49 research outputs found
La filiera latte nella zona urbana e periurbana di Maroua (Cameroun)
No full textIl processo di urbanizzazione e la forte crescita della popolazione nella zona sub-sahariana hanno determinato, in questi ultimi anni, un cambiamento delle necessità alimentari per le grandi città del Sahel, dove il latte viene considerato, in modo sempre più consapevole, un elemento essenziale per il raggiungimento di un adeguato livello nutrizionale. Sulla base di queste considerazioni è stata studiata la filiera latte della zona urbana e periurbana della città di Maroua (Cameroun) al fine di identificarne ubicazione, processi di trasformazione e relazioni di interdipendenza tecnica, economica e organizzativa tra i differenti attori. L’analisi è stata realizzata tramite cinque schede d’inchiesta a struttura aperta, una per ogni fase della filiera: produzione, trasformazione, raccolta, vendita e consumo. Lo studio ha identificato la presenza di due filiere coesistenti: una esclusivamente urbana e l’altra con un bacino produttore in zona periurbana. La vicinanza tra produttori e consumatori che caratterizza la filiera “cittadina” permette la riduzione dei tempi di consegna e quindi la vendita di latte crudo; i lunghi tempi di trasporto necessari per conferire il latte proveniente dalla zona periurbana ai mercati cittadini impongono, al contrario, la trasformazione del latte crudo in latte cagliato. In entrambe le filiere una parte del latte viene riservato, previa ebollizione, alla vendita ad alberghi, ristoranti e negozi della città, che provvedono alla sua trasformazione in yogurt. Non esiste la tradizione di produrre formaggio. Dallo studio è emersa una mancanza di organizzazione tra le diverse fasi della filiera, dovuta soprattutto alla scarsa presenza di gruppi di categoria (cooperative, associazioni, consorzi). La debolezza organizzativa degli individui, che non si riconoscono, ma nemmeno si accomunano in una struttura, non permette, infatti, ai differenti attori di avere un reale potere di negoziazione, determinando una atomizzazione dell’offerta nei confronti del mercato
The economic sustainability of the agri-environmental policies : the application of Reg. (EC) No 1095/2007 in rice sector
No full text1. Introduction and the question addressed
The term “multifunctionality” is at the centre of the political and public discussion, particularly in the agricultural context. The increasing interest for environmental themes in agricultural policy leads agricultural economists to search tools responding to a large number of new emerging issues. Farmers manage a large part of soil and natural resources and thus are responsible for changes in land use, as well as in landscape functions; therefore, they are important partners for policy-makers to collaborate with. In particular, the strong interactions between ecological and agricultural systems require to analyze any possible effects caused by the introduction of new agro-environmental policies, with concern on the their application costs. Such analysis can be carried out by using different approaches which ensure to policy-makers tools for better plan their interventions.
The Parco Agricolo Sud Milano (PASM) was founded with the aim of protecting the landscape against urbanization and preserving the agricultural vocation of rural lands in the neighborhood of Milan. We focused our analysis on rice producers that will face the introduction of new law which prevents the use of pesticides containing Tricyclazole in rice cultivation (Reg. (EC) No. 1095/2007), which is expected to imply the shift to different cultivars and a loss of income due to lower yields.
2. Concepts, theories and methodology used
With the aim of simulating some of the possible scenarios following the application of policies and highlighting those economically not sustainable, we identified the Positive Mathematical Programming (PMP) as the methodology to combine policy constraints with farmers’ needs. PMP is a policy oriented approach particularly useful in contexts where only short-time data are available. Field data collection has been carried out on a representative sample of farms in the Southern neighborhood of Milan (PASM) by means of interviews and specific questionnaires. In particular the data refer to the field areas and to yields intended to be sold or reused in the farm. Moreover we took into consideration the variable production costs, as well as the market prices.
Data collected have been implemented within the PMP model, which is developed in three stages. First, we designed a linear program aiming at the determination of the profit maximizing crop mix; secondly we use the resulting dual values to proceed with a non linear program that reproduces the base-year solution without calibration constraints. At last, we simulated cost and yield variations, based on the information collected directly in fields.
3. Results obtained
Concerning rice cultivation, we saw that the prevention to use pesticides containing Tricyclazole, cause rice producers to choose different varieties of rice and to adopt alternative fertilization plans, since there are no substitutes for this active principle. This correspond to lower yields and additional costs to be evaluated.
We found that prohibition could lead to loss of yield up to 25%, endangering small farms in the short-term and the whole rice sector in the long-time perspective, so we came at the conclusion that either farmers would be able to readdress their activities or would cease their business, which represents a risk for preservation of the PASM. This confirms that the agro-environmental planning has very broad social implications, which policy-makers have to take into account. In this case, applied economics research represents an important supporting tool for the evaluation of a correct compensation to the farmers, as well as for the estimation of the risk of losing agriculture services for landscape protection
Experimental drugs in clinical trials for COPD: artificial intelligence via machine learning approach to predict the successful advance from early-stage development to approval
No full textIntroduction: Therapeutic advances in drug therapy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) really effective in suppressing the pathological processes underlying the disease deterioration are still needed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) via Machine Learning (ML) may represent an effective tool to predict clinical development of investigational agents. Areal covered: Experimental drugs in Phase I and II development for COPD from early 2014 to late 2022 were identified in the ClinicalTrials.gov database. Different ML models, trained from prior knowledge on clinical trial success, were used to predict the probability that experimental drugs will successfully advance toward approval in COPD, according to Bayesian inference as follows: ≤25% low probability, >25% and ≤50% moderate probability, >50% and ≤75% high probability, and >75% very high probability. Expert opinion: The Artificial Neural Network and Random Forest ML models indicated that, among the current experimental drugs in clinical trials for COPD, only the bifunctional muscarinic antagonist - β2-adrenoceptor agonists (MABA) navafenterol and batefenterol, the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/MABA fluticasone furoate/batefenterol, and the bifunctional phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3/4 inhibitor ensifentrine resulted to have a moderate to very high probability of being approved in the next future, however not before 2025
Rettificatore per un generatore di vapore refrigerante per macchine termiche ad assorbimento, e generatore comprendente un tale rettificatore
No full textRettificatore (100) per un generatore (200) di vapore refrigerante, detto
rettificatore essendo atto a modificare la percentuale di una sostanza
refrigerante presente in flussi di vapore (V) generati per ebollizione di
una soluzione liquida (L) comprendente almeno una sostanza
assorbente ed una sostanza refrigerante assorbita e caratterizzato dal
fatto di comprendere almeno:
- un involucro (101) che si sviluppa lungo un asse di riferimento
sostanzialmente verticale (X) e comprende almeno un primo condotto
trasversale (102) atto a permettere l'immissione di flussi di detta
soluzione liquida (L) da bollire;
- almeno un primo corpo (105) costituito da una schiuma ceramica a
celle aperte che è alloggiato in detto involucro (101) al di sotto di detto
primo condotto (102) in modo da essere attraversato da flussi della
soluzione liquida (L) da bollire che scendendo verso il basso bagnano
le sue superfici, e da flussi di vapore (V) generati per ebollizione che
risalendo verso l'alto scambiano calore con la soluzione stessa che
bagna le superfici del primo corpo 105, causando una contemporanea
evaporazione di refrigerante dalla soluzione (L) liquida e la
condensazione di almeno una parte della sostanza assorbente
contenuta in detti flussi di vapore (V) in risalita
Asthma management with triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination to reduce the risk of exacerbation: an umbrella review compliant with the PRIOR statement
No full textIntroduction: According to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) should be considered as add-on therapy in patients with asthma that remains uncontrolled, despite treatment with medium-dose (MD) or high-dose (HD) inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) combinations. In patients ≥ 18 years, LAMA may be added in triple combination with an ICS and a LABA. To date, the precise efficacy of triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination remains uncertain concerning the impact on exacerbation risk in patients with uncontrolled asthma. Therefore, an umbrella review was performed to systematically summarize available data on the effect of triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination on the risk of asthma exacerbation. Methods: An umbrella review has been performed according to the PRIOR statement. Results: The overall results obtained from 5 systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination reduces the risk of asthma exacerbation. HD-ICS showed a greater effect particularly in reducing severe asthma exacerbation, especially in patients with evidence of type 2 inflammation biomarkers. Conclusions: The findings of this umbrella review suggest an optimization of ICS dose in triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination, based on the severity of exacerbation and type 2 biomarkers expression
Boiler a fiamma diretta, in particolare per un generatore di vapore refrigerante per macchine termiche ad assorbimento, e generatore comprendente un tale boiler
No full textBoiler (100) a fiamma diretta, caratterizzato dal fatto di comprendere almeno:
- un primo corpo (1) che si estende lungo un asse di riferimento
sostanzialmente verticale (X) e racchiude almeno parzialmente una
prima cavità interna (2) atta ad accogliere una soluzione liquida;
- un secondo corpo (10) che, con riferimento a detto asse
sostanzialmente verticale (X), è disposto inferiormente a detto primo
corpo (2) e racchiude, almeno parzialmente, una seconda cavità
interna (12) in cui è disposto un bruciatore (11) atto a generare calore
per mantenere in ebollizione la soluzione liquida nella prima cavità
interna (2);
- un terzo corpo (10B) che è disposto almeno per una sua parte attorno
al secondo corpo (10), detti secondo e terzo corpi (10, 10B)
delimitando fra loro una terza cavità interna (13) che è disposta,
almeno per una sua parte, lateralmente attorno a detta seconda cavità
(12); ed
- un quarto corpo (20) che è interposto tra detti primo corpo (1) e detto
secondo corpo (10) ed è almeno ad essi solidalmente connesso, detto
quarto corpo (20) essendo configurato in modo che fumi caldi (Fc)
prodotti dal bruciatore (11) lo attraversino fluendo da detta seconda
cavità interna (12) verso le pareti esterne (6) del primo corpo (1) e
flussi di detta soluzione liquida lo attraversino fluendo da detta prima
cavità interna (2) in detta terza cavità interna (13)
Modeling and Sizing of a MW Solar DSG plant
No full textAbstractDirect Steam Generation (DSG) Concentrated Solar technology, based on Linear Fresnel Reflectors (LFR) and aimed at supplying saturated steam to industrial processes, is a promising application; nevertheless, nowadays few case studies and very few installations have been developed. A methodology for the design optimization of a MW solar DSG plant is presented in this article and applied to a real case study of a Brazilian tire manufacturing facility. A steady-state model, with spatial discretization of the ordinary equations, allows characterizing the physical phenomena such as pressure drop and heat transfer, and therefore to determine the pressure and specific enthalpy trend along the recirculation loop. For each receiver tube of the solar collectors, the occurring single or two-phase flow pattern is calculated based on specific empirical equations developed for evaporation in horizontal tubes. Two reference operating conditions have been identified for the present case study, at which the optimal field layout results to be a series connection of all the collectors, and the optimal nominal flow rate to avoid possible harmful operating conditions for the absorber tubes is 1.0kg/s
The Impact of Corticosteroids on Human Airway Smooth Muscle Contractility and Airway Hyperresponsiveness: A Systematic Review
No full textClassically, the effects elicited by corticosteroids (CS) are mediated by the binding and activation of cytosolic glucocorticoid receptors (GR). However, several of the non-genomic effects of CS seem to be mediated by putative non-classic membrane receptors characterized by pharmacological properties that are different from those of classic cytosolic GR. Since pre-clinical findings suggest that inhaled CS (ICS) may also regulate the bronchial contractile tone via putative CS membrane-associate receptors, the aim of this review was to systematically report and discuss the impact of CS on human airway smooth muscle (ASM) contractility and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Current evidence indicates that CS have significant genomic/non-genomic beneficial effects on human ASM contractility and AHR, regardless of their anti-inflammatory effects. CS are effective in reducing either the expression, synthesis or activity of α-actin, CD38, inositol phosphate, myosin light chain kinase, and ras homolog family member A in response to several pro-contractile stimuli; overall these effects are mediated by the genomic action of CS. Moreover, CS elicited a strong bronchorelaxant effect via the rapid activation of the Gsα–cyclic-adenosine-monophosphate–protein-kinase-A pathway in hyperresponsive airways. The possibility of modulating the dose of the ICS in a triple ICS/long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist/long-acting muscarinic antagonist fixed-dose combination supports the use of a Triple MAintenance and Reliever Therapy (TriMART) in those asthmatic patients at Step 3–5 who may benefit from a sustained bronchodilation and have been suffering from an increased parasympathetic tone
Deflemmatore per un generatore di vapore refrigerante per macchine termiche ad assorbimento, e relativo generatore comprendente un tale deflemmatore
No full textDeflemmatore (1) per un generatore (200) di vapore refrigerante per
macchine termiche ad assorbimento, caratterizzato dal fatto di
comprendere almeno:
- una pluralità di tubi (2) aventi ciascuno almeno una porzione
rettilinea (3) che si estende longitudinalmente lungo una direzione
sostanzialmente parallela ad un asse di riferimento (X)
sostanzialmente verticale del deflemmatore (1), detti tubi (2)
essendo destinati a far circolare al proprio interno un fluido di
raffreddamento atto a raffreddare flussi di vapore (V) che
attraversano il deflemmatore (1);
- una pluralità di piatti (6) che sono impilati in successione tra loro
lungo detto asse di riferimento (X) e comprendono ciascuno una
pluralità di fori passanti (7) che sono attraversati ciascuno da una
corrispondente porzione rettilinea (3) di un tubo (2), detti piatti (6)
essendo ulteriormente configurati e mutualmente disposti tra loro in
modo da convogliare, almeno parzialmente, detti flussi di vapore (V)
che attraversano il deflemmatore (1) lungo le pareti esterne delle
porzioni longitudinali (3) di uno o più tubi (2) di detta pluralità di tubi
Combining long-acting bronchodilators with different mechanisms of action: A pharmacological approach to optimize bronchodilation of equine airways
No full textThe ultra long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist olodaterol plus the ultra long-acting muscarinic antagonist tiotropium bromide are known to relax equine airways. In human bronchi combining these drugs elicits a positive interaction, thus we aimed to characterize this information further in equine isolated airways stimulated by electrical field stimulation (EFS) and using the Concentration-Reduction Index (CRI) and Combination Index (CI) equations. The drugs were administered alone and together by reproducing ex vivo the concentration-ratio delivered by the currently available fixed-dose combination (1:1). The single agents elicited a significant (p <.05) concentration-dependent reduction in the EFS-induced contractility, that was synergistically improved (CI 0.18) when administered in combination (0.9 logarithms more potent, 24% more effective than the monocomponents). The drugs mixture allowed a reduction in the concentration of olodaterol from ≃1 to ≃2.3 logarithms. A favorable CRI was detected also for tiotropium bromide, whose concentration can be reduced ≃1 logarithm at medium effect levels, remaining positive up to submaximal relaxant effect in the presence of olodaterol. The combination of tiotropium bromide/olodaterol allows the reduction in the concentration of the monocomponents to achieve airway smooth muscle relaxation, thus potentially decreases the risk of adverse events when these drugs are used to treat severe asthmatic horses
