Predicting Maize Theoretical Methane Yield in Combination with Ground and UAV Remote Data Using Machine Learning.

The accurate, timely, and non-destructive estimation of maize total-above ground biomass (TAB) and theoretical biochemical methane potential (TBMP) under different phenological stages is a substantial part of agricultural remote sensing. The assimilation of UAV and machine learning (ML) data may be successfully applied in predicting maize TAB and TBMP; however, in the Nordic-Baltic region, these technologies are not fully exploited. Therefore, in this study, during the maize growing period, we tracked unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based multispectral bands (blue, red, green, red edge, and infrared) at the main phenological stages. In the next step, we calculated UAV-based vegetation indices, which were combined with field measurements and different ML models, including generalized linear, random forest, as well as support vector machines. The results showed that the best ML predictions were obtained during the maize blister (R2)-Dough (R4) growth period when the prediction models managed to explain 88-95% of TAB and 88-97% TBMP variation. However, for the practical usage of farmers, the earliest suitable timing for adequate TAB and TBMP prediction in the Nordic-Baltic area is stage V7-V10. We conclude that UAV techniques in combination with ML models were successfully applied for maize TAB and TBMP estimation, but similar research should be continued for further improvements.

Soil Moisture Retrieval by Integrating TASI-600 Airborne Thermal Data, WorldView 2 Satellite Data and Field Measurements: Petacciato Case Study.

Soil moisture (SM) plays a fundamental role in the terrestrial water cycle and in agriculture, with key applications such as the monitoring of crop growing and hydrogeological management. In this study, a calibration procedure was applied to estimate SM based on the integration of in situ and airborne thermal remote sensing data. To this aim, on April 2018, two airborne campaigns were carried out with the TASI-600 multispectral thermal sensor on the Petacciato (Molise, Italy) area. Simultaneously, soil samples were collected in different agricultural fields of the study area to determine their moisture content and the granulometric composition. A WorldView 2 high-resolution visible-near infrared (VNIR) multispectral satellite image was acquired to calculate the albedo of the study area to be used together with the TASI images for the estimation of the apparent thermal inertia (ATI). Results show a good correlation (R² = 0.62) between the estimated ATI and the SM of the soil samples measured in the laboratory. The proposed methodology has allowed us to obtain a SM map for bare and scarcely vegetated soils in a wide agricultural area in Italy which concerns cyclical hydrogeological instability phenomena.

Sensitivity analysis of the Aquacrop and SAFYE crop models for the assessment of water limited winter wheat yield in regional scale applications.

Process-based models can be usefully employed for the assessment of field and regional-scale impact of drought on crop yields. However, in many instances, especially when they are used at the regional scale, it is necessary to identify the parameters and input variables that most influence the outputs and to assess how their influence varies when climatic and environmental conditions change. In this work, two different crop models, able to represent yield response to water, Aquacrop and SAFYE, were compared, with the aim to quantify their complexity and plasticity through Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA), using Morris and EFAST (Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test) techniques, for moderate to strong water limited climate scenarios. Although the rankings of the sensitivity indices was influenced by the scenarios used, the correlation among the rankings, higher for SAFYE than for Aquacrop, assessed by the top-down correlation coefficient (TDCC), revealed clear patterns. Parameters and input variables related to phenology and to water stress physiological processes were found to be the most influential for Aquacrop. For SAFYE, it was found that the water stress could be inferred indirectly from the processes regulating leaf growth, described in the original SAFY model. SAFYE has a lower complexity and plasticity than Aquacrop, making it more suitable to less data demanding regional scale applications, in case the only objective is the assessment of crop yield and no detailed information is sought on the mechanisms of the stress factors affecting its limitations.

Laparoscopic resection of splenic flexure tumors.

In this paper a single institution experience in laparoscopic treatment of splenic flexure tumors (SFT) is reported. Low incidence of these tumors and complexity of the procedure make the laparoscopic resection not diffuse and not well standardized. Since 2004, in a specific database, we prospectively record clinicopathological features and outcome of all patients submitted to laparoscopic colorectal resection. From January 2004 to October 2015, out of 567 cases of minimally invasive colorectal procedures, we performed 20 laparoscopic resection of SFT, 11 with extracorporeal anastomosis and 9 totally laparoscopic. Twelve patients had an advanced disease. Conversion rate was null. The mean operative time was 105' (range 70'-135'). Comparing extracorporeal and intracorporeal anastomoses, we did not find any significant difference in mean duration of surgery. Mean distal margin was 9.4 ± 3.1 cm (mean ± DS), mean proximal margin 8.9 ± 2.7 cm. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 17.8 ± 5.6. Evaluating surgical short-term and oncological mid-term outcomes, laparoscopic resection of splenic flexure for tumors, even if challenging, resulted technically feasible and oncologically safe and it seems to be advisable.

[Laparoscopic splenectomy in haematological diseases: short- and medium-term results in thirty initial cases]. / La splenectomia laparoscopica nelle patologie ematologiche: risultati a breve e medio terrnine in trenta casi iniziali.

In 1991 Delaitre and Maignien described the first laparoscopic splenectomy, since when a rapid spread of this technique has been observed and the procedure has become the gold standard in the surgical management of benign and malignant haematological diseases. In the present study, the results of the first 30 laparoscopic splenectomies performed at the Division of General Surgery of the S. Eugenio Hospital of Rome are reported. The operations were performed in patients with benign (27 cases) and malignant (3 cases) haematological diseases, treated in the Regional Haematological Centre of the same hospital. The procedures were carried out according to criteria corresponding to those recently described in the guidelines of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery. As regards the results, two procedures (6.7%) were converted to open surgery. One postoperative haemorrhage was observed, requiring a laparoscopic reoperation for haemostasis. No other major local or general complications were observed. Mortality was nil. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.2 days (range: 4-8 days). Medium-term surgical and haematological results were excellent. Laparoscopic splenectomy is the surgical gold standard, but should be performed in advanced centres in close cooperation with a haematology centre. The procedure is indicated in all patients who are candidates for splenectomy, with the sole exception of those affected by portal hypertension or with general contraindications to laparoscopy. In advanced centres, better early and late results can be achieved, in addition to the well-known benefits of the minimally invasive technique, particularly in aesthetic terms, which in younger patients affected by benign haematological pathologies are very important.

Giant symptomatic myelolipoma of the right adrenal gland: a case report.

Adrenal myelolipoma is an uncommon tumour of the adrenal gland, usually unilateral, frequently associated with hypertension and obesity, with a benign biological behaviour and without hormonal activity, first described in 1905. The neoplasm consists of adipose tissue and myelopoietic cells of the bone marrow. These tumours have a very slow but continued growth and their volume and weight vary significantly from small lesions of a few grams to huge masses weighing up to several kilograms. If symptoms occur, surgery should be performed without delay, especially for large myelolipomas that are at high risk of spontaneous rupture with haemorrhage and life-threatening shock. In this report a case of a 43-year-old male with a 22 x 18 x 9 cm giant myelolipoma, weighing 3500 g and originating from the right adrenal gland is described. The large mass dislocating and compressing the inferior vena cava, was removed surgically. The early postoperative course and the late outcome were favourable without recurrence after 30 months. The different aetiological hypotheses of this rare neoplasm and its clinical features, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Surgical treatment of a severe, massive, symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum in a very elderly patient.

Zenker's diverticula commonly occur in the elderly, and quality of life is often impaired by typical symptoms such as dysphagia, regurgitation, halitosis, cough and aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and weight loss. The "gold standard" treatment for pharyngo-oesophageal diverticula is the resection of the sac via left lateral cervicotomy and cricopharingeal myotomy. In the last decade, with the fast development of minimally invasive techniques, an endoscopic stapled approach has been proposed. This procedure rapidly encountered the favour of gastroenterologists because patients with Zenker's diverticulum often present serious co-morbidities and seem to benefit from the minimally invasive technique; but the crucial point in the treatment of Zenker's diverticula, in addition to the sac resection, is the myotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle fibres and this could not be safely and completely achieved in endoscopic stapling owing to the risk of vascular lesions and incomplete sectioning of the sac. Moreover, many studies have reported similar results between open and endoscopic procedures in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality, showing better functional outcomes in surgical patients even if elderly and presenting co-morbidities. In this report, the case of a 95 year-old patient, one of the oldest operated on for this disease and reported in the literature, is described. He was affected by a massive 8 cm Zenker's diverticulum and an oesophageal motility disorder (dyskinesia), with significant co-morbidity. Surgical diverticulectomy combined with cricopharyngeal myotomy was performed with excellent early and late results.

[Incidental thyroid microcarcinoma in benign thyroid disease. Incidence in a total of 100 consecutive thyroidectomies]. / I microcarcinoma incidentale della tiroide nelle tireopade benigne. Incidenza su 100 tiroidectomie totali consecutive.

Over the past few years, incidental thyroid microcarcinoma has become a frequent disease and its incidence in some reports is considerable. Discovering new cases depends on the extended indications for total thyroidectomy for benign disease, on progress in the field of diagnostic instruments (ultrasound, scintigram, fine needle biopsy for cytology, CT scan, MRI), and on the pathology examination of very thin slices of specimens. In spite of the high incidence reported in some autopsy series, suggesting that this tumour may have a good prognosis, some Authors report an overall incidence of up to 11% of local recurrence, metastasis or mortality. For all these reasons the surgical treatment of incidental thyroid microcarcinoma is still controversial. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and examine the clinical-pathological findings of incidental thyroid microcarcinoma in a series of 100 consecutive thyroidectomies and to evaluate whether complete removal of the gland should be adopted in all cases. In the present series the incidence of incidental thyroid microcarcinoma was 21.6% (19/88). Total thyroidectomy was considered the treatment of choice for diffuse benign disease and appeared to be necessary for both the diagnosis and treatment of incidental thyroid microcarcinoma.

Catamenial Bernard-Horner's syndrome related to thoracic endometriosis.

We describe the case of a young woman with a recurrent right Bernard-Horner's syndrome associated with the onset of intermittent supraclavicular mass. Surgical excision of the mass revealed the endometrial pattern of the tumor and the close relationship between Bernard-Horner's syndrome and thoracic endometriosis. No other case of this syndrome has been reported in the literature.

Major iatrogenic tracheal injury during pneumonectomy: conservative treatment.

We hereby present the case of a 55-year-old woman with an iatrogenic tracheal laceration that occurred during double lumen intubation for left pneumonectomy. Conservative treatment was performed and the patient was discharged 12 days after surgery. No major sequelae after 3 months of follow-up were observed.