Heterostyly in Goniolimon italicum (Plumbaginaceae), endemic to Abruzzo (central Apennines, Italy)

Goniolimon italicum is an endemic species to central Apennines (Italy). Here we provide the first report of heterostyly in this species. Two morphological types were identified: an S-morph with stamen filaments longer than gynoecia, stigmas with a papillate surface and finely reticulated pollen grains with very small spinules (Type B); and an L-morph with stamen filaments shorter than gynoecia, stigmas with a cob pattern and coarsely reticulated pollen grains with small spinules (Type A). Two new locations of G. italicum were found and are here reported

Personality and dissociative experiences in smartphone users

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU), dissociative experiences and some characteristics of personality. The sample consisted of 400 Italian college students aged between 20 and 24 (M = 21.59, SD = 1.43). The materials included: a questionnaire on the use of smartphones, the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV), the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES), and the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). Results showed that the college students in our sample used their smartphones mainly for messaging (50%), calling (42.5%), accessing the internet (38%), connecting via social networks (33.5%), taking photos (26.5%), gaming (8.5%) and using applications (.5%). According to the results of the SAS-SV, 70% of our sample showed PSU, without gender differences. Regarding the correlation with personality factors, intensive use of smartphones corresponds to lower emotional stability and the extraversion or 'energy' factor is predictive near the significance cut-off (p = .06), while among the dissociative experiences, passive influence and dissociative amnesia are the best predictors of smartphone addiction. The other variables are less significant (p = .07). The results underline the importance of detecting the PSU predictors in college students, in order to prevent psychopathological consequences

Soil microarthropod communities from Mediterranean forest ecosystems in Central Italy under different disturbances

The aim of this study is to assess soil quality in Mediterranean forests of Central Italy, from evergreen to deciduous, with different types of management (coppice vs. high forest vs. secondary old growth) and compaction impacts (machinery vs. recreational). Soil quality was evaluated studying soil microarthropod communities and applying a biological index (QBS-ar) based on the concept that the higher is the soil quality, the higher will be the number of microarthropod groups well adapted to the soil habitat. Our results confirm that hardwood soils are characterised by the highest biodiversity level among growth) and compaction impacts (machinery vs. recreational). terrestrial communities and by a well-structured and mature microarthropod community, which is typical of stable ecosystems (QBS value, >200). While silvicultural practices and forest composition do not seem to influence QBS-ar values or microarthropod community structure, the index is very efficient in detecting soil impacts (soil compaction due to logging activities). Several taxa (Protura, Diplura, Coleoptera adults, Pauropoda, Diplopoda, Symphyla, Chilopoda, Diptera larvae and Opiliones) react negatively to soil compaction and degradation (QBS value, <150). In particular, Protura, Diplura, Symphyla and Pauropoda, are taxonomic groups linked to undisturbed soil. This index could also be a useful tool in monitoring soil biodiversity in protected areas and in urban forestry to prevent the negative effects of trampling. QBS-ar is a candidate index for biomonitoring of soil microarthropod biodiversity across the landscape to provide guidance for the sustainable management of renewable resource and nature conservation

Variability in genes regulating vitamin D metabolism is associated with vitamin D levels in type 2 diabetes

Mortality rate is increased in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased mortality risk in T2D. In the general population, genetic variants affecting vitamin D metabolism (DHCR7 rs12785878, CYP2R1 rs10741657, GC rs4588) have been associated with serum vitamin D. We studied the association of these variants with serum vitamin D in 2163 patients with T2D from the "Sapienza University Mortality and Morbidity Event Rate (SUMMER) study in diabetes". Measurements of serum vitamin D were centralised. Genotypes were obtained by Eco™ Real-Time PCR. Data were adjusted for gender, age, BMI, HbA1c, T2D therapy and sampling season. DHCR7 rs12785878 (p = 1 x 10-4) and GC rs4588 (p = 1 x 10-6) but not CYP2R1 rs10741657 (p = 0.31) were significantly associated with vitamin D levels. One unit of a weighted genotype risk score (GRS) was strongly associated with vitamin D levels (p = 1.1 x 10-11) and insufficiency (&lt;30 ng/ml) (OR, 95%CI = 1.28, 1.16-1.41, p = 1.1 x 10-7). In conclusion, DHCR7 rs12785878 and GC rs4588, but not CYP2R1 rs10741657, are significantly associated with vitamin D levels. When the 3 variants were considered together as GRS, a strong association with vitamin D levels and vitamin D insufficiency was observed, thus providing robust evidence that genes involved in vitamin D metabolism modulate serum vitamin D in T2D

“In the mind’s eye” – Exploring the interaction between oculomotor behaviour and memory-related processes in ageing and neurodegeneration

Much of the rich internal world constructed by humans is derived from, and experienced through, visual mental imagery. Despite growing appreciation of visual exploration in guiding imagery-rich construction-based processes, extant theories of memory retrieval and prospection have yet to accommodate the precise role of visual mental imagery and corresponding oculomotor dynamics in the service of past and future-oriented thinking, particularly as we age and in the presence of neurodegenerative syndromes. This thesis comprises three experimental studies investigating these issues. Chapter 2 demonstrates distinct signatures of oculomotor behaviour during visual exploration and memory retrieval in younger and cognitively healthy older adults, as well as patients with Alzheimer’s disease or semantic dementia. In Chapter 3, I further demonstrate age-related changes in eye movement metrics during the endogenous construction of atemporal scenes in the absence of externally cued visual stimuli. Results suggest a shift away from the production of eye movements in older adults as a function of increasing task complexity as cognitive demands exceed working memory capacities. Finally, Chapter 4 expands on the preceding findings in the context of episodic future thinking. The temporal distance and the level of plausibility of hypothetical future events are found to influence participants’ performance by encouraging the elaboration of scenarios that are particularly rich in contextual detail in selected experimental conditions. The work presented in this thesis adds to the extant literature by demonstrating and characterising the relationship between oculomotor behaviour and imagery-rich construction-based processes. Future enquiries exploring the potential and diverse applications of oculomotor metrics to neuropsychological and clinical research will further elucidate the complex adaptive mechanisms supporting cognitive performance in both healthy ageing and neurodegeneration