Effect of different fertilizers on the microbial activity and productivity of soil under potato cultivation

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the application of different rates of mineral nitrogen, well rotten farmyard manure and Klebsiella planticola SL09- based microbial biofertilizer (enteroplantin) on the count of soil microorganisms (total microbial count, counts of Azotobacter, oligonitrophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes), stem height and yield of potato. The experiment was set up as a randomized block design in four replications at the experimental field of the Biotechnical Faculty, Podgorica in 2008. Potato cultivar Kennebec was used as the test plant. The trial involved six treatments: non-fertilized control; N1 treatment with 100 kg/ha CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate, 27% N); N2 treatment with 200 kg/ha CAN; N3 treatment with 300 kg/ha CAN; treatment with Enteroplantin– K. planticola SL09-based biofertilizer; and treatment with 30 t/ha solid well rotten farmyard manure. The results obtained suggested that well rotten farmyard manure induced the highest increase in microbial counts, potato yield and stem height. A similar effect on all microorganisms, except actinomycetes and fungi was seen with the use of K. planticola SL09-based biofertilizer. The potato yield and stem height obtained with the use of 300 kg/ha CAN was non-significantly higher than that of 200 kg/ha CAN treatment, with the count of the soil microorganisms tested been significantly reduced.Key words: Biofertilization, microorganisms, soil, manure, mineral nitrogen, potato, yield

National multi-stakeholder meetings: a tool to support development of integrated policies and practices for testing and prevention of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs

Background Country level policies and practices of testing and care for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections are lagging behind European recommendations on integration across diseases. Building on previous experiences and evidence, the INTEGRATE Joint Action arranged four national stakeholder meetings. The aim was to foster cross-disciplinary and cross-disease collaborations at national level as a vehicle for strengthened integration of testing and care services. This article presents the methodology and discusses main outcomes and recommendations of these meetings. Methods Local partners in Croatia, Italy, Lithuania and Poland oversaw the planning, agenda development and identification of key persons to invite to ensure that meetings addressed main challenges and issues of the respective countries. Invited national stakeholders represented policy and public health institutions, clinical settings, testing sites and community organisations. National experts and experts from other European countries were invited as speakers and facilitators. Main topic discussed was how to increase integration across HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections in testing and care policies and practice; tuberculosis was also addressed in Lithuania and Italy. Results The agendas reflected national contexts and the meetings provided a forum to engage stakeholders knowledgeable of the national prevention, testing and care systems in interaction with international experts who shared experiences of the steps needed to achieve integration in policies and practice. The evaluations showed that participants found meetings relevant, important and beneficial for furthering integration. Of the respondents 78% agreed or strongly agreed that there was a good representation of relevant national stakeholders, and 78% that decision/action points were made on how to move the agenda forward. The importance of securing participation from high level national policy makers was highlighted. Outcomes were nationally tailored recommendations on integrated policies and strategies, diversification of testing strategies, stigma and discrimination, key populations, cost effectiveness, surveillance and funding. Conclusions Shifting from single to multi-disease approaches require collaboration among a broad range of actors and national multi-stakeholder meetings have proven excellent to kick-start this. Face-to-face meetings of key stakeholders represent a unique opportunity to share cross-sectoral perspectives and experiences, identify gaps in national policies and practices and agree on required next steps.The INTEGRATE Joint Action was co-funded by the 3rd Health Programme of the European Union under grant agreement no 761319. National meetings and trainings were co-funded by EuroTEST’s grants from Merck and Janssen. Daniel Simões is the recipient of PhD Grant PD/BD/128008/2016 from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). All funders had no role in the study design, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Influence of socioeconomic factors on pregnancy outcome in women with structural heart disease

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac disease is the leading cause of indirect maternal mortality. The aim of this study was to analyse to what extent socioeconomic factors influence the outcome of pregnancy in women with heart disease.  METHODS: The Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac disease is a global prospective registry. For this analysis, countries that enrolled ≥10 patients were included. A combined cardiac endpoint included maternal cardiac death, arrhythmia requiring treatment, heart failure, thromboembolic event, aortic dissection, endocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, hospitalisation for cardiac reason or intervention. Associations between patient characteristics, country characteristics (income inequality expressed as Gini coefficient, health expenditure, schooling, gross domestic product, birth rate and hospital beds) and cardiac endpoints were checked in a three-level model (patient-centre-country).  RESULTS: A total of 30 countries enrolled 2924 patients from 89 centres. At least one endpoint occurred in 645 women (22.1%). Maternal age, New York Heart Association classification and modified WHO risk classification were associated with the combined endpoint and explained 37% of variance in outcome. Gini coefficient and country-specific birth rate explained an additional 4%. There were large differences between the individual countries, but the need for multilevel modelling to account for these differences disappeared after adjustment for patient characteristics, Gini and country-specific birth rate.  CONCLUSION: While there are definite interregional differences in pregnancy outcome in women with cardiac disease, these differences seem to be mainly driven by individual patient characteristics. Adjustment for country characteristics refined the results to a limited extent, but maternal condition seems to be the main determinant of outcome

Inventory of current EU paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes

Background: We examined the diversity in paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes in Europe. Methods: Themes relevant for comparison of screening programmes were derived from literature and used to compile three questionnaires on vision, hearing and public-health screening. Tests used, professions involved, age and frequency of testing seem to influence sensitivity, specificity and costs most. Questionnaires were sent to ophthalmologists, orthoptists, otolaryngologists and audiologists involved in paediatric screening in all EU fullmember, candidate and associate states. Answers were cross-checked. Results: Thirty-nine countries participated; 35 have a vision screening programme, 33 a nation-wide neonatal hearing screening programme. Visual acuity (VA) is measured in 35 countries, in 71% more than once. First measurement of VA varies from three to seven years of age, but is usually before the age of five. At age three and four picture charts, including Lea Hyvarinen are used most, in children over four Tumbling-E and Snellen. As first hearing screening test otoacoustic emission (OAE) is used most in healthy neonates, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in premature newborns. The majority of hearing testing programmes are staged; children are referred after one to four abnormal tests. Vision screening is performed mostly by paediatricians, ophthalmologists or nurses. Funding is mostly by health insurance or state. Coverage was reported as >95% in half of countries, but reporting was often not first-hand. Conclusion: Largest differences were found in VA charts used (12), professions involved in vision screening (10), number of hearing screening tests before referral (1-4) and funding sources (8)

effects of crop rotations on weed infestation in winter wheat

The effects of crop rotations, as one of the systems of the crop production in field plots, were studied on weed infestation in winter wheat crops. Winter wheat, as a second crop in the sowing structure, is usually cultivated in two cropping systems: continuous cropping and the two crop rotation. Based on these facts, the aim of the present study was to organise permanent crop rotations in the experimental agricultural farm of Radmilovac, a section of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade. crop rotations with different crops were established in 1992 and have been lasting ever since. Crop rotations, as a cropping practice, are a complex category with broad effects on the soil and crops. This paper presents results on effects of various systems of the crop production (crop rotation and continuous cropping) on a weed community of a winter wheat crop during two years of investigations (2008/09 and 2009/10). Crop rotations, especially three and two crop rotations were more efficient in suppression of weed plants per species and weed biomass than continuous cropping and six crop rotations

Supplementary Material for: An (In)Significant Ventricular Septal Defect and/or Double-Chambered Right Ventricle: Are There Any Differences in Diagnosis and Prognosis in Adult Patients?

A double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is an uncommon congenital anomaly: the right ventricle (RV) is divided into two chambers due to the presence of an abnormally located muscular band or anomalous muscle hypertrophy in the subinfundibular part of RV outflow tract, with a variable degree of obstruction. Generally, DCRV is well recognized in childhood and misdiagnosed in adult patients. Transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography are the mеthods of choice for the diagnosis of DCRV. Due to limitations of echocardiography in adult patients, this entity may be missed, particularly if it presents concomitant with other congenital defects, and therefore additional imaging methods such as MRI or cardiac catheterization are required for a definitive diagnosis