Comparison of greenhouse gas mitigation costs in cropping systems: case studies from USA, Brazil, and Germany

Stickstoffdüngung und Bodenbewirtschaftung sind die Hauptquellen für Treibhausgase aus Anbausystemen. Dennoch sind diese Maßnahmen in Ackerbaubetrieben unerlässlich. In Anbetracht der Notwendigkeit, rasch Maßnahmen gegen den Klimawandel zu ergreifen, ist es notwendig Minderungspotentiale und Kosten in diesen Betrieben zu ermitteln und vergleichen. Es wurden Fallstudien in den USA, in Brasilien und in Deutschland durchgeführt, wobei jeweils eine Kultur in jeder Region untersucht wurde. Wissenschaftliche Literatur und Fokusgruppen mit lokalen Experten wurden genutzt, um realistische Ergebnisse zu generieren, die den lokalen Kontext abbilden. Diese Arbeit zeigt, dass die Wirtschaftlichkeit der Minderungsstrategien von dem betrachteten Zeithorizont abhängt, der sich aus der Kohlenstoffdynamik im Boden ergibt. Kurzfristig bieten Strategien, die die Kohlenstoffbindung fördern, ein größeres Minderungspotenzial, was jedoch langfristig nicht zutrifft. Kurzfristig wurden in Brasilien und den USA die geringsten Minderungskosten durch die Optimierung der Stickstoffdüngung erreicht. Diese Kosten sind negativ, was bedeutet, dass die Anwendung dieser Strategien, nicht nur ihre Emissionen, sondern auch ihre Kosten senken würden. Weitere kosteneffiziente Strategien waren die Verringerung der Bodenbearbeitungsintensität und Zwischenfrüchte, die in allen Fällen mit vergleichbaren Minderungskosten durchführbar waren und die Kohlenstoffbindung fördern. Der Einsatz von Hemmstoffen schließlich, der in den USA und in Brasilien möglich war, hatte die höchsten Minderungskosten. Langfristig betrachtet stiegen die Minderungskosten von Strategien mit Kohlenstoffbindung an und waren ähnlich hoch oder höher als bei Strategien ohne Kohlenstoffbindung. Da in allen Fällen dieselbe Methodik angewandt wurde, sind die Ergebnisse vergleichbar. Darüber hinaus sind die Ergebnisse zwar spezifisch für den Kontext, in dem sie berechnet wurden, sie liefern jedoch Erkenntnisse für ähnliche Regionen.Nitrogen fertilization and soil management are the main sources of greenhouse gases from cropping systems. Yet these operations are essential on arable farms. Considering the need to take quick action against climate change, it is necessary to understand which mitigation potentials and cost can be attained in these farms and how they compare. Case studies in the USA, Brazil and in Germany were conducted, assessing one crop in each region. Scientific literature and focus groups with local experts were used to generate realistic results which depict the local context. This thesis identified that the economics of the mitigation strategies depended on the time horizon considered, which results from the carbon dynamics in the soil. In the short term, strategies promoting carbon sequestration offer a larger mitigation potential, yet this is not valid in the long term. In the short term, the lowest mitigation costs were attained by optimizing the nitrogen rate, feasible in the USA and Brazil. These costs are indicated to be negative, implying that adopting the strategy would not only lower emissions, but also reduce their costs. The next most cost efficient strategies were the reduction of the tillage intensity and cover crops, which were feasible in all cases with comparable mitigation costs and promote carbon sequestration. Lastly, the adoption of inhibitors, feasible in the USA and in Brazil, had among the highest mitigation costs. Assuming the long term, the mitigation costs of strategies with carbon sequestration increased, becoming similar to or higher than strategies without carbon sequestration. By applying the same methodology in each case, the results are comparable. Moreover, while the findings are specific to the context in which they were calculated, they provide insights for similar regions

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound: clinical applications in patients with atherosclerosis

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is increasingly being used to evaluate patients with known or suspected atherosclerosis. The administration of a microbubble contrast agent in conjunction with ultrasound results in an improved image quality and provides information that cannot be assessed with standard B-mode ultrasound. CEUS is a high-resolution, noninvasive imaging modality, which is safe and may benefit patients with coronary, carotid, or aortic atherosclerosis. CEUS allows a reliable assessment of endocardial borders, left ventricular function, intracardiac thrombus and myocardial perfusion. CEUS results in an improved detection of carotid atherosclerosis, and allows assessment of high-risk plaque characteristics including intraplaque vascularization, and ulceration. CEUS provides real-time bedside information in patients with a suspected or known abdominal aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection. The absence of ionizing radiation and safety of the contrast agent allow repetitive imaging which is particularly useful in the follow-up of patients after endovascular aneurysm repair. New developments in CEUS-based molecular imaging will improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and may in the future allow to image and directly treat cardiovascular diseases (theragnostic CEUS). Familiarity with the strengths and limitations of CEUS may have a major impact on the management of patients with atherosclerosis

Regulation of the cardiac voltage-gated Na+ channel (H1) by the ubiquitin-protein ligase Nedd4

AbstractThe cardiac voltage-gated Na+ channel H1, involved in the generation of cardiac action potential, contains a C-terminal PY motif (xPPxY). Since PY motifs are known ligands to WW domains, we investigated their role for H1 regulation and the possible involvement of the WW domain containing ubiquitin-protein ligase Nedd4, taking advantage of the Xenopus oocyte system. Mutation of the PY motif leads to higher peak currents when compared to wild-type channel. Moreover, co-expression of Nedd4 reduced the peak currents, whereas an enzymatically inactive Nedd4 mutant increased them, likely by competing with endogenous Nedd4. The effect of Nedd4 was not observed in the PY motif mutated channel or in the skeletal muscle voltage-gated Na+ channel, which lacks a PY motif. We conclude that H1 may be regulated by Nedd4 depending on WW–PY interaction, and on an active ubiquitination site

Endovenous Thermal Ablation for Treatment of Symptomatic Saphenous Veins-Does the Body Weight Matter?

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine whether body weight may affect the effectiveness and safety of endovenous thermal ablation (ETA) for the treatment of symptomatic varicose veins. METHODS This retrospective single-center cohort study analyzed the outcomes and patient demographic data with a focus on the body weight of all patients who had ETA of symptomatic varicose veins between September 2017 and October 2020. RESULTS A total of 1178 treated truncal veins from 636 patients were analyzed. The mean ± standard deviation body mass index (BMI) was 25.5 ± 4.9. In 2.3% of cases, the patients were underweight (BMI 25), and 16.6% were obese (BMI > 30). Complete truncal occlusion was observed 1 year post intervention in 97.6-100% and patients were satisfied or very satisfied in 96.2-100% across BMI groups. Pain was low but significantly higher in the patients with obesity 6 weeks post intervention (visual analog scale 0.84 ± 1.49) and a higher infection rate was observed in the patients with obesity (n = 4/132; 3.0%). No significant association was observed between BMI and bleeding or thromboembolic events. CONCLUSIONS Patients with obesity experienced prolonged pain and more infections after ETA, but ETA for varicose vein treatment remains effective and safe, independent of the patient's BMI

Data on consistency among different methods to assess atherosclerotic plaque echogenicity on standard ultrasound and intraplaque neovascularization on contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in human carotid artery

AbstractHere we provide the correlation among different carotid ultrasound (US) variables to assess echogenicity n standard carotid US and to assess intraplaque neovascularization on contrast enhanced US. We recruited 45 consecutive subjects with an asymptomatic≥50% carotid artery stenosis. Carotid plaque echogenicity at standard US was visually graded according to Gray–Weale classification (GW) and measured by the greyscale median (GSM), a semi-automated computerized measurement performed by Adobe Photoshop®. On CEUS imaging IPNV was graded according to the visual appearance of contrast within the plaque according to three different methods: CEUS_A (1=absent; 2=present); CEUS_B a three-point scale (increasing IPNV from 1 to 3); CEUS_C a four-point scale (increasing IPNV from 0 to 3). We have also implemented a new simple quantification method derived from region of interest (ROI) signal intensity ratio as assessed by QLAB software. Further information is available in “Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of intraplaque neovascularization and its correlation to plaque echogenicity in human carotid arteries atherosclerosis (M. Cattaneo, D. Staub, A.P. Porretta, J.M. Gallino, P. Santini, C. Limoni et al., 2016) [1]

Gardening Experience Is Associated with Increased Fruit and Vegetable Intake among First-Year College Students: A Cross-Sectional Examination

Background Gardening interventions have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake among school-aged children. It is unknown whether these effects persist into later adolescence or adulthood, and little is known about whether gardening in later adolescence is related to F/V intake. Objective To identify the relationship between both childhood and recent (within the past 12 months) gardening experiences and current F/V intake among college students. Design/participants A cross-sectional evaluation of 1,121 college freshmen with suboptimal F/V consumption from eight US universities. Main outcome measures Participants completed the National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable Screener and questions about gardening experiences. Respondents were grouped as having gardened or not gardened during childhood and recently. Statistical analyses performed A linear mixed model was used to evaluate the relationship between childhood and recent gardening and current F/V intake. Results Of the student participants, 11% reported gardening only during childhood, 19% reported gardening only recently, 20% reported gardening both as a child and recently, and 49% of students reported never having gardened. Students who gardened both during childhood and recently had a significantly higher mean current intake of F/V compared with students who never gardened 2.01±0.6 vs 1.9±0.5 equivalents [CE], respectively; P \u3c 0.001). In addition, F/V intake increased with frequency of recent gardening engagement when comparing students who did not garden with those who gardened monthly or weekly (3.1±0.5 CE, 2.4±0.6 CE, and 2.8±0.7 CE, respectively; P 0.001).Conclusions This analysis suggests that the combination of childhood and recent gardening experience is associated with greater current F/V intake among first-year college students not currently meeting national F/V recommendations. In addition, a greater frequency of gardening experience may further enhance this effect

A Multi-Year Examination of Gardening Experience and Fruit and Vegetable Intake During College

Gardening has been positively associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption based on short-term studies among children, but long-term data among adolescents and young adults are lacking. This investigation sought to elucidate the association between gardening experience and FV intake among college students over a two-year period. Students (N = 593) from eight universities were assessed at the end of their freshman (Y1) and sophomore (Y2) years during the springs of 2016 and 2017, respectively. At each time point, participants completed the NCI FV Screener and questions related to gardening experience and FV-related attitudes and behaviors. Students were then categorized into four groups based on gardening experience: Gardened only during the first or second year (Y1 only and Y2 only gardeners), gardened both years (Y1+Y2 gardeners), and non-gardeners. While both Y1 only and Y1+Y2 gardeners reported significantly higher FV intake relative to non-gardeners at Y1 (2.3 ± 0.9 and 2.6 ± 0.7 versus 1.9 ± 0.6 cup equivalents (CE)/day, respectively; p \u3c 0.01), only Y1+Y2 gardeners differed from non-gardeners at Y2 (2.4 ± 0.6 versus 1.8 ± 0.5 CE/day; p \u3c 0.001). Additionally, Y1+Y2 gardeners reported more frequent engagement of several FV-related behaviors, including shopping at farmers’ markets, eating locally grown foods, and cooking from basic ingredients; and were five times more likely to have gardened during childhood (OR: 5.2, 95%, CI: 3.5–8.8; p \u3c 0.001). Findings suggest that while isolated gardening experiences during college are associated with FV intake, reoccurring experience may be essential for sustained benefit

Correlação entre perda auditiva e controle glicêmico em pacientes diabéticos atendidos em um serviço de otorrinolaringologia

Introduction: Hearing loss is the fourth leading cause of disability in the world, with more than a billion people with some degree of loss, resulting in high annual costs. The auditive deficit can be a consequence of infections, genetic and environmental factors and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM). Although the role of DM in hearing loss is still uncertain, studies suggest that diabetic microangiopathy and neuropathy are involved. Objective: Evaluate the audiometric profile of patients with DM treated at an outpatient clinic in Curitiba-PR. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study evaluating 41 diabetic patients between April 2020 and March 2021 regarding hearing complaints, presence of comorbidities and degree and type of hearing loss. Results: The mean age was 66.3 years, being 63.4% female and the mean value of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 7.67%. 82.9% of patients had tinnitus and 68.3% had hearing loss. 36.6% had hypertension, while 80.5% had dyslipidemia. As for the diabetes control, 65.9% had a HbA1c ≥ 7%. Conclusions: DM may be associated with hearing loss, however, it is not possible to verify a clear correlation between cause and effect. Thus, further studies with more extensive and detailed data are necessary.Introdução: Perdas auditivas correspondem à quarta maior causa de incapacitação no mundo, com mais de um bilhão de pessoas com algum grau de perda, acarretando elevados gastos anuais. O déficit auditivo pode ser consequência de infecções, fatores genéticos, ambientais e comorbidades como hipertensão e diabetes mellitus (DM). Apesar de ainda o papel da DM na perda auditiva ser incerto, estudos sugerem que a microangiopatia e neuropatia diabéticas estejam envolvidas. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil audiométrico de pacientes com DM atendidos em um ambulatório em Curitiba-PR. Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal com avaliação de 41 pacientes diabéticos entre abril de 2020 e março de 2021 quanto a queixa auditiva, presença de comorbidades e grau e tipo de perda auditiva. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 66,3 anos, sendo 63,4% do sexo feminino e o valor médio da hemoglobina glicada (HbA1c) foi de 7,67%. 82,9% dos pacientes apresentaram tinnitus e 68,3% apresentaram hipoacusia. 36,6% apresentaram hipertensão, enquanto 80,5% tinham dislipidemia. Quanto ao controle de glicemia, 65,9% tinham HbA1c ≥ 7%. Conclusões: A DM pode estar associada com perda auditiva, não sendo, contudo, possível constatar uma clara correlação de causa e efeito. Assim, novos estudos, mais aprofundados e com um N maior, são necessários

The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for and Vaccination Against Hepatitis B Virus among Migrants in the EU/EEA: A Systematic Review

: Migrants from hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemic countries to the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) comprise 5.1% of the total EU/EEA population but account for 25% of total chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) infection. Migrants from high HBV prevalence regions are at the highest risk for CHB morbidity. These migrants are at risk of late detection of CHB complications; mortality and onwards transmission. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of CHB screening and vaccination programs among migrants to the EU/EEA. We found no RCTs or direct evidence evaluating the effectiveness of CHB screening on morbidity and mortality of migrants. We therefore used a systematic evidence chain approach to identify studies relevant to screening and prevention programs; testing, treatment, and vaccination. We identified four systematic reviews and five additional studies and guidelines that reported on screening and vaccination effectiveness. Studies reported that vaccination programs were highly effective at reducing the prevalence of CHB in children (RR 0.07 95% CI 0.04 to 0.13) following vaccination. Two meta-analyses of therapy for chronic HBV infection found improvement in clinical outcomes and intermediate markers of disease. We identified nine studies examining the cost-effectiveness of screening for CHB: a strategy of screening and treating CHB compared to no screening. The median acceptance of HB screening was 87.4% (range 32.3–100%). Multiple studies highlighted barriers to and the absence of effective strategies to ensure linkage of treatment and care for migrants with CHB. In conclusion, screening of high-risk children and adults and vaccination of susceptible children, combined with treatment of CHB infection in migrants, are promising and cost-effective interventions,but linkage to treatment requires more attention