Role of the irrigation charges to induce the adoption of water saving innovation in semi-arid regions

The paper investigates about the effectiveness of water charges in inducing farmers to adopt the technical innovation aimed at water saving. It is claimed that by increasing water charge, the signal of the scarcity of the water resource is directly and effectively conveyed to farmers, who are supposed to promptly react by adopting a water saving technology. The analysis is referred to two types of innovation: an agronomic innovation, consisting on a crop mulching practice, and a management innovation, based on a voluntarily water pricing scheme with tariffs differentiated according to a peak and off-peak season. A theoretical model based on farms’ profit maximization is proposed, to evaluate the trigger conditions for the innovation. The model is applied to a case study referred to a semi-arid region, located in the South of Italy, according to which there is no clear evidence that a generalized increase may induce farmers to adopt the innovatio

Irrigation pricing policy aimed at the enhancement of water saving innovation at farm level. A case study

In this study we analyze the price inducement effect of a generalized water tariff increase in the adoption of water saving innovation at farm level. We apply a linear programming decision making model to analyze the determinants affecting the adoption of two types of innovation: a process innovation, consisting on a crop mulching practice, and a management innovation, based on a voluntary water seasonal pricing scheme, differentiated according to a peak and off-peak periods. According to our results, the mulching practice is not affected by the tariffs that are still lower than the water marginal productivity, while they exert a negative effect when they become higher. On the contrary, the adoption of the voluntary water seasonal pricing scheme is affected by the tariffs increase only if the latter induce an excessive concentration of water demand during the peakDans cette étude nous présentons une recherche relative à la possibilité que l augmentation de tarif de l eau est capable d induire l agriculteur de adopter une innovation adressée à l épargne de l eau. Notre modèle de programmation linéaire nous a permis de analyser le procès de décision de l agriculteur et d entendre les causes déterminantes de l adoption de deux typologies d innovation: une innovation de procès, relative à une technique de paillis, et une innovation de management, relative à l introduction d un plan volontaire, avec des tarifs différentes entre les periodes de intense et de normale utilisation de l eau. Nos résultats montre que l augmentation de tarif de l eau n est pas une mesure sufficiente pour stimuler les agriculteurs à adopter la technique de paillis, lorsque le tarif de l eau est inférieur à sa productivité marginale. Ou contraire, quand le tarif est plus grand que la productivité marginale de l eau, l augmentation de tarif freine l adoption de l innovation. L introduction des tarifs différentes entre les periodes de intense ed de normale utilisation de l eau est encouragée par l augmentation de tarif seulement quand la demande de l eau est plus concentrée dans la la periode de intense utilisation de l ea

A novel mutation in isoform 3 of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump impairs cellular Ca2+ homeostasis in a patient with cerebellar ataxia and laminin subunit 1\u3b1 mutations.

The particular importance of Ca2+ signaling to neurons demands its precise regulation within their cytoplasm. Isoform 3 of the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (the PMCA3 pump), which is highly expressed in brain and cerebellum, plays an important role in the regulation of neuronal Ca2+. A genetic defect of the function of the PMCA3 pump has been described in one family with X-linked congenital cerebellar ataxia. Here we describe a novel mutation of the PMCA3 pump (ATP2B3) in a patient with global developmental delay, generalized hypotonia and cerebellar ataxia. The mutation (a R482H replacement) impairs the Ca2+ ejection function of the pump. It reduces the ability of the pump expressed in model cells to control Ca2+ transients generated by cell stimulation and impairs its Ca2+ extrusion function under conditions of low resting cytosolic Ca2+ as well. In silico analysis of the structural effect of the mutation suggests a reduced stabilization of the portion of the pump surrounding the mutated residue in the Ca2+-bound state. The patient also carries two missense mutations in LAMA1, encoding for laminin subunit 1\u3b1. On the basis of the family pedigree of the patient, the presence of both PMCA3 and LAMA1 mutations appears to be necessary for the development of the disease. Considering the observed defect in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and the previous finding that PMCAs act as digenic modulators in Ca2+-linked pathologies, the PMCA3 dysfunction along with LAMA1 mutations could act synergistically to cause the neurological phenotype

Relationship between microstructure, mechanical and magnetic properties of pure iron produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) in the as-built and stress relieved conditions

In the present work, the mechanical and magnetic properties of pure iron manufactured by laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) were investigated both in the as-built (AB) and stress relieved (HT) conditions, with the aim of elucidating their relationship with the microstructure and evaluating whether and to what extent it can be suitable for industrial applications. The L-PBF process was optimized to obtain high density, crack-free components. Specimens for microstructural analyses, tensile and magnetic tests were manufactured under the optimized conditions and tested both in the as-built and annealed (850 degrees C for 1 h, to relieve the residual stresses) conditions. Tensile tests showed high tensile strength in both AB and HT conditions (larger than those of conventionally produced pure iron), with higher ductility and lower strength after stress relieving. The magnetic study indicated a not optimal magnetic softness although the heat treatment enhanced the permeability and reduced the coercivity with respect to the as-built condition. The high mechanical strength and low magnetic softness came from the very fine grain size (about 5 mu m) of L-PBF pure iron. Instead, the improvement of magnetic softness and ductility after heat treatment was attributed to the possible reduction of dislocation density and consequent stress relief. The results indicated the possibility to achieve a considerably high mechanical strength, in pure iron manufactured by L-PBF, although the fine grain size limits its magnetic softness

MYC Rearranged Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas: A Report on 100 Patients of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL)

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Intraperitoneal drain placement and outcomes after elective colorectal surgery: international matched, prospective, cohort study

Despite current guidelines, intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery remains widespread. Drains were not associated with earlier detection of intraperitoneal collections, but were associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of surgical-site infections.Background Many surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains after elective colorectal surgery. However, enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines recommend against their routine use owing to a lack of clear clinical benefit. This study aimed to describe international variation in intraperitoneal drain placement and the safety of this practice. Methods COMPASS (COMPlicAted intra-abdominal collectionS after colorectal Surgery) was a prospective, international, cohort study which enrolled consecutive adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery (February to March 2020). The primary outcome was the rate of intraperitoneal drain placement. Secondary outcomes included: rate and time to diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal collections; rate of surgical site infections (SSIs); time to discharge; and 30-day major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade at least III). After propensity score matching, multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to estimate the independent association of the secondary outcomes with drain placement. Results Overall, 1805 patients from 22 countries were included (798 women, 44.2 per cent; median age 67.0 years). The drain insertion rate was 51.9 per cent (937 patients). After matching, drains were not associated with reduced rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 2.23; P = 0.287) or earlier detection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 0.33 to 2.31; P = 0.780) of collections. Although not associated with worse major postoperative complications (OR 1.09, 0.68 to 1.75; P = 0.709), drains were associated with delayed hospital discharge (HR 0.58, 0.52 to 0.66; P < 0.001) and an increased risk of SSIs (OR 2.47, 1.50 to 4.05; P < 0.001). Conclusion Intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery is not associated with earlier detection of postoperative collections, but prolongs hospital stay and increases SSI risk

Exacerbation of paranoid schizophrenia in a psoriatic patient after treatment with cyclosporine A, but not with etanercept.

Psoriasis may be frequently associated with psychiatric diseases. We present a 44-year-old man undergoing cyclosporine therapy for treatment of generalized plaque psoriasis which exacerbated his symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia, and disappeared a few days after discontinuation of cyclosporine. Replacement therapy with etanercept achieved clinical remission of psoriasis without any psychiatric side effects. Systemic medications, such as cyclosporine and etanercept, induce modifications of the cytokine network. This is pathogenetically significant in both psoriasis and psychiatric disorders. This case report suggests that dermatologists need to become more familiar with the risk-benefit of drug-induced cytokines dysregulation in psoriatic patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders

Cutaneous ulceration induced by leflunomide in a psoriatic patient.

A 31-year-old woman, who had been affected by psoriatic arthritis for 6 years with mild cutaneous involvement, was referred to our department for nonhealing ulcers on both the patient’s most recent exacerbation of arthritis, leflunomide was added at a dosage of 20 mg/day by mouth, following a loading dose of 100 mg/day for 3 days. One month after the start of treatment, a cutaneous ulcer developed on the left breast, which was not preceded by trauma. Despite local treatment, the ulcer continued to worsen and, in 2 weeks, two ulcers appeared on the other breast. Cutaneous examination revealed an approximately 4 × 4 cm, deep, well-defined and regular-bordered, punched-out ulcer with a perceptible violaceous hue of the margin, located on the left breast. On the other breast, there were two smaller ulcers with the same characteristics: well-circumscribed, slightly painful, and resistant to local treatment. A skin biopsy taken from the margin of the most recent ulcer demonstrated epidermal and dermal suppurative necrosis. The physical examination was otherwise unremarkable and the mucous membranes were not involved. The blood cell count and chemistry screen were within normal limits. The patient did not reveal any other comorbid condition that could account for the ulcers. Alerted by reports of leflunomide-induced skin ulceration in breasts of a few months’ duration (Fig. 1a,b). As a result of her progressive joint disease, the patient had been treated with cyclosporine and methotrexate, which were discontinued because of a poor response and hepatic side-effects, respectively. A daily dose of 4 mg of prednisolone was started. After rheumatoid arthritis patients, we retained the drug hypothesis and discontinued leflunomide. Cholestyramine was introduced for drug washout at a dosage of 4 g twice daily, orally, over 10 days. A few weeks later, clear improvement of the cutaneous ulcers was observed. Eight weeks after the suspension of leflunomide, the ulcers on both breasts had healed completely. Leflunomide, a selective pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor with an ability to inhibit T-cell activation and proliferation, has been introduced recently in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.1 The most common serious adverse event reported is the elevation of liver enzymes, but leflunomide-induced ulceration of the skin is rare. Four cases of skin ulceration as a result of treatment with leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis have been reported.2–4 In these patients, the etiopathogenetic role of rheumatoid arthritis itself in the induction of skin ulcers challenges the conclusion of skin necrosis attributed to this drug. Our case report and the recent report by Gros et al.5 concerning psoriatic patients illustrate that leflunomide should always be considered as one of the causes of skin ulcers in patients on this drug. The mechanism of leflunomide-induced skin ulceration is, as yet, unknown; however, some hypotheses have been suggested, including a direct toxic effect of the drug or its metabolites on epidermal cells.2 More recently, Knab et al.3 have proposed that leflunomide may delay the healing process. Recently, Gros et al.5 reported a 73-year-old woman who had been taking leflunomide for psoriatic arthritis for 1 year and subsequently developed several necrotic abdominal ulcerations. Our patient differed from this case report in many ways: she was younger with no comorbidity, and had been taking the drug for a shorter period of time. Nevertheless, in both cases, the ulcers healed completely over a few months following the discontinuation of leflunomide and washout with cholestyramine. By contrast, the omission of the drug alone did not lead to the healing of ulcers in rheumatoid arthritis patients, who required additional medical and surgical therapies.2–4 In conclusion, our report confirms the association of leflunomide therapy and skin ulcers, which, in psoriatic patients, respond promptly to the discontinuation of the drug. Heightened awareness by physicians of this adverse reaction will promote the early diagnosis of, and prompt relief from, these ulcers