The effect of controlled atmospheres on the composition and quality of dill (Anethum graveolens L. cv. Ducat) cultivated in spring and stored at two temperatures

This study was performed to evaluate four atmospheres varying in CO2 and N2 concentrations on the composition and quality of dill (Anethum graveolens L. cv. Ducat) during storage. Seeds were sown directly in the soil on 16/01/2010 and the plants harvested 93 days after sowing. The leaves (lamina and petiole) were weighed at harvest and immediately transferred to airtight plastic bags within which the atmospheres were modified by injection of O2, CO2 and N2. The treatments that were applied (O2-CO2-N2) were: (1): 20-0-80, (2): 20-5-75, (3): 20-10-70, (4): 20-15-65. All samples were stored for 14 days at 2 or 5°C and the gas composition within the bags maintained at the desired levels. From the results, it was found that weight loss during storage varied between 7 and 12% at 2oC and 13 and 17% at 5oC irrespective of the gas composition. Vitamin C concentration decreased during storage, but at both storage temperatures the decrease was less at the highest CO2 level. The concentration of total phenolics decreased during storage, irrespective of the composition of the storage atmosphere. There was a loss of chlorophyll during storage, which tended to be greater at 5oC than at 2oC, but was prevented at both temperatures by the highest CO2 concentration. In consequence, leaves stored under a gas composition of 20-15-65 (O2-CO2-N2) were greener at the end of storage. This, in conjunction with the relatively higher vitamin C concentration in this treatment, indicates that 15% CO2 was the most suitable storage atmosphere for quality retention in dill, while the preferred temperature was 2oC due to lower weight loss

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (VT) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P < 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P < 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high VT and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: LAS VEGAS - An observational study in 29 countries

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (V T) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg−1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P ˂ 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P ˂ 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high V T and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome.</p

The effect of partial dehydration on the quality and composition of plain-leaf, curly-leaf and turnip-rooted parsley during storage

Quality characteristics of partially dehydrated parsley were examined. Although the leaves of plain-leaf, curly-leaf and turnip-rooted parsley stored at 2 or 7°C for 40 days lost up to 80% fresh weight (FW), chlorophyll degradation was observed only in leaves stored at 7°C. At 2°C, leaf chlorophyll content on a FW basis mostly increased due to water loss. The essential oil content of the leaves also increased on a FW basis during storage, without changes in the major oil constituents, except for a reduction in myristicin (and to a lesser extent β-phellandrene) in plain-leaf parsley and an increase in 1,3,8-μ-menthatriene in curly-leaf and turnip-rooted parsley. Overall, there was little effect of vinyl film packaging on the parameters studied. It is suggested that partial dehydration may be a useful alternative means of utilising fresh parsley since it retains its oil constituents and is more aromatic than dried parsley. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Nitrogen application affects yield and postharvest quality of okra (Hibiscus esculentus L. cv. &apos;Boyiatiou&apos;)

Abstract In Greece and Turkey, okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) is cultivated for small pods (≤4-5 cm), which are highly perishable after harvest. In this experiment, okra was cultivated at 4 levels of N (30, 150, 300 and 450 mg l -1 ) within the irrigation water. Pod yield was highest at 300 mg l -1 N. High N increased the nitrate content and decreased dry matter without affecting pod colour (P&lt;0.05). When pods were enclosed in polyethylene and stored for up to 10 days at 7 or 10 o C fresh weight decreased by 7% and 11-12% respectively, and by 20% and 28% respectively during 3 days subsequent shelf-life at 22 o C. Weight loss after 10 days at 7 o C and during shelf-life was higher in pods from 300-450 mg l -1 N and was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in % dry matter. The loss of chlorophyll during storage (i.e. increase in a*) rose with storage time and N application level, accompanied by a decrease in b*. The nitrate concentration within the pods decreased with storage irrespective of N level. It is concluded that the rate of N application affects not only the production but also the quality of okra during storage. For the production of small-sized pods N application should not exceed 300 mg l -1 . Although pods from high N levels (300-450 mg l -1 N) lose more weight, dry matter and chlorophyll than those from the lowest N level (30 mg l -1 N), they may nevertheless be stored satisfactorily for up to 10 days at 7 o C, which permits a 3 day ambient shelf-life

Evaluation of Growth Media Incorporating Cotton Ginning By-products for Vegetable Production

The suitability of by-products from the cotton ginning industry for incorporation into growth media for three vegetable crops was examined. Composts were prepared by mixing the by-product with soil in 5 ratios (20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20, 100:0, v/v compost and soil). Seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae L.) were sown directly within the composts and in 100% peat (control) in October (autumn crop) and December (winter crop). Plant growth (height, leaf number, dry and fresh weight, chlorophyll content) was recorded 19 and 17 days after transplantation (first and second sowing respectively) and at harvest. Fresh and dry weight was recorded at harvest. Overall, plant height and leaf number were higher when the growth media consisted principally of compost (higher ratios of cotton by-product: soil) than in the control (peat), whereas among the various ratios of compost: soil significant differences were recorded, media with a high compost content showing better growth in most cases. Similar results were reported for fresh and dry weight and chlorophyll content, except for dry weight in the second sowing, where growth media with a lower compost content had a higher dry weight. In conclusion, the incorporation of the cotton ginning by-product into compost resulted in better growth of lettuce, spinach and radish, suggesting that the use of this material may be of economical value as a spin-off product for the cotton ginning plant and also as a means of reducing present pollution of the environment due to the accumulation of waste material

Modelling uptake of Na+ and Cl- by tomato in closed-cycle cultivation systems as influenced by irrigation water salinity

The aim of the present investigation was to simulate the uptake concentrations (weights of ion per volume of water absorbed) of Na+ and Cl- in hydroponic tomato crops as a function of the NaCl concentration in the root zone. An empirical model was calibrated and validated, which can be incorporated into on-line operating decision support systems aimed at optimizing the nutrient supply and minimizing the discharge of drainage solution in tomato crops grown in closed-cycle hydroponic systems. Three experiments were conducted, of which one was carried out to calibrate the model using irrigation water with NaCl concentration ranging from 0 to 14.7molm-3 while the other two experiments were commissioned to validate the model within either a low (0.5-2molm-3) or a high (1.2-12molm-3) concentration range. The model could successfully predict the uptake concentration of Na+, but Cl- could not be simulated by this model at external Cl- concentrations lower than 10molm-3. The results indicate that Na+ is excluded actively and effectively by the tested tomato cultivar even at low external Na+ concentrations, while Cl- is readily taken up at low concentrations, particularly during the initial growing stages. Due to the efficient exclusion of Na+ by tomato, the Na+ concentration in the root environment increased rapidly to extremely high levels even when the Na+ concentration in the irrigation water was relatively low. These results indicate that tomato genotypes characterized by high salt-exclusion efficiency, require irrigation water with a very low NaCl concentration, if they are grown in closed hydroponic systems and the drainage water is not flushed periodically. To maintain Na+ at levels lower than 19molm-3 in the root zone of the tomato hybrid 'Formula' in closed hydroponics, a maximum acceptable Na+ concentration of 0.53molm-3 was estimated for the irrigation water.Lycopersicon esculentum Closed hydroponics Salinity Nutrient solution Soilless culture