoma.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients using dopamine agonists can develop withdrawal symptoms, referred to as dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS), under dose tapering or discontinuation of these drugs. DAWS includes a severe stereotypical cluster of psychiatric and psychological symptoms encompassing severe mood and anxiety disturbances, autonomic symptoms, as well as generalized pain and drug cravings. However, symptoms of withdrawal of dopamine replacement therapies (DRT) are not simply limited to dopamine agonists tapering, as observed in PD patients on deep brain stimulation after dopaminergic drugs withdrawal related to surgery. To date, no DRT-related withdrawal syndrome has been described in PD patients who discontinue rasagiline, an irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B). Here we report three PD patients who developed a severe withdrawal syndrome after rasagiline suspension. The syndrome was mainly characterized by prominent psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety with panic attacks, dysphoria, and agitation) associated with fatigue, generalized pain, and autonomic manifestations (closely resembling symptoms of DAWS). In our opinion, this report suggests the importance of closely monitoring PD patients undergoing rasagiline suspension for withdrawal symptoms and provides interesting points of reflection on the role of rasagiline and other MAO-B inhibitors in mood disorders.

Paola Bagella,1 Giuseppe VL De Socio,2 Elena Ricci,3 Barbara Menzaghi,4 Canio Martinelli,5 Nicola Squillace,6 Paolo Maggi,7 Giancarlo Orofino,8 Leonardo Calza,9 Laura Carenzi,3 Benedetto Maurizio Celesia,10 Giovanni Penco,11 Antonio Di Biagio,12 Laura Valsecchi,3 Francesca Vichi,13 Valeria Colombo,14 Giustino Parruti,15 Chiara Dentone,16 Katia Falasca,17 Paolo Bonfanti,18 Giordano Madeddu1 On behalf of the C.I.S.A.I. Study Group, Italy 1Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; 2Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Perugia, Santa Maria Hospital, Perugia, Italy; 3Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy; 4Unit of Infectious Diseases, ASST della Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Italy; 5Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi Hospital Florence, Florence, Italy; 6Infectious Diseases Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy; 7Infectious Diseases Clinic, University of Bari, Policlinico Consorziale, Bari, Italy; 8Amedeo di Savoia Hospital Unit of Infectious Diseases, Torino, Italy; 9University of Bologna, Department of Infectious Diseases, S. Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy; 10Unit of Infectious Diseases, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy; 11Infectious Diseases Unit, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy; 12Unit of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Martino Hospital – IST, Genoa, Italy; 13Infectious Diseases Unit, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy; 14Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Milan, DIBIC Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy; 15Unit of Infectious Diseases, Pescara Hospital, Pescara, Italy; 16Unit of Infectious Diseases, Sanremo Hospital, Sanremo, Italy; 17Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy; 18Unit of Infectious Diseases, A. Manzoni Hospital, Lecco, Italy Abstract: Rilpivirine is associated with a good efficacy and safety profile. However, data from real-life settings are scarce. Methods: We investigated the durability, safety and efficacy of Rilpivirine-based antiretroviral therapy in a prospective, observational, multicenter study. Results: We enrolled 499 HIV-infected patients, 360 (72.1%) males, mean age 43.4 ± 10.5 years, mean CD4 600 ± 327 cell/μL, mean HIV-RNA 3.80 ± 1.15 log10 cp/mL. After a median follow up of 16 months, 81 (16.2%) interruptions were reported, 36 (7.2%) of which for adverse events (16 of grade ≥3), most commonly neurological and gastrointestinal. We observed virological failures in only 8 (1.6%) patients. Naive patients showed a significant reduction in eGFR at week 24, 48 and 72 and in total cholesterol (TC)/HDL ratio at week 48 (p=0.007). In patients switching from PI we found a significant decrease at week 24 and 48 in TC and triglycerides at week 24, 48 and 72. eGFR showed a significant decrease at week 48 and 72. TC/HDL ratio showed a statistically significant decrease at week 24 (p=0.0008) and 72 (p=0.04). A significant increase at week 24 and 48 in AST and ALT values was observed. Patients switching from TDF/FTC/EFV showed a reduction in HDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides at week 24 and 48 and in eGFR at all follow up times. TC/HDL ratio showed a significant decrease at week 48 (p=0.01). CDC stage C and antiretroviral-experience (especially Protease Inhibitors) were associated with RPV discontinuation. Conclusion: In conclusion, our data confirm Rilpivirine efficacy, safety and tolerability with improvement in lipid profile. Although hepatic and renal events rarely caused discontinuation, liver and kidney parameters should be monitored. Keywords: HIV-1, combination antiretroviral therapy, NNRTI, cohort study, naive, experienced patients

Recently several patients, who developed Guillain–Barré syndrome characterized by prominent bifacial weakness after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination, were described from different centers. We recently observed a patient who developed a similar syndrome, later in the follow up he showed worsening of the neuropathy two months after the initial presentation. Repeat EMG showed reduced nerve sensory and motor conduction velocities of both upper and lower limbs, and a diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (typical CIDP) was made according to established criteria. Our report expands on the possible outcomes in patients who develop Guillain–Barrè syndrome after COVID-19 vaccinations and suggest that close monitoring after the acute phase is needed in these patients to exclude a chronic evolution of the disease, which has important implications for long-term treatment.

(1) Tomentosin is the most representative sesquiterpene lactone extracted by I. viscosa. Recently, it has gained particular attention in therapeutic oncologic fields due to its anti-tumor properties. (2) In this study, the potential anticancer features of tomentosin were evaluated on human Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) cell line, treated with increasing tomentosin concentration for cytotoxicity screening. (3) Our data showed that both cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis induction are responsible of the antiproliferative effects of tomentosin and may end in the inhibition of BL cell viability. Moreover, a microarray gene expression profile was performed to assess differentially expressed genes contributing to tomentosin activity. Seventy-five genes deregulated by tomentosin have been identified. Downregulated genes are enriched in immune-system pathways, and PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways which favor proliferation and growth processes. Importantly, different deregulated genes identified in tomentosin-treated BL cells are prevalent in molecular pathways known to lead to cellular death, specifically by apoptosis. Tomentosin-treatment in BL cells induces the downregulation of antiapoptotic genes such as BCL2A1 and CDKN1A and upregulation of the proapoptotic PMAIP1 gene. (4) Overall, our results suggest that tomentosin could be taken into consideration as a potential natural product with limited toxicity and relevant anti-tumoral activity in the therapeutic options available to BL patients.