Resposta de um cultivar de pêssego com caroço aderente à irrigação por défice regulado

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) involves inducing water stress during specific fruit growth phases by irrigating at less than full evapotranspiration. The objectives of this research were to study the effects of RDI perfomed at stage II of fruit growth and postharvest, on productivity of clingstone peaches, fruit quality as well as photosynthetic rate and midday leaf water potential. The research was conducted in a commercial clingstone peach (Prunus persica L. Batch cv. A-37) orchard in Greece. Trees were irrigated by means of microsprinklers and their frequency was determined using local meteorological station data and the FAO 56 Pennman-Monteith method. Photosynthetic rate was measured by a portable infrared gas analyzer. Midday leaf water potential was measured by the pressure chamber technique. During the years 2005 and 2006, the treatment RDII with irrigation applied at growth stage II of the peach tree did not affect productivity, fresh and dry mass of fruits. RDII reduced preharvest fruit drop in comparison to the control. RDII as well as the combined treatment RDII plus RDIP with irrigation applied at postharvest, at both years reduced shoot length of the vigorous shoots inside the canopy. RDII in comparison to the control increased the soluble solids content of the fruits and the ratio soluble solids/acidity. However it did not affect fruit acidity and fruit firmness. RDII as well as RDII plus RDIP in 2006 increased 'double' fruits and fruits with open cavity in comparison to the control and RDIP. Water savings were considerable and associated with the climatic conditions of each year.A irrigação por défice regulado (RDI) envolve a indução de défice de água durante fases específicas do crescimento das frutas, irrigando a taxas menores que a evapotranspiração. Os objetivos desse estudo foram verificar os efeitos da RDI no estágio II do crescimento das frutas e no periodo pós-colheita, avaliando a produtividade de pêssegos, a qualidade dos frutos, bem como a taxa fotossintética e o potencial da água na folha. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em um pomar comercial de pêssegos com caroço aderente (Prunus persica L. Batch cv. A-37) da Grécia. As árvores foram irrigadas por meio de microaspersores e sua frequência foi determinada por meio de dados meteorológicos obtidos em estação automática e o método FAO 56 Pennman-Monteith para determinação de evepotranspiração. A taxa de fotossíntese foi medida por analisador de gás na faixa do infravermelho. O potencial da água na folha foi medido ao meio-dia usando a técnica da câmara de pressão. Durante 2005 e 2006 o tratamento RDII com irrigação aplicada no estágio II não apresentou efeito sobre a produção, pesos seco e fresco dos frutos. RDII reduziu a queda de frutos antes da colheita, em relação ao controle. RDII, como também o tratamento combinado de RDII mais RDIP com irrigação aplicada em pós-colheita, reduziu o comprimento de ramos vigorosos dentro do dossel nos dois anos de estudo. Em comparação com o controle, RDII aumentou o conteúdo de sólidos solúveis dos frutos e a relação sólidos solúveis/acidez, mas não afetou a acidez dos frutos e a firmeza da polpa. Em 2006 RDII e RDII mais RDIP aumentaram os `frutos dobrados' e frutos com cavidade aberta, em comparação com o controle. A economia de água foi considerável e associada às condições climáticas de cada ano

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Laboratory experiments on wetting-drainage in a layered soil sample and mathematical simulation

Αντικείμενο της εργασίας αυτής ήταν η μελέτη της κίνησης του νερού με τη νέα μέθοδο TDR κατά την διαδικασία διήθησης-στράγγισης σε στρωματοποιημενα εδάφη τα οποία εμφανίζονται συνήθως στην πράξη. Συγκεκριμένα σε προβλήματα υπόγειας άρδευσης είναι απαραίτητο να γνωρίζει κάποιος πώς κινείται το νερό στο έδαφος. Για το σκοπό αυτό επιλέχτηκαν δύο εδαφικά δείγματα (πηλοαμμώδες και αμμώδες) από περιοχή της Λάρισας πλησίον του Πηνειού ποταμού, τα οποία και τοποθετήθηκαν σε μία κυλινδρική στήλη από πλεξιγκλάς. Μετρήθηκε η ξηρά πυκνότητα των εδαφικών δειγμάτων στο Εργαστήριο Γεωργικής Υδραυλικής του ΑΠΘ με τη γ-ακτινοβολία και δεν υπήρχαν αποκλίσεις των πυκνοτήτων που μετρήθηκαν από το μέσο όρο της πυκνότητας, γεγονός που δείχνει ότι επιτεύχθηκε καλή ομοιογένεια και στα δύο δείγματα των στρώσεων η οποία οφείλεται στον τρόπο πλήρωσης της στήλης. Η μέτρηση της υγρασίας έγινε με τη σύγχρονη τεχνολογία TDR η οποία είναι μια μη ραδιενεργός μέθοδος, εύχρηστη και δεν απαιτεί βαθμονόμηση κατά την εφαρμογή της. Χρησιμοποιήθηκε για πρώτη φορά στον Ελληνικό χώρο στο εργαστήριο για μελέτη ακόρεστης ροής στο έδαφος με αισθητήρες μήκους 5 cm οι οποίοι σχεδιάστηκαν από το Εργαστήριο Γεωργικής Υδραυλικής του Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας σε συνεργασία με την Εταιρία SOIL MOISTURE EQUIPMENT CORP. της Αμερικής η οποία τους κατασκεύασε ειδικά για τις ανάγκες της παρούσας πειραματικής διάταξης. Οι πιέσεις του νερού των εδαφικών πόρων μετρήθηκαν με τασίμετρα συνδεδεμένα με μετατροπείς πίεσης οι οποίοι συνδέθηκαν με καταγραφέα δεδομένων (data logger), με συχνότητα εγγραφής ανά λεπτό και δυνατότητα μεταφοράς των δεδομένων από τον καταγραφέα στον Η/Υ σε αρχείο Excel για επεξεργασία. Από τη διαδικασία διύγρανσης-στράγγισης του εδαφικού νερού προέκυψαν οι πειραματικές οριακές καμπύλες θ(h) στις οποίες το φαινόμενο της υστέρησης είναι αρκετά ευδιάκριτο στα εδαφικά δείγματα που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν. Οι πειραματικές καμπύλες αυτές προσεγγίστηκαν με πολύ καλό συντελεστή συσχέτισης από το μοντέλο van Genuchten με τη μέθοδο των συζυγών διευθύνσεων και τη μέθοδο του Marquardt. Το θεωρητικό μέρος της έρευνας περιέλαβε τη μελέτη της κατακόρυφης κίνησης του νερού σε στρωματοποιημένο έδαφος. Οι υδροδυναμικές παράμετροι που εξήχθησαν από την πειραματική διαδικασία αποτέλεσαν το απαραίτητο εργαλείο για την εξομοίωση της κίνησης του νερού στα συγκεκριμένα δείγματα εδάφους. Έγινε επίλυση της εξίσωσης τύπου Richards με τη μέθοδο των πεπερασμένων διαφορών και την τεχνική Newton - Raphson. Συγχρόνως παρουσιάστηκε ένα νέο επαναληπτικό μοντέλο που επιλύει την εξίσωση τύπου Fokker Planck. Με βάση την αριθμητική επίλυση της εξίσωσης Richards, μελετήθηκε η μεταβολή του όγκου του νερού και τα προφίλ υγρασίας και πίεσης. Διαπιστώθηκε καλή προσέγγιση μεταξύ των πειραματικών τιμών της υγρασίας και των μετώπων υγρασίας που προέκυψαν από την αριθμητική επίλυση με εφαρμογή του προγράμματος WAVE για πρώτη φορά σε εδαφική στήλη. Οι αθροιστικοί όγκοι νερού που προέκυψαν από την αριθμητική επίλυση του υπολογιστικού σχήματος με την εφαρμογή του μοντέλου WAVE, συγκρίθηκαν τόσο με τις πειραματικές τιμές που προσδιορίστηκαν με ζύγιση κατά την διάρκεια των πειραμάτων, όσο και από την ολοκλήρωση των μετώπων υγρασίας που κατασκευάστηκαν από τις πειραματικές τιμές και διαπιστώθηκε ικανοποιητική σύμπτωση αυτών. Τέλος διαπιστώθηκε καλή προσέγγιση μεταξύ των πειραματικών τιμών υγρασίας και των μετώπων υγρασίας που προέκυψαν από την αριθμητική επίλυση του υπολογιστικού σχήματος όταν χρησιμοποιήθηκαν οι παράμετροι της χαρακτηριστικής καμπύλης που προσδιορίστηκαν με τη μέθοδο των συζυγών και η ακόρεστη υδραυλική αγωγιμότητα από την εμπειρική σχέση του Gardner. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας έρευνας είναι δυνατόν να τύχουν ευρείας εφαρμογής στην νεοεμφανιζόμενη μέθοδο της υπόγειας άρδευσης κατά την διάρκεια της οποίας λαμβάνει χώρα στράγγιση και διύγρανση συγχρόνως

Wastewater Reuse Planning in Agriculture: The Case of Aitoloakarnania, Western Greece

In the present paper, the possibility of the treated municipal wastewater (TMWW) reuse in agriculture, produced by the Wastewater Treatment Plants of Aitoloakarnania prefecture, one of the greatest agricultural regions of Greece, has been investigated. The boundaries of agricultural soils and the irrigated crops were defined, and the water requirements of crops were calculated. Also the chemical characteristics of the TMWW were determined for the safe reuse in crop production, and for the protection of soils from potential pollution. The research conducted in this area is expected to constitute the basis for an integrated TMWW reuse planning in soils and crops, in the context of sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection. It must be mentioned that the Messolongion-Aitolikon lagoon is in the area under investigation, one of the largest wetland ecosystem of Mediterranean region, which makes the area ecologically sensitive. The ultimate scope of this study is to describe the planning of the TMWW reuse on the basis of soil characteristics, climatic factors, and irrigation water requirements of the crops, grown in this ecologically sensitive area. The volume of the effluents produced by the wastewater treatment plants of Messolonghion, Agrinion, Nafpaktos, Aitoliko and Thermo could cover 19.3%, 25.14%, >100%, 17.18 and 87.84% of the irrigation water requirements, respectively

Surgeons' perspectives on artificial intelligence to support clinical decision-making in trauma and emergency contexts: results from an international survey

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction in medicine and surgery. AI-based applications can offer tools to examine high-volume data to inform predictive analytics that supports complex decision-making processes. Time-sensitive trauma and emergency contexts are often challenging. The study aims to investigate trauma and emergency surgeons' knowledge and perception of using AI-based tools in clinical decision-making processes. Methods: An online survey grounded on literature regarding AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was advertised to 917 WSES members through the society's website and Twitter profile. Results: 650 surgeons from 71 countries in five continents participated in the survey. Results depict the presence of technology enthusiasts and skeptics and surgeons' preference toward more classical decision-making aids like clinical guidelines, traditional training, and the support of their multidisciplinary colleagues. A lack of knowledge about several AI-related aspects emerges and is associated with mistrust. Discussion: The trauma and emergency surgical community is divided into those who firmly believe in the potential of AI and those who do not understand or trust AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids. Academic societies and surgical training programs should promote a foundational, working knowledge of clinical AI

Time for a paradigm shift in shared decision-making in trauma and emergency surgery? Results from an international survey

Background Shared decision-making (SDM) between clinicians and patients is one of the pillars of the modern patient-centric philosophy of care. This study aims to explore SDM in the discipline of trauma and emergency surgery, investigating its interpretation as well as the barriers and facilitators for its implementation among surgeons. Methods Grounding on the literature on the topics of the understanding, barriers, and facilitators of SDM in trauma and emergency surgery, a survey was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was sent to all 917 WSES members, advertised through the society’s website, and shared on the society’s Twitter profile. Results A total of 650 trauma and emergency surgeons from 71 countries in five continents participated in the initiative. Less than half of the surgeons understood SDM, and 30% still saw the value in exclusively engaging multidisciplinary provider teams without involving the patient. Several barriers to effectively partnering with the patient in the decision-making process were identified, such as the lack of time and the need to concentrate on making medical teams work smoothly. Discussion Our investigation underlines how only a minority of trauma and emergency surgeons understand SDM, and perhaps, the value of SDM is not fully accepted in trauma and emergency situations. The inclusion of SDM practices in clinical guidelines may represent the most feasible and advocated solutions