Green infrastructure design for the containment of biological invasions. Insights from a peri-urban case study in Rome, Italy.

Secondary shrublands and transitional woodland/shrub formations are recognised to be particularly susceptible to plant invasions, one of the main global threats to biodiversity, especially in dynamic peri-urban landscapes. Urban fringes are in fact often the place for the sprawl of artificial surfaces, fragmentation of habitats, and complex land transitions (including both agriculture intensification and abandonment), which in turn increase propagule pressure of exotic species over residual semi-natural ecosystems. Within this framework, the present study was aimed at analysing i) how landscape composition and configuration affect the richness of woody exotic species in shrubland and transitional woodland/shrub patches, and ii) how this threat can be addressed by means of green infrastructure design in a peri-urban case study (Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy).

An unknown hotspot of plant diversity in the heart of the Central Apennine: flora and vegetation outline of Mt. Pozzoni-St. Rufo valley (Cittareale, Rieti).

Surprisingly enough, Italy still has some botanically unexplored areas; among these there are some territories between Lazio, Umbria and Abruzzo not included in any protected area. The study area, ranging for 340 ha, includes the mountainous area of Mt. Pozzoni-Mt.

Novel Nano-Liposome Formulation for Dry Eyes with Components Similar to the Preocular Tear Film.

Dry eye is commonly treated with artificial tears; however, developing artificial tears similar to natural tears is difficult due to the complex nature of tears. We characterized and evaluated a novel artificial tear formulation with components similar to the lipid and aqueous constituents of natural tears. Nano-liposomes, composed in part of phosphatidylcholine, were dispersed in an aqueous solution of bioadhesive sodium hyaluronate.

Design and characterization of an ocular topical liposomal preparation to replenish the lipids of the tear film.

Purpose: Dry eye (DE) includes a group of diseases related to tear film disorders. Current trends for DE therapy focus on providing lipid components to replace the damaged lipid layer. Formulations that contain aqueous and mucin-like compounds may have additional therapeutic benefits for DE patients.

Effect of corneal thickness on dynamic contour, rebound, and goldmann tonometry.

Purpose: To identify correlations among intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained using the rebound tonometer (RBT), the dynamic contour tonometer (DCT), and the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). The effects of corneal thickness on the measures obtained using each of the 3 tonometers also were examined.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Contrast sensitivity and disability glare in patients with dry eye.

Purpose: To evaluate contrast sensitivity and disability glare in patients with dry eye using the Contrast Glaretester 1000.

Methods: Contrast sensitivity and disability glare were determined in 33 eyes of 33 patients with dry eye and 30 eyes of 30 healthy control subjects for six target sizes with a visual angle of 6.3-0.