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In many species with encapsulated larval development, the larvae play an active role in hatching. However, the factors that control when the larvae hatch from each egg-capsule within an egg-mass are largely unknown. Advanced egg-masses of the gastropod Crepipatella peruviana were used to determine the hatching time of capsules from each egg-mass. After each female was detached, the egg-mass was also removed from the substrate and all capsules were then counted and measured. All capsules were examined to determine the time of hatching and the order in which capsules hatched from each egg-mass. Larvae were collected from each hatched egg-capsule and the number, size and weight of larvae from each capsule were determined. After 50–60% of the capsules from each egg-mass had hatched, the same characteristics of the remaining unhatched larvae from sister capsules were documented. Larvae were found to have hatched when they reached a size of 354 ± 22 μm (n = 245). Larvae from capsules within the same egg-mass hatched over a period of up to 12-days. The order of hatching in capsules from the same egg-mass was determined by larval content: capsules with fewer larvae and smaller capsules with heavier larvae hatched first. The hatching from one capsule in any given egg-mass did not induce the hatching of its sister capsules. Furthermore, hatching also occurred successfully in the mother absence, suggesting that this process is largely or completely controlled by the encapsulated larvae, although a possible maternal role in synchronizing hatching cannot be excluded.
The prevalence of medical illnesses is high among patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study aimed to investigate multi-comorbidity in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population. Secondary aims were to investigate factors associated with metabolic syndrome and treatment appropriateness of mental disorders.
Methods
The sample included 54,826 subjects (64.73% females; 34.15% males; 1.11% nonbinary gender) from 40 countries (COMET-G study). The analysis was based on the registration of previous history that could serve as a fair approximation for the lifetime prevalence of various medical conditions.
Results
About 24.5% reported a history of somatic and 26.14% of mental disorders. Mental disorders were by far the most prevalent group of medical conditions. Comorbidity of any somatic with any mental disorder was reported by 8.21%. One-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients were also suffering from a mental disorder depending on the severity and multicomorbidity. Bipolar and psychotic patients and to a lesser extent depressives, manifested an earlier (15–20 years) manifestation of somatic multicomorbidity, severe disability, and probably earlier death. The overwhelming majority of patients with mental disorders were not receiving treatment or were being treated in a way that was not recommended. Antipsychotics and antidepressants were not related to the development of metabolic syndrome.
Conclusions
The finding that one-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients also suffered from a mental disorder strongly suggests that psychiatry is the field with the most trans-specialty and interdisciplinary value and application points to the importance of teaching psychiatry and mental health in medical schools and also to the need for more technocratically oriented training of psychiatric residents.
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder associated with functional impairment, high disability and premature mortality. Modifications of editing in mRNA of serotonin receptor subtype 2C (5-HTR2c) was reported by us in depressed suicide decedents. We have also identified a panel of RNA editing-based blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of BD, which also allowed to discriminate unipolar depression from BD with high sensivity and specificity.
Objectives
Herein, aiming to confirm the diagnostic value of this panel, a new cohort of BD patients was recruited in Brazil.
Methods
This study is based on the analysis of 47 control patients (CTRL) compared to 40 patients with bipolar disorder (BD). BD patients (BP) were classified into 4 subgroups: euthymic (BP_EUT, n = 17), depressive (BP_DEP, n = 11), manic/hypomanic (BP_HM, n = 7) and mixed (BP_MIX, n = 5). The diagnostic value of a panel of RNA editing-based blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of BD, which includes a set of eight genes, namely PDE8A, CAMK1D (calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type 1D); GAB2 (growth factor receptor bound protein 2-associated protein 2); IFNAR1 (interferon alpha/beta receptor 1); KCNJ15 (ATP-sensitive inward rectifier potassium channel 15); LYN (tyrosine-protein kinase Lyn); MDM2 (E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Mdm2); PRKCB (protein kinase C beta type), which was able to discriminate unipolar depression from BD with high sensivity and specificity, was confirmed here by testing an independent cohort of patients suffering from BD recruited in a well-known genetic admixed ancestry population, which is typical in South America, more specifically in Brazil.
Results
We identified new combinations allowing a clear discrimination of euthymic versus depressed bipolar patients, and euthymic versus healthy controls, confirming that RNA editing is a key mechanism in the physiopathology of mental disorders, in particular in BD.
Conclusions
In conclusion of this study, we confirm that RNA editing is a key mechanism in the physiopathology of mental disorders in general, and in BD in particular, and that measuring changes in this mechanism at the peripheral level allowed us to stratify BD patients not only with respect to their symptomatology, but also with respect to the pathophysiology, thus paving the way for personalised medicine in psychiatry.
ATR for children has successfully increase survival to adolescence. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is relevant to evaluate the impact of the disease on well-being in adolescents living with HIV (ALH). Kidscreen-52 questionnaire is validated in mexican adolescents to measure HRQoL
Objectives
To evaluate health related quality of life in a sample of 22 mexican ALH
Methods
A sample of ALH in treatment at the HIV Clinic during 2021, were evaluated with Kidscreen-52 by a child psychiatrist. Statistics included non parametric tests and Cohen “d” and “r” size effect to compare T means between ALH and Kidscreen-52 standardized scores.
Results
Mean age:14.4+2.5. Gender: 11(50%)boys, 11(50%)girls. ALH showed significantly lower scores in all domains. Girls reported lower scores in physical well-being(p=0.047) and autonomy (p=0.023). Orphan ALH had lower scores in mood and emotions (p=0.021)
KIDSCREEN-52
ALH MEAN/SD
KIDSCREEN-52 MEAN/SD
COHEN’S”d”
“r”
PYSICAL WELL-BEING
18.45+3.9
42.6+6.6
- 4.4
-0. 91
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
23.04+6.03
51.2+8.7
- 3.7
-0. 88
MOOD
25.3+6.13
44.8+7.5
- 2.8
-0. 81
SELF-PERCEPTION
20.27+3.22
47.3+7.6
- 4.6
-0. 91
AUTONOMY
18.09+4.9
46.6+9.4
- 3.8
-0. 88
SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PEERS
24+5.1
51.0+9.4
-3.5
-0. 87
PARENTS AND HOME LIFE
20.95+6.2
48.6+9.4
- 3.4
- 0.86
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
9.04+3.21
44.7+7.3
- 6.3
-0. 95
SCHOOL ENVIROMENT
19.73+7.13
53.3+7.9
- 4.46
-0. 91
SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE
12.91+2.11
46.3+9.6
- 4.8
- 0.92
Conclusions
- HRQoL were significantly lower in ALH. -Girls showed significantly lower scores in physical well-being and autonomy. - ALH orphans showed significantly lower scores in mood and emotions domain
Longitudinal data on the mental health impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in healthcare workers is limited. We estimated prevalence, incidence and persistence of probable mental disorders in a cohort of Spanish healthcare workers (Covid-19 waves 1 and 2) -and identified associated risk factors.
Methods
8996 healthcare workers evaluated on 5 May–7 September 2020 (baseline) were invited to a second web-based survey (October–December 2020). Major depressive disorder (PHQ-8 ≥ 10), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD-7 ≥ 10), panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5 ≥ 7), and alcohol use disorder (CAGE-AID ≥ 2) were assessed. Distal (pre-pandemic) and proximal (pandemic) risk factors were included. We estimated the incidence of probable mental disorders (among those without disorders at baseline) and persistence (among those with disorders at baseline). Logistic regression of individual-level [odds ratios (OR)] and population-level (population attributable risk proportions) associations were estimated, adjusting by all distal risk factors, health care centre and time of baseline interview.
Results
4809 healthcare workers participated at four months follow-up (cooperation rate = 65.7%; mean = 120 days s.d. = 22 days from baseline assessment). Follow-up prevalence of any disorder was 41.5%, (v. 45.4% at baseline, p < 0.001); incidence, 19.7% (s.e. = 1.6) and persistence, 67.7% (s.e. = 2.3). Proximal factors showing significant bivariate-adjusted associations with incidence included: work-related factors [prioritising Covid-19 patients (OR = 1.62)], stress factors [personal health-related stress (OR = 1.61)], interpersonal stress (OR = 1.53) and financial factors [significant income loss (OR = 1.37)]. Risk factors associated with persistence were largely similar.
Conclusions
Our study indicates that the prevalence of probable mental disorders among Spanish healthcare workers during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was similarly high to that after the first wave. This was in good part due to the persistence of mental disorders detected at the baseline, but with a relevant incidence of about 1 in 5 of HCWs without mental disorders during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Health-related factors, work-related factors and interpersonal stress are important risks of persistence of mental disorders and of incidence of mental disorders. Adequately addressing these factors might have prevented a considerable amount of mental health impact of the pandemic among this vulnerable population. Addressing health-related stress, work-related factors and interpersonal stress might reduce the prevalence of these disorders substantially. Study registration number: NCT04556565
To use Internet search data to compare duration of compliance for various diets.
Design:
Using a passive surveillance digital epidemiological approach, we estimated the average duration of diet compliance by examining monthly Internet searches for recipes related to popular diets. We fit a mathematical model to these data to estimate the time spent on a diet by new January dieters (NJD) and to estimate the percentage of dieters dropping out during the American winter holiday season between Thanksgiving and the end of December.
Setting:
Internet searches in the USA for recipes related to popular diets over a 15-year period from 2004 to 2019.
Participants:
Individuals in the USA performing Internet searches for recipes related to popular diets.
Results:
All diets exhibited significant seasonality in recipe-related Internet searches, with sharp spikes every January followed by a decline in the number of searches and a further decline in the winter holiday season. The Paleo diet had the longest average compliance times among NJD (5.32 ± 0.68 weeks) and the lowest dropout during the winter holiday season (only 14 ± 3 % dropping out in December). The South Beach diet had the shortest compliance time among NJD (3.12 ± 0.64 weeks) and the highest dropout during the holiday season (33 ± 7 % dropping out in December).
Conclusions:
The current study is the first of its kind to use passive surveillance data to compare the duration of adherence with different diets and underscores the potential usefulness of digital epidemiological approaches to understanding health behaviours.
Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas (GHG) produced and released by eructation to the atmosphere in large volumes by ruminants. Enteric CH4 contributes significantly to global GHG emissions arising from animal agriculture. It has been contended that tropical grasses produce higher emissions of enteric CH4 than temperate grasses, when they are fed to ruminants. A number of experiments have been performed in respiration chambers and head-boxes to assess the enteric CH4 mitigation potential of foliage and pods of tropical plants, as well as nitrates (NO3−) and vegetable oils in practical rations for cattle. On the basis of individual determinations of enteric CH4 carried out in respiration chambers, the average CH4 yield for cattle fed low-quality tropical grasses (>70% ration DM) was 17.0 g CH4/kg DM intake. Results showed that when foliage and ground pods of tropical trees and shrubs were incorporated in cattle rations, methane yield (g CH4/kg DM intake) was decreased by 10% to 25%, depending on plant species and level of intake of the ration. Incorporation of nitrates and vegetable oils in the ration decreased enteric CH4 yield by ∼6% to ∼20%, respectively. Condensed tannins, saponins and starch contained in foliages, pods and seeds of tropical trees and shrubs, as well as nitrates and vegetable oils, can be fed to cattle to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions under smallholder conditions. Strategies for enteric CH4 mitigation in cattle grazing low-quality tropical forages can effectively increase productivity while decreasing enteric CH4 emissions in absolute terms and per unit of product (e.g. meat, milk), thus reducing the contribution of ruminants to GHG emissions and therefore to climate change.
In 1990, Latin American countries committed to psychiatric reforms including psychiatric bed removals. Aim of the study was to quantify changes in psychiatric bed numbers and prison population rates after the initiation of psychiatric reforms in Latin America.
Methods
We searched primary sources to collect numbers of psychiatric beds and prison population rates across Latin America between the years 1991 and 2017. Changes of psychiatric bed numbers were compared against trends of incarceration rates and tested for associations using fixed-effects regression of panel data. Economic variables were used as covariates. Reliable data were obtained from 17 Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Results
The number of psychiatric beds decreased in 15 out of 17 Latin American countries (median −35%) since 1991. Our findings indicate the total removal of 69 415 psychiatric beds. The prison population increased in all countries (median +181%). Panel data regression analyses showed a significant inverse relationship −2.70 (95% CI −4.28 to −1.11; p = 0.002) indicating that prison populations increased more when and where more psychiatric beds were removed. This relationship held up when introducing per capita income and income inequality as covariates −2.37 (95% CI −3.95 to −0.8; p = 0.006).
Conclusions
Important numbers of psychiatric beds have been removed in Latin America. Removals of psychiatric beds were related to increasing incarceration rates. Minimum numbers of psychiatric beds need to be defined and addressed in national policies.
The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is a globally invasive pest, often controlled with the sterile insect technique (SIT). For the SIT, mass-rearing of the target insect followed by irradiation are imperatives. Sterile males are often less able to inhibit female remating and transfer less number of sperm, and even irradiation could affect male reproductive organs, with consequences for their ability to inhibit female remating. On the other hand, male age could affect their ability to modulate female response after mating. Here, we evaluated the quality of the genetic sexing strain Vienna-8-tsl mass-reared in Bioplanta San Juan, Argentina, under laboratory conditions, with regard to: (i) the ability of sterile males irradiated at 100 or 140 Gy to inhibit female remating, in the same day and at 24 h of first copulation; (ii) the ability of 3, 4 or 5 day-old sterile males to inhibit female remating at 24 h of first copulation, and (iii) the effect of a reduction in irradiation doses on the number of sperm stored by females and reproductive organ size in virgin males. Sterile males were better able than wild males to inhibit female remating in the same day of first copulation and as able as wild males 1 day after first copulation. Male age did not affect their ability to inhibit female receptivity. Number of sperm stored by females, testes size and ectodermal accessory glands size were not affected by male identity, while sterile 100 Gy males had larger mesodermal accessory glands than control lab males. A reduction in irradiation dose does not impact any variable measured, except for percentage of sperm-depleted females: females mated with sterile 100 Gy males had lower probabilities to store sperm. The results showed here are very encouraging for tsl Vienna 8 strain reared in Argentina and are discussed in comparison with previous studies in C. capitata female remating with dissimilar results.
There is a shortage of psychiatrists worldwide. Within Europe, psychiatric trainees can move between countries, which increases the problem in some countries and alleviates it in others. However, little is known about the reasons psychiatric trainees move to another country.
Methods:
Survey of psychiatric trainees in 33 European countries, exploring how frequently psychiatric trainees have migrated or want to migrate, their reasons to stay and leave the country, and the countries where they come from and where they move to. A 61-item self-report questionnaire was developed, covering questions about their demographics, experiences of short-term mobility (from 3 months up to 1 year), experiences of long-term migration (of more than 1 year) and their attitudes towards migration.
Results:
A total of 2281 psychiatric trainees in Europe participated in the survey, of which 72.0% have ‘ever’ considered to move to a different country in their future, 53.5% were considering it ‘now’, at the time of the survey, and 13.3% had already moved country. For these immigrant trainees, academic was the main reason they gave to move from their country of origin. For all trainees, the overall main reason for which they would leave was financial (34.4%), especially in those with lower (<500€) incomes (58.1%), whereas in those with higher (>2500€) incomes, personal reasons were paramount (44.5%).
Conclusions:
A high number of psychiatric trainees considered moving to another country, and their motivation largely reflects the substantial salary differences. These findings suggest tackling financial conditions and academic opportunities.
We investigated whether high adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet was independently associated with lower risk of incident hypertension. Participants included 5632 adults, without hypertension at the baseline (2008–2010) of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health, who took part in the second follow-up visit (2012–2014). Adherence to the DASH diet was estimated at baseline using a score based on eight food items (final scores from 8 to 40 points) and was categorised as high adherence (≥30 points, or ≥75 %) and low adherence (<75 %; reference). Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or use of antihypertensive drugs. The association between adherence to the DASH diet and the risk of incident hypertension was estimated using Cox regression models adjusted by covariates. In total, 780 new cases of hypertension (13·8 %) were identified in about 3·8-year follow-up. Participants with high adherence to the DASH diet had 26 % lower risk of hypertension (hazard ratio (HR) 0·74; 95 % CI 0·57, 0·95) after adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviours, diabetes and family history of hypertension. The HR reduced to 0·81 (95 % CI 0·63, 1·04) and was of borderline statistical significance after adjustment for BMI, suggesting that lower body weight explains about 10 % of the association between high adherence to the DASH diet and hypertension risk reduction. The results indicate that high adherence to the DASH diet lowered the risk of hypertension by one-fourth over a relatively short follow-up period.
Cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles having sizes in the order of nanometers. They are materials that have outstanding properties for down conversion applications. These nanostructures have been used in the fabrication of white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) in the last years. However, inhomogeneous deposition of CdS QD conversion materials allows unwanted UV light escape. In addition, low efficiency due to strong self-quenching effect, incompatibility between CdS QD solution/crystal polyester resin matrix and reabsorption are common problems that need to be solved. In this work, we try to address the incompatibility between the CdS QD solution/crystal polyester resin matrix by using a solvent exchange procedure. To block the unwanted UV-light escape, we coated our devices with a mixture of graphene carbon quantum dot (GCQD) solution/crystal polyester resin matrix. The QDs and the WLED prototypes were characterized by absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The QDs embedded in the matrix shown a good homogeneous dispersion. On the other hand, the mixture shown a rapid solidification. These facts indicate a good compatibility between the CdS QDs and the crystal polyester resin. We also observed a considerable reduction of unwanted near UV-light. White light emission from WLED devices with common crystal polyester resin and low-cost materials has been achieved.
With their sizes larger than 0.7 Mpc, Giant Radio Galaxies (GRGs) are the largest individual objects in the Universe. To date, the reason why they reach such enormous extensions is still unclear. One of the proposed scenarios suggests that they are the result of multiple episodes of jet activity. Cross-correlating the INTEGRAL+Swift AGN population with radio catalogues (NVSS, FIRST, SUMSS), we found that 22% of the sources are GRG (a factor four higher than those selected from radio catalogues). Remarkably, all of the sources in the sample show signs of restarting radio activity. The X-ray properties are consistent with this scenario, the sources being in a high-accretion, high-luminosity state with respect to the previous activity responsible for the radio lobes.
Paratacamite-(Mg) (IMA 2013-014), Cu3(Mg, Cu)Cl2(OH)6, is the new Mg-analogue of paratacamite. It was found near the village of Cuya in the Camarones Valley, Arica Province, Chile. The mineral is a supergene secondary phase occurring in association with anhydrite, atacamite, chalcopyrite, copiapite, dolomite, epsomite, haydeeite, hematite, magnesite and quartz. Paratacamite-(Mg) crystals are rhombs and thick to thin prisms up to 0.3 mm in size exhibiting the forms {201} and {001}. Twinning by reflection on {10} is common. The mineral is transparent with a vitreous lustre, with medium to deep-green colour and light-green streak. Mohs hardness is 3–3½, the tenacity is brittle and the fracture is conchoidal. Paratacamite-(Mg) has one perfect cleavage on {201}. The measured and calculated densities are 3.50(2) and 3.551 g cm–3, respectively. The mineral is optically uniaxial (–) with ε = 1.785(5) and ω > 1.8 and slight pleochroism: O (bluish green) > E (green). Electron-microprobe analyses provided the empirical formula Cu3(Mg0.60Cu0.38Ni0.01Mn0.01)Cl2(OH)6. The mineral is easily soluble in dilute HCl. Paratacamite-(Mg) is trigonal, R, with cell parameters a = 13.689(1), c = 14.025(1) Å, V = 2275.8(3) Å3 and Z = 12. There is a pronounced sub-cell corresponding to a' ≈ ½a, c' ≈ c in space group Rm. The eight strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [dobs Å(I)(hkl)]: 5.469(87)(021), 4.686(26)(003), 2.904(34)(401), 2.762(100)(22,042), 2.265(81)(404), 1.819(26)(603), 1.710 (34)(440) and 1.380(19)(446). The structure was refined to R1 = 0.039 for 480 Fo > 4σF reflections. Refinement using interlayer Mg-Cu site scattering factors indicated that Mg is distributed statistically between both interlayer octahedra M1O6 and M2O6. A comparison of the distortions associated with M1O6 and M2O6 octahedra suggest that the sample is near the upper compositional limit for stability of the R phase.
Johnsons and Hurd Glaciers are the two main glacier units of Hurd Peninsula ice cap, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. They presently cover an area of about 10 km2. Johnsons is a tidewater glacier, while Hurd Glacier ends on emerged land. In this paper, we estimate the changes in ice volume during the period 1956–2000, and compare them with the regional meteorological records. The volume-change estimates are based on the comparison of digital terrain models for the glacier surface, constructed from aerial photographs taken by the British Antarctic Survey in 1956 and from our geodetic measurements in 1999/2000. The total volume estimates are based on an ice-thickness map constructed from radio-echo sounding profiles (18–25 MHz) done in 1999–2001, showing maximum ice thickness of about 200 m. We estimate the changes in ice volume during the period 1956–2000 to be –0.108±0.048km3, which represents a 10.0±4.5% decrease from the 1956 total volume of 1.076±0.055km3 and is equivalent to an average annual mass balance of –0.23±0.10mw.e. during 1956–2000. Ice-thickness changes range from –40 to +20 m, averaging –5.5±4.4 m. Most areas show ice thinning; the thickening is limited to a small area within Johnsons Glacier. All glacier fronts, except Johnsons’ calving front, show retreat. These changes are consistent with the regional meteorological records for mean summer temperature, which show a trend of +0.023±0.005˚Ca–1 during the period 1956–2000.
We simulated the frequency of tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers in order to classify the risk of TB transmission for nine hospitals in Medellín, Colombia. We used a risk assessment approach to estimate the average number of infections in three risk groups of a cohort of 1082 workers exposed to potentially infectious patients over 10- and 20-day periods. The risk level of the hospitals was classified according to TB prevalence: two of the hospitals were ranked as being of very high priority, six as high priority and one as low priority. Consistent results were obtained when the simulation was validated in two hospitals by studying 408 healthcare workers using interferon gamma release assays and tuberculin skin testing. The latent infection prevalence using laboratory tests was 41% [95% confidence interval (CI) 34·3–47·7] and 44% (95% CI 36·4–51·0) in those hospitals, and in the simulation, it was 40·7% (95% CI 32·3–49·0) and 36% (95% CI 27·9–44·0), respectively. Simulation of risk may be useful as a tool to classify local and regional hospitals according to their risk of nosocomial TB transmission, and to facilitate the design of hospital infection control plans.
The aim of the study was the construction of risk maps for exposure to Phlebotomus sergenti, the main vector of Leishmania tropica, with a view to identifying hot spots for the potential establishment of this parasite in the southwest of Europe. Data were collected on the presence/absence of this vector and the ecological and climatic characteristics of 662 sampling sites located in the southeast, centre and northeast of the Iberian Peninsula (south-western Europe). The environmental factors associated with the distribution of P. sergenti were determined. The best predictors for the presence of this dipteran were ‘altitude’, ‘land use’, ‘land surface temperature’, ‘aspect’, ‘adjacent land cover’, ‘absence of vegetation in wall’ and the ‘absence of PVC pipes in the drainage holes of retaining walls’. Risk maps for exposure to the vector were drawn up based on these variables. The validation of the predictive risk model confirmed its usefulness in the detection of areas with a high risk of P. sergenti being present. These locations represent potential hot spots for an autochthonous focus of L. tropica becoming established. The risk maps produced for P. sergenti presence revealed several areas in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula to be the most prone to this process, which would make it possible for the disease to enter south-western Europe.
The information stored in animal feed databases is highly variable, in terms of both provenance and quality; therefore, data pre-processing is essential to ensure reliable results. Yet, pre-processing at best tends to be unsystematic; at worst, it may even be wholly ignored. This paper sought to develop a systematic approach to the various stages involved in pre-processing to improve feed database outputs. The database used contained analytical and nutritional data on roughly 20 000 alfalfa samples. A range of techniques were examined for integrating data from different sources, for detecting duplicates and, particularly, for detecting outliers. Special attention was paid to the comparison of univariate and multivariate solutions. Major issues relating to the heterogeneous nature of data contained in this database were explored, the observed outliers were characterized and ad hoc routines were designed for error control. Finally, a heuristic diagram was designed to systematize the various aspects involved in the detection and management of outliers and errors.