Watershed Segmentation of Medical Volumes with Paint Drop Marking

We present an improvement of the classical marker-controlled watershed approach in the direction of a better exploitation of user-defined markers. The combined action of a partial flooding and paint drops falling downwards on the gray value relief from marker locations, leads to a robust and meaningful identification of the candidate basins, which is a prerequisite for an accurate segmentation. This is useful for user-controlled segmentation of biomedical volumes in that it facilitates robust identification of complex 3D structures with inhomogeneous borders. To this end, a visual interactive segmentation system has been implemented where different user-data interaction tools can be selected by physicians to generate machine-understandable knowledge in a quick and compact way. Experimental results on selected use-cases demonstrate the strengths of the proposed solutions

Chemical composition of microplastic in sediments and protected detritivores from different marine habitats (Salina Island)

This study estimates chemical composition of microplastic in sediments and benthic detritivores (sea cucumbers) collected from different marine rocky bottom habitat types (bank, landslide, cliff) of Salina Island (Aeolian Archipelago, Italy). Also, species richness and bottom coverings by benthic species were recorded at each sampling station. Correlations among chemical composition of microplastic in sediments and in detritivores were explored linking recorded variability to the factor \u201chabitat type\u201d. Results evidence that the habitat types considered in this study are characterized by wide species richness and by high percentages of bottom coverage by protected species by international conventions. In spite of the high ecological value of habitats considered in this study, microplastics were recorded both in sediments (PVC, PET, PE, PS, PA, PP) and in stomach contents of sea cucumbers (PET, PA) collected in all sampling sites, confirming the exposure of benthic species to microplastic pollution

The social return on investment (SROI) of four microfinance projects

The paper develops an SROI (Social Return on Investment) analysis of four microfinance institutions (MFIs) located in Spain, Italy and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This work is part of the MeMI Project (\u201cMeasuring Microfinance Impact in the EU. Policy recommendations for Financial and Social Inclusion\u201d) funded by the EIBURS. It is an attempt to translate microcredit outcome indicators into a social return, quantified in monetary terms. After preliminary focus group analyses and staff interviews, data on outcomes of selected microcredit lines have been collected through a questionnaire administered to the borrowers. By comparing the monetary value of these outcomes (translated into an estimated impact) with the amount of related investment, we find that SROI is greater than 2 for all the credit lines analysed, meaning that every euro invested in microcredit generates at least 2 euros of social return. We also find SROI ranging between 2.33 and 6.97, mirroring the differences between MFIs in terms of target, operating model and country-level financial environment. Although the analysis is conducted on a limited number of cases and SROI calculation can be sharpened, it shows how different factors and outcomes drive the social return generated by microcredit

Risky substance use and peer pressure in Swiss young men : Test of moderation effects

Peer pressure (PP) toward misconduct is a well-known risk factor for substance use. However, the way it interacts with social factors and the associations of the aspects of PP other than PP toward misconduct have been understudied. This study examined the associations of three aspects of PP with risky substance use and tested whether the associations of PP toward misconduct were moderated by social factors. A representative sample of 5,680 young Swiss males completed a questionnaire assessing risky alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis use, PP toward misconduct, toward peer involvement, and toward peer conformity, as well as social support (SS) and neighbourhood cohesion. Multinomial logistic regression models were used. PP toward misconduct was positively associated with all substance use outcomes. The PP toward misconduct-risky alcohol use association was stronger in individuals reporting high than in those reporting low levels of PP toward peer involvement, SS, and neighbourhood cohesion. The PP toward misconduct-risky cannabis use association was stronger in individuals reporting high than in those reporting low levels of SS and neighbourhood cohesion. The PP toward misconduct-smoking association was stronger in individuals reporting high than in those reporting low levels of PP toward peer involvement. The risk for substance use associated with PP toward misconduct varies as a function of social factors. Being well connected with others (high level of PP toward peer involvement and SS), and living in a cohesive neighbourhood may amplify the risk for risky substance use associated with PP toward misconduct

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and future alcohol outcomes: Examining the roles of coping and enhancement drinking motives among young men.

Although there is evidence that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms are positively related to alcohol use and related problems among young adults, little research has examined the mechanisms that might explain this association. In response, this study examined the mediating effects of coping and enhancement drinking motives on the prospective associations between ADHD symptoms and alcohol outcomes. Participants (N = 4,536) were young men from the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors. Measures of ADHD symptoms and those of drinking motives, heavy episodic drinking (HED) and alcohol use disorder symptoms were used from the baseline and 15-month follow-up assessments. Findings indicated that the associations of ADHD-inattention symptoms with alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms and with HED were partially and completely mediated through drinking motives, respectively, whereas drinking motives did not mediate the ADHD-hyperactivity/impulsivity-symptoms-alcohol outcomes associations. Results indicated that coping and enhancement motives partially explained the ADHD-inattention symptoms-subsequent alcohol outcomes association. These findings suggest that interventions targeting enhancement and coping motives may help prevent problematic drinking among young men with elevated ADHD-inattention symptoms

Pulsed electric field processing of red grapes (cv. Rondinella): Modifications of phenolic fraction and effects on wine evolution

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a non-thermal technology able to promote color and polyphenols extraction from grape skins. Most of the publications about PEF in winemaking report data concerning international varieties, poorly considering minor cultivars and the medium/long-term effects of the treatment on wine composition during storage. PEF was applied at different specific energies (2, 10, and 20 kJ kg\u20131) on grapes of the low-color red cv. Rondinella, after crushing-destemming. Pressing yield, the evolution of color, and total phenolic index (TPI) were measured during skin maceration. Moreover, the wines were characterized for basic compositional parameters, color, anthocyanin profile, phenolic composition (glories indices), metal content (Fe, Cr, and Ni), and sensory characters, two and twelve months after the processing, in comparison with untreated samples and pectolytic enzymes (PE). PEF did not affect fermentation evolution, nor did it modify wine basic composition or metal content. Treatments at 10 and 20 kJ kg\u20131 led to higher color and TPI in wines, in comparison to PE, because of increased content of anthocyanins and tannins. The sensory evaluation confirmed these findings. Modifications remained stable in wines after twelve months. Glories indices and vitisin A content highlighted greater potential stability of wine color in PEF-treated wines