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Astragalus maritimus Moris and A. verrucosus Moris are two endemic threatened species exclusive of South West Sardinia. In this study the populations of both species were characterized and their seed germination investigated. The in situ results allowed reviewing their conservation status in compliance with the IUCN criteria, confirming the CR category by new subcriteria for both species. The germination study allowed identifying as well their dormancy breaking requirements.

Sardinia is a major centre of diversity of Anchusa, but the systematics, phylogenetic relationships and conservation status of the taxa endemic to the island are still poorly known mainly because of their remarkable rarity. We present a study on these endemics based on the results of field research focusing on the distribution, the number and size of the populations, the characteristics of the habitat and the factors of threat. Combined with observations on aspects of reproductive biology, on wild populations and cultivated plants, we evaluate the conservation status of the taxa and propose Red List IUCN categories of vulnerability. Original descriptions, nomenclatural types and karyological data are added. The following Anchusa taxa are endemic to Sardinia: A. capellii, A. crispa ssp. crispa, A. crispa ssp. maritima, A. formosa, A. littorea, A. sardoa and A. montelinasana sp. nov. The latter is described, based on the discovery of a morphologically distinct entity on a mountain in southwest Sard...

The vascular flora of Capo di Monte Santu (Central-Eastern Sardinia) – The Authors present their study on the flora of Capo di Monte Santu, a calcareous area forming the southern tip of the Gulf of Orosei. Investigation allowed us to identify 381 taxa, belonging to 62 families and comprising 228 genera. Data regarding the biological spectrum show a prevalence of therophytes (49.2%), typical of the regions of the Mediterranean area, followed by hemicryptophytes (21.8%) and geophytes (10.8%). An overview of the chorological spectrum of the flora highlights dominance of the Mediterranean component (78.5%). Amongst the Mediterranean species s.s. (47.2%) we noted greater presence of entities of the Steno-Mediterranean distribution area (25.7%), followed by endemics which with 43 entities constitute 11.3% of total flora. From the chorological point of view, the prevailing element amongst the endemics is the Sardinian (11 taxa) including 5 taxa which are exclusive to the calcareous massif of central-eastern Sardinia. The analysis of rarities, performed by applying Rabinowitz’ categories, shows as being most numerous (86 taxa) species spread over the territory with a restricted ecology and scarce, non-dominant populations (WRS), whereas the least consistent (9 taxa) is that of the species with limited spread over the territory, a wide ecology and scarce and non dominant populations (NBS). Those entities considered worthy of protection based on the IUCN red lists are four in number (Lactuca longidentata, Orchis brancifortii, Polygala saxatilis and Sedum villosum subsp. glandulosum), one entity (Ruscus aculeatus) is listed in Annex V of the Habitat Directive while Annex II of CITES includes all the Orchidaceae (10) and Cyclamen repandum subsp. repandum.

Prioritization of endemic, threatened species and the habitats where they live is a crucial point of conservation actions, particularly in areas with rich endemic floras. In this study, we have developed a new procedure to define the conservation priorities among endemic plants and habitats by evaluating eight criteria. Five criteria deal with the geographic and ecological range of the evaluated species, whereas the other three refer to threats. After the evaluation of each criterion, we combined the partial scores to obtain a priority index (PI). Finally, we characterized the EU habitat categories of conservation concern on the basis of the average PI value of the plants living in each habitat. We tested the method on a list of 260 endemic plants from a biodiversity hotspot (Sardinia) that had an average PI of 3.66 ± 0.16. Even if the habitat categories that are most rich in endemic plants were rocky habitats, and coastal/halophytic habitats, the most endangered habitat was coastal sand dunes (PI = 6.75 ± 1.15). The method herein presented is complementary with the application of IUCN criteria. This integrated approach is a concrete solution that adapts IUCN criteria and categories to local contexts.

This report of NATO's Advanced Educational Technology (AET) advisory committee is written to provide a summary as well as a vision of the role of technology in education. Over fifty ARW's (Advanced Research Workshops) and ASI's (Advanced Study Institutes) have provided a forum for hundreds of AET professionals to interact and collaborate. The published books and reports have had an impact on thousands of educational designers and planners. The summary of position and thematic papers that were presented at the final capstone workshop provide a framework for future research, development, and effective implementation of AET systems.

The results of an anaytical survey of the flora of Monte Arcuentu, a volcanic massif in SW Sardinia, are reported. The survey resulted in 556 recorded taxa, belonging to 335 genus, 84 families and 39 orders. The most represented Phylum is Magnoliophyta (539 taxa), of which the Eudicots represent the richest systematic group, with 22 orders, 54 families and 405 species. The most represented orders are: Asterales (74 taxa), Lamiales (59), Fabales (53) and Caryophyllales (30). Most of the recored taxa were belonging to Asteraceae (71), followed by Fabaceae (52) and Poaceae (51). Most frequent genera are: Trifolium (11), Euphorbia (9), Allium, Geranium, Juncus, Medicago, Ophrys, Orobanche (7). The biological spectrum highlights the remarkable Mediterranean connotation of the studied district, being the therophytes (40.8%), followed by hemicriptophytes (27.0%) and geophytes (14.7%) being the most frequent growth forms. Indeed, the chorologic spectrum is dominated by the Mediterranean chorotype (48.4%), whose main partitions are: steno-Mediterranean (22.8%), endemic (9.7%) and W-Medit. (9.3%). Taxa with a broader distribution range, but centred in the Mediterranean basin, represent the 26.6%. The endemic taxa were 54 , among which Asteraceae (8) and Fabaceae (5) were the most represented families. The chorologic spectrum of the endemic units is dominated by Sardo-Corsican taxa (20), followed by Italo-Tyrrhenian ones (14). The analysis of rarity, according to the categories of Rabinowitz, highlighted the fact that the largest group (231) consists of WBL (i.e. species diffused over the territory, with a wide ecology and a large local population, in some places dominant), while the smallest one (5) is formed by the NBL (i.e. species with a limited spread over the territory, a wide ecology and a large local population, at times dominant). The taxa protected by international regulations are all the recorded orchids (19) and Cyclamen repandum subsp. repandum, included in the attached II of CITES, Brassica insularis in the Berne Convention, 2 in the Habitat Directive (Brassica insularis and Ruscus aculeatus), plus 3 (Soleirolia soleirolii, Hyoseris taurina and Genista morisii) cited in the IUCN- red lists.

Maximal exploitation of space-based surveillance resources is unique due to the nature of the platforms, their sensors and intermittent communications links to ground stations for target information processing and sensor tasking. An optimal formulation of the problem of integrating a range of disparate surveillance sensor systems based on Bayesian inference and entropy measures of eflectiveness for dealing with decision making under information uncertainty forms the basis for this paper. Here a general methodology is proposed for planning, tasking and control of surveillance assets by formulating surveillance as a stochastic optimal control problem, which has as its objective the minimisation of uncertainty associated with the information collected, subject to surveillance system time and resource constraints, and sensor imperfections. The approach presented provides a rational basis for surveillance asset optimisation that sets information as the objective, incorporates platform anamics and constraints, semor capabilities, stochastic eflects and control variables within a single formulation.

The authors report their experience of the endoscopic removal of 350 polyps of the colon. Vegetating lesions of doubtful endoscopic appearance and nature were excluded from this study. Indications regarding intestinal cleaning and the most appropriate pharmacological preparation are given on the basis of personal experience. No patient had to be hospitalised and the colon was fully explored in all cases; the cecum was reached in 85% of cases. The maximum limit of endoscopic removal was 5 cm due to the greater risk of complications and presence of cancer on polyps. A total of up to 8 polyps were removed in a single session in cases of multiple polyposis. From 1986 to 1992 350 polypectomies were performed in 177 patients, of which 301 were adenoma (85.9%) and 49 mixed (14.1%). Adenomas were 80.5% tubular, 13.6% tubulo-villous and 4.3% villous. Cancer was found on polyps in 5 cases (1.6%). 146 polyps were found in the rectum (41.8%), 84 in the sigma (24%), 76 in the descending (21.7%), 21 in the transverse (6%), and 23 in the right colon (6.5%). Patients were aged between 3 and 81 years, and the most frequently affected age bracket was between 40-70 years. Follow-up consisted in checks at 6, 12 and 24 months in cases of adenoma and quarterly checks during the first year in the event of carcinoma in situ. The decision to use a diathermic loop or hot biopsy was made in relation to lesion size, reserving the former for polyps with diameters of over 8 mm. All polyps under 5 cm were removed and subjected to histological tests. No cases of early or late complications were reported in the 350 polypectomies performed. The authors indicate the criteria of choice which led to surgical resection of the first instance. In the event of in situ carcinoma, endoscopic removal is considered sufficient provided that it is radical. The following must be evaluated in the case of invasive carcinoma: tumor size, the degree of differentiation, lymphatic or vascular invasion and generic or specific risk factors linked to the individual patient.

Charybdis glaucophylla (Asparagaceae), a new species from Sardinia, is described and illustrated. It is a diploid species with 2n = 20 chromosomes growing along the rocky coast, sandy dunes and mountain top in the south-western part of the island. Within the genus, this species results taxonomically well isolated and differentiated due to relevant morphological and phenological features, such as the leaves wide and short, very rigid and glaucous-pruinose, as well as the very late foliation (winter). It shows only some relationships with C. pancration for the whitish bulb tunics and the diploid chromosome complement, and with C. maura and C. aphylla due to the glaucous leaves.

A modified snare has been fabricated in prototype form which permits the placement of a tightenable nylon loop ligature around the stalk of large polyps, which is then left in situ after withdrawal of the snare handle and endoscope. The clinical application of the safety snare is likely to be the prevention of immediate or delayed haemorrhage from the stalks of unusually large polyps, or after polypectomy in patients with bleeding diathesis. The use of the snare has proved practicable in preliminary clinical trials.

the chapter is an original overview of the research on adolescence and ecological transitions from adolescence to adult life and work experience