ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PRODUCTIVE PRACTICES INFLUENCE ON THE INDUSTRIAL ENERGETIC EFFICIENCY

The industrial energetic efficiency (EE) is recognized as one of the main factors for the reduction of gas emissions that cause the greenhouse effect and for the improvement of the industrial competiveness. Within this context, many papers of the international literature have proposed different indicators of industrial, economic and environmental behavior, so as to promote the EE inside the industries. However, such proposals do not generally check the result of the joint work for more than one indicator in the organizations, making more global analysis more difficult related to EE. This paper aims to check which environmental, economic and industrial practices indicators influence the EE of the industries.  The data have been collected from the framework developed by Trianni et al. (2014), that analysed the main energetic efficiency measures for the technologies: motors, lighting, compressed air and HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). A logistic regression model has been adjusted for understand the relationship the economic, environmental and productive practices behavior on the energetic efficiency. Results suggest that a healthy workplace enables investments in equipment and machinery, allowing the EE inside the industries.

Efecto de las micorrizas arbusculares sobre la aclimatación y endurecimiento de microplántulas de mora (Rubus glaucus)

The transfer of Andean blackberry plantlets from in vitro to ex vitro conditions is one of the most critical phases of the micropropagation technique due to the high mortality rate of plantlets (50-90%), as a consequence of a poorly developed cuticle, non-functional stomates and a weak radicle system that facilitates dehydration by water stress. This investigation focused on obtaining clean plantlets originated from tissue culture and hardened with arbuscular mycorrhizas (HMA). The research was performed under controlled conditions; an experimental design of random complete blocks was used with eight treatments, three repetitions and four experimental units as follows; three control treatments without inoculation, without fertilizing (T0), with 50% fertilizing (T50) and with 100% fertilizing (T100), and five treatments inoculated with HMA (MA1, MA2, MA3, MA4 and Mycobiol®) plus T50. The major benefits of inoculation with HMA were achieved with the strain MA4 isolated from Silvania (Cundinamarca) and with native spores classified as Glomus sp. and Acaulospora sp. The inoculated plants showed better adaptation to the environment, reflected in plant size, accumulation of foliar and radicle biomass, wider foliar area, and better nutritional state reflected in a higher absorption of essential nutrients (P, N, Ca, and Mg). The use of the strain MA4 allowed the substitution of 50% of commercial fertilization since it achieved similar values to T100 in the absorption of P and Ca, and higher absorption for N and  Mg. The levels of root colonization by the   fungus explained this vegetative behavior.   La transferencia de plántulas de mora de condiciones in vitro a ex vitro es una de las fases más críticas de la técnica de micropropagación debido al alto grado de mortalidad de plántulas (50 a 90%), como consecuencia de una cutícula poco desarrollada, estomas no funcionales y un sistema radical débil que facilita la deshidratación por estrés hídrico. Esta investigación se orientó a la obtención de plántulas limpias procedentes de cultivo de tejidos y endurecidas con micorrizas arbusculares (HMA). La investigación se realizó bajo condiciones controladas; se utilizó un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar con ocho tratamientos, tres repeticiones y cuatro unidades experimentales, así: tres tratamientos testigo sin inoculación, sin fertilizar (T0), con 50% de fertilización (T50), y con 100% de fertilización (T100), y cinco tratamientos inoculados con HMA (MA1, MA2, MA3, MA4 y Mycobiol) más T50. Los mayores beneficios de la inoculación con HMA se lograron con la cepa MA4 aislada de Silvania (Cundinamarca) y con esporas nativas clasificadas como Glomus sp. y Acaulospora sp. Las plantas inoculadas mostraron mejor adaptación al ambiente, expresada en el porte, la acumulación de biomasa foliar y radical, mayor área foliar y mejor estado nutricional expresado en una mayor absorción de nutrientes esenciales (P, N, Ca y Mg). El uso de la cepa MA4 permitió sustituir el 50% de la fertilización comercial debido a que obtuvo valores similares a T100 en la absorción de P y Ca, y superiores a ésta en la absorción de N y Mg. Este comportamiento vegetal se explicó por los niveles de colonización del hongo en las raíces. 

Diagnóstico de la fertilidad química de los suelos de los municipios de Granada y Silvania para la producción de uchuva en Cundinamarca

Adequate plant nutrition is essential to get high crop yields and good export quality for the cape gooseberry. In order to characterize the chemical fertility of soils of cape gooseberry producing areas in Cundinamarca, samples were taken in two major producing municipalities, Granada and Sylvania. To this end, we selected 30 farms for soil sampling and subsequent chemical characterization and determination of the nutrient content available to plants. The two municipalities were compared to determine the feasibility of general soil management recommendations, or zone specific ones. Significant differences were found between the two municipalities, especially for organic matter content, but in general, a serious cationic nutrient unbalance and extreme soil acidity were noticed, so management of soil fertility with technical criteria is required. Moreover, the high level of the micronutrients Zn and Mn found in the soils could reduce crop performance. Principal component analysis was done to produce coherent recommendations by zone that should be adjusted at the level of the farms.  La nutrición de las plantas de uchuva es determinante para obtener un alto rendimiento del cultivo y garantizar el nivel de calidad del producto para exportación. Con el fin de caracterizar la fertilidad química de los suelos de las zonas productoras de uchuva en Cundinamarca, se realizó un muestreo en dos de los principales municipios productores, como son Granada y Silvania. Para tal fin se seleccionaron 30 fincas en las cuales se realizó el muestreo de suelos y la posterior caracterización química y su relación con el contenido de nutrientes disponibles para las plantas. Se hizo la comparación de municipios con el fin de determinar la conveniencia de un manejo similar o, en caso contrario, específico por zona. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los dos municipios, relacionadas especialmente con el contenido de materia orgánica en el suelo, pero además se observaron serios problemas de desbalance de cationes y alta acidez, que requieren una planificación adecuada de la fertilización. Además, los altos niveles de micronutrientes Mn y Cu pueden ser limitantes para el cultivo de uchuva. Se analizaron los componentes principales asociados a la fertilidad de los suelos y se hicieron recomendaciones generales por zona que deben ajustarse a nivel de finca.  

Desempenho ocupacional de moradores de residências terapêuticas de um município Mineiro

Therapeutic residency is one of the strategies of psychiatric reform to change the logic of segregation. It receives people with chronic mental disorders, who may have their occupational performance compromised. The goal is to analyze the occupational performance of residents of therapeutic residences in a municipality in Minas Gerais; and assess how these residents perceive their own mental health after moving to the Residential Therapeutic Service. Method: This is an exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study, of quantitative / qualitative nature. 22 residents of therapeutic residences took part in the research. The data were collected in the residences on the services premises through an interview and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, being assessed through the analysis of categorical thematic content. Results: The three categories of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (self-care, productivity and leisure) were considered and two other additional categories were established: social participation and health perception. Conclusion: This study shows that there is a loss in the occupational performance of residents, whether due to years of illness or hospitalization, but that they highly value autonomy in the occupations they still perform; and that environmental aspects contribute positively to the perception of health of these people.A residência terapêutica é uma das estratégias da reforma psiquiátrica para mudar a lógica de segregação. Ela recebe pessoas com transtornos mentais crônicos, que podem ter seu desempenho ocupacional comprometido. Objetiva-se analisar o desempenho ocupacional de moradores das residências terapêuticas de um município Mineiro; e avaliar como esses moradores percebem a própria saúde mental após a mudança para o Serviço Residencial Terapêutico. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório de natureza qualitativa. Participaram da pesquisa 22 moradores das residências terapêuticas. Os dados foram coletados nas dependências dos serviços por meio de uma entrevista e da Medida Canadense de Desempenho Ocupacional, sendo avaliados por meio de análise de conteúdo temático categorial. Foram consideradas as três categorias da Medida Canadense de Desempenho Ocupacional (autocuidado, produtividade e lazer) e estabelecidas outras duas categorias adicionais: participação social e percepção de saúde. Este estudo mostra que há prejuízo no desempenho ocupacional dos moradores, seja pelos anos de doença ou de internação, mas que eles valorizam muito a autonomia nas ocupações que ainda desempenham; e que aspectos ambientais contribuem positivamente para a percepção de saúde dessas pessoas

The student academic performance in Anatomy is related to Circadian Typology?

In human species, circadian rhythmic expression differs among individuals and may be classified with the concept of Circadian Typology (CT), which consists of three chronotypes: i) Morning-type (M-types), subjects that go to bed early and wake up early and achieve their peak of mental and physical performance in the early part of the day; ii) Evening-type (E-types), subjects that go to bed and wake up late, and perform at their best toward the end of the day, during evening hours; iii) Neither-type (N-types), subjects that show intermediate characteristics between the previous samples. Circadian preferences may change during the life span and can influence academic and sport performance and job activities [1]. We collected data considering 427 students, 294 males and 133 females (age 18-25 years), attending the School of Sport Science, University of Milan. All participants compiled the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) for the assessment of chronotype; subsequently they have been evaluated taking into consideration their anatomy test marks. The chronotype distribution of the students was: 44 M-types, 280 N-types and 103 E-types. For M-types, the result in Anatomy exam was significantly higher compared to Evening-types (p< .01). Even the comparison between M-types and N-types showed a significant difference (p< .01). Instead, the performance for E- and N-types was similar. The present results provide a clear indication of a better academic performance for M-types students compared to E-types referring to Anatomy exam. In this way, the italian academic organization seems to be less favorable for E-types

Morningness-Eveningness preferences and academic results: correlation between practical and theoretic discipline

Human beings organize most of their biological and behavioural activities according to a 24h period. The biological rhythms show differences between individuals and this variability is known as Circadian Typology (CT). Morning-types (M-types), are active early in the morning and soon reach their peak in mental and physical performance but tire early in the evening. Evening-types (E-types) find difficult to get up in the morning and require more time to reach their optimal status. Neither-types (N-types) show intermediate characteristics. Many studies indicate that age and sex may influence: morningness preference increases with age in adults, and women show a stronger trend toward morningness than men [1]. Student chronotype can represent one of the factors that may affect academic achievement. This study investigates whether the CT of the students is related to the final exam grades of two different disciplines, theoretic (Anatomy) and practical (Athletics). Anatomy and Athletics grades are good indicators of the overall academic performance of the undergraduates. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the performance in Anatomy is correlated with Athletics for the three chronotypes. Participants were recruited among students of the School of Sport Science, University of Milan. They were 427 (294 males; 133 females). They completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ): 44 students were classified as M-types, 280 as N-types and 103 as E-types. Individual performance in the final exams of Anatomy and Athletic were collected among them. M-type students achieved better results on final exams in Anatomy and Athletic than either E-type or N-type students. Moreover for M-types (R2= 0.187), it was observed a higher correlation concerning the results of the two disciplines than E-types (R2=0.0727) and N-types (R2=0.0236)

Classification of productive capacity of Pinus taeda L. plantations in the western region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil

ABSTRACT - This study aimed to test different statistical models to adjust site index curves and apply models of identity tests in comparing the mean curves of dominant height in Pinus taeda to two regions of the West of the State of Santa Catarina. Data dominant height were obtained from permanent plots,with 600 m&sup2; size, distributed randomly. Selecting the best adjusted statistical model was made through the following adjustment and accuracy of statistics: determination coefficient (R&sup2;adj), standard error of estimate (Syx) in absolute and relative terms and graphic distribution of waste. The test Regazzi (2003) was applied to analyze the possibility of using a single model of the dominant height for the two regions. The Prodan model was chosen for construction of site index curves by the method of the guide curve. By applying the test Regazzi (2003), a single equation is not sufficient to represent the growth of dominant height in the two regions.This study aimed to test different statistical models to adjust site index curves and apply models of identity tests in comparing the mean curves of dominant height in Pinus taeda to two regions of the West of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Data dominant heights were obtained from permanent plots, with 600 m2 size, distributed randomly. Selecting the best adjusted statistical model was made through the following adjustment and accuracy of statistics: determination coefficient (R2adj), standard error of estimate (Syx) in absolute and relative terms and graphic distribution of waste. The test Regazzi (2003) was applied to analyze the possibility of using a single model of the dominant height for the two regions. The Prodan model was chosen for construction of site index curves by the method of the guide curve. By applying the test Regazzi (2003), a single equation is not sufficient to represent the growth of dominant height in the two regions

Anthropometric indices of adiposity and fasting glucose metabolism in breast cancer survivors: effects of aerobic physical activity

Adiposity and hypersinsulinemia are factors involved in cancer mortality including BC (1). Physical activity (PA) has the potential to counterbalance these risk factors. In fact, PA has been shown to produce beneficial effects on adiposity and glucose metabolism (2). We thus designed a randomized controlled trial to test the effect of an aerobic PA program on anthropometric indices of adiposity and fasting glucose metabolism in BC women included in a dietary intervention trial for prevention of BC recurrences. 42 BC women, aged 35-70 years, were randomized into an intervention (IG=19) and control group (CG=23). The IG had to participate in a 3-month active PA program that included two sessions of one-hour brisk walking per week. At baseline and after 3-month, all women were requested to undergo an anthropometric visit and to collect a blood sample for determination of fasting insulin and glucose levels. At the end of the 3-month PA a significant reduction in waist circumference (p&lt;0.05) and percentage fat mass (p&lt;0.01) were observed in IG, but not in CG. In addition, only IG increased significantly their Metabolic Equivalent of Task (METs) (p&lt;0.05). Although fasting glucose and insulin levels don’t show any significant change in either group, it is nevertheless encouraging that the two groups displayed an opposite trend as far as the changes in fasting insulin were concerned: fasting insulin shows a mean reduction (-0.9 U//ml) in the IG group and a mean increment in the CG (+0.7 U/ml). The results suggest that a standardized PA program in BC survivors reduces anthropometric indices of adiposity and may prove useful in preventing the development of hyperinsulinemic levels

Social jetlag affects jump skills in sub-elite volleyball players

Social jetlag (SJL), resulting from misalignment between biological rhythms and social schedules, has emerged as a prevalent phenomenon in modern society, particularly among young athletes. However, the effect of SJL on performance is poorly studied. Jump and dynamic balance are two key skills in volleyball, as the first allows the player to perform better both during the offense and defense phase, and the second is fundamental in landing and in injury prevention. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the effect of SJL on jump skill performance and balance in female volleyball players. Thirty female volleyball players (mean age: 17.3 ± 0.88 years) participated in the study. SJL was assessed using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), integrated with Jankowsky's sleep-corrected formula. Jump skill performance was evaluated using a standardized jump test, the Vertec Jump Test, while balance was assessed with the Y Balance Test. The tests were performed at 09:00 a.m. and at 06:00 p.m. The results revealed that players with greater SJL exhibited decreased jump performance, characterized by lower vertical jump height (p = 0.02). Furthermore, players with lower SJL showed the typical difference between morning and afternoon performance (p = 0.001), demonstrating their synchronization between biological rhythms and social commitments, while no statistically significant difference between the two sessions was shown in players with higher SJL. Regarding balance, no significant association with SJL was found, but the morning session yielded lower results than the afternoon one (p = 0.01). These findings highlight the detrimental impact of SJL on jump skill performance, underscoring the importance of optimizing sleep-wake schedules and circadian alignment to enhance athletic performance. Future research should explore targeted interventions, such as sleep hygiene education, to minimize social jetlag and promote optimal performance in adolescent athletes

A Machine Learning Approach for Mortality Prediction in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Development and Evaluation of the Piacenza Score

Background: Several models have been developed to predict mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, but only a few have demonstrated enough discriminatory capacity. Machine learning algorithms represent a novel approach for the data-driven prediction of clinical outcomes with advantages over statistical modeling.Objective: We aimed to develop a machine learning-based score-the Piacenza score-for 30-day mortality prediction in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.Methods: The study comprised 852 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, admitted to the Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital in Italy from February to November 2020. Patients' medical history, demographics, and clinical data were collected using an electronic health record. The overall patient data set was randomly split into derivation and test cohorts. The score was obtained through the naive Bayes classifier and externally validated on 86 patients admitted to Centro Cardiologico Monzino (Italy) in February 2020. Using a forward-search algorithm, 6 features were identified: age, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, PaO2/FiO(2) ratio, temperature, previous stroke, and gender. The Brier index was used to evaluate the ability of the machine learning model to stratify and predict the observed outcomes. A user-friendly website was designed and developed to enable fast and easy use of the tool by physicians. Regarding the customization properties of the Piacenza score, we added a tailored version of the algorithm to the website, which enables an optimized computation of the mortality risk score for a patient when some of the variables used by the Piacenza score are not available. In this case, the naive Bayes classifier is retrained over the same derivation cohort but using a different set of patient characteristics. We also compared the Piacenza score with the 4C score and with a naive Bayes algorithm with 14 features chosen a priori.Results: The Piacenza score exhibited an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.78 (95% CI 0.74-0.84, Brier score=0.19) in the internal validation cohort and 0.79 (95% CI 0.68-0.89, Brier score=0.16) in the external validation cohort, showing a comparable accuracy with respect to the 4C score and to the naive Bayes model with a priori chosen features; this achieved an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.73-0.83, Brier score=0.26) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.75-0.86, Brier score=0.17), respectively.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that a customizable machine learning-based score with a purely data-driven selection of features is feasible and effective for the prediction of mortality among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia