A geostatistical fusion approach using UAV data for probabilistic estimation of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca infection in olive trees

Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most destructive plant pathogenic bacteria worldwide, affecting more than 500 plant species. In Apulia region (southeastern Italy), X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp) is responsible for a severe disease, the olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS), spreading epidemically and with dramatic impact on the agriculture, the landscape, the tourism, and the cultural heritage of this region. An early detection of the infected plants would hinder the rapid spread of the disease. The main objective of this paper was to define a geostatistical approach of data fusion, which combines remote (radiometric), and proximal (geophysical) sensor data and visual inspections with plant diagnostic tests, to provide probabilistic maps of Xfp infection risk. The study site was an olive grove located at Oria (province of Brindisi, Italy), where at the time of monitoring (September 2017) only few plants showed initial symptoms of the disease. The measurements included: 1) acquisitions of reflected electromagnetic radiation with UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) equipped with a multi-spectral camera; 2) geophysical surveys on the trunks of 49 plants with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); 3) disease severity rating, by visual inspection of the proportion of canopy with symptoms; 4) qPCR (real time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) data from tests on 61 plants. The data were submitted to a set of processing techniques to define a “data fusion” procedure, based on non-parametric multivariate geostatistics. The approach allowed marking those areas where the risk of infection was higher, and identifying the possible infection entry routes into the field. The probability map of infection risk could be used as an effective tool for a preventive action and for a better organization of the monitoring plans

Buried palaeosols of NW Sardinia (Italy) as archives of the Late Quaternary climatic fluctuations

A multi-disciplinary approach was performed to investigate two compound geosols included between wind-blown deposits at the top, and interglacial (MIS 5) beach sediments at the bottom, located along the Alghero coast (North-western Sardinia, Italy). A sedimentological and morphological study was carried out on the profile in the field, and samples collected on the main pedomembers were subjected to several laboratory analyses, consisting of physical and chemical determinations on bulk samples, mineralogy (XRD), micromorphology on undisturbed samples (thin Section, SEM), and EDAX-micro probe analyses. Dating was performed by means of Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). The studied geosols show the evidence of a complex pedosedimentary evolution. Around 80 to 70. ka the lower geosol underwent weathering and clay illuviation (wet and warm conditions), followed by calcification-recalcification processes (dry-contrasted), and finally by strong bioturbation. Around 70. ka the onset of the glacial period (MIS 4) is marked by the deposition of a sand dune, capping the lower geosol. These results indicate that the coastal area of the central Mediterranean kept the relatively warm conditions typical of the interglacial climate for most of the Early Würm and reached cold conditions only at about 70. ka, possibly in relation to the rapid cooling of the Heinrich event H7. The upper geosol developed on colluvial material including abundant pedorelicts and reddish earth material, deposited around 50. ka. Before being buried by aeolian sand around 43. ka, this deposit underwent pedogenesis phases possibly associated to Middle Würm interstadial events, indicating that in the study area these events were intense enough to influence pedogenesis. © 2014 Elsevier B.V

On some fixed point theorems under (α,ψ,ϕ) -contractivity conditions in metric spaces endowed with transitive binary relations

After the appearance of Nieto and Rodríguez-López’s theorem, the branch of fixed point theory devoted to the setting of partially ordered metric spaces have attracted much attention in the last years, especially when coupled, tripled, quadrupled and, in general, multidimensional fixed points are studied. Almost all papers in this direction have been forced to present two results assuming two different hypotheses: the involved mapping should be continuous or the metric framework should be regular. Both conditions seem to be different in nature because one of them refers to the mapping and the other one is assumed on the ambient space. In this paper, we unify such different conditions in a unique one. By introducing the notion of continuity of a mapping from a metric space into itself depending on a function α, which is the case that covers the partially ordered setting, we extend some very recent theorems involving control functions that only must be lower/upper semi-continuous from the right. Finally, we use metric spaces endowed with transitive binary relations rather than partial orders.This article was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. N Shahzad acknowledges with thanks DSR for financial support. A-F Roldán-López-de-Hierro is grateful to the Department of Quantitative Methods for Economics and Business of the University of Granada. The same author has been partially supported by Junta de Andalucía by project FQM-268 of the Andalusian CICYE

Exploring the Bimodal Solar System via Sample Return from the Main Asteroid Belt: The Case for Revisiting Ceres

Abstract: Sample return from a main-belt asteroid has not yet been attempted, but appears technologically feasible. While the cost implications are significant, the scientific case for such a mission appears overwhelming. As suggested by the “Grand Tack” model, the structure of the main belt was likely forged during the earliest stages of Solar System evolution in response to migration of the giant planets. Returning samples from the main belt has the potential to test such planet migration models and the related geochemical and isotopic concept of a bimodal Solar System. Isotopic studies demonstrate distinct compositional differences between samples believed to be derived from the outer Solar System (CC or carbonaceous chondrite group) and those that are thought to be derived from the inner Solar System (NC or non-carbonaceous group). These two groups are separated on relevant isotopic variation diagrams by a clear compositional gap. The interface between these two regions appears to be broadly coincident with the present location of the asteroid belt, which contains material derived from both groups. The Hayabusa mission to near-Earth asteroid (NEA) (25143) Itokawa has shown what can be learned from a sample-return mission to an asteroid, even with a very small amount of sample. One scenario for main-belt sample return involves a spacecraft launching a projectile that strikes an object and flying through the debris cloud, which would potentially allow multiple bodies to be sampled if a number of projectiles are used on different asteroids. Another scenario is the more traditional method of landing on an asteroid to obtain the sample. A significant range of main-belt asteroids are available as targets for a sample-return mission and such a mission would represent a first step in mineralogically and isotopically mapping the asteroid belt. We argue that a sample-return mission to the asteroid belt does not necessarily have to return material from both the NC and CC groups to viably test the bimodal Solar System paradigm, as material from the NC group is already abundantly available for study. Instead, there is overwhelming evidence that we have a very incomplete suite of CC-related samples. Based on our analysis, we advocate a dedicated sample-return mission to the dwarf planet (1) Ceres as the best means of further exploring inherent Solar System variation. Ceres is an ice-rich world that may be a displaced trans-Neptunian object. We almost certainly do not have any meteorites that closely resemble material that would be brought back from Ceres. The rich heritage of data acquired by the Dawn mission makes a sample-return mission from Ceres logistically feasible at a realistic cost. No other potential main-belt target is capable of providing as much insight into the early Solar System as Ceres. Such a mission should be given the highest priority by the international scientific community

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Investigations of environmental radioactivity in the northern state of Sudan

Investigations have been carried out for naturally occurring radionuclides in surface soils in selected regions of the Northern State of Sudan, in response to widely spread rumours of elevated levels of radioactivity causing higher than normal incidence of cancer in that area. Eighty surface soil samples were collected from different regions in the Northern State and their activity concentrations were measured by a high-purity germanium detector gamma spectrometer system. From the data obtained the mean values and standard deviations of the radionuclide activities were calculated. From the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides the external absorbed dose rate in air and the annual effective dose were calculated. The radium equivalent activity and the external hazard index were applied for estimating the radiation hazards of soil used as building material. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in different regions of the Northern State were found to be 82.6 + 6.8, 26.0 + 2.9 and 726.4 + 72.0 Bq/kg, respectively. The average outdoor gamma absorbed dose rate in air at 1meter above ground was calculated as 84.6 + 7.1 nGy/h. The average annual effective dose equivalent for population in the regions under study was found to be 103.7 + 8.7 uSv/y. The external hazard index was found to be 0.48 + 0.04

Pedogenic and palaeoclimatic evidence from an Eemian calcrete in north-western Sardinia (Italy)

A multidisciplinary approach was followed to study the pedogenic and palaeoclimatic information preserved in a buried palaeosol belonging to a Late Quaternary succession located along the bay of Alghero (north-western Sardinia). The bay is dominated by a 5-km long sandy beach-ridge system backing an N-S oriented lagoon system (Calich). The succession studied is characterized by basal shallow marine deposits, followed by clayey lagoon sediments and colluvial strata and capped by a relatively thick aeolianite. The research was based on pedological and sedimentological analyses, supported by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and by an in-depth micro-morphological study. Three main climatic pulses were highlighted during the Eemian. A wet period, with intense carbonate leaching occurred at the very beginning of the Eemian interglacial followed by very dry climatic conditions. This dry phase was long and arid enough to allow the formation of a thick calcrete hardpan, a typical feature of semi-arid environments. The hardpan is dated at about 120 ka (kilo annum) and this dry event is tentatively associated with the late Eemian arid pulse (LEAP). The last phase of the Eemian recorded the restoration of a wetter climate. Finally, the succession indicated that even in a cooler environment, the central Mediterranean most probably maintained temperate conditions at least until the end of the MIS 5c (about 95 ka; early Würm). © 2014 British Society of Soil Science

Buried palaeosols of NW Sardinia (Italy) as archives of the Late Quaternary climatic fluctuations

A multi-disciplinary approach was performed to investigate two compound geosols included between wind-blown deposits at the top, and interglacial (MIS 5) beach sediments at the bottom, located along the Alghero coast (North-western Sardinia, Italy). A sedimentological and morphological study was carried out on the profile in the field, and samples collected on the main pedomembers were subjected to several laboratory analyses, consisting of physical and chemical determinations on bulk samples, mineralogy (XRD), micromorphology on undisturbed samples (thin Section, SEM), and EDAX-micro probe analyses. Dating was performed by means of Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). The studied geosols show the evidence of a complex pedosedimentary evolution. Around 80 to 70. ka the lower geosol underwent weathering and clay illuviation (wet and warm conditions), followed by calcification-recalcification processes (dry-contrasted), and finally by strong bioturbation. Around 70. ka the onset of the glacial period (MIS 4) is marked by the deposition of a sand dune, capping the lower geosol. These results indicate that the coastal area of the central Mediterranean kept the relatively warm conditions typical of the interglacial climate for most of the Early Würm and reached cold conditions only at about 70. ka, possibly in relation to the rapid cooling of the Heinrich event H7. The upper geosol developed on colluvial material including abundant pedorelicts and reddish earth material, deposited around 50. ka. Before being buried by aeolian sand around 43. ka, this deposit underwent pedogenesis phases possibly associated to Middle Würm interstadial events, indicating that in the study area these events were intense enough to influence pedogenesis. © 2014 Elsevier B.V

Buried palaeosols of NW Sardinia (Italy) as archives of the Late Quaternary climatic fluctuations

A multi-disciplinary approach was performed to investigate two compound geosols included between wind-blown deposits at the top, and interglacial (MIS 5) beach sediments at the bottom, located along the Alghero coast (North-western Sardinia, Italy). A sedimentological and morphological study was carried out on the profile in the field, and samples collected on the main pedomembers were subjected to several laboratory analyses, consisting of physical and chemical determinations on bulk samples, mineralogy (XRD), micromorphology on undisturbed samples (thin Section, SEM), and EDAX-micro probe analyses. Dating was performed by means of Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). The studied geosols show the evidence of a complex pedosedimentary evolution. Around 80 to 70. ka the lower geosol underwent weathering and clay illuviation (wet and warm conditions), followed by calcification-recalcification processes (dry-contrasted), and finally by strong bioturbation. Around 70. ka the onset of the glacial period (MIS 4) is marked by the deposition of a sand dune, capping the lower geosol. These results indicate that the coastal area of the central Mediterranean kept the relatively warm conditions typical of the interglacial climate for most of the Early Würm and reached cold conditions only at about 70. ka, possibly in relation to the rapid cooling of the Heinrich event H7. The upper geosol developed on colluvial material including abundant pedorelicts and reddish earth material, deposited around 50. ka. Before being buried by aeolian sand around 43. ka, this deposit underwent pedogenesis phases possibly associated to Middle Würm interstadial events, indicating that in the study area these events were intense enough to influence pedogenesis. © 2014 Elsevier B.V