Influence of humic acids, irrigation and fertilization on potato yielding in organic production

Received: December 22nd, 2020 ; Accepted: May 2nd, 2021 ; Published: May 21st, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] study aimed at determining the impact of organic fertilization, humic acids and irrigation on potato yielding in organic production system. Fertilization variants included: Humac Agro; manure; vermicompost; Fertil Bioilsa C-N 40-12.5; manure + Humac Agro; vermicompost + Humac Agro; Fertil Bioilsa C-N 40-12.5 + Humac Agro. Irrigation was carried out using drip lines. The highest tuber yield was determined on treatments fertilized with vermicompost. The combined application of organic fertilizers and humic acids resulted in increased total yield between 6 and 9%, whereas commercial yield from 5 to 10%. Application of fertilization resulted in increased total yield of tubers in individual fertilizer variants from 1.9 to 10.8 t ha-1 , and commercial yield from 1.6 to 12.3 t ha-1 . Water-use efficiency remained in the range from 35.2 to 113.1 kg mm-1 , whereas irrigation water-use efficiency from 9.9 to 166.3 kg mm-1 . Humic acids used in the study enhanced fertilizer and water-use efficiency

Educational and Scientific Analog Space Missions

Analog space missions in Poland include international scientific, technological, and business projects designed and realized by a private research company Analog Astronaut Training Center Ltd. (AATC) devoted to the future Moon and Mars exploration. Growing experience in educational aspect of the training as well as continuous development of the habitat and its professional space science laboratory equipment correspond to increased interest of educational organizations, universities, and individual students. We serve unique practical platform for space engineering, space master, and even space doctoral theses. In addition to a wide range of training courses offered for future astronauts, for example, diving, skydiving, rocket workshops, and stratospheric missions, AATC provides a private laboratory to simulate the space environment. It carries out scientific experiments focused on biology and space medicine, as well as addressing several multidisciplinary issues related to the Moon and Mars exploration, including space mining. The main goal of each our analog simulation is to get publishable results, what means that our analog astronauts obtain not only certification of completion of the training but also ability to continue studies and to perform it individually. This chapter summarizes methodology used by us, didactic tools, and obtained results for both educational and scientific analog simulations

Usefulness of 3D transperineal ultrasound in severe stenosis of the anal canal : preliminary experience in four cases

Background Organic or functional anal canal stenoses are uncommon conditions that occur in the majority of cases as a consequence of anal diseases. A proper assessment is fundamental for decision making; however, proctological examination and endoanal ultrasound are often unfeasible or very difficult to perform even under local or general anesthesia. We therefore began to use 3D transperineal ultrasound to assess patients. The aim of this study was to compare the results of evacuation proctography and 3D transperineal ultrasound in patients with severe anal canal stenosis. Methods Four consecutive patients with high-grade anal canal stenosis were evaluated using both proctography and 3D transperineal ultrasound with a micro-convex transducer between March and June 2011.Results In all cases, 3D transperineal ultrasound provided detailed information on the length and level of stenosis and on the integrity of the anal sphincters. Conclusions Our preliminary experience suggests that 3D transperineal ultrasound makes it possible to plan optimal surgical treatment

An aberrant right subclavian artery in a 63-year-old male cadaver

An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), also called “Arteria lusoria”, is described as a right subclavian artery with a retro-esophageal course that most frequently originates as the most distal branch of the aortic arch. The aim of the following study was to present and thoroughly describe a case of an ARSA, its course, branches, and relation to the surrounding anatomical structures and discuss the clinical significance and embryology of this variant. During routine dissection, a 63-year-old male cadaver with an abnormal variant of the right subclavian artery was found. The right subclavian artery branched off from the aortic arch as the most distal branch. Subsequently, it coursed posteriorly to the trachea and esophagus at the level of T2 and T3. Abnormalities in the branching pattern of the right subclavian artery were also discovered, such as the right vertebral artery originating from the right common carotid artery as its first branch. The present study presents a case of an ARSA, which is a rare anatomical variant of the branches of the aortic arch. The course and branching pattern of an aberrant subclavian artery is quite variable, and each variant can be associated with different possible complications. Furthermore, the ARSA is associated with other cardiovascular anomalies, such as the Kommerells diverticulum. Therefore, knowledge about the possible variations of this anomaly may be of great importance for physicians who encounter this variant in their practice

Mathematical formalisms to represent knowledge concerning the production process of austempered ductile iron

The aim of this study is to develop computer tools for calculation of the Fe - Fe3C phase equilibrium diagram. The phase equilibrium diagram is of fundamental importance in materials science and heat treatment processes of ferrous alloys. It enables prediction of carbon steel microstructure in the annealed condition, and facilitates selection of proper temperature for the heat treatment process. Choosing the right values of the heat treatment process parameters is essential in the production of Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI)

The cranio-orbital foramen; a meta-analysis with a review of the literature

Background: The goal of the present study was to provide accurate data on the prevalence and morphometrical aspects of the cranio-orbital foramen (COF), which can surely be of use by surgeons performing procedures on the lateral orbit. Furthermore, the embryology and the clinical significance of this osseous structure were thoroughly discussed. Materials and methods: Major online medical databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched to find all relevant studies regarding COF. Results: Eventually, a total of 25 studies that matched the required criteria and contained complete and relevant data were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of COF was found to be 48.37% (95% CI: 41.67% - 55.10%). The occurrence of the COF unilaterally was set to be 71.92% (95% CI: 41.87% - 96.97%). The occurrence of the COF bilaterally was set at 26.08% (95% CI: 3.03% - 58.13%). Conclusions: In conclusion, we believe that this is the most accurate and up-to-date study regarding the anatomy of the COF. The COF is prevalent in 48.37% of the cases, and it is most frequently unilateral (73.92%). Furthermore, the prevalence of accessory COFs was found to be 16.72 percent. The presence of these foramina may represent a source of hemorrhage that ophthalmic surgeons should be aware of when performing procedures in the lateral part of the orbit

Raspberry pomace alters cecal microbial activity and reduces secondary bile acids in rats fed a high-fat diet

The profile of bile acids (BA) largely depends on the enzymatic activity of the microbiota, but this can be modulated by the dietary addition of biologically active compounds, e.g., polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dietary raspberry pomace as a rich source of biologically active compounds on microbial activity and the BA profile in the caecum of rats fed a high-fat diet. Wistar rats were fed the standard diet AIN-93, a high-fat diet or a modified high-fat diet enriched with 7% different types of processed raspberry pomaces produced by standard grinding and fine grinding, with or without seeds. Rats fed the high-fat diet for eight weeks showed some disorders in liver function and cecal BA, as manifested by an increased concentration of cholesterol, total BA in the liver and cholic, deoxycholic, and β-muricholic acids in the cecal digesta. In general, irrespective of the type of raspberry pomace, these dietary preparations decreased liver cholesterol, hepatic fibroblast growth factor receptor 4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, cecal ammonia and favorable changed BA profile in the cecum. However, among all dietary pomaces, the finely ground preparation containing seeds had the greatest beneficial effect on the caecum by modulating bacterial activity and reducing the levels of secondary BA

Decoration of the enterococcal polysaccharide antigen EPA is essential for virulence, cell surface charge and interaction with effectors of the innate immune system

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen with an intrinsically high resistance to lysozyme, a key effector of the innate immune system. This high level of resistance requires a complex network of transcriptional regulators and several genes (oatA, pgdA, dltA and sigV) acting synergistically to inhibit both the enzymatic and cationic antimicrobial peptide activities of lysozyme. We sought to identify novel genes modulating E. faecalis resistance to lysozyme. Random transposon mutagenesis carried out in the quadruple oatA/pgdA/dltA/sigV mutant led to the identification of several independent insertions clustered on the chromosome. These mutations were located in a locus referred to as the enterococcal polysaccharide antigen (EPA) variable region located downstream of the highly conserved epaA-epaR genes proposed to encode a core synthetic machinery. The epa variable region was previously proposed to be responsible for EPA decorations, but the role of this locus remains largely unknown. Here, we show that EPA decoration contributes to resistance towards charged antimicrobials and underpins virulence in the zebrafish model of infection by conferring resistance to phagocytosis. Collectively, our results indicate that the production of the EPA rhamnopolysaccharide backbone is not sufficient to promote E. faecalis infections and reveal an essential role of the modification of this surface polymer for enterococcal pathogenesis