520 research outputs found
Float system and crucial points of the method for seedling production and crop cultivation with or without organic fertilization
Float system is a less-intensive and low-cost technology that enables efficient control
of the nutrition of the growing plants. The findings of experiments carried out under float system
in various crops with or without organic fertilization need to be reviewed. The importance of float
system for growing plants without inorganic fertilization and chemical pesticide use needs also
to be pointed out. Float system can enhance root development of growing plants and control the
height of produced transplants. This can result in increased yields and improved transplant
quality, not only in tobacco transplant production systems but also in the case of vegetable crops
such as tomato or lettuce. In the case of crops like tobacco and for the success of float system
alkalinity and oxygen content of the water in the nutrient solution and selection of the growing
media are crucial. Regarding vegetable crops, the combination of float system and organic
fertilization can enhance root development in tomato as compared to the combination and lettuce
resulting in high-quality products. Several aromatic and medicinal plants, including basil and
spearmint, provide high yields and good product quality in floating systems especially along with
organic fertilization. Conclusively, float system is a major method for producing high quality
products or transplants. Further investigation is needed regarding the combined effects of organic
fertilization and float system on more crops and under different climatic conditions
The After Diagnosis Head and Neck cancer specific Patient Concerns Inventory (HaNC-AD) as a pre-treatment preparation aid during the COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in new challenges for clinicians, head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and carers. There is evidence that the current crisis is afecting the management of HNC patients. Most healthcare systems have introduced remote consultations to decrease the risk of coronavirus infection to patients, carers and clinicians. At present, HNC patients may be anxious and due to logistical issues, may not be adequately prepared for their treatment. To ensure that patients have a thorough understanding of their treatment and expected outcome during the current COVID-19 crisis there may be merit in the use of the HaNC-AD PCI
Reexamining What We Stand to Lose: A Look at Reinitiated Consultation Under the Endangered Species Act
This article first examines the role reinitiated consultation plays within Congress\u27s statutory framework and concludes that in many ways, reinitiated consultation is the glue that holds the Endangered Species Act\u27s protective scheme together. While the ESA generally prohibits any injury to an endangered species, Congress has authorized the Service to permit such injuries under certain circumstances. But these authorizations must be accompanied by a limit that will trigger reinitiated consultation if exceeded. Thus, without reinitiated consultation, these preauthorized injuries or âtakesâ would prove gaping leaks in Congress\u27s âArk,â leaving little or no safety for endangered species. Moreover, reinitiated consultation has significant real world consequences for federal agencies and private parties. Failure to reinitiate consultation when legally required can subject the agency and its employees, as well as private parties, to civil and even criminal liability.
Next, this article explores the legal basis for reinitiated consultation. Despite its central role, Congress never provided for reinitiated consultation within the Act itself. While the Service has acknowledged this silence, the courts generally do not raise this question of statutory authority. In light of the ambiguities within the ESA and Congress\u27s clear direction in the legislative history of the Act that it intended for agencies to reinitiate consultation, this article concludes that the practice is legally supportable.
Finally, given the significance of reinitiated consultation, and the likelihood that it is here to stay, this article then explores how courts have reviewed suits concerning reinitiated consultation. This discussion highlights potential challenges and best practices for federal agencies and permittees. This article concludes that, with few exceptions, courts have taken a surprisingly deferential approach to reviewing agency decisions to reinitiate, or more commonly not reinitiate, consultation. For example, courts have allowed agencies to expand a project\u27s scope, duration, or impact on listed species or to recalculate how to measure the impacts altogether without requiring reinitiated consultation. Nonetheless, courts have taken a much stricter approach when considering the triggers for reinitiated consultation and have frequently insisted that those triggers be as meaningful and as exact as possible.
However, before discussing reinitiated consultation in detail, this article provides some additional background on the ESA in general and reinitiated consultation in particular. To understand the purpose and effect of reinitiated consultation, one must first understand several key ESA provisions - namely, the ESA\u27s listing, liability, and consultation provisions
Health-related quality of life at 3 months following head and neck cancer treatment is a key predictor of longer-term outcome and of benefit from using the patient concerns inventory
INTRODUCTION: During clinical followâup it can be difficult to identify those head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who are coping poorly and could benefit from additional support. Healthârelated quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires and prompt lists provide a means by which patients can express their perceived outcomes and raise concerns. The first aim of this secondary analysis following a randomized trial was to explore which patient characteristics, at around 3Â months following treatment completion (baseline), best predict HRQOL 12Â months later. The second aim was to attempt to ascertain which patients were most likely to benefit from using prompt list. METHODS: Clusterâcontrolled pragmatic trial data were analyzed. HRQOL was measured by the University of Washington Quality of life questionnaire (UWâQOLv4). The prompt list was the Patient Concerns Inventory (PCIâHN). RESULTS: The trial involved 15 eligible consultants and a median (interâquartile range) of 16 (13â26) primary HNC patients per consultant, with 140 PCI patients and 148 controls. Baseline HRQOL was the dominant predictor of 12âmonth HRQOL with other predictors related to social, financial, and lifestyle characteristics as well as clinical stage and treatment. Although formal statistical tests for interaction were nonâsignificant the trend in analyses over a range of outcomes suggested that patients with worse baseline HRQOL could benefit more from the PCIâHN. DISCUSSION: HRQOL early postâtreatment is a key predictor of longerâterm outcome. Measuring and using HRQOL and the PCIâHN are not only surrogates for predicting HRQOL at 15Â months postâtreatment, but also tools to help guide interventions
Social determinants of health-related quality of life outcomes for head and neck cancer patients
The influence of area-based and individual indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and patient concerns following head and neck cancer is complex and under-reported. The aim of this study is to use baseline data collected as part of a randomised controlled trial to provide greater detail on the attribution of SES to University of Washington Quality of Life version 4 (UWQOL v4), Distress Thermometer and European Quality of Life Five-Dimension Five-Level (EQ-5D-5L) outcomes. A total of 288 trial patients attended baseline clinics a median (Interquartile (IQR)) of 103 (71â162) days after the end of treatment. Area-based SES was assessed using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2019. Thirty-eight per cent (110/288) of patients lived in the most deprived IMD rank quintile. Less than good overall quality of life (31% overall) was associated with current working situation (p = 0.008), receipt of financial benefits (p < 0.001), total household income (p = 0.003) and use of tobacco (p = 0.001). Income and employment were significant patient level indicators predictors of HRQOL outcomes after case-mix adjustment. The number of Patient Concerns Inventory items selected varied significantly by overall clinical tumour clinical stage (p < 0.001) and by treatment (p < 0.001) but not by area IMD or patient-level deprivation indicators. In conclusion, interventions to improve employment and finance could make a substantial positive effect on HRQOL outcomes and concerns
CD20-mediated B cell depletion in acetylcholine receptor autoantibody-positive myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue, mediated in the majority of cases by IgG1 autoantibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). As AChR autoantibodies have been shown to be pathogenic, therapies targeting B cells have been applied in patients with AChR MG for more than a decade. Recently, a phase 2 trial of the CD20-targeting agent, rituximab, in AChR MG unfortunately failed to meet its primary endpoint. Converging data however from non-randomized clinical series, some of which with more participants than the phase 2 trial, support efficacy of rituximab in AChR MG, especially early onset disease. In this opinion article, we summarize both clinical data and mechanistic principles on the use of CD20 depletion therapy in AChR MG, which we believe lend support to the argument that CD20 depletion can still be a useful therapeutic strategy for patients with AChR MG
Aromatic plant Melissa officinalis extracts selectivity in various biomass crop and legume species
Saabunud / Received 17.06.2020 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 10.07.2020 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 10.07.2020 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Panagiotis Kanatas e-mail: [email protected] effects of various plants can be exploited for
use against weeds; however, the selectivity in different crops is also
important. In the current study, the effects of lemon balm (Melissa
officinalis) allelochemicals on seed germination and seedling emergence
of three biomass crops and three legume species were evaluated. Seed
germination of rapeseed was reduced by 19, 30, 56, and 80% in the
concentrations of 1, 2, 5 and 10%, respectively, as compared to the control
group, whereas sweet sorghum seeds showed a more intermediate
response and sunflower germination was affected only by the highest
concentration. Seed germination of common bean was by 25, 34 and 60%
lower at 1, 2 and 5% extract concentrations, respectively, in comparison
to the control whereas up to 85% reduction of seed germination was
recorded in 10% concentration. Peanut seed germination percentage
ranged between 72 and 47% of control in 5 and 10% concentrations,
respectively, while soybean germination was least affected from
M. officinalis leaf extracts since it was reduced by only 25 and 41% in 5
and 10% concentrations, respectively, as compared to the control.
Seedling emergence of rapeseed was reduced by 14, 25, 46, and 79% in
the concentrations of 1, 2, 5 and 10%, respectively, as compared to the
control whereas lemon balm extracts showed increased selectivity on the
sunflower. Soybean emergence was reduced by only 27 and 46% in 5 and
10% concentrations, respectively, in comparison to the control whereas
common beanâs seedling emergence was reduced up to 35% even in 2%
concentration. Allelopathic response index values confirmed that
sunflower and rapeseed were the least and most sensitive biomass crops to
lemon balm allelochemicals, respectively, whereas sweet sorghum
showed an intermediate response. Increased was the selectivity of the
aqueous leaf extracts on soybean, whereas seed germination and seedling
emergence of peanut were more affected and common bean was the most
sensitive crop. Further research is needed to investigate the selectivity of
M. officinalis and other aromatic plantsâ allelochemicals on various crops
and under different soil and climatic conditions to optimize their efficacy
as tools of more eco-friendly weed management strategies
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