The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impacts of agriculture and water policy scenarios on the sustainability of selected irrigated farming systems in Italy, in the context of the ...forthcoming implementation of the directive EC 60/2000. Directive EC 60/2000 (Water Framework Directive) is intended to represent the reference norm regulating water use throughout Europe. Five main scenarios were developed reflecting aspects of agricultural policy, markets and technologies:
Agenda 2000, world market, global sustainability, provincial agriculture and
local community. These were combined with two water price levels, representing stylised scenarios for water policy. The effects of the scenarios on irrigated systems were simulated using multi-attribute linear programming models representing the reactions of the farms to external variables defined by each scenario. The output of the models consists of economic, social and environmental indicators aimed at quantifying the impact of the scenarios on different aspects of sustainability relevant for irrigated farming systems. Five Italian irrigated farming systems were considered: cereal, rice, fruit, vegetables and citrus. The results show the diversity of irrigated systems and the different effects that water pricing policy may produce depending on the agricultural policy, market and technological scenarios. They also highlight a clear trade-off between socio-economic sustainability and environmental (water, nitrogen, pesticide) sustainability. Water pricing will have, in most cases, less impact than agricultural markets and policy scenarios, though it appears to be an effective instrument for water regulation in the least intensive irrigated systems considered. This emphasises the need for a differentiated application of the Water Framework Directive at the local level as well as a more careful balance of water conservation, agricultural policy and rural development objectives.
Abstract
Objectives. The one-carbon metabolism, also known as methionine-homocysteine cycle, governs the dynamics of DNA methylation, epigenetically regulating gene expression, and has been reported ...altered in anorexia nervosa (AN) adult patients. The aim of this study consisted in assessing whole-blood DNA methylation in adolescent AN patients, assessing its significance in relationship to clinical and hormonal variables. Methods. Whole-blood global DNA methylation was measured as incorporation of 3HdCTP following HpaII cut in 32 adolescent females affected by restrictive type AN and compared to 13 healthy controls. Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate plasma levels were assessed as well as fasting plasma levels of leptin and steroid hormones. Clinical variables, including severity and associate states and traits, were assessed by means of the EDI-3, CDI and STAI-Y scales. Results. We confirm that whole-blood global DNA methylation is modestly albeit significantly reduced in AN adolescents with respect to controls, correlating with plasma leptin and steroid hormone levels. Conversely, clinical traits did not correlate with the outcome variable. Conclusions. A better definition of the epigenetic dysregulation underlying AN pathology or vulnerability might lead to develop useful markers for diagnosis, prognostic classification and tailored therapeutic interventions in these vulnerable patients since the earliest phases of their disease.
A reliable chromatographic method for the determination of soy isoflavones (genistein, daidzein and glycitein) using a coulometric detection has been developed and applied to analyse plasma of ...postmenopausal women. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 reversed phase column with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile–phosphate buffer mixture. Coulometric detection was carried out at +0.500
V. A careful and rapid solid phase extraction procedure on hydrophilic/lipophilic cartridges was chosen for plasma sample purification with and without hydrolysis obtaining good extraction yield values for all the analytes (>90.0%). The enzymatic hydrolysis step was necessary for the determination of the total amount of soy isoflavones. The limit of quantitation was 0.5
ng
mL
−1 for genistein and 0.25
ng
mL
−1 for daidzein and glycitein. The method was found to be precise and accurate. Thus, the proposed method is suitable for the analysis of soy isoflavones (free and total amounts) in plasma of postmenopausal women under treatment with the SoymenGN
® dietary supplement.
The specifications are applicable to most practice settings and can accommodate a number of ways in which physicians can substantiate expertise and competence in utility of either CCT or CMR. ...it ...is important to stress that competence levels for CCT and CMR are distinct and require separate training. The official name for the discipline of magnetic resonance (MR) applied to the cardiovascular system per the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) is "cardiovascular magnetic resonance" whether it is applied to the heart alone (including the coronary arteries) or the heart and the peripheral blood vessels. Because of the complexities of the peripheral anatomy as well as the different methods of interpretation and acquisition, peripheral imaging using either modality is outside the scope of this document and will require separate attention and training.
A precise and feasible high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the analysis of the novel antipsychotic drug quetiapine in plasma has been developed. The analysis was carried out on ...a C8 (150×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) reversed-phase column, using a mixture of acetonitrile, methanol and pH 1.9 phosphate buffer as the mobile phase; triprolidine was used as the internal standard. Careful pretreatment of the biological samples was implemented by means of solid-phase extraction (SPE). A good linearity was found in the 4–400 ng ml
−1 quetiapine plasma concentration range. The application to some plasma samples of patients treated with Seroquel® tablets gave satisfactory results. The accuracy was good (quetiapine mean recovery=92%), as well as the precision (mean RSD=3.3%). The method seems to be suitable for the clinical monitoring of patients treated with quetiapine.
The Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union is subject to a continuous process of reform. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of decoupling and related policy and market ...scenarios, as introduced in the 2003 CAP reform, by way of selected agriculture sustainability indicators and through the aggregation of individual farm-household simulated behaviour. The approach is based on the use of a Net Present Value-maximising dynamic farm-household model. The model is implemented on 80 farm-households to simulate the reaction to scenarios of different agricultural systems in 8 EU countries. The results are measured through three main indicators – represented by farm income, labour use and nitrogen use – evaluated over a period of 14 years. The results of individual farm-households are aggregated first using the concept of farming system and then based on a cluster analysis using the results in different scenarios as discriminant variables. The results show that the CAP as a whole is crucial for the sustainability of farming systems in terms of income and employment, but also provides incentives for higher use of inputs, suggesting a trade-off between social and environmental sustainability concerns. In the range of variation considered, nitrogen and labour use appear much more reactive than income and indicate much higher variability across farms and scenarios. The aggregation by agricultural system denotes rather different behaviour among systems. However, the cluster analysis shows that results appear to be better interpreted by patterns of individual characteristics (location in the plain, structure, asset endowment, labour, etc.) than by country, specialisation or technology.
► The CAP is crucial for the sustainability of farming systems. ► But also provides incentives for higher use of inputs. ► Nitrogen and labour use are the parameters more reactive to scenarios. ► Results are better explained by patterns of individual characteristics.
Abstract Quantitative motion analysis protocols have been developed to assess the coordination between scapula and humerus. However, the application of these protocols to test whether a subject's ...scapula resting position or pattern of coordination is “normal”, is precluded by the unavailability of reference prediction intervals and bands, respectively. The aim of this study was to present such references for the “ISEO” protocol, by using the non-parametric Bootstrap approach and two parametric Gaussian methods (based on Student's T and Normal distributions). One hundred and eleven asymptomatic subjects were divided into three groups based on their age (18–30, 31–50, and 51–70). For each group, “monolateral” prediction bands and intervals were computed for the scapulo-humeral patterns and the scapula resting orientation, respectively. A fourth group included the 36 subjects (42±13 year-old) for whom the scapulo-humeral coordination was measured bilaterally, and “differential” prediction bands and intervals were computed, which describe right-to-left side differences. Bootstrap and Gaussian methods were compared using cross-validation analyses, by evaluating the coverage probability in comparison to a 90% target. Results showed a mean coverage for Bootstrap from 86% to 90%, compared to 67–70% for parametric bands and 87–88% for parametric intervals. Bootstrap prediction bands showed a distinctive change in amplitude and mean pattern related to age, with an increase toward scapula retraction, lateral rotation and posterior tilt. In conclusion, Bootstrap ensures an optimal coverage and should be preferred over parametric methods. Moreover, the stratification of “monolateral” prediction bands and intervals by age appears relevant for the correct classification of patients.
Background
Skin adverse events associated with D‐Penicillamine (DPA) are common and multi‐faceted, although the presence of DPA or its metabolites has never been documented in the skin, because of ...inherent difficulties in determining its tissue levels. Thus, the association between DPA and DPA‐related dermatoses has been only hypothesized on the basis of careful history, clinical observation and typical histopathological findings.
Objective
To detect DPA in biopsy specimens in a unique case of 25‐year‐late‐onset elastosis perforans serpiginosa and pseudo‐pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with a history of long‐term high dose DPA, by applying a recently described analytical method to assess the presence of DPA in skin.
Methods
We used a reliable analytical method based on high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with amperometric detection to look for the presence of DPA in skin biopsy specimens.
Results
A chromatographic peak corresponding to DPA was evidenced in some affected skin samples collected from the patient.
Conclusion
We documented the effective presence and the persistence after 25 years of DPA in the skin of a woman affected by elastotic cutaneous change due to a long‐term therapy with DPA. This report provides further evidence of the relationship between DPA deposit in affected skin and clinical manifestation.
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