Rubbery wound closure adhesives. I. design, synthesis, characterization, and testing of polyisobutylene-based cyanoacrylate homo- and co-networks

Novel rubbery wound closures containing various proportions and molecular weights of polyisobutylene (PIB) and poly(2-octyl cyanoacrylate) [P(OctCA)] for potential clinical use were designed, synthesized, characterized, and tested. Homo-networks were prepared by crosslinking 3-arm star-shaped PIBs fitted with terminal cyanoacrylate groups, [Ø(PIB-CA)3], and co-networks by copolymerizing Ø(PIB-CA)3 with OctCA using N-dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMT). Neat Ø(PIB-CA)3, and Ø(PIB-CA)3/OctCA blends, upon contact with initiator, polymerize within seconds to optically transparent strong rubbery co-networks, Ø(PIB-CA)3-co-P(OctCA). Homo- and co-network formation was demonstrated by sol/gel studies, and structures and properties were characterized by a battery of techniques. The Tg of P(OctCA) is 58 °C by DSC, and 75 °C by DMTA. Co-networks comprising 25% Ø(PIB-CA)3 (Mn  = 2400 g/mol) and 75% P(OctCA) are stronger and more extensible than skin. Short and long term creep studies show co-networks exhibit high dimensional stability and \u3c6% creep strain at high loading. When deposited on porcine skin co-networks yield hermetically-adhering clear rubbery coatings. Strips of porcine skin coated with co-networks could be stretched and twisted without compromising membrane integrity. The co-network is nontoxic to L-929 mouse fibroblasts

Irrigation management of a peach orchard

The research field was at Siófok, in Hungary, which is situated in the South East side of Lake Balaton. The physical characteristicof the soil is sandy loam and loam and the peach orchard is irrigated. Mainly Sweet Lady (early ripening), Red Heaven (medium ripening) ésVeinberger (early ripening) species were installed. In order to achieve the optimal developement level of trees and maximal yield amount andfruit diameter (Sweet Lady 60–75 mm, Red Heaven 60–70 mm, Veinberger 50–60 mm) continous water and nutrient supply is required. Theirrigation modeling was set by CROPWAT 8.0 based on the climatic, crop and soil data inputs of the last 10 years. Based on the results, largeamount of water is needed for optimal growth of fruit trees, particularly in the summer months, in case of active ground cover (+) and baresoil (–) as well. The irrigation requirement of a tree was found maximum 4 l/hour in certain cases. This irrigation intensity can be achieved –calculated with 12-hour operating time – by using continuous water NAAN Tif drip tube with 2 l/h flux on 3 atm pressure with 16 mm pipediameter. If lower irrigation intensity is required irrigation can be controlled by the decreased the operation time

Effects of irregular cropping on nutrient uptake and status of apple trees

Produce of harmonic nutrient balance and status of trees is basic task of growers for qualified fruit growing. The role of crop loaded is essential to grow the productivity of trees without nutrient disorder or other nutritional problems. To reduce the frequency of biennial bearing there are some ways (site and species selection, crop regulation, irrigation, nutrition etc.) from them one is the best easy way the proper site and species oriented nutrition. Sometimes the responsible for irregular cropping is the insufficient fertilization. Observed irregular cropping at two apple cultivars (Malus domestica Borkh., cv. ‘Summerred’ and cv. ‘Mutsu’) in an integrated apple orchard at Hajdúnánás-Tedej, in 2007 resulted a chance to determine nutritional status of “bearing” and “non bearing” trees and investigate the effects of irregular cropping on nutrient uptake and possibilities of correction. Our results pointed out that irregularity is connection on nutrition status of trees. Irregular cropping results in insufficient nutrient uptake and disharmony of nutrients. For this reason, the establishment of nutrient status of “non bearing” trees is could permit a chance to correct and improve the nutrient supply of trees which help to breakdown the vicious circle of irregularity

Effects of irregular cropping on nutrient uptake and status of apple trees

Produce of harmonic nutrient balance and status of trees is basic task of growers for qualified fruit growing. The role of croploaded is essential to grow the productivity of trees without nutrient disorder or other nutritional problems. To reduce the frequency of biennialbearing there are some ways (site and species selection, crop regulation, irrigation, nutrition etc.) from them one is the best easy way theproper site and species oriented nutrition. Sometimes the responsible for irregular cropping is the insufficient fertilization. Observed irregularcropping at two apple cultivars (Malus domestica Borkh., cv. ‘Summerred’ and cv. ‘Mutsu’) in an integrated apple orchard at Hajdúnánás-Tedej, in 2007 resulted a chance to determine nutritional status of “bearing” and “non bearing” trees and investigate the effects of irregularcropping on nutrient uptake and possibilities of correction. Our results pointed out that irregularity is connection on nutrition status of trees.Irregular cropping results in insufficient nutrient uptake and disharmony of nutrients. For this reason, the establishment of nutrient status of“non bearing” trees is could permit a chance to correct and improve the nutrient supply of trees which help to breakdown the vicious circle ofirregularity

Acceptance of artificial nesting sites by pollinating mason bees in commercial fruit plantations (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae: mixed Osmia cornuta and O. rufa population)

During a four yeas long experiment a simple bee shelterswas found to be a propermethod to increase the size ofmixed natural populations of the early season Osmia cornuta and O. rufa under practical farm conditions. Instead of the number of pesticide applications the earliness of the flowering of the fruit species in the orchards was found to be themost important factor in the rate of acceptance of reed as nestingmediumby Osmias in the bee shelter. This relationship was negative and highly significant (r = –0.829, p<0.001). This means that much higher acceptance of artificial nestingmedia in bee shelters and consequentlymuch higher population increase of the two early seasonmason bee species can be expected in orchards with early than with late flowering fruit species. Mixed orchards or early flowering orchards surrounded by other orchards falling in bloom later consecutively may also be much favourable to mason bees because they can find continuous food (pollen) supply there for a much longer time during their period of activity than in orchards planted with a single fruit species and being apart from orchards of other fruit species

Acceptance of artificial nesting sites by pollinating mason bees in commercial fruit plantations (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae: mixed Osmia cornuta and O. rufa population)

During a four yeas long experiment a simple bee shelterswas found to be a propermethod to increase the size ofmixed natural populationsof the early season Osmia cornuta and O. rufa under practical farm conditions. Instead of the number of pesticide applications the earliness of theflowering of the fruit species in the orchards was found to be themost important factor in the rate of acceptance of reed as nestingmediumby Osmias in the bee shelter. This relationship was negative and highly significant (r = –0.829, p<0.001). This means that much higher acceptance of artificial nestingmedia in bee shelters and consequentlymuch higher population increase of the two early seasonmason bee species can be expected in orchards with early than with late flowering fruit species. Mixed orchards or early flowering orchards surrounded by other orchards falling in bloom later consecutively may also be much favourable to mason bees because they can find continuous food (pollen) supply there for a much longer time during their period of activity than in orchards planted with a single fruit species and being apart from orchards of other fruit species

Susceptibility of European pear genotypes in a gene bank to pear psylla damage and possible exploitation of resistant varieties in organic farming

We evaluated 285 pear genotypes (commercial cultivars, ancient local varieties, unnamed local strains, seedlings, wild seedlings) in the largest gene bank of pear in Hungary from the point of view of psylla resistance to explore their possible exploitation in organic farming. We have found some 10 new resistant types (Bókoló körte, Bôtermô Kálmán, Füge alakú körte, Nagyasszony körte, Nyári Kálmán, Rozs nyári körte, Viki körte, Pb-242, Pb-299, 0-632) and 7 highly tolerant ones (Cure-6, Kései Kálmán, Kieffer, Kieffer Éd, Steiner, Téli Kálmán, II. B-3- 6/4, 96-16/5) (Table 1). These made up 3.5 + 2.8 per cent of the investigated genotypes, while 93.7 per cent of them were susceptible to pear psylla damage. Taking earlier and present results into account we can list more than 30 European pear cultivars being resistant or highly tolerant to pear psylla infestation and damage. In fact, the list of resistant and highly tolerant cultivars may serve as a basis selecting pear cultivars fitting to the specific requirements of the organic farming. By the end we can conclude that there is some real hope to exploit some resistant or highly tolerant ancient or local cultivars in organic farming but further investigations are needed to estimate their yield capacity and fruit quality

Susceptibility of European pear genotypes in a gene bank to pear psylla damage and possible exploitation of resistant varieties in organic farming

We evaluated 285 pear genotypes (commercial cultivars, ancient local varieties, unnamed local strains, seedlings, wild seedlings) inthe largest gene bank of pear in Hungary from the point of view of psylla resistance to explore their possible exploitation in organic farming.We have found some 10 new resistant types (Bókoló körte, Bôtermô Kálmán, Füge alakú körte, Nagyasszony körte, Nyári Kálmán, Rozs nyárikörte, Viki körte, Pb-242, Pb-299, 0-632) and 7 highly tolerant ones (Cure-6, Kései Kálmán, Kieffer, Kieffer Éd, Steiner, Téli Kálmán, II. B-3-6/4, 96-16/5) (Table 1). These made up 3.5 + 2.8 per cent of the investigated genotypes, while 93.7 per cent of them were susceptible to pearpsylla damage. Taking earlier and present results into account we can list more than 30 European pear cultivars being resistant or highly tolerantto pear psylla infestation and damage. In fact, the list of resistant and highly tolerant cultivars may serve as a basis selecting pear cultivars fittingto the specific requirements of the organic farming. By the end we can conclude that there is some real hope to exploit some resistant or highlytolerant ancient or local cultivars in organic farming but further investigations are needed to estimate their yield capacity and fruit quality

Effect of boron nutrition on nutrient uptake and fruit quality of tart cherry in Eastern Hungary

Effect of the foliar boron (B) application on nutrient uptake and fruit quality of tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) was investigatedfrom 2008 to 2009 on mature four favourite Hungarian tart cherry cultivars like ‘Oblacsinszka’, ‘Érdi bôtermô’, ‘Újfehértói fürtös’ and ‘Petri’.Tart cherry trees grown in Eastern Hungary (Újfehértó) on an acidic sandy soil with low B content. Trees were treated with B by foliarapplication (0.5% B) at full bloom and untreated with B served as a control. B sprays strongly affected on B content of inflorescences.However, B sprays had no consistent effect on summer leaf B status. In our experiment stronger year effect was observed at leaf B status thanflower B status. The effectiveness of early spring boron applications are limited and mostly affected the flower B status only. Moreover,treatments had inconsistent effect on studied fruit inner parameters. Monosaccharides, vitamin C and organic acid contents of sour cherrywere stronger affected by cultivars than applied treatments

Importance of boron in fruit nutrition

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient in plants especially in fruits. Despite of this fact there are very few information about itsapplication, uptake and symptoms in Hungarian fruit growing sector. Nowadays we should consider the effects of weather conditions on soilB availability increasingly according to the climatic anomalies. Identifying of internal and external symptoms of plant parts (leaf, fruit) is helpfor growers to recognize the deficiency and excess symptoms in time. Methods and application rates of boron fertilization provide furtherinformation for growers to achieve qualify-oriented fruit growing among Hungarian conditions. The aim of this minireview is to focus on theimportance of boron in fruit nutrition