Fatal anaphylactoid reaction following ioversol administration

We report a fatal intravenous ioversol administration in a 60-year old male patient. Although the introduction of new low-osmolar non-ionogenic contrast media with a more favourable efficacy-toxicity balance has diminished the side-effects significantly, everyone involved in radiodiagnostic procedures should be aware of the potential life-threatening effects. Especially patients with risk factors for side-effects should be monitored carefully

Thermal Tolerance of the Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei: Predictions of Climate Change Impact on a Tropical Insect Pest

Coffee is predicted to be severely affected by climate change. We determined the thermal tolerance of the coffee berry borer , Hypothenemus hampei, the most devastating pest of coffee worldwide, and make inferences on the possible effects of climate change using climatic data from Colombia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. For this, the effect of eight temperature regimes (15, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30, 33 and 35°C) on the bionomics of H. hampei was studied. Successful egg to adult development occurred between 20–30°C. Using linear regression and a modified Logan model, the lower and upper thresholds for development were estimated at 14.9 and 32°C, respectively. In Kenya and Colombia, the number of pest generations per year was considerably and positively correlated with the warming tolerance. Analysing 32 years of climatic data from Jimma (Ethiopia) revealed that before 1984 it was too cold for H. hampei to complete even one generation per year, but thereafter, because of rising temperatures in the area, 1–2 generations per year/coffee season could be completed. Calculated data on warming tolerance and thermal safety margins of H. hampei for the three East African locations showed considerably high variability compared to the Colombian site. The model indicates that for every 1°C rise in thermal optimum (Topt.), the maximum intrinsic rate of increase (rmax) will increase by an average of 8.5%. The effects of climate change on the further range of H. hampei distribution and possible adaption strategies are discussed. Abstracts in Spanish and French are provided as supplementary material Abstract S1 and Abstract S2

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Not AvailableIn the past, blanket region-based fertilizer recommendations prescribed to farmer’s that did not take into account the variations in the indigenous nutrient supply from the specific fields have led to higher production costs, diminishing yield and factor productivity, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, precision fertilizer recommendations that address the need-based crop requirements have been urgently needed. Site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) along with modern agronomic management practices may increase yields and nutrient use efficiency by optimizing the balance between nutrient supply and demand. In recent studies across large numbers of locations in rice/wheat-based systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India, SSNM has led to 8-12% increases in grain yields compared to farmers’ fertilizer practices/state recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF). The adoption of SSNM significantly increased the net returns by Rs. 2,500-3,200 ha-1 over farmers’ fertilizer practice by saving money on costly fertilizer inputs. Optical sensor (GreenSeeker)-based SSNM saved 20-30 kg N ha-1 without affecting grain yield under conservation agriculture (CA)-based cereal systems compared to recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF). Efficient management of N-fertilizers reduced N2O emissions by avoiding N losses via volatilization, leaching and denitrification. Site-specific nutrient management provides opportunities for enhancing crop productivity, profitability and nutrient use efficiencies (NUE) across the different ecologies. Drip irrigation system (sub-surface drip irrigation) improved the N-use efficiency by 20% over flood irrigation system in rice/maize-based systems that helped in increasing the farm profitability by saving on N-fertilizer use and water in rice-wheat/ maize-wheat systems.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDisposal of paddy residue has turn out to be a huge problem in north-west Indian states, resulting farmers prefer to burn the residues in-situ. Paddy residue management is of utmost important as it contains plant nutrients and improves the soil-plant-atmospheric continuum. Burning biomass not only pollutes environment and results in loss of appreciable amount of plant essential nutrients. The objectives of the review paper is to access the amount of residue generation, its utilization in-situ and ex-situ, emphasize harmful effects of residue burning on human health, soil health and environment of north-west states of India specially in Punjab and Haryana. This paper also discusses the possible strategies, financial and socio-economic evaluation of the paddy residue management technologies and accentuates the assessment of range of potential policy instruments which would offer avenues for sustainable agriculture and environment. Timely availability of conservation agriculture (CA) machinery is of utmost significance to manage the paddy residues in-situ. Collection and transportation of voluminous mass of paddy residue is cumbersome, therefore, ex-situ residue management is still not an economically viable option. The agricultural waste opens vivid options for its versatile usage and is possible if residue is collected and managed properly. It is a prerequisite for surplus residues to be used for CA. There is an urge to create awareness among farming communities to incline them to understand importance of crop residues in CA for sustainability and resilience of Indian agriculture.Not Availabl

<i style="">Ardu</i> (<i style="">Ailanthus</i> sp) in arid ecosystem: A compatible species for combating with drought and securing livelihood security of resource poor people

102-113In arid regions of Rajasthan, harsh and unfavorable climatic conditions coupled with poor soils, make agricultural production system a gamble due to high risk and uncertainties. Livestock is an integral part of social, economic and environmental system in Rajasthan. Rearing of animals is challenging in arid ecosystems and need diversified sources of fodder and feed. There are certain trees species which are compatible to arid ecosystem and provide feed, fodder, fuel and timber to local community in order to sustain their livelihoods. An attempt has been made to demonstrate the botanical description, geographical distribution, other phenotypic characters, indigenous usage, marketing and economic aspects of ardu (Alianthus sp). Results indicated that under arid ecosystem, to meet the increasing demand for food, fodder, fuel wood and timber, etc. ardu play a pivotal role in management of land resources and securing livelihoods of economically poor people through agroforestry system. Ardu used for many purposes including timber, fuel, fodder, ethnomedicine, etc. make it a multipurpose species. The species found to be very much compatible and adapted to harsh arid ecosystem is one of the main species which act as an integrated component in farming systems of farmers, and especially during the drought. Ardu could be one of the important tree species (MPTS) for the drought period and in arid ecosystem to sustain the productivity of sheep and goats and other animals, and secure livelihoods pastoralists and farmers

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Not AvailableIn Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of India, natural resources (soil, water, and environment) are degrading under the conventional– till (CT)-based management practices in rice–wheat cropping system. A long-term field experiment was conducted to understand the soil bacterial diversity and abundance under different sets of management scenarios (Sc). The study comprised of four scenarios, namely, -Sc.I CT-based rice–wheat system (farmers’ practice); Sc.II, partial conservation agriculture (CA) based in which rice is under CT—wheat and mungbean under zero-tillage (ZT); Sc.III, full CA-based in which rice–wheat–mungbean are under ZT and Sc.IV, where maize–wheat–mungbean are under ZT. These scenarios varied in cropping system, tillage, and crop residue management practices. Using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology, the variable regions V3–V4 of 16S rRNA were sequenced and the obtained reads were analyzed to study the diversity patterns in the scenarios. Results showed the presence of 53 bacterial phyla across scenarios. The predominant phyla in all scenarios were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes which accounted for more than 70% of the identified phyla. However, the rice-based systems (Sc.I, Sc.II, and Sc.III) were dominated by phylum Proteobacteria; however, maize-based system (Sc.IV) was dominated by Acidobacteria. The class DA052 and Acidobacteriia of Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes of Bacteroidia were exceptionally higher in Sc.IV. Shannon diversity index was 8.8% higher in Sc.I, 7.5% in Sc.II, and 2.7% in Sc.III compared to Sc.IV. The findings revealed that soil bacterial diversity and abundance are influenced by agricultural management practices as bacterial diversity under full CA-based management systems (Sc.III and Sc.IV) was lower when compared to farmer’s practice (Sc.I) and partial CA (Sc.II) scenarios.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableCereal cropping productivity in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) of India is declining, which may be overcome by diversification, alternate crop establishment methods and mulching. This study wa sconducted to determine whether no-till flat (NTF), permanent raised beds (PRB) and non traditional ex situ mulching would improve crop and water productivity, economic profitability and soil biological properties in an irrigated maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system (MWS). NTF systems produced 10% higher economic net returns compared with PRBs. Non-traditional mulching (Sesbania, Jatropha and Brassica) increased yields by >10% and net returns by >12% compared with no-mulch. The water saving in PRBs compared with NTF systems was 79, 94 and 173 mm/ha in maize, wheat and MWS, respectively. PRBs saved 29.2% of irrigation water and improved the MWS irrigation water productivity (WPI) by 24.5% over NTF. On average, mulching saved 23.8 m/ha irrigation water over no-mulch and improved WPI by 12.0%. PRBs with ex situ mulching produced wheat and maize equivalent system yields lower than NTF but improved WPI and soil biological properties. Jatropha and Sesbania mulching improved yield, water saving, WPI and system profitability. In limited irrigation and no crop residue availability conditions, Sesbania, Jatropha and Brassica vegetation material have potential applications for ex situ mulching under PRBs for water saving and NTF for productivity.Not Availabl