Physiological changes during postharvest senescence of broccoli

The objective of this work was to determine the early physiological changes throughout shelf life of fresh broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) cv. Piracicaba Precoce at 25ºC and relative humidity of 96% in the dark until complete senescence. Head inflorescences showed lack of turgidity and commercial value when weight loss reached up to 5%, coinciding with 48 hour after harvest. Chlorophyll content was stable until 24 hours after harvesting; afterwards, an intense degradation phase took place. At 72 hours, total head yellowing was observed when chlorophyll content dropped to 30% of its initial content. Peroxidase activity increased by 1.4 fold during the first six hours, dropping to its lowest level approximately 24 hours after harvesting. However, from this time on, an increment of activity was observed until 72 hours. At 24 hours after harvesting, respiration was reduced by 50%. At later stages of senescence, respiration of florets was stable, but in a lower level than that determined at harvest. Sharp reduction of starch and reducing sugars was observed within 24 hours after harvesting, followed by continuous period of decline in starch and non-reducing sugars.

Why microalgal biofuels won't save the internal combustion machine

Proponents of microalgae biofuel technologies often claim that the world demand of liquid fuels, about 5 trillion liters per year, could be supplied by microalgae cultivated on only a few tens of millions of hectares. This perspective reviews this subject and points out that such projections are greatly exaggerated, because (1) the pro- ductivities achieved in large-scale commercial microalgae production systems, operated year-round, do not surpass those of irrigated tropical crops; (2) cultivating, harvesting and processing microalgae solely for the production of biofuels is simply too expensive using current or prospective technology; and (3) currently available (limited) data suggest that the energy balance of algal biofuels is very poor. Thus, microalgal biofuels are no panacea for depleting oil or global warming, and are unlikely to save the internal combustion machine.

Comparison of short-wood forwarding systems used in Iberia

Abstract

Thidiazuron effects on shoot growth, return bloom, fruit set and nutrition of apples

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees, cultivars Gala and Fuji, were sprayed at full bloom with thidiazuron (TDZ) at doses of 0, 5, 10, or 20 g ha-1 of a.i. in order to evaluate its effects on plant growth and development, return bloom, fruit set, nutrition, and fruit yield. Fruit set increased with TDZ dose in 'Gala' but not in 'Fuji'. TDZ did not affect fruit yield in any cultivar. In 'Gala', the return bloom was reduced in about 50% at TDZ doses of 10 or 20 g ha-1. TDZ increased shoot growth in both cultivars. In leaves, TDZ decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg in 'Gala' and of Mg in 'Fuji', but did not affect the chlorophyll content, leaf area, length, width, and dry mass per cm² regardless of cultivar. In fruits, the effect of TDZ varied according to the portion evaluated. Highest doses of TDZ decreased the concentration of Ca and K in 'Gala' and of K in 'Fuji' in the entire fruits (flesh + skin); in the skin, highest doses of TDZ reduced the levels of N, Ca, and Mg in both cultivars, in addition to the level of K in 'Fuji'.

Pain pattern and left internal mammary artery grafting.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine whether the pain pattern in patients with an internal mammary artery (IMA) harvest differs from that in other cardiac operations and whether these patients present specific characteristics with clinical implications. METHODS: One hundred patients with left IMA grafting (IMA group) were compared prospectively with 100 patients who had a heart operation without IMA harvest (non-IMA group). Pain assessment was performed on postoperative days (POD) 1, 2, 3, and 7, and included pain intensity (10-point scale) and pain localization. RESULTS: In the IMA group, pain intensity was higher on POD 2 (4.2 +/- 2.4 versus 3.2 +/- 2.3, p < 0.01), and there were more patients without pain on POD 7 (32 versus 19, p = 0.03). In the IMA group, more patients had left basal thoracic pain throughout the entire study period and had sternal pain on POD 7, whereas more patients in the non-IMA group complained about back pain during the early postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of IMA harvest on pain intensity is moderate, but the pain localization pattern of each group exhibits specific features that could help to better target pain management.

In situ aortobiiliac reconstruction of infected aneurysm using a single superficial femoral vein.

Objective: To demonstrate successful in situ aortoiliac reconstruction of an infected infrarenal aneurysm using one single superficial femoral vein (SFV). Methods: In situ reconstruction using the right SFV sutured in end-to-end anastomosis with the aorta and distally with the right common iliac artery and in end-to-side anastomosis with the left common iliac artery. Results: The operating time was less than reported for aortic in situ reconstruction with bilateral SFV harvesting. The duplex scan 3 months postoperatively showed permeability of the bypass without any anastomotic stenosis or pseudoaneurysm. The right common femoral, popliteal, and greater saphenous veins were patent without thrombus, and the patient did not complain about peripheral edema. Conclusions: The use of only one instead of both the SFVs for aortobiiliac in situ reconstruction might be a way to reduce operating time and allow autogenous venous reconstruction even in patients with limited availability of venous material.

Three essays on major trends in a slow clockspeed industry : the case of industrial automation

The motivation for this research initiated from the abrupt rise and fall of minicomputers which were initially used both for industrial automation and business applications due to their significantly lower cost than their predecessors, the mainframes. Later industrial automation developed its own vertically integrated hardware and software to address the application needs of uninterrupted operations, real-time control and resilience to harsh environmental conditions. This has led to the creation of an independent industry, namely industrial automation used in PLC, DCS, SCADA and robot control systems. This industry employs today over 200'000 people in a profitable slow clockspeed context in contrast to the two mainstream computing industries of information technology (IT) focused on business applications and telecommunications focused on communications networks and hand-held devices. Already in 1990s it was foreseen that IT and communication would merge into one Information and communication industry (ICT). The fundamental question of the thesis is: Could industrial automation leverage a common technology platform with the newly formed ICT industry? Computer systems dominated by complex instruction set computers (CISC) were challenged during 1990s with higher performance reduced instruction set computers (RISC). RISC started to evolve parallel to the constant advancement of Moore's law. These developments created the high performance and low energy consumption System-on-Chip architecture (SoC). Unlike to the CISC processors RISC processor architecture is a separate industry from the RISC chip manufacturing industry. It also has several hardware independent software platforms consisting of integrated operating system, development environment, user interface and application market which enables customers to have more choices due to hardware independent real time capable software applications. An architecture disruption merged and the smartphone and tablet market were formed with new rules and new key players in the ICT industry. Today there are more RISC computer systems running Linux (or other Unix variants) than any other computer system. The astonishing rise of SoC based technologies and related software platforms in smartphones created in unit terms the largest installed base ever seen in the history of computers and is now being further extended by tablets. An underlying additional element of this transition is the increasing role of open source technologies both in software and hardware. This has driven the microprocessor based personal computer industry with few dominating closed operating system platforms into a steep decline. A significant factor in this process has been the separation of processor architecture and processor chip production and operating systems and application development platforms merger into integrated software platforms with proprietary application markets. Furthermore the pay-by-click marketing has changed the way applications development is compensated: Three essays on major trends in a slow clockspeed industry: The case of industrial automation 2014 freeware, ad based or licensed - all at a lower price and used by a wider customer base than ever before. Moreover, the concept of software maintenance contract is very remote in the app world. However, as a slow clockspeed industry, industrial automation has remained intact during the disruptions based on SoC and related software platforms in the ICT industries. Industrial automation incumbents continue to supply systems based on vertically integrated systems consisting of proprietary software and proprietary mainly microprocessor based hardware. They enjoy admirable profitability levels on a very narrow customer base due to strong technology-enabled customer lock-in and customers' high risk leverage as their production is dependent on fault-free operation of the industrial automation systems. When will this balance of power be disrupted? The thesis suggests how industrial automation could join the mainstream ICT industry and create an information, communication and automation (ICAT) industry. Lately the Internet of Things (loT) and weightless networks, a new standard leveraging frequency channels earlier occupied by TV broadcasting, have gradually started to change the rigid world of Machine to Machine (M2M) interaction. It is foreseeable that enough momentum will be created that the industrial automation market will in due course face an architecture disruption empowered by these new trends. This thesis examines the current state of industrial automation subject to the competition between the incumbents firstly through a research on cost competitiveness efforts in captive outsourcing of engineering, research and development and secondly researching process re- engineering in the case of complex system global software support. Thirdly we investigate the industry actors', namely customers, incumbents and newcomers, views on the future direction of industrial automation and conclude with our assessments of the possible routes industrial automation could advance taking into account the looming rise of the Internet of Things (loT) and weightless networks. Industrial automation is an industry dominated by a handful of global players each of them focusing on maintaining their own proprietary solutions. The rise of de facto standards like IBM PC, Unix and Linux and SoC leveraged by IBM, Compaq, Dell, HP, ARM, Apple, Google, Samsung and others have created new markets of personal computers, smartphone and tablets and will eventually also impact industrial automation through game changing commoditization and related control point and business model changes. This trend will inevitably continue, but the transition to a commoditized industrial automation will not happen in the near future.

Macropropagation and micropropagation of Ziziphus spina-christi

Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.) is a cross-pollinated plant with a wide range of genetic variability in nature and, for this reason, vegetative propagation assumes importance for improvement programs. The objective of this work was to evaluate cutting, T budding and tissue culture methods for this species. Shoots of 22-25 cm length were treated by two culture media and three shoot diameters for cutting trial. The T budding treatments consisted of three and five collection dates in spring and autumn, respectively. Tissue culture nodal segments bearing axillary buds were removed from shoots of mature trees at different seasons. Experiments to determine the best disinfectant chemical, appropriate conditions and materials to prevent phenolic compound exudation, explant characteristics, media type and cytokinin-auxin ratios were carried out. Successful rooting happened only on the sand beds and with cuttings greater than 8 mm diameter. The effects of T budding seasons on budtake percentage were significantly different. The best time for explant harvesting was mid of summer. Amount of rooting on media containing IBA as well as activated charcoal and disinfection with Ca(OCl)2 at concentration of 5% for 20 minutes were the best treatments.

Plant growth and phosphorus uptake in mycorrhizal rangpur lime seedlings under different levels of phosphorus

The objective of this work was to evaluate the response of rangpur lime (Citrus limonia) to arbuscular mycorrhiza (Glomus intraradices), under P levels ranging from low to excessive. Plants were grown in three levels of soluble P (25, 200 and 1,000 mg kg-1), either inoculated with Glomus intraradices or left noninoculated, evaluated at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after transplanting (DAT). Total dry weight, shoot P concentration and specific P uptake by roots increased in mycorrhizal plants with the doses of 25 and 200 mg kg-1 P at 90 DAT. With 1,000 mg kg-1 P, mycorrhizal plants had a transient growth depression at 90 and 120 DAT, and nonmycorrhizal effects on P uptake at any harvesting period. Root colonization and total external mycelium correlated positively with shoot P concentration and total dry weight at the two lowest P levels. Although the highest P level decreased root colonization, it did not affect total external mycelium to the same extent. As a result, a P availability imbalance affected negatively the mycorrhizal symbiosis and, consequently, the plant growth.

Propuesta de implementación del cultivo del manzano (Malus domestica) en la Vall d'Alinyà : análisis de viabilidad ambiental-económica y certificación de créditos voluntarios de carbono

El presente proyecto tiene por objetivo realizar una propuesta de cultivo de manzano (Malus domestica) en la Vall d’Alinyà para el desarrollo de un producto agroalimentario que contribuya a la revitalización de esta área rural y a la mitigación del calentamiento global. Para ello, se pretende proporcionar una metodología para calcular, con mayor precisión, el comportamiento de los cultivos como sumidero de carbono a partir del balance neto de gases con efecto invernadero (GEI) del sistema. Con tal de obtener las emisiones de GEI generadas por los cultivos se desarrolla un análisis del ciclo de vida (ACV), y para obtener la fijación de los cultivos, se realiza un análisis de su capacidad de absorción de dióxido de carbono en la biomasa de la plantación. Además, mediante el uso de sistemas de información geográfica (SIG), se determinaron los terrenos potenciales para el cultivo del manzano en la zona de estudio. Posteriormente, se verifica la certificación de créditos en el mercado de carbono voluntario y se analiza la viabilidad económica del proyecto, obteniendo así un producto (la manzana) con valor ambiental añadido. Como conclusión se obtuvo una viabilidad positiva de la verificación de créditos, puesto que el balance neto de carbono fue positivo, absorbiéndose 234,54 t CO2 en todo el territorio potencialmente cultivable (16,92 ha) y durante 15 años de actividad agrícola. Al mismo tiempo, la propuesta resultó viable económicamente, generándose unos beneficios ligados a la venta de producción frutícola y de los créditos de carbono de 79.484 € durante los 15 años de actividad productiva.

Plant compounds insecticide activity against Coleoptera pests of stored products

The objective of this work was to screen plants with insecticide activity, in order to isolate, identify and assess the bioactivity of insecticide compounds present in these plants, against Coleoptera pests of stored products: Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Silvanidae), Rhyzopertha dominica F. (Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus zeamais Mots. (Curculionidae). The plant species used were: basil (Ocimum selloi Benth.), rue (Ruta graveolens L.), lion's ear (Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br.), jimson weed (Datura stramonium L.), baleeira herb (Cordia verbenacea L.), mint (Mentha piperita L.), wild balsam apple (Mormodica charantia L.), and billy goat weed or mentrasto (Ageratum conyzoides L.). The insecticide activity of hexane and ethanol extracts from those plants on R. dominica was evaluated. Among them, only hexane extract of A. conyzoides showed insecticide activity; the hexane extract of this species was successively fractionated by silica gel column chromatography, for isolation and purification of the active compounds. Compounds 5,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone; 5,6,7,8,3'-pentamethoxy-4',5'-methilenedioxyflavone and coumarin were identified. However, only coumarin showed insecticide activity against three insect pests (LD50 from 2.72 to 39.71 mg g-1 a.i.). The increasing order of insects susceptibility to coumarin was R. dominica, S. zeamais and O. surinamensis.

Rivascolarizzazione miocardica con arteria radiale: tecniche chirurgiche a confronto e risultati a breve termine [Myocardial revascularization and radial artery: different surgical strategies and short-term results]

BACKGROUND: The radial artery is routinely used as a graft for surgical arterial myocardial revascularization. The proximal radial artery anastomosis site remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed the short-term results and the operative risk determinants after having used four different common techniques for radial artery implantation. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2004, 571 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with radial arteries. Data were analyzed for the entire population and for subgroups following the proximal radial artery anastomosis site: 140 T-graft with the mammary artery (group A), 316 free-grafts with the proximal anastomosis to the ascending aorta (group B), 55 mammary arteries in situ elongated with the radial artery (group C) and 60 radial arteries elongated with a piece of mammary artery and anastomosed to the ascending aorta (group D). RESULTS: The mean age was 53.8 +/- 7.7 years; 55.5% of patients had a previous myocardial infarction and 73% presented with a satisfactory left ventricular function. A complete arterial myocardial revascularization was achieved in 532 cases (93.2%) and 90.2% of the procedures were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest. The operative mortality rate was 0.9%, a postoperative myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 19 patients (3.3%), an intra-aortic balloon pump was used in 10 patients (1.7%) and a mechanical circulatory device was implanted in 2 patients. The radial artery harvesting site remained always free from complications. The proximal radial artery anastomosis site was not a determinant of early hospital mortality. Group C showed a higher risk of postoperative myocardial infarction (p = 0.09), together with female gender (p = 0.003), hypertension (p = 0.059) and a longer cardiopulmonary bypass time. CONCLUSIONS: The radial artery and the mammary artery can guarantee multiple arterial revascularization also for patients with contraindications to double mammary artery use. The four most common techniques for proximal radial artery anastomosis are not related to a higher operative risk and they can be used alternatively to reach the best surgical results

Implementació de GeoNetwork per a la gestió de metadades del Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya

El present projecte ha consistit en implementar un SIG corporatiu per a la gestió de la informació de dades del Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya. La finalitat és la d’estructurar i organitzar aquesta informació que se’n deriva per a que pugui ser consultada fàcilment i de manera molt dinàmica. Un cop el sistema d’informació contenia les dades pròpies del CTFC es van afegir més metadades al sistema d’informació mitjançant connexions de harvesting, GeoServer i protocol FTP

1015-009 Indian Creek Watershed Final Report

The focus of this project is "Indian Creek", a tributary to Cedar Creek which eventually empties into the Lower Skunk River. Indian Creek suffers from deteriorated water quality resulting from high volumes of urban stormwater runoff resulting in streambank erosion, combined sewer overflows and chemical and floatable litter pollution from roadways. The "Creative Solution for Indian Creek Water Quality" project will work with a local commercial business to create a model urban project The project will reduce the volume of urban stormwater by 930,000 gallons annually entering Indian Creek as well as reduce the volume of discharge water by 500,000 gallons annually. The local business will develop a system to divert stormwater from l acre of their roof as well as coolant discharge water from their factory into an existing retention pond. In addition, the project will reduce demand on the municipal water supply by 500,000 gallons annually by harvesting water from the retention pond for cooling operations.

Three mathematical models for bucking-to-order

Abstract