Mechanized operations on terrain slopes can still lead to considerable errors in the alignment and distribution of plants. Knowing slope interference in semi-mechanized planting quality can ...contribute to precision improvement in decision making, mainly in regions with high slope. This study evaluates the quality of semi-mechanized coffee planting in different land slopes using a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and statistical process control (SPC). In a commercial coffee plantation, aerial images were collected by a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and subsequently transformed into a digital elevation model (DEM) and a slope map. Slope data were subjected to variance analysis and statistical process control (SPC). Dependent variables analyzed were variations in distance between planting lines and between plants in line. The distribution of plants on all the slopes evaluated was below expected; the most impacted was the slope between 20–25%, implementing 7.8% fewer plants than projected. Inferences about the spacing between plants in the planting row showed that in slopes between 30–40%, the spacing was 0.53 m and between 0 and 15% was 0.55 m. This denotes the compensation of the speed of the operation on different slopes. The spacing between the planting lines had unusual variations on steep slopes. The SCP quality graphics are of lower quality in operations between 30–40%, as they have an average spacing of 3.65 m and discrepant points in the graphics. Spacing variations were observed in all slopes as shown in the SCP charts, and possible causes and implications for future management were discussed, contributing to improvements in the culture installation stage.
Worldwide, the management of health emergencies requires a high degree of preparedness and resilience on the part of governments and health systems. Indeed, disasters are becoming increasingly ...common, with significant health, social, and economic impacts. Living in a globalized world also means that emergencies that occur in one country often have an international, in some cases global, spread: the COVID-19 pandemic is a cogent example. The key elements in emergency management are central governance, coordination, investment of resources before the emergency occurs, and preparedness to deal with it at all levels. However, several factors might condition the response to the emergency, highlighting, as for Italy, strengths and weaknesses. In this context, policies and regulation of actions to be implemented at international and national level must be up-to-date, clear, transparent and, above all, feasible and implementable. Likewise, the allocation of resources to develop adequate preparedness plans is critical. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission proposed the temporary recovery instrument NextGenerationEU, as well as a targeted reinforcement of the European Union's long-term budget for the period 2021-2027. The pandemic highlighted that it is necessary to interrupt the continuous defunding of the health sector, allocating funds especially in prevention, training and information activities: indeed, a greater and more aware public attention on health risks and on the impacts of emergencies can help to promote virtuous changes, sharing contents and information that act as a guide for the population.
The blue crab
Callinectes sapidus
, native to the western coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, has been introduced in Mediterranean waters where it is currently considered an invasive species. Here, we ...verified the occurrence of an established population of
C. sapidus
in the Torre Colimena basin, a Mediterranean habitat located in SE Italy, and provided a first assessment of its functional role in a Mediterranean coastal ecosystem. Crab traps were used to estimate the species abundance at a seasonal frequency; in addition, its trophic position was estimated in summer using nitrogen stable isotopes. Estimations were performed using both a generally adopted value of 3.4 ‰ for the nitrogen trophic level fractionation factor ∆
15
N, and species-specific estimations obtained from the literature.
C. sapidus
was sampled throughout the year, reaching peak abundances in summer. This result, taken together with the observed patterns of variation in the average body size and sex ratio of captured specimens, provided evidence of a fully established population in the Torre Colimena basin. The estimated trophic position of the crab was consistent with the literature information on western Atlantic populations, and resulted, irrespective of the fractionation factor used, significantly higher than those characterizing an autochthonous brachyuran (
Pachygrapsus marmoratus
) and a fish predator (
Sparus aurata
). The present study provided novel information on the occurrence and potential functional impact of this non-indigenous species in Mediterranean coastal habitats, highlighting current knowledge lacunae and identifying future research lines on marine alien species.
Abstract
Background
Associations between cannabis use and psychotic outcomes are consistently reported. Increased innate immune markers have also been suggested as risk factors for psychosis; ...nevertheless, no study has ever tested whether augmented blood inflammation could be a possible biological mechanism underlying the association between cannabis use and psychosis. We investigated: i) which patterns of peripheral blood cytokines (innate and adaptive immune markers) would be associated with the strongest effect on odds of psychosis; and ii) whether the contribution of cannabis use (lifetime use: yes/no; frequency of use: non-users, less than daily use; daily use) on risk of psychosis would vary between subgroups with low- or high-inflammation.
Methods
The Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses Translational Research: Environment and Molecular Biology (STREAM) is an epidemiological and case-sibling-control study, conducted in Ribeirão Preto catchment area (São Paulo, Brazil) between April 2012 and March 2015, which integrates the international multicentre consortium EU-GEI. We recruited 153 first-episode psychosis patients and 256 community-based controls aged between 16–64 years. Participants answered the Cannabis Experience Questionnaire and plasma cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β) were measured by Multiplex. We firstly investigated which patterns of peripheral blood innate and adaptive immune markers would contribute to the strongest effect on the odds of psychosis. To do that, the sample was divided into quartiles according to cytokine’s percentile distribution (reference group: minimum value – 25th percentile; lower group: 25th – 50th percentile; middle group: 50th – 75th percentile; and upper group: 75th percentile – maximum value). We next investigated whether the effects of the different patterns of cannabis use (lifetime and frequency of use) on the risk of psychosis would differ between subgroups classified as low- or high-inflammatory, using the median (50th percentile) of each cytokine as the cut-off value. All the binary logistic regression analyses were correct for the effects of confounders (gender, age, ethnicity, years of education, body mass index, tobacco smoking, and recreational drugs).
Results
More than 60% of the patients were classified as high-inflammatory, whereas in the control group, around the same percentage was classified as low-inflammatory. After adjusting for confounders, we observed a dose-response relationship between the percentile’s distribution of IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β and risk of psychosis, with participants classified in the upper percentile having the highest odds ratio when compared with the reference group. The adjusted odds ratio (adj ORs) and 95% CIs range for each cytokine were the following: IL-10 from 4.68 (2.02–10.85) to 11.86 (5.01–28.11), IL-6 from 3.74 (1.61–8.69) to 9.62 (4.15–22.31); TNF-α from 2.18 (1.01–4.73) to 6.88 (3.12–15.17); TGF-β from 2.17 (1.01–4.67) to 3.20 (1.50–6.80). Lifetime cannabis use only increased risk of psychosis in the high-inflammatory subgroup (adj ORs, 95% CIs: IL10: 4.66, 1.62–13.39; IL-6: 2.75, 1.05–7.21). Daily use increased the risk of psychosis even further, and only in the high-inflammatory but not in the low-inflammatory subgroup (adj OR, 95% CIs: IL-10: 14.09, 2.26–87.93; TNF-α: 6.16, 1.28–29.74; IL-6: 4.68, 1.08–20.36), with the exception of TGF-β, for which the effects were seen in the low-subgroup (adj OR, 95% CI: 5.23, 1.17–23.42).
Discussion
The existence of distinct inflammatory profiles indicates possible biological predisposition facilitating immune activation. This would translate into a higher vulnerability to the effects of cannabis use, especially daily use, on risk of psychosis.
Purpose The benefit of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) as first-line treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas is still a matter of debate. To ...address this point, we designed a randomized phase III trial to compare rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP)-14 (eight cycles) with rituximab plus high-dose sequential chemotherapy (R-HDS) with ASCT. Patients and Methods From June 2005 to June 2011, 246 high-risk patients with a high-intermediate (56%) or high (44%) International Prognostic Index score were randomly assigned to the R-CHOP or R-HDS arm, and 235 were analyzed by intent to treat. The primary efficacy end point of the study was 3-year event-free survival, and results were analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis. Results Clinical response (complete response, 78% v 76%; partial response, 5% v 9%) and failures (no response, 15% v 11%; and early treatment-related mortality, 2% v 3%) were similar after R-CHOP versus R-HDS, respectively. After a median follow-up of 5 years, the 3-year event-free survival was 62% versus 65% ( P = .83). At 3 years, compared with the R-CHOP arm, the R-HDS arm had better disease-free survival (79% v 91%, respectively; P = .034), but this subsequently vanished because of late-occurring treatment-related deaths. No difference was detected in terms of progression-free survival (65% v 75%, respectively; P = .12), or overall survival (74% v 77%, respectively; P = .64). Significantly higher hematologic toxicity ( P < .001) and more infectious complications ( P < .001) were observed in the R-HDS arm. Conclusion In this study, front-line intensive R-HDS chemotherapy with ASCT did not improve the outcome of high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.
The coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeella) is a key pest in coffee-producing regions in Brazil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of machine learning algorithms to identify ...coffee leaf miner infestation by considering the assessment period and Sentinel-2 satellite images generated on the Google Earth Engine platform. Coffee leaf miner infestation in the field was measured monthly from 2019 to 2023. Images were selected from the Sentinel-2 satellite to determine 13 vegetative indices. The selection of images and calculations of the vegetation indices were carried out using the Google Earth Engine platform. A database was generated with information on coffee leaf miner infestation, vegetation indices, and assessment times. The database was separated into training data and testing data. Nine machine learning algorithms were used, including Linear Discriminant Analysis, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, k-nearest neighbors, and Logistic Regression, and a principal component analysis was conducted for each algorithm. After optimizing the hyperparameters, the testing data were used to validate the model. The best model to estimate miner infestation was RF, which had an accuracy of 0.86, a kappa index of 0.64, and a precision of 0.87. The developed models were capable of monitoring coffee leaf miner infestation.
Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive of skin cancers and the 19th most common cancer worldwide, with an estimated age-standardized incidence rate of 2.8-3.1 per 100,000; although there have been ...clear advances in therapeutic treatment, the prognosis of MM patients with Breslow thickness greater than 1 mm is still quite poor today. The study of how melanoma cells manage to survive and proliferate by consuming glucose has been partially addressed in the literature, but some rather interesting results are starting to be present.
A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a search of PubMed and Web of Sciences (WoS) databases was performed until 27 September 2021 using the terms: glucose transporter 1 and 3 and GLUT1/3 in combination with each of the following: melanoma, neoplasm and immunohistochemistry.
In total, 46 records were initially identified in the literature search, of which six were duplicates. After screening for eligibility and inclusion criteria, 16 publications were ultimately included.
the results discussed regarding the role and expression of GLUT are still far from definitive, but further steps toward understanding and stopping this mechanism have, at least in part, been taken. New studies and new discoveries should lead to further clarification of some aspects since the various mechanisms of glucose uptake by neoplastic cells are not limited to the transporters of the GLUT family alone.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of bacterial biofilm on the external surface of the root apex in teeth with pulp necrosis, with and without radiographically visible periapical ...lesions, and in teeth with a vital pulp. Twenty-one teeth were extracted, eight with pulp necrosis and periapical lesions, eight with pulp necrosis without radiographically visible periapical lesions, and five with a vital pulp. The roots were sectioned, and the root apexes (± 3 mm) were processed for scanning electron microscope evaluation. The surface of the apical root was evaluated for the presence of microorganisms, root resorption, and biofilm. There were no microorganisms on the apical root surface of either teeth with pulp vitality or with pulp necrosis with no radiographically visible periapical lesions. Microorganisms were always present in teeth with pulp necrosis and radiographically visible periapical lesions. These included cocci, bacilli, and filaments and the presence of an apical biofilm. Apical biofilm is clinically important because microbial biofilms are inherently resistant to antimicrobial agents and cannot be removed by biomechanical preparation alone. This may cause failure of endodontic treatment as a consequence of persistent infection.
Split liver transplant(ation) (SLT) is still considered a challenging procedure that is by no means widely accepted. We aimed to present data on 25-year trends in SLT in Italy, and to investigate if, ...and to what extent, outcomes have improved nationwide during this time.
The study included all consecutive SLTs performed from May 1993 to December 2019, divided into three consecutive periods: 1993-2005, 2006-2014, and 2015-2019, which match changes in national allocation policies. Primary outcomes were patient and graft survival, and the relative impact of each study period.
SLT accounted for 8.9% of all liver transplants performed in Italy. A total of 1,715 in situ split liver grafts were included in the analysis: 868 left lateral segments (LLSs) and 847 extended right grafts (ERGs). A significant improvement in patient and graft survival (p <0.001) was observed with ERGs over the three periods. Predictors of graft survival were cold ischaemia time (CIT) <6 h (p = 0.009), UNOS status 2b (p <0.001), UNOS status 3 (p = 0.009), and transplant centre volumes: 25-50 cases vs. <25 cases (p = 0.003). Patient survival was significantly higher with LLS grafts in period 2 vs. period 1 (p = 0.008). No significant improvement in graft survival was seen over the three periods, where predictors of graft survival were CIT <6 h (p = 0.007), CIT <6 h vs. ≥10 h (p = 0.019), UNOS status 2b (p = 0.038), and UNOS status 3 (p = 0.009). Retransplantation was a risk factor in split liver graft recipients, with significantly worse graft and patient survival for both types of graft (p <0.001).
Our analysis showed Italian SLT outcomes to have improved over the last 25 years. These results could help to dispel reservations regarding the use of this procedure.
Split liver transplant(ation) (SLT) is still considered a challenging procedure and is by no means widely accepted. This study included all consecutive in situ SLTs performed in Italy from May 1993 to December 2019. With more than 1,700 cases, it is one of the largest series, examining long-term national trends in in situ SLT since its introduction. The data presented indicate that the outcomes of SLT improved during this 25-year period. Improvements are probably due to better recipient selection, refinements in surgical technique, conservative graft-to-recipient matching, and the continuous, yet carefully managed, expansion of donor selection criteria under a strict mandatory split liver allocation policy. These results could help to dispel reservations regarding the use of this procedure.
Bradykinin drives normal lung fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, induces fibroblast proliferation and activates mitogen activated protein kinase pathways (MAPK) but its effects on bronchial fibroblasts ...from asthmatics (HBAFb) have not been yet studied. We studied bradykinin-induced fibroblast proliferation and differentiation and the related intracellular mechanisms in HBAFb compared to normal bronchial fibroblasts (HNBFb). Bradykinin-stimulated HBAFb and HNBFb were used to assess: bradykinin B2 receptor expression by Western blot analysis; cell proliferation by 3H thymidine incorporation; α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression/polymerization by Western blot and immunofluorescence; epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 MAPK activation by immunoprecipitation and Western blot, respectively.
Constitutive bradykinin B2 receptor and α-SMA expression was higher in HBAFb as compared to HNBFb. Bradykinin increased bradykinin B2 receptor expression in HBAFb. Bradykinin, via bradykinin B2 receptor, significantly increased fibroblast proliferation at lower concentration (10−11M) and α-SMA expression/polymerization at higher concentration (10−6M) in both cells. Bradykinin increased ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation via bradykinin B2 receptor; EGF receptor inhibitor AG1478 and panmetalloproteinase inhibitor GM6001 blocked bradykinin-induced ERK1/2 activation but not p38 phosphorylation. Bradykinin, via bradykinin B2 receptor, induced EGF receptor phosphorylation that was suppressed by AG1478. In HBAFb AG1478, GM6001, the ERK1/2-inhibitor U0126 and the p38 inhibitor SB203580 suppressed bradykinin-induced cell proliferation, but only SB203580 reduced myofibroblast differentiation.
These data indicate that bradykinin is actively involved in asthmatic bronchial fibroblast proliferation and differentiation, through MAPK pathways and EGF receptor transactivation, by which bradykinin may contribute to airway remodeling in asthma, opening new horizons for potential therapeutic implications in asthmatic patients.
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