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Impact of Tiller Inhibitor (tin) Gene and Nitrogen Application on Yield Components and Nitrogen Status (NNI) in Wheat.
No full textThe doctoral thesis begins with an introductory section highlighting the significance of cereals, particularly soft wheat and durum wheat, as key crops used for bakery products and pasta production, respectively. The research, motivated by the growing global demand for food, aims to enhance cereal varieties in terms of both productivity and quality.
Tillering plays a crucial role in determining wheat yield and its competitiveness against weeds. Genetic and environmental factors significantly influence tillering, providing opportunities to select more efficient wheat varieties.
Nitrogen is a vital macronutrient for crop production. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is critical for sustainable crop management, involving the optimization of nitrogen uptake and utilization to maximize yield while minimizing environmental impact.
The first chapter presents a field trial investigating the effects of the tin gene by comparing two pairs of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), namely Janz±tin and Kite±tin. The experiment involved sowing 350 germinable seeds per square meter across six environmental conditions (two sites over three years) in Italy, specifically in Sardinia and Emilia-Romagna.
The second chapter explores the impact of nitrogen (N) management on the yield and yield components of durum and bread wheat. This study was conducted over three growing seasons (2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21) at the University of Sassari's experimental station in Oristano, Italy. The research examined two durum wheat cultivars (Ramirez and Nazareno) and two bread wheat cultivars (Gioconda and Mona Lisa) under three nitrogen fertilization levels (N0, N80, and N160).
Sustainability is a central objective in cereal production. Practices such as precision agriculture and crop rotation not only enhance productivity but also conserve resources. The challenges posed by climate change necessitate innovative solutions, including the development of drought- and heat-resistant varieties.
The future of cereal production depends on integrating traditional knowledge with advanced technologies. Collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and farmers is crucial for translating scientific advancements into practical solutions. Continuous research and innovation will ensure cereals adapt to environmental challenges and meet the evolving demands for food
Promuovere il patrimonio culturale in Sardegna: il Distretto Culturale del Nuorese tra turismo e risorse locali
No full textNew Imatinib-like compounds as Bcr-Abl1 protein kinase inhibitors: design, synthesis and biological evaluation
No full textIn Vitro Activity of a New Ophthalmic Spray Containing Biosecur® Citrus Extract (Oftasecur®) Against Candida auris and Candida albicans and Preformed Biofilm on Contact Lenses
No full textWe investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of a new commercial ocular spray containing Biosecur® citrus extract (Oftasecur®) against Candida auris and C. albicans and assessed its activity against preformed Candida biofilm on contact lenses and plastic lens cases. The C. auris isolate 12 (NCPF 8973) and the SC5314 C. albicans wild-type reference strain were used. Oftasecur®’s effect on C. auris and C. albicans planktonic cells (1 × 106 cells/mL) was tested in RPMI-1640 medium. The concentrations tested were 0.39%, 1.56%, 6.25%, 12.5%, and 25%. The living planktonic cell number was obtained using time-kill experiments. Antifungal activity against preformed C. auris and C. albicans biofilm on etafilcon A and senofilcon A contact lenses and plastic lens cases was also tested. A significant decrease was found in the living cell number of C. albicans after 8–48 h in the presence of Oftasecur® concentrations ranging from 6.25% to 25% (p < 0.01–0.001). In the C. auris experiments, the cell number was significantly decreased after 8 h incubation in 25% Oftasecur® (p < 0.05–0.001). Similarly, 12.5% Oftasecur® was effective against preformed C. auris and C. albicans biofilm on contact lenses and plastic lens cases. The results suggest that the in vitro antifungal activity of Oftasecur® against C. albicans and C. auris planktonic cells and preformed fungal biofilm on contact lenses and plastic cases is dependent on the concentrations used. Further research is warranted to establish whether Oftasecur® may play a role in the prevention of contact lens-related Candida keratitis and other ocular-surface Candida infections
Evaluation of caries experience among schoolchildren in Central African Republic
No full textThe Central African Republic, one of the world’s most fragile nations with a critically human development index, is facing escalating rates of noncommunicable diseases, including oral diseases. This study aims to comprehensively assess the oral health status of schoolchildren in Bangui, the capital city. A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted during November–December 2023 on 556 schoolchildren aged 5 to 13 years old, (41.5% female and 58.5% male). Data were collected under standardized conditions (using dental mirrors, CPI probes, and headlamps) and oral health status was assessed using WHO dmft/DMFT indices. A questionnaire captured socio-economic indicators, including sex, age, school, district, household composition, parental occupation, oral hygiene, and dietary habits. Logistic regression in STATA18® identified determinants of caries experience (dmft/DMFT > 0). Schoolchildren in Bangui displayed a moderate prevalence of dental caries with a mean DMFT of 0.58 ± 1.3 and dmft of 1.92 ± 2.7. Females had lower odds of caries in deciduous teeth (OR 0.47 95%CI 0.33, 0.67). Diverse breakfast diets reduced the risk (OR 0.58 95%CI 0.42, 0.82), while snack consumption increased it (OR 1.41 95%CI 1.10, 1.80). Females had a higher prevalence of caries in permanent teeth (OR 1.47 95%CI 0.88, 2.25), and poor brushing correlated with increased caries prevalence (OR 1.33 95%CI 0.97, 1.77). The study underscores the association between caries experience and modifiable behaviours, emphasizing the vulnerability of specific populations, such as males with high snack consumption. Targeted interventions addressing these behaviours could yield significant long-term benefits. The absence of dental treatment history raises concerns about the consequences of untreated dental diseases in children
Identificazione e classificazione delle lesioni isteroscopiche tramite deep learning: sviluppo dell’algoritmo di rete neurale “HYSTERONET”
No full textIntroduction: In clinical practice, hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy is used for diagnosing abnormal uterine bleeding and endocavitary pathologies. However, the accuracy of the procedure is heavily dependent on the operator's experience. Visual diagnosis during hysteroscopy often has a high rate of false negatives for oncological pathology, especially in postmenopausal women.
Objective: This study aims to develop a deep learning (DL) model, named HYSTERONET, for the automated identification and classification of intrauterine lesions from hysteroscopic images.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using hysteroscopic images from patients with pathologically confirmed intrauterine lesions. The images were used to build a DL model for lesion identification and classification, with and without the inclusion of clinical factors.
Results: A total of 1500 images from 266 patients were analyzed. The best performance for both classification and identification tasks was achieved with the inclusion of clinical factors, resulting in an accuracy of 80.11%, recall of 80.11%, specificity of 90.06%, and F1 score of 80.11% for classification. The identification task achieved an overall detection rate of 85.82%, with a precision of 93.12%, recall of 91.63%, and F1 score of 92.37%.
Conclusion: The HYSTERONET model showed moderate performance in the classification and identification of intrauterine lesions. While the inclusion of clinical factors improved the model’s performance, the overall improvement was modestIntroduction: In clinical practice, hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy is used for diagnosing abnormal uterine bleeding and endocavitary pathologies. However, the accuracy of the procedure is heavily dependent on the operator's experience. Visual diagnosis during hysteroscopy often has a high rate of false negatives for oncological pathology, especially in postmenopausal women.
Objective: This study aims to develop a deep learning (DL) model, named HYSTERONET, for the automated identification and classification of intrauterine lesions from hysteroscopic images.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using hysteroscopic images from patients with pathologically confirmed intrauterine lesions. The images were used to build a DL model for lesion identification and classification, with and without the inclusion of clinical factors.
Results: A total of 1500 images from 266 patients were analyzed. The best performance for both classification and identification tasks was achieved with the inclusion of clinical factors, resulting in an accuracy of 80.11%, recall of 80.11%, specificity of 90.06%, and F1 score of 80.11% for classification. The identification task achieved an overall detection rate of 85.82%, with a precision of 93.12%, recall of 91.63%, and F1 score of 92.37%.
Conclusion: The HYSTERONET model showed moderate performance in the classification and identification of intrauterine lesions. While the inclusion of clinical factors improved the model’s performance, the overall improvement was modest
Phenotypic and genetic analysis of auction selling performances of young Simmental calves
No full textItalian Simmental (IS) is a dual-purpose cattle breed that counts about 90,000 cows registered in its official Herdbook. The breeding scheme is based on a composite index in which meat production has a 20% weight. The sale of calves is a source of revenue for farmers; thus, the Italian Simmental Breeders Association is planning to include data coming from auctions in its breeding scheme. The aim of this study was to analyse phenotypic and genetic background of age at auction (AU), live body weight (LBW), price per kg of body weight (PKg) and total sale price (TSP) recorded during auctions. Records were available for 51,825 Simmental calves coming from 2180 herds and sold during 898 auctions in the period 2004–2023. The traits were analysed using herd, sex, age of the dam as cross-classified fixed effects; for the genetic analysis, animal and maternal genetic effects were included. All considered effects had a significant impact on the analysed traits. Heritability estimates were 0.16 ± 0.01, 0.35 ± 0.02, 0.24 ± 0.02 and 0.27 ± 0.02, for AU, LBW, PKg and TSP, respectively. The high phenotypic correlation found between LBW and TSP confirmed the weight as the main variable responsible for the selling price. The results corroborated the negative genetic correlations between AU and weight or TSP. The analysed traits were almost not correlated with the other traits already included in the breeding program. The efficacy of these traits for predicting future performances of calves at the end of the cycle of fattening should be further investigated
The prognostic role of video head-impulse test in the clinical evaluation of chronic vestibular damage: A brief case series
No full textIntroduction: The video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) is a valid tool in identifying acute vestibular damage (AVD) and cerebellar vertigo syndromes, but a diagnostic gap remains in identifying those patients who experience persistence of chronic vestibular symptoms. The aim of this brief study was to investigate the ability of vHIT combined with the Italian Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) score to identify AVD patients who develop chronic vestibular deficiency. Case Series: The mean age of the 18 patients enrolled was 56 years (SD ± 12), and among them 10 (55.5%) were males. Improved gain was found in one-third of the cases (6, 33.3%); in addition, we observed that the vHIT 60 ms gain could predict the DHI value at follow-up (p = 0.007). Furthermore, the distribution of Overt and Covert saccades at follow-up between the two iDHI groups was significantly different (p = 0.025), with a greater number of patients without any type of corrective saccade in the low iDHI group. Furthermore, group 1 patients were found to have a significantly higher mean age compared to those of group 0 (p = 0.015), along with a lower vHIT gain at 60 ms at final follow-up (p = 0.062). Conclusions: These results of our study showed that the vHIT 60 ms gain could predict the iDHI score, but the width and latency of the saccades were not correlated with iDHI at follow-up. In addition, patients with low iDHI score had not corrective saccades, while those with high iDHI score were significantly older than those with low iDHI
A large-scale investigation of eating behaviors and meal perceptions in Italian primary school cafeterias: The relationship between emotions, meal perception, and food waste
No full textWe explored the relationships between meal perception, emotions, and food waste in different age groups in primary school cafeterias. The aims were to assess the effect of age and gender on perceptions of the cafeteria's meals, emotions, and food waste, and to assess the relationships among food waste, meal perception, and emotions. 1,092 children (5–11 years old [y.o.], 53 % females) completed a questionnaire in nine Italian schools. The main collected variables were the pleasure of eating in the cafeteria, declared liking for different foods, emotional responses to eating in the cafeteria, meal description evaluated as binary choices considering different aspects (duration, presence of noise, perceived comfort, crowding, fun, possibility of movement), and food waste (overall and for different foods). Age but not gender significantly affected meal perception, emotions, and food waste. The general attitude towards eating in the cafeteria was more positive among the youngest children (6–7 y.o.), while it steadily worsened from 8 y.o. on. Pasta, meat, and fruits were consistently the most liked foods, fish, vegetables, and legumes the least. Mealtime in the cafeteria was generally described as noisy and crowded, but also comfortable and fun. Children used negative emojis less to describe the mealtime. Food waste was high: 22 % of children declared leaving food on the plate “frequently” and 8 % “always.” However, lower food waste was associated with a positive emotional status and a positive meal perception. Intervention actions should improve the emotional response and the lunch environmental context in school cafeterias