Wild asparagus domestication for food/energy cropping system setup

The solar greenhouse sector is currently unbalanced towards energy production. Thus, the introduction of new crop options, such as wild asparagus, could contribute to the promotion of economic and environmental sustainability in these food/energy systems (mixed-systems). We hypothesized that wild asparagus is able to adapt both to sunny and partially shaded environments provided that both nutrient and water supply are guaranteed. Over a three-year experiment, we carried out an intensive examination of within-season phenological, physiological and productive dynamics under a greenhouse with 50% of the roof area covered with photovoltaic panels. Under the photovoltaic roof the net assimilation rate was on average 5 time lower, averaged over the growing seasons (0.6 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1), resulting in negative results for some monitoring dates. However, lower net assimilation rate did not negatively impact spears production in terms of number, length and diameter. The year of establishment affected the length of the spear, which was 4 cm shorter in 2013 than in 2014 and 2015, when no significant difference was observed. The novelty proposed in this study could be a successful option for farmers to promote production diversification and a promising strategy to guarantee the environmental and economic sustainability of the whole mixed system

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in women in Benin, West Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical cancer ranks as the first most frequent cancer among women in Benin. The major cause of cervical cancer now recognized is persistent infection of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In Benin there is a lack of screening programs for prevention of cervical cancer and little information exists regarding HPV genotype distribution.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cervical cells from 725 women were examined for the presence of viral DNA by means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplex-based assay with the amplification of a fragment of L1 region and of E6/E7 region of the HPV genome, and of abnormal cytology by Papanicolaou method. The association between HPV status and Pap test reports was evaluated. Socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics were also related.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 18 different HPV types were identified, with a prevalence of 33.2% overall, and 52% and 26.7% among women with and without cervical lesions, respectively. Multiple HPV infections were observed in 40.2% of HPV-infected women. In the HPV-testing group, the odds ratio for the detection of abnormal cytology was 2.98 (95% CI, 1.83-4.84) for HPV positive in comparison to HPV negative women. High risk types were involved in 88% of infections, most notably HPV-59, HPV-35, HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-58 and HPV-45. In multiple infections of women with cytological abnormalities HPV-45 predominated.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides the first estimates of the prevalence of HPV and type-specific distribution among women from Benin and demonstrates that the epidemiology of HPV infection in Benin is different from that of other world regions. Specific area vaccinations may be needed to prevent cervical cancer and the other HPV-related diseases.</p

Wild asparagus domestication for food/energy cropping system set up

&lt;p&gt;The solar greenhouse sector is currently unbalanced towards energy production. Thus, the introduction of new crop options, such as wild asparagus, could contribute to the promotion of economic and environmental sustainability in these food/energy systems (mixed-systems). We hypothesized that wild asparagus is able to adapt both to sunny and partially shaded environments provided that both nutrient and water supply are guaranteed. Over a three-year experiment, we carried out an intensive examination of within-season phenological, physiological and productive dynamics under a greenhouse with 50% of the roof area covered with photovoltaic panels. Under the photovoltaic roof the net assimilation rate was on average 5 time lower, averaged over the growing seasons (0.6 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1), resulting in negative results for some monitoring dates. However, lower net assimilation rate did not negatively impact spears production in terms of number, length and diameter. The year of establishment affected the length of the spear, which was 4 cm shorter in 2013 than in 2014 and 2015, when no significant difference was observed. The novelty proposed in this study could be a successful option for farmers to promote production diversification and a promising strategy to guarantee the environmental and economic sustainability of the whole mixed system.&lt;/p&gt

Solar radiation distribution inside a greenhouse with south-oriented photovoltaic roofs and effects on crop productivity

This study assessed the climate conditions inside a greenhouse in which 50% of the roof area was replaced with photovoltaic (PV) modules, describing the solar radiation distribution and the variability of temperature and humidity. The effects of shading from the PV array on crop productivity were described on tomato, also integrating the natural radiation with supplementary lighting powered by PV energy. Experiments were performed inside an east–west oriented greenhouse (total area of 960 m2), where the south-oriented roofs were completely covered with multi-crystalline silicon PV modules, with a total rated power of 68 kWp. The PV system reduced the availability of solar radiation inside the greenhouse by 64%, compared to the situation without PV system (2684 MJ m−2 on yearly basis). The solar radiation distribution followed a north–south gradient, with more solar energy on the sidewalls and decreasing towards the center of the span, except in winter, where it was similar in all plant rows. The reduction under the plastic and PV covers was respectively 46% and 82% on yearly basis. Only a 18% reduction was observed on the plant rows farthest from the PV cover of the span. The supplementary lighting, powered without exceeding the energy produced by the PV array, was not enough to affect the crop production, whose revenue was lower than the cost for heating and lighting. The distribution of the solar radiation observed is useful for choosing the most suitable crops and for designing PV greenhouses with the attitude for both energy and crop production

An algorithm for the calculation of the light distribution in photovoltaic greenhouses

This study introduces a novel algorithm to estimate the cumulated global radiation inside photovoltaic (PV) greenhouses at the desired time interval. The direct and diffuse radiation were calculated on several observations points (OPs) inside the PV greenhouse. The PV panels were assimilated to polygons that can overlap the sun path seen from a specific OP. The algorithm was tested in a greenhouse with 50% PV cover ratio on the roof. The results were showed as the percentage ratio of the cumulated yearly global radiation with and without PV array on the roof (GGR), and used to draw maps of light distribution on different canopy heights (from 0.0 to 2.0 m). The maps displayed the variability of the light distribution and the most adversely affected zones inside the PV greenhouse. The yearly GGR increased with the canopy height on the zones under the plastic cover (GGR from 59% at 0.0 m to 73% at 2.0 m), and decreased under the PV cover (GGR from 57% at 0.0 m to 40% at 2.0 m). Most zones close to the side walls and the gable walls were the least affected by shading on all canopy heights. The different light distribution on the canopy heights showed that the incident solar energy on the crop changes consistently, according to the growth stage of the plants. The algorithm can be applied to several PV greenhouse types and may provide a decision support tool for the identification of the most suitable plant species, based on their light requirements

New polyurethanes and polyesters for second-order nonlinear optical applications.

New polymers for second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) applications were synthesized and characterized. They were distinguished by the presence of chromophore groups, with various mol. hyperpolarizability values, used as pendants on substantially rigid backbones. The polymers were prepd. through the reaction of tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate, or a suitable alkyloxyphthaloyl dichloride, with the N,N-diethanol-4-(phenyl) group azo-linked to a nitrofluorenone, nitrostilbene, nitrooxadiazole, or nitrothiadiazole moiety. The polymers exhibited good thermal stability, high glass-transition temps., and an absence of crystallinity. The second-order NLO properties of thin, transparent poled films, prepd. by spin coating and thermal corona poling, were investigated for some of the polymers. The second harmonic coeffs., ranging between 18 and 25 pmV, depended more on the alignment of the chromophore groups along the direction of the poling field than on their mol. hyperpolarizability. The ternporal stability of the NLO properties of the polymers was also investigated

Zoxamide accumulation and retention evaluation after nanosuspension technology application in tomato plant

BACKGROUND: Low water solubility of pesticide requires formulations with high levels of stabilizers and organic solvents. Moreover, only 0.1% of the applied pesticides formulation reaches the target, while 99.9% spreads in the surrounding environment. Therefore, there is the need for more efficient and environmentally sustainable alternatives. RESULTS: Zoxamide (ZO) nanosuspension was prepared through a media milling technique by using the stabilizer polysorbate 80. The thin and acicular crystals obtained, showed particle size of 227 nm, polydispersion index of 0.247 and zeta potential of −28 mV. Dimensional data and morphology of ZO nanocrystals alone, on tomato leaves and berries, were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The reduction in size for ZO crystals obtained after the milling process increased pesticide water solubility till 39.6 mg L−1, about 1.6 the solubility obtained with a conventional commercial formulation. Field and dip contamination trials performed on tomato plants showed the nanosuspension's ability to increase ZO deposition and accumulation versus a coarse ZO suspension and commercial formulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The nanoformulation proposed, resulted in low cost and was easy to make. Moreover, the organic solvent-free composition together with a low surfactant addition assured a minor environmental impact. Finally, the increased retention and deposition of the fungicide can reduce the amounts of ZO formulation applied to tomatoes

A prospective non-randomized controlled, multicenter trial comparing Appendectomy and Conservative Treatment for Patients with Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis (the ACTUAA study)

Purpose: Acute appendicitis (AA) is among the most common causes of lower abdominal pain and admissions to the emergency department. Over the past 20 years, there has been a renewed interest in the conservative management of uncomplicated AA, and several studies demonstrated that an antibiotic-first strategy is a viable treatment option for uncomplicated AA. The aim of this prospective non-randomized controlled, multicenter trial is to compare antibiotic therapy and emergency appendectomy as treatment for patients with uncomplicated AA confirmed by US and/or CT or MRI scan. Methods: All adult patients in the age range 18 to 65 years with suspected AA, consecutively admitted to the Surgical Department of the 13 participating Italian Hospitals, will be invited to take part in the study. A multicenter prospective collected registry developed by surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis represents the best research method to assess the long-term role of antibiotics in the management of the disease. Comparison will be made between surgical and antibiotic-first approaches to uncomplicated AA through the analysis of the primary outcome measure of complication-free treatment success rate based on 1-year follow-up. Quality of life, length of hospital stay, pain evaluation, and time to return to normal activity will be evaluated as secondary outcome measures. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT03080103