Anaerobically digested green manure is a valuable fertilizer

Anaerobic digestion of green manure increases nitrogen (N)availability. However, the N fertilizer replacement value is affected by the initial quality of the green manure, which is related to plant species composition and cutting frequency

Nitrogen fertilizer replacement value of digestates from three green manures

Green manure mixtures including legumes and forbs can help to increase N availability in organic arable systems. Anaerobic digestion of green manures may provide ammonium rich digestate, which can be redistributed as fertilizer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plant species composition, cutting strategy and anaerobic digestion on the N fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) of different green manures. Digestates obtained from silages of pure stand lucerne (four cuts/year) and a mixture including lucerne, grass and forbs (two or four cuts/year) were used to fertilize winter wheat (surface banding) and spring barley (injection). In general, NFRV was 46–173% higher in spring barley than winter wheat, due to the different application method and timing, which reflect the common practices in Denmark. NFRV of digestates were 25–63% higher than the corresponding silages, with the largest increase with the most fibrous material (mixture at two cuts/year). Total N concentration (DM based) in the silages largely explained NFRV of the digestates. To obtain NFRV above 60%, total N concentration of silage should exceed 3.5 g 100 g-1 DM, achievable with silages from four-cut strategies. Silages of plant materials with different composition and N content may be similar in terms of biomethane production, but the fertilizer value of the digestates varies considerably depending on total N concentration

The effect of bilateral internal thoracic artery harvesting on superficial and deep sternal infection: The role of skeletonization

Objective: To determine the relative risk of sternal dehiscence in patients undergoing bilateral internal thoracic artery harvesting and to assess whether and to what extent the technique of artery skeletonization might reduce this risk. Methods: Prospectively collected data on patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operations with at least a single internal thoracic artery were reviewed. The last 450 patients receiving bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts were compared with 450 patients who received a single internal thoracic artery during the same period. The left internal thoracic artery was always harvested in a pedicled fashion. Among patients receiving a bilateral internal thoracic artery, both arteries were harvested in a pedicled fashion in 300 cases, whereas both internal thoracic arteries were skeletonized in the remaining 150 cases. Results: Compared with a single internal thoracic artery, harvesting both internal thoracic arteries either in a skeletonized or in a pedicled fashion increased the chance of deep (1.1% vs 3.3% vs 4.7%; P =. 01) or superficial (4.8% vs 7.8% vs 12%; P =. 002) sternal infection. However, the technique of artery harvesting (odds ratio, 4.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-12.1); the presence of peripheral arteriopathy (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-8.5), and resternotomy for bleeding (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-33.6) were the only independent predictors for deep sternal infection, whereas the technique of artery harvesting (odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-5.4), female sex (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.2), and diabetes (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.9) were the only independent predictors of superficial sternal infection. In diabetic patients, there was no difference in the incidence of deep sternal infection among patients receiving a single internal thoracic artery or double skeletonized internal thoracic arteries (P =. 4). Conclusions: Bilateral internal thoracic artery harvesting carries a higher risk of sternal infection than harvesting a single internal thoracic artery. Skeletonization of both internal thoracic arteries significantly decreases this risk. A strategy of bilateral thoracic artery grafting can also be offered to patients at high risk for wound infection. Copyright © 2005 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Endoscopic-assisted transorbital surgery: Where do we stand on the scott’s parabola? personal considerations after a 10-year experience

Transorbital approaches are genuinely versatile surgical routes which show interesting potentials in skull base surgery. Given their "new" trajectory, they can be a very useful adjunct to traditional routes, even being a valid alternative to them in some cases, and add valuable opportunities in selected patients. Indications are constantly expanding, and currently include selected intraorbital, skull base and even intra-axial lesions, both benign and malignant. Given their relatively recent development and thus unfamiliarity among the skull base community, achieving adequate proficiency needs not only a personalized training and knowledge but also, above all, an adequate case volume and a dedicated setting. Current, but mostly future, applications should be selected by genetic, omics and biological features and applied in the context of a truly multidisciplinary environment

A review and meta-analysis of mitigation measures for nitrous oxide emissions from crop residues

Crop residues are of crucial importance to maintain or even increase soil carbon stocks and fertility, and thereby to address the global challenge of climate change mitigation. However, crop residues can also potentially stimulate emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N$_{2}$O) from soils. A better understanding of how to mitigate N$_{2}$O emissions due to crop residue management while promoting positive effects on soil carbon is needed to reconcile the opposing effects of crop residues on the greenhouse gas balance of agroecosystems. Here, we combine a literature review and a meta-analysis to identify and assess measures for mitigating N$_{2}$O emissions due to crop residue application to agricultural fields. Our study shows that crop residue removal, shallow incorporation, incorporation of residues with C:N ratio > 30 and avoiding incorporation of residues from crops terminated at an immature physiological stage, are measures leading to significantly lower N$_{2}$O emissions. Other practices such as incorporation timing and interactions with fertilisers are less conclusive. Several of the evaluated N$_{2}$O mitigation measures implied negative side-effects on yield, soil organic carbon storage, nitrate leaching and/or ammonia volatilization. We identified additional strategies with potential to reduce crop residue N$_{2}$O emissions without strong negative side-effects, which require further research. These are: a) treatment of crop residues before field application, e.g., conversion of residues into biochar or anaerobic digestate, b) co-application with nitrification inhibitors or N-immobilizing materials such as compost with a high C:N ratio, paper waste or sawdust, and c) use of residues obtained from crop mixtures. Our study provides a scientific basis to be developed over the coming years on how to increase the sustainability of agroecosystems though adequate crop residue management

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae

How to play a MOOC: Practices and simulation

Massive Open Online Courses are important online study resources. They aim at providing online education to an increasingly large and heterogeneous audience: school pupils, university students or professionals who intend to acquire or develop their skill to better respond to market needs. The growing number of learners (more than 100 million globally at the moment, https://www.classcentral.com/report/mooc-stats-2019/) and courses (over 11 thousand, ibidem) reveals new and unprecedented scenarios in lifelong learning paths. Offering educational products to such an audience requires producers \u2013 not only private individuals but also public entities \u2013 to evaluate new teaching methods and methodologies for distance learning, in order to encourage participation and reduce their dropping out. Using gamification within an online course seems to contribute to the growth of users\u2019 participation rate, as well as to increase the course completion rate. In this work, the authors will show the interactive solutions that two Italian universities, the University of Naples Federico II \u2013 with its Federica Web Learning branch \u2013 and the University of Padua set up for their MOOC-based courses

Environmentally realistic concentrations of the antibiotic Trimethoprim affect haemocyte parameters but not antioxidant enzyme activities in the clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Several biomarkers were measured to evaluate the effects of Trimethoprim (TMP; 300, 600 and 900 ng/L) in the clam Ruditapes philippinarum after exposure for 1, 3 and 7 days. The actual TMP concentrations were also measured in the experimental tanks. The total haemocyte count significantly increased in 7 day-exposed clams, whereas alterations in haemocyte volume were observed after 1 and 3 days of exposure. Haemocyte proliferation was increased significantly in animals exposed for 1 and 7 days, whereas haemocyte lysate lysozyme activity decreased significantly after 1 and 3 days. In addition, TMP significantly increased haemolymph lactate dehydrogenase activity after 3 and 7 days. Regarding antioxidant enzymes, only a significant time-dependent effect on CAT activity was recorded. This study demonstrated that environmentally realistic concentrations of TMP affect haemocyte parameters in clams, suggesting that haemocytes are a useful cellular model for the assessment of the impact of TMP on bivalves

"Tailored" approach to selected recurrent cranio-cervical chordomas: experience and lessons learned

Background: Among chordoma patients, recurrent cases are by far more complex to be managed, and cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) localizations represent a particular challenge due to the complexity of the anatomical egion which makes it difficult to obtain a radical resection.Methodology: We report our personal experience in treating four patients with recurrent CCJ chordoma with "personalized" multiportal and eventually multistage approaches.Conclusions: Endoscopic endonasal approaches have gained widespread acceptance and are considered the workhorse in most cases of craniocervical junction chordomas. Nonetheless, in some cases of recurrence, or in presence of very lateralized lesions/ anatomical variations midline approaches are either contraindicated or very difficult to perform. In all these cases it seems reasonable to consider a versatile strategy including different approaches, modulating the surgical needs with different answers and solutions offered by the different routes. In other words to personalize as much as possible the approach, being creative and not dogmatic.Scientific Assessment and Innovation in Neurosurgical Treatment Strategie