Sensible use of primary energy in organic greenhouse production

Review of the major sources for energy consumption in organic greenhouse horticulture and analyse of the options available to reduce energy consumption or, at least, increase the energy use efficiency of organic production in greenhouses. At the moment, the best way to match demand and availability of electricity (solar and wind power) is through the grid, also in view of existing subsidies for electricity sale to the grid. There is some scope for local application of solar thermal energy for heating and/or humidity management, although this requires a large investment in thermal buffering. In combined organic farms there is scope for biomass burning and/or biogas production. Technology developments ensure that currently there are commercial greenhouse operations that benefit from the use of biomass and, in some cases, biogas. Such alternative energy sources are progressively replacing traditional (and more pollutant) fuels

Outcome After Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures Versus Nonoperative Treatment in Patients With Multiple Rib Fractures and Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (CWIS-TBI)

BACKGROUND Outcomes after surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) have not been studied in patients with multiple rib fractures and traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesized that SSRF, as compared with nonoperative management, is associated with favorable outcomes in patients with TBI. METHODS A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was performed in patients with rib fractures and TBI between January 2012 and July 2019. Patients who underwent SSRF were compared to those managed nonoperatively. The primary outcome was mechanical ventilation-free days. Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit length of stay and hospital length of stay, tracheostomy, occurrence of complications, neurologic outcome, and mortality. Patients were further stratified into moderate (GCS score, 9–12) and severe (GCS score, ≤8) TBI. RESULTS The study cohort consisted of 456 patients of which 111 (24.3%) underwent SSRF. The SSRF was performed at a median of 3 days, and SSRF-related complication rate was 3.6%. In multivariable analyses, there was no difference in mechanical ventilation-free days between the SSRF and nonoperative groups. The odds of developing pneumonia (odds ratio [OR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.38–0.98; p = 0.043) and 30-day mortality (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11–0.91; p = 0.032) were significantly lower in the SSRF group. Patients with moderate TBI had similar outcome in both groups. In patients with severe TBI, the odds of 30-day mortality was significantly lower after SSRF (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04–0.88; p = 0.034). CONCLUSION In patients with multiple rib fractures and TBI, the mechanical ventilation-free days did not differ between the two treatment groups. In addition, SSRF was associated with a significantly lower risk of pneumonia and 30-day mortality. In patients with moderate TBI, outcome was similar. In patients with severe TBI a lower 30-day mortality was observed. There was a low SSRF-related complication risk. These data suggest a potential role for SSRF in select patients with TBI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, level IV

Treatment of Diabetes with Lifestyle Changes: Diet

The present chapter critically reviews scientific evidence on the impact of the diet and its components on the metabolic control, cardiovascular risk factors, and morbidity/mortality in diabetic patients. Three main topics are included in this chapter: (1) the effects of dietary treatment on body weight control in diabetic patients; (2) the optimal dietary composition in order to achieve blood glucose control and reduce other cardiovascular risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes; (3) the effects of lifestyle modifications and dietary changes on the risk to develop type 2 diabetes. The overall body of evidence seems to confirm the efficacy of current recommendations for diabetes management. However, although dietary strategies based on structured interventions are often successful, particularly in relation to body weight control, they are not easily applicable in clinical practice and, therefore, more feasible strategies should be identified. In addition, further intervention studies focused on the effects of lifestyle on hard endpoints in diabetic subjects are needed to definitively prove the role of diet in the prevention of both cardiovascular and microvascular complications in these patients over and above their impact on weight reduction

Genetic Signatures of Exceptional Longevity in Humans

Like most complex phenotypes, exceptional longevity is thought to reflect a combined influence of environmental (e.g., lifestyle choices, where we live) and genetic factors. To explore the genetic contribution, we undertook a genome-wide association study of exceptional longevity in 801 centenarians (median age at death 104 years) and 914 genetically matched healthy controls. Using these data, we built a genetic model that includes 281 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and discriminated between cases and controls of the discovery set with 89% sensitivity and specificity, and with 58% specificity and 60% sensitivity in an independent cohort of 341 controls and 253 genetically matched nonagenarians and centenarians (median age 100 years). Consistent with the hypothesis that the genetic contribution is largest with the oldest ages, the sensitivity of the model increased in the independent cohort with older and older ages (71% to classify subjects with an age at death>102 and 85% to classify subjects with an age at death>105). For further validation, we applied the model to an additional, unmatched 60 centenarians (median age 107 years) resulting in 78% sensitivity, and 2863 unmatched controls with 61% specificity. The 281 SNPs include the SNP rs2075650 in TOMM40/APOE that reached irrefutable genome wide significance (posterior probability of association = 1) and replicated in the independent cohort. Removal of this SNP from the model reduced the accuracy by only 1%. Further in-silico analysis suggests that 90% of centenarians can be grouped into clusters characterized by different “genetic signatures” of varying predictive values for exceptional longevity. The correlation between 3 signatures and 3 different life spans was replicated in the combined replication sets. The different signatures may help dissect this complex phenotype into sub-phenotypes of exceptional longevity

Prediction of settlements of embankments on soft, fine-grained soils. Calculation of settlements and their course with time

Sammanfattning av den undersöknings- och beräkningsmetodik som bör användas för sättningsprognoser för bankfyllningar på lös finkornig jord och beskriver det datorprogram, Embankco, för beräkning av endimensionell konsolidering som utvecklats i samarbete med Vägverket

Prediction of settlements of embankments on soft, fine-grained soils. Calculation of settlements and their course with time

(1) General requirements on calculations and calculation data; (2) Investigations and sampling in the field; (3) Laboratory investigations; (4) Behaviour of soft soils - empirical experience; (5) Calculation of stress distribution at loading; (6) Calculation of initial deformations; (7) Calculation of the course of settlements in one-dimensional consolidatio

Evaluation of shear strength in cohesive soils with special referens to Swedish practice and experience

(1) Beteckningar och symboler; (2) Inledande besiktning och inhämtning av geologisk information; (3) Empirisk erfarenhet; (4) Bestämning av egenskaper genom provning; (5) Hållfasthet i silt och friktionsjord; (6) Val av odränerad eller dränerad skjuvhållfasthet; (7) Sammanvägning av provningsresultat och empirisk erfarenhet; (8) Exempel; Bilaga: Bakgrund till rekommendationer för utvärdering av odränerad skjuvhållfasthet från vingförsök och CPT-sondering i fält och fallkonförsök i laboratoriet samt empiriska relationer för odränerad skjuvhållfasthe

Evaluation of shear strength in cohesive soils with special referens to Swedish practice and experience

(1) Beteckningar och symboler; (2) Inledande besiktning och inhämtning av geologisk information; (3) Empirisk erfarenhet; (4) Bestämning av egenskaper genom provning; (5) Hållfasthet i silt och friktionsjord; (6) Val av odränerad eller dränerad skjuvhållfasthet; (7) Sammanvägning av provningsresultat och empirisk erfarenhet; (8) Exempel; Bilaga: Bakgrund till rekommendationer för utvärdering av odränerad skjuvhållfasthet från vingförsök och CPT-sondering i fält och fallkonförsök i laboratoriet samt empiriska relationer för odränerad skjuvhållfasthe

Novel spirocyclic systems via multicomponent aza-Diels–Alder reaction

International audienc