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Historical sheep farming in the Patagonian drylands has led to reduced grass cover, soil erosion, and shrub encroachment, compromising ecosystem function. Effective restoration requires managing shrub cover, bare soil, and patch connectivity through various strategies. This study evaluates rehabilitation interventions in a grass-steppe ecosystem, comparing grazed and ungrazed areas. Over three years, we tested the following: (a) mechanical shrub cutting with biomass redistribution, and (b) enhancing patch connectivity with Pinus spp. branch piles, alongside controls, in eighteen 5 m × 5 m plots invaded by Mulinum spinosum. Half of the plots were fenced to exclude grazing, resulting in six treatment combinations. We monitored soil properties, vegetation cover, and species composition. The treatments explained twice as much of the variation in community composition as the annual climatic variations (0.26 vs. 0.13). Livestock exclusion increased perennial grass cover more than the grazed plots did (2.14 vs. 1.42 times the initial measure). All treatments reduced the amount of bare soil except the grazed controls. Shrub cutting, especially with grazing, increased the lasting litter coverage by 5–10% and decreased the bare soil equivalently. Organic matter increased except in the non-intervened interpatches (0.95 times). The enclosures with cut shrubs trapped erodible particles, showing a 5% increase. Our study highlights that grazing destabilizes communities, while enclosures stabilize them, with interventions improving soil fertility and mitigating erosion.

Carlo Rostagno,1,2 Giulio Maria Mannarino,2 Alessandro Cartei,2 Gaia Rubbieri,2 Alice Ceccofiglio,2 Anna Maria Gori,1– 4 Roberto Civinini,3 Rossella Marcucci1– 4 1Dipartimento Medicina sperimentale e clinica, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy; 2Medicina Interna e Post-Chirurgica, AOU Careggi, Firenze, Italy; 3Traumatologia e Ortopedia, AOU Careggi, Firenze, Italy; 4Malattie aterotrombotiche, AOU Careggi, Firenze, ItalyCorrespondence: Carlo Rostagno, Asssociate Professor of Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy, Email carlo.rostagno@unifi.itPurpose: Aim of the present study was to evaluate whether monitoring direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) levels may improve management of anticoagulated patients who need surgery for hip fracture.Patients and Methods: A total of 147 out of 2231 (7.7%) patients with hip fracture admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital were on DOACs (group A), whereas 206 patients matched for age, sex, and type of fracture not on anticoagulant or P2Y12 platelet inhibitors were considered as control group (group B). Patients on DOACs were divided into two subgroups: A1 in which intervention was scheduled in relation to the last drug intake according to current guidelines, and A2 included patients in whom time of surgery (TTS) was defined according to DOAC levels. Neuraxial anesthesia was considered with DOAC levels < 30 ng/mL, general anesthesia for levels in the range 30– 50 ng/mL.Results and conclusions: TTS was significantly lower in controls than in DOAC patients: surgery within 48 hours was performed in 80.6% of group B versus 51% in group A (p< 0.0001). In A2, 41 patients underwent surgery within 48 hours (56%) in comparison to 32 A1 patients (45.1%; p=0.03). TTS and length of hospitalization were on average 1 day lower in patients with assay of DOAC levels. Finally, 35/39 (89%) patients with DOAC levels < 50 ng/mL had surgery within 48 hours (26 under neuraxial anesthesia, without any neurological complication, and 13 in general anesthesia).Conclusion: DOAC assay in patients with hip fracture may be useful for correct definition of time to surgery, particularly in patients who are candidates for neuraxial anesthesia. Two-thirds of patients with DOAC levels < 50 ng/mL at 48 hours from last drug intake underwent uneventful neuraxial anesthesia, saving at least 24 hours in comparison to guidelines.Keywords: fragility fractures, oral anticoagulants, DOAC assay, safety

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the energy values and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids of corn, corn protein meal (CPM), corn germ (CG), and dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in broiler diets. In the first experiment, the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) values were determined using the total excreta collection method. A total of 240 14-day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments, including four different feed ingredients and a reference diet, each with eight replicates of six birds. In the second experiment, to determine the coefficient values of amino acids, 240 birds aged 14 to 28 days were randomly assigned to five treatments, including four different feed ingredients and a nitrogen-free diet, each with eight replicates of six birds. At 28 days of age, birds were slaughtered, and the digesta were collected to determine the standardized ileal digestibility coefficients and, subsequently, the digestibility of amino acids. The AMEn for corn, CPM, CG, and DDGS is 3178, 2171, 2473, and 3398 kcal/kg, respectively. The metabolizability coefficient of the AMEn percentages are 68.03% for corn, 46.62% for CPM, 44.15% for CG, and 73.39% for DDGS. The average digestibility of essential amino acids in corn, CPM, CG, and DDGS is 92.55, 52.63, 73.07, and 81.51%, respectively. For non-essential amino acids, the average digestibility in corn, CPM, CG, and DDGS is 90.59, 54.36, 70.20, and 79.47%, respectively, with an overall average of 85.21%.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel is a potential source of bioactive phenolic compounds such as ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin. This work explores the efficiency of natural deep eutectic solvents combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for their extraction. Five NaDESs were evaluated by employing UAE (25 °C, for 50 min) to determine their total phenolic content (Folin–Ciocalteu assay) and ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin contents (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD)). The NaDES composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and glycerol (Gly) (1:2, molar ratio) was the most efficient in the UAE when compared with the rest of the NaDESs and water extracts. Therefore, ChCl:Gly was further evaluated using PLE at different temperatures (40, 80, 120 and 160 °C). The PLE-NaDES extract obtained at 80 °C for 20 min at 1500 psi exhibited the highest contents of ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin compared to the rest of the temperatures and PLE-water extracts obtained under the same extraction conditions. Combining UAE or PLE with a NaDES emerges as a sustainable alternative for extracting ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin from pomegranate peel.

Key Clinical Message Neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, and progressive mental confusion should not be overlooked as onset symptoms of multiple cerebral ischemic lesions due to cardiac embolization. Comprehensive clinical evaluation due to progressive anemia led to the diagnosis of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction as cause of embolizing nonbacterial mitral endocarditis.

Cardiac involvement, such as myocarditis and pericarditis, can be a severe complication of monkeypox virus (mpox) infection and could be related to other co-infections with cardiac involvement. Tecovirimat is an antiviral specifically designed to inhibit smallpox infection diffusion and approved by the FDA for other Orthopoxvirus infections; its efficacy in mpox-infected patients is not well established.We present the case of a cardiac complication during mpox infection in a previously undiagnosed Lyme disease in a 42-year-old man living with HIV.Two days after the typical maculopapular rash, the patient reported a rise in body temperature up to 39 °C, chest pain without irradiation, and shortness of breath. We found an increase in troponin level, a slight reduction in ejection fraction, and grade 2 AV block (Mobitz 1 and 2) with frequent sinus pauses (the longest of 10.1 s). Given the suspicion of myopericarditis with cardiac conduction system involvement, the patient was admitted to the Intermediate Care Unit for continuous monitoring and further evaluation. Treatment included Ibuprofen 600 mg every 12 hours (bid) and colchicine 1 mg once daily for anti-inflammatory purposes. Concomitantly, treatment with tecovirimat was started at 600 mg bid for a total of 14 days. Cardiac MRI with gadolinium showed mild interstitial edema and pericardial enhancement. However, despite the clinical and laboratory resolution of the acute phase, bradycardia with episodes of AV block persisted at follow-up, suggesting the possibility of an additional etiology. Thus, the patient was investigated for Lyme disease because high-degree AV block is the most common presentation of Lyme carditis. Serological results evidenced a previous Borrelia burgdorferi senso latu. We decided to start treatment with doxycycline 100 mg every 12h, even pending the uncertainty of the role of a previous Lyme disease in determining the cardiac rhythm disturbances. At the evaluation on day 44, the patient was systemically well, and after cardiologist consultation, pace-maker implantation was not deemed indicated.This case underscores the importance of considering alternative causes of carditis when the clinical picture remains unclear or persists after the acute phase.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) recently caused recurrent outbreaks in Europe and Italy, and the occurrence of neuroinvasive disease (WNND) was observed in less than 1% of cases, mainly older patients with several comorbidities. Due to the high mortality and post-infectious sequelae, the prognosis of this illness was frequently poor. Methods: In this case-series we reported the clinical outcomes of 7 patients hospitalized for WNND in the summer 2023 in our center of Infectious Disease in Vercelli, Italy. Results: Patients were generally older and affected by several comorbidities; at hospital admission fever and postural instability were most common symptoms; mortality rate observed was 42.8%; presence of neurological sequelae was detected in 28.6%. Diagnostic PCR for WNV was performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 42.8% and urine sample in 57.1%. Treatment is supportive or with corticosteroids. Conclusion: WNND is a severe illness that may affect a vulnerable population especially in the summer period and requires a prompt diagnosis and knowledge of clinical characteristics and risk factors. Environmental intervention are required in the control of spread of mosquito vectors.

ABSTRACTSediment discharge events in the lower basin of the Chubut River (Patagonia, Argentina) associated with rainfall events generate serious problems for drinking water purification of more than 250,000 inhabitants and the support of livestock farming activity of about 42,000 ha in the region. Identifying the areas of potential sediment contribution to the Chubut River and the conditions necessary for erosion and sediment transfer is of vital importance to mitigate the negative impact of sediment discharge into the river and to establish water management plans.We conducted a detailed geomorphological study in a 110 km2 tributary watershed of the Chubut River (Sagmata pilot Basin), and identify potential sediment production zones. We based our analyzes on concomitant studies that indicate that the sediment remobilization is linked to the location of the drainage networks, especially in regions associated with badlands and erosional scarps formed on Paleogene continental deposits.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the supplementation of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins on the performance and plasma concentrations of vitamins in modern hybrids pigs. A total of 144 commercial hybrid castrated male, 43.531 ± 1.099kg, were used in a randomized block design with six treatments, eight replicates and three animals per pen. The experimental treatments were different vitamin supplementation levels - 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125% of the recommended by Rostagno et al. (2011) for male pigs in growth I (40 to 50kg), growth II (50 to 70kg), and finishing I (70 to 90kg) phases. For growth phases I and II, a linear effect (P

Background: Music Therapy (MT) is a non-pharmacological, art-based intervention that employs music experiences within a therapeutic alliance to attend to clients’ physical, emotional, cognitive, and social requirements. This is the first study aiming at investigating the impact of MT on the psychological facets of children suffering from cancer. Methods: The study, combining the AQR and m-YPAS assessment tools, evaluated behavioral, sound–musical, and interactive parameters in pediatric oncology patients undergoing MT sessions during hospitalization. Fifty patients admitted to the Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Unit at Policlinico S. Orsola Hospital in Bologna, Italy, were enrolled, irrespective of their treatment regimen. Data collection occurred on the first day of the MT session between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with observations conducted by independent observers. In addition to traditional statistical analysis, network analysis was used to explore the combined interactions of all parameters, effectively discerning the distinctive roles played by each one during therapy sessions and their influence on all others. Results: Network analysis highlighted distinct patterns of interactions among parameters during the various sessions, emphasizing the role of positive emotions and a calm setting, the child’s ability to take the initiative in sessions, their sense of agency, and the parent’s role in guiding them. Significant differences were recorded at each time point between all variables considered. Conclusions: The results of this innovative study may pave the way for future multicenter studies aimed at further exploring the role of MT in children undergoing both curative and palliative treatments for cancer.

The main motivation for this research was to improve the properties of geopolymers by reinforcement using synthetic and natural fibers, and to gain new knowledge regarding how the nature and/or the quantity of reinforcement fibers influences the properties of the final geopolymers. The main objective was to investigate the effects of different types of reinforcement fibers on the properties of the geopolymers. These reinforcement fibers were mainly environmentally friendly materials that can be used as alternatives to ordinary Portland cement. The authors used fly ash and river sand as the raw materials for the matrix, and added carbon fibers (CF), flax fibers (FF), or a hybrid of both (CFM) as reinforcements. The samples were prepared by mixing, casting, and curing, and then subjected to various tests. The main research methods used were compressive strength (CS), flexural strength (FS), water absorption (WA), abrasion resistance (Böhme’s disk method), microstructure analysis (SEM), chemical composition (XRF), and crystal structure analysis (XRD). The results showed that the addition of fibers partially improved the mechanical properties of the geopolymers, as well as reducing microcracks. The CF-reinforced geopolymers exhibited the highest compressive strength, while the FF-reinforced geopolymers showed the lowest water absorption. The authors, based on previous research, also discussed the factors that influence fiber-matrix adhesion, and the optimal fiber content for geopolymers.

This study assessed the effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on 8- to 20-day-old broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS); 180 Cobb500™ male chicks were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups, each comprising 10 replicates with 6 birds per replicate. Treatments included a control diet (CON), CON with LPS administration, and CON + LPS supplemented with 10 mg of HT/kg of feed. LPS was administered intraperitoneally on days 14, 16, 18, and 20. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. On day 20, ten birds per treatment were slaughtered for analysis. Bursa, spleen, and liver were collected, and their respective relative weight was determined. The jejunum was destined for morphological analyses of villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and their ratio (VH:CD), and for mRNA expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and interleukins 10 (IL-10), 1 beta (IL-1β), and 8 (IL-8). HT improved BW, BWG, and FCR, and reduced crypt depth (CD) while increasing the VH:CD ratio in the jejunum. Moreover, HT downregulated mRNA expression of CAT, GPx, IL-10, and IL-1β. In conclusion, HT enhances broiler growth performance, mitigates jejunal mucosa damage from LPS, and modulates antioxidant and immune responses.