Showcasing green: how culture influences sustainable behavior in food eco-labeling

Purpose: The aim of this study is to verify, through Hofstede's 6-D model, the impact of national culture on the implementation of eco-labeling activities on the supplier side, in order to provide consumers information about the sustainable behavior adopted by firms. Design/methodology/approach: The authors tested the impact of culture dimensions through an econometric model, on a sample composed by several countries of the world, in which at least a food certification is in force. Findings: Interesting results have been obtained and discussed, proving the existence of a relationship between culture and corporate sustainability showcasing. Cultural heritage has a deep influence on sustainable consumption demand. Firms need to put more effort to showcase their green behavior. Economic indicators have a role in fostering sustainable behavior. Originality/value: Food labeling is little explored, despite its growing importance for consumers. This research is a window in green marketing issues, specifically in global branding strategies

High concordance between trained nurses and gastroenterologists in evaluating recordings of small bowel video capsule endoscopy (VCE)

Background & Aims: The video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is an accurate and validated tool to investigate the entire small bowel mucosa, but VCE recordings interpretation by the gastroenterologist is time-consuming. A pre-reading of VCE recordings by an expert nurse could be accurate and cost saving. We assessed the concordance between nurses and gastroenterologists in detecting lesions on VCE examinations. Methods: This was a prospective study enrolling consecutive patients who had undergone VCE in clinical practice. Two trained nurses and two expert gastroenterologists participated in the study. At VCE pre-reading the nurses selected any abnormalities, saved them as “thumbnails” and classified the detected lesions as a vascular abnormality, ulcerative lesion, polyp, tumor mass, and unclassified lesion. Then, the gastroenterologist evaluated and interpreted the selected lesions and, successively, reviewed the entire video for potential missed lesions. The time for VCE evaluation was recorded. Results: A total of 95 VCE procedures performed on consecutive patients (M/F: 47/48; mean age: 63 ± 12 years, range: 27−86 years) were evaluated. Overall, the nurses detected at least one lesion in 54 (56.8%) patients. There was total agreement between nurses and gastroenterologists, no missing lesions being discovered at a second look of the entire VCE recording by the physician. The pre-reading procedure by nurse allowed a time reduction of medical evaluation from 49 (33-69) to 10 (8-16) minutes (difference:-79.6%). Conclusions: Our data suggest that trained nurses can accurately identify and select relevant lesions in thumbnails that subsequently were faster reviewed by the gastroenterologist for a final diagnosis. This could significantly reduce the cost of VCE procedure

A 10-3 drift velocity monitoring chamber

The MEG-II experiment searches for the lepton flavor violating decay: mu in electron and gamma. The reconstruction of the positron trajectory uses a cylindrical drift chamber operated with a mixture of He and iC4H10 gas. It is important to provide a stable performance of the detector in terms of its electron transport parameters, avalanche multiplication, composition and purity of the gas mixture. In order to have a continuous monitoring of the quality of gas, we plan to install a small drift chamber, with a simple geometry that allows to measure very precisely the electron drift velocity in a prompt way. This monitoring chamber will be supplied with gas coming from the inlet and the outlet of the detector to determine if gas contaminations originate inside the main chamber or in the gas supply system. The chamber is a small box with cathode walls, that define a highly uniform electric field inside two adjacent drift cells. Along the axis separating the two drift cells, four staggered sense wires alternated with five guard wires collect the drifting electrons. The trigger is provided by two 90Sr weak calibration radioactive sources placed on top of a two thin scintillator tiles telescope. The whole system is designed to give a prompt response (within a minute) about drift velocity variations at the 0.001 level

Microaneurysm turnover in diabetic retinopathy assessed by automated RetmarkerDR image analysis - potential role as biomarker of response to ranibizumab treatment

PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of a ranibizumab treatment on microaneurysm (MA) turnover in diabetic retinopathy. METHODS Sixty-nine eyes were included in this retrospective study. We compared a group of 33 eyes with ranibizumab treatment for diabetic macular edema to 36 eyes with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy only. Nonmydriatic ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Optomap) images were obtained at a mean 4.76 ± 1.69 days prior to the first ranibizumab injection (baseline) and again 35.94 ± 2.44 days after the third consecutive injection in a 4-week interval. In untreated controls, images were obtained at baseline and 97.81 ± 3.16 days thereafter. Images were analyzed using the RetmarkerDR software (Critical Health SA, Coimbra, Portugal), and the turnover of MAs was documented and analyzed. Thereafter, MA turnover was correlated with central retinal thickness (CRT) as assessed by OCT. RESULTS At baseline, patients in the treatment group had 5.64 ± 0.75 MAs. One month after 3 ranibizumab injections, measured MAs decreased to 4.03 ± 0.66. In the untreated control group, the initial number of 3.36 ± 0.6 MAs remained almost unchanged over 3-4 months (2.89 ± 0.57 MAs). Dynamic analysis showed that after ranibizumab treatment 3.06 ± 0.5 new MAs appeared, while 5.09 ± 0.79 disappeared. In the control group, 2.11 ± 0.4 new MAs appeared and 2.61 ± 0.48 disappeared. MA turnover was significantly higher with ranibizumab compared to the control group (8.15 ± 1.14 vs. 4.72 ± 0.81, p < 0.001). Consistently, CRT decreased from 444 to 330 µm in the ranibizumab group, while there was no change in the control group (291 vs. 288 µm). CONCLUSION The treatment of macular edema using ranibizumab does not only reduce macular thickness, but also has an impact on the turnover of MAs in diabetic retinopathy. RetmarkerDR analysis showed that more pre-existent MAs disappeared than new MAs developed, and the absolute number of MAs also decreased

Mercury in fishes from Augusta Bay (southern Italy): Risk assessment and health implication

Our study reports on the total mercury (HgT) concentrations measured in the muscles and livers of several benthic, demersal and pelagic fish species caught inside and outside of Augusta Bay (southern Italy), a semi-enclosed marine area, highly contaminated by the uncontrolled (since the 1950s to 1978s) discharge of the largest European petrochemical plant. Mercury levels in fish tissues are discussed with regard to specific habitat, size and/or age of the specimens and HgT distribution in the bottom sediments. Results suggest a still active Hg release mechanism from the polluted sediments to the marine environment. Also, the high HgT concentrations measured in fishes caught in the external area of the bay imply a potential role of Augusta Bay as a pollutant source for the Mediterranean ecosystem. Finally, values of hazard target quotient (THQ) and estimated weekly intake (EWI) demonstrate that consumption of fishes caught inside the bay represents a serious risk for human health. Also, data indicate that intake of fishes caught from the external area of the bay, especially for that concern demersal and benthic species, could be represent a significant component of risk for the local population

Culture-based antibiotic susceptibility testing for Helicobacter pylori infection: a systematic review

Background Primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains is increasing worldwide, affecting therapy success. The use of therapies tailored on susceptibility pre-testing at culture has been proposed, but data are still conflicting. Method We performed a systematic review to evaluate the role of a culture-based therapeutic approach for H. pylori treatment, taking into account the sensitivity of culture and the success rates achieved with tailored therapies in different therapeutic steps. Results We analyzed data from 51 studies. Overall, H. pylori strains were isolated in 80.7% of 7889 patients, the success rates being 78.1%, 77.5%, 86.3% and 86.6%, before first-, second-, third-line or more therapies, respectively. In comparative studies, the infection was cured in 89.9% of 2052 patients treated with tailored therapies, and in 77.6% of 2516 patients receiving empiric therapy (P&lt;0.001). However, in the subanalysis, the tailored approach achieved optimal eradication rates (&gt;90%) only when it was applied before first-and second-line therapies, but not before third-line or more attempts (&lt;80%). Moreover, no significant difference emerged between the 2 approaches when data from only the most recent (last 5 years) studies were considered, as well as in those performed in Western populations. Conclusions The attempt to achieve antibiotic susceptibility testing before treatment failed in 20% of infected patients managed in dedicated laboratories. Culture-tailored therapies administered after 2 or more therapies achieved suboptimal eradication rates. The role of bacterial culture in patients whose therapeutic management failed to eradicate H. pylori probably needs to be corroborated by further data

Hepatomesenteric trunk, gastrosplenic trunk, coiled splenic and hepatic arteries, and a variant of Bühler's arc

The celiac trunk is normally divided into the left gastric artery (LGA), splenic artery (SA), and common hepatic artery (CHA). The combination between these arteries and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) generates various combinations. We report here such a rare anatomic variant, namely the hepatomesenteric trunk (HMT), combined with a gastrosplenic trunk (GST). The variant was identified using computed tomography angiograms of a 62-years-old woman. The GST emerged from the aorta within the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm, a previously unknown possibility. Further, an accessory left hepatic artery originated from the LGA. The phrenic arteries had independent aortic origins. The HMT divided into the CHA and the SMA posterior to the origin of the hepatic portal vein (PV), above the pancreas. The CHA initially had a right course, towards the superior border of the PV, then it descended with a transpancreatic course posterior to the PV, reached its inferior/right border, and divided antero-inferiorly to the PV into the proper hepatic (PHA) and gastroduodenal arteries. The PHA continued on the anterior side of the PV, sending off the left and right hepatic arteries. The HMT and the GST were connected by a rudimentary variant of the arc of Bühler, unreported previously. Arterial variations in the celiac region are accurately distinguished on computed tomography angiograms. They should be evaluated by surgeons when different surgical procedures are evaluated

Penanganan Virus pada Buah Naga dan Desain Atap Otomatis Kebun Buah Naga di Jl. Soekarno Hatta KM 25 Balikpapan

Dragon fruit is one type of fruit that can grow in tropical and subtropical areas such as Indonesia. Especially East Kalimantan Province, dragon fruit cultivation one of the people's livelihoods. In Karang Joang Village, KM 25 Balikpapan, there are dragon fruit farmers who experience problems related to dragon fruit plants growing in their gardens. Dragon fruit plants in the garden were attacked by diseases caused by viruses due to frequent exposure to rain. Handling the virus with herbal medicines that are easily available, making it easier for the operational costs of dragon fruit planting to be affordable. Spraying of herbal medicine is carried out on dragon fruit about 3 times a week with a garden area of 3-4 hectares. In addition, innovation is also given in making prototypes of automatic roofs in order to protect plants from extreme weather that can affect soil and plant conditions. Through the manufacture of this automatic roof prototype, it is hoped that it can help protect dragon fruit trees when they are in a season with high rainfall.Buah naga adalah salah satu jenis buah yang dapat tumbuh di daerah tropis maupun subtropis seperti Indonesia. Khususnya Provinsi Kalimantan Timur, budidaya buah naga menjadi salah satu mata pencaharian masyarakat. Di Kelurahan Karang Joang, KM 25 Balikpapan, terdapat petani buah naga yang mengalami permasalahan terkait tumbuhan buah naga di kebunnya. Tanaman buah naga di kebun tersebut terserang penyakit yang disebabkan oleh virus akibat sering terkena hujan. Penanganan virus dengan obat herbal yang mudah didapatkan sehingga meringankan biaya operasional penanaman buah naga menjadi lebih terjangkau. Penyemprotan obat herbal dilakukan ke buah naga sekitar 3 kali seminggu dengan luas kebun 3-4 hektar. Selain itui juga diberikan inovasi dalam pembuatan prototipe atap otomatis guna untuk melindungi tanaman dari cuaca yang ekstrim yang dapat mempengaruhi kondisi tanah dan tanaman. Melalui pembuatan prototipe atap otomatis yang dicetuskan ini, diharapkan agar sekiranya dapat membantu melindungi pohon buah naga ketika sedang berada di musim dengan curah hujan tinggi

Innate and adaptive T cells in asthmatic patients: relationship to severity and disease mechanisms

BackgroundAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disease involving diverse cells and mediators whose interconnectivity and relationships to asthma severity are unclear.ObjectiveWe performed a comprehensive assessment of TH17 cells, regulatory T cells, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, other T-cell subsets, and granulocyte mediators in asthmatic patients.MethodsSixty patients with mild-to-severe asthma and 24 control subjects underwent detailed clinical assessment and provided induced sputum, endobronchial biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage, and blood samples. Adaptive and invariant T-cell subsets, cytokines, mast cells, and basophil mediators were analyzed.ResultsSignificant heterogeneity of T-cell phenotypes was observed, with levels of IL-13–secreting T cells and type 2 cytokines increased at some, but not all, asthma severities. TH17 cells and ??-17 cells, proposed drivers of neutrophilic inflammation, were not strongly associated with asthma, even in severe neutrophilic forms. MAIT cell frequencies were strikingly reduced in both blood and lung tissue in relation to corticosteroid therapy and vitamin D levels, especially in patients with severe asthma in whom bronchoalveolar lavage regulatory T-cell numbers were also reduced. Bayesian network analysis identified complex relationships between pathobiologic and clinical parameters. Topological data analysis identified 6 novel clusters that are associated with diverse underlying disease mechanisms, with increased mast cell mediator levels in patients with severe asthma both in its atopic (type 2 cytokine–high) and nonatopic forms.ConclusionThe evidence for a role for TH17 cells in patients with severe asthma is limited. Severe asthma is associated with a striking deficiency of MAIT cells and high mast cell mediator levels. This study provides proof of concept for disease mechanistic networks in asthmatic patients with clusters that could inform the development of new therapies

FAPRI 1999 U.S. Agricultural Outlook

Crop Production/Industries, Livestock Production/Industries,