Estimate of the chemical composition of Braquiaria cv. Marandú by chlorophyll meter

A concepção de um método rápido, eficiente e econômico é importante para a avaliação de características nutricionais em plantas forrageiras devida à elevada variação desses parâmetros nas gramíneas tropicais em um curto intervalo de tempo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a possibilidade de uso do medidor de clorofila Minolta SPAD-502 para avaliação da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB) e fibras em detergente neutro (FDN) das plantas de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. As amostras foram obtidas em uma área de pastagem, tendo como parâmetro de coleta a intensidade de cor verde das folhas. Posteriormente às leituras do índice SPAD, realizadas na porção mediana das folhas, estimou-se a composição química. A partir dos dados obtidos, foi possível estabelecer modelos para a relação entre teor de MS, PB, e índice SPAD. O ajuste do modelo quadrático expressou a melhor relação entre o conteúdo de PB e as leituras do índice SPAD. O modelo linear foi mais adequado para representar a relação entre MS e índice SPAD. Não foi possível convencionar um modelo entre teor de FDN e índice SPAD

A Retrospective Analysis of Familicide in Latium (Italy): A Criminological Profile of the Victims and Offenders Involved in 29 Cases and a Comparison with the Literature

familicide, an extreme form of domestic violence where one family member kills another, is a complex criminological issue. we analyzed autopsy files from the institute of legal medicine, university of rome tor vergata (1995-2022), to understand familicide better. the study focused on victim profiles, offender characteristics, and case dynamics. from 29 analyzed cases, 31 victims emerged, with 2 instances of double homicide. The perpetrators were mostly male (79.31%) and the victims were primarily female (54.84%). the familial ties ranged from parent-child to siblings and spouses. a significant number of crimes happened at private residences (70.97%) using bladed weapons (48.39%), with the injuries being concentrated on the head and chest. Half of the cases showed struggle signs, and 24.14% of the perpetrators had identifiable psychiatric disorders, which often served as the motive. post-crime actions included self-reporting, suicide attempts, and successful suicides. A comparison with literature confirmed the typical familicide offender as a middle-aged male with potential social stressors and a history of domestic violence, with the victims often being female family members. mental health conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia significantly impacted these events. these findings underline the need for customized approaches to comprehending and preventing familicide

Towards a map of the Upper Pleistocene loess of the Po Plain Loess Basin (Northern Italy)

Upper Pleistocene (MIS 4-2) loess sequences occur in most of continental Europe and in Northern Italy along the Po Plain Loess Basin. Loess is distributed along the flanks of the Po Plain and was deposited on glacial deposits, fluvial terraces, uplifted isolated hills, karst plateaus, slopes and basins of secondary valleys. Loess bodies are generally tiny and affected by pedogenesis, being locally slightly reworked by slope processes and bioturbation. Notwithstanding, loess in the Po Plain is an important archive of paleoenviron-mental record and its mapping provides new insights in paleoenvironmental and palaeoseismic reconstructions of Northern Ital

The Burden of Comorbidity Between Bipolar Spectrum and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in an Italian Community Survey

© 2020 Carta, Fineberg, Moro, Preti, Romano, Balestrieri, Caraci, Dell’Osso, Disciascio, Drago, Hardoy, Roncone, Minerba, Faravelli and Angst. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Background: The impact of the comorbidity between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Bipolar Disorder Spectrum (BDS) remains to be clarified. The objective of this study was to examine the lifetime prevalence of OCD, the strength of the association of OCD with comorbid BDS and the role of comorbidity of OCD with BDS in the impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in an Italian community survey. Methods: The study is a community survey. The sample (N = 2,267; women: 55.3%) was randomly selected after stratification by sex and four age groups from the municipal records of the adult population of one urban, one suburban, and at least one rural area in six Italian regions. Physicians using a semi-structured interview (Advanced Tools and Neuropsychiatric Assessment Schedule, ANTAS-SCID) made Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 4th revision (DSM-IV) diagnoses of OCD, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD). HR-QoL was measured by the Health Survey Short Form (SF-12). Lifetime Hypomania and subthreshold hypomania were screened by the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). BDS was defined as the sum of people shown to be positive for hypomania by the MDQ—with or without a mood disorder diagnosis—plus people with a BD-DSMIV diagnosis even if negative for hypomania at the MDQ. Results: Overall, 44 subjects were diagnosed with OCD, 6 with MDD and 1 with BD. The lifetime prevalence of OCD was 1.8% in men (n = 18) and 2.0% in women (n = 26). MDD with lifetime subthreshold hypomania (i.e., people screened positive at the MDQ, even without diagnosed mania or hypomania at the interview) was associated with OCD (OR = 18.15, CI 95% 2.45–103.67); MDD without subthreshold hypomania (and screened negative at the MDQ) was not (OR = 2.33, CI 95% 0.69–7.01). People with BDS were strongly associated with OCD (OR = 10.5, CI 95% 4.90–12.16,). People with OCD and BDS showed significantly poorer HR-QoL than people with OCD without BDS (F = 9.492; P < 0.003). Discussion: The study found a strong association between BDS and OCD. BDS comorbid with OCD was associated with more severe impairment of HR-QoL than OCD without comorbid BDS. Identification of symptoms of hypomania, including subthreshold symptoms, may therefore be important in people with OCD as they might predict a course with poorer HR-QoL.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Perfil de pacientes que evoluem para óbito por tuberculose no município de São Paulo, 2002

OBJECTIVE: To profile adult patients dying of tuberculosis in the city of São Paulo with respect to biological, environmental and institutional factors. METHODS: Descriptive study covering all tuberculosis deaths (N=416) among individuals aged over 15 years in 2002. Data were obtained from hospital records, the local Mortality Information System, Coroner's Service, and tuberculosis Surveillance System. The estimates of relative risk and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were based on the reference group, i.e., females aged 15 to 29 years, originally from the State of São Paulo (Brazil). A comparative analysis was conducted using Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of all tuberculosis deaths identified, 78% had pulmonary form. Tuberculosis diagnosis was made after death in 30% and in primary health care units in 14%. Of them, 44% had not started treatment; 49% were not notified; and 76% were men. The median age was 51 years; 52% had up to four years of schooling; 4% were probably living in the streets. Mortality rate increased with age; it was 5.0/100,000 for the entire city, ranging between zero to 35 according to the district. Previous treatment was reported for 82 out of 232 patients, and of them, 41 defaulted treatment. Diabetes (16%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%), HIV infection (11%), smoking (71%), and alcohol abuse (64%) were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: Adult males over 50, migrants and living in lower Human Development Index districts were more likely to die of tuberculosis. Low schooling and comorbidities are relevant characteristics. Low involvement of primary care units in tuberculosis diagnosis and high underreporting of cases were also seen.OBJETIVO: Describir el perfil de pacientes adultos residentes en el municipio de São Paulo (Sureste de Brasil) que evolucionaron a óbito asociado con tuberculosis, según factores biológicos, ambientales e institucionales. MÉTODOS: Se realizó estudio descriptivo, abarcando todos los óbitos por tuberculosis (N=416) ocurridos en 2002, entre mayores de 15 años. Los datos analizados fueron obtenidos del Sistema Municipal de Informaciones de Mortalidad, prontuarios hospitalares, Servicio de Verificación de Óbitos y Sistema de Vigilancia de Tuberculosis. Los cálculos de riesgos relativos e intervalos de confianza de 95% (IC 95%) tuvieron como referencia el sexo femenino, grupo de 15 a 29 años, y los naturales del Estado de Sao Paulo. El análisis comparativo uso la prueba de Chi-cuadrado de Pearson y el exacto de Fisher para variables categóricas y la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis para variables continuas. RESULTADOS: Del total de óbitos, 78% presentaron la forma pulmonar; el diagnóstico fue efectuado posterior a la muerte en 30% y en unidades de atención primaria en 14% de los casos; 44% no iniciaron tratamiento; 49% no fueron notificados; 76% eran hombres y la edad mediana fue de 51 años; 52% tenían cuatro años de estudio, 4% probablemente vivían en las calles. Las tasas de mortalidad aumentaban con la edad, con un valor de 5,0/100.000 en el municipio, variando de cero a 35, dependiendo del distrito. Para 82 de 232 pacientes con registro de tratamiento, había registro de tratamiento anterior, y de esos, 41 lo habían abandonado. Se comprobó presencia de diabetes (16%), enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (19%), HIV (11%), tabaquismo (71%) y alcoholismo (64%) en los pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: Los hombres por encima de los 50 años, migrantes y residentes en distritos con bajo Índice de Desarrollo Humano presentaron mayores riesgos de óbito. La baja escolaridad y presentar co-morbilidad son características importantes. Se observo baja participación de las unidades básicas de salud en el diagnóstico y una elevada sub-notificación.OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil de pacientes adultos residentes no município de São Paulo que evoluíram para óbito associado à tuberculose, segundo fatores biológicos, ambientais e institucionais. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, abrangendo todos os óbitos por tuberculose (N=416) ocorridos em 2002, entre maiores de 15 anos. Os dados analisados foram obtidos do Sistema Municipal de Informações de Mortalidade, prontuários hospitalares, Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos e Sistema de Vigilância de Tuberculose. Os cálculos dos riscos relativos e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC 95%) tiveram como referência o sexo feminino, grupo de 15 a 29 anos, e os naturais do Estado de São Paulo. A análise comparativa usou o teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson e o exato de Fisher para variáveis categóricas e o teste Kruskal-Wallis para variáveis contínuas. RESULTADOS: Do total de óbitos, 78% apresentavam a forma pulmonar; o diagnóstico foi efetuado após a morte em 30% e em unidades de atendimento primário em 14% dos casos; 44% não iniciaram tratamento; 49% não foram notificados; 76% eram homens e a mediana da idade foi de 51 anos; 52% tinham até quatro anos de estudo, 4% eram prováveis moradores de rua. As taxas de mortalidade aumentavam com a idade, sendo de 5,0/100.000 no município, variando de zero a 35, conforme o distrito. Para 82 de 232 pacientes com registro de tratamento, havia referência de tratamento anterior, e desses, 41 o haviam abandonado. Constatou-se presença de diabetes (16%), doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (19%), HIV (11%), tabagismo (71%) e alcoolismo (64%) nos pacientes. CONCLUSÕES: Homens acima de 50 anos, migrantes e residentes em distritos com baixo Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano apresentam maiores riscos de óbito. A pouca escolaridade e apresentar co-morbidades são características importantes. Observou-se baixa participação das unidades básicas de saúde no diagnóstico e a elevada sub-notificação

Early prediction of clinical response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy in human solid tumors through mathematical modeling

Background:: Checkpoint inhibitor therapy of cancer has led to markedly improved survival of a subset of patients in multiple solid malignant tumor types, yet the factors driving these clinical responses or lack thereof are not known. We have developed a mechanistic mathematical model for better understanding these factors and their relations in order to predict treatment outcome and optimize personal treatment strategies. Methods:: Here, we present a translational mathematical model dependent on three key parameters for describing efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in human cancer: tumor growth rate (α), tumor-immune infiltration (Λ), and immunotherapy-mediated amplification of anti-tumor response (µ). The model was calibrated by fitting it to a compiled clinical tumor response dataset (n = 189 patients) obtained from published anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 clinical trials, and then validated on an additional validation cohort (n = 64 patients) obtained from our in-house clinical trials. Results:: The derived parameters Λ and µ were both significantly different between responding versus nonresponding patients. Of note, our model appropriately classified response in 81.4% of patients by using only tumor volume measurements and within 2 months of treatment initiation in a retrospective analysis. The model reliably predicted clinical response to the PD-1/PD-L1 class of checkpoint inhibitors across multiple solid malignant tumor types. Comparison of model parameters to immunohistochemical measurement of PD-L1 and CD8+ T cells confirmed robust relationships between model parameters and their underlying biology. Conclusions:: These results have demonstrated reliable methods to inform model parameters directly from biopsy samples, which are conveniently obtainable as early as the start of treatment. Together, these suggest that the model parameters may serve as early and robust biomarkers of the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor therapy on an individualized per-patient basis. Funding:: We gratefully acknowledge support from the Andrew Sabin Family Fellowship, Center for Radiation Oncology Research, Sheikh Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, and institutional funds from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. We have also received Cancer Center Support Grants from the National Cancer Institute (P30CA016672 to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and P30CA072720 the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey). This research has also been supported in part by grants from the National Science Foundation Grant DMS-1930583 (ZW, VC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 1R01CA253865 (ZW, VC), 1U01CA196403 (ZW, VC), 1U01CA213759 (ZW, VC), 1R01CA226537 (ZW, RP, WA, VC), 1R01CA222007 (ZW, VC), U54CA210181 (ZW, VC), and the University of Texas System STARS Award (VC). BC acknowledges support through the SER Cymru II Programme, funded by the European Commission through the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND scheme and the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). EK has also received support from the Project Purple, NIH (U54CA210181, U01CA200468, and U01CA196403), and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (16-65-SING). MF was supported through NIH/NCI center grant U54CA210181, R01CA222959, DoD Breast Cancer Research Breakthrough Level IV Award W81XWH-17-1-0389, and the Ernest Cockrell Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair at Houston Methodist Research Institute. RP and WA received serial research awards from AngelWorks, the Gillson-Longenbaugh Foundation, and the Marcus Foundation. This work was also supported in part by grants from the National Cancer Institute to SHC (R01CA109322, R01CA127483, R01CA208703, and U54CA210181 CITO pilot grant) and to PYP (R01CA140243, R01CA188610, and U54CA210181 CITO pilot grant). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Active gas features in three HSC-SSP CAMIRA clusters revealed by high angular resolution analysis of MUSTANG-2 SZE and XXL X-ray observations

International audienceWe present results from simultaneous modelling of high angular resolution GBT/MUSTANG-2 90 GHz Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect (SZE) measurements and XMM-XXL X-ray images of three rich galaxy clusters selected from the HSC-SSP Survey. The combination of high angular resolution SZE and X-ray imaging enables a spatially resolved multicomponent analysis, which is crucial to understand complex distributions of cluster gas properties. The targeted clusters have similar optical richnesses and redshifts, but exhibit different dynamical states in their member galaxy distributions: a single-peaked cluster, a double-peaked cluster, and a cluster belonging to a supercluster. A large-scale residual pattern in both regular Compton-parameter y and X-ray surface brightness distributions is found in the single-peaked cluster, indicating a sloshing mode. The double-peaked cluster shows an X-ray remnant cool core between two SZE peaks associated with galaxy concentrations. The temperatures of the two peaks reach ∼20–30 keV in contrast to the cool core component of ∼2 keV, indicating a violent merger. The main SZE signal for the supercluster is elongated along a direction perpendicular to the major axis of the X-ray core, suggesting a minor merger before core passage. The and y distributions are thus perturbed at some level, regardless of the optical properties. We find that the integrated Compton y parameter and the temperature for the major merger are boosted from those expected by the weak-lensing mass and those for the other two clusters show no significant deviations, which is consistent with predictions of numerical simulations