Search

This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of basalt with two botanical aqueous extracts of Citrus aurantium and Nerium oleander (50g/L) against Aphis punicae and Planococcus citri in an organic pomegranate orchard. Basalt was applied as a foliar spray with two doses (1.5% and 3%), in the ground as a fertiliser (1.5%), and as a combined application (1.5%). Phenolic compounds of both plants were identified by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS analysis. Seven and six flavonoids were detected in C. aurantium and N. oleander extracts, respectively. Hesperidin was more abundant in C. aurantium extracts; however, N. oleander extracts contained more quercetin rutinoside. A. punicae populations were significantly higher in control trees compared to the treated ones. A. punicae mortality rates reached high values above 90% for basalt and plants extracts and efficacy rates exceeded 80%. P. citri mortality rates reached 88% and 77%, and efficacy rates exceeded 75% and 66% for basalt and plant extracts, respectively. These findings may help to plan Integrated pest management strategies in organic orchards to avoid toxic chemical pesticides.

"Drawing is not an autonomous reality. It is not: neither as an action nor as the result of an action. What makes drawing a heteronomous reality is its submission to that which is not drawing [Maldonado 1967, p. 217, redactional translation]. The play on words proposed by Vanni Pasca [2010] and, not surprisingly, used as the incipit of the call of this issue of the journal diségno, should be taken very seriously: the relationship between drawing and design as an element for triggering a broader reflection on the two disciplines and their theoretical and practical-operational foundations. [read more]

AbstractBackground Hypertension is characterised by a high prevalence, low awareness and poor control among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Correct blood pressure (BP) measurement is highly important in these subjects. The “unattended” BP measurement aims to reduce the “white-coat effect,” a phenomenon associated with cardiovascular risk. Data on “unattended” BP measurement in RA and its impact on hypertensive organ damage are very limited.Methods BP was measured in the same patient both traditionally (“attended” BP) and by the “unattended” protocol (3 automated office BP measurements, at 1-min intervals, after 5 min of rest, with patient left alone) by a randomised cross-over design. Patients underwent clinical examination, 12-lead electrocardiography and trans-thoracic echocardiography to evaluate cardiac damage.Results Sixty-two RA patients (mean age 67 ± 9 years, 87% women) were enrolled. Hypertension was diagnosed in 79% and 66% of patients according to ACC/AHA and ESC/ESH criteria, respectively. Concordance correlation coefficients between the two techniques were 0.55 (95%, CI 0.38–0.68) for systolic BP and 0.73 (95%, CI 0.60–0.82) for diastolic BP. “Unattended” (121.7/68.6 mmHg) was lower than “attended” BP (130.5/72.8 mmHg) for systolic and diastolic BP (both p

Integrated pest management of cereal crops uses all necessary methods to reduce pest populations. These methods: such as plants' aqueous extracts, are usually efficient, economical, and respectful towards the environment. These products are used to control pests and evaluate their effect on cereal plants. The experiment was conducted in a barley field. The bioinsecticides tested were the aqueous extracts of four vegetal plants (Carob, oleander, Aleppo pine, and bitter orange) and basalt flour "Farina di Basalto® Type XF and Type XM" as mineral material. The tested doses were in order of 5% and 1,5% for plants and basalt aqueous extracts respectively. They were tested against aphids, thrips, and cereal leaf beetles. The experimental design was a complete random block (CRB). Every treatment had 3 replicates, and their distribution was random. The morphometric parameters (roots weight and length, stem length and leaf area), efficiency and mortality rates were calculated to evaluate the effect of the different products on cereal plants and pests. The tested aqueous extracts were not toxic towards plants. Thus, the morphometric parameters showed that the plant development was normal during the management such as the control. All aqueous extracts were efficient in pest management by reducing their populations. For basaltic extracts, foliar (XF - "Farina di Basalto® Type XF") was lethal for thrips and cereal leaf beetles by around 70% and combined (XM - "Farina di Basalto® Type XM" and XF "Farina di Basalto® Type XF") for thrips and aphids by 75.20 and 34.66% respectively. For botanical extract, carob (Cs) was toxic against thrips and aphid by 73.39 and 44.21% respectively and oleander (NeO) was relevant against thrips and cereal leaf beetles by 76.94 and 36.67% respectively. For cereal leaf beetles, the aqueous extracts helped to mitigate their leaves' damage. Using plants and mineral powder is not only an effective method for pest management but also a friendly alternative, especially since it has lower toxicity against cereal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of basalt with two botanical aqueous extracts of Citrus aurantium and Nerium oleander (50g/L) against Aphis punicae and Planococcus citri in an organic pomegranate orchard. Basalt was applied as a foliar spray with two doses (1.5% and 3%), in the ground as a fertiliser (1.5%), and as a combined application (1.5%). Phenolic compounds of both plants were identified by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS analysis. Seven and six flavonoids were detected in C. aurantium and N. oleander extracts, respectively. Hesperidin was more abundant in C. aurantium extracts; however, N. oleander extracts contained more quercetin rutinoside. A. punicae populations were significantly higher in control trees compared to the treated ones. A. punicae mortality rates reached high values above 90% for basalt and plants extracts and efficacy rates exceeded 80%. P. citri mortality rates reached 88% and 77%, and efficacy rates exceeded 75% and 66% for basalt and plant extracts, respectively. These findings may help to plan Integrated pest management strategies in organic orchards to avoid toxic chemical pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European traditional tomato varieties have been selected by farmers given their consistent performance and adaptation to local growing conditions. Here we developed a multipurpose core collection, comprising 226 accessions representative of the genotypic, phenotypic, and geographical diversity present in European traditional tomatoes, to investigate the basis of their phenotypic variation, gene×environment interactions, and stability for 33 agro-morphological traits. Comparison of the traditional varieties with a modern reference panel revealed that some traditional varieties displayed excellent agronomic performance and high trait stability, as good as or better than that of their modern counterparts. We conducted genome-wide association and genome-wide environment interaction studies and detected 141 quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Out of those, 47 QTLs were associated with the phenotype mean (meanQTLs), 41 with stability (stbQTLs), and 53 QTL-by-environment interactions (QTIs). Most QTLs displayed additive gene actions, with the exception of stbQTLs, which were mostly recessive and overdominant QTLs. Both common and specific loci controlled the phenotype mean and stability variation in traditional tomato; however, a larger proportion of specific QTLs was observed, indicating that the stability gene regulatory model is the predominant one. Developmental genes tended to map close to meanQTLs, while genes involved in stress response, hormone metabolism, and signalling were found within regions affecting stability. A total of 137 marker–trait associations for phenotypic means and stability were novel, and therefore our study enhances the understanding of the genetic basis of valuable agronomic traits and opens up a new avenue for an exploitation of the allelic diversity available within European traditional tomato germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive collection of 1254 tomato accessions, corresponding to European traditional and modern varieties, early domesticated varieties, and wild relatives, was analyzed by genotyping by sequencing. A continuous genetic gradient between the traditional and modern varieties was observed. European traditional tomatoes displayed very low genetic diversity, with only 298 polymorphic loci (95% threshold) out of 64 943 total variants. European traditional tomatoes could be classified into several genetic groups. Two main clusters consisting of Spanish and Italian accessions showed higher genetic diversity than the remaining varieties, suggesting that these regions might be independent secondary centers of diversity with a different history. Other varieties seem to be the result of a more recent complex pattern of migrations and hybridizations among the European regions. Several polymorphic loci were associated in a genome-wide association study with fruit morphological traits in the European traditional collection. The corresponding alleles were found to contribute to the distinctive phenotypic characteristic of the genetic varietal groups. The few highly polymorphic loci associated with morphological traits in an otherwise a low-diversity population suggests a history of balancing selection, in which tomato farmers likely maintained the morphological variation by inadvertently applying a high selective pressure within different varietal types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD40 ligand (CD40L), a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family and expressed by a variety of cells, is involved in the basic mechanisms of inflammation, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Some studies suggest that the soluble form of CD40L (sCD40L) is a predictor of major cardiovascular events and mortality in a variety of clinical settings, but data from literature are conflicting. We studied consecutive patients with acute (ACS) or chronic (CCS) coronary syndrome who underwent percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI). Blood samples for sCD40L dosage were taken at baseline immediately before PCI. We tested the relation between sCD40L and pre-specified outcome measures consisting of new ACS, clinical restenosis and all-cause mortality. We recruited 3,841 patients (mean age 64 ± 11 years, 79% men) with ACS (n=2,383) or CCS (n=1,458). During a mean follow-up of two years (±0.6 years), 642 patients developed ACS, 409 developed restenosis (≥70% of at least one of the previously treated coronary segments) and 175 died. For each 1-standard deviation increase in sCD40L (0.80 ng/mL), the hazard ratios (HRs) for ACS, restenosis, and mortality were 1.11 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05 to 1.18, p<0.0001), 1.10 (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.19, p=0.010), and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.86 to 1.16, p=0.983), respectively. In multivariable Cox regression models with adjustment for several potential confounders including age, acute or chronic coronary syndrome, multi-vessel disease, stent placement, diabetes, previous coronary events and dyslipidemia, sCD40L remained an independent predictor of ACS and coronary restenosis. There were no interactions between sCD40L and acute or chronic coronary syndrome or stent placement. Among patients with ACS or CCS who undergo PCI, higher levels of sCD40L predict an increased risk of acute coronary events and coronary restenosis, but not of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is characterised by a high prevalence, low awareness and poor control among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Correct blood pressure (BP) measurement is highly important in these subjects. The "unattended" BP measurement aims to reduce the "white-coat effect," a phenomenon associated with cardiovascular risk. Data on "unattended" BP measurement in RA and its impact on hypertensive organ damage are very limited. BP was measured in the same patient both traditionally ("attended" BP) and by the "unattended" protocol (3 automated office BP measurements, at 1-min intervals, after 5 min of rest, with patient left alone) by a randomised cross-over design. Patients underwent clinical examination, 12-lead electrocardiography and trans-thoracic echocardiography to evaluate cardiac damage. Sixty-two RA patients (mean age 67 ± 9 years, 87% women) were enrolled. Hypertension was diagnosed in 79% and 66% of patients according to ACC/AHA and ESC/ESH criteria, respectively. Concordance correlation coefficients between the two techniques were 0.55 (95%, CI 0.38–0.68) for systolic BP and 0.73 (95%, CI 0.60–0.82) for diastolic BP. "Unattended" (121.7/68.6 mmHg) was lower than "attended" BP (130.5/72.8 mmHg) for systolic and diastolic BP (both p <.0001). Among the two techniques, only "unattended" systolic BP showed a significant association with left ventricular mass (r = 0.11; p =.40 for "attended" BP; r = 0.27; p =.036 for unattended BP; difference between slopes: z = 3.92; p =.0001). In RA patients, "unattended" BP is lower than traditional ("attended") BP and more closely associated with LV mass. In these patients, the "unattended" automated BP measurement is a promising tool which requires further evaluation. "Unattended" automated blood pressure registration, aimed to reduce the "white-coat effect" is lower than "attended" value in rheumatoid arthritis patients. "Unattended" blood pressure is more closely associated with left ventricular mass than "attende" registration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy optimization can be pursued by left ventricular pacing vector selection and atrioventricular (AV) and interventricular (VV) delays optimization. The combination of these methods and its comparison with multipoint pacing (MPP) is scarcely studied. Methods: Using noninvasive cardiac output (CO) measurement, the best of five left ventricular pacing vectors was determined, then AV and VV delays optimization was applied on top of the best vector. Response to the optimization protocol was defined as a >5% CO increase compared to the standard biventricular configuration. Results: Twenty‐two patients (18 men, age 71 ± 9 years) were included. Standard biventricular configuration increased CO compared to baseline (4.65 ± 1.55 L/min vs 4.27 ± 1.53 L/min, respectively, P = 0.02). The best quadripolar configuration increased CO to 4.85 ± 1.67 L/min (P = 0.03 compared to the standard biventricular configuration). AV then VV delay optimization both provided additional benefit (final CO 5.56 ± 2.03 L/min, P = 0.001 compared to the best quadripolar configuration). Fifteen (68%) patients responded to the optimization protocol. Anatomical MPP (based on maximal anatomical separation between electrodes) and electrical MPP (based on maximal electrical activation difference between electrodes) were evaluated in 16 patients and yielded a CO similar to that of the optimization procedure. Conclusions: The combination of choosing the best quadripolar pacing configuration and optimizing atrioventricular and interventricular delays resulted in an improvement of cardiac output compared to standard biventricular stimulation in 68% of patients. The final cardiac output was comparable to multipoint pacing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Classical fluoroscopic criteria for the documentation of septal right ventricular (RV) lead positioning have poor accuracy. We sought to evaluate the individualized left anterior oblique (LAO) projection as a novel fluoroscopy criterion.Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing pacemaker or defibrillator implantation were prospectively included. RV lead positioning was assessed by fluoroscopy using posteroanterior, right anterior oblique 30° to rule out coronary sinus positioning, and LAO 40° in the classical group or individualized LAO in the individualized group. Individualized LAO was defined by the degree of LAO that allowed the perfect superposition of the RV apex (using the tip of the RV lead temporarily placed at the apex) and of the superior vena cava-inferior vena cava axis (materialized by a guidewire), hence providing a true profile view of the interventricular septum. Accuracy of fluoroscopy for RV lead positioning was then assessed by comparison with true RV lead positioning using transthoracic echocardiography.Results: We included 100 patients, 50 in each study group. Agreement between RV lead septal/free wall positioning in transthoracic echocardiography and fluoroscopy was excellent in the individualized group (k=0.91), whereas it was poor in the classical group (k=0.35). Septal/free wall RV lead positioning was correctly identified in 48/50 (96%) patients in the individualized group versus 38/50 (76%) in the classical group (P=0.004). For septal lead positioning, fluoroscopy had 100% Se and 89.5% Sp in the individualized group versus 91.4% Se and 40% Sp in the classical group. Complications and procedural data were comparable in both groups.Conclusion: Individualized LAO is a quick and highly reliable patient-tailored fluoroscopy projection for RV lead positioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean basin countries are considered secondary centres of tomato diversification. However, information on phenotypic and allelic variation of local tomato materials is still limited. Here we report on the evaluation of the largest traditional tomato collection, which includes 1499 accessions from Southern Europe. Analyses of 70 traits revealed a broad range of phenotypic variability with different distributions among countries, with the culinary end use within each country being the main driver of tomato diversification. Furthermore, eight main tomato types (phenoclusters) were defined by integrating phenotypic data, country of origin, and end use. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses identified associations in 211 loci, 159 of which were novel. The multidimensional integration of phenoclusters and the GWAS meta-analysis identified the molecular signatures for each traditional tomato type and indicated that signatures originated from differential combinations of loci, which in some cases converged in the same tomato phenotype. Our results provide a roadmap for studying and exploiting this untapped tomato diversity., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nanjing Agricultural University.)