Financial analysis of acorns chain for food production

This study presents a decision support system for the financial analysis of an acorn chain used in food production. The application of these fruits, in fact, shows potential in human nutrition and valorization of rural and marginal areas. A multi-step production process is hypothesised with a different potential organizational structure of each phase and products to be sold. The net present value, pay-back period, safety margins, and internal rate of return are computed for the implemented scenario. The research was grounded on Italian-based data but can be easily transferred to other case studies. The results highlight potential economic suitability of the chain, although subject to a minimal value of prices and productivity. Future improvements and further integration of this study, such as the analysis of fluctuation’s risk of annual production or the need to investigate sensorial properties of acorns, are suggested and discussed

Cutaneous sarcoid-like reaction in a patient treated with target therapy for metastatic melanoma: the hue is the clue

Cutaneous sarcoid-like reaction in a patient treated with target therapy for metastatic melanoma: the hue is the clu

Outcome following a short period of adalimumab dose escalation as rescue therapy in psoriatic patients

Background: Advances in biologic treatments have led to a new therapeutic frontier for moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Nevertheless, the efficacy of anti-TNFα decreases with time, requiring adjustments to maintain valuable Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) responses. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab dose escalation (40 mg, subcutaneous, once a week for 24 weeks) in psoriatic adult patients with secondary loss of response (PASI ≥50 to ≤75 or PASI≥75 and DLQI ≥5). Materials and Methods: A multicentre, observational study involving different Italian third-level referral centres for psoriasis enrolled a total of 64 adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were treated with adalimumab and experienced a secondary loss of response. Primary end-points were PASI< 75 or PASI ≥50 to ≤ 75 with DLQI ≤ 5, and the secondary end-point was the ability to maintain a therapeutic response, resuming adalimumab every other week. Results: At Week 16 and Week 24, 29/64 (45.3%) and 35/64 (54.6%) responded based on PASI, and mean DLQI was 4.9 and 4.09, respectively. At Week 36 and Week 48, 45.3% and 28.1% patients achieved the second end-point, respectively. No adverse events were recorded except for one patient with recurrent tonsillitis. Conclusion: Adalimumab escalation could be considered in cases with loss of response before switching to alternative biologic therapy

PsoBioVax: A multicentric Italian case–control study of the immunological response to anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine among psoriatic patients under biological therapy

Dear Editor, The role of vaccination has been crucial in limiting COVID-19.1 The efficacy of vaccines among patients with immunemediated inflammatory disease has been investigated showing promising results.2 Patients with psoriasis under biological treatment had a valid response to the COVID-19 vaccine

Prevention of erosion in mountain basins: A spatial-based tool to support payments for forest ecosystem services

This paper presents a spatial-based decision support system (DSS) to assist public and private forest managers in the analysis of potential feasibility in payments for forest ecosystem services (PES) for the prevention of soil erosion. The model quantifies the maximum willingness to pay (WTP) of managers of a reservoir to prevent soil loss. The minimum willingness to accept (WTA) of forest owners for the activation of a private market is also computed. The comparison of WTP and WTA identifies the forest area where PES are ideally feasible with additional potential for compensation to enable the schemes. The DSS highlights forest idiosyncrasies as well as local socio-economic and geomorphological characteristics influencing PES suitability at a geographic level. The potential applications and future improvements of the model are also discussed