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As climate change and decreasing precipitation worsen water scarcity, understanding farmers' willingness to reduce water usage is crucial. This study examines this issue in the Aosta Valley, a region facing unique challenges due to its mountainous terrain and high water management costs. The aim is to evaluate farmers' willingness to reduce water usage and the economic incentives needed to encourage water-saving strategies. To gather the data, 100 farmers participated in a survey that included a discrete choice experiment. The findings revealed that 75% of farmers were unwilling to reduce their water usage even with proposed monetary compensation (EUR 100–120 per hectare per year). On average, the additional compensation farmers would accept for a 10% reduction in water usage was estimated at EUR 360 per hectare per year. This high compensation demand suggests a disconnect between individual desires and economic feasibility. The key reasons for their reluctance included the belief that their current water usage is already optimized, inadequate compensation for potential economic losses and concerns about water shortage. The study highlights the need to understand the socio-cultural context when designing water management policies. Combining economic incentives with social and educational initiatives is likely more effective for promoting sustainable water practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se estudiaron los cambios en la composición diaria de la fracción de nitrógeno soluble en la savia sangrante de Vitis vinifera L. cv. Criolla grande. Los compuestos con un alto contenido de nitrógeno (por ejemplo, asparagina, glutamina, arginina) se habían añadido previamente a la savia mediante inoculación directa en el xilema. Se encontró que la glutamina era el principal compuesto de la fracción de nitrógeno soluble en la savia sangrante recogida durante los primeros tres días. A partir del día siguiente, sin embargo, el ácido glutámico resultó ser el compuesto soluble en nitrógeno dominante de las muestras diarias. La concentración de glutamina y los niveles de nitrógeno soluble total dieron resultados correlacionados. Los patrones de nitrógeno soluble total y los de los aminoácidos en condiciones variables estaban estrechamente correlacionados, con la excepción de la arginina, donde se observaron ligeras diferencias. No se encontró paralelismo cuando se comparó el porcentaje de nitrógeno proporcionado como glutamina, asparagina y arginina con el porcentaje del contenido de nitrógeno correspondiente a estos mismos compuestos en el primer día de muestreo de savia sangrante. Se discute desde un punto de vista metabólico la implicación de los compuestos nitrogenados añadidos, en relación con el retraso observado en el crecimiento de las yemas durante una quincena después del brote.

The reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in patients with AIDS can result in an acute and severe diffuse meningoencephalitis. We describe the epidemiological, clinical and outcome findings of five patients with diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and central nervous system involvement (CNS) due to HHV-6. Fever was present in all the patients. Meningeal compromise, seizures and encephalitis were present in some of the patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens was positive for HHV-6 in all the patients. HHV-6 should be included among opportunistic and emerging pathogens that involve the CNS in patients with AIDS.

La paracoccidioidomicosis es una micosis sistémica, endémica de áreas tropicales y subtropicales de América Central y del Sur, causada por un hongo dimorfo denominado Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. El compromiso del sistema nervioso central es una rara complicación de la forma diseminada crónica de la enfermedad y puede comprometer el cerebro, el cerebelo, el tronco cerebral y la médula espinal. La forma clínica más común de la neuroparacoccidioidomicosis es el granuloma o absceso cerebral y, con menos frecuencia, la meningoencefalitis crónica. Se presenta un paciente con diagnóstico de paracoccidioidomicosis diseminada crónica con múltiples lesiones cerebrales compatibles con abscesos. La biopsia estereotáxica seguida del estudio histopatológico y microbiológico del material obtenido de las lesiones permitió observar las levaduras redondeadas con los brotes característicos de Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic systemic disease in subtropical areas of Central and South America caused by a dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Central nervous system involvement is a rare complication of the chronic disseminated disease that can affect the brain, cerebellum, brainstem and the spinal cord. The most frequent clinical form of neuroparacoccidiodomycosis is the cerebral abscess; with less frequency, the disease presents as a diffuse chronic meningoencephalitis. Here we present a patient with diagnosis of disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis and multiple cerebral lesions compatible with abscesses. Stereotactic biopsy followed by the microbiological and histopathological examination of the smears showed the characteristic yeast cells that confirmed the diagnosis of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis.

Extranodal involvement is common in lymphomas associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, primary pulmonary AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is very rare and only few reports were published in the medical literature. Clinical presentation is nonspecific, with "B" and respiratory symptoms. Also, patients were with advanced immunodeficiency at the time of diagnosis. Generally, chest radiography showed peripheral nodules or cavitary masses. Primary pulmonary lymphoma associated with AIDS is generally a high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Epstein-Barr virus is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of these tumors. We report a patient with AIDS and primary pulmonary lymphoma which clinical presentation was a total atelectasis of the left lung.El compromiso extranodal es frecuente en los linfomas asociados con la enfermedad debida al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana y su consecuencia, el síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida. Sin embargo, el linfoma pulmonar primario es muy raro y solo existen pocos casos publicados en la literatura. La presentación clínica de esta complicación es inespecífica, con síntomas "B" y manifestaciones respiratorias. Generalmente, la radiografía de tórax muestra nódulos periféricos o masas que pueden cavitarse y los pacientes presentan inmunodeficiencia severa al momento del diagnóstico. El linfoma pulmonar primario asociado con el sida es un tumor de alto grado, de células B y asociado en su patogenia con el virus de Epstein-Barr. Se relata un caso de linfoma primario de pulmón que se presentó bajo la forma radiológica de una atelectasia global del pulmón izquierdo.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) meningoencephalomyelitis is a rare but severe neurological complication of VZV reactivation in immunocompromised patients. We report the case of an HIV-infected individual who developed an acute and severe meningoencephalomyelitis accompanied by a disseminated cutaneous eruption due to VZV. The presence of VZV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The patient started undergoing an intravenous acyclovir therapy with a mild recovery of neurological manifestations. Varicella-zoster virus should be included as a cause of acute meningoencephalomyelitis in patients with AIDS. Early diagnosis followed by specific therapy should modify the rapid and fulminant course for this kind of patients.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are the second most frequent malignancies in AIDS patients. The majority of NHL associated with AIDS involves extranodal sites, especially the digestive tract and the central nervous system. Primary liver lymphoma (PLL) is an uncommon neoplasm among these patients. Ultrasonography and computed tomography scans may be helpful in the diagnosis of focal hepatic lymphoma. Image-guided fine-needle biopsy with histopathology of the liver lesions is the gold standard for the diagnosis of hepatic lymphoma. We report a case of PLL as the initial manifestation of AIDS in a patient without any previous infection by hepatitis C or B virus, presented as multiple and large hepatic masses.Os linfomas não-Hodgkin (LNH) são as segundas neoplasias mais freqüentes nos pacientes com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (SIDA). A maioria dos LNH associados à AIDS envolvem locais extra-ganglionares, especialmente o trato digestivo e o sistema nervoso central. O linfoma não-Hodgkin primário do fígado (LPF) é uma neoplasia incomum nestes pacientes. A ultrassonografia (US) e a tomografia computadorizada (TC) podem ser úteis no diagnóstico de linfoma não-Hodgkin hepático apresentando-se como lesões multifocais. A biópsia com agulha fina guiada por imagens (US, TC) juntamente com a histopatologia das lesões do fígado constitui o padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico de linfoma hepático. Este trabalho relata um caso de LPF como manifestação inicial de AIDS em um paciente sem infecção prévia pelo vírus da hepatite C e B, que se apresentou como massas hepáticas múltiplas e de grandes dimensões.