Blooming charge assessment in apple orchards for automatic thinning activities

Summary This work aims to develop an automatic system capable of providing objective information about the bloom charge in an apple orchard in order to manage flower-thinning activities. The article presents and discusses the use of a mobile lab (ByeLab) equipped with several optical sensors to carry out a site-specific bloom charge assessment in apple trees. The data collected by the sensors were processed by a specific algorithm implemented in MatLab®. Investigations of the flower reflectance signature indicated that the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is the most suitable parameter to distinguish leaves from flowers. Pure flowers produce NDVI values slightly negative or at least very near to 0. Despite the homogeneous behavior of the NDVI flower response, OptRx™ sensors, which provide an average assessment of an area, were not able to highlight a significant correlation between the number of flowers and the NDVI values. In the future, further studies will be conducted to assess if other techniques based on image analyses can provide better and more sensitive results regarding the bloom charge assessment. Such results could then be used as a reference in automating machines for thinning operations according to a site-specific approach

Optimal design of experiments for a lithium-ion cell: parameters identification of an isothermal single particle model with electrolyte dynamics

Advanced battery management systems rely on mathematical models to guarantee optimal functioning of Lithium-ion batteries. The Pseudo-Two Dimensional (P2D) model is a very detailed electrochemical model suitable for simulations. On the other side, its complexity prevents its usage in control and state estimation. Therefore, it is more appropriate the use of simplified electrochemical models such as the Single Particle Model with electrolyte dynamics (SPMe), which exhibits good adherence to real data when suitably calibrated. This work focuses on a Fisher-based optimal experimental design for identifying the SPMe parameters. The proposed approach relies on a nonlinear optimization to minimize the covariance parameters matrix. At first, the parameters are estimated by considering the SPMe as the real plant. Subsequently, a more realistic scenario is considered where the P2D model is used to reproduce a real battery behavior. Results show the effectiveness of the optimal experimental design when compared to standard strategies.Comment: Published in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2019, 58, 3, 1286-129

The use of x-ray CT and MRI in the study of sacroiliac joints in patients with Behcet disease and acute anterior uveitis

Objective: It's controversial if Behcet Disease (BD) must be included in the group of seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SpA). Our aim was to establish the prevalence of sacroiliitis (SI) in patients with BD using X-Ray, CT and MRI, in comparison with patients with Acute Anterior Uveitis (AAU), that is known to belong to the subgroups of SpA. Methods: We considered, in the period from 04/2006 to 04/2009, 21 consecutive patients with BD, positive for HLA B51 and 28 consecutive patients with AAU, positive for HLA B27. These patients were previously selected by our Rheumatological Ward. Altogether we evaluated 98 sacroiliac joints (SIJ); each side of any patient was graded separately. Results: X-ray of the pelvis showed advanced SI (grade 4) in 14% of the cases in patients with AAU; in BD group only 7% CT showed advanced SI in 14% within AAU patients versus 6-12% of advanced SI (right to left) within BD patients. MR showed 14% of advanced SI (bilateral) within AAU versus 6-11% of advanced SI (right to left) in BD patients. Conclusions: This study supports the trend to not consider BD within the SpA, being the prevalence of SI in BD patients not very different from general population and anyway lower than that observed in patients with AAU. On the other side the prevalence of SI in AAU patients is higher than in BD patients and very similar to the one observed in patients with seronegative arthritis, and anyway high enough to consider joint involvement as an important feature of the disease

Risultati del trattamento chirurgico del varicocele nella infertilità maschile

To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of varicocele on infertile men, especially regarding sperm count, 245 patients, surgically treated from 1993 to 2003, were evaluated. Patients underwent to ligature and section of the pampiniform plexus, throught the subinguinal approach and local anaesthesia. At the follow-up (3-6-12 months) an improvement of sperm count was relieved in 79.5% of patients and the incidence of complications and relapses was of 3.7% and 1.2%, respectively. The Authors stress the efficacy of surgical treatment of varicocele in male infertility and hold the subinguinal approach as an effective treatment, minimally invasive and low cost

Health Management in Italian Prisons during {COVID}-19 Outbreak: A Focus on the Second and Third Wave

The SARS-CoV-2 spread is a threatening and challenging issue for correctional systems worldwide because of many factors, particularly overcrowding and of the intrinsic characteristics of the population. The prevention measures adopted by the Italian Government were aimed to protect and preserve both inmates’ and prison workers’ health. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the adopted strategies. Methods: Data regarding Italian prisons’ occupation and prisoners’ population from January 2019 to June 2021, as well as the cumulative weekly increase of confirmed cases and the number of doses of vaccine administered among the population of inmates, the prison workers, and Italian population from November 2020 to the end of June 2021, were collected. Results: Prisons’ occupation dropped from 120% to 106% after the beginning of the pandemics. The confirmed cases between inmates were consistently lower than among the Italian population and prison workers. A time-series chart showed a time lag of one week between the peaks of the different population. Conclusions: The containing strategies adopted by the Italian correctional system have proved their effectiveness in terms of the prevention and protection of both inmate and staff health

In-depth investigation of the safety of wooden shelves used for traditional cheese ripening

9openInternationalItalian coauthor/editorThe main goal of this research was to characterize the bacterial diversity of the wooden boards used for aging traditional Sicilian cheeses and to evaluate whether pathogenic bacteria are associated with these surfaces. Eighteen cheese dairy factories producing three traditional cheese typologies (PDO Pecorino Siciliano, PDO Piacentinu Ennese, and Caciocavallo Palermitano) were selected within the region of Sicily. The wooden shelf surfaces were sampled by a destructive method to detach wood splinters as well as by a nondestructive brushing to collect microbial cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of almost continuous bacterial formations on the majority of the shelves analyzed. Yeasts and fungal hyphae were also visualized, indicating the complexity of the plank communities. The amplicon library of the 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region was paired-end sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq system, allowing the identification of 14 phyla, 32 classes, 52 orders, 93 families, and 137 genera. Staphylococcus equorum was identified from all wooden surfaces, with a maximum abundance of 64.75%. Among cheese-surface-ripening bacteria, Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium were detected in almost all samples. Several halophilic (Halomonas, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Chromohalobacter, Salimicrobium, Marinococcus, Salegentibacter, Haererehalobacter, Marinobacter, and Idiomarinaceae) and moderately halophilic (Salinicoccus, Psychrobacter, and Salinisphaera) bacteria were frequently identified. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were present at low percentages in the genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Streptococcus. The levels of viable microorganisms on the wooden shelves ranged between 2.4 and 7.8 log CFU/cm2. In some cases, LAB were counted at very high levels (8.2 log CFU/cm2). Members of the Enterobacteriaceae family were detected in a viable state for only six samples. Coagulase-positive staphylococci, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected. Seventy-five strains belonged to the genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Pediococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Weissella.openSettanni, Luca; Busetta, Gabriele; Puccio, Valeria; Licitra, Giuseppe; Franciosi, Elena; Botta, Luigi; Di Gerlando, Rosalia; Todaro, Massimo; Gaglio, RaimondoSettanni, L.; Busetta, G.; Puccio, V.; Licitra, G.; Franciosi, E.; Botta, L.; Di Gerlando, R.; Todaro, M.; Gaglio, R

Spatio-temporal evolution of intraplate strike-slip faulting: the Neogene-Quaternary Kuh-e-Faghan Fault, Central Iran

Central Iran provides an ideal region to study the long-term morphotectonic response to the nucleation and propagation of intraplate faulting. In this study, a multidisciplinary approach that integrates structural and stratigraphic field investigations with apatite (U+Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometry is used to reconstruct the spatio-temporal evolution of the Kuh-e-Faghan Fault (KFF) in northeastern Central Iran. The KFF is a narrow, ca. 80 km long, deformation zone that consists of three main broadly left stepping, E-W trending, dextral fault strands that cut through the Mesozoic-Paleozoic substratum and the Neogene-Quaternary sedimentary cover. The AHe thermochronometry results indicate that the intra-fault blocks along the KFF experienced two major episodes of fault-related exhumation at ~18 Ma and ~4 Ma. The ~18 Ma faulting/exhumation episode is chiefly recorded by the structure and depositional architecture of the Neogene deposits along the KFF. A source-to-sink scenario can be reconstructed for this time frame, where topographic growth caused the synchronous erosion/exhumation of the pre-Neogene units and deposition of the eroded material in the surrounding fault-bounded continental depocenters. Successively, the KFF gradually entered a period of relative tectonic quiescence and, probably, of regional subsidence during which a thick pile of fine-grained onlapping sediments were deposited. This may have caused resetting of the He ages of apatite in the pre-Neogene and the basal Neogene successions. The ~4 Ma faulting episode caused the final exhumation of the fault system, resulting in the current fault zone and topography. The two fault-related exhumation episodes fit with the regional early Miocene collision-enhanced uplift/exhumation, and the late Miocene–early Pliocene widespread tectonic reorganization of the Iranian plateau. The reconstructed long term, spatially and temporally punctuated fault system evolution in intraplate Central Iran during Neogene-Quaternary times may reflect states of far-field stress changes at the collisional boundaries

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

The wooden shelf surface and cheese rind mutually exchange microbiota during the traditional ripening process

The rind acts as a protective barrier for internally-bacterial ripened cheeses. Unlike surface-inoculated smear cheeses, centripetal maturation is not assumed to occur in these cheeses. This research was aimed to evaluate the microbial diversity of the wooden shelves used for the ripening of Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) Pecorino di Filiano and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Canestrato di Moliterno cheeses. The microorganisms associated with the rind of these cheeses were also investigated. Both wooden shelf surfaces and cheese rinds were sampled by brushing method to collect their biofilms. Wooden shelves showed levels of total mesophilic microorganisms (TMM) between 5.6 and 7.2 log CFU/cm2, while cheese rinds between 6.1 and 7.8 log CFU/cm2. The major dairy pathogens (Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus) were never detected, while mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria dominated the surfaces of all wooden shelves and cheese rinds. LAB community was represented by Enterococcus spp., Leuconostoc spp., and Marinilactibacillus spp. Among yeasts, Debaryomyces spp., Candida spp., were identified, while Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp., dominated the community of filamentous fungi. MiSeq Illumina analysis identified 15 phyla, 13 classes, 28 orders, 54 families, and 56 genera among bacteria. Staphylococcus spp. was identified from all wooden surfaces, with a maximum abundance of 71 %. Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium and halophilic bacteria were detected in almost all samples. Regarding fungi, wooden shelves mainly hosted Aspergillus, Penicillium and Debaryomyces hansenii, while cheese rinds especially Penicillium and D. hansenii. Alpha diversity confirmed a strict correlation between the microbiota of wooden shelves and that of cheese rinds for the majority of factories. This study confirmed that the wooden shelves used for cheese ripening are microbiologically active and represent safe systems. Furthermore, the results of this work clarified the transfer flow between wooden shelves and PDO Pecorino di Filiano and PGI Canestrato di Moliterno cheese surfaces: smear-active microorganisms are mainly transferred from wooden shelves to cheese rind, which potentially contribute to the development of the final organoleptic characteristics; meanwhile, cheeses transfer LAB that are potentially involved in defining the safety aspects of the shelve

Adhesion barriers in laparoscopic myomectomy: Evidence from randomized clinical trials

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of different adhesion barriers in the prevention of de-novo adhesion development after laparoscopic myomectomy. Method: A systematic review was performed by searching seven electronic databases for all randomized clinical trials (RCT) comparing the use of any absorbable adhesion barrier (i.e. intervention group) with either no treatment or placebo (i.e. control group) in the prevention of adhesion development after laparoscopic myomectomy. Results: Eight RCT with a total of 748 participants (392 in the intervention group and 356 in the control group) were included. The assessed adhesion barrier methods were: the oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) in 2 studies, the auto-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) gel in 2 studies, the 4% icodextrin solution in one study, the modified HA and carboxy-methylcellulose in one study, the polyethylene glycol ester trilysine amine solution plus a borate buffer solution in one study, and the polyethylene glycol amine plus dextran aldehyde polymers in another study. Conclusions: Adhesion barriers methods showing the most promising results were: ORC, auto-crosslinked HA gel and polyethylene glycol amine plus dextran aldehyde polymers