Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in urea solution in laboratory tests and field experiments with crops and vegetables

Nanotechnology and nanomaterials, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are increas-ingly important in modern science, economics, and agriculture. Their biological activity involvesinfluencing plant health, physiological processes, growth, and yields, although they can also be toxicin the environment. A new fertiliser was made based on a urea solution with a relatively low contentof AgNPs obtained by the reduction of silver nitrate V. Laboratory tests were used to assess theeffect of a fertiliser solution containing 10 ppm AgNPs on the germination of agricultural plant seeds(barley, peas, oilseed rape) and vegetables (radish, cucumber, lettuce) and its foliar application onchlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and seedling biomass. Field experiments were conductedto assess the effect that a foliar application of 15 ppm AgNPs in working liquid had on physiologicalplant parameters and yields of rape and cucumber. The AgNPs in the tested fertiliser reducedinfestation of the germinating seeds by pathogens and positively affected the physiological processes,productivity, and yields of plants. Plant response depended on plant species and habitat conditions.Reduced pathogen infestation of seeds, higher germination energy, increased chlorophyll content andstomatal conductance, and higher seedling masses all occurred under the influence of AgNPs, mainlyin oilseed rape and cucumber, and especially under thermal stress. The beneficial effect of AgNPson the yield of these plants occurred in years of unfavourable weather conditions. The positiveagricultural test results, especially under stress conditions, indicate that fertiliser produced withAgNPs as an ingredient may reduce the use of pesticides and highly concentrated mineral fertilisers.Such a fertiliser is fully in line with the idea of sustainable agriculture. However, research on theeffects that AgNPs and fertiliser have on the environment and humans should continue

Strip-till technology - a method for uniformity in the emergence and plant growth of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) in different environmental conditions of Northern Poland

The emergence of plants is especially important for the winter crops that are grown in the challenging environmental conditions of many countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The emergence and initial growth of winter rapeseed were compared in field trials in a randomized block design with three replicates for plants sown in conventional tillage systems (CT) and strip-till (ST), which had different weather conditions and on soil with a non-uniform texture over a period of two years. Sowing in the CT was carried out using Horsch Pronto 4DC (Germany) at a row distance of 0.29 m. The ST operations were performed using a Pro-Til 4T drill manufactured by Mzuri Limited (Great Britain) - row spacing of 0.36 m. In favourable rainfall and thermal conditions, the density of winter rapeseed plants two weeks after sowing was found to be higher if it was sown after the CT than in the ST system. In the year that had a serious shortage of rainfall during the sowing period, a considerably higher density of plants was achieved using the ST system. The uniformity of plant growth using the ST technology in soil with a varied texture, especially in a year with an unfavourable distribution of rainfall, was proven by less variability in the number of leaves in the rosette, in the dry mass of the leaf rosette and in the root neck thickness of the winter rapeseed than in the CT system. The ST system can create good conditions for the initial development and preparation of rapeseed plants for wintering

Clinical importance of hyperuricaemia in hospitalised hypertensive patients

Wstęp. W wielu badaniach klinicznych wykazano związek hiperurykemii (HU) z występowaniem chorób układu sercowo-naczyniowego, nadciśnienia tętniczego, przewlekłej choroby nerek, zespołu metabolicznego. Od wielu lat toczy się dyskusja, czy HU jest niezależnym czynnikiem ryzyka chorób układu sercowo-naczyniowego czy zaburzeniem często współwystępującym z klasycznymi czynnikami ryzyka. Mimo wielu doniesień znaczenie HU w patogenezie chorób układu sercowo-naczyniowego jest wciąż do końca nieustalone.Celem pracy była ocena częstości występowania HU u chorych z nadciśnieniem tętniczym oraz porównanie grup chorych leczonych hipotensyjnie z prawidłowym i podwyższonym stężeniem kwasu moczowego w surowicy.Materiał i metody. Analizą retrospektywną objęto pacjentów z nadciśnieniem tętniczym kolejno hospitalizowanych w referencyjnym ośrodku kardiologicznym w latach 2009–2010. Analizowano dane kliniczne z uwzględnieniem chorób współistniejących, przebytego zawału serca i udaru mózgu, niewydolności serca, parametrów biochemicznych oraz wybrane parametry badania echokardiograficznego w grupach pacjentów z prawidłowym i podwyższonym stężeniem kwasu moczowego w surowicy krwi.Wyniki. Analizą objęto 2076 pacjentów, w tym 1148 mężczyzn (55,3%) oraz 928 kobiet (44,7%). Prawidłowe stężenie kwasu moczowego (normourykemię [NU]) stwierdzono u 1423 osób (68,5%), HU — u 653 osób (31,4%). Średnia wieku w grupie z NU wynosiła 67,7 ± 11 lat, w grupie z HU — 70,1 ± 10 lat. W grupie NU było 771 mężczyzn (54,2%) oraz 652 kobiety (45,8%). W grupie HU było 377 mężczyzn (57,7%) oraz 276 kobiet (42,3%). Schorzenia współistniejące w grupach NU i HU występowały z następującą częstością: cukrzyca typu 2: 24,4% v. 29,7% (p = 0,0545), choroba niedokrwienna serca: 27,5% v. 35,1% (p = 0,1000), przebyty zawał serca: 8,3% v. 12,7% (p = 0,0044), przebyty udar mózgu: 4,7% v. 5,0% (p = 0,7453), migotanie przedsionków: 25,8% v. 40,1% (p=0,0001), niewydolność serca w II klasie według NYHA: 20,5% v. 22,7% (p = 0,3700), niewydolność serca w III klasie według NYHA: 11,0% v. 22,5% (p = 0,0004), niewydolność serca w IV klasie według NYHA: 1,3% v. 5,3% (p = 0,0001), GFR < 60 ml/min: 39,6% v. 66,3% (p < 0,0001), przerost mięśnia lewej komory: 36,3% v. 40,1% (p = 0,2800), frakcja wyrzutowa ≥ 50%: 61,2% v. 55,4% (p = 0,4200), frakcja wyrzutowa 36–49%: 24,2% v. 21,1% (p = 0,2600), frakcja wyrzutowa ≤ 35%: 14,5% v. 27,6% (p < 0,0001), hipercholesterolemia: 37,1% v. 40,6% (p = 0,3200), hipertriglicerydemia: 15,4% v. 14,1% (p = 0,5200), dyslipidemiamieszana: 15,2% v. 19,2% (p = 0,0339), dyslipidemia aterogenna u mężczyzn: 18,1% v. 20,2% (p=0,5000), dyslipidemia aterogenna u kobiet: 15,0% v. 24,1% (p = 0,0074).Wnioski1. U hospitalizowanych chorych z nadciśnieniem tętniczym i HU częściej niż u chorych z nadciśnieniem tętniczym i prawidłowym stężeniem kwasu moczowego występowały zaawansowana niewydolność serca, migotanie przedsionków, upośledzona funkcja nerek, dyslipidemia mieszana oraz dyslipidemia aterogenna u kobiet.2. Hiperurykemia częściej występowała u chorych powyżej 55. roku życia niż u młodszych chorych w grupie hospitalizowanych pacjentów z nadciśnieniem tętniczym.3. Konieczne są dalsze badania w celu ustalenia znaczenia hiperurykemii i korzyści z obniżania stężenia kwasu moczowego u pacjentów z nadciśnieniem tętniczym.Introduction. Multiple clinical studies showed an association between hyperuricaemia (HU) and cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic syndrome. It has been debated for many years whether HU is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease or just a condition commonly coexisting with conventional risk factors. Despite many reports, the importance of HU in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease has not been clearly established.Aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of HU in patients with hypertension and to compare groups of treated hypertensive patients with normal or elevated serum uric acid level.Material and methods. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive hypertensive patients hospitalized in a tertiary carecardiology centre in 2009–2010. We analyzed clinical data with particular reference to concomitant diseases, previous myocardial infarction and stroke, heart failure, biochemical parameters, and selected echocardiographic parameters in groups of patients with normal or elevated serum uric acid level.Results. We analyzed 2076 patients including 1148 men (55.3%) and 928 women (44.7%). Normouricaemia (NU) was found in 1423 patients (68.5%) and HU in 653 patients (31.4%). Mean age was 67.7 ± 11 years in the NU group and 70.1 ± 10 years in the HU group. The NU group included 771 men (54.2%) and 652 women (45.8%). The HU group included 377 men (57.7%) and 276 women (42.3%). The prevalence of concomitant conditions in the NU and HU groups was as follows: type 2 diabetes — 24.4% vs. 29.7%, respectively (p = 0.0545), ischaemic heart disease — 27.5% vs. 35.1% (p = 0.1000), previous myocardial infarction — 8.3% vs. 12.7% (p = 0.0044), previous stroke — 4.7% vs. 5.0% (p = 0.7453), atrial fibrillation — 25.8% vs. 40.1% (p = 0.0001), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II heart failure— 20.5% vs. 22.7% (p = 0.3700), NYHA class III heart failure — 11.0% vs. 22.5% (p = 0.0004), NYHA class IV heart failure— 1.3% vs. 5.3% (p = 0.0001), glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min — 39.6% vs. 66.3% (p < 0.0001), left ventricular hypertrophy — 36.3% vs. 40.1% (p = 0.2800), left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50% — 61.2% vs. 55.4% (p = 0.4200), left ventricular ejection fraction 36–49%: 24.2% vs. 21.1% (p = 0.2600), left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%; 14.5% vs. 27.6% (p < 0.0001), hypercholesterolaemia — 37.1% vs. 40.6% (p = 0.3200), hypertriglicerydaemia — 15.4% vs. 14.1% (p = 0.5200), mixed dyslipidaemia — 15.2% vs. 19.2% (p = 0.0339), atherogenic dyslipidaemia in men — 18.1% vs. 20.2% (p = 0.5000), atherogenic dyslipidaemia in women — 15.0% vs. 24.1% (p = 0.0074).Conclusions1. Among hospitalised hypertensive patients, those with HU more often showed advanced heart failure, atrial fibrillation, impaired renal function, mixed dyslipidaemia, and atherogenic dyslipidaemia in women when compared to hypertensives with normal uric acid level.2. Among hospitalised hypertensive patients, HU was more frequent among patients above 55 years of age compared to younger patients.3. Further studies are necessary to determine the importance of HU and benefits from reduction of uric acid level inpatients with hypertension

Immobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTE) by mineral-based amendments: Remediation of contaminated soils in post-industrial sites

In many post-industrial sites, the high contents and high mobility of different potentially toxic elements (PTEs) make the soils unsuitable for effective management and use. Therefore, immobilization of PTE seems to be the best remediation option for such areas. In the present study, soil samples were collected in post-industrial areas in Northeastern Poland. The analyzed soil was characterized by especially high contents of Cd (22 mg·kg−1), Pb (13 540 mg·kg−1), and Zn (8433 mg·kg−1). Yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) and two types of mineral-based amendments were used to determine their combined remediation effect on PTE immobilization. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of chalcedonite and halloysite on plant growth, chlorophyll a fluorescence, the leaf greenness index (SPAD), PTE uptake, and the physicochemical properties and toxicity of soil. The application of chalcedonite resulted in the greatest increase in soil pH, whereas halloysite contributed to the greatest reduction in the contents of Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cr in soil, compared with the control treatment. The addition of halloysite significantly increased plant biomass. The application of mineral-based amendments increased the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) in yellow lupine leaves. The leaf greenness index was highest in plants growing in soil amended with chalcedonite. The results of this study suggest that mineral-based amendments combined with yellow lupine could potentially be used for aided phytostabilization of multi-PTE contaminated soil in a post-industrial area

Will You Make Me Happy? The Role of Dating and Dating Violence Victimisation in Happiness Among Adolescents in Europe

Purpose: the aim of the article is to show the role of dating and dating violence victimisation, different socioeconomic characteristics, personal experiences of abuse, perceived social support, and the ability to resolve social problems in happiness among adolescents in Europe. Methods: the study had a cross-sectional design. The study participants were 1.528 students from secondary schools (age 13–16) in Spain, Italy, Romania, Portugal, Poland, and the UK. In order to understand which variables were associated with happiness, we fit multiple regression models. Results: the mean value of happiness is lower when teens are in a romantic or dating relationship and have suffered physical and/or sexual violence [β (CI 95%): -1.32(-2.41; -0.22)]. Both not being a victim of bullying and cyberbullying [β(CI 95%):0.90 (0.38; 1.41)] and not witnessing domestic violence against the mother β(CI 95%):1.97(1.06; 2.87)] is associated with relatively higher mean happiness value compared to having such experiences of violence. Also, problem-solving skills [β (CI 95%):0.13 (0.11; 0.14)] and perception of social support [β (CI 95%): 0.03 (0.02, 0.03)] is positively associated with mean value of happiness. Conclusions: there is an association between dating violence victimisation, and happiness among adolescents in Europe. The results suggest the importance of creating healthy, non-violent romantic relationships to build happiness during adolescence, the importance of seeking social support and to provide educational interventions focused on the development of problem-solving skills.The project ‘Lights, Camera and Action against Dating Violence’ (Ligts4Violence) was funded by the European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Consumers Rights, Equality and Citizen Violence Against Women Program 2016 for the period 2017–2019 to promote healthy dating relationship assets among secondary school students from different European countries, under grant agreement No. 776905. It was also co-supported by the CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health of Spain for its aid to the Gender-based Violence and Youth Research Program

The Role of School Social Support and School Social Climate in Dating Violence Victimization Prevention among Adolescents in Europe

The aim of the article is to show the role of school social support and school social climate in dating violence victimization prevention among adolescents in Europe. Study participants were students from secondary schools (age 13-16) in Spain, Italy, Romania, Portugal, Poland and UK. The analysis in this text concern student with dating experience (n=993) (57.2% of girls and 66.5% of boys). School social support was measured by School Social Climate, Factor 1 Scale (CECSCE) and by Student Social Support Scale (CASSS), subscales teachers and classmates. The association between school social support and different types of dating victimization (physical and/ or sexual dating violence, control dating violence and fear) was measured by calculating the prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals, estimated by Poisson regression models with robust variance. All the models were adjusted by country and by sociodemographic variables. The results show that the average values of all types of social support are significantly lower in young people who have suffered any type of dating violence or were scared of their partner. The likelihood of suffering physical and/or sexual dating violence decreased when school social support increased [PR (CI95%): 0.96 (0.92; 0.99)]. In the same way, the likelihood of fear decreased when school social climate increased [PR (CI95%): 0.98 (0.96; 0.99)].There is an association between school social support and school social climate and experiences of being victim of dating violence among adolescents in Europe. Our results suggest that in the prevention of dating violence building a supportive climate at schools and building / using the support of peers and teachers is important

A Strip-Till One-Pass System as a Component of Conservation Agriculture

Conservation agriculture has three main pillars, i.e., minimum tillage, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation. Covering the soil surface with plant residues and minimum mechanical soil disturbance can all result from introducing a strip-till one-pass (ST-OP) system. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the ST-OP technology on the management of plant residues, soil properties, inputs, and emissions related to crop cultivation. We compared the effect of a ST-OP system against conventional tillage (CT) using a plough, and against reduced, non-ploughing tillage (RT). Four field experiments were conducted for evaluating the covering of soil with plant residues of the previous crop, soil loss on a slope exposed to surface soil runoff, soil structure and aggregate stability, occurrence of soil organisms and glomalin content, soil moisture and soil water reserve during plant sowing, labour and fuel inputs, and CO2 emissions. After sowing plants using ST-OP, 62.7–82.0% of plant residues remained on the soil surface, depending on the previous crop and row spacing. As compared with CT, the ST-OP system increased the stability of soil aggregates of 0.25–2.0 mm diameter by 12.7%, glomalin content by 0.08 g·kg−1, weight of earthworms five-fold, bacteria and fungi counts, and moisture content in the soil; meanwhile, it decreased soil loss by 2.57–6.36 t·ha−1 year−1, labour input by 114–152 min·ha−1, fuel consumption by 35.9–45.8 l·ha−1, and CO2 emissions by 98.7–125.9 kg·ha−1. Significant favourable changes, as compared with reduced tillage (RT), were also found with respect to the stability index of aggregates of 2.0–10.0 mm diameter, the number and weight of earthworms, as well as bacteria and fungi counts

Peas and Barley Grown in the Strip-Till One Pass Technology as Row Intercropping Components in Sustainable Crop Production

Simplified, ploughless tillage and multi-species, multifunctional crop production are important components of sustainable agriculture. Technologies that combine these components can play an even greater pro-ecological role in modern agriculture. The claim is made that row intercropping of spring barley and peas, along with strip tillage, is an alternative to traditional methods of sowing cereals and legumes. This hypothesis was verified in a three-year field experiment in which row intercropping of barley and peas (alternating every row) was compared with traditional mixed-crop, within-row cropping (plants of each species in each row) and pure sowing of each species. Row intercropping of barley and peas using strip-till, one-pass technology, as compared with mixed-crop, within-row, improved the uniformity of plant emergence and plant density of peas before harvesting and reduced weed infestation. The productivity of barley and peas was higher than with pure sowing by 8.5% and 10.2%, respectively, and the productivity of peas was also higher by 38.9% than when sowing in mixed-crop, within-row. The yield of barley grain/seeds and peas under row-intercropping was 1.75 t ha−1 higher than the yield of pea seeds with pure sowing, and 0.79 t ha−1 lower than the yield of barley in pure sowing. On the other hand, the yield of grain/seed protein under this mixture was similar to the pea protein yield with pure sowing and 109 kg ha−1 higher than the barley protein yield with pure sowing. The positive results should inspire further research to obtain a better understanding of the conditions and effects of growing grains with legumes with strip-till one-pass technology

Soil Properties after Eight Years of the Use of Strip-Till One-Pass Technology

Tillage is an agrotechnical practice that strongly affects the soil environment. Its effect on soil properties depends on the system and, more specifically, on the degree of soil inversion and loosening. Strip-till is a non-inversive method that loosens only narrow soil strips. In strip-till one-pass (ST-OP) technology, tillage is combined with a simultaneous application of fertilizers and seed sowing. In a static multi-year field experiment, the soil properties after application of ST-OP for 8 years were compared to those of soil under conventional tillage with the use of a moldboard plough to a depth of 20 cm (CT), and equally deep loosened and mixed reduced tillage (RT). A field experiment of these three treatments was performed since 2012 in sandy loam soil, Luvisol. A total of 44 features were examined that described the physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical soil properties in the 0–20 cm layer, and penetration resistance (PR), bulk density (BD), and soil moisture (SM) in the 25–30 cm layer. The influence of the ST-OP technology on the yield of crops was also determined. Multivariate analysis shows that the ST-OP method, in terms of affecting the soil properties, differs considerably from RT and CT treatments. The soil after the ST-OP method contained two- to four-fold more earthworms (En), with a mass (Em) 2- to 5-fold higher, than those in the soil following RT and CT, respectively. In the ST-OP soil the content of available phosphorus (Pa) and available potassium (Ka); the total count of bacteria (Bt), cellulolytic microorganisms (Bc), and fungi (Ff); and the activity of phosphatases (AlP, AcP) were significantly higher. Compared with CT, the content of total organic carbon (Ct) and its content in the fractions of organic matter were also higher, with the exception of humins (CH). The yields of winter rapeseed and winter wheat using the ST-OP technology were marginally higher compared with those using the CT and RT technology