Suppressiveness of Soil Amendments with Pelleted Plant Materials on the Root-knot Nematode Meloidogyne Incognita.

Soil treatments with formulated plant biomasses or waste materials can be an effective alternative to green manure crops for a sustainable management of root-knot nematode infestations. The suppressive performance of soil amendments with three commercial formulations of defatted seed meal from Brassica carinata, dry biomass of Medicago sativa and pressed pulp from Beta vulgaris was comparatively evaluated on the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita both on potted and field tomato (cv. Regina) trials. Products were applied at rates of 10, 20, 30 or 40 g/kg and 20 and 40 T/ ha soil in pots and field, respectively. Soil non treated or treated with the nematicide Oxamyl were used as controls in both experiments. Amendments in potted soil significantly reduced M. incognita infestation on tomato roots compared to both the untreated control and treatment with Oxamyl, also increasing tomato plant growth up to the 30 g/kg soil rate. At the end of the field tomato crop, soil population density of M. incognita resulted significantly reduced by all the tested treatments, whereas tomato yield was significantly higher than the untreated control only at the lowest amendment rate. Soil amendments with the materials tested in this study demonstrated to be a potential additional tool for a satisfactory and safe management of root-knot nematodes.

Effect of Coffee Silver Skin and Brewers' Spent Grain in the Control of Root-knot Nematodes.

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) are important pests of numerous agricultural crops especially vegetables, able to cause remarkable yield losses correlated to soil nematode population densities at sowing or transplant. The concern on environmental risks, stemming from the use of chemical pesticides acting as nematicides, compels to their replacement with more sustainable pest control strategies. To verify the effect of aqueous extracts of the agro-industry waste coffee silverskin (CS) and brewers' spent grain (BSG) on the widespread root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, and on the physiology of tomato plants, a pot experiment was carried out in a glasshouse at 25 ± 2 °C. The possible phytotoxicity of CS and BSG extracts was assessed on garden cress seeds. Tomato plants (landrace of Apulia Region) were transplanted in an artificial nematode infested soil with an initial population density of 3.17 eggs and juveniles/mL soil. CS and BSG were applied at rates of 50 and 100 % (1L/pot). Untreated and Fenamiphos EC 240 (nematicide) (0.01 µL a.i./mL soil) treated plants were used as controls. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chlorophyll content of tomato plants were estimated during the experiment. CS extract, at both doses, significantly reduced nematode population in comparison to the untreated control, although it was less effective than Fenamiphos. BSG extract did not reduce final nematode population compared to the control. Ten days after the first treatment, CS 100 %, BSG 50 % and BSG 100% elicited the highest ROS values, which considerably affected the growth of tomato plants in comparison to the untreated plants. The control of these pests is meeting with difficulties because of the current national and international regulations in force, which are limiting the use of synthetic nematicides. Therefore, CS extracts could assume economic relevance, as alternative products to be used in sustainable strategies for nematode management.

Pathogenicity and Host-Parasite Relationships of Heterodera cruciferae in Cabbage.

Stunted cabbage ('Lupini') associated with severe soil infestations by a cyst-forming nematode were observed in large patches of open fields in Castellaneta, province of Taranto, southern Italy. Morphological traits based on mature cysts, males, and second-stage juveniles (J2s) and molecular analysis of ribosomal DNA (D2 to D3 expansion segments of 28S and internal transcribed spacer [ITS]1 region) were used to identify the species. ITS1 sequence information supported the identity of Heterodera cruciferae, also showing a high degree of similarity to other species of the Heterodera Goettingiana group, including H. goettingiana, H. carotae, and H. urticae. Nematodes successfully established permanent feeding sites in cabbage roots which caused cellular alterations in the root cortex, endodermis, pericycle, and vascular cylinder by inducing typical multinucleate syncytia. Syncytial cytoplasm was granular and dense, with variously sized vacuoles and hypertrophied nuclei with nucleoli. Cabbage plant growth was also reduced in pathogenicity tests. The relationship between the initial nematode population density in soil and shoot plant weight was well described by the Seinhorst's equation. Tolerance limits with respect to shoot plant weight of cabbage to H. cruciferae was estimated as 1.50 units of eggs plus J2s/cm3 of soil. The minimum relative value (m) for plant height was 0.71 at an initial nematode population density of (Pi) ≥ 64 units of eggs plus J2s/cm3 of soil. The maximum nematode reproduction rate (Pf/Pi) was 4.6 times that of the initial population density of 8 units of eggs plus J2s/cm3 of soil.

An interactive fall and loss of consciousness detector system.

A device capable of automatically detecting a fall with loss of consciousness (FloC), and activate an alarm by means of an accelerometer sensor is presented. Four hundred trials were performed by 20 participants (10 young and 10 elderly adults). The algorithm relies on the recognition of the effects of three events characterizing a FLoC: impact of the body against the ground, lying and immobility. All FLoC cases were correctly detected as well as all activities of daily living (ADLs). This result corroborates both usefulness and applicability of the device proposed.

Pathogenicity and Host-Parasite Relationships of Meloidogyne arenaria in Sweet Basil.

Stunted growth of sweet basil (cv. Genovese) associated with large patches and severe soil infestations by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria race 2 were observed in open fields at the end of the crop-growing season in Albenga, province of Savona, Northern Italy by early September 2007. Observed morphological traits of nematode life stages and results of analysis of isozyme electrophoretic patterns and differential host tests were used for nematode species and race identification. Nematode-induced mature galls (either in naturally infected plants or in artificially inoculated root tissues) were spherical or ellipsoidal and confluent along the root axis, containing usually several females, males, and egg-masses with eggs. Feeding sites were characterized by the development of giant cells that contained several hypertrophied nuclei and nucleoli. Giant cell cytoplasm was aggregated along the thickened cell walls. Vascular elements within galls appeared disorganized and disrupted. Due to the heavy damage observed, the relationships between the initial population density and growth of basil plants was also tested in a greenhouse experiment in which inoculum levels varied from 0 to 512 eggs and juveniles/cm3 of soil. Height and top fresh weight data of the inoculated and control plants was fitted to Seinhorst's model. Tolerance limits with respect to plant height and fresh top weight of basil cv. Genovese plants to M. arenaria race 2 were estimated as 0.15 eggs and juveniles/cm3 of soil. The minimum relative values (m) for plant height and top fresh weight were 0.39 and 0.19 at initial nematode population density (Pi) ≥16 eggs and juveniles/cm3 of soil, respectively. The maximum nematode reproduction rate (Pf/Pi) was 448.7 times at an initial population density of 4 eggs and second-stage juveniles/cm3 of soil.

Performances of an accelerometric device for detecting fall and loss of consciousness.

Falls and loss of consciousness (FLoC) is the leading cause of serious health problems, above all in the elderly population, since the subjects involved are not able to ask for help and may lie in critical conditions for a long time, thus deteriorating into severe conditions which can even lead to death. Therefore, developing a device capable of automatically detecting a FLoC and activating an alarm call seems to be of utmost importance. This study intended to develop such a device using an accelerometer sensor. Four hundred and sixty simulated falls were performed by 20 subjects: 10 young subjects and 10 elderly subjects. The young subjects were asked to perform 200 FLoCs as well as 60 non common activities (NCAs), whereas the elderly subjects were asked to carry out only 200 activities of daily living (ADL). The signal used to detect the fall event was acquired by a single accelerometer placed on the subjects' belts. The test set was divided into two groups of the same size: Training Set (TS) and Verification Set (VS). The first set was meant to determine the related algorithm, whereas the second set was intended to check its reliability. The proposed algorithm was devised to detect the effects of the three phases of a FLoC (impact of the body on the ground, lying position and immobility) into the acceleration and jerk signals along the cranio-caudal axis (CCA). The correct detection of all FLoC cases and the absence of false positives among ADL corroborate the usefulness of the device proposed.

[Functional analysis after Achilles tendon repair]. / Analisi funzionale dopo tenorraffia dell'Achille.

The Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a severe injury and requires a surgical treatment which can result in functional impairment, limiting unprofessional sports activities. In order to evaluate this potential impairment 20 subjects (SG) who had received surgical treatment for ATR and 20 healthy subjects (CG) were required to execute vertical jump according to counter movement jump and squat jump protocol. For both groups the flying time (Tv) of each foot has been acquired, adopting accelerometric transducers positioned posteriorly at the level of malleolar axis. The SG's Tv is significantly lesser than the CG's one, demonstrating an inferior global performance respect to healthy people and the operated leg has a Tv 6% higher than the contralateral, while in the CG there are no statistical difference between the Tv of the limbs. For seven operated subjects Tv values are lesser than threshold values obtained from CG. For them sports activity which implies high and cyclic stress on the lower limbs could be dangerous. Functional evaluation, consequently, allow to assess impairments not differently estimable.

Biomechanical effects of prosthesis neck geometries to contrast limb lengthening after hip replacement.

Hip prostheses should meet the anatomical and physiological characteristics of patients; this is the rationale for designing modular implants of different sizes. To optimize implant geometry, it is necessary to consider, not only the prosthesis component design, but also the final configuration of the implanted leg. This means the necessity to consider the specific morphological and functional condition of ""that"" patient and not only of ""that"" hip to restore, at best, limb functions. Variations in the length of the implanted limb are frequent; therefore, the variations in the three geometrical features of the hip prosthesis neck, which can affect the restoration of the anatomical symmetry of the limbs, were investigated: (i) neck lengths (Ln ), between 50.5 and 64.5 mm; (ii) cervico-diaphyseal (CD) angle ( ã ), between 135 and 125 degrees and; (iii) anteversion (AV) angle ( â ), between 0 and 15 degrees . Adopting a three-dimensional (3D) simplified biomechanical model, the resultant load acting on the hip was estimated for each different design solution; corresponding stress distributions and contact pressures at the interface between the prosthesis head and the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) layer were evaluated by 3D finite element (FE) analyses and using the Strozzi approach. The following values have been assumed as physiological values: ã = ã p = 125 degrees , â = â p = 15 degrees and Ln = 57 mm; it was found that to contrast limb lengthening, if the CD angle varies from 135-125 degrees (with neck length Ln = 64.5 mm and AV = 0 degrees ), the joint resultant load decreases by 8.8% (7.2% if AV = 15 degrees ); the contact pressure de-creases by 5.8%, (5% if AV = 15 degrees ); the bending moment in the stem neck increases by 10.9% (13.8% if AV = 15 degrees ) and the torque increases by 1% (12.8% if AV = 15 degrees ).

The use of olive mill wastes for the control of root-knot nematodes.

The suppressive effect of olive mill wastes was tested in a field experiment in sandy soil, infested by Meloidogyne incognita, in the Province of Lecce, southern Italy. The field was subdivided in 12 m2 plots distributed at random in four blocks. Treatment consisted of different dosages (10, 20 and 40 t/ha) of two composts prepared with either exhausted or fresh olive pomace or raw extraction sewage at rate of 40 or 80 m3/ha. There were four untreated control plots and four plots on which the granular 5% formulation of fenamiphos had been broadcast incorporated into the soil at the rate of 300 Kg/ha, one week before planting the tomato cv. Tondino di Zagaria. All treatments statistically increased tomato yields with respect to the control. Conversely, the root gall index, assessed according to a scale from 0 (no gall at all) to 5 (root system of reduced size and deformed by large galls), was significantly reduced in all treated plots. Also soil populations of the root-knot nematode declined, significantly compared to the control, except in the soil treated with the lowest doses of raw sewage or exhausted pomace compost.

Control of Pratylenchus vulnus in stone fruit nurseries.

Almond, peach and olive nurseries were prepared in sandy soil infested by Pratylenchus vulnus in southern Italy. Soil treatments before or at sowing included methyl bromide at the rate of 40 g/m2; 1.3 D at the rate of 15 ml/m2; dazomet at the rate of 100 g/m2 without plastic tarping, or at the rate of either 100 or 50 g/m2 with tarping, and fenamiphos Gr 5 at the rate of 100 g/m2 or 240 CS at the rate of 40 g/m2 as single application; fenamiphos Gr 10 and 240 CS were also applied at planting and two, four and six months after sowing, each time at the rate of 10 g/m2. The experiment was discontinued ten and thirteen months after sowing, respectively for olive and peach and almond. Methyl bromide, 1.3 D or fenamiphos, or dazomet, under certain circumstances, produced agronomically suitable plants, but none of the treatments eradicated the nematode.