What really matters? A qualitative analysis on the adoption of innovations in agriculture

The agricultural industry is confronted with the need of increasing the production to feed a growing population, and contemporarily to manage the decreased availability of natural resources. This major challenge boosts agriculture sector to adopt new approaches and technical innovations; anyway, the adoption of innovations in agriculture is not immediate, due to the interaction of many drivers that impact on individuals and enterprises’ decisions. This paper aims at providing a list of drivers for the adoption of technological innovations in agriculture, on the basis of the outcomes of in-depth interviews and focus groups performed in three European countries (Italy, Greece, Turkey). With specific reference to innovations, ease of use, effectiveness, usefulness, resource savings, and compatibility were mentioned as relevant features for an innovation to be adopted. Trials, demonstrations, experience and knowledge sharing, and support from qualified third parties were included among the facilitating factors for conveying and promoting innovations. Finally, public funding, agricultural policies and market conditions were identified as factors that may tip the balance in the process of innovations’ adoption

Clinicopathological findings and risk factors associated with Cytauxzoon spp. infection in cats : A case-control study (2008-2021)

In Europe, Cytauxzoon spp. infection was documented in domestic and wild felids. Cats often develop a subclinical infection, while fatal disease is rare. Currently, information on the epidemiology, risk factors and clinicopathological findings of Cytauxzoon spp. infection remains limited and obtained by a single subject or small groups of cats. The objective of this case-control study was to evaluate clinicopathological findings and to describe risk factors associated with Cytauxzoon spp. infection in domestic cats. Infected cats (n = 39) and non-infected (n = 190) cats were selected from the database of the referral San Marco Veterinary Laboratory between 2008 and 2021. Demographic information, a preset questionnaire considering lifestyle, environment, and clinical status, and a CBC performed contextually with the PCR analysis were recorded for all cats. Data on the biochemical profile and serum protein electrophoresis were also evaluated when available. Compared to the control group, infection was more likely to occur in stray cats (24/39, 61.5%, P < 0.001), living totally/partially outdoors (36/39, 92.3%, P < 0.001), in an urban context (37/39, 94.9%, P = 0.002), taken or recently adopted from colonies (34/35, 97.1, P < 0.001), with irregular or absent parasite preventive treatments (39/39, 100%, p = 0.005), without fleas (28/35, 80%, P = 0.047) and without clinical signs (22/39, 56.4%, p = 0.026) at the time of medical evaluation. Anemia was not associated with infection, but in cats without clinical signs, the percentage of anemic-infected cats (7/22, 31.8%, P = 0.009) was higher compared to non-infected cats (5/65, 7.7%). Furthermore, a decrease in total iron serum concentration approximating the lowest reference interval [median values (IQR): 79 μg/dL (52.25) vs. 50.5 μg/dL (34), P = 0.007] was likely in infected cats. No other laboratory findings were associated with infection. Interestingly, a partial/total outdoor lifestyle was a risk factor for infection (OR: 8.58, 95% CI: 2.90-37.0, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the present study revealed that Cytauxzoon spp. infection manifests itself prevalently as a subclinical infection, based on physical examination and laboratory findings, in domestic European cats. However, subclinical infected cats were more likely to be anemic compared to non-infected

cytauxzoon sp infection in two free ranging young cats clinicopathological findings therapy and follow up

Two young brother male free-ranging domestic shorthair cats were evaluated for diarrhea. They presented with intraerythrocytic piroplasms on blood smear evaluation. Only the first cat was anemic (mild non-regenerative anemia). A partial segment of the 18S rRNA was amplified and sequenced, revealing a homology of 99% with Cytauxzoon sp. and of 93% with Cytauxzoon felis. The first cat was treated with doxycycline and imidocarb dipropionate and monitored by serial laboratory exams, resulting negative for Cytauxzoon sp. infection after the end of the therapy (follow-up period of 175 days). The second cat received the same therapy, but doxycycline was discontinued by the owner after 1 week. He was monitored for 130 days, remaining erythroparasitemic and asymptomatic. We described cases of Cytauxzoon sp. infection in domestic cats with detailed clinical data, description of two therapeutic protocols, and follow-up after treatment with opposite parasitological responses (parasitological cure versus persistence of infection). (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2014; 38: 185-9

The importance of a taste. A comparative study on wild food plant consumption in twenty-one local communities in Italy

A comparative food ethnobotanical study was carried out in twenty-one local communities in Italy, fourteen of which were located in Northern Italy, one in Central Italy, one in Sardinia, and four in Southern Italy. 549 informants were asked to name and describe food uses of wild botanicals they currently gather and consume. Data showed that gathering, processing and consuming wild food plants are still important activities in all the selected areas. A few botanicals were quoted and cited in multiple areas, demonstrating that there are ethnobotanical contact points among the various Italian regions (Asparagus acutifolius, Reichardia picroides, Cichorium intybus, Foeniculum vulgare, Sambucus nigra, Silene vulgaris, Taraxacum officinale, Urtica dioica, Sonchus and Valerianella spp.). One taxon (Borago officinalis) in particular was found to be among the most quoted taxa in both the Southern and the Northern Italian sites

The Gravity Collective: A Search for the Electromagnetic Counterpart to the Neutron Star-Black Hole Merger GW190814

We present optical follow-up imaging obtained with the Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope, Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Nickel Telescope, Swope Telescope, and Thacher Telescope of the LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave (GW) signal from the neutron star-black hole (NSBH) merger GW190814. We searched the GW190814 localization region (19 deg$^{2}$ for the 90th percentile best localization), covering a total of 51 deg$^{2}$ and 94.6% of the two-dimensional localization region. Analyzing the properties of 189 transients that we consider as candidate counterparts to the NSBH merger, including their localizations, discovery times from merger, optical spectra, likely host-galaxy redshifts, and photometric evolution, we conclude that none of these objects are likely to be associated with GW190814. Based on this finding, we consider the likely optical properties of an electromagnetic counterpart to GW190814, including possible kilonovae and short gamma-ray burst afterglows. Using the joint limits from our follow-up imaging, we conclude that a counterpart with an $r$-band decline rate of 0.68 mag day$^{-1}$, similar to the kilonova AT 2017gfo, could peak at an absolute magnitude of at most $-17.8$ mag (50% confidence). Our data are not constraining for ''red'' kilonovae and rule out ''blue'' kilonovae with $M>0.5 M_{\odot}$ (30% confidence). We strongly rule out all known types of short gamma-ray burst afterglows with viewing angles $<$17$^{\circ}$ assuming an initial jet opening angle of $\sim$$5.2^{\circ}$ and explosion energies and circumburst densities similar to afterglows explored in the literature. Finally, we explore the possibility that GW190814 merged in the disk of an active galactic nucleus, of which we find four in the localization region, but we do not find any candidate counterparts among these sources.Comment: 86 pages, 9 figure

Multidifferential study of identified charged hadron distributions in ZZ-tagged jets in proton-proton collisions at s=\sqrt{s}=13 TeV

Jet fragmentation functions are measured for the first time in proton-proton collisions for charged pions, kaons, and protons within jets recoiling against a $Z$ boson. The charged-hadron distributions are studied longitudinally and transversely to the jet direction for jets with transverse momentum 20 $< p_{\textrm{T}} < 100$ GeV and in the pseudorapidity range $2.5 < \eta < 4$. The data sample was collected with the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.64 fb$^{-1}$. Triple differential distributions as a function of the hadron longitudinal momentum fraction, hadron transverse momentum, and jet transverse momentum are also measured for the first time. This helps constrain transverse-momentum-dependent fragmentation functions. Differences in the shapes and magnitudes of the measured distributions for the different hadron species provide insights into the hadronization process for jets predominantly initiated by light quarks.Comment: All figures and tables, along with machine-readable versions and any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-013.html (LHCb public pages

Cytauxzoon sp.: un protozoo emergente nel gatto

Cytauxzoon felis (C. felis) is a protozoan responsible for cytauxzoonosis, a tickborne infection which affects wild and domestic felids that has been firstly described and studied in the United States. Cytauxzoonosis is an acute, severe and fatal disease in most domestic cats, even if rarely cases of surviving to the infection have been reported. On the other hand, wild affected cats more often had a persistent parasitemia without clinical signs and rarely occured in acute and fatal disease. Recently sporadic infections caused by Cytauxzoon sp. have been reported in wild and domestic cats in Mongolia, Spain and France. No further information about this pathogen is available and it has never been reported in Italy. The aims of this work were: 1) to identify the presence of Cytauxzoon sp. in Italy and 2) to increase knowledge about epidemiology, pathogenesis, ways of transmission, infection carriers and clinico-pathological findings of this infection in domestic cats. The first Cytauxzoon sp. focus in Europe is been identified and described in Trieste (Northeastern Italy) (chapter one). Then it was organized an epidemiological study, involving cats randomly selected (healthy, sick , owned, stray) among patients of some veterinary clinics located in three areas of the Italian territory (Northeast , Central and South). Blood samples for laboratory tests and information on medical history, lifestyle, recent or remote contact with fleas and/or ticks, ectoparasites prophylaxis and clinical signs were collected for each cats (chapter fourth). Moreover, it was evaluated the effect of a therapeutic protocol in two infected cats (chapter two). Ectoparasites (ticks and/or fleas) collected at the time of the clinical evaluation and uterus and fetus, if available, of pregnant females were taken from colony cats living on the Trieste’s focus in order to investigate the Cytauxzoon sp. way of transmission. The cats involved in the study were captured as part of the campaigns of sterilization for birth control (chapter three). Finally, it was made a statistical analysis of all available data comparing infected and not infected subjects (chapter four). The diagnosis of Cytauxzoon sp. infection was made by identification of piroplasms in the blood smear and/or by 18S rRNA gene PCR analysis and sequencing. In the present work Cytauxzoon sp. infection has been described for the first time in Italy with a prevalence of 23% in the focus of Trieste (Northeastern Italy) and of 2.59% in the overall Italian territory. The sequences obtained from infected cats showed an homology of 93% with C. felis and 99% with Cytauxzoon sp. described in Mongol, Spanish and French wild and domestic felids. The majority of the infected domestic cats were young (< 15 mounths), free or semi-free ranging, persistently parasitemic, asymptomatic and not anemic. Rarely cats died or were euthanized after showing variuos clinical signs while in most cases the infection seemed to be chronic and subclinical. In a pregnant infected cat, tissues inclusions compatible with schizonts of Cytauxzoon sp. were observed inside machrophages in the placenta and fetal muscle tissue. Based on this finding it was suspected that this infection could be vertically transmitted. In addition, the PCR analysis performed on fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) and ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) collected from some cats living in the colonies of Trieste were all negative. Also vectors taken from infected cats resulted negative to PCR analysis. Finally, a therapeutic protocol based on Doxicicline and Imidocarb dipropionate has been applied in two infected kittens. At the end of the therapy in one case blood smear evaluation for piroplasms and PCR analysis was negative throughout the follow up period (175 days). In the second cat the parasitemia is not resolved but treatment was not completely performed because the owner has spontaneously suspended administration of Doxicicline after a week.Cytauxzoon felis (C. felis) è il patogeno responsabile della cytauxzoonosi, un’infezione protozoaria trasmessa da zecche che colpisce i felini selvatici e domestici. E’ stato descritto e studiato principalmente negli Stati Uniti dove causa una malattia acuta, grave e fatale nella maggior parte dei gatti anche se raramente sono stati segnalati soggetti sopravvissuti all’infezione. Nei felini selvatici, al contrario, l’infezione da C. felis è caratterizzata da una parassitemia persistente in assenza di segni clinici e raramente si manifesta in forma acuta e fatale. Negli ultimi anni sono state riportate sporadiche segnalazioni di infezioni sostenute da un’altra specie da Cytauxzoon sp. nei felini selvatici e domestici in Mongolia, Spagna e Francia. In letteratura non sono disponibili ulteriori informazioni su questo patogeno e non ci sono segnalazioni riguardo la sua presenza in Italia. Gli obiettivi di questo lavoro sono stati: 1) individuare la presenza di Cytauxzoon sp. in Italia e 2) approfondire la conoscenza sull’epidemiologia, la patogenesi, le vie di trasmissione, i vettori, le caratteristiche clinico-patologiche di questa infezione nel gatto. E’ stato individuato e descritto a Trieste il primo focolaio d’infezione da Cytauxzoon sp. in Europa (capitolo primo). Quindi è stato organizzato uno studio epidemiologico che ha coinvolto gatti scelti con criteri di casualità (sani, malati, di proprietà, randagi) tra i pazienti di alcuni ambulatori veterinari localizzati in tre aree sul territorio italiano (nordest, centro e sud). Per ciascun soggetto, oltre ai campioni da destinare agli esami di laboratorio, sono state raccolte informazioni riguardanti anamnesi, stile di vita, contatti recenti o remoti con pulci e/o zecche, esecuzione della profilassi per gli ectoparassiti e presenza di eventuali segni clinici (capitolo quarto). Quindi, è stato valutato l’effetto di un protocollo terapeutico in due gattini infetti (capitolo secondo). Ancora, allo scopo di approfondire le modalità di trasmissione di Cytauxzoon sp., nei gatti di colonia che vivevano nel focolaio di Trieste e che venivano catturati nell’ambito delle campagne di sterilizzazione per il controllo delle nascite, sono stati raccolti gli ectoparassiti (zecche e pulci) presenti al momento della visita clinica e gli uteri ed eventuali feti delle femmine gravide (capitolo terzo). Infine, tutti i dati disponibili sono stati valulati mediante analisi statistica confrontando i soggetti infetti con quelli che non lo erano (capitolo quarto). La diagnosi di infezione da Cytauxzoon sp. è stata fatta mediante individuazione dei piroplasmi nello striscio ematico e/o PCR del gene 18S ribosomiale e sequenziamento. In questo lavoro è stata descritta per la prima volta l’infezione da Cytauxzoon sp. in Italia con una prevalenza del 23% nel focolaio di Trieste e del 2,59% sul territorio italiano. Le sequenze ottenute dai gatti infetti presentavano un’omologia del 93% con C. felis e del 99% con Cytauxzoon sp. descritto nei felini selvatici e domestici spagnoli, francesi e mongoli. I gatti infetti per la maggior parte erano giovani (<15 mesi), vivevano liberi o semiliberi ed erano persistentemente parassitemici, asintomatici e non anemici. Più raramente sono stati osservati soggetti con vari segni clinici che sono morti o sono stati sottoposti ad eutanasia, mentre nella maggior parte dei casi l’infezione sembrava avere un andamento subclinico e cronico. In una gatta gravida infetta, nei macrofagi, sono stati individuati inclusi compatibili con schizonti di Cytauxzoon sp. nella placenta e nel tessuto muscolare fetale. Questo ha fatto sospettare che per questa infezione sia possibile la trasmissione verticale. Inoltre le PCR eseguite su pulci (Ctenocephalides felis felis) e zecche (Ixodes ricinus e Rhipicephalus sanguineus) raccolte da alcuni gatti che vivevano nelle colonie di Trieste hanno dato esito negativo anche per i vettori ottenuti dai gatti infetti. Infine sono stati descritti i risultati osservati dopo l’applicazione di un protocollo terapeutico a base di doxiciclina e imidocarb dipropionato a due gattini infetti. In un caso si è ottenuta negativizzazione della ricerca dei piroplasmi nello striscio ematico e della PCR per Cytauxzoon sp. durante tutto il periodo di monitoraggio (175 giorni). Nel secondo caso la parassitemia non si è risolta però la terapia non è stata eseguita completamente perché il proprietario aveva sospeso spontaneamente la somministrazione della doxiciclina dopo una settimana

How to Model the Adoption and Perception of Precision Agriculture Technologies

The adoption of precision agriculture has shown to positively affect the performance of farms, even though its benefits vary according to the size of farms and their location. In light of the promising avenue that recision agriculture opens up, it is essential to understand which factors may facilitate its diffusion, and through which processes. This chapter focuses on the models proposed to explain technology adoption: Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Motivational Model, Technology Acceptance Model, TAM2 and TAM3, Combined TAM and TPB, Model of PC Utilization, Innovation Diffusion Theory, Social Cognitive Theory and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. We analyse contributions targeting specifically the agricultural domain. Remarkably, most models and papers share the perspective that individual factors account for the willingness of individuals to engage in technology adoption, and there is a progressive commonality of factors between models based on different theories. In addition to individual-level features, some models analyse the relevance of environmental and social factors in prompting technology diffusion, thus depicting a more comprehensive framework to aid understanding of the dynamics linked to the adoption of precision agriculture. Eventually, some reflection on how to expand knowledge of precision agriculture along this line of reasoning aimed at integrating personal and social characteristics is offered. The importance of social network patterns and of social support in entrepreneurial initiatives that sustain adoption of precision agriculture is stressed in this chapter

Farm Management Information Systems Architectures and users expectations: towards a new ecosystem? (poster abstract)

Farm management information systems architectures are becoming more and more integrated and complex, spanning from field operation management to decision support systems, with the final purpose of creating an holistic architecture. At the same time, more efforts are being spent in developing services devoted to very specific farmers\u2019 needs, related to particular crops or operations. Moreover, this tension is impacted by the model of technology adoption of farmers, which seems particularly slow towards new advancements such as Precision Agriculture technologies. We disentangle this complex situation studying farmers\u2019 needs collected through interviews and focus groups and considering how famers approach and evaluate farm information management solutions for their adoption. We analyze a case study related to the development of a system prototype devoted to farms\u2019 costs analysis and reporting. It emerges that a key element to evaluate the ease of use are system interfaces to end users, combined with mobile accessibility and a well-structured reporting section. Finally we discuss possible architectural solutions to target these needs and balance the tension between integration and specialization, with a focus on ecosystems oriented infrastructures