The bio-based economy can serve as the springboard for camelina and crambe to quit the limbo

Social, economic and environmental importance of bio-based economy is rapidly growing and vegetable oils play an important role. About 75% of global production of vegetable oils derives from commodity oilseeds (i.e., soybean, oil palm, rapeseed), while the remaining 25% is produced from minor oilseeds characterized by unusual fatty acid composition. The present review aims at analyzing the potentialities of two alternative oilseed crops for Europe, camelina (Camelina sativa) and crambe (Crambe abyssinica), identified as major candidates for the future European bio-based economy as testified by the recently funded EU Project (Horizon 2020) COSMOS (Camelina and crambe Oilcrops as Sources of Medium-chain Oils for Specialty oleochemicals). The interest on camelina and crambe is mainly due to their unique fatty acid profile, low input management and wide environmental adaptability. We attempted to analyze pros and cons of development of camelina and crambe in Europe in the light of biorefinery concept (i.e.,using oil and whole produced biomass) as undertaken by COSMOS project

Adaptability and Sustainable Management of High-Erucic Brassicaceae in Mediterranean Environment

none4The use of high-erucic acid oils is currently receiving increasing attention, due to the great interest in chemical compounds derived from “green feedstock”. At world level, the production of these raw materials is constantly growing, and a real niche market has progressively been created. This scenario will allow greater substitution of chemicals with “green” compounds, and the introduction of industrial oilcrops. may lead to further expansion of the green market. Alternative uses of crops for nonfood purposes may be an interesting source of profit for farmers, as is happening for higherucic acid oils. Erucic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid (C22:1) with a large number of applications in the chemical industry because it confers desirable technological characteristics, such as high lubricity, cold stability and fire resistance, on oils and derived compounds.mixedFederica Zanetti; Giuliano Mosca; Enrico Rampin; Teofilo VameraliZanetti, Federica; Mosca, Giuliano; Enrico, Rampin; Vamerali, Teofil

The Site of Lesion in Hearing Loss: Advances in Otoneuroradiology

The last decade has witnessed significant advances in imaging of the middle and inner ear and the auditory pathways. High resolution computerized tomography (CT) scanners and new magnetic resonance (MR) sequences have been implemented in clinical practice as valuable supportive tools for the Audiologist in the identification of the site of lesion and for the surgical planning by the Otologist. The purpose of this chapter is to review the current advanced methods of neuroradiological evaluation of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), either congenital or acquired, especially focusing on the assessment of candidates to cochlear implantation (CI), with plenty of explicative images

Characterization of Hearing Loss in Children with Mucopolysaccharidosis

Hearing impairment is common in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) in the preschool age. Conductive or mixed hearing loss is the most frequent occurrence while the involvement of the inner ear or central auditory pathways may occur in more severe forms. A retrospective review of 82 children with MPS admitted at the Pediatric Department of the University of Milano Bicocca was performed to determine the incidence of otological symptoms. We focused particularly on audiological investigations in a subgroup of 47 children diagnosed before 6 years of age (MPS I, n = 11 patients; MPS II, n = 10; MPS III, n = 7; MPS IV, n = 14; MPS VI, n = 5). In 37 children, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cervical spine was also performed in order to correlate the audiological findings with the imaging of the middle and inner ear. A total of 40 out of 47 children (86%) showed some degree of hearing impairment: sensorineural or mixed hearing loss in 23 cases (48.93%) and retrocochlear in 4 (8.51%). MRI ascertained multiple CNS abnormalities in 13 (35.3%): dilated perivascular spaces in 5 (38.5%); dilated ventricular cavities in 5 (38.5%); demyelinated and gliotic areas in 3 (23.0%). Conversely, one-fourth of the children’s inner ears showed some morphological anomaly (24.3%)

Camelina, an ancient oilseed crop actively contributing to the rural renaissance in Europe. A review

Promoting crop diversification in European agriculture is a key pillar of the agroecological transition. Diversifying crops generally enhances crop productivity, quality, soil health and fertility, and resilience to pests and diseases and reduces environmental stresses. Moreover, crop diversification provides an alternative means of enhancing farmers' income. Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) reemerged in the background of European agriculture approximately three decades ago, when the first studies on this ancient native oilseed species were published. Since then, a considerable number of studies on this species has been carried out in Europe. The main interest in camelina is related to its (1) broad environmental adaptability, (2) low-input requirements, (3) resistance to multiple pests and diseases, and (4) multiple uses in food, feed, and biobased applications. The present article is a comprehensive and critical review of research carried out in Europe (compared with the rest of the world) on camelina in the last three decades, including genetics and breeding, agronomy and cropping systems, and end-uses, with the aim of making camelina an attractive new candidate crop for European farming systems. Furthermore, a critical evaluation of what is still missing to scale camelina up from a promising oilseed to a commonly cultivated crop in Europe is also provided (1) to motivate scientists to promote their studies and (2) to show farmers and end-users the real potential of this interesting species

The Atopy Index Inventory: A Brief and Simple Tool to Identify Atopic Patients

Introduction: Atopy and ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases are frequently associated; however, no clinical tool has been proposed so far to discriminate which patients could be atopic and therefore deserving of a further immunoallergological evaluation. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess and validate a set of dichotomous responses suitable for predicting the presence of atopy in adult patients. Methods: An 11-item questionnaire, i.e., the Atopy Index Inventory (AII), comprised of 4 questions regarding the clinical history for allergic disease and 7 questions evaluating the presence of the most frequent clinical signs affecting allergic patients, was developed and administered to 226 adult subjects (124 atopic subjects and 102 healthy, not atopic subjects). The atopic condition was proven by an immunoallergological evaluation according to the diagnostic criteria of the EAACI guidelines. Internal consistency and clinical validity were tested. Results: In healthy subjects, the first 4 variables of the AII returned a 100% correct response (all answered \u201cno\u201d) and were defined as \u201cdecisive\u201d responses. In the logistic regression analysis, when decisive items were negative, the atopic condition was confirmed when answering \u201cyes\u201d to at least 3 \u201cprobability\u201d items (cutoff = 2.69). The difference in AII scores between allergic and healthy group was significant using the Mann-Whitney U test (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity of the AII were 0.97 and 0.91, respectively, with a true predictive value of 0.92 and a false predictive value of 0.97. The ROC curve showed an area of 0.94, with an OR of 0.88 (95% CI 0.87\u20130.97, p = 0.0001). The internal consistency as determined by the Cronbach \u3b1 coefficient was 0.88. Conclusion: The AII has been proven to be a brief, simple and sufficiently accurate tool for screening ENT patients in search of atopic individuals and to allow their clinical management

Camelina and Pea Intercropping For Weed Control In Organic Farming

A weed management strategy in the organic farming consists in increasing the competitiveness of the cultivated system. Intercropping can improve competitiveness thanks of the better use of resources by reducing their availability for weeds. Camelina (Camelina Sativa L. Crantz) is a promising oilseed crop with low input requirements. Its early vigorous growth could compensate for the low vegetative growth of peas, thus reducing weed emergence. A preliminary study was carried to assess the effect of camelina intercropped with pea on soil coverage and weed incidence in organic farming compared with pea sole-cropping. After 98 days after sowing (DAS), soil coverage significantly differed among treatments, showing the highest values in the intercropping and in sole camelina. The lowest weed density was in the intercropping. The weed control efficiency of intercrops increased by 56% and 23% compared to sole pea and sole camelina, respectively. In conclusio,n camelina-pea intercropping resulted in an interesting herbicide-free alternative crop management enabling to increase soil coverage while reducing weeds

Camelina and Pea Intercropping For Weed Control In Organic Farming

A weed management strategy in the organic farming consists in increasing the competitiveness of the cultivated system. Intercropping can improve competitiveness thanks of the better use of resources by reducing their availability for weeds. Camelina (Camelina Sativa L. Crantz) is a promising oilseed crop with low input requirements. Its early vigorous growth could compensate for the low vegetative growth of peas, thus reducing weed emergence. A preliminary study was carried to assess the effect of camelina intercropped with pea on soil coverage and weed incidence in organic farming compared with pea sole-cropping. After 98 days after sowing (DAS), soil coverage significantly differed among treatments, showing the highest values in the intercropping and in sole camelina. The lowest weed density was in the intercropping. The weed control efficiency of intercrops increased by 56% and 23% compared to sole pea and sole camelina, respectively. In conclusio,n camelina-pea intercropping resulted in an interesting herbicide-free alternative crop management enabling to increase soil coverage while reducing weeds