Search

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) plantlets produced by somatic embryogenesis were pre-acclimatized for four weeks inside growth chambers in a factorial design. The three factors of the experiment were CO2 concentration (400 and 3000 μLL-1), photosynthetic photon flux (30 and 50 μmol m-2 s-1) and sucrose concentration (0 and 15 g L-1) in the culture medium. The plantlets were subsequently transferred into a greenhouse where they were acclimatized for two weeks. Regardless of photosynthetic photon flux and sucrose levels, CO2 enrichment during the pre-acclimatization phase significantly increased (6.3%) the fresh mass of American ginseng plantlets in the growth chambers. This positive effect resulted in a 26.4% increase in fresh mass after the acclimatization phase in the greenhouse. CO2 enrichment during the pre-acclimatization phase also significantly increased (32%) leaf area after acclimatization, but had no significant effect on dry mass, height nor survival. Increased light irradiance and reduced sucrose concentration had no significant effects on the growth parameters and survival of American ginseng plantlets. Despite the biological and ecological constraints that limit growth and development of this species, CO2 enrichment could enhance its acclimatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the impact of partitioning on optimal installation of control valves for leakage minimization in water distribution networks (WDNs). The methodology used includes two main elements. The first element is a deterministic algorithm operating through the sequential addition of control valves, producing a Pareto front of optimal solutions in the trade-off between number of control valves installed and daily leakage volume, to be both minimized. The second element is a WDN partitioning algorithm based on the minimization of the transport function, for the partitioning of the WDN into a number of partitions equal to the number of WDN sources. The methodology is applied to two Italian WDNs with different characteristics. Due to variations in flow distribution induced by the partitioning, the valve locations optimally selected in the partitioned WDN prove slightly different from those in the unpartitioned WDN. Furthermore, the number of control valves being the same, better leakage reduction effects (up to 8%) are obtained in the partitioned WDN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the physical, chemical and biological soil properties of the soil in four crops systems in a typical agroecosystem mountain conditions, on a farm in conversion to ecological production in the Massif Guamuhaya, Cuba, where predominant red ferrous soil leachate. We worked with a completely randomized design of four replicates and four treatments consisting Coffee Systems crops, pine, various crops (grains, tubers and vegetables) and vegetation transition to natural forest. The following variables were valued: Factor structure, stable aggregates in water, pH, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, mesofauna and macrofauna. The soil devoted to coffee showed the best physical properties no difference with the transition to natural forest; although it had low levels of phosphorus, potassium and organic matter. , demonstrating a relatively high level in the indicators of biodiversity of the macro and mesofauna, while that of transition toward the natural forest manifested the best properties. The soil devoted to various crops, said intermediate properties relative to the rest while the pine, the highest level of organic matter but with deterioration of other properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal metastases are being diagnosed more frequently because of increasing life expectancies and advances in the diagnosis and therapy of primary tumours., Objective: This aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) and functional outcomes after surgical intervention for spinal metastases in a large cohort., Methods: A single-centre, prospective, observational study was conducted from June 2016 to February 2018. Patients treated surgically for spinal metastasis were included. Primary endpoints were the Core Outcome Measure Index (COMI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and QoL questionnaire (EuroQoL-5D) scores recorded preoperatively, 6 weeks postoperatively, and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively., Results: Ninety-two patients (mean age, 62.7 ± 12.8 years) were included. The most frequent neoplasms were multiple myeloma (n= 18; 19.6%), lung cancer (n= 16; 17.4%), prostate cancer (n= 14; 15.2%), and breast cancer (n= 11; 12.0%). During the observation period, 44.6% of patients died. The COMI score improved significantly from preoperatively (mean, 7.1; 95% CI, 6.6-7.6) to 3 months (mean, 5.5; 95% CI, 4.8-6.2; p= 0.01) and 12 months (mean, 4.6; 95% CI, 3.7-5.5; p= 0.001) postoperatively. The ODI showed a significant improvement from preoperatively (mean, 52.9; 95% CI, 48.5-57.4) to 6 weeks (mean, 43.4; 95% CI, 37.1-49.6; p= 0.03), 3 months (mean, 37.0; 95% CI, 31.0-42.9) 6 months mean, 40.5; 95% CI, 34.2-46.8; p= 0.01), and 12 months (mean, 31.9; 95% CI, 24.8-39.1; p= 0.005) postoperatively. Improvements in the COMI at 6 weeks (p= 0.05), and 6 months (p= 0.05) postoperatively were not statistically significant. QoL improved from preoperatively to 6 weeks (mean, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.38-0.59; p= 0.002), 3 months (mean, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.38-0.61; p= 0.009), and 12 months (mean, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.51-0.71; p= 0.001) postoperatively. After 6 months, the difference was not significant (p= 0.08)., Conclusion: Short-term and long-term improvements in functional outcomes and QoL were observed after surgical treatment of spinal metastases. Surgery is a good option for patients with an estimated life expectancy of more than 3 months.