Pathways to adoption and mitigation: A dynamic perspective on good agricultural practices in Rural Malawi.

Many researchers have noted the limited adoption of farming management practices that should increase the resilience of smallholder farmers to weather shocks and mitigate their impact on the changing climate in sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, we evaluate the dynamics of adopting "good agricultural practices" in Malawi, using data from a three-wave panel collected as part of an impact assessment of the Sustainable Agricultural Production Programme, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development. In addition to project impacts, we also evaluate additional mechanisms though which farmers may learn about the costs and benefits of different practices.

Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis: An Overview.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by significant fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, with the main involvement of the lungs, kidneys, heart, esophagus, and intestines. SSc is also characterized by macro- and microvascular damage with reduced peripheral blood perfusion. Several studies have reported more than 240 pathways and numerous dysregulation proteins, giving insight into how the field of biomarkers in SSc is still extremely complex and evolving.

Clinical impact of mixed pulmonary carcinoma and carcinoid: the driver from their mono-clonal origin.

The combination of neuroendocrine/non neuroendocrine lung tumors (CNNELT) mentioned in the last edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) of Thoracic Tumors refers to small cell carcinoma (SCLC) or large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) mixed with any other non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Typical Carcinoid (TC)/Atypical Carcinoid (AC) combined with NSCLC is not included among this category. However, case reports of TC/AC combined with NSCLC have been described.

Tidal lung hysteresis to interpret PEEP-induced changes in compliance in ARDS patients.

Background: In ARDS, the PEEP level associated with the best respiratory system compliance is often selected; however, intra-tidal recruitment can increase compliance, falsely suggesting improvement in baseline mechanics. Tidal lung hysteresis increases with intra-tidal recruitment and can help interpreting changes in compliance. This study aims to assess tidal recruitment in ARDS patients and to test a combined approach, based on tidal hysteresis and compliance, to interpret decremental PEEP trials.

Will the last be the first? School closures and educational outcomes.

Governments have implemented school closures and online learning as one of the main tools to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Despite the potential benefits in terms of containment of virus diffusion, the educational costs of these policies may be dramatic. This work identifies these costs, expressed as decrease in test scores, for the whole universe of Italian students attending the 5th, 8th and 13th grade of the school cycle during the 2021/22 school year.

School-age vaccination, school openings and Covid-19 diffusion.

This article investigates the relationship between school openings and Covid-19 diffusion when school-age vaccination becomes available. The analysis relies on a unique geo-referenced high frequency database on age of vaccination, Covid-19 cases and hospitalization indicators from the Italian region of Sicily. The study focuses on the change of Covid-19 diffusion after school opening in a homogeneous geographical territory (i.

Waveforms-guided cycling-off during pressure support ventilation improves both inspiratory and expiratory patient-ventilator synchronisation.

Objective: To test the performance of a software able to control mechanical ventilator cycling-off by means of automatic, real-time analysis of ventilator waveforms during pressure support ventilation.

Design: Prospective randomised crossover study.

Setting: University Intensive Care Unit.

The Role of Lung Ultrasound Monitoring in Early Detection of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Specific lung ultrasound signs combined with clinical parameters allow for early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the general ICU population. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the accuracy of lung ultrasound monitoring for ventilator-associated pneumonia diagnosis in COVID-19 patients. Clinical (i.

Cutaneous Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer: Making Light on an Unusual and Misdiagnosed Event.

Cutaneous metastasis from solid tumors is a rare event and usually represents a late occurrence in the natural history of an advanced visceral malignancy. Rarely, cutaneous metastasis has been described in colorectal cancer patients. The most frequent cutaneous site of colorectal metastasis is the surgical scar in the abdomen following the removal of the primary malignancy, followed by the extremities, perineum, head, neck, and penis.

Lung Ultrasound in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure Reduces Conventional Imaging and Health Care Provider Exposure to COVID-19.

Lung ultrasound gained a leading position in the last year as an imaging technique for the assessment and management of patients with acute respiratory failure. In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its role may be of further importance because it is performed bedside and may limit chest X-ray and the need for transport to radiology for computed tomography (CT) scan. Since February 21, we progressively turned into a coronavirus-dedicated intensive care unit and applied an ultrasound-based approach to avoid traditional imaging and limit contamination as much as possible.

Pediatric Laparoscopy and Adaptive Oxygenation and Hemodynamic Changes.

Adaptive changes in oxygenation and hemodynamics are evaluated during pediatric laparoscopy. The children underwent laparoscopy (LAP Group, n=20) or open surgery (Open Group, n=10). Regional cerebral (rScO) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO), heart rate (HR), diastolic (DP) and systolic pressure (SP) were monitored at different intervals: basal (T0); anesthesia induction (T1); COPP insufflation (T2); surgery (T3); COPP cessation (T4); before extubation (T5).

Circulating Biologically Active Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) Predicts Hemodynamic Support Requirement and Mortality During Sepsis.

Background: The biological role of adrenomedullin (ADM), a hormone involved in hemodynamic homeostasis, is controversial in sepsis because administration of either the peptide or an antibody against it may be beneficial.

Methods: Plasma biologically active ADM (bio-ADM) was assessed on days 1, 2, and 7 after randomization of 956 patients with sepsis or septic shock to albumin or crystalloids for fluid resuscitation in the multicenter Albumin Italian Outcome Sepsis trial. We tested the association of bio-ADM and its time-dependent variation with fluid therapy, vasopressor administration, organ failures, and mortality.

Laparoscopy in children and its impact on brain oxygenation during routine inguinal hernia repair.

Background: The systemic impact of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and/or changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) during laparoscopy are not yet well defined. Changes in brain oxygenation have been reported as a possible cause of cerebral hypotension and perfusion. The side effects of anaesthesia could also be involved in these changes, especially in children.

Volcano seismicity and ground deformation unveil the gravity-driven magma discharge dynamics of a volcanic eruption.

Effusive eruptions are explained as the mechanism by which volcanoes restore the equilibrium perturbed by magma rising in a chamber deep in the crust. Seismic, ground deformation and topographic measurements are compared with effusion rate during the 2007 Stromboli eruption, drawing an eruptive scenario that shifts our attention from the interior of the crust to the surface. The eruption is modelled as a gravity-driven drainage of magma stored in the volcanic edifice with a minor contribution of magma supplied at a steady rate from a deep reservoir.

The need for inotropic drugs in anesthesiology and intensive care.

The management of the failing heart represents an increasingly frequent challenge to both anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians, due to the increased prevalence of ventricular dysfunction in the population and to the ever-expanding indications for the surgical treatment of cardiac disease. Inotropic drugs are nowadays invaluable therapeutic tools in the treatment of perioperative heart failure and of the different forms of heart failure found in intensive care unit clinical practice. Postoperative myocardial dysfunction is a major concern in the setting of cardiac surgery since it is extremely frequent and is related to a greater morbidity and mortality.