An Agent-Based Model of Mediterranean Agricultural Land-Use/Cover Change for Examining Wildfire Risk

Humans have a long history of activity in Mediterranean Basin landscapes. Spatial heterogeneity in these landscapes hinders our understanding about the impacts of changes in human activity on ecological processes, such as wildfire. The use of spatially-explicit models that simulate processes at fine scales should aid the investigation of spatial patterns at the broader, landscape scale. Here, we present an agent-based model of agricultural land-use decision-making to examine the importance of land tenure and land use on future land cover. The model considers two 'types' of land-use decision-making agent with differing perspectives; 'commercial' agents that are perfectly economically rational, and 'traditional' agents that represent part-time or 'traditional' farmers that manage their land because of its cultural, rather than economic, value. The structure of the model is described and results are presented for various scenarios of initial landscape configuration. Land-use/cover maps produced by the model are used to examine how wildfire risk changes for each scenario. Results indicate that land tenure configuration influences trajectories of land use change. However, simulations for various initial land-use configurations and compositions converge to similar states when land-tenure structure is held constant. For the scenarios considered, mean wildfire risk increases relative to the observed landscape. Increases in wildfire risk are not spatially uniform however, varying according to the composition and configuration of land use types. These unexpected spatial variations in wildfire risk highlight the advantages of using a spatially-explicit agent-based model of land use/cover change.Land Use/Cover Change, Land Tenure, Wildfire, Mediterranean-Type Ecosystem, Agriculture, Spatial Heterogeneity

Falls in older adults

Falls are very common in older people, and for some the consequences are devastating. The clinical assessment, management and investigation of patients who present with falls can be challenging for non-specialists, and multiple guidelines and algorithms have been published to aid this. This article has been prepared as a concise reference that reviews the most recent evidence and covers the medical competencies on falls outlined in the $\textit{Curriculum for General Internal Medicine (Acute)}$ of the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. As in the curriculum, the emphasis is on the acute setting. Important topics covered include the epidemiology of falls, definition and classification, causes and risk factors, cumulative effect of risk factors and concept of individual falling threshold, physical and psychosocial consequences of falling, medical falls assessment in acute settings, differentiation between falls and syncope, principles of multifactorial falls assessment and intervention, teamwork and communication skills, and evidence-based strategies for prevention, including the latest developments in falls prevention research

Cellular immune responses in amniotic fluid of women with preterm labor and intraâ amniotic infection or intraâ amniotic inflammation

ProblemPreterm birth is commonly preceded by preterm labor, a syndrome that is causally linked to both intraâ amniotic infection and intraâ amniotic inflammation. However, the stereotypical cellular immune responses in these two clinical conditions are poorly understood.Method of studyAmniotic fluid samples (n = 26) were collected from women diagnosed with preterm labor and intraâ amniotic infection (amniotic fluid ILâ 6 concentrations â ¥2.6 ng/mL and culturable microorganisms, n = 10) or intraâ amniotic inflammation (amniotic fluid ILâ 6 concentrations â ¥2.6 ng/mL without culturable microorganisms, n = 16). Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the phenotype and number of amniotic fluid leukocytes. Amniotic fluid concentrations of classical proâ inflammatory cytokines, type 1 and type 2 cytokines, and Tâ cell chemokines were determined using immunoassays.ResultsWomen with spontaneous preterm labor and intraâ amniotic infection had (a) a greater number of total leukocytes, including neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, in amniotic fluid; (b) a higher number of total T cells and CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T cells or B cells, in amniotic fluid; and (c) increased amniotic fluid concentrations of ILâ 6, ILâ 1β, and ILâ 10, compared to those with intraâ amniotic inflammation. However, no differences in amniotic fluid concentrations of Tâ cell cytokines and chemokines were observed between these two clinical conditions.ConclusionThe cellular immune responses observed in women with preterm labor and intraâ amniotic infection are more severe than in those with intraâ amniotic inflammation, and neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and CD4+ T cells are the main immune cells responding to microorganisms that invade the amniotic cavity. These findings provide insights into the intraâ amniotic immune mechanisms underlying the human syndrome of preterm labor.The relative distribution of innate and adaptive immune cell subsets in amniotic fluid of women with preterm labor and intraâ amniotic inflammation. Flow cytometry analysis is shown as a tâ SNE plot.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151891/1/aji13171_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151891/2/aji13171.pd

Brain levels of neuropeptide Y in experimental pneumococcal meningitis

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), which is found in high concentrations in several regions of the brain including nuclei of the brain stem and in nerve fibers surrounding cerebral vessels, has been proposed to play a role in regulating cerebral blood flow (CBF) and systemic vegetative functions. Since CBF is altered during meningitis, we examined whether NPY concentrations changed in various regions of the rabbit brain in response to experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Changes were most pronounced in the medulla, where NPY concentration increased threefold after 48 h of infection. Concomitantly, there was an increase in NPY immunoreactive fibers surrounding small vessels in the dorsolateral medulla, especially in the nucleus tractus solitarius. These results suggest that NPY may play a role in inducing some of the hemodynamic changes seen during pneumococcal meningitis

Advantages and disadvantages on photosynthesis measurement techniques: A review

Through photosynthesis, green plants and cyanobacteria are able to transfer sunlight energy to molecular reaction centers for conversion into chemical energy with nearly 100% efficiency. Speed is the key as the transfer of the solar energy takes place almost instantaneously such that little energy is wasted as heat. How photosynthesis achieves this near instantaneous energy transfer is a longstanding mystery that may have finally been solved. Measurements of this process are useful in order to understand how it might be controlled and how the phytomonitoring of plant development to increase productivity can be carried out. Techniques in this sense have evolved and nowadays several have been used for this purpose. Thus, the aim of this paper is to present a review of the various methods and principles that have been used in measuring photosynthesis presenting the advantages and disadvantages of various existing measurement methodologies in order to recommend the most appropriate method according to the needs of specific investigations

Sedimentology, Provenance and Radiometric Dating of the Silante Formation: Implications for the Cenozoic Evolution of the Western Andes of Ecuador

The Silante Formation is a thick series of continental deposits, exposed along a trench-parallel distance of approximately 300 km within the Western Cordillera of Ecuador. The origin, tectonic setting, age and stratigraphic relationships are poorly known, although these are key to understand the Cenozoic evolution of the Ecuadorian Andes. We present new sedimentological, stratigraphic, petrographic, radiometric and provenance data from the Silante Formation and underlying rocks. The detailed stratigraphic analysis shows that the Silante Formation unconformably overlies Paleocene submarine fan deposits of the Pilalo Formation, which was coeval with submarine tholeiitic volcanism. The lithofacies of the Silante Formation suggest that the sediments were deposited in a debris flow dominated alluvial fan. Provenance analysis including heavy mineral assemblages and detrital zircon U-Pb ages indicate that sediments of the Silante Formation were derived from the erosion of a continental, calc-alkaline volcanic arc, pointing to the Oligocene to Miocene San Juan de Lachas volcanic arc. Thermochronological data and regional correlations suggest that deposition of the Silante Formation was coeval with regional rock and surface uplift of the Andean margin that deposited alluvial fans in intermontane and back-arc domains

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In Argentina, horticultural production requires intensive labor and continuous application of pesticides, in a labor context poorly regulated by the State. Aims: To analyze pesticide exposure and self-perceived health conditions of horticulturists, according to living and working conditions in horticultural farms in the Food Region of Córdoba (FRC). Population-based descriptive correlational study (2013-2019), in n=209 horticulturists pesticides applicators of pesticides in the FRC (95% confidence level); the sample was completed in two stages, the first conducted by the Group of Environmental Epidemiology of Cancer and other Chronic Diseases (n=137), and the second (n=72) together with the Observatory of Peri-urban Urban Agriculture and Agroecology (INTA). A survey translated and adapted from the Agricultural Health Study (Alavanja et al., 1996; Bonner & Alavanja, 2005) was implemented, whose reliability yielded a Cronbach\u27s α of 0.95 (Lantieri et al., 2009). Sociodemographic information, productive practices, history of pesticides exposure and self-perceived health conditions were collected. Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing and multiple logistic regression analysis were used, using Stata-v15 software. Informed consent was implemented. The mean age was 45 years (SD 13), 70% resided on the farm and 52% reported family work. The average seniority of pesticide application was 18.79 years (SD 11.38), only 27% of the workers used adequate protection when applying pesticides. Also, 21% of them reported having accidents with pesticides (splashing, ingestion, etc); 58% reported symptoms related to the application, neurological (40%) and irritative (38%) among others. 42% reported one or more tracer illnesses. The probability of reporting illnesses increased among workers with more than 20 years in the task (OR=3.048; p ≤ 0.05 ) and among those who expressed presenting accidents with pesticides (OR=2.85; p ≤0.05); while the report of symptoms was higher among horticulturists who manifested accidents (OR= 5.71; p ≤0.05). A high prevalence of symptoms and tracer diseases associated with prolonged use and accidents with pesticides was reported.En Argentina, la producción hortícola requiere mano de obra intensiva y aplicación continua de plaguicidas, en un contexto laboral poco regulado por el Estado. Objetivo: Analizar la exposición a plaguicidas y condiciones de salud autopercibida de horticultoras/es, según las condiciones de vida y trabajo en las quintas hortícolas de la Región Alimentaria de Córdoba (RAC). Estudio descriptivo correlacional de base poblacional (2013-2019), en n=209 horticultoras/es agroaplicadoras/es de plaguicidas de la RAC (nivel confianza del 95%); muestra completada en dos etapas, la primera realizada por el Grupo de Epidemiología Ambiental del Cáncer y otras enfermedades Crónicas (n=137), y la segunda (n=72) junto al Observatorio de Agricultura Urbana Periurbana y Agroecología (INTA). Se implementó una encuesta traducida y adaptada del Agricultural Health Agricultural Health Study (Alavanja Alavanja et al., 1996; Bonner & Alavanja, 2005), cuya confiabilidad arrojó un α de Cronbach de 0,95 (Lantieri et al., 2009). Se relevó información sociodemográfica, prácticas productivas, historia de exposición a plaguicidas y condiciones de salud autopercibida. Estadísticas descriptivas, test de hipótesis y análisis de regresión logística múltiple fueron utilizados, empleando el Software Stata-v15. Se implementó consentimiento informado. La edad promedio fue 45 años (DE 13), el 70% residía en la quinta y el 52% reportó trabajo familiar. La antigüedad promedio de aplicación de plaguicidas fue 18,79 años (DE 11,38), sólo 27% de las/os trabajadoras/es utilizó protección adecuada al aplicar plaguicidas. Asimismo, 21% de ellas/os refirió sufrir accidentes con plaguicidas (salpicaduras, ingestión, etc); 58% reportó síntomas relacionados con la aplicación, neurológicos (40%) e irritativos (38%) entre otros. El 42% reportó una o más enfermedades trazadoras. La probabilidad de reporte de enfermedades aumentó entre trabajadores con más de 20 años en la tarea (OR=3,048; p ≤ 0,05 ) y entre quienes expresaron presentar accidentes con plaguicidas (OR = 2,85; p ≤0,05); mientras que el reporte de síntomas fue mayor entre horticultoras/es que manifestaron accidentes (OR= 5,71; p  ≤0,05). Se reportó una alta prevalencia de síntomas y enfermedades trazadoras asociadas al uso prolongado y accidentes con plaguicidas.

Mathematical modeling tendencies in plant pathology

Nowadays plant diseases represent one of the major threats for crops around the world, because they carry healthy, economical, environmental and social problems. Considering this, it is necessary to have a description of the dynamics of plant disease in order to have sustainable strategies to prevent and diminish the impact of the diseases in crops. Mathematical tools have been employed to create models which give a description of epidemic dynamics; the commonly mathematical tools used are: Diseaseprogress curves, Linked Differential Equation (LDE), Area Under disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) and computer simulation. Nevertheless, there are other tools that have been employed in epidemiology of plant disease like: statistical tools, visual evaluations and pictorial assessment. Each tool has its own advantages and disadvantages. The nature of the problem and the epidemiologist necessities determine the mathematical tool to be used and the variables to be included into the model. This paperpresents review of the tools used in epidemiology of plant disease remarking their advantages and disadvantages and mathematical modeling tendencies in plant pathology

The morbidity of urethral stricture disease among male Medicare beneficiaries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To date, the morbidity of urethral stricture disease among American men has not been analyzed using national datasets. We sought to analyze the morbidity of urethral stricture disease by measuring the rates of urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence among men with a diagnosis of urethral stricture.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed Medicare claims data for 1992, 1995, 1998, and 2001 to estimate the rate of dual diagnoses of urethral stricture with urinary tract infection and with urinary incontinence occurring in the same year among a 5% sample of beneficiaries. Male Medicare beneficiaries receiving co-incident ICD-9 codes indicating diagnoses of urethral stricture and either urinary tract infection or urinary incontinence within the same year were counted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The percentage of male patients with a diagnosis of urethral stricture who also were diagnosed with a urinary tract infection was 42% in 2001, an increase from 35% in 1992. Eleven percent of male Medicare beneficiaries with urethral stricture disease in 2001 were diagnosed with urinary incontinence in the same year. This represents an increase from 8% in 1992.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Among male Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with urethral stricture disease in 2001, 42% were also diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, and 11% with incontinence. Although the overall incidence of stricture disease decreased over this time period, these rates of dual diagnoses increased from 1992 to 2001. Our findings shed light into the health burden of stricture disease on American men. In order to decrease the morbidity of stricture disease, early definitive management of strictures is warranted.</p