Emerging technology effects on combined agricultural and eco-vermicompost.

This study focused on the waste management of livestock manure and wetland plant residues and their increasing effect on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The benefits of nutrient-rich plants and manures are often overlooked. By conducting a soil column experiment with a fully factorial design, this work found that adding the vermicompost amendments of wetland plants [combination of Canna indica (CiV), Cyperus alternifollius (CaV), Acorus calamus (AcV), and Hydrocotyle vulgaris (HvV) vermicompost] to agricultural wastes affected maize growth throughout its growing season. The results demonstrated that the use of combined AcV and HvV wetland plant-based vermicompost as an organic fertilizer increased the plant total nitrogen (TN: 92% increase) and soil organic matter (SOM: 192% increase) compared with those in control CK. Meanwhile, the combination of CaV with HvV increased the shoot biomass by 3.4 and 4.6 folds compared with that in NPK and CK, respectively. Overall, a new approach for transforming ecological wastes into organic fertilizers was proposed.

Salinity and exogenous H2 O2 improve gas exchange, osmoregulation, and antioxidant metabolism in quinoa under drought stress.

Climate change-induced concurrent drought and salinity stresses significantly threaten global crop yields, yet the physio-biochemical responses to combined stress in quinoa remain elusive. This study evaluated quinoa responses under four growth conditions: well-watered, drought stress, salt stress, and drought + salt stress with (15 mM) or without (0 mM) exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) application. All examined stresses (alone or in combination) reduce quinoa growth and net photosynthesis, although salt stress was found to be less destructive than drought and combined stress. Strikingly, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), stomatal conductance (gs ), photosynthetic rate (PN ), K+ uptake, shoot height, shoot fresh, and dry weight were increased by 46.1%, 22.2%, 101.6%, 12.9%, 12.1%, 22.4%, 7.1%, 14%, and 16.4%, respectively, under combined stress compared to drought alone. In addition, exogenous H2 O2 effectively improved gaseous exchange, osmolytes' accumulation, and antioxidant activity, resulting in reduced lipid peroxidation, which eventually led to higher plant growth under all coercive conditions. The principle component analysis (PCA) indicated a strong positive correlation between antioxidant enzymes and inorganic ions, which contributed efficiently to osmotic adjustment, particularly under conditions of salinity followed by combined stress. In short, in combination, salt stress has the potential to mitigate drought-induced injuries by promoting the absorption of inorganic solutes for osmoregulation in quinoa plants. Furthermore, exogenous application of H2 O2 could be opted to enhance quinoa performance to increase its tolerance mechanism against drought and salinity, even under combined stress.

Three decades of shade trees improve soil organic carbon pools but not methane uptake in coffee systems.

The rapid expansion of coffee plantations in tropical area at the cost of natural forest may suppress the methane (CH4) uptake and change the soil fertility. However, observations on soil CH4 uptake rates and the ecological consequence studies on coffee-based plantations are sparse. The objectives of this study were to characterize the dynamics of CH4 uptake among natural forest, coffee monoculture (CM), and coffee intercropping with shade tree (CI), and to evaluate the key drivers of soil CH4 uptake. Results showed that the conversion of forest into 25-year and 34-year CM plantations significantly reduced the soil organic carbon (SOC) content by 57% and 76%, respectively, whereas CI plantation profoundly increased the SOC by 20%-76% compared with CM plantation. Although soils of forest, CM and CI functioned exclusively as CH4 sinks, the CM and CI plantations significantly decreased the ambient CH4 uptake rates by 64%-83% due to soil moisture shift and soil nitrate availability by using chemical fertilizer. Interestingly, the potential CH4 uptake of CM and CI plantations did not decrease and in some treatments, was even higher than that of the natural forest. Potential CH4 uptake showed a negative correlation with soil pH and SOC content, but a positive correlation with soil available phosphorus (AP). Collectively, although the SOC and soil pH were increased through intercropping with shade trees for decades, the inhibition of atmospheric CH4 uptake was still difficult to alleviate.

Different ratios of Canna indica and maize-vermicompost as biofertilizers to improve soil fertility and plant growth: A case study from southwest China.

Vermicomposting is recommended as an eco-friendly technology for an organic amendment to avoid the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers, which are causing environmental pollution. Here, this study evaluated soil fertility and plant growth after vermicompost amendment using reclaimed wetland plants and manure. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the seven treatments for nutrient recovery and plant growth: a control group without any fertilization (CK); four groups with vermicompost prepared from different ratios of ecological wetland plant residues, maize, and pig manure (V1, 4:6; V2, 5:5; V3, 6:6; and V4, 7:3); one group with only Canna indica (V5, Ci), and a group with synthetic fertilizers (NPK). The results showed the remarkable impacts of Ci-vermicompost and different ratios of organic fertilizer on soil fertility and plant height (28.8%) as major outcomes. In addition, vermicompost substantially increased soil total nitrogen (60.5%), soil organic matter (60.9%) including dissolved organic carbon (52.2%), and shoot biomass (V4, three-fold increase) compared with NPK and CK. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that vermicomposting combined with wetland plants is a feasible method for organic amendments and offers an innovative approach for recycling ecological waste to produce nutrient-rich organic fertilizers, reduce environmental damage, and improve crop production.

Differential response of quinoa genotypes to drought and foliage-applied H2O2 in relation to oxidative damage, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant capacity.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), a highly nutritious grain crop, is resistant to abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, and cold) and offers an alternate crop to endure harsh environmental conditions under the face of climate change. Naturally, quinoa genome displays a wide degree of variabilities in drought tolerance strategies. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate drought tolerance variations and stress tolerance enhancement in four quinoa genotypes (Pichaman, Colorado-407D, IESP and 2-Want) thorough foliage-applied H2O2 with the purpose of identifying suitable genotype for water limited environments. The plants were exposed to two watering regimes (75% and 30% pot WHC) and foliage-applied H2O2 treatments (15 mM). The drought stress significantly reduced plant growth, relative water contents, chlorophyll and carotenoids contents and increased ROS production (H2O2 and O2•-) resulting in higher oxidative damage in all quinoa genotypes. Besides, drought stress significantly enhanced the antioxidants (SOD, PPO, and PAL) activity, total soluble sugars, proline, AsA contents and increased the total accumulation of measured inorganic ions in all quinoa genotypes. The PCA analysis indicated that parameters related to osmotic adjustment and antioxidant capacity were more pronounced in 2-Want and IESP genotypes, while parameters depicting oxidative damage were higher in Colorado-407D and more specifically in Pichaman. However, foliage-applied H2O2 effectively improved the osmolytes accumulation, antioxidants activity and K+/Na+ ratio which increased water relations, reduced lipid peroxidation and ultimately resulted in higher plant growth. Overall, 2-Want and IESP genotypes were found relatively more drought resistant, while exogenous application of H2O2 can be opted for more improvement in osmotic adjustment and antioxidant system, which may further enhance drought tolerance, even in sensitive genotypes of quinoa, such as Pichaman.

Impacts of vermicompost application on crop yield, ammonia volatilization and greenhouse gases emission on upland in Southwest China.

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission are important environment pollution sources in upland agro-ecosystems. Vermicompost was used for amending purple soil and comparing NH3 and GHG emissions. A field experiment was conducted with a comparison of organic and inorganic fertilizers in a wheat-maize rotation system in the Sichuan Basin, China. The five treatments were conventional inorganic fertilizers, NPK as control; vermicompost prepared with cow dung (VCM); and pig manure (VPM); cow dung and pig manure vermicompost, respectively (VCMNPK, VPMNPK). Total nitrogen rates of all treatments were the same. Soil NH3 volatilization and GHG emissions were monitored with the static chamber method. The results showed that NH3 volatilization occurred in the first two weeks following nitrogen (N) fertilization. The cumulative fluxes of NH3 recorded in the NPK, VCM, VPM, VCMNPK, and VPMNPK treatments were 15.4, 5.7, 6.3, 10.32, and 10.29 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively, in the winter and 4.8, 5.5, 19.83, 12.8, and 11.9 kg N ha-1 yr-1 respectively, in the summer. The global warming potential (GWP) 773.6 and 803.9 g CO2-eq m-2 in VCM and VPM, respectively, during the wheat season 540.6 and 576.2 g CO2-eq m-2, respectively, during the maize season. The GWPs in NPK treatment were 1032.4 and 570.7 g CO2-eq m-2 during the wheat and maize seasons, respectively. The increasing effects of nutrient loops, particularly 18 % soil total nitrogen (TN) and 31 % soil organic carbon (SOC) in VCM, and crop productivity of vermicompost treatments during the wheat-maize rotation had been evaluated. This study recommends that VCM can be considered as a better organic amendment, promoting plant growth while decreasing the environmental costs of gas emissions.

Technologies for municipal solid waste management: Current status, challenges, and future perspectives.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a reflection of the culture that generates it and has a negative impact on the health of the humans and the environment. In the global context, people are abandoning increasing volumes of garbage, and the content of that waste is becoming more complicated than it has ever been, as plastic and electronic consumer goods spread. At the same time, the world is rapidly urbanizing. These changes place a burden on cities to manage garbage appropriately on both a social and environmental level. Globally, extensive research has been conducted to develop a comprehensive MSW management system that includes treatment. The primary objective of this article is to examine municipal solid waste in eight of China's eastern coastal regions. With the use of this review, we found that MSW generation is increasing in Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces, but declining in other eastern coastal cities, provinces, and special zones. Furthermore, municipal solid waste in China is treated utilizing 52 percent landfill, 45 percent incineration, and 3 percent composting techniques, resulting in significantly lower usage efficiency than in developed countries. The effectiveness of China's municipal waste management system must be improved. In addition, this review examines MSW management issues and prospects in China, as well as recommendations for strengthening the MSW management system.

Intraosseous device for arthrodesis in foot and ankle surgery: Review of the literature and biomechanical properties.

BACKGROUND: Arthrodesis is the surgical fusion of a diseased joint for the purposes of obtaining pain relief and stability. There have been numerous fixation devices described in literature for foot and ankle arthrodesis, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. AIM: To review the use of intraosseous devices in foot and ankle surgery. METHODS: There were 9 papers included in the review (6 clinical and 3 experimental studies) all evaluating arthrodesis in the foot and ankle using the IOFIX device (Extremity Medical™, Parsippany, NJ, United States). Outcome scores, union rates, as well as complications were analysed. RESULTS: IOFIX appears to be safe and effective in achieving arthrodesis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal, and talonavicular joints with early rehabilitation. In comparison to plate/screw constructs there were fewer soft tissue complications and issues of metalwork prominence. Cadaveric and biomechanical studies on the use of intramedullary fixation for fusion of the tarsometatarsal and ankle joint showed decreased load to failure, cycles to failure and stiffness in comparison to traditional fusion methods using plates and screws, however IOFIX devices produced higher compressive forces at the joint. CONCLUSION: We describe the reasons for which this biomechanical behavior of the intraosseous fixation may be favorable, until prospective and comparative studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up confirm the effectiveness and limitations of the method.

Ammonia Volatilization and Greenhouse Gases Emissions during Vermicomposting with Animal Manures and Biochar to Enhance Sustainability.

There is a huge potential for nutrient recovery from organic waste materials for soil fertility restoration as well as negative environmental emission mitigation. Previous research has found vermicomposting the optimal choice for converting organic waste into beneficial organic fertilizer while reducing reactive N loss. However, a great deal of the processes of greenhouse gases (GHG) and ammonia volatilization during vermicomposting are not well-documented. A field vermicomposting experiment was conducted by deploying earthworms (Eisenia fetida) with three types of agricultural by-products-namely, cow manure (VCM), pig manure (VPM), and biochar (VBC)-and crop (maize) residues compared with traditional composting (COM) without earthworms in the Sichuan Basin, China. Results showed that vermicomposting caused a decrease in electrical conductivity (EC) and total organic carbon (TOC) while increasing total nitrogen (TN). The greatest TN increase was found with VCM. The cumulative NH3 volatilization in COM, VCM, VPM, and VBC during experimental duration was 9.00, 8.02, 15.16, and 8.91 kg N ha-1, respectively. The cumulative CO2 emissions in COM, VCM, VPM, and VBC were 2369, 2814, 3435, and 2984 (g·C·m-2), while for CH4, they were 0.36, 0.28, 4.07, and 0.19 (g·C·m-2) and, for N2O, they were 0.12, 0.06, 0.76, and 0.04 (g·N m-2), respectively. Lower emissions of N2O, CH4, and NH3 were observed in VBC. We concluded that earthworms, as ecological engineers, enhanced reactive nutrients and reduced ammonia volatilization during vermicomposting in our test system. Overall, vermicomposting is proposed as an eco-friendly, sustainable technique that helps to reduce environmental impacts and associated health risks.

Current Progress of Phytomedicine in Glioblastoma Therapy.

Glioblastoma multiforme, an intrusive brain cancer, has the lowest survival rate of all brain cancers. The chemotherapy utilized to prevent their proliferation and propagation is limited due to modulation of complex cancer signalling pathways. These complex pathways provide infiltrative and drug evading properties leading to the development of chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, the development and discovery of such interventions or therapies that can bypass all these resistive barriers to ameliorate glioma prognosis and survival is of profound importance. Medicinal plants are comprised of an exorbitant range of phytochemicals that have the broad-spectrum capability to target intrusive brain cancers, modulate anti-cancer pathways and immunological responses to facilitate their eradication, and induce apoptosis. These phytocompounds also interfere with several oncogenic proteins that promote cancer invasiveness and metastasis, chemotherapy resistance and angiogenesis. These plants are extremely vital for promising anti-glioma therapy to avert glioma proliferation and recurrence. In this review, we acquired recent literature on medicinal plants whose extracts/bioactive ingredients are newly exploited in glioma therapeutics, and also highlighted their mode of action and pharmacological profile.

Endoscopic Management of Chronic Achilles Tendon Rupture.

Chronic ruptures of the Achilles tendon are often missed injuries, which is challenging for the surgeon. The complications from reconstruction are a considerable concern. Primary repair may be attempted, but the missed injury often presents later than 4 weeks with gaps greater than 4 cm, necessitating more complex reconstructions using local tissues such as turn-down flaps and VY plasty, requiring large incisions in an unfavorable area of the body. We describe a step-by-step technique of endoscopic flexor hallucis longus reconstruction for chronic Achilles rupture, which decreases local complications. This article reviews the available literature for endoscopic flexor hallucis longus reconstruction.

A Proposed Staging Classification for Minimally Invasive Management of Haglund's Syndrome with Percutaneous and Endoscopic Surgery.

Haglund's syndrome encompasses several different pathologies, including Haglund's deformity, insertional Achilles tendonopathy, retrocalcaneal bursitis, and superficial bursitis. Traditionally treated with open surgery, there is increasing interest in a more minimally invasive approach to this difficult region to reduce complications and improve the rate and ease of recovery. We review the evidence available for 2 of these techniques: the endoscopic calcaneoplasty and percutaneous Zadek's calcaneal osteotomy (also known as Keck and Kelly's osteotomy). The senior author's classification for management of the condition is presented as well as describing his operative technique for these procedures.

Does scaphoid bone bruising lead to occult fracture? A prospective study of 50 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Bone bruising of the scaphoid is a term reported when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is carried out for scaphoid injury. The aim of our study was twofold: to see if bone bruising alone without fracture of the scaphoid bone seen on initial MRI, in a clinically symptomatic (tender) patient at 10-14 days, progressed to fracture, and to define how this entity of bone bruising should be managed. METHODS: This was a prospective study looking at 170 patients with scaphoid injuries, of which 50 had bone bruising without fracture. These were followed up for at least 8 weeks to ascertain whether or not they had developed a fracture. They were assessed for continuity or resolution of their symptoms by way of clinical examination and/or a further MRI and X-ray (scaphoid views). RESULTS: Of the 170 scaphoid injuries identified, there were 120 scaphoid fractures seen on scaphoid view radiographs. The remaining 50 were clinically symptomatic and had MRI scaphoid imaging, which demonstrated various grades of bone bruising. All were treated in a scaphoid plaster, and re-examined at 8 weeks. There were four patients who remained symptomatic, for whom MRI scans were performed, which revealed all four with resolving scaphoid bone bruising, and one with a scaphoid fracture (p value=0.0386). Incidentally, 2 further weeks of immobilisation resolved the symptoms of those four patients. The one patient with a fracture was offered further treatment for the risk of progressing to a nonunion. CONCLUSION: Bone bruising detected on MRI without fracture is an important entity, and can lead to occult fracture (2%). It can take anywhere up to 8 weeks to declare. Treatment for bone bruising should be with a scaphoid cast and follow-up X-ray.