Horta (Italy)

By carefully balancing the use of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers with crop demands, a nutrient management plan (NMP) aims to enhance crop production while reducing environmental harm due to over fertilisation. As several tools with different complexities can assist farmers in their fertiliser decisions, the characteristics of 14 of the most widely used NMP tools across Europe, China, and New Zealand were compared. All NMP tools considered the field spatial scale, seasonal time scale, and utilised a mass balance approach. To evaluate the tools, matrices of presence/absence of 24 characteristics for their practical use, 22 nutrient cycle processes and 38 required input data were compiled, and cumulative scores were calculated. In addition, two case studies were performed to compare the outputs of NMP tools. Decision support systems such as grano.net® and TUdi tool were highly adaptable and comprehensively described nutrient processes while considering many inputs. By considering only the most important nutrient processes and requiring fewer inputs, software such as PLANET_MANNER and spreadsheets such as Fert_Office were moderately adaptable. Conversely, reference tables tools such as MEM-NAK and Bulgarian tool considered only essential nutrient processes and few inputs and demonstrated limited adaptability. Fertiliser recommendations varied considerably, mainly due to differences in calculating crop nutrient uptake. For a broader application of the NMP tools, differences in the algorithms used to estimate each process, in soil and climate conditions, and in national regulations must be considered. Furthermore, interoperability should be improved in next-generation NMPs to enable data exchange between platforms

Abstract Introduction: Respiratory viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, are major causes of acute respiratory illness (ARI) in children. Symptom-based predictive models are valuable tools for expediting diagnoses, particularly in primary care settings. This study assessed the effectiveness of machine learning-based models in estimating infection probabilities for these common pediatric respiratory viruses using symptom data. Methods: Data were collected from 868 children with ARI symptoms evaluated across 14 primary care centers, members of COPEDICAT (Coronavirus Pediatria Catalunya), from October 2021 to October 2023. Random Forest and Boosting models with 10-fold cross-validation were used, applying SMOTE-NC to address class imbalance. Model performance was evaluated via area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values for feature importance. Results: The model performed best for RSV (AUC: 0.81, sensitivity: 0.64, specificity: 0.77) and effectively ruled out SARS-CoV-2 based on symptom absence, such as crackles and wheezing. Predictive performance was lower for non-enveloped viruses like rhinovirus and adenovirus, due to their nonspecific symptom profiles. SHAP analysis identified key symptoms patterns for each virus. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that symptom-based predictive models effectively identify pediatric respiratory infections, with notable accuracy for RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.

Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of choledocholithiasis, characterized by mechanical intestinal obstruction caused by the impaction of a gallstone within the gastrointestinal tract. Patients typically present with nonspecific symptoms, which may be intermittent due to the movement of the calculus along the gastrointestinal tract. We report the case of an 89-year-old patient who presented to our emergency department with intestinal obstruction caused by a gallstone. After hemodynamic stabilization, the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, followed by enterolithotomy, without addressing the cholecystoduodenal fistula. This condition presents a diagnostic challenge due to its rarity, nonspecific clinical presentation, and the intermittent nature of the disease (tumbling phenomenon). As such, a high index of suspicion is essential, particularly in elderly patients with a history of gallbladder lithiasis. The main controversy in surgical treatment revolves around the extent of surgery and the timing of the procedures. In most cases, isolated enterolithotomy is recommended, as it is a less invasive approach, reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.

Addressing the urgent sustainability challenges in the wine industry, this study explores the efficacy of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOIs) and smart farming technologies (SFTs) across wine value chains in Cyprus and Italy. Utilising a mixed-methods approach that includes quantitative analysis through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and qualitative assessments to understand stakeholders’ perspectives, this research delves into the environmental, economic, and social impacts of these technologies. In Cyprus, the integration of digital labelling and smart farming solutions led to a substantial reduction in pesticide usage by up to 75% and enhanced the perceived quality of wine by an average of 8%. A pilot study in Italy witnessed a 33.4% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, with the additional benefit of a 5.3% improvement in intrinsic product quality. The pilot introduced a carbon credit system, potentially generating an average annual revenue of EUR 4140 per farm. These findings highlight the transformative potential of SOIs and SFTs in promoting sustainable practices within the wine industry, demonstrating significant advancements in reducing environmental impact, improving product quality, and enhancing economic viability. This study underscores the critical role of innovative technologies in achieving sustainability goals and provides a compelling case for their wider adoption within the agricultural sector.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> Finding agricultural managements able to increase soil organic carbon without a reduction in crop yields is important to: decrease soil erosion, protect soil ecosystem services, increase soil health, help to curb net CO₂ emissions toward the EU goal of carbon neutrality. Various studies have shown that catch crops, when managed in the proper way, may result in an increase in soil carbon stocks; however, recent studies have cast doubts on those findings, due to short study duration (3 years or less), few data points, and catch crops mismanagement. Model studies to estimate the potentials of catch crops for soil carbon sequestration shown mixed results; however, in these studies, only the direct effects of catch crops (i.e. the input of carbon from crop inclusion in the soil) was accounted for. Here, we show the result of a study to compare two crop managements: traditional against catch crop together with precision agriculture. We measured agricultural productivity, soil organic carbon, soil respiration, and soil conditions in two different sites in Italy for a period of 4+ years, then we modelled the field managements using a modified version of RothC model, to account for both direct and indirect catch crop effects on soil. The results show that catch crops and precision agriculture can result in an increase in soil organic carbon, with no effects, or, in some cases, an increase in crop production.

Abstract Background New services are needed to prevent mental health consequences of the war in Ukraine. Ten adolescents self-recruited to use and evaluate the Ukrainian version of the Helping Hand (HH) in Odessa, Ukraine. From April to June 2023 they participated in a 10-sessions group program where they played the cognitive behavioral game app, shared stories, and engaged in activities to enhance their coping skills. Methods A mixed method, quantitative-qualitative design was used to get insight in the potential impact and feasibility of the HH for Ukrainian adolescents´ mental health and well- being during war. Feasability of the intervention was assessed by a questionnaire to the adolescents, anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention by a standardized and validated adolescent-completed questionnaire. An interview with the psychologist who implemented the intervention was used to interpret the data completed by the adolescents. Results Eight of ten adolescents completed the HH intervention, and the psychologist found the HH useful and culturally appropriate. The adolescents reported that the intervention made it easier to talk about feelings and thoughts, facilitated help-seeking, and improved coping with challenges. The average anxiety and depression symptoms decreased from before the intervention (M = 20.4) to after (M = 15.0), showing a moderate effect size. Conclusion The results indicated that the HH has a high potential in preventing mental health consequences in Ukraine.

Abstract. Finding agricultural managements able to increase soil organic carbon without a reduction in crop yields is important to: decrease soil erosion, protect soil ecosystem services, increase soil health, help to curb net CO2 emissions toward the EU goal of carbon neutrality. Various studies have shown that catch crops, when managed in the proper way, may result in an increase in soil carbon stocks; however, recent studies have cast doubts on those findings, due to short study duration (3 years or less), few data points, and catch crops mismanagement. Model studies to estimate the potentials of catch crops for soil carbon sequestration shown mixed results; however, in these studies, only the direct effects of catch crops (i.e. the input of carbon from crop inclusion in the soil) was accounted for. Here, we show the result of a study to compare two crop managements: traditional against catch crop together with precision agriculture. We measured agricultural productivity, soil organic carbon, soil respiration, and soil conditions in two different sites in Italy for a period of 4+ years, then we modelled the field managements using a modified version of RothC model, to account for both direct and indirect catch crop effects on soil. The results show that catch crops and precision agriculture can result in an increase in soil organic carbon, with no effects, or, in some cases, an increase in crop production.

The prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition is not well defined. We describe a cohort of 244 children diagnosed with COVID-19 and followed up for 6 months, in which 4.9% of patients had persistent symptoms at 12 weeks. Anosmia was the most frequent symptom. Being female and having more than 3 symptoms in acute infection were associated with an increased risk of post-COVID.

As Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC) consistem em um conjunto de espécies de grande valor nutricional, socioeconômico e cultural e têm sido cada vez mais inseridas nos debates nacionais e internacionais sobre alimentação adequada e produção sustentável. Nesse artigo, as PANC são apresentadas como uma estratégia para diversificação dos sistemas de produção, promoção de autonomia no campo e nas cidades e mitigação dos efeitos adversos das mudanças climáticas sobre a agricultura. Destaca-se ainda, o uso de algumas espécies em outros países e são descritos os impactos da popularização nas diferentes regiões brasileiras. Atualmente, identifica-se um grande movimento de popularização e valorização da sociobiodiversidade alimentícia no Brasil impulsionado pelas PANC. Partindo desse conceito amplo e integrador, diversas iniciativas têm contribuído para a promoção de espécies nativas e apontado as PANC como elementos estratégicos na construção de sistemas mais resilientes.