Integrated Approach for Supporting Sustainable Water Resources Management of Irrigation Based on the WEFN Framework

Irrigated agriculture plays a vital role for the socio-economic development of the Mediterranean area, although it has significant impacts on both water and energy resources. Therefore, in a context in which water resources are also experiencing increasing pressures, there is an urgent need for supporting their sustainable management. This may be an extremely challenging task, especially at the local scale, due to the several interconnected dynamics affecting the state of a complex irrigation system. In fact, multiple actors are involved in decision-making processes, and the use of natural resources (and their mutual interactions) strongly depends on their behaviors, which affect the system as a whole. In this context, the present study proposes an integrated methodology, based on the Water Energy Food Nexus (WEFN), specifically focused on the sustainable management of water resources for irrigation. Firstly, a model based on Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD) is developed in order to get a deep insight into the key dynamics behind a complex irrigation system. Secondly, three indices based on the “footprint” concept are identified, in order to synthesize such dynamics. The integration of these two approaches support investigating the whole system and, particularly, understanding the influence of multiple decisional actors on it, as well as the role of a set of key drivers and constraints. This might also allow drawing some relevant conclusions, useful for supporting effective decisions oriented to a sustainable water resources management. Specific reference is made to a case study, the Capitanata irrigation system, located in the Southern Italy.

     

Using the audio of 8-bit video games to monitor web marketing campaigns

Monitoring the performance of a web marketing campaign is usually a long-lasting, low-effort but distracting task, where a user repeatedly glances at some sort of visual analytics tools to check whether the campaign is going well. In this paper, we explore an alternative approach for this task, where the performance of a web marketing campaign is monitored through sonification, using the soundset of popular 8-bit arcade video games. On one hand, sonification would allow a user to be constantly informed about the current state of the campaign without being distracted. On the other hand, the sound metaphors coming from popular 8-bit arcade video games would be able to convey information about the status of the campaign in a simple and effective way (i.e., if the sonification of a campaign resembles the audio of a successful game session, then the campaign is going well). We investigated this idea by developing a prototype system for the sonification of the behavior of a web server activity through a configurable set of sound metaphors. We then analyzed the effectiveness of our approach by conducting a simple experimental study. This was done, first, by sonifying the progress of a given web marketing campaign using the soundset of two popular 8-bit video games: Super Mario Bros and Bubble Bobble. The outcoming soundtrack was then used in a controlled setting to assess the performance of a group of 20 participants listening to our soundtrack under different work conditions.     

Fiber diffraction study of spicules from marine sponges

A synchrotron radiation fiber diffraction structural study of the axial filament of siliceous spicules from two species of marine sponges (the Demosponge Geodia cydonium and the Hexactinellid Scolymastra joubini) was carried out. The sharpness of the spots in the diffraction patterns indicated that the protein units in the filament of both samples were highly organized. A possible explanation is that the arrangement of the protein units is similar to that of the pores in highly ordered siliceous mesoporous materials. Nevertheless, the diffraction patterns are quite different for the two types of spicules. The pattern of G. cydonium is consistent with a regular 2D hexagonal lattice of protein units in the direction perpendicular to the spicule axis, with a repeating distance of 5.8 nm; the units are linked to form fibers along the axis. The pattern of S. joubini indicates the presence of two different 2D lattices in which the repeating protein units are inclined by +50 degrees and -50 degrees with respect to the elongation axis; the distance between the units increases to 8.4 nm. This 2D model is consistent with hexagonal packing of spirally oriented cylindrical protein units elongated along the filament axis.     

Design of Lanthanide‐Based OLEDs with Remarkable Circularly Polarized Electroluminescence

Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) able to directly emit circularly polarized (CP) electroluminescence (CP‐OLEDs) are rapidly gaining much interest, due to their possible applications in displays with antiglare filters and 3D displays. Development of more efficient CP‐OLEDs can open their use also in point‐of‐care and personalized diagnostic tools, since CP light alteration can be related to health state of irradiated tissues. In this work it is shown that the performance of chiral europium complex‐based CP‐OLEDs can be improved both in terms of external quantum efficiency (measured on all the Eu bands) and degree of polarization of emitted photons (as measured by the dissymmetry factor g _EL), by proper active layer formulation and through a fine tuning of the architecture of the device. Polarization performances (g _EL = ?1) are obtained about three times higher than for any other CP‐OLED reported so far. Moreover, for the first time, it is shown that the position of the recombination zone (RZ) plays a major role on the polarization outcomes. In order to rationalize these results the level of light polarization is related to the position of the RZ allied with the reflection on the cathode through a simple mathematical model. The values predicted by this model are in qualitative agreement with the experimental ones.     

Olive mills wastewater treatment by combined membrane processes

The purpose of this work was to verify the combined application of membranes and adsorption processes to the treatment of vegetation waters coming from olive oil factories. The described pilot plant worked for about 6 months using polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes, absorbing polymers and polypiperazine amide reverse osmosis membranes. The process was optimized so that from wastewater entering with a COD content of about 90,000 ppm it was possible to obtain a COD reduction of about 99% with the recovery of polyphenols to use in alimentary industries and of a “concentrated paste” for oil extraction, phurphurale production or combustion. Also evaluated was the economical feasibility of industrial application calculating that the total cost of the treatment was close to 3 c per liter.     

Analysis of adhesive interface in root canals irradiated by Er,Cr:YSGG laser after luting a fiber post

This study evaluated the effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser on the root canal dentin after luting a fiber post. Twenty‐four bovine teeth roots were prepared using NiTi instruments and filled with Sealer 26 and gutta‐percha. Post spaces were prepared and roots were distributed according to dentin treatment (n = 8): 2.5%NaOCl (group control), Er,Cr:YSGG laser (1.5 W, 20 Hz, 20 s) (group test 1) or 2.5%NaOCl + Er,Cr:YSGG laser (group test 2). Fiber posts were luted using adhesive cement (Rely X U200, 3M) and roots were prepared to confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The morphology of interface, thickness of cement, and the gaps and tags were analyzed. Non‐parametrical data for thickness of cement were submitted to Friedman and Kruskall–Wallis tests (α = 0.05) and parametrical data for gaps to ANOVA (α = 0.05). CLSM of the cement thickness and gaps revealed no significant difference in surface treatment (NaOCl, Er,Cr:YSGG laser and NaOCl + Er,Cr:YSGG laser) (p > .05) and canal thirds (cervical, middle, and apical) (p > 0.05). SEM showed tags and a residual layer of cement adhered to dentin, mainly in laser‐irradiated specimens. The pretreatment of root canal with Er,Cr:YSGG laser previously to luting the fiber post with a self‐adhesive cement did not influence the cement thickness and gaps but affected the dentin interaction.     

Temporal occurrence of Cryptosporidium in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in northern Adriatic Italian lagoons

In order to evaluate the temporal occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in Ruditapes philippinarum clams bred along the northeastern Italian Adriatic coast and molecularly characterize the isolates, 2,160 specimens (180 clams per month) were collected from three clam farms from January to December 2004. Two farms (sites A and B) were located in Venice (Chioggia, Veneto region) and one (site C) in the Marano Lagoons (Friuli Venezia Giulia region). Clams from 36 pools (i.e., one pool of 60 clams per month per site) were subjected to a high-sensitivity seminested PCR assay specific for a 360-bp diagnostic region internal to the Cryptosporidium spp. outer wall protein gene. Positive amplicons were sequenced and analyzed. Cryptosporidium DNA was found in clams from seven pools (sites A and B) during 1 month of sampling at site A and 6 months of sampling at site B, with Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum being detected. The expected infection rate of the clams was 0.36%. Site B showed a significantly higher expected infection rate (1.15%) than did the other sites (A = 0.14% and C = 0%). Given its high sensitivity and specificity, this seminested PCR assay can be considered a reliable tool for detecting and distinguishing species within the Cryptosporidium genus. The seasonal pattern of contamination and the related public health risks are of particular concern.     

Growth and characterization of InP nanowires with InAsP insertions

We report on the fabrication by Au-assisted molecular beam epitaxy of InP nanowires with embedded InAsP insertions. The growth temperature affects the nucleation on the nanowire lateral surface. It is therefore possible to grow the wires in two steps: to fabricate an axial heterostructure (at 420 degrees C), and then cover it by a shell (at 390 degrees C). The InAsP alloy composition could be varied between InAs0.35P0.65 and InAs0.5P0.5 by changing the As to P flux ratio. When a shell is present, the InAsP segments show strong room-temperature photoluminescence with a peak wavelength tunable from 1.2 to 1.55 mum by adjusting the As content. If the axial heterostructure has no shell, luminescence intensity is drastically reduced. Low-temperature microphotoluminescence performed on isolated single wires shows narrow peaks with a line width as small as 120 microeV.     

Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin as an Effective FSH Replacement for In Vitro Ovine Follicle and Oocyte Development

The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) still requires strategies through which to maximize individual fertility chances. In vitro folliculogenesis (ivF) may represent a valid option to convey the large source of immature oocytes in ART. Several efforts have been made to set up ivF cultural protocols in medium-sized mammals, starting with the identification of the most suitable gonadotropic stimulus. In this study, Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) is proposed as an alternative to Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) based on its long superovulation use, trans-species validation, long half-life, and low costs. The use of 3D ivF on single-ovine preantral (PA) follicles allowed us to compare the hormonal effects and to validate their influence under two different cultural conditions. The use of eCG helped to stimulate the in vitro growth of ovine PA follicles by maximizing its influence under FBS-free medium. Higher performance of follicular growth, antrum formation, steroidogenic activity and gap junction marker expression were recorded. In addition, eCG, promoted a positive effect on the germinal compartment, leading to a higher incidence of meiotic competent oocytes. These findings should help to widen the use of eCG to ivF as a valid and largely available hormonal support enabling a synchronized in vitro follicle and oocyte development.     

The Emerging Role of Presepsin (P-SEP) in the Diagnosis of Sepsis in the Critically Ill Infant: A Literature Review

Sepsis causes high rates of morbidity and mortality in NICUs. The estimated incidence varies between 5 and 170 per 1000 births, depending on the social context. In very low birth-weight neonates, the level of mortality increases with the duration of hospitalization, reaching 36% among infants aged 8–14 days and 52% among infants aged 15–28 days. Early diagnosis is the only tool to improve the poor prognosis of neonatal sepsis. Blood culture, the gold standard for diagnosis, is time-consuming and poorly sensitive. C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, currently used as sepsis biomarkers, are influenced by several maternal and fetal pro-inflammatory conditions in the perinatal age. Presepsin is the N-terminal fragment of soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST): it is released in the bloodstream by monocytes and macrophages, in response to bacterial invasion. Presepsin seems to be a new, promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of sepsis in neonates as it is not modified by perinatal confounding inflammatory factors. The aim of the present review is to collect current knowledge about the role of presepsin in critically ill neonates.