Agro-ecology, sustainable agro-food systems, new relationships between the countryside and the city

Today agroecology is recognized as a new scientific paradigm useful to respond to the new sustainability challenges of both the agriculture and the agro-food system domains. Aims and contents of this discipline have changed over time and are still evolving today: conceptual tools and methodologies offered by agroecology may be usefully adopted within interdisciplinary studies related to sustainable production, consumption, exchange, settlement systems. In this paper we briefly review the history of agroecology and stress the role it plays nowadays in managing food systems and in particular short-distance food networks, intended as a new way the relationships between the countryside and the city performs.All’agroecologia viene oggi riconosciuto il valore di nuovo paradigma scientifico con il quale poter affrontare le sfide della sostenibilità dell’agricoltura e dei sistemi agroalimentari. Obiettivi e contenuti dell’agroecologia sono cambiati e stanno ancora rapidamente mutando: gli strumenti concettuali e i metodi offerti da questa disciplina possono essere utilmente adottati negli studi interdisciplinari relativi alla sostenibilità dei sistemi di produzione, di consumo, di mercato e di insediamento. In questo lavoro, dopo una sintetica analisi dello sviluppo storico della disciplina, se ne indica il possibile ruolo che attualmente essa può assumere nella pianificazione e gestione dei sistemi agro-alimentari moderni, con particolare riferimento alle reti locali, intese come strumenti di nuova relazione fra insediamento urbano e campagna circostante

Study of the characteristic parameters of the normal voices of Argentinian speakers

The voice laboratory permits to study the human voices using a method that is objective and noninvasive. In this work, we have studied the parameters of the human voice such as pitch, formant, jitter, shimmer and harmonic-noise ratio of a group of young people. This statistical information of parameters is obtained from Argentinian speakers.publishedVersionFil: Bonzi, Edgardo Venusto. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina.Fil: Bonzi, Edgardo Venusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina.Fil: Grad, G. B. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina.Fil: Maggi, A. M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Escuela de Fonoaudiología; Argentina.Fil: Muñóz, M. R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Escuela de Fonoaudiología; Argentina.Otras Ciencias Física

Validation of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in gynecologic surgery: an Italian randomized study

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ESPERIENZE DAL NORD E DAL SUD DEL MONDO VERSO LA CREAZIONE DI POLITICHE ALIMENTARI URBANE IN GRADO DI RENDERE PIU' SOSTENIBILI I SISTEMI ALIMENTARI DELLE CITTA'

Urban food policies are powerful institutional actions, to build more sustainable food systems of contemporary cities. These new policies are designed with a systemic and cross-sectoral approach, they able to act at the intersection of different issues and fields such as water, waste, planning, health, transport, education, environment, trade. We will describe the experiences developed in the Northern and Southern cities of the world (with a focus on West, Africa and Latin America), through the recent Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, which could start a new kind of city-to-city cooperation initiatives

Antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties of a polyphenol-rich flower extract from Tagetes Erecta L. and its effects on Caenorhabditis Elegans fat storages

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by a high blood sugar level that can cause severe complications to the organism or even death when not treated. However, certain dietary habits and foods may have beneficial effects on this condition. A polyphenolic-rich extract (containing hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, ellagic acid, and vanillic acid) of Tageres erecta L. (T. erecta) was obtained from yellow and orange flowers using an ethanolic Soxhlet extraction. These extracts were screened for antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties using in vitro and in vivo procedures. The capacity to inhibit the enzymes lipase and α-glucosidase, as well as the inhibition of advance glycation end-products (AGEs) was tested in vitro. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as an obesity in vivo model to assess extracts effects on fat accumulation using the wild-type strain N2 and a mutant with no N3 fatty acid desaturase activity BX24. Extracts from both cultivars (yellow and orange) T. erecta presented in vitro inhibitory activity against the enzymes lipase and α-glucosidase, showing lower IC50 values than acarbose (control). They also showed important activity in preventing AGEs formation. The polyphenol-rich matrices reduced the fat content of obese worms in the wild-type strain (N2) down to levels of untreated C. elegans, with no significant differences found between negative control (100% reduction) and both tested samples (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the fat reduction was considerably lower in the BX24 mutants (fat-1(wa-9)), suggesting that N3 fatty acid desaturase activity could be partially involved in the T. erecta flower effect. Our findings suggested that polyphenols from T. erecta can be considered candidate bioactive compounds in the prevention and improvement of metabolic chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes

Activation of G protein-coupled receptors by ketone bodies: Clinical implication of the ketogenic diet in metabolic disorders

Ketogenesis takes place in hepatocyte mitochondria where acetyl-CoA derived from fatty acid catabolism is converted to ketone bodies (KB), namely β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB), acetoacetate and acetone. KB represent important alternative energy sources under metabolic stress conditions. Ketogenic diets (KDs) are low-carbohydrate, fat-rich eating strategies which have been widely proposed as valid nutritional interventions in several metabolic disorders due to its substantial efficacy in weight loss achievement. Carbohydrate restriction during KD forces the use of FFA, which are subsequently transformed into KB in hepatocytes to provide energy, leading to a significant increase in ketone levels known as "nutritional ketosis". The recent discovery of KB as ligands of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) - cellular transducers implicated in a wide range of body functions - has aroused a great interest in understanding whether some of the clinical effects associated to KD consumption might be mediated by the ketone/GPCR axis. Specifically, anti-inflammatory effects associated to KD regimen are presumably due to GPR109A-mediated inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome by β-OHB, whilst lipid profile amelioration by KDs could be ascribed to the actions of acetoacetate via GPR43 and of β-OHB via GPR109A on lipolysis. Thus, this review will focus on the effects of KD-induced nutritional ketosis potentially mediated by specific GPCRs in metabolic and endocrinological disorders. To discriminate the effects of ketone bodies per se, independently of weight loss, only studies comparing ketogenic vs isocaloric non-ketogenic diets will be considered as well as short-term tolerability and safety of KDs

Lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

BACKGROUND: Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a polyphagous and damaging pest, presenting several resistant populations world- wide. Among new and more environmentally friendly control tools, botanical pesticides represent a valuable alternative to syn- thetic ones within integrated pest management strategies. Accordingly, we investigated the lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide isolated from Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) roots on T. urticae and its natural enemy, the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor). RESULTS: Carlina oxide (98.7% pure compound) was used for acaricidal tests on eggs, nymphs, and adult females of T. urticae (concentrations of 312.5, 625, 1250, 2500 and 5000 !L L!1), and eggs and females of N. californicus (1250 and 5000 !L L!1 on eggs and females, respectively). Behavioral two-choice tests were also conducted on phytoseiid females. Carlina oxide toxicity was higher on T. urticae females than nymphs (median lethal dose 1145 and 1825 !L L!1, respectively), whereas egg mortality and mean hatching time were signi!cantly affected by all tested concentrations. A decreasing daily oviposition rate for T. urticae was recorded with concentrations ranging from 625 to 5000 !L L!1, whereas negative effects on the population growth rate were recorded only with the three higher concentrations (1250, 2500 and 5000 !L L!1). No toxic effect on N. californicus females was found, but a strong repellent activity lasting for 48 h from application was recorded. CONCLUSION: Carlina oxide reduced longevity and fecundity of T. urticae adults, but not of N. californicus. This selective prop- erty allows us to propose it as a novel active ingredient of ecofriendly acaricides for T. urticae management

Diabetes mellitus questionnaires validated in brazilian Portuguese

Study design: Scoping review following the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR. Objective: To analyze and synthesize scientific evidence on questionnaires related to diabetes mellitus validated in BrazilianPortuguese. Method: Studies with available abstracts and that described a questionnaire related to diabetes mellitus published in English, Spanish or Portuguese, in journals indexed in PubMed, Scopus, VHL and Web of Science and in the catalog of dissertations/theses of the Portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel,between 2011 and 2022 were included. The descriptors used were: diabetes mellitus; diabetes; surveys and questionnaires; reproducibility of results; psychometrics; validation studies; validation studies as topic; Brazil; and Brazilian. The study protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework platform (https://osf.io/asbjz/). Results: This review included 39 publications in which selected questionnaires addressed the themes: self-care/self-management/self-efficacy; quality of life; skin, ulcer and wound care; food plan; medication adherence; emotional/psychological stress; knowledge about diabetes; risk for developing diabetes; satisfaction with the quality of diabetes care; diabetesmanagement in schools; and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards diabetes. Conclusion: The use of validated questionnaires can contribute to the measurement of barriers and difficulties encountered by people with diabetes mellitusand direct the construction of more assertive intervention strategies.Modelo do estudo: Revisão de escopo recomendada pelo Instituto Joanna Briggs e PRISMA-ScR. Objetivo: Analisar e sintetizar as evidências científicas sobre questionários relacionados ao diabetes mellitus validados para língua portuguesa do Brasil. Método: Foram incluídos estudos com resumo disponível e que descreveram um questionário relacionado ao diabetes mellitus publicados em inglês, espanhol ou português em periódicos indexados no PubMed,Scopus, BVS e Web of Science e nos catálogos de dissertações/teses do Portal da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior entre 2011 e 2022. Os descritores utilizados foram: diabetes mellitus; diabetes; surveys and questionnaires; reproducibility of results; psychometrics; validation studies; validation studies as topic; Brazil; Brazilian. O protocolo do estudo foi registrado na plataforma Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/asbjz/). Resultados: Integraram esta revisão 39 publicações cujos questionários selecionados abordaram os temas: autocuidado/ autogestão/autogerenciamento/autoeficácia; qualidade de vida; cuidado com a pele, úlceras e lesões; plano alimentar; adesão medicamentosa; estresse emocional/psicológico; conhecimento sobre diabetes; risco para desenvolvimento do diabetes; satisfação da qualidade dos cuidados em diabetes; manejo do diabetes em escolas; atitudes de profissionais da saúde frente ao diabetes. Conclusão: A utilização de questionários validados pode contribuir para a medida das barreiras e dificuldades encontradas por pessoas com diabetes mellitus e direcionar para a construção de estratégias de intervenções que sejam mais assertivas