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Mapping regional disparities in discounted grocery products
No full textFood waste represents a major challenge to global climate resilience, accounting for almost 10% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. The retail sector is a critical player, mediating product flows between producers and consumers, where supply chain inefficiencies can shape which items are put on sale. Yet how these dynamics vary across geographic contexts remains largely unexplored. Here, we analyze data from Denmark's largest retail group on near-expiry products put on sale. We uncover the geospatial variations using a dual-clustering approach. We characterize multi-scale spatial relationships in retail organization by correlating store clustering - measured using shortest-path distances along the street network-with product clustering based on promotion co-occurrence patterns. Using a bipartite network approach, we identify three regional store clusters, and use percolation thresholds to corroborate the scale of their spatial separation. We find that stores in rural communities put meat and dairy products on sale up to 2.2 times more frequently than metropolitan areas. In contrast, metropolitan and capital regions lean toward convenience products, which have more balanced nutritional profiles but less favorable environmental impacts. By linking geographic context to retail inventory, we provide evidence that reducing food waste requires interventions tailored to local retail dynamics, highlighting the importance of region-specific sustainability strategies
MSTAF-CDN: Multi-Scale Temporal Attention Fusion Network for Remote Sensing Change Detection
No full textDeep learning has profoundly advanced remote sensing change detection (RSCD). However, effectively modeling the temporal interdependencies between bi-temporal images remains a challenge, often resulting in inadequate feature fusion, blurred change boundaries, and missed detections of subtle changes. To tackle these issues, we propose Multi-Scale Temporal Attention Fusion Change Detection Network(MSTAF-CDN), a novel network that pioneers a multi-scale temporal attention fusion strategy. This network with the Two-stage Collaborative Attention Assembly (TCAA) module, which explicitly captures cross-temporal contextual relationships to guide the dynamic fusion of multi-scale features, and the Progressive Contour Sensing Augmentation (MFSA) module, which employs multi-branch architecture to progressively sharpen boundary details and enhance sensitivity to small targets. Improve separately from the intrinsic challenges at the data level and the deep requirements of temporal modeling. On three public benchmarks, MSTAF-CDN achieves competitive results, with F1 scores of 91.54% on LEVIR-CD, 83.70% on SYSU-CD, and 76.27% on UAV-CD, outperforming several recent state-of-the-art methods, demonstrating superior performance in both quantitative metrics and visual quality. Our code is available at https://github.com/yikuizhai/MSTAF-CDN
A consensus of international experts on definition, sampling, treatment, and prevention of peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannula-site infection obtained by the Delphi method: the SAVECMO study
No full textBackground: Nosocomial infections are common in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), with ECMO cannula-site infections (ECMO-CSI) being the most frequent infections directly related to the ECMO run. These infections can significantly impact patient outcomes. Currently, no adult guidelines exist for the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment of peripheral ECMO-CSI, resulting in heterogeneity in both clinical practice and research findings. Methods: We conducted a Delphi study involving 39 international experts in ECMO management. The experts participated in four Delphi rounds to reach consensus on various aspects of ECMO-CSI complicating peripheral ECMO (central ECMO excluded), including definition, clinical suspicion, diagnostic methods, preventive measures, and treatment. Consensus was defined as ≥ 70% agreement among experts on each proposed item. Results: The Delphi process established consensus on key aspects of ECMO-CSI. Experts agreed on clinical scenarios that warrant suspicion of ECMO-CSI, such as purulent discharge and local inflammatory signs. Standardized sampling techniques, including swabs and purulent drainage aspiration, were recommended, while others were rejected. Definitions were clarified, specifying that ECMO-CSI is defined by the isolation of a pathogen through local microbiological sampling and the presence of purulent discharge or local inflammatory signs. Among the preventive measures, the use of chlorhexidine-impregnated or semipermeable polyurethane dressings, unchanged for 7 days unless soiled or bleeding, was recommended, whereas systematic antibiotic prophylaxis, even for surgical ECMO, was not recommended. Conclusion: This study presents an international expert consensus focusing on peripheral ECMO-CSI, providing a standardized framework to improve clinical management and facilitate future research. The consensus aims to enhance patient outcomes and support evidence-based guidelines in this complex field
Soil health and microbial diversity across land-use types: Evidence for agroecological management in peri-urban areas
No full textBackground
Land-use change profoundly influences soil microbial communities, yet its impacts on richness and diversity remain incompletely resolved across taxa.
Methods
Here, we characterized fungal and bacterial communities in soils from four contrasting land-use types—such as crop, reforested, agroforestry, and uncultivated land—located in the same pedoclimatic conditions, using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. We quantified species richness and Shannon diversity and examined their relationships with key physicochemical parameters.
Results
Our results reveal that fungal and bacterial communities responded differently to land-use management. Fungal richness was highest in reforested soils, whereas bacterial richness was more uniformly distributed across land uses. Shannon diversity showed greater sensitivity than richness, indicating strong effects of evenness in structuring communities. Multivariate ordinations and correlation analyses further demonstrated that soil properties such as pH, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacity were significant drivers of microbial community composition and diversity patterns.
Conclusions
Our study provides mechanistic insight into how land management shapes biodiversity and informs strategies for enhancing soil health and ecosystem resilience
LA CITTÀ PERSONIFICATA NEL BASSO MEDIOEVO TRA CULTURE POLITICHE CITTADINE ED ESPANSIONISMO TERRITORIALE
No full textLe raffigurazioni tardomedievali delle città come figure femminili, attestate in Italia dal Duecento in poi e presenti in pitture, sculture, miniature e monete, sono state sinora trascurate dagli studi dedicati all’iconografia politica. Attraverso la raccolta e lo studio dei primi esempi italiani di queste immagini, tra XIII e XV secolo, la presente tesi intende far luce su una particolare - ma ampiamente utilizzata - modalità con cui le città costruivano la propria identità, la comunicavano e ne trasmettevano memoria nel Basso Medioevo. Non si tratta però né di una ricerca di storia dell’arte né di indagare sui mutamenti dell’iconografia nel corso dei secoli: le personificazioni cittadine saranno invece utilizzate per indagare i contesti in cui queste erano prodotte e su cu cui andavano ad agire.
Le personificazioni cittadine sono un fenomeno di lungo periodo, che dalla nascita nel mondo antico ha continuato a riemergere carsicamente sino al giorno d’oggi producendo moltissimi esempi soprattutto in Europa. Nella presente tesi però sono stati presi in considerazione solo esempi prodotti nell’Italia centro-settentrionale dal XIII al XV secolo. Si tratta di un’area e di un lasso temporale in cui non solo le città hanno mantenuto la propria centralità, garantendo così la diffusione delle personificazioni cittadine, ma in cui si sono si sono susseguiti anche diversi tipi di governo (comuni, signorie, stati pluricittadini) interessati ad interagire in un modo o nell’altro con le città e le loro personificazioni . Questo permette di utilizzare le personificazioni cittadine come nuova chiave d’accesso per leggere i mutamenti allora in corso, tra cui il rapporto tra le diverse forme di governo e la città e quello tra le città e il territorio circostante.Late medieval depictions of cities as female figures, attested in Italy from the thirteenth century onwards and present in paintings, sculptures, miniatures and coins, have so far been neglected by studies devoted to political iconography. Through the collection and study of the earliest Italian examples of these images, dating from the 13th to the 15th centuries, this thesis aims to shed light on a particular – but widely used – way in which cities constructed their identity, communicated it and transmitted its memory in the late Middle Ages. However, this is neither a study of art history nor an investigation into changes in iconography over the centuries: city personifications will instead be used to investigate the contexts in which they were produced and on which they acted.
The personification of cities is a long-standing phenomenon, which since its inception in the ancient world has continued to re-emerge sporadically to the present day, producing numerous examples, especially in Europe. However, this thesis only considers examples from central and northern Italy from the 13th to the 15th century. This is an area and a period in which not only did cities maintain their centrality, thus ensuring the spread of city personifications, but in which there were also successive types of government (communes, lordships, multi-city states) interested in interacting in one way or another with cities and their personifications. This allows us to use city personifications as a new key to understanding the changes taking place at the time, including the relationship between the different forms of government and the city, and that between cities and the surrounding territory
Donne a processo : Ragionamento giuridico, stereotipi e discriminazione
No full textIl contrasto alla "stereotipizzazione giudiziaria", quale obbligo assunto a livello internazionale e segnalato da Corti europee e internazionali, richiede di interrogarsi sull’uso di credenze discriminatorie nella motivazione delle sentenze. La presente indagine, dopo aver richiamato alcune elaborazioni concettuali delle scienze cognitive e della psicologia sociale, individua una definizione di stereotipo utile in ambito giuridico ed esamina alcune metodologie di contrasto alla stereotipizzazione giudiziaria. La monografia, a partire dalla Teoria del Ragionamento Giuridico e adottando un approccio critico giusfemminista, elabora una griglia che mostra come gli stereotipi incidano sul ragionamento interpretativo, probatorio e sul sapere scientifico. L’analisi casistica adottata nell’ultimo capitolo fa emergere il carattere trasversale degli stereotipi e la costruzione di specifiche narrazioni relative ad alcuni profili di donne vittime o autrici di reato nell’argomentazione giudiziale
Analysis of BAL extracellular vesicles unveils NF-κB activation at the onset of chronic lung allograft dysfunction
No full textThe onset of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) represents the greatest long-term challenge in lung transplantation (LT). Here we aimed to identify early molecular signals of CLAD by analyzing the effects of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) on airway cells and validating these findings in patient lung tissues. In our BAL biobank, we identified 13 LT patients with a BAL sample at CLAD diagnosis and 13 patients with a stable graft function and a BAL sample obtained at least 12 months post LT (Ctrl). All patients were then followed for at least 18 months. EVs were isolated, immunophenotyped, and co-cultured with airway cells. The cells' transcriptome and proteome were profiled. Selected targets were validated by immunohistochemistry. Logistic regression and survival analyses were performed for prediction of CLAD progression. During follow-up, 7 CLAD patients experienced allograft dysfunction aggravation, and one control developed CLAD. CLAD patients showed more EVs originating from epithelial cells and leukocytes than stable LT recipients. Exposure of airway cells to CLAD-EVs led to the up-regulation of p70S6K and canonical NF-κB signaling, altering their intracellular and extracellular proteome. Activation of NF-κB was also detected at the onset of CLAD in transbronchial biopsies and BAL cytology, and it persisted throughout the progression to end-stage CLAD. RelA overexpression was associated with poorer graft performance and worse outcomes. RelA-driven NF-κB activation is a key factor in the development of CLAD by promoting persistent inflammation. This pathway may be a promising therapeutic target to improve long-term graft survival after LT
SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON SWINE NUTRITION, FEED SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
No full textAn overhaul of the current agri-food chain to ensure food security, overcome environmental burdens, enhance resource regeneration and utilization efficiency, as well as improve overall sustainability is required. This is a consequence of several and complex interactions among different sectors in the agri-food system at a global level. For instance, increasing world population, urbanization, and demand for animal products but limited natural resources create pressure on the planetary boundaries. Therefore, we focus on two topics as promising solutions to transform the production system from linear to circular and to alleviate environmental impacts from pig husbandry due to waste and nutrient leakage: i) re-introducing energy and nutrients from foodstuffs with no human market values but with adequate safety standards, the former foodstuff products (FFPs); ii) optimizing the diet formulation of pigs considering nutrient, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous, concentrations and origins of the feed ingredients. The first part of the first topic of this thesis aims to disseminate a more comprehensive understanding of FFPs by exploring their potential as alternative and circular feed ingredients to partially replace conventional cereal grains in swine and ruminant nutrition. We discuss about the feed safety, nutritional values, regulatory aspects, and animal performance. After this, we noticed that the safety quality of FFPs regarding physical contamination should be further examined to fill the knowledge gap so as to develop standardized and reliable procedures to process various FFPs at an industry level under clear legislative control. Therefore, the second part of the first topic aims to determine the size and shape attributes of packaging remnants detect in FFPs considering three frequently identified packaging materials, aluminium, cellulose/polysaccharides, and plastics. We observed that aluminium remnants were more in consistence regarding their size and shape, compared to the ones made by the other two types of materials, and that the size and shape attributes of FFP packaging remnants were not enough separated to make classification rules. The second topic aims to use local protein source and amino acid supplementation to substitute imported soybean meal and to remove the addition of mineral phosphate while simultaneously reducing dietary protein and phosphorous contents in growing-finishing pig’s diets. We found that such nutritional strategies did not negatively affect animal growth but decrease nitrogen and phosphorous excreted by pigs, which helps attenuate the pressure of nitrogen and phosphorous pollution
Assessing the effect of transitioning from tie-stalls to free-stalls with automatic milking system on dairy cattle welfare, milk production, and the environmental sustainability
No full textThis study evaluated the effects of transitioning from tie-stalls to free-stalls with an Automatic Milking System
(AMS) on the welfare, productivity, feed consumption, and environmental impact of lactating Holstein Friesian
cows over the course of one year in a small-scale farm. Cow welfare improved significantly after the transition,
particularly for clinical indicators (e.g., 100 % reduction in hindquarter, neck/shoulder and back injuries), lying
synchronization (+2.6 ± 9.27 %), and affiliative behaviours, such as social licking, which were observed
exclusively in this system (0.09 events/cow). Daily milk production increased after the transition (+16 %); other
production measures, including milk quality and reproductive performance, showed an improving trend,
although not statistically significant, with the exception of milk fat content, which showed no improvement.
Feeding behaviour differed before and after transition, with variations in the sorting index and concentrate
proportions of the diet, though feed intake remained adequate. Energy consumption for milking ranged from
2.69 kWh per 100 kg of milk before the transition to an estimated 1.5–3 kWh after the transition, suggesting that
AMS did not provide a significant energy-saving advantage. Importantly, the introduction of AMS played a key
role in mitigating environmental impact, with a climate change mitigation of 27 %. This reduction was primarily
associated with increased milk production, which diluted the system’s overall environmental impact
Moonlighting SnRK2s stabilize a bZIP-bHLH switch in light-instructed plant development
No full textIn this issue of Developmental Cell, Qin et al. identify three members of the ABA-regulated kinase family, SnRK2, as light-quality-dependent regulators of hypocotyl elongation. SnRK2s stabilize the transcription factors HY5 and PIF4 independently of their kinase activity, revealing an abscisic-acid-independent role for SnRK2s in post-translational regulation