PADC nuclear track detector for ion spectroscopy in laser-plasma acceleration

[EN] The transparent polymer polyallyl-diglycol-carbonate (PADC), also known as CR-39, is widely used as detector for heavy charged particles at low fluence. It allows for detection of single protons and ions via formation of microscopic tracks after etching in NaOH or KOH solutions. PADC combines a high sensitivity and high specificity with inertness towards electromagnetic noise. Present fields of application include laser-ion acceleration, inertial confinement fusion, radiobiological studies with cell cultures, and dosimetry of nuclear fragments in particle therapy. These require precise knowledge of the energy-dependent response of PADC to different ion species. We present calibration data for a new type of detector material, Radosys RS39, to protons (0.2-3 MeV) and carbon ions (0.6-12 MeV). RS39 is less sensitive to protons than other types of PADC. Its response to carbon ions, however, is similar to other materials. Our data indicate that RS39 allows for measuring carbon ion energies up to 10 MeV only from the track diameters. In addition, it can be used for discrimination between protons and carbon ions in a single etching process.Project funded by CSIC, Grant No. 2018501082, and by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, project MdM-2016-0692-17-2 via a predoctoral grant of type Maria de Maeztu FPI. Nuclear track detector material and readout equipment have been provided by Radosys Ldt. (Budapest). The authors acknowledge the contributions and commitment of the CNA accelerator operators. MS would like to thank L. Ballesteros and J. Ortiz for their support with precision equipment.Seimetz, M.; Peñas, J.; Llerena, JJ.; Benlliure, J.; García López, J.; Millán-Callado, MA.; Benlloch Baviera, JM. (2020). PADC nuclear track detector for ion spectroscopy in laser-plasma acceleration. 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A meta-analysis of long-term effects of conservation agriculture on maize grain yield under rain-fed conditions

Conservation agriculture involves reduced tillage, permanent soil cover and crop rotations to enhance soil fertility and to supply food from a dwindling land resource. Recently, conservation agriculture has been promoted in Southern Africa, mainly for maize-based farming systems. However, maize yields under rain-fed conditions are often variable. There is therefore a need to identify factors that influence crop yield under conservation agriculture and rain-fed conditions. Here, we studied maize grain yield data from experiments lasting 5 years and more under rain-fed conditions. We assessed the effect of long-term tillage and residue retention on maize grain yield under contrasting soil textures, nitrogen input and climate. Yield variability was measured by stability analysis. Our results show an increase in maize yield over time with conservation agriculture practices that include rotation and high input use in low rainfall areas. But we observed no difference in system stability under those conditions. We observed a strong relationship between maize grain yield and annual rainfall. Our meta-analysis gave the following findings: (1) 92% of the data show that mulch cover in high rainfall areas leads to lower yields due to waterlogging; (2) 85% of data show that soil texture is important in the temporal development of conservation agriculture effects, improved yields are likely on well-drained soils; (3) 73% of the data show that conservation agriculture practices require high inputs especially N for improved yield; (4) 63% of data show that increased yields are obtained with rotation but calculations often do not include the variations in rainfall within and between seasons; (5) 56% of the data show that reduced tillage with no mulch cover leads to lower yields in semi-arid areas; and (6) when adequate fertiliser is available, rainfall is the most important determinant of yield in southern Africa. It is clear from our results that conservation agriculture needs to be targeted and adapted to specific biophysical conditions for improved impact

Enhancing Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Cereals Through Breeding and Transgenic Interventions

The success of plant breeding in the 20th century led to new cultivars that, to date, have provided enough food for an increasing world population (Conway and Toenniessen 1999; Mifflin 2000). The results of the Green Revolution-led in the 1960s by Henry M. Beachell andNormanE. Dotlaug—resulted in a dramatic increase in rice and wheal grain yields (Milford and Runge 2007; Ortiz et al. 2007). However, abiotic stresses and climate change are becoming increasingly serious threats to crop production worldwide at a time when food staple supply will need to be significantly higher to meet the demand of the growing human population. Water scarcity (Rockstrom et al. 2007], salinity (Rengasamy 2006). and low soil fertility (Sanchez and Swaminathan 2005) rank among the moat important abiotic stresses worldwide. Similarly, increased climatic disturbances due to global warming are causing the major stresses that necessitate crop improvements to safeguard grain supply, particularly in the developing world (Kumar 2006). Hence, genetic enhancement of cereal crops with respect to abiotic stress tolerance will be essential far ensuring grain yields in water-limited, increasingly hotter agricultural zones, particularly If these conditions combine with poor and saline soils, conditions that prevail in parts of the developing world. Crop breeding for adaptation to abiotic stress-prone environments remains a challenging task, not least because of the complexity of the stress-adaptive mechanisms in plants and particularly cereal crops, which are the staple of most of the world's population (Reynolds et al. 2005}

Efficacy of the Egyptian pneumatic lithotriptor using cystoscopy in vesical calculi treatment Efficacité du lithotripteur pneumatique Egyptien lors d\'une cystoscopie dans le traitement du calcul vésical

Objective: The majority of vesical calculi in adults can now be treated transurethrally with the use of different lithotriptors. The aim of this article was to study the effectiveness of the Egyptian pneumatic lithotriptor through a rigid cystoscope in the treatment of vesical calculi.Patients and Methods: Fourteen adult patients (12 males and 2 females) had single urinary bladder stones. Mean stone diameter was 20 mm. Through a cystoscopic sheath, a modified ureteric catheter was introduced into the bladder. Using the Egyptian pneumatic lithotriptor–KH. YG2, the pneumatic probes (rigid or flexible) were passed through the catheter for stone disintegration. Results: Successful stone disintegration was recorded in 13 patients (92.9%) where the patients were stone-free at the end of the procedure. Failure of stone fragmentation occurred in one case (7.1%). The stone was removed surgically. Its chemical composition was found to be calcium oxalate monohydrate. The average time of cystolithotripsy was 35 minutes. Hospitalization ranged from 12 to 24 hours which was longer (2 to 4 days) for those patients who had undergone other procedures. Minor complications such as mild hematuria (100%) and cystitis (21.4%) were observed. No major complications were noted. Conclusion: The use of the Egyptian lithotriptor during cytoscopy has been found to be an effective, easy, safe and economical method for the treatment of vesical stones. ResumeObjectifs: La majorité des calculs vésicaux chez les adultes peuvent actuellement être traités par voie trans-uréthrale grâce à des lithotripteurs. Notre but est d\'étudier l\'efficacité du lithotripteur pneumatique Égyptien lors d\'une cystoscopie rigide dans le traitement de calculs vésicaux.Patients et méthodes: Quatorze patients adultes (12 hommes et 2 femmes) présentaient des lithiases de la vessie seules. Le diamètre moyen des lithiases était de 20 mm. À travers une gaine cystoscopique, une sonde urétérale modifiée est introduite dans la vessie. On a utilisé le lithotripteur pneumatique Égyptien-KH. YG2, les tiges des lithotripteurs pneumatiques (rigide ou flexible) ont été introduites dans la sonde pour la désintégration des lithiases. Résultats: Une désintégration lithiasique complète avec stone-free a été enregistrée chez 13 patients (92.9%). L\'échec de fragmentation de lithiase s\'est produit dans un cas (7.1%). La lithiase a été enlevée chirurgicalement et sa composition chimique était monohydrate d\'oxalate de calcium. Le temps moyen de cystolithotripsie était de 35 minutes. L\'hospitalisation a varié de 12 à 24 heures, il était plus long (2 à 4 jours) pour les patients qui avaient subi d\'autres procédures. Des complications mineures à type d\'hematurie légère (100%) et de cystite (21.4%) ont été observés. Aucune complication majeure n\'a été notée.Conclusion: L\'utilisation du lithotripteur Égyptien pendant la cystoscopie est une méthode efficace, facile, sûre et économique pour le traitement de lithiases vésicales. African Journal of Urology Vol. 11(3) 2005: 220-22