•Advisors are found to be influencers of PATs adoption.•Increased PAT adoption requires positive belief in a return by the farmer.•Information interventions may be more successful than fiscal ...interventions.
Precision agricultural technologies (PATs) allow more detailed management of in-field variability. Policy and advisory communities have championed PATs as a route to preserving natural capital whilst increasing productivity from agricultural land. A range of PATs are currently available for the agricultural producer but uptake varies by the type of technology and region. Whereas most studies on uptake have focused on US or Australia we empirically examine uptake of machine guidance (MG) and variable rate nitrogen technologies (VRNT) within European farming systems. Using primary information from 971 arable crop growers across five countries: Belgium, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and the UK, a multilevel random intercept regression estimated a) the differences between adoption and non-adoption and b) the differences between VRNT and MG adoption. We find, aside from size and income differences, which reflect the economic cost barrier to adoption, an attitudinal difference, in terms of optimism towards the technology’s economic return leading to more probability of uptake. Moreover innovative and information seeking behaviour also proved significant when upgrading from machine guidance to variable rate technologies. Subsidy and taxation were considered positive drivers of uptake within the community. However, results suggest that more indirect interventions, such as informational support to counteract industry bias, and demonstration to prove the viability of economic return may be effective at meeting land manager and policy expectations towards PATs.
Both human and animal skin
in vitro models are used to predict percutaneous penetration in humans. The objective of this review is a quantitative comparison of permeability and lag time measurements ...between human and animal skin, including an evaluation of the intra and inter species variability. We limit our focus to domestic pig and rodent guinea pig skin as surrogates for human skin, and consider only studies in which both animal and human penetration of a given chemical were measured jointly in the same lab. When the
in vitro permeability of pig and human skin were compared, the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (
r) was 0.88 (
P
<
0.0001), with an intra species average coefficient of variation of skin permeability of 21% for pig and 35% for human, and an inter species average coefficient of variation of 37% for the set of studied compounds (
n
=
41). The lag times of pig skin and human skin did not correlate (
r
=
0.35,
P
=
0.26). When the
in vitro permeability of guinea pig and human skin were compared,
r
=
0.96 (
P
<
0.0001), with an average intra species coefficient of variation of 19% for guinea pig and 24% for human, and an inter species coefficient of variation of permeability of 41% for the set of studied compounds (
n
=
15). Lag times of guinea pig and human skin correlated (
r
=
0.90,
P
<
0.0001,
n
=
12). When permeability data was not reported a factor of difference (FOD) of animal to human skin was calculated for pig skin (
n
=
50) and guinea pig skin (
n
=
25). For pig skin, 80% of measurements fell within the range 0.3
<
FOD
<
3. For guinea pig skin, 65% fell within that range. Both pig and guinea pig are good models for human skin permeability and have less variability than the human skin model. The skin model of choice will depend on the final purpose of the study and the compound under investigation.
Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide with potent activity against Gram-positive microorganisms, a long half-life, a favorable safety profile, and a high concentration in bone, which makes it an ...interesting alternative for treatment of osteoarticular infections. We performed a multicentric retrospective study of all patients with an osteoarticular infection (septic arthritis, spondylodiscitis, osteomyelitis, or orthopedic implant-related infection) treated with at least one dose of dalbavancin between 2016 and 2017 in 30 institutions in Spain. In order to evaluate the response, patients with or without an orthopedic implant were separated. A total of 64 patients were included.
and
were the most frequent microorganisms. The reasons for switching to dalbavancin were simplification (53.1%), adverse events (25%), or failure (21.9%). There were 7 adverse events, and no patient had to discontinue dalbavancin. In 45 cases, infection was related to an orthopedic implant. The implant material was retained in 23 cases, including that in 15 (65.2%) patients that were classified as cured and 8 (34.8%) that presented improvement. In 21 cases, the implants were removed, including those in 16 (76.2%) cases that were considered successes, 4 (19%) cases were considered improved, and 1 (4.8%) case that was considered a failure. Among the 19 cases without implants, 14 (73.7%) were considered cured, 3 (15.8%) were considered improved, and 2 (10.5%) were considered failures. The results show that dalbavancin is a well-tolerated antibiotic, even when >2 doses are administered, and is associated with a high cure rate. These are preliminary data with a short follow-up; therefore, it is necessary to gain more experience and, in the future, to establish the most appropriate dose and frequency.
Abstract
Hard rock blocks embedded in a soft matrix can be found in many geological units. When tunneling in these heterogeneous formations, many technical problems can be caused by the presence of ...cobbles and boulders. These risks depend on the excavation method selected, and typically increase as the block content, dimension and frequency increase. Therefore, successful tunneling projects require cobble-boulder properties to be accurately predicted, in order to select the best tunneling method and design the most appropriate cutterhead. A recent and extensive statistically-based methodology was developed to estimate the probability of encountering rock blocks located totally or partially within the tunnel excavation area, resulting in a free executable code, named PBE. A significant limitation of this code is that it requires, among other input parameters, the block content expected within the tunnel zone. This parameter can be estimated from 1D (i.e. borings/scanlines) or 2D (i.e. geological maps, outcrops, photographs) measurements. However, the block quantity inferred from these measurements is generally affected by a high magnitude of error. In this paper, an extension of the PBE is presented, that accounts for the uncertainty in estimates of block quantities from site investigations. The updated version of the executable code is also provided.
Introduction
Psychotic disorders are frequently linked to a public perception of dangerousness and propensity to engage in violent acts. Despite efforts to demystify these disorders, the evidence on ...the relationship between violence and psychotic disorders is mixed. Together with media coverage of violent crime associating violence with the occurrence of a mental disorder, such a situation has contributed to the social stigmatisation of people with severe mental disorders and the consequent discrimination that this scenario entails. Despite efforts to demystify such disorders, the association between violent behaviour and psychosis remains unclear.
Objectives
This study aims to explore the incidence and main clinical characteristics associated to violent offences recorded in a cohort of patients presenting a First-Episode Psychosis (FEP).
Methods
Patients presenting with an affective or non-affective first psychotic episode were recruited from the First Episode Psychosis Intervention Program (CRUPEP) cohort between 2009 and 2016. The main clinical variables were collected, including medical-forensic records of patients registered at the Basque Institute of Forensic Medicine (BIFM), to retrieve any violent acts in which patients with FEP were involved, either as victims or as offenders.
Results
Overall, 79.5% (n=182) of CRUPEP patients had no violent record of crime or offence recorded in the BIFM. Annual crime rates for the 2009–2016 period show a decreasing trend in both the general population (IRR=0.981 (95%CI=0.978–0.983) p<0.001) and in patients with FEPs (IRR=0.019 (95%CI=0.012–0.028) p<0.001); this pattern is more pronounced the FEP group. Victimisation accounted for the vast majority of reported incidents; nevertheless, patients who have committed violent offences were mostly involved in intrafamily violence
Conclusions
Patients with FEP were not involved in a higher number of crime rates than the general population. The types of violent acts committed by FEP patients were heterogeneous, with extreme violence being particularly uncommon.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared
Background
Pain drawings (PDs) are an important component of the assessment of a patient with pain. The aim of this work is to present the test–retest reliability of a novel method of quantifying the ...extent and location of pain. Additionally, the association between PD variables and clinical features in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) was explored.
Methods
Fifty‐one patients with CLBP and 56 patients with CNP participated. Each patient shaded two consecutive PDs using a digital tablet. Software was developed to quantify the pain extent, to analyse the pain overlap between PDs and to produce pain frequency maps. Correlations were obtained between pain extent and clinical features including the level of pain intensity, disability, and psychological distress and cognitive function.
Results
The intraclass correlation coefficients for pain extent in CLBP and CNP were very high: 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.98) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.87–0.98), respectively. The Bland Altman showed a mean difference close to zero: 5.4% pixels in CNP group and 3% pixels in the CLBP group. Significant correlations were observed between pain extent and pain intensity in CLBP and CNP and pain extent and disability in CNP. There was no relation between pain extent and the level of distress or cognitive function.
Conclusions
A novel method for the acquisition of PD was presented. Test–retest reliability of reporting pain extent and pain location was supported in people with CNP and CLBP. Future research is needed to establish psychometric properties of PD.
The MALTA monolithic silicon pixel sensors have been used to study dicing and thinning of monolithic silicon pixel detectors for large area and low mass modules. Dicing as close as possible to the ...active circuitry will allow to build modules with very narrow inactive regions between the sensors. Inactive edge regions of less than 5μ m to the electronic circuitry could be achieved for 100μm thick sensors. The MALTA chip (Cardella et al., 2019) also offers the possibility to transfer data and power directly from chip to chip. Tests have been carried out connecting two MALTA chips directly using ultrasonic wedge wire bonding. Results from lab tests show that the data accumulated in one chip can be transferred via the second chip to the readout system, without the need of a flexible circuit to route the signals. The concept of chip to chip data and power transfer to achieve low mass modules has also been studied on prototype wafers using Cu-stud interconnection bridges. First results are presented, outlining technical challenges and possible future steps to achieve a low mass large area monolithic pixel sensor module.
Introduction
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) have emerged as a new therapeutic option to treat patients suffering a psychotic disorder. To date, there is a lack of studies regarding ...safety and clinical use pattern of LAIs in pregnant women.
Objectives
Provide evidence and real world clinical data of pregnant women with schizophrenia who have been treated with long-acting aripiprazole monohydrate (aripiprazole once monthly AOM condition) during their pregnancy.
Methods
Descriptive real-world clinical experiences of pregnant women in treatment with AOM. The information was obtained by reviewing electronic medical records and by direct clinical observation management.
Results
The first six case-series describing the pregnancy course of women with schizophrenia treated with AOM. All of them remained psychopathologically stable through pregnancy, and their infants became healthy with normal developmental milestones (Table 1).
Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of six case-reports.
Mothers
1
2
3
4
5
6
Maternal/Pregnancy outcomes
Age(years)
35
29
35
31
38
30
Diagnosis
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
AOM(mg/days)
400-300
400-300
400-300
160
300
400
Type of delivery
Eutocic.
Eutocic, preterm
Eutocic
Eutocic
Eutocic
Eutocic
Neonatal outcomes
Weight(grams)
3300
1800
3140
3102
2940
3400
Gender
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Developmental
Abnormalities
(years)
No(3)
No(2)
No( 0.17)
No(2)
No(2)
No(1.5)
Conclusions
The favorable results in this case-series suggest that despite the lack of evidence on reproductive safety and treatment with AOM during pregnancy, this therapeutic option should be considered in pregnant women with schizophrenia. However, further research on the use of long-acting antipsychotics in pregnant women is needed.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
The authors present the case of a 52-year-old male with a history of new-onset seizures who presented in status epilepticus. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an ...olfactory groove mass. A keyhole supraorbital-eyebrow approach assisted with a microinspection tool was performed for tumor resection.1-5 A Simpson grade 2 tumor resection was achieved, and histopathology revealed a World Health Organization grade I olfactory groove meningioma. Postoperative and follow-up course has been unremarkable, with early postoperative imaging demonstrating no residual tumoral mass. The operative video highlights the advantages of using the microinspection tool for the visualization of deep lesions.
PDF
