Geo-hydrological risk mitigation in a terraced landscape: LiDAR data analysis in the Portofino natural Park, Italy

Modification of steep slopes with man-made terraces is an ancient and widespread habit in many areas of the world. If the modification assures agricultural practices in mountainous areas, it results even as an important interference with the geomorphic processes: important quantities of soil and sediments are subtracted to the degradation processes and, in case of total abandonment of terraces, they result again available to erosion. Intense rain event may cause partial instability or even collapse of the anthropogenic structures, configuring terraces as an additional source of Geo-hydrological hazard. Recent events in Liguria - northern Italy, in Cinque Terre 2011 and Leivi (Chiavari) 2014, caused damages and even casualties due to the sudden collapse of terraced slopes. A crucial point in assessing the potential hazard caused by abandoned terraced slopes is identifying their real extension. LiDAR data analysis is an important assessment tool particularly in strong steepness areas due to the capability of recognizing linear regular structures. In the present research LiDAR data analysis has been used to identify terraces in the Portofino Natural Park area (Liguria region, Italy) as one of the preliminary activities of the RECONECT European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme project. The project plans to realize nature based solutions to mitigate geohydrological risk in two pilot areas in the Portofino promontory and the recovery of terraces is one of the foreseen actions. Mapping terraces is the first step to evaluate the potential risk associated to the possible instability processes and the interventions to be realized. Land use evolution in the area from 1800 to present have been indeed found through historical maps examination and used in conjunction with LiDAR analysis results

Whole-Brain DTI Assessment of White Matter Damage in Children with Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: Evidence of Involvement beyond the Primary Target of the Anoxic Insult

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral palsy is frequently associated with both motor and nonmotor symptoms. DTI can characterize the damage at the level of motor tracts but provides less consistent results in nonmotor areas. We used a standardized pipeline of analysis to describe and quantify the pattern of DTI white matter abnormalities of the whole brain in a group of children with chronic bilateral cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia. We also explored potential correlations between DTI and clinical scale metrics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients (mean age, 11.8 years) and 25 healthy children (mean age, 11.8 years) were studied at 3T with a 2-mm isotropic DTI sequence. Differences between patients and controls were assessed both voxelwise and in ROIs obtained from an existing DTI atlas. Clinical metrics included the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Manual Ability Classification System, and intelligence quotient. RESULTS: The voxel-level and ROI-level analyses demonstrated highly significant ( P CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the involvement of several motor and nonmotor areas in the chronic damage associated with periventricular leukomalacia and showed new correlations between motor skills and DTI metrics

Nutritional and Plasma Antioxidant Status Assessment in a Group of Old Alzheimer\u2019s Inpatients

This study was carried out to assess the nutritional and plasma antioxidant status of Alzheimer\u2019s inpatients compared to age-matched controls by means of anthropometric measurements, neuropsychological and nutritional tests and plasma biomarkers. Assessment of nutritional biomarkers of prooxidant/antioxidant balance in patients with AD as well as nutritional status and neuropsychological evaluation are important since many studies have demonstrated their association with cognitive impairment. This cross sectional study was carried out in 35 subjects recruited in a geriatric institution in Pavia, Northern Italy. Cases mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was lower than controls\u2019 one as well as mid arm circumference, triceps skinfold and arm muscle circumference. Both inpatients MNA and MMSE mean scores were lower than controls ones. Plasma levels of lutein plus zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alfa tocopherol, ascorbic acid were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in AD in patients as well as superoxide desmutase and glutathione peroxidase concentrations, while all the other biochemical markers levels did not differ. Plasma antioxidant levels and activities were decreased in AD and could be biologically predictive of an early mild cognitive decline, suggesting early intervention on dietary antioxidant intake

Time–frequency representation of autoionization dynamics in helium

Autoionization, which results from the interference between direct photoionization and photoexcitation to a discrete state decaying to the continuum by configuration interaction, is a well known example of the important role of electron correlation in light–matter interaction. Information on this process can be obtained by studying the spectral, or equivalently, temporal complex amplitude of the ionized electron wave packet. Using an energy-resolved interferometric technique, we measure the spectral amplitude and phase of autoionized wave packets emitted via the sp2+ and sp3+ resonances in helium. These measurements allow us to reconstruct the corresponding temporal profiles by Fourier transform. In addition, applying various time–frequency representations, we observe the build-up of the wave packets in the continuum, monitor the instantaneous frequencies emitted at any time and disentangle the dynamics of the direct and resonant ionization channels

Immunochemical Methods for Ochratoxin A Detection: A Review

The safety of food and feed depends to a great deal on quality control. Numerous compounds and organisms may contaminate food and feed commodities and thus pose a health risk for consumers. The compound of interest in this review is ochratoxin A (OTA), a secondary metabolite of the fungi Aspergillus and Penicillium. Due to its adverse health effects, detection and quantification are of utmost importance. Quality control of food and feed requires extraction and analysis, including TLC, HPLC, MS, and immunochemical methods. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. However, with regard to costs and rapidity, immunochemical methods have gained much interest in the last decade. In this review an introduction to immunochemistry and assay design will be given to elucidate the principles. Further, the application of the various formats to the detection and quantification of ochratoxin will be described, including the use of commercially available kits

A Prognostic Model for Estimating the Time to Virologic Failure in HIV-1 Infected Patients Undergoing a New Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Regimen

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HIV-1 genotypic susceptibility scores (GSSs) were proven to be significant prognostic factors of fixed time-point virologic outcomes after combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) switch/initiation. However, their relative-hazard for the time to virologic failure has not been thoroughly investigated, and an expert system that is able to predict how long a new cART regimen will remain effective has never been designed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed patients of the Italian ARCA cohort starting a new cART from 1999 onwards either after virologic failure or as treatment-naïve. The time to virologic failure was the endpoint, from the 90^thday after treatment start, defined as the first HIV-1 RNA > 400 copies/ml, censoring at last available HIV-1 RNA before treatment discontinuation. We assessed the relative hazard/importance of GSSs according to distinct interpretation systems (Rega, ANRS and HIVdb) and other covariates by means of Cox regression and random survival forests (RSF). Prediction models were validated via the bootstrap and c-index measure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The dataset included 2337 regimens from 2182 patients, of which 733 were previously treatment-naïve. We observed 1067 virologic failures over 2820 persons-years. Multivariable analysis revealed that low GSSs of cART were independently associated with the hazard of a virologic failure, along with several other covariates. Evaluation of predictive performance yielded a modest ability of the Cox regression to predict the virologic endpoint (c-index≈0.70), while RSF showed a better performance (c-index≈0.73, p < 0.0001 vs. Cox regression). Variable importance according to RSF was concordant with the Cox hazards.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>GSSs of cART and several other covariates were investigated using linear and non-linear survival analysis. RSF models are a promising approach for the development of a reliable system that predicts time to virologic failure better than Cox regression. Such models might represent a significant improvement over the current methods for monitoring and optimization of cART.</p

Postoperative Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Patients With and Without Preoperative Colonization

Importance Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infections (SSIs) and bloodstream infections (BSIs) are important complications of surgical procedures for which prevention remains suboptimal. Contemporary data on the incidence of and etiologic factors for these infections are needed to support the development of improved preventive strategies.Objectives To assess the occurrence of postoperative S aureus SSIs and BSIs and quantify its association with patient-related and contextual factors.Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter cohort study assessed surgical patients at 33 hospitals in 10 European countries who were recruited between December 16, 2016, and September 30, 2019 (follow-up through December 30, 2019). Enrolled patients were actively followed up for up to 90 days after surgery to assess the occurrence of S aureus SSIs and BSIs. Data analysis was performed between November 20, 2020, and April 21, 2022. All patients were 18 years or older and had undergone 11 different types of surgical procedures. They were screened for S aureus colonization in the nose, throat, and perineum within 30 days before surgery (source population). Both S aureus carriers and noncarriers were subsequently enrolled in a 2:1 ratio.Exposure Preoperative S aureus colonization.Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was cumulative incidence of S aureus SSIs and BSIs estimated for the source population, using weighted incidence calculation. The independent association of candidate variables was estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models.Results In total, 5004 patients (median [IQR] age, 66 [56-72] years; 2510 [50.2%] female) were enrolled in the study cohort; 3369 (67.3%) were S aureus carriers. One hundred patients developed S aureus SSIs or BSIs within 90 days after surgery. The weighted cumulative incidence of S aureus SSIs or BSIs was 2.55% (95% CI, 2.05%-3.12%) for carriers and 0.52% (95% CI, 0.22%-0.91%) for noncarriers. Preoperative S aureus colonization (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 4.38; 95% CI, 2.19-8.76), having nonremovable implants (AHR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.15-3.49), undergoing mastectomy (AHR, 5.13; 95% CI, 1.87-14.08) or neurosurgery (AHR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.09-5.61) (compared with orthopedic surgery), and body mass index (AHR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08 per unit increase) were independently associated with S aureus SSIs and BSIs.Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of surgical patients, S aureus carriage was associated with an increased risk of developing S aureus SSIs and BSIs. Both modifiable and nonmodifiable etiologic factors were associated with this risk and should be addressed in those at increased S aureus SSI and BSI risk

Digalactosyl-diacylglycerol-deficiency lowers the thermal stability of thylakoid membranes

We investigated the effects of digalactosyl-diacylglycerol (DGDG) on the organization and thermal stability of thylakoid membranes, using wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana and the DGDG-deficient mutant, dgd1. Circular-dichroism measurements reveal that DGDG-deficiency hampers the formation of the chirally organized macrodomains containing the main chlorophyll a/b light-harvesting complexes. The mutation also brings about changes in the overall chlorophyll fluorescence lifetimes, measured in whole leaves as well as in isolated thylakoids. As shown by time-resolved measurements, using the lipophylic fluorescence probe Merocyanine 540 (MC540), the altered lipid composition affects the packing of lipids in the thylakoid membranes but, as revealed by flash-induced electrochromic absorbance changes, the membranes retain their ability for energization. Thermal stability measurements revealed more significant differences. The disassembly of the chiral macrodomains around 55°C, the thermal destabilization of photosystem I complex at 61°C as detected by green gel electrophoresis, as well as the sharp drop in the overall chlorophyll fluorescence lifetime above 45°C (values for the wild type—WT) occur at 4–7°C lower temperatures in dgd1. Similar differences are revealed in the temperature dependence of the lipid packing and the membrane permeability: at elevated temperatures MC540 appears to be extruded from the dgd1 membrane bilayer around 35°C, whereas in WT, it remains lipid-bound up to 45°C and dgd1 and WT membranes become leaky around 35 and 45°C, respectively. It is concluded that DGDG plays important roles in the overall organization of thylakoid membranes especially at elevated temperatures