Although organic farming was originally promoted as an alternative farming system to address agronomic, environmental and ecological issues, its conventionalisation has led to an intensification and ...specialisation of production. In the light of this, several studies have questioned the environmental benefits of organic farming as well as its agronomic viability. Thus, there is a need to improve organic vegetable systems to reduce their environmental impact without affecting their productivity. To tackle this challenge, European farmers and researchers have recently started to focus on agroecological service crops (ASCs). However, few studies have simultaneously evaluated the agronomic, environmental and ecological aspects of ASC management under different European pedo‐climatic conditions.
We evaluated effects of the ASC management strategies—no‐till roller crimping (NT‐RC) and green manuring (T‐GM) on cropping system performance using agronomic, environmental and ecological indicators—to exemplify the need for multidimensional analysis to understand management implications for addressing environmental and agronomic challenges. We combined the results from 11 organic vegetable field trials conducted in seven European countries over a period of 2 years to test for general trends.
Our results provide solid evidence that NT‐RC management across different pedo‐climatic conditions in Europe enhances the activity density of ground and rove beetles and improves both the potential energy recycling within the system and weed control. However, in NT‐RC plots, lower cash crop yield and quality, energetic efficiency of production and activity density of spiders were observed compared to T‐GM.
Synthesis and applications. Multidimensional analyses using agronomic, environmental and ecological indicators are required to understand the implications of agricultural management in agroecosystem functioning. Introducing agroecological service crops combined with the use of no‐till roller crimping is a promising strategy for improving agronomic performance (e.g. fewer weeds) and reducing environmental (e.g. increasing the potentially recyclable energy) and ecological (e.g. enhancing the activity density of beneficial taxa such as ground and rove beetles) impacts. However, our study also indicates a need for agronomic and environmental improvements while promoting a wider acceptance of this strategy.
Multidimensional analyses using agronomic, environmental and ecological indicators are required to understand the implications of agricultural management in agroecosystem functioning. Introducing agroecological service crops combined with the use of no‐till roller crimping is a promising strategy for improving agronomic performance (e.g. fewer weeds) and reducing environmental (e.g. increasing the potentially recyclable energy) and ecological (e.g. enhancing the activity density of beneficial taxa such as ground and rove beetles) impacts. However, our study also indicates a need for agronomic and environmental improvements while promoting a wider acceptance of this strategy.
•Low earthworm taxonomic diversity was observed under Mediterranean conditions.•Organic fertilization significantly increased earthworm populations.•Endogeic earthworm species can benefit from soil ...inversion tillage.•Combining reduced tillage and green manure cropping did not show positive effects on earthworms.
Earthworms are one of the most important soil macrofaunal groups, and they play a major role in agricultural ecosystems. Agricultural practices, such as reduced tillage, the use of green manures and organic fertilization, can be beneficial for earthworm populations in agricultural systems. However, under a Mediterranean climate, not much is known regarding their response to agricultural management. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of tillage type, organic fertilization, and green manures on the density and biomass of earthworms in organic arable dryland. The trial was conducted in a four-year crop rotation with a complete factorial design that combined tillage system (mouldboard ploughing vs. chisel), fertilization (composted farmyard manure vs. no fertilizer) and green manures (green manures vs. no green manures). Earthworms were assessed in each plot by the extraction of all individuals in three soil areas of 33cm×33cm that were excavated to a depth of 25cm. Only five earthworm species were found in this trial, and the earthworm community was dominated by such endogeic ecotypes as Aporrectodea rosea and Allolobophora georgii, and the anecic ecotype Aporrectodea trapezoides. Endogeic species can benefit from soil inversion because of the incorporation of organic matter, but the anecic ones can be negatively affected by it. The results show that plots with farmyard manure had higher density and biomass of earthworms. We observed that the type of tillage significantly affected earthworm populations: plots that had been ploughed with mouldboard ploughing (soil inversion) the year prior to sampling presented more juveniles. The biomass of earthworms was significantly lower in plots with green manures and chiselling. Our results indicated that the combination of chiselling and green manures were not optimal for earthworm populations, but organic fertilization played a considerably more important role and enhanced their abundances.
The aim of the study was to estimate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination efficacy in reducing recurrence risk within 4 years after conization for high-grade cervical neoplasia.
From January 2012 ...to June 2015, we performed a longitudinal, observational study (case-series study) on patients diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2-3 neoplasia. Efficacy was estimated by a 95% CI of the relative risk, relative risk reduction, attributable risk, and number needed to treat. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used as appropriate to compare 160 vaccinated with 171 nonvaccinated patients. To estimate the hazard ratio of the vaccinated status, patients were subjected to multivariable analyses based on the Cox proportional hazard model. To compare recurrence-free survival, a Kaplan-Meier model and a log-rank test were applied.
The overall recurrence was 9.4% in the nonvaccinated and 2.5% in the vaccinated group (p = .009). Vaccination was associated with a significant decrease in the relative risk (73.5%, 95% CI = 21.8%-90.9%) with a mean number needed to treat of 14 patients per relapse prevented. Although positive conization margins were related to the highest recurrence risk, not being vaccinated independently increased this risk 3.5-fold in a 4-year follow-up (p = .025). Cumulative recurrence-free rates differed significantly between both groups (log-rank test: p = .009).
Our study corroborates the benefits of HPV vaccination, recommends a closer and longer follow-up in nonvaccinated women, and offers a 4-year prognosis for patients undergoing conization for high-grade cervical lesions.
Introducción. La cirugía con el paciente despierto (CPD) constituye una herramienta neuroncológica eficaz. Objetivo: Describir el proceso de tratamiento donde la CPD con identificación tridimensional ...de la lesión por neuronavegación y contraste tisular cerebral asociado a la magnificación endoscópica, permitieron una resección quirúrgica máxima y segura de las lesiones. Presentación. Se reportan 3 pacientes con diagnóstico de tumor cerebral (2 de estirpe glial y 1 meningioma) operados despiertos por craneotomía mínimamente invasiva guiada por imágenes y con magnificación endoscópica. Se utilizaron herramientas imagenológicas, de neuronavegación, de magnificación y de identificación de la lesión; la resonancia magnética (RMI) de alto campo 3 Teslas con tractografía, navegador de BrainLab, métodos de magnificación endoscópica y contraste tisular (Fluorosceína) respectivamente. Conclusión: La combinación armónica de estos procedimientos con un fin común constituye una opción viable, eficaz y segura en la cirugía con el paciente despierto en nuestro medio.
Fundamento: La insuficiencia renal crónica es catalogada internacionalmente como una epidemia y considerada también una enfermedad catastrófica. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados obtenidos en la ...realización de fístulas arteriovenosas para hemodiálisis. Método: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo durante un año (junio de 2004 a mayo 2005) en el Hospital Universitario «Manuel Ascunce Domenech» de Camaguey, en 86 operaciones de acceso vascular permanente realizadas a 56 pacientes portadores de insuficiencia renal crónica. Para la recogida del dato primario se utilizó una encuesta con diez variables cualitativas; para la evaluación de los resultados se usaron métodos de estadística descriptiva y relaciones de significación estadística bivariada, así como métodos de computación que avalan de modo confiable los resultados. Resultados: Predominó el grupo de edades de mayores de 60 años y el sexo masculino, las causas etiológicas más frecuentes de la insuficiencia renal fueron la nefroangioesclerosis y la nefropatía diabética con 17 pacientes (30,3%) para cada una de ellas. La mayoría de las operaciones 52 (60,5%) se realizó en los 90 días posteriores al diagnóstico de la insuficiencia renal crónica. Conclusiones: Se demostró que mientras menor fue el tiempo entre el diagnóstico de la insuficiencia renal crónica y la realización del acceso vascular permanente los resultados fueron mejores, así como la protección previa del miembro a operar, factores que ejercen una acción directamente positiva a la función inmediata y que son susceptibles de ser modificados por la acción del médico para lograr mejores accesos.
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