Orthomodular Lattices Induced by the Concurrency Relation

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Rendimiento y características físico-químicas de las uvas de vides tratadas con extracto de Ecklonia maxima

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do extrato de Ecklonia maxima (Kelpak®) sobre o rendimento e as características físico-químicas dos cachos das videiras viníferas. Os tratamentos consistiram de diferentes doses do produto comercial Kelpak®, concentrado de algas Ecklonia maxima, com a presença de auxinas naturais em sua composição: T1 - Água, T2 - Extrato de Ecklonia maxima – 2.5 L ha-1, T3 - Extrato de Ecklonia maxima – 3.75 L ha-1, aplicado com pulverizador manual com volume de aproximadamente 170 mL por planta, equivalente a 900 L ha-1. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: peso dos cachos, número de cachos por planta, número de bagas por cacho, peso das bagas, largura e comprimento dos cachos, teor de sólidos solúveis, pH e acidez total titulável. Os seguintes distúrbios fisiológicos em cachos foram avaliados visualmente: rachadura, desidratação, compactação e desavinho. Para a cultivar Merlot verificou-se aumento do comprimento de cacho e a diminuição da ocorrência de desavinho com o tratamento 2.5 L ha-1 de Ecklonia maxima em comparação com o tratamento com 3.5 L ha-1, mas sem diferenças em relação ao controle com água. Para a cv. Cabernet Sauvignon houve um aumento na compactação dos cachos e redução da incidência de desidratação das bagas entre 0-5% para o tratamento com 2.5 L ha-1 de extrato de Ecklonia maxima, diferindo-se da testemunha. Considerando os resultados, o uso de extrato de Ecklonia maxima tem um potencial para melhorar a qualidade de uvas e, novas pesquisas deveriam ser conduzidas para melhorar a sua eficiência em vinhedos comerciais.This trial aimed to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia maxima extract (Kelpak®) on yield and physicochemical characteristics of the clusters from wine grapevines. The treatments consisted of different doses of the commercial product Kelpak®, concentrate prepared of seaweed Ecklonia maxima, rich in natural auxins, as follow: T1 – Water, T2 – Extract of Ecklonia maxima – 2.5 L ha-1, T3 – Extract of Ecklonia maxima – 3.75 L ha-1,  applied with a hand sprayer with a volume about 170 mL per plant, equivalent to 900 L ha-1. The following variables were evaluated: weight of clusters, number of clusters per plant, number of berries per cluster, weight of berries, width and length of the clusters, soluble solids content, pH and trititable acidity. The physiological disorders in clusters were visually evaluated as follow: cracking, dehydration, shot berries and cluster compactness. For the grapevines cv. Merlot, the application of Kelpak at 2.5 L ha-1 increased the length of clusters and decreased the occurrence of shot berries, compared to the treatment with 3.5 L ha-1, but without differences in relation to the control with water. For the cv. Cabernet Sauvignon there was an increase in cluster compactness and reduction of berries dehydration for the incidence between 0-5% of the berries for the treatment with 2.5 L ha-1 of Ecklonia maxima extract, differing from the control. Considering the results, the use of Ecklonia maxima has a potential to increase grapes quality, and new researches should be carried out to improve its performance in commercial vineyards.Este ensayo tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos del extracto de Ecklonia maxima (Kelpak®) sobre el rendimiento y las características fisicoquímicas de los racimos de vides de vino. Los tratamientos consistieron en diferentes dosis del producto comercial Kelpak®, concentrado preparado de algas marinas Ecklonia maxima, rico en auxinas naturales, de la siguiente manera: T1 - Agua, T2 - Extracto de Ecklonia maxima - 2.5 L ha-1, T3 - Extracto de Ecklonia máximos: 3.75 L ha-1, aplicados con un pulverizador manual con un volumen de aproximadamente 170 mL por planta, equivalente a 900 L ha-1. Se evaluaron las siguientes variables: peso de los racimos, número de racimos por planta, número de bayas por racimo, peso de las bayas, ancho y longitud de los racimos, contenido de sólidos solubles, pH y acidez trititable. Los desórdenes fisiológicos en racimos se evaluaron visualmente de la siguiente manera: agrietamiento, deshidratación, bayas en rodajas y compacidad de racimo. Para las vides cv. Merlot, la aplicación de Kelpak a 2.5 L ha-1 aumentó la longitud de los racimos y disminuyó la aparición de bayas en comparación con el tratamiento con 3.5 L ha-1, pero sin diferencias en relación con el control con agua. Para el cv. Cabernet Sauvignon hubo un aumento en la compacidad del racimo y la reducción de la deshidratación de las bayas para la incidencia entre 0-5% de las bayas para el tratamiento con 2.5 L ha-1 de extracto de Ecklonia maxima, que difiere del control. Teniendo en cuenta los resultados, el uso de Ecklonia maxima tiene el potencial de aumentar la calidad de la uva, y se deben realizar nuevas investigaciones para mejorar su rendimiento en los viñedos comerciales

Analysis of total organic carbon in soil-biochar systems

Amending agricultural soils with biochar can contribute to negative carbon strategies when the resistance to oxidation of soil carbon is improved (avoided CO2 emission) and plant growth is promoted (increased CO2 fixation). The environmental stability and sequestering capacity of biochar is dependent on the chemical form of carbon and its physical location in the carbonaceous matrix. The addition of biochar in soil increases noticeably the stable carbon pool, while the effect on labile carbon, including polyaromatic structures, is less marked.1 The fertilizing action can be lost if biochar is removed from the cultivated area due to physical processes (vertical transport, lateral export, slacking). Assessing the fate of carbon in the soil requires the use of suitable analytical methods that should be validated for the presence of biochar. Please click on the file below for full content of the abstract

Sorafenib, risk of bleeding and spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma. A clinical case.

Spontaneous rupture is a rare and dramatic complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), burdened by a high mortality. Here we describe a case of a 73-year-old man, who arrived at the ER because of syncope, and acute epigastric and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. He had a history of hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis and HCC in treatment with sorafenib. The physical examination showed a state of hemorrhagic anemia with the presence of blood in the peritoneal cavity. The patient underwent an urgent liver resection. Thirty days after surgery, he was in good general condition. Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor recently introduced in the therapy of patients with advanced HCC. Among the various side effects reported in patients treated with sorafenib, there is a higher risk of bleeding. In conclusion, sorafenib may increase the risk of bleeding and rupture of HCC in susceptible individuals

Prospecting intercropping between subterranean clover and grapevine as potential strategy for improving grapevine performance

Abstract Intercropping is an agricultural practice commonly used to improve plant nutrition. In this study, we prospected the interaction between root exudates of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). This experiment was focused on the detection of organic acids, amino acids, and flavonoids in root exudates released by grapevine and subterranean clover grown separately and together. Furthermore, we quantified low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOA) in root exudates. To test the effect of root exudates in plant-plant chemical signaling, both species were grown in Hoagland hydroponic solution. The experimental design contained three treatments: T1 (subterranean clover, monocropping); T2 (grapevine, monocropping) and T3 (subterranean clover + grapevine, intercropping). The exudate profile showed that the main compounds were amino acid, flavonoids and organic acids in all treatments. Specifically, amino acids exudates (∼20%) were l -threonine by subterranean clover in monocropping (T1) and glutathione in intercropping with grapevine (T3). Glycylglycine was detected in exudates released by subterranean clover (T1) and both plants under intercropping (T3). Regarding flavonoids (∼10%), epicatechin was detected only in subterranean clover exudates (T1). Interestingly, we detected kaempferol-3-glucuronide, l -2-aminoadipic and gluconic acids were found only under intercropping. The LMWOA were oxalic, malic, citric, and succinic. Oxalic acid was released in higher concentration. We highlight that succinic acid reached the highest concentration under intercropping on day-30. These results strongly suggest that amino acids, flavonoids and organic acids acts as signaling compounds between plant-plant interaction, can be utilized for improving grapevine plant performance

Testing a bovine blood-derived compound as iron supply on cucumis sativus L.

A new powder formulation obtained from bovine blood (Fe-heme) was tested on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to investigate its effectiveness as iron supply in comparison with two synthetic iron-chelates fertilizers: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA/Fe3+) and ethylenediamine-N'N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid) (o,oEDDHA/Fe3+). Green stressed cucumber plants were evaluated in their recovery (SPAD index and weight variations) and to test the iron reduction capacity of the roots at pH 7.5 and 6.0 using each iron treatment as iron supply. The blood-derived product showed similar effects on decreasing iron-deficiency symptoms: SPAD increments and the weights of plants were similar. Noteworthy, the average of Fe3+reduction capacity in roots was higher for EDTA/Fe3+, while it was similar for o,oEDDHA/Fe3+, and Fe-heme at pH 7.5. Fe-heme showed a complex behavior due to aggregation and low solubility at pH 6 and showed an unexpectedly high contribution of root exudates to iron reductionThis research was funded by EUROPEAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ESF) within the framework of the ESF activity “The Functionality of Iron Minerals in Environmental Processes” (scholarship to Michele Di Foggia) [grant number:4213] and by the Spanish MINECO project AGL2013-44474-R

Biochar from gasification in cultivated soils and riparian buffer zones: Chemical characterization

During rain events, pollutants in agricultural soils can be transported from fields to surface and/or groundwater resulting in contamination of streams and rivers. Researchers and farmers must work together to find solutions to ensure the preservation of crop production without jeopardizing water quality or the health of the ecosystem. Establishment of riparian zones may reduce the effects of diffuse discharges of pollutants into waterways. The addition of biochar to soils, particularly in a riparian zones, can reduce the mobility of contaminants and improve removal efficiency due its sorptive capacity. Please click on the file below for full content of the abstract

Effect of zinc and protein content in different barley cultivars: use of controlled release matrices

Barley is one of the most consumed cereals, with many different cultivars available worldwide. Like other crops, its yield has been affected by climate change and soil degradation. This work proposes controlled-release protein-based matrices with incorporated zinc to improve barley seed germination and zinc content in the plant. Thus, the main objective of this study was to investigate the use of controlled-release protein-based matrices for massive crops, such as barley. Different barley cultivars of barley were studied: Barke, Golden Promise, Morex, WB-200, WB379, and WB-446. The seeds of each cultivar were also analyzed in order to explain the behavior of plants observed during the growth. To this end, the physico-chemical (FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, and Zn concentration) and microstructural (SEM) properties of the different seeds were firstly evaluated to establish differences between the studied cultivars. In addition, the use of controlled-release soybean protein-based matrices without zinc (M) or with zinc incorporated (MZ) was evaluated as fertilizers in the different barley cultivars. In this sense, the use of these matrices as a zinc carrier improved seed germination and zinc content in the plants, indicating that the use of matrices improves the amount of zinc assimilated by the crops (up to 30 and 50% with M and MZ, respectively) and allows the proper root growth of all cultivars of barley. In conclusion, this article shows the potential of controlled-release protein-based matrices as substitutes for conventional fertilization

Ehrlichia infection in Italy.

Immunoglobulin M seroconversion to Ehrlichia chaffeensis was documented in U.S. citizens bitten by ticks in Sardinia. Seven cases of suspected ehrlichiosis in local residents were not confirmed by laboratory tests. In Alpine areas antibodies to E. phagocytophila were detected in persons at high risk, i.e., foresters (8.6%) and hunters (5.5%), and in controls (1.5%). Of 153 persons bitten by ticks, only one was Ehrlichia antibody-positive after 6 months