Estimating the common agricultural policy milestones and targets by neural networks.

The New Delivery Model, introduced by the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy, shifts the focus of policy programming and design from a compliance-based approach to one based on performance. The objectives indicated in the national strategic plans are monitored through the definition of a set of milestones and targets. This makes it necessary to define realistic and financially consistent target values. The aim of this paper is to outline a methodology to quantify robust target values for result indicators. As the main method, a machine learning model based on multilayer feedforward neural networks is put forward. This method is chosen for its ability to model possible non-linearities in the monitoring data and estimate multiple outputs. The proposed methodology is applied to the Italian case, more specifically to estimate target values for the result indicator related to enhancing performance through knowledge and innovation for 21 regional managing authorities. The related performance is then compared with that of traditional methods adopted to estimate target values. Results demonstrate the superiority of neural networks and suggest that this methodology might be used as a tool to help all Member States fulfill the key task of setting coherent and realistic targets for all result indicators.

Genetic analysis of human and swine influenza A viruses isolated in Northern Italy during 2010-2015.

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection in swine plays an important role in the ecology of influenza viruses. The emergence of new IAVs comes through different mechanisms, with the genetic reassortment of genes between influenza viruses, also originating from different species, being common. We performed a genetic analysis on 179 IAV isolates from humans (n. 75) and pigs (n. 104) collected in Northern Italy between 2010 and 2015, to monitor the genetic exchange between human and swine IAVs. No cases of human infection with swine strains were noticed, but direct infections of swine with H1N1pdm09 strains were detected. Moreover, we pointed out a continuous circulation of H1N1pdm09 strains in swine populations evidenced by the introduction of internal genes of this subtype. These events contribute to generating new viral variants-possibly endowed with pandemic potential-and emphasize the importance of continuous surveillance at both animal and human level.

The antimony-group 11 chemical bond: dissociation energies of the diatomic molecules CuSb, AgSb, and AuSb.

The intermetallic molecules CuSb, AgSb, and AuSb were identified in the effusive molecular beam produced at high temperature under equilibrium conditions in a double-cell-like Knudsen source. Several gaseous equilibria involving these species were studied by mass spectrometry as a function of temperature in the overall range 1349-1822 K, and the strength of the chemical bond formed between antimony and the group 11 metals was for the first time measured deriving the following thermochemical dissociation energies (D°(0), kJ/mol): 186.7 ± 5.1 (CuSb), 156.3 ± 4.9 (AgSb), 241.3 ± 5.8 (AuSb). The three species were also investigated computationally at the coupled cluster level with single, double, and noniterative quasiperturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)). The spectroscopic parameters were calculated from the potential energy curves and the dissociation energies were evaluated at the Complete Basis Set limit, resulting in an overall good agreement with experimental values. An approximate evaluation of the spin-orbit effect was also performed. CCSD(T) calculations were further extended to the corresponding group 11 arsenide species which are here studied for the first time and the following dissociation energies (D°(0), kJ/mol): 190 ± 10 (CuAs), 151 ± 10 (AgAs), 240 ± 15 (AuAs) are proposed. Taking advantage of the new experimental and computational information here presented, the bond energy trends along group 11 and 4th and 5th periods of the periodic table were analyzed and the bond energies of the diatomic species CuBi and AuBi, yet experimentally unobserved, were predicted on an empirical basis.

Counseling in primary care improves depression and quality of life.

INTRODUCTION: To measure the effectiveness on Quality of Life of adjunctive cognitive behavioral counseling in the setting of General Practitioners (GPs) along with the treatment as usual (TAU;) for the treatment of depression. METHODS: Six month-controlled trial of patients who were referred to randomly assigned GPs (four for experimental group of patients and ten for the control) was done. Experimental sample had 34 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of Depression (Depressed Episode, Dysthymia, or Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood) receiving the TAU supplemented with counseling. Control group had 30 patients with diagnosis of Depression receiving only the TAU. RESULTS: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score improved in both groups. Patients in the experimental group showed greater improvement compared to the control group at T2. The World Health Organization Quality OF Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL) score also improved in the experimental group but not in the control group. The improvement in the experimental group was statistically significant in terms of both BDI and WHOQOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Adding counseling to TAU in general medical practice settings is more effective in controlling the symptoms of depression and improving the quality of life as measured over a period of six months, than TAU alone. These results while encouraging, also calls for a larger study involving a largersample size and a longer period of time.

Inhibition of monoamine oxidase-B by 5H-indeno[1,2-c]pyridazines: biological activities, quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) and 3D-QSARs.

A large series (66 compounds) of indeno[1,2-c]pyridazin-5-ones (IPs) were synthesized and tested on their monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and MAO-B inhibitory activity. All of the tested compounds acted preferentially on MAO-B displaying weak (nonmeasurable IC50 values) to high (submicromolar IC50 values) activities. The most active compound was p-CF3-3-phenyl-IP (IC50 = 90 nM). Multiple linear regression analysis of the substituted 3-phenyl-IPs yielded good statistical results (q2 = 0.74; r2 = 0.86) and showed the importance of lipophilic, electronic, and steric properties of the substituents in determining inhibitory potency. Various comparative molecular field analysis studies were performed with different alignments and including the molecular lipophilicity potential. This led to a model including the steric, electrostatic and lipophilicity fields and having a good predictive value (q2 = 0.75; r2 = 0.93).

Synthesis, benzodiazepine receptor affinity and anticonvulsant activity of 5-H-indeno[1,2-c]pyridazine derivatives.

Title compounds 1-36 were synthesized by reacting hydrazine with aldol adducts obtained from ninhydrin and methyl or alpha methylene ketones and aldehydes. Some of them showed a low, but significant benzodiazepine receptor affinity whose variation was interpreted through a structure-activity relationships study based on qualitative correlations and Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA). Some indeno-pyridazine derivatives were found to possess an interesting anticonvulsant activity which however does not seem simply related to the benzodiazepine receptor modulation.