A climo and litho soil-sequence on the Vico volcano (Italy)

A la suite d'une cartographie pédologique détaillée de la majeure partie de l'appareil volcanique de Vico (Italie), une séquence topoclimatique a été définie. Cing profils ont été choisis à des altitudes représentatives des principales zones climatiques. Les changements observés dans les sols correspondent bien aux effets de variations significatives des paramètres climatique

ReForeSt: Random forests in apache spark

Random Forests (RF) of tree classifiers are a popular ensemble method for classification. RF are usually preferred with respect to other classification techniques because of their limited hyperparameter sensitivity, high numerical robustness, native capacity of dealing with numerical and categorical features, and effectiveness in many real world classification problems. In this work we present ReForeSt, a Random Forests Apache Spark implementation which is easier to tune, faster, and less memory consuming with respect to MLlib, the de facto standard Apache Spark machine learning library. We perform an extensive comparison between ReForeSt and MLlib by taking advantage of the Google Cloud Platform (https://cloud.google.com). In particular, we test ReForeSt and MLlib with different library settings, on different real world datasets, and with a different number of machines equipped with different number of cores. Results confirm that ReForeSt outperforms MLlib in all the above mentioned aspects. ReForeSt is made publicly available via GitHub (https://github.com/alessandrolulli/reforest)

Durum wheat grain yield and quality as affected by S rate under Mediterranean conditions

The decreased inputs of S from atmospheric acidic deposition, the use of low S-containing fertilisers, and the decrease of organic matter content in soil resulted in S deficiency in many agricultural regions of the world. Sulphur fertilisation significantly affects grain yield and protein composition of cereals, thus altering the technological quality of grain. Field experiments were conducted in central Italy in two subsequent seasons to investigate the effects ofNand S application on five commercial wheat cultivarsknownto differ in yield potential and grain N content. Fertiliser treatments were two levels of N fertiliser (120 kgNha−1 and 180 kgNha−1) and three levels of S fertiliser (not applied, 60 kg S ha−1, and 120 kg S ha−1). Analyzed characters were dry weight and N and S uptake of grain and vegetative plant part, and grain quality characters. Variations in weather pattern – and especially in rainfall – between years significantly influenced grain yield and N and S content of grain, but did not affect quality parameters. Nitrogen and S application also significantly affected grain yield and the quality characteristicsW, P/L, dry gluten and SDS, although no interactive effect between treatments was observed. The highest protein content and W in grain was obtained with the combination of the highest fertiliser rates: 180 kgNha−1 and 120 kg S ha−1. Genotypes differed for yield stability between years, in that grain production was decreased in the driest year only in the varieties Claudio and Creso, but they responded similarly to N and S fertilisation. Genotypes differed also for protein concentration and quality parameters, and, on average, the varieties Duilio, Simeto and Svevo gave better performances. Differences in grain quality parameters were maintained through years, indicating that these traits are under strong genetic control

Post-anthesis dry matter and nitrogen dynamics in durum wheat as affected by nitrogen supply and soil water availability.

Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is commonly grown in dryland conditions, where environmental stress during grain filling can limit productivity and increase the dependency on stored assimilate.We investigated current assimilation and remobilization of dry matter and nitrogen during grain filling in N fertilized and unfertilized durum wheat subjected to different levels of water deficit during grain filling. Two durum wheat varieties, Appio and Creso, were grown in open-air containers with three rates of nitrogen fertilizer (not applied, N0; normal amount, NN; high amount, NH) and four water regimes during grain filling (fully irrigated treatment, FI; low, LWS, moderate, MWS and high water stress, HWS) across 2 years. Grain yield and dry matter and N accumulation and remobilization were positively affected by N availability and negatively by water stress during grain filling. The reduction of grain yield by severe post-anthesis water stress amounted to 27 and 37% for N0 and NN, respectively, and was associated with a decrease in kernel weight. There was also a small negative effect on the number of kernels per spike. Conversely, the duration of grain filling was not modified either by water stress or by nitrogen treatments. Severe water stress also reduced dry matter accumulation and remobilization by 36 and 14% in N0 plants and by 48 and 25% in NH plants. Similarly, N accumulation and N remobilization was reduced by 43% and by 16% in N0 plants and by 51% and by 15% in NH plants. Conversely, low and moderate water stress did not substantially modify the patterns of dry matter and nitrogen deposition in grain. Although remobilization of dry matter and N was less affected by water stress than accumulation, it was not able to counterbalance the reduction of assimilation and consequently it was not able to stabilize grain yield under drought

Stigma and discrimination (Sad) at the time of the sars-cov-2 pandemic

Infectious disease control is a crucial public health issue. Although it is important to urgently perform public health measures in order to reduce the risk of spread, it could end up stigmatizing entire groups of people rather than offering control measures based on sound scientific principles. This “us” versus “them” dynamic is common in stigmatization, in general, and indicates a way in which disease stigma can be viewed as a proxy for other types of fears, especially xenophobia and general fear of outsiders. The pandemic risk associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection led us to consider, among other related issues, how stigma and discrimination remain serious barriers to care for people suspected of being infected, even more if they are assisting professions, such as health workers, employed in emergency response. The purpose of this review is to evaluate and promote the importance of psychological aspects of the stigma and social discrimination (SAD) in pandemic realities and, more specifically, nowadays, in the context of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Just as it happened with HIV, HCV, tuberculosis, and Zika, stigma and discrimination undermine the social fabric compromising the ethics and principles of civilization to which each individual in entitled. Recognizing disease stigma history can give us insight into how, exactly, stigmatizing attitudes are formed, and how they are disbanded. Instead of simply blaming the ignorance of people espousing stigmatizing attitudes about certain diseases, we should try to understand precisely how these attitudes are formed so that we can intervene in their dissemination. We should also look at history to see what sorts of interventions against stigma may have worked in the past. Ongoing research into stigma should evaluate what has worked in the past, as above-mentioned, providing us with some clues as to what might work in the current pandemic emergency, to reduce devastating discrimination that keeps people from getting the care they need. We propose a systematic and historical review, in order to create a scientific and solid base for the following SAD analysis. The aim is to propose a coping strategy to face stigma and discrimination (SAD) related to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, borrowing coping strategy tools and solutions from other common contagious diseases. Furthermore, our study observes how knowledge, education level, and socioeconomic status (SES) can influence perception of SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19 risk in a digital world, based on previous research, best practices, and evidence-based research

COVID-19-related mental health effects in the workplace: A narrative review

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has deeply altered social and working environments in several ways. Social distancing policies, mandatory lockdowns, isolation periods, and anxiety of getting sick, along with the suspension of productive activity, loss of income, and fear of the future, jointly influence the mental health of citizens and workers. Workplace aspects can play a crucial role on moderating or worsening mental health of people facing this pandemic scenario. The purpose of this literature review is to deepen the psychological aspects linked to workplace factors, following the epidemic rise of COVID-19, in order to address upcoming psychological critical issues in the workplaces. We performed a literature search using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, selecting papers focusing on workers' psychological problems that can be related to the workplace during the pandemic. Thirty-five articles were included. Mental issues related to the health emergency, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep disorders are more likely to affect healthcare workers, especially those on the frontline, migrant workers, and workers in contact with the public. Job insecurity, long periods of isolation, and uncertainty of the future worsen the psychological condition, especially in younger people and in those with a higher educational background. Multiple organizational and work-related interventions can mitigate this scenario, such as the improvement of workplace infrastructures, the adoption of correct and shared anti-contagion measures, including regular personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, and the implementation of resilience training programs. This review sets the basis for a better understanding of the psychological conditions of workers during the pandemic, integrating individual and social perspectives, and providing insight into possible individual, social, and occupational approaches to this "psychological pandemic"

DNA Damage Response Protein CHK2 Regulates Metabolism in Liver Cancer

Defective mitosis with chromosome missegregation can have a dramatic effect on genome integrity by causing DNA damage, activation of the DNA damage response (DDR), and chromosomal instability. Although this is an energy-dependent process, mechanisms linking DDR to cellular metabolism are unknown. Here we show that checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), a central effector of DDR, regulates cellular energy production by affecting glycolysis and mitochondrial functions. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had increased CHK2 mRNA in blood, which was associated with elevated tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) metabolites. CHK2 controlled expression of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and intervened with mitochondrial functions. DNA damage and CHK2 promoted SDH activity marked by increased succinate oxidation through the TCA cycle; this was confirmed in a transgenic model of HCC with elevated DNA damage. Mitochondrial analysis identified CHK2-controlled expression of SDH as key in sustaining reactive oxygen species production. Cells with DNA damage and elevated CHK2 relied significantly on glycolysis for ATP production due to dysfunctional mitochondria, which was abolished by CHK2 knockdown. This represents a vulnerability created by the DNA damage response that could be exploited for development of new therapies

Germanium implanted Bragg gratings in silicon on insulator waveguides

Integrated Bragg gratings are an interesting candidate for waveguide coupling, telecommunication applications, and for the fabrication of integrated photonic sensors. These devices have a high potential for optical integration and are compatible with CMOS processing techniques if compared to their optical fibre counterpart. In this work we present design, fabrication, and testing of Germanium ion implanted Bragg gratings in silicon on insulator (SOI). A periodic refractive index modulation is produced in a 1μm wide SOI rib waveguide by implanting Germanium ions through an SiO2 hardmask. The implantation conditions have been analysed by 3D ion implantation modelling and the induced refractive index change has been investigated on implanted samples by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) and ellipsometry analysis. An extinction ratio of up to 30dB in transmission, around the 1.55μm wavelength, has been demonstrated for Germanium implanted gratings on SOI waveguides.</p