An Innovative Malaxer Equipped with SCADA Platform for Improving Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality

Agriculture 4.0 is gaining more attention, and all companies are thinking about innovating machines to increase income and improve the quality of the final products. In the agro-food sector, there is space for innovation, as it is far behind the industrial sector. This paper reports an industrial-scale study on the application of an innovative system for the extraction of Sicilian EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) to improve both process management and the quality of the product. Based on previous studies, the authors suggested an innovative machine equipped with a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition system) for oxygen and process duration monitoring and control. The objective of the research was thus to discuss the development of a SCADA platform applied to the malaxer and the establishment of an optimized approach to control the main process parameters for obtaining high-quality EVOO. The SCADA system application in the EVOO extraction process allowed a qualitative improvement of the Sicilian EVOO of Nocellara del Belice and Cerasuola cultivars. The use of the innovative system made it possible to increase the values of tocopherols (by about 25%) in Cerasuola cultivar and total phenol content (by about 30%) in Nocellara del Belice cultivar EVOOs.

Biodiversity and dairy traits of lactic acid bacteria from foliage of aromatic plants before and after dehydration process monitored by a smart sensors system

The main hypothesis of this work was to evaluate the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) intrinsically resistant to plant essential oils in sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and laurel (Laurus nobilis), for future applications in functional cheese production by addition of aromatic herbs. The effect of the drying process on the viability of LAB was evaluated with three biomass densities (3, 4 and 5 kg/m2). The drying densities did not affect weight loss, but influenced the levels of LAB of sage and laurel. A total of 10 different strains of Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus mundtii, Enterococcus raffinosus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were identified from laurel, while sage did not host any LAB species. In particular, L. mesenteroides was the only species sensitive to the heat treatment. Only five strains, all enterococci, were resistant to at least one antibiotic, even though no strain showed gelatinase or haemolytic activity. The investigation on the technological traits useful in cheese making demonstrated that all LAB can be considered non starter LAB, because they were characterized by a slow acidification capacity (the pH was still above 6.00 after 3 d) and a very limited autolysis (the maximum decrease of the optical density at 599 nm was barely 0.2).

Application of A Precision Apiculture System to Monitor Honey Daily Production

Precision beekeeping or precision apiculture is an apiary management strategy based on the monitoring of individual bee colonies to minimize resource consumption and maximize the productivity of bees. Bees play a fundamental role in ensuring pollination; they can also be considered as indicators of the state of pollution and are used as bio monitors. Beekeeping needs continuous monitoring of the animals and can benefit from advanced intelligent ambiance technologies. The aim of this study was the design of a precision apiculture system (PAS) platform for monitoring and controlling the following environmental parameters: wind, temperature, and relative humidity inside and outside the hive, in order to assess their influence on honey production. PAS is based on an Arduino board with an Atmel microcontroller, and the connection of a load cell for recording the weight of the hive, relative humidity and temperature sensor inside the hive, and relative humidity and temperature sensor outside the hive using an anemometer. PAS was installed in common hives and placed in an open field in a French honeysuckle plot; the system was developed to operate in continuous mode, monitoring the period of 24 April–1 June 2019. Temperature was constant in the monitored period, around 35 °C, inside the hive, proving that no criticalities occurred regarding swarming or absconding. In the period between 24 and 28 May, a lack of honey production was recorded, attributed to a lowering of the external temperature. PAS was useful to point out the eventual reduction in honey production due to wind; several peaks of windiness exceeding 5 m s⁻¹ were recorded, noting that honey production decreases with the peaks in wind. Therefore, the data recorded by PAS platform provided a valid decisional support to the operator. It can be implemented by inserting additional sensors for detecting other parameters, such as rain or sound.

Assessment of ranges of rest postures of human lower limbs

BACKGROUND

Several comfort perception models have proposed an objective method to evaluate "effects in the internal body" and "perceived comfort". Postural comfort is one aspect of comfort/discomfort perception, and this current work adds to existing knowledge toward a more objectified posture evaluation for comfort.

OBJECTIVE

The authors have used the concept of Range of Rest Posture (RRP), as proposed by Apostolico et al. The study focused on the identification of RRP within the Comfort Range of Motion (CROM) for lower limbs.

METHODS

The proposed method is based on extensive experimental work involving 114 healthy individuals (59 males and 55 females) ranging from 20 to 40 years old. The age range was narrowed to avoid an age-clustering of results due to inhomogeneity of the statistical sample. Data were processed using statistical methods for identifying the RRP in the experimental CROM. Several Maximum Level of Comfort (MLC) positions were found within the RRP.

RESULTS

RRPs for lower limbs of men and women have been identified and can be used for virtual comfort assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper shows a method to evaluate in a more objective way the subjective postural comfort perception and results allow researchers to improve models for the virtual preventive comfort assessment.

Risk exposure to vibration and noise in the use of agricultural track-laying tractors

Human exposure to mechanical vibration may represent a significant risk factor for exposed workers in the agricultural sector. Also, noise in agriculture is one of the risk factors to be taken into account in the evaluation of workers' health and safety. One of the major sources of discomfort for the workers operating a tractors is the noise to which they are exposed during work. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of exposure to whole-body vibration for the operator driving track-laying tractors in vineyard orchard and the noise level. The experimental tests were performed with six different track-laying tractors coupled with the same rototilling machine. The results showed that the vibration values of track-laying tractors coupled to rototilling machine, referred to the 8-hour working day, were always higher than 0.5 m s^-2, the daily exposure action value established by Directive 2002/44/EC of the European Parliament. The daily noise exposure levels always exceeded the exposure limit value of 87 dB(A) established by Directive 2003/10/EC of the European Parliament. The ANOVA repeated measures model showed that the factor 'site', namely, the soil characteristics, did not influence the vibration level on the X and Y-axes of the tractors measured, regardless of their age. In the Z-axis, the vibration level was enhanced as the soil structure increased. As tractor age increased, the influence of soil characteristics was less important. In term of the age of the tractor and the number of hours worked, it was possible to identify three risk classes, which were up to 3,000 hours worked and offered a low risk; from 3,000 - 6,000 hours worked with a medium risk, and over 6,000 hours with a high risk level.

PX-171–006: Phase Ib multicenter dose escalation study of carfilzomib (CFZ) plus lenalidomide (LEN) and low-dose dexamethasone (loDex) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (MM): Preliminary results

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Background: CFZ is a highly specific proteasome inhibitor with single agent activity in relapsed/refractory MM (ASH 2008). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and activity of CFZ in combination with LEN and loDex. Methods: This phase Ib trial evaluates 4 dose levels (≥ 3 pts each) to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of CFZ/LEN/loDex in relapsed/refractory MM pts who failed 1–3 prior therapies, including prior LEN or bortezomib (BTZ). CFZ IV 15- 20 mg/m2 (d1,2,8,9,15,16), LEN 10–20 mg po (d1–21) and loDex 40 mg po (d1, 8, 15, 22) in 28-day cycles (C). An additional 10–15 pts will be evaluated at the highest dose level reached. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) has been defined as grade (G) ≥ 3 non- hematologic; G4 neutropenia for > 7d and/or neutropenic fever; G4 thrombocytopenia > 7d or G3-G4 thrombocytopenia in association with bleeding. Overall response (CR/sCR, VGPR/PR) is assessed by IWG criteria, with secondary assessment by modified EBMT criteria which includes MR. Results: 11 pts have been enrolled. 8/11 are evaluable for response and toxicity. Median prior lines of therapy was 2 (range 2–3). Prior therapies included DEX (8/8), BTZ (6/8), LEN (7/8), alkylators (6/8), anthracyclines (5/8), stem cell transplant (5/8), and thalidomide (1/8); 6/8 pts had received both LEN and BTZ. MTD has not yet been reached after the first 2 dose cohorts. No drug related SAEs or G3/4 treatment emergent AEs were reported. Responses to date with a median of 2 C (range 1–4) are shown below. Responses were rapid and occurred within the first 28-day cycle. Conclusions: CFZ/LEN/loDex in combination was well tolerated in the first 2 cohorts. There have been no myleosuppressive or renal DLTs. The combination has achieved early encouraging responses in pts who had failed both LEN and BTZ at doses well below the single agent MTD of either LEN or CFZ. Dose escalation is ongoing. Updated data will be presented at the meeting.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Phase II results of Study PX-171–007: A phase Ib/II study of carfilzomib (CFZ), a selective proteasome inhibitor, in patients with selected advanced metastatic solid tumors

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Background: CFZ is a novel proteasome inhibitor of the peptide epoxyketone class that exhibits a high level of selectivity for proteasome active sites. This phase 1/2 study assessed the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of CFZ in patients (pts) with advanced metastatic solid tumors. Methods: Pts failing ≥ 2 prior treatments were enrolled in the phase 1 3+3 dose escalation study. Pts received CFZ IV Day (D) 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 every 28 d for up to 12 cycles (C) Cycle 1 D1, D2 dosing in all cohorts was at 20 mg/m2. Subsequent doses remained at 20 mg/m2 or were escalated to 27 or 36 mg/m2 in a stepped up regimen on D8. At 20/36 mg/m2, 1 pt had a DLT (Grade 3 fatigue) and established the phase 2 dose. Phase 2 is designed as a Simon 2 stage of 70 pts split into 5 subgroups (small cell lung [SCLC], non-small cell lung [NSCLC], ovarian, renal, and other cancer). Tumor response was measured every 2 C. ORR, defined as CR+PR+SD, to 16 wks of CFZ. Stage 2 will open if a 1 PR or better at 16 wks occurs in a selected subgroup. Results: 14 pts in phase 1 and 51 pts in phase 2 (23M/28F, mean age 61 yrs) received a total of 154.5 cycles of CFZ. Median cycles administered was 1.7 (range 1 to 12). To date, there were 6 SCLC, 10 NSCLC, 11 ovarian, 6 renal, and 18 other cancer patients enrolled to the Simon stage 1. Efficacy of SD or better is detailed in the table. The most common AEs included fatigue headache, diarrhea, nausea and constipation. Notable was the absence of grade > 1 peripheral neuropathy and severe hematologic toxicities. Final results of the PK and PD will be reported. Conclusions: CFZ is active as a single agent in relapsed solid tumors demonstrating PR in both renal and SCLC; and SD >16 wks in mesothelioma, ovarian, renal and NSCLC. The 20/36 mg/m2 QDx2 dose schedule was well tolerated and lacks severe myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity and neuropathy which make CFZ an attractive agent to combine with traditional or novel targeted agents.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

[Gastric lymphoma: diagnostic radiology in the staging of the disease]

In the staging of gastric lymphoma, the radiologist has very important role, because he has many means to define correctly the stage. Conventional radiology is useful for detection of the lesion. Moreover, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance are useful to define parietal extension and eventual nodal involvement. Lymphography remains a study kept to negative or doubt cases. In the future, the Magnetic Resonance will have a bigger role than now, in the definition of abdominal and pelvis nodal involvement.

[Mitral valve prolapse. Age and sex incidence, echocardiographic diagnosis and clinical and electrocardiographic correlations]

The paper reports an electrocardiographic and M and B-mode echocardiographical study in 3682 non-selected patients among which a total of 241 were identified with mitral valve prolapse. In males the highest frequency was found during the second decade of life with a tendency to decrease with increasing age. In females, who were found to be the most severely affected (2:1 in relation to males), two peaks of incidence were observed during the third and fifth decade, with a greater frequency in the latter and a marked absence of cases in the fourth decade. Many echocardiographically diagnosed mitral prolapses were both clinically and electrocardiographically silent; moreover it was observed that the risks of this complication increased in parallel to the thinness and redundance of the mitralic flap affected by prolapse and the dilation of the valvular ring.