AIM:To evaluate the predictive value of hepatocyte proliferation and hepatic angiogenesis for the occurrence of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhotic patients. METHODS:One hundred-five patients (69 males, 36 females; age range, 51-90 year; median 66 year) with biopsy proven HCV cirrhosis were prospectively monitored for HCC occurrence for a median time of 64 mo. Angiogenesis was assessed by using microvessel density (MVD), hepatocyte turnover by MIB1 and PCNA indexes at inclusion in liver biopsies. RESULTS:Forty six patients (43.8%) developed HCC after a median time of 55 (6-120) mo while 59 (56.2%) did not. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median value of each index. The difference between patients with low (median MVD = 3; range 0-20) and high (median MVD = 7; range 1-24) MVD was statistically significant (χ 2 = 22.06; P < 0.0001) which was not the case for MIB1 or PCNA (MIB-1: χ 2 = 1.41; P = 0.2351; PCNA: χ 2 = 1.27; P = 0.2589). The median MVD was higher in patients who developed HCC than in those who did not. HCC-free interval was significantly longer in patients with the MVD ≤ 4 (P = 0.0006).No relationship was found between MIB1 or PCNA and MVD (MIB-1 r 2 = 0.00007116, P = 0.9281; PCNA: r 2 = 0.001950; P = 0.6692). MVD only was able to predict the occurrence of HCC in these patients. Among other known risk factors for HCC, only male sex was statistically associated with an increased risk. CONCLUSION:Liver angiogenesis has a role for in HCVrelated liver carcinogenesis and for defining patients at higher risk.

The coupling of data and digital innovation opens the way for new business in the financial services sector, where customers are placed at the centre of decisions and data can help to develop customer knowledge. To carry out our research, we adopted a multi-case study approach to explore how a data strategy is developed in the retail banking industry, together with its relationship with customer value, paying particular attention to the heterogeneity between traditional banks and financial technology companies (FinTechs). Two main points emerged from the study. Firstly, there are three possible approaches to Open Finance, which are mainly defined by their different corporate cultures, organisational configurations, technological architecture and data value. Secondly, it is not enough to be a FinTech to be best placed to exploit the market, as some traditional banks share the FinTechs’ approach to Open Finance. Designing new tailored products, customising their prices and offering them over the right channels through targeted communication are all data-driven initiatives that stem from cross- or up-selling potential, core to the retail banking industry for turning a customer into a cash flow, thus enabling value to be created for customers. Our findings additionally revealed that there is a form of external information asymmetry between the customer and the bank, and that there is also an internal asymmetry between bank departments, as their visibility on information about the same customer may differ.

Incorrect pesticide use in plant protection often involve a risk to the health of operators and consumers and can have negative impacts on the environment and the crops. The application of artificial intelligence techniques can help the reduction of the volume sprayed, decreasing these impacts. In Italy, the production of ready-to-eat salad in greenhouses requires usually from 8 to 12 treatments per year. Moreover, inappropriate sprayers are frequently used, being originally designed for open-field operations. To solve this problem, a small vehicle suitable for moving over rough ground (named “rover”), was designed, able to carry out treatments based on a single row pass in the greenhouse, devoted to reduce significantly the sprayed product amount. To ascertain its potential, the prototype has been tested at two growth stages of some salad cultivars, adopting different nozzles and boom settings. Parameters such as boom height, nozzle spacing and inclination, pump pressure and rover traveling speed were studied. To assess the effectiveness of the spraying coverage, for each run several water-sensitive papers were placed throughout the vegetation. Compared to the commonly distributed mixture volume (1000 L/ha), the prototype is able to reduce up to 55% of product sprayed, but still assure an excellent crop coverage.