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Cholera epidemics have a recorded history in eastern Congo dating to 1971. A study was conducted to find out the linkage between climate variability/change and cholera outbreak and to assess the related economic cost in the management of cholera in Congo.This study integrates historical data (20 years) on temperature and rainfall with the burden of disease from cholera in South-Kivu province, eastern Congo.Analyses of precipitation and temperatures characteristics in South-Kivu provinces showed that cholera epidemics are closely associated with climatic factors variability. Peaks in Cholera new cases were in synchrony with peaks in rainfalls. Cholera infection cases declined significantly (P<0.05) with the rise in the average temperature. The monthly number of new Cholera cases oscillated between 5 and 450. For every rise of the average temperature by 0.35 °C to 0.75 °C degree Celsius, and for every change in the rainfall variability by 10-19%, it is likely cholera infection risks will increase by 17 to 25%. The medical cost of treatment of Cholera case infection was found to be of US$50 to 250 per capita. The total costs of Cholera attributable to climate change were found to fall in the range of 4 to 8% of the per capita in annual income in Bukavu town.It is likely that high rainfall favor multiplication of the bacteria and contamination of water sources by the bacteria (Vibrio cholerae). The consumption of polluted water, promiscuity, population density and lack of hygiene are determinants favoring spread and infection of the bacteria among human beings living in over-crowded environments.

This work, carried out at Research Centre for Industrial Crops of CREA in Rovigo, aimed at assessing the performance of a modified combine header and seed losses during late harvest of 5 hemp varieties. The renewed interest in Italy for hemp cultivation is aimed at seed production unlike the traditional cultivation aimed at fibre. However, it must face the lack of monoecious varieties suitable for Italian environment. In the case of dioecious varieties, traditionally cultivated in Italy for fibre production, the high crop height makes it difficult the mechanical harvesting with conventional combines. Similarly, the uneven height recorded in the case of imported varieties for seed production, requires adjusting continuously the height of the combine header. So, modified combine headers capable of be moved upwards and downwards by a lift have been developed. The aim is to avoid the risk of possible clogging of threshing apparatus introducing big pieces of stalks. Moreover, in this way, the stalks can be harvested separately in order to increase the income for farmers. In view of valorise the whole plant, as multipurpose crop, the right harvest time should be a trade-off between seed yield and fibre quality. Early harvesting guaranties a good fibre quality but causes also the harvest of seed not completely ripened. On the contrary delaying the harvest reduces the seed yield due to seed loss for dehiscence. In addition to losses for dehiscence prior to harvest, the trials aimed at distinguishing the loss incurred during harvest attributable both to crop disturbance by combine header and to the setting of the combine’s threshing and separation elements. Proceedings of the 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 July 2020, Virtual, pp. 197-200

Calcinosis cutis is a frequent, difficult to treat manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc) associated with high morbidity. The aim of this prospective, controlled, monocentric study was to assess safety and efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for calcinosis cutis of the finger in SSc patients.A 12-week proof of concept study in which 4 SSc patients with calcinosis cutis were treated at one painful finger with high-energy, focused ESWT, in 3 sessions with one-week interval between each session. A second, untreated finger, served as control. The outcome parameters were: change in pain, change in size of calcification measured by ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) and of the force by pressing the finger against a Dolorimeter.Pain was reduced (by 91% and 60%) in the treated finger in two out of four patients. There was no change in the control fingers. The size of the calcinosis in the treated finger was reduced in three (US) and four patients (CT). Inter-assessor agreement was acceptable for US volume measures (ICC=0.863).We could show promising evidence for safety and efficacy of ESWT for chronic, treatment resistant calcinosis cutis in SSc patients, thus justifying the initiation of larger multicentre controlled trials.

Mitochondria proliferate when cellular energy demand increases. However, the pathways leading to enhanced expression of mitochondrial genes are largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that an altered flux through energy metabolism is the key regulatory event by decreasing mitochondrial energy supply to rat heart cells by creatine depletion. Electron microscopy showed that the density of mitochondria increased by 75% in such hearts (p < 0.01). Levels of representative mRNAs encoded on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or on nuclear chromosomes were elevated 1.5 to 2-fold (p < 0.05), while the mtDNA content was unchanged. The mRNA for the nuclear encoded mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) was increased after GPA feeding (p < 0.05). Thus, we have shown that an impairment of mitochondrial energy supply causes stimulation of gene expression resulting in mitochondrial proliferation, probably as a compensatory mechanism. The observed activation of the mtTFA gene corroborates the important function of this protein in nuclear-mitochondrial communication.

Ethanol-water systems enhance permeation of ionic solutes through human stratum corneum. Optimum enhancement of salicylate ion permeation has been observed with ethanol volume fractions near 0.63. The mechanism of action of ethanol-water systems enhancing skin permeation was investigated by in vitro skin permeation studies combined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy experiments. The increased skin permeation of the ionic permeant by the ethanol-water systems may be associated with alterations involving the polar pathway. Polar pathway alterations may occur in either or both the lipid polar head and proteinaceous regions of the stratum corneum. Ion-pair formation may also contribute to increased permeation. However, the decreased permeation of salicylate ion observed at higher volume fractions of ethanol may be attributed to decreased uptake of permeant into the stratum corneum.

After natural disasters, displaced people (DP) require important numbers of housing units, which have to be erected quickly due to emergency pressures. These tight timeframes can cause the multiplication of the environmental construction impacts. These negative impacts worsen the already high energy consumption and pollution caused by the building sector. Indeed, post-disaster housing, which is often carried out without pre-planning, usually causes high negative environmental impacts, besides other economic and social impacts. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a suitable strategy to deal with this problem which also takes into account the instability of its causes, like changing ratio between rural and urban population. To this end, this study aims to present a model that assists decisionmakers to choose the most suitable building technology for postdisaster housing units. This model focuses on the alternatives sustainability and fulfillment of the stakeholders’ satisfactions. Four building technologies have been analyzed to determine the most sustainability technology and to validate the presented model. In 2003, Bam earthquake DP had their temporary housing units (THUs) built using these four technologies: autoclaved aerated concrete blocks (AAC), concrete masonry unit (CMU), pressed reeds panel (PR), and 3D sandwich panel (3D). The results of this analysis confirm that PR and CMU obtain the highest sustainability indexes. However, the second life scenario of THUs could have considerable impacts on the results. Peer Reviewed

Observed changes at the global scale. An increase of the annual mean global temperature and changes of other climate parameters have been observed in the last century. The global temperature and the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases are changing at a very fast pace compared to those found in palaeoclimate records. Changes in the Mediterranean. Variations of some climate change indicators can be much larger at the local than at the global scale, and the Mediterranean has been indicated among the regions most sensitive to climate change, also due to the increasing anthropogenic pressure. Model projections for the Mediterranean foresee further warming, droughts, and long-lasting modifications.Regional climate changes impact health and ecosystems, creating new risks, determined not only by weather events, but also by changing exposures and vulnerabilities. These issues, and in particular those regarding occupational safety, have not been sufficiently addressed to date.