Search

Contextualização: A retenção de participantes em estudos de coorte é um grande desafio. É necessária uma melhor compreensão de todos os elementos envolvidos nos fenómenos de participação e de atrito em contextos par‑ ticulares para desenvolver estratégias de retenção eficazes. O estudo visou alcançar uma compreensão aprofundada da retenção de participantes em coortes longitudinais centrando‑se tanto nas perspetivas de participantes investigados quanto de investigadores, em três cenários sociogeográficos e culturais diversos. Métodos: Este estudo utilizou uma triangulação de métodos multi‑situados para recolher dados sobre estudos de coorte de crianças nascidas com menos de 32 semanas de gestação na Dinamarca, Itália e Portugal. Incluiu uma metodologia visual colaborativa, grupos focais e entrevistas individuais semi‑‑dirigidas com atores chave envolvidos nas coortes (pais, staff, profissionais de saúde, investigadores). Foi recolhida uma amostra intencional de 48 ato‑ res chave (n=13 na Dinamarca; n=13 na Itália; n=22 em Portugal). Na análise foi aplicada uma triangulação de análise temática fenomenológica com análise do discurso. Foram identificados, em vários níveis e etapas, elementos situacionais contextualmente específicos e transversais envolvidos nos fenómenos de participação e atrito nestas coortes infantis. Resultados: Principais resultados incluíram: desafios situacionais que afetam o potencial e amplitude de possibilidades na implementação estratégica (ambiente geopolítico, mudanças sociais, modelos de financiamento da inves‑ tigação); elementos situacionais relacionados com estratégias particulares que atuam como dissuasores (questionários postais) e facilitadores (múltiplas estratégias flexíveis, lembretes, interação regular); motivações maiores para aceitar participar e continuar na coorte (altruísmo/solidariedade e gratidão/ /sentido do dever de retribuir); principais desmotivadores para participar em ondas de acompanhamento/follow‑up (fraco elo de ligação ao estudo, retorno de informação insuficiente); perceção parental de entrelaçamento dos acompanhamentos clínico e da investigação que atua quer como facilitador quer Conclusões: A utilização de uma abordagem multi‑situada, focada na interação da experiência vivida dos indivíduos envolvidos, foi da maior utilidade para compreender a variabilidade da participação sob diferentes implementações estratégicas em contexto. Foram identificados elementos situacionais contextualmente específicos e transversais que atuam como fatores influenciadores na participação e no atrito das coortes como dissuasor. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

A field experiment was carried out in Adiyo, Bonke, Chencha, Sodo zuriya, and North Ari districts, they are found in Southern Ethiopia, during the 2019 main production season. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effectiveness of the integrations of host resistance and application of fungicides with designated spray frequency on Fusarium head blight under natural epiphytotic conditions and to determine the management effects on yield and yield components of wheat. The treatments consisted of wheat cultivars (Shorima and Hidase) and fungicides (Propiconazole and Tebuconazole) with four spray frequencies, including an unsprayed one. The experiment was arranged in a split-split plot design with three replications. Wheat cultivars were assigned to the main plots and fungicides allotted to the sub-plots, while the spray frequencies were appointed to sub-sub plots. Results exhibited that integration of wheat cultivars and fungicides with spray frequencies significantly (p < 0.001) reduced disease pressure and increased grain yields across the locations. The highest disease severity (36.46%) and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) (404.78%-day) and lowest grain yield (2.42 t ha−1) were recorded at North Ari. The lowest severity (7.70%), and AUDPC (130.26%-day), and the highest grain yield (6.68 t ha−1) were recorded in Bonke. The lowest severity (4.78 and 5.74%) and AUDPC (52.86 and 59.78%-day) were recorded from Shorima due to integrated use of Tebuconazole with three and two times spray frequencies, respectively. The highest grain yield of 5.30 t ha−1 was recorded on Shorima in combination with Tebuconazole with three times spray frequencies. The grain yield loss of 46.49% was computed on unsprayed plots of Hidase cultivar. Overall, the results exhibited a combination of moderately resistance wheat cultivars supplemented by fungicide with appropriate spray frequencies right at disease onset reduced disease pressure and increased grain yield. Planting of Shorima combined with Tebuconazole with three times spray frequencies was found effective in reducing FHB epidemics and increasing grain yield with the highest monetary advantage. Therefore, this could be recommended to growers in the study areas and similar agro-ecologies to manage F. graminearum causing FHB in wheat., AUDPC, Fungicides, Fusarium graminearum, Grain yield, Severity, Sprays frequency, Wheat cultivars

Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum Schwabe), FHB, is considered among the economically significant and destructive diseases of wheat. Thus, the study was worked out at seven sites in southern Ethiopia during the 2019 main cropping year to decide the effects of host resistance and chemical seed treatment on the progress of FHB epidemics and to decide grain yield benefit and yield losses derived from the use of wheat cultivars integrated with chemical seed treatments. The field study was worked out with the integration of two wheat cultivars, including Shorima as well as Hidase, and five chemical seed treatments, including Carboxin, Thiram + Carbofuran, Imidalm, Proceed Plus, and Thiram Granuflo. Twelve experimental treatments were arrayed in factorial arrangement with randomized complete block design. Each experimental treatment was replicated three times and delegated at random to experimental plots within a block. Significant (P < 0.01) variations were observed among the evaluated treatment combinations for rates of disease progress, incidence, severity, the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), and yield-related parameters across the locations. Results showed that the lowest incidence was registered on Shorima treated with Thiram + Carbofuran fungicide (27.40%). The lowest mean disease severity was recorded from Shorima integrated with Imidalm (21.23%) and Shorima treated with Thiram + Carbofuran (21.78%). The AUDPC was as low as 211.27, 226.39, and 236.46%-days were recorded on Shorima treated with Imidalm, Thiram + Carbofuran, and Proceed Plus, respectively. The highest disease severity of 57.91% (Hidase) and 27.22% (Shorima), and AUDPC of 552.71%-days (Hidase) and 313.04%-days (Shorima) were recorded from untreated control plots of the two cultivars. Paramount grain yield was found from Shorima treated with Imidalm and Dynamic fungicides, each of which was noted with GY of 4.40 and 4.05 t ha−1, respectively. Results also showed the highest yield losses (21.89 and 23.23%) were computed on untreated control plots of the cultivars Hidase and Shorima, respectively, compared with maximum protected experimental treatment for both cultivars. Moreover, cost-benefit analysis confirmed that Shorima treated with Imidalm exhibited the most prominent net benefit (NB) ($67,381.26 ha−1) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) (4.43), followed by Shorima treated with Thiram + Carbofuran (NB of $60,837.76 ha−1 and BCR of 3.98). Based on the lowest yield loss and highest economic advantage, the use of Shorima treated with either Imidalm or Thiram + Carbofuran could be suggested to the farmers in the study areas and elsewhere having analogous agro-ecological conditions to manage the disease. However, sole use of chemical seed treatment is not as effective as post-anthesis aerial application up to maturity of the crop. For this reason, post-anthesis aerial application should be considered besides chemical seed treatment for effective management of FHB., AUDPC; Chemical seed treatment; Cost-benefit analysis; Fusarium head blight; Incidence; Grain yield; Severity; Wheat cultivars; Yield loss.

Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum Schwabe), FHB, is considered as one of the economically important and destructive diseases of wheat. Thus, the field experiment was carried out at seven locations in Southern Ethiopia during the 2019 main production season to determine the effects of host resistance and seed treating fungicides on the progression of FHB epidemics and to determine grain yield benefit and yield losses derived from the use of a combination of wheat cultivars and seed treating fungicides. The study was conducted with a combination of two wheat cultivars (Shorima and Hidase) and five seed-treating fungicides, including Carboxin, Dynamic, Imidalm, Proseed Plus, and Thiram Granuflo. A total of 12 treatment combinations were formed, including an untreated. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The results obtained showed that North Ari exhibited the highest disease incidence (100%), severity (83.38%) and area under disease progress (AUDPC) (807.74%-day), and the lowest grain yield (0.94 t ha-1) than the other locations. Lowest incidence (10.93 and 13.52%), severity (10.96 and 12.26%), and AUDPC (59.81 and 71.74%-day), and the maximum grain yield (5.76 and 5.59 t ha-1) was recorded at Bonke and Chencha, respectively. Lowest incidence was registered on Shorima in combination with Dynamic fungicide (27.40%). Minimum disease severity was recorded on Shorima cultivar in combination with Imidalm (21.23%) and Dynamic (21.78%). The AUDPC was as low as 211.27, 226.39, and 236.46%-day in combination with Shorima with Imidalm, Dynamic, and Proceed Plus, respectively. The highest disease severity of 57.91 and 27.22%, and AUDPC of 552.71 and 313.04%-day were recorded on unsprayed plots of Hidase and Shorima cultivars, respectively. Based on the lowest yield loss and economic feasibility advantage, the use of Shorima in combination with Imidalm and Dynamic seed treating fungicides independently could be recommended to the farmers in the areas and similar agro-ecologies to manage FHB. However, the lonely use of seed treating fungicide does not as effective as post-anthesis aerial application of fungicide up to maturity of the crop; post-anthesis aerial application of fungicide should be considered in addition to seed treating fungicide for effective management of FHB.

Background: Retention of participants in cohort studies is a major challenge. A better understanding of all elements involved in participation and attrition phenomena in particular settings is needed to develop effective retention strategies. The study aimed to achieve an in-depth understanding of participant retention in longitudinal cohorts focusing on participants’ and researcher’s perspectives, across three diverse socio-geographic and cultural settings. Methods: This study used a triangulation of multi-situated methods to collect data on cohort studies of children born with less than 32 weeks of gestation in Denmark, Italy and Portugal. It included focus groups and individual semi-driven interviewing with involved key actors (i.e. parents, staff, healthcare professionals, researchers) and a collaborative visual methodology. A purposive sample of 48 key actors (n = 13 in Denmark; n = 13 in Italy; n = 22 in Portugal) was collected. A triangulation of phenomenological thematic analysis with discourse analysis was applied. Cross-contextual and context-specific situational elements involved in participation and attrition phenomena in these child cohorts were identified at various levels and stages. Results: Main findings included: situational challenges affecting potential and range of possibilities for implementation strategies (geopolitical environment, societal changes, research funding models); situational elements related to particular strategies acting as deterrents (postal questionnaires) and facilitators (multiple flexible strategies, reminders, regular interaction); main motivations to enrol and participate (altruism/solidarity and gratitude/sense of duty to reciprocate); main motivational deterrents to participate to follow-up waves (lack of bonding, insufficient feedback); entanglement of clinical and research follow-up as facilitator and deterrent. Conclusions: The multi-situated approach used, addressing the interplay of the lived experience of individuals, was of most value to understand participation variability under different implemented strategies in-context. Cross-contextual and context-specific situational elements that have been influential factors towards participation and attrition in the cohorts were identified. RECAP Preterm-WP6 QS Work Group Group authorship collaboration RECAP Preterm-WP6 QS Work Group: Sandra CS Marques (CRIA, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal; EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Portugal), Julia Doetsch (EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Portugal), Raquel Teixeira (EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Portugal); Georgia Abate, Grazia Colombo and Marina Cuttini (Clinical Care and Management Innovation Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy); Anne Brødsgaard (Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Public Health, HEALTH, Aarhus University, Denmark); Elizabeth S Draper (Department of Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, United Kingdom); Sylvia van der Pal and Ilona Wildeman (TNO-Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek, The Netherlands); Pernille Pedersen (Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager Hvidovre, Denmark); Kari Anne I Evensen, Ann-Mari Brubakk and Marit S Indredavik (Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU–Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway); Eero Kajantie (Public Health Promotion Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland; PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Finland; Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway); Eeva Virtanen (Public Health Promotion Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland); Jo Lebeer; Vicky Hennissen; Iemke Sarrechia (Department FAMPOP Family Medicine & Population Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Antwerp, Belgium) and Henrique Barros (Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Portugal). All named researchers contributed to the development of the study protocol and/or its local implementation.

Planning new vineyard needs accurate information about soil features and their spatial variability. The use of soil proximal sensors, coupled by few detailed soil observations and analysis allows to obtain high detailed maps of soil variability at affordable costs. The work showed the methodology to interpolate the proximal sensors data and to delineate homogeneous area by clustering, corresponding to likely soil units. The description and analysis of one profile for each homogeneous area allowed to describe the soil features of each soil typological units and to produce useful thematic maps for vineyard planning., EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol 30 (2018): Soil health and strategies in vineyard (I)

As part of the EU LAPCAT II programme, the University of Oxford tested and analysed a 1:100 scale Scramjet intake for starting capabilities. Tests were performed at a Mach 7 condition in the Oxford Gun Tunnel, with a unit Reynolds number of 20x106/m. The model was instrumented with 61 measurements of wall static pressure throughout the intake and isolator, 24 thin film heat transfer gauges on the end of the intake and start of the isolator and video Schlieren of the cowl closure region of the inlet. A comparison of the intake wall pressures showed that the LAPCAT MR2 intake exhibited higher intake pressures than the tests completed by DLR using the same geometry and flight condition. Analysis of the Schlieren and the pressure data has revealed that the most likely cause of the higher inlet pressures is a small separation that originates from the corner at the mid-plane of the intake. With a reduced exit area 25.4%, which is analogous to an increased back pressure from the combustor, a normal shock sits stable in the isolator. At extreme AoA (i.e. above +4°), the external part of intake shows a very low pressure as it is being processed by a Prandtl-Myer expansion, resulting in low pressure in the isolator with minimal external compression achieved. Testing showed that the intake was capable of self-starting across the range +4 degrees to -12 degrees AoA. This was observed through rapid start-unstart or buzz on the intake once a sufficient level of blockage was applied. Body wall pressure, body heat flux and crotch area Schlieren for various times throughout the inlet start/unstart/start process will be presented and discussed in the final paper. The presence of intake buzz confirms that this geometry is self-starting.

This paper aims to show the effectiveness of different soil management strategies for improving soil structure in degraded areas within two vine farms inTuscany(Italy). The management practices adopted were: Composted organic amendment addition (COMP), Green Manure (GM), Dry mulching (DM) and Control (CONTR). Topsoil samples were taken at the beginning of the trial (2015) and two years later, and analyzed for bulk density (BD) and aggregate stability by wet sieving. The strategies adopted to restore the functionality of degraded vineyard soils diversely affected BD and aggregates stability. In both the farms COMP proved to be the best strategy to reduce BD, while GM and DM gave the best results in terms of aggregate stability increase., EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol 31 (2018): Soil health and strategies in vineyard (II)

Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-01T23:24:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RosaneMartinazzoSantos.pdf: 515395 bytes, checksum: 55f9dd39be87e3e9dbadf0e85f90e4da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-30

Presence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is very common in subjects with cognitive impairment, representing an important determinant of disease progression, institutionalization, and worse prognosis. Knowledge of the prevalence and correlates of BPSD in community-living old subjects with cognitive impairment is limited so far, but it is essential for establishing specifically tailored care and cure in such a vulnerable population.With this study, we aimed at investigating, in a large sample of old age subjects with cognitive impairment, BPSD prevalence and correlates including the main demographic, clinical, and socio-environmental characteristics.Data were gathered from the ReGAl project (Rete Geriatrica Alzheimer; Geriatric Network on Alzheimer's disease), a large longitudinal Italian multicentric clinical-based study, promoted by the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG).We evaluated data from 4,157 old-age subjects affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (541; 13%) or dementia (3616; 87%). 85.2% of all the population presented with at least one BPSD. Using a factor analysis, we identified four factors of BPSD: psychotic, affective, maniac, and impulse control behaviors. Logistic regression analyses revealed that among the main demographic, clinical, and socio-environmental aspects considered, only comorbidity was associated with all factors, independently of multiple covariates.Identification of BPSD is crucial in everyday clinical practice and necessary to develop specific interventions and to define appropriate outcomes in their management. BPSD occur in a complex psychopathological context, influenced by several demographic and environmental factors that must be taken into account for a correct diagnosis and treatment.