Path analyses of yield and some agronomic and quality traits of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different environments

This research was conducted to determine characters effecting grain yield in fifty bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and advanced lines by using simple correlation coefficient and path analysis under 2 locations (high rainfall and low rainfall; 745 and 506 mm, respectively). A total of 50 genotypes, 25 for each independent experiment, were tested for grain yield, test weight, 1000-kernel weight, Zeleny sedimentation, protein content and plant height. Grain yield was significantly correlated with plant height in high rainfall condition. It was significantly correlated with all components except Zeleny sedimentation and protein content in low rainfall condition. Results suggest  that plant height and test weight are primary selection criteria for improving grain yield in bread wheat in high and low rainfall conditions.Key words: Bread wheat, grain yield and components, correlation coefficient, path analyses

Coeliac trunk and common hepatic artery variations in children: an analysis with computed tomography angiography

Background: Understanding the coeliac trunk (CeT) and hepatic artery anatomy is important not only in preventing iatrogenic injuries but also in planning surgical procedures in children. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse the prevalence of CeT and common hepatic artery (CHA) variations in the paediatric population.   Materials and methods: One hundred and seventy-four children who underwent abdominal multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography, either because of trauma or liver transplantation, were analysed retrospectively. The patterns of CeT, CHA and their variant branches were revealed and compared with previous studies involving adults.   Results: A total of 157 (90.2%) of the 174 patients had normal CeT anatomy, whereas 17 (9.8%) had variations. Five types of CeT variations were identified according to Song’s classification in which ‘hepatosplenic trunk + left gastric artery + superior mesenteric artery’ was the most prevalent. One hundred-twelve (64.4%) of the 174 patients had normal CHA anatomy; however, 62 (35.6%) had variations. Six types of CHA variations were identified according to Michel’s and Hiatt’s classification. The most common was ‘replaced left hepatic artery originating from left gastric artery’.   Conclusions: The prevalences of CeT and hepatic artery variations are high in children, as they are in older patients. Awareness of these variations is important in terms of avoiding iatrogenic injury and in promoting surgical procedure planning for liver transplantation or abdominal tumour surgery

In situ functionalization of a cellulosic-based activated carbon with magnetic iron oxides for the removal of carbamazepine from wastewater

The main goal of this work was to produce an easily recoverable waste-based magnetic activated carbon (MAC) for an efficient removal of the antiepileptic pharmaceutical carbamazepine (CBZ) from wastewater. For this purpose, the synthesis procedure was optimized and a material (MAC4) providing immediate recuperation from solution, remarkable adsorptive performance and relevant properties (specific surface area of 551 m2 g-1 and saturation magnetization of 39.84 emu g-1) was selected for further CBZ kinetic and equilibrium adsorption studies. MAC4 presented fast CBZ adsorption rates and short equilibrium times (< 30-45 min) in both ultrapure water and wastewater. Equilibrium studies showed that MAC4 attained maximum adsorption capacities (qm) of 68 ± 4 mg g-1 in ultrapure water and 60 ± 3 mg g-1 in wastewater, suggesting no significant interference of the aqueous matrix in the adsorption process. Overall, this work provides evidence of potential application of a waste-based MAC in the tertiary treatment of wastewaters.publishe

Kinetic, Isotherm and Thermodynamic Analysis on Adsorption of Cr(VI) Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic-Poly(divinylbenzene-vinylimidazole) Microbeads

The magnetic-poly(divinylbenzene-1-vinylimidazole) [m-poly(DVB-VIM)] microbeads (average diameter 53–212 μm) were synthesized and characterized; their use as adsorbent in removal of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated. The m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads were prepared by copolymerizing of divinylbenzene (DVB) with 1-vinylimidazole (VIM). The m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, ESR, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and swelling studies. At fixed solid/solution ratio the various factors affecting adsorption of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions such as pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature were analyzed. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkvich isotherms were used as the model adsorption equilibrium data. Langmuir isotherm model was the most adequate. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Ritch-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models were used to describe the adsorption kinetics. The apparent activation energy was found to be 5.024 kJ mol−1, which is characteristic of a chemically controlled reaction. The experimental data fitted to pseudo-second-order kinetic. The study of temperature effect was quantified by calculating various thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy changes. The thermodynamic parameters obtained indicated the endothermic nature of adsorption of Cr(VI) ions. Morever, after the use in adsorption, the m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads with paramagnetic property were separeted via the applied magnetic force. The magnetic beads could be desorbed up to about 97% by treating with 1.0 M NaOH. These features make the m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads a potential candidate for support of Cr(VI) ions removal under magnetic field

Eficiencia de costes en la agricultura orgánica: comparación entre familias productoras de pasas orgánicas y convencionales en Turquía

The paper uses data envelopment analysis to compute overall technical and input-specific technical efficiency measures of conventional and organic raisin-producing households in Turkey. The questionnaires were applied to fourty-four organic and thirty-eight conventional producers determined by stratified random sampling. For each household group the average cost efficiency and technical efficiency coefficients are determined to be 0.712 and 0.862 for organic households, while 0.844 and 0.903 for the conventional group. According to the coefficients calculated for individual and different returns to scale, it can be stated that conventional households are on average more efficient relative to their own technology.El documento utiliza análisis de envolvimiento de datos para calcular medidas de rendimiento de técnicas específicas y técnicas de conjunto en familias productoras de pasas orgánicas y convencionales en Turquía. Los cuestionarios se aplicaron a 44 productores orgánicos y a 38 productores convencionales determinados por un método estratificado de muestreo al azar. Mediante el análisis de los resultados por grupos, se determinó que la media de eficiencia por coste y el coeficiente de eficiencia técnica para el grupo orgánico fueron de 0,712 y 0,862 respectivamente, y para el grupo convencional fue de 0,844 y 0,903 respectivamente. Según los coeficientes calculados por individuo y diferentes respuestas de la escala, se puede afirmar que las familias productoras convencionales son de media más eficientes en relación a su propia tecnología