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Introduction: Pancreatic surgery is associated with high morbidity, mainly due to infectious complications, so many centres use postoperative antibiotics (ATBpo) for all patients. However, antibiotic regimens vary according to local practices. The aims of this study were to describe the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) and ATBpo prescription after pancreatic surgery, and to determine the risk factors of postoperative SSI, in order to better define the clinical indications for ATBpo in this context.Patients and Methods: All patients undergoing scheduled major pancreatic surgery from January 2007 to November 2018 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were classified into four groups according to SSI and routine ATBpo prescription: SSI+/ATBpo+, SSI-/ATBpo+, SSI+/ATBpo- and SSI-/ATBpo-. In addition, risk factors (fever and pre-operative biliary prosthesis) associated with the occurrence of SSI and ATBpo were analysed using a logistic regression model.Results: Data from 149 patients (115 pancreaticoduodenectomies and 34 splenopancreatectomies) were analysed. Thirty (20.1%) patients experienced SSI and 42 (28.2%) received ATBpo. No difference was found in routine ATBpo prescription between patients with and without SSI (26.7% vs 28.6%, respectively; P=0.9). Amongst the 107 patients who did not receive routine ATBpo, 85 (79.4%) did not develop an SSI. In-hospital mortality did not differ between infected and uninfected patients (7% vs 2%, respectively; P=0.13). The occurrence of postoperative fever differed between SSI+ and SSI- patients (73.3% vs 34.2%, respectively; P<0.001), while the prevalence of pre-operative biliary prosthesis was similar (37.9% vs 26.7%, respectively; P=0.3).Conclusion: Non-routine ATBpo after major pancreatic surgery resulted in 85 (56%) patients being spared unnecessary antibiotic treatment. This suggests that routine ATBpo prescription could be excessive, but further studies are needed to confirm such antibiotic stewardship. Fever appears to be a relevant clinical sign for individual-based prescription, but the presence of a biliary prosthesis does not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman microscopy is one of the methods that could be used for future post-mortem analyses of samples extracted from ITER plasma facing components. This study shows that this technique is useful for studying tungsten-based materials containing impurities including oxides and nitrides. Here, we apply pulsed laser deposition and DC argon glow discharges to produce tungsten-containing synthetic films (compact, and porous), and nanoparticles, and investigate the influence of their morphology on the measured Raman spectra. The amounts of oxygen and/or nitrogen in the films are also investigated. Comparative data are obtained via x-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Electron Microscopies (Scanning and Transmission), Energy Dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and Time-of-Flight Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis. The power density of the laser beam used to perform the Raman microscopy is varied by up to 4 orders of magnitude (0.01–20 mW μm−2) so as to investigate the thermal stability of films and nanoparticles. As a first result, we give evidence that Raman microscopy is sensitive enough to detect surface native oxides. Secondly, more tungsten oxides are detected in porous materials and nanoparticles than in compact films, and the intensities of the Raman band correlate to their oxygen content. Thirdly, the thermal stability of these films (i.e. structural and chemical modification under laser heating) is poor when compact films contain a sufficiently large amount of nitrogen. This finding suggests that nitrogen can be substituted by oxygen during Raman laser induced heating occurring in ambient air. Finally, our methodology can be used to rapidly characterize the morphology and chemistry of the samples analyzed, and also to create oxides at the micrometer scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cloud ice particle effective radius in atmospheric models is usually parametrized. A widely‐used parametrization comprises a strong dependence on the temperature. Utilizing available satellite‐based estimates of both cloud ice particle effective radius and cloud‐top temperature we evaluate if a similar temperature‐dependence exists in these observations. We find that for very low cloud‐top temperatures the modeled cloud ice particle effective radius generally agrees on average with satellite observations. For high sub‐zero temperatures however, the modeled cloud ice particle effective radius becomes very large, which is not seen in the satellite observations. We conclude that the investigated parametrization for the cloud ice particle effective radius, and parametrizations with a similar temperature dependence, likely produce systematic biases at the cloud top. Supporting previous studies, our findings suggest that the vertical structure of clouds should be taken into account as factor in potential future updates of the parametrizations for cloud ice particle effective radius.

This paper investigates the quality of global cloud fraction and cloud-top height products provided by the third edition of the CM SAF cLoud, Albedo and surface RAdiation dataset from the AVHRR data (CLARA-A3) climate data record (CDR) produced by the EUMETSAT Climate Monitoring Satellite Application Facility (CM SAF). Compared with with CALIPSO–CALIOP cloud lidar data and six other cloud CDRs, including the predecessor CLARA-A2, CLARA-A3 has improved cloud detection, especially over ocean surfaces, and improved geographical variation and cloud detection efficiency. In addition, CLARA-A3 exhibits remarkable improvements in the accuracy of its global cloud-top height measurements. For example, in tropical regions, previous underestimations for high-level clouds are reduced by more than 2 km. By taking advantage of more realistic descriptions of global cloudiness, this study attempted to estimate trends in the observable fraction of low-level clouds, acknowledging their importance in producing a net climate cooling effect. The results were generally inconclusive in the tropics, mainly due to the interference of El Nino modes during the period under study. However, the analysis found small negative trends over oceanic surfaces outside the core tropical region. Further studies are needed to verify the significance of these results.

AimsImmunological and biochemical parameters are gaining more and more importance in the prognosis of diabetes and its complications. Here, we assessed the predictive power of immune cells correlated with biochemical parameters in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Materials and MethodsImmune cells and serum biochemical parameters were determined in women with GDM and pregnant controls. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were conducted to assess the optimal cutoff and value of ratios of immune cells to biochemical parameters for predicting GDM.ResultsBlood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly increased whereas HDL-cholesterol decreased in women with GDM compared to pregnant controls. Glycated hemoglobin, creatinine, transaminase activities did not significantly differ between both groups. Total leukocyte, lymphocyte and platelet numbers were significantly high in women with GDM. Correlation tests showed that ratios of lymphocyte/HDL-C, monocyte/HDL-C and granulocyte/HDL-C were significantly higher in women with GDM than in pregnant controls (p = 0.001; p = 0.009 and p = 0.004 respectively). Women with a lymphocyte/HDL-C ratio greater than 3.66 had a 4-fold increased risk of developing GDM than those with lower ratios (odds ratio 4.00; 95% CI: 1.094 – 14.630; p=0.041).ConclusionOur study showed that ratios of lymphocyte, monocyte and granulocyte to HDL-C might represent valuable biomarkers for GDM and in particular, lymphocyte/HDL-C ratio exhibited a strong predictive power for GDM risk.

There is growing interest in research and policy to provide alternatives for developing and supporting sustainable business models in the agricultural sector. Agri-environment–climate measures (AECMs) were devised with the intention of compensating land users for potential income losses generated from the uptake of more appropriate, less intensive management practices in areas considered environmentally sensitive. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of these public initiatives is influenced by farmers’ decision to participate, which in turn is influenced by the level of transaction costs (TC) they must bear when engaging in these programs. Most studies have approached this topic from a quantitative perspective, trying to measure and estimate transaction costs; however, there is a lack of qualitative studies exploring the perceptions of farmers around these costs and analyzing how such perceptions influence their attitude toward AECM participation. This study presents the results of thirty semi-structured interviews conducted among farmers involved in different AECMs across seven European countries, in which their perceptions about transaction costs were explored through the assessment of the time required to perform certain activities. The objective was to gain deeper insights into the way in which the perceived level of TC can affect farmers’ attitudes and decisions toward the implementation of environment-friendly management practices through AECMs. Results showed that such perceptions are influenced by several factors, such as the presence or absence of intermediaries helping farmers to carry out some of the most time-consuming activities, the organizational structure of the contract, and the experience farmers acquire through repeated participation.

Monitoring the trend of insecticide resistance and understanding associated genetic mechanisms is important for designing efficient malaria vector control strategies. This study was conducted to provide temporal data on insecticide resistance status and mechanisms in the major malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l. from Ebolowa, Southern Cameroon. Methods: Larvae of An. gambiae s.l. were collected from typical breeding sites throughout the city and reared to adulthood. Emerging adults were morphologically identified and WHO tube assays were performed to determine their susceptibility to carbamate, organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides at diagnostic doses. When resistance was observed, its intensity was determined by performing WHO tube tests using 5 and 10 times the concentration of the diagnostic dose. Metabolic resistance mechanisms were investigated using insecticide-synergist assays. Sibling species of the An. gambiae complex were identified using SINE-PCR protocol. TaqMan assay was used to genotype the L1014F and L1014S kdr mutations, and the N1575Y mutation, an amplifier of the resistance conferred by the L1014F mutation. Results: Anopheles coluzzii was by far the dominant (99%) member of the An. gambiae s.l. complex in Ebolowa. The species was fully susceptible to carbamates and organophosphates, but resistant to all pyrethroid insecticides tested. Resistance was of moderate intensity for deltamethrin (mortality: 37%, 70% and 99% for 1×, 5× and 10× insecticide concentration, respectively) but rather of high intensity for permethrin (5% for 1×; 62% for 5× and 75% for 10×) and for alphacypermethrin (4.4% for 1×; 57% for 5× and 80% for 10×). Pre-exposure to the synergist PBO resulted in a full recovery of the susceptibility to delthametrin, but this was not observed for the other two pyrethroids tested. L1014S (kdr-East) and the N1575Y mutations were absent, whereas the L1014F (kdr-West) mutation was present at a high frequency (75%), showing a significant association with resistance to permethrin (OR = 3.8; 95%; CI [1.9–7.4]; p < 0.0001) and alphacypermethrin (OR = 3; 95%; CI [1.6–5.4]; p = 0.0002). Conclusion: The increased resistance of An. gambiae s.l. to pyrethroid insecticides as observed in Ebolowa poses a threat to the efficacy of LLINs used to protect populations from the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria parasites. The present study further highlights the urgent need to implement resistance management strategies in order to maintain the effectiveness of insecticide-based vector control interventions and prevent a rebound in malaria-related mortality.

The effects of population increase and food production on the environment have prompted various international organizations to focus on the future potential for more environmentally friendly and alternative protein products. One of those alternatives might be edible insects. Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects by humans, is common in some places but has traditionally been shunned in others, such as European countries. The last decade has seen a growing interest from the public and private sectors to the research in the sphere of edible insects, as well as significant steps forward from the legislative perspective. In the EU, edible insects are considered novel foods, therefore a specific request and procedure must be followed to place them in the market; in fact, until now, four requests regarding insects as a novel food have been approved. Insects could also be used as feed for livestock, helping to increase food production without burdening the environment (indirect entomophagy). Market perspectives for the middle of this decade indicate that most of the demand will be from the feed sector (as pet food or livestock feed production). Undoubtedly, this sector is gaining momentum and its potential relies not only in food, but also in feed in the context of a circular economy.

The electronic structure of cobalt-phthalocyanine (CoPc) molecules adsorbed on Ag(100) is investigated by photoemission spectroscopy. The results are compared to first-principles electronic structure calculations, based on many-body perturbation theory in the GW approximation. The photoemission data, obtained from both multilayer and monolayer films of CoPc, show that charge transfer occurs between the first molecular layer and the metal surface. Varying the photon energy, to tune the photoionization cross sections, reveals that the charge-transfer-related interface states mainly involve the Co 3d atomic orbitals of the Co central atom. GW calculations for the neutral CoPc molecule and its anion compare well with the experimental observations for a multilayer and a monolayer CoPc film, respectively. They confirm the major role played by the Co atom in the charge-transfer process and elucidate the complex energy rearrangement of the molecular electronic levels upon metal adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the observation of a low-energy surface plasmon mode in the case of a highly ordered organic monolayer adsorbed onto a metallic substrate. Careful investigation using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, tuning the kinematics, demonstrates that this mode presents a strong energy dependence with the transferred momentum. We treated this mode using a Drude ansatz and discussed its positive quadratic dispersion. We established the physical origin of this surface plasmon as due to a space-charge region arising from an electron-vibration coupling at the interface between the organic monolayer and the metallic substrate. The existence of a space-charge region at an organic-metal interface is of particular interest as it brings a new enlightenment in the understanding of the physical mechanisms involved at such interfaces, of which charge injection plays a decisive role for device performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that shows how well organic producing-fattening pig systems offered a safe working environment. Results of the study showed that the risk injury during manual feeding was higher than during semi-automatic feeding at farms with the mobile system. The study also distinguished other health-risk areas and offered valuable information for working environment's further improvement.

• Organic standards shape the design of concrete outdoor runs for pigs. • Outdoor runs should be designed to allow species-specific behaviour. • The main environmental risk is ammonia emission from soiled outdoor areas. • Outdoor runs offer a variety of possibilities for separating functional areas. • This can enhance animal welfare and reduce soiling and associated emissions. Concrete Outdoor Runs (OUTRUN s) are a characteristic part of organic pig housing. They must allow species-specific behaviours such as rooting and elimination, as explicitly required by organic legislation of the European Union (EU). However, OUTRUN design often fails to fulfil behavioural needs, and excreta can cover large parts of the OUTRUN leading to poor pen hygiene and associated ammonia (NH 3) emissions. This review integrates legislative, ethological and environmental requirements for OUTRUNs for organic growing-finishing pigs. While EU regulations specify some welfare-related standards for OUTRUNs (e.g. minimal space allowance), national and private standards interpret some aspects differently, e.g. the proportion of roofed and slatted floor area. Furthermore, reducing NH 3 emissions is equally a challenge for organic systems, even though EU legislation does not explicitly refer to OUTRUNs. Depending on the actual use of the OUTRUN for elimination, higher space allowance compared to conventional production norms increases the potential for a large NH 3 -emitting surface. The design of pen features (e.g. roof, floor, enrichment) can encourage pigs to separate functional areas and consequently reduce the elimination area and associated NH 3 emissions. While providing the main lying area indoors, resting outdoors should be possible for sub-groups during the day. A roof protects pigs and resources (e.g. bedding) from adverse weather, but the effect on pig welfare and NH 3 emissions is site-specific. A floor design that ensures practicable manure removal and drainage is most important to reduce emissions. Providing opportunities for exploring and rooting in the OUTRUN has particular relevance for pigs' behavioural needs and can improve pen hygiene by reducing the elimination area. Cooling facilities are increasingly important to prevent heat stress and its detrimental effects on welfare and pen hygiene. Finally, practicability for farmers needs to be ensured for all resources provided in OUTRUNs, as good management is crucial. Research gaps emerge regarding the association between soiling and NH 3 and the influence of certain pen features (shape, roof, feeder location, pen partitions and wet areas) on pig behaviour and soiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV disclosure among sexually active HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) is a complex phenomenon. To better understand factors that impact the decision-making process regarding HIV disclosure among HIV-infected MSM, the present study analyzed content from previously conducted counseling sessions where HIV disclosure was selected as the primary focus of the session. The counselor/participant dialogue was audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. Factors identified as barriers that deter HIV-infected MSM from disclosing include rejection, issues of confidentiality, possible missed sexual opportunities, partner's HIV status, deferred responsibility, sexual partner type, and public sex environments. Participants identified ethical obligation, the potential for a dating relationship, timing of disclosure, and bidirectional communication as facilitators of disclosure. Findings can be used for policy development as well as to guide social workers and other healthcare providers' assessment and development of clinical interventions addressing sexual health among HIV-infected MSM as it relates to HIV disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, the concept of Circular Economy (CE) has received a lot of attention due to its potential contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially by reconciling economic growth with the protection of the environment through its grow-make-use-restore approach. The use of insects in circular production systems has been a good example of this concept as insects can transform a wide range of organic waste and by-products into nutritious feedstuffs, which then go back into the production cycle. This paper explores the potential of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) in circular production systems by reviewing their use and applicability in several industries such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food, etc. Despite the high versatility of this insect and its potential as a substitute source of nutrients and other valuable components, there are still many legislative and behavioural challenges that hinder its adoption and acceptance.

We have measured the electronic transitions of a lead phthalocyanine thin film by means of optical absorption and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy in the range from 1 to 20 eV. We compare the optical absorption spectrum with the loss spectra and discuss their similarity. We identify the loss structures and we report a new absorption band at 10 eV. In addition we report that the inelastic electron scattering from the lower energy π→π* transition and from the C–H stretching vibrational mode show energy-dependent structure, characteristic of resonance scattering via temporary negative ion states. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cloud screening in satellite imagery is essential for enabling retrievals of atmospheric and surface properties. For climate data record (CDR) generation, cloud screening must be balanced, so both false cloud-free and false cloudy retrievals are minimized. Many methods used in recent CDRs show signs of clear-conservative cloud screening leading to overestimated cloudiness. This study presents a new cloud screening approach for Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) imagery based on the Bayesian discrimination theory. The method is trained on high-quality cloud observations from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) lidar onboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite. The method delivers results designed for optimally balanced cloud screening expressed as cloud probabilities together with information on for which clouds (minimum cloud optical thickness) the probabilities are valid. Cloud screening characteristics over 28 different Earth surface categories were estimated. Using independent CALIOP observations (including all observed clouds) in 2010 for validation, the total global hit rates for AVHRR data and the SEVIRI full disk were 82% and 85%, respectively. High-latitude oceans had the best performance, with a hit rate of approximately 93%. The results were compared to the CM SAF cLoud, Albedo, and surface RAdiation dataset from AVHRR data−second edition (CLARA-A2) CDR and showed general improvements over most global regions. Notably, the Kuipers’ Skill Score improved, verifying a more balanced cloud screening. The new method will be used to prepare the new CLARA-A3 and CLAAS-3 (CLoud property dAtAset using SEVIRI, Edition 3) CDRs in the EUMETSAT Climate Monitoring Satellite Application Facility (CM SAF) project.

We present ground-based in situ snow measurements in Kiruna, Sweden, using the ground-based in situ instrument Dual Ice Crystal Imager (D-ICI). D-ICI records dual high-resolution images from above and from the side of falling natural snow crystals and other hydrometeors with particle sizes ranging from 50 μ m to 4 mm. The images are from multiple snowfall seasons during the winters of 2014/2015 to 2018/2019, which span from the beginning of November to the middle of May. From our images, the microphysical properties of individual particles, such as particle size, cross-sectional area, area ratio, aspect ratio, and shape, can be determined. We present an updated classification scheme, which comprises a total of 135 unique shapes, including 34 new snow crystal shapes. This is useful for other studies that are using previous shape classification schemes, in particular the widely used Magono−Lee classification. To facilitate the study of the shape dependence of the microphysical properties, we further sort these individual particle shapes into 15 different shape groups. Relationships between the microphysical properties are determined for each of these shape groups.

Estudio sobre Mercado

Some recent works have established the importance of handling abundant reference information in multi-criteria sorting problems. More valid information allows a better characterization of the agent’s assignment policy, which can lead to an improved decision support. However, sometimes information for enhancing the reference set may be not available, or may be too expensive. This paper explores an automatic mode of enhancing the reference set in the framework of the THESEUS multi-criteria sorting method. Some performance measures are defined in order to test results of the enhancement. Several theoretical arguments and practical experiments are provided here, supporting a basic advantage of the automatic enhancement: a reduction of the vagueness measure that improves the THESEUS accuracy, without additional efforts from the decision agent. The experiments suggest that the errors coming from inadequate automatic assignments can be kept at a manageable level.

La identificación exacta de nubes precipitantes es una tarea difícil. En el presente trabajo se aplicaron los algoritmos Máquinas de Soporte Vectorial, Árboles de Decisión y Bosques Aleatorios para discriminar entre nubes precipitantes y nubes no precipitantes, a partir de una imagen meteorológica del satélite GOES-13 que cubre el territorio colombiano. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el desempeño de los algoritmos de aprendizaje de máquina (ML), para la clasificación digital de masas nubosas, en términos de la exactitud temática de la clasificación usando como referencia el algoritmo convencional distancia de Mahalanobis. Los resultados muestran que los algoritmos ML proporcionan una clasificación de masas de nubes más exacta que la obtenida por algoritmos convencionales. La mejor exactitud fue obtenida usando Bosques Aleatorios (RF), con una exactitud temática global de 97%. Adicionalmente, la clasificación obtenida con RF fue comparada pixel a pixel con estimaciones de precipitación de la NASA Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) obteniendo una exactitud global del 94%. De acuerdo con este estudio, los algoritmos ML pueden ser usados para mejorar los actuales métodos de identificación de nubes precipitantes.

Social farming can ameliorate the everyday life of people engaged in farming activities, including perceived changes in mood or behavior. It can also be therapeutic, as it can address a range of public health and service provision issues. This paper presents the findings of an Italian project that explored the impact of social farming on the well-being of the participants and their ability to perform certain tasks linked to agricultural activities. In addition, this paper tries to evaluate how the organization of the network system around the participants helps them to improve their relational capabilities. Participant observations were made in class rooms and farms where the participants carried out their agricultural activities. Such observations focused on the way in which participants and other subjects (i.e., tutors and training staff) inside the network system interacted. A number of in-depth interviews were carried out with tutors and trainers in order to understand if the participants would play a relevant role in social farming activities and what that role would be.

It is becoming increasingly more evident that lifestyle, environmental factors, and maternal nutrition during gestation can influence the epigenome of the developing fetus and thus modulate the physiological outcome. Variations in the intake of maternal nutrients affecting one-carbon metabolism may influence brain development and exert long-term effects on the health of the progeny. In this study, we investigated whether supplementation with high maternal folic acid during gestation alters DNA methylation and gene expression in the cerebellum of mouse offspring. We used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing to analyze the DNA methylation profile at the single-base resolution level. The genome-wide DNA methylation analysis revealed that supplementation with higher maternal folic acid resulted in distinct methylation patterns (P < 0.05) of CpG and non-CpG sites in the cerebellum of offspring. Such variations of methylation and gene expression in the cerebellum of offspring were highly sex-specific, including several genes of the neuronal pathways. These findings demonstrate that alterations in the level of maternal folic acid during gestation can influence methylation and gene expression in the cerebellum of offspring. Such changes in the offspring epigenome may alter neurodevelopment and influence the functional outcome of neurologic and psychiatric diseases.