Climate change effects on people’s livelihood

Generally climate is defined as the long-term average weather conditions of a particular place, region, or the world. Key climate variables include surface conditions such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) broadly defined climate change as any change in the state of climate which persists for extended periods, usually for decades or longer (Allwood et al. 2014). Climate change may occur due to nature’s both internal and external processes. External process involves anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and volcanic eruptions. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) made a distinction between climate change attributable to human contribution to atmospheric composition and natural climate variability. In its Article 1, the UNFCCC defines climate change as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods” (United Nations 1992, p. 7)

Flavours Correlation Determination by Non Supervised Neural Network in Virgin Olive Oil

Olive Oil is the first food product for which the assessment of the organoleptic quality by means of the Panel Test (PT) was introduced at the level of European Union legislation as a criterion for the sensory evaluation in the Reg. EU 1348/2013 annex XII (revision of Reg. EEC 2568/91). The standard establishes that olive oil must be tasted according to the rigid standards and regulations of the Panel Test (PT) that is carried out by a group of at least 8 professional tasters with a chief, that, through the tasting, give a numerical subjective evaluation (from 0 to 5) to many questions about flavours, in a questionnaire. The ensemble of the scores, reached by each components, defines the organoleptic quality. The amount of these numbers suggests, for better readability, the use of an unsupervised Artificial Neural Network (ANN), which identifies the best two-dimensional representation of the samples that have stimulated the PT. Analysing the coefficients relating a flavour to output neurons of the Kohonen Map, it is possible to individuate the heaviest. If it happens that more heavier coefficients inherent to different flavours, flights the same neuron, an internal correlation will be searched

Aromatic stability and degradation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The Panel Test (PT) is performed by certified assayers and recognized by European Union. From a statistic point of view, it is a methodology sufficiently objective and repetitive so realizing a Metrology. The aim of this work is the study of extra virgin oil olive degradation and stability. The method uses a cascade of two neural networks which inputs are an essential set of quality parameters coming from the Panel Tests made on extra virgin olive oils samples and gas chromatographic analysis on them. Nine extra virgin olive oil samples have been examined. The results of the PT are classified by an unsupervised neural network and related on a Kohonen Map. Then, they are correlated to Gas Chromatographic analysis of olive oil by the Multi Layer Perceptron with Back-Propagation (MLP-BP), a supervised neural network. The MLP-BP is able to classify a sample different from those used for the learning. The olive oil degradation is analyzed by comparing the results on the same sample performed in different periods. Instead, the aromatic stability is observed by comparing different sample from the same producer. The degradation has been observed by the change of the intensity of the signals: the reduction of aromas "fruity" and "green grass" is detected, typical flavors of freshness of the product, in in some oils the flavors "spicy" and "mint" appear. As regards the aromatic stability, many products have maintained the bearing characteristics while the few variations are related to the disappearance of aromas of flowers and/or apple

The Panel Test as the Metrology of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality Evaluation and Its Dissemination

Nowadays, the check of the organoleptic characteristics for the evaluation of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) quality is regulated by the European Union (EU) authorities, which indicate the use of the panel test (PT). It is composed by a team of specialists that give a numerical value to many characteristics about flavours, synthesising a sensory analysis. Each expert answers questions about the aroma by assigning the adequate scores to each oil. The evaluation becomes objective by applying the statistical analysis of all the scores given by the participants: This is the definition of “measure” of Russell. The PT can be considered a true standard “metrological system” (considering the number of questions in the questionnaire), while the perceptions of the testers are the solicitations of it. To allow access to an expensive evaluation process by small companies, this work proposes to “disseminate” the properties of the metrology represented by PT. The results of the PT are arranged in an unsupervised artificial neural network (ANN), the Kohonen map, which represents the synthesis of self-organised output that has only the goal, in this paper, to make readable PT results. The dissemination process is obtained by the gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of each oil sample and through the identification of peaks corresponding to the perceptions. These signals are used for the training of the supervised Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) ANN, with the back propagation algorithm, whose outputs are represented by the results of the PT. This procedure is exact a “metrological dissemination of a standard” and also the aim of the work: to classify EVOO without always resorting to PT

How to reduce surgical complications in rectal cancer surgery using fluorescence techniques

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a serious complication in colorectal surgery leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Progressively lower anastomoses are associated with a greater leak rate. Adequate bowel perfusion has been stressed as one of the key elements for suture healing. Currently, there is no widespread method to assess and quantify the perfusion of gastrointestinal anastomoses intraoperatively, besides the subjective evaluation by the surgeon. The aim of this paper is to describe the basis of Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence guided surgery applied to assessment of bowel perfusion and to highlight studies on the use of fluorescence angiography (FA) in laparoscopic rectal surgery. ICG fluorescence guided surgery has increasingly been used as a tool for intraoperative diagnostics to assess microperfusion and viability of tissues by means of a real-time FA; this technique has achieved the role of major contribution to intraoperative decision making during surgical procedures, especially in order to assess bowel perfusion before anastomosis creation in colorectal surgery. Several studies in literature already reported that ICG FA as a feasible technique to decrease AL rate in colorectal surgery; to date no randomized controlled trials have been completed but large series and prospective studies that focus on fluorescence perfusion assessment in rectal surgery have been published. Real time intraoperative ICG fluorescent angiography (FA) is a safe and feasible technique to guide the surgeon in intraoperative decision-making process. ICG FA seems to reduce AL rates following rectal surgery for cancer. However large well-designed RCTs are needed to provide evidence for its routine use

Imaging techniques and combined medical and surgical treatment of perianal Crohn’s disease

Crohn\u2019s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease which may involve any segment of the gastrointestinal tract, most frequently the terminal ileum, the large intestine, and the perianal region. The symptoms of perianal Crohn\u2019s disease include skin disorders, hemorrhoids, anal ulcers, anorectal stenosis, perianal abscesses and fistulas, rectovaginal fistulas and carcinoma of the perianal region. The perianal manifestations of Crohn\u2019s disease cause great discomfort to the patient and are among the most difficult aspects to treat. Management of perianal disease requires a combination of different imaging modalities and a close cooperation between gastroenterologists and dedicated surgeons

Genetic mutations in FAP and conventional or laparoscopic surgical approach

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary disease whose main characteristic is the great quantity of adenomatous polyps distributed throughout the colon and rectum and leading to their progressive degeneration. The complexity of the possible clinical presentations includes, in addition to severe or attenuated colorectal disorders, various extra-colonic manifestations such as gastric and duodenal polyposis and desmoid tumours that can require additional endoscopic or surgical treatment which complicates the therapeutic process and imposes continuative surveillance even when the colorectal disease is eradicated. Analysis of the genetic pattern of the disease, as well as a better definition of the particular aspects of APC gene mutations on chromosome 5 and its relationship to the clinical aspects of the pathology, suggest a surgical therapeutic scheme based not only on clinical criteria but also on the genetic implications outlined [1]. Unfortunately, to date, a proven correlation between the variable characteristics of the genetic error and the clinical expressions of the pathology does not exist; nevertheless, on the basis of genetic analysis, which can precisely define attenuated and severe forms, it is possible to indicate a therapeutic option rather than another type of option. To understand whether the genetic traits could be useful in directing the therapy, we examined the literature existing on the subject and performed a retrospective analysis on patients operated on at our hospital without either the patients or ourselves knowing in advance the localisation of the genetic error. The aim of our evaluation is to determine if the genetic disorder correlates with the clinical expressions, which would then lead to conservative surgery, or if the clinical criteria (for example the number and characteristics of the polyps in the rectum, presence of desmoids) should remain the only reliable factors playing a role in a correct technical choice [2]. Moreover, we analysed videolaparoscopic techniques to ascertain if they offer advantages over conventional open treatment, or if, in this specific case, the generic advantages of laparoscopy can be transferred to patients affected with FAP. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, appreciated mainly by younger patients, can laparoscopy reduce the risk of intestinal occlusions (reducing postoperative visceral adhesions) and the risk of the formation of desmoids (reducing the surgical scar, favoured site of these tumours)? Some other problems that must be assessed: how to treat duodenal, periampullary and ampullary polyps and what kind of surveillance is advised in order to detect and treat the adenomas that can develop in ileoanal pouches, even many years after surgery