Effect of colored plastic mulch on growth,yield and nutrient status in cucumber under shade house and open field conditions

The aim of this study was to realize whether soil mulching, with different plastic mulch colors, is a suitable practice under shade house (SH) conditions for the culture of cucumber. To do so, cucumber was cultured mulched or not with black, blue, red or white-on-black plastic films under SH, and contrasted against mulched cucumber in open field (OF). Red mulch produced the highest shoot dry weight per plant and bare soil the lowest. However, it was the white mulch which produced the highest commercial yield per plant. Contrastingly, bare soil plants produced the lowest commercial yield. SH plants two folded photosynthetic rates compared to OF plants. Mulch color mainly impacted leaf phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) content while the SH affected nitrogen (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Our results confirm that soil mulching, and shading positively impact the cucumber yield and quality but also show that soil mulching under SH enhances cucumber crop.     

侧流道泵研究现状及发展趋势

侧流道泵或侧通道泵(side channel pump)是一种介于容积式泵和离心泵之间的径向式叶片泵,由叶轮一侧有一个横截面为半圆形的侧流道而得名,通常具有超低比转数特性和自吸能力,其体积小,流量低,但是扬程却很高.与普通离心泵相比,侧流道泵作为一种新型泵,更适用于极端条件下气液两相流体和接近临界状态流体的输送.首先介绍了侧流道泵的组成和工作原理,简要阐述了流体在侧流道泵内的运动轨迹.同时,按照时间顺序分析了侧流道泵的研究情况,重点分析了近年来国内外关于侧流道泵的研究现状.最后根据前面所述的研究成果,展望了侧流道泵研究的发展趋势.认为优化设计可提高侧流道泵的性能,完善侧流道泵理论模型,利用先进的内部流动测试手段,例如PIV,LDA等,分析测量侧流道泵内部流动规律和旋涡演变机理,设计开发多功能侧流道泵是今后侧流道泵的研究重点.     

Metabolic responses of avocado plants to stress induced by Rosellinia necatrix analysed by fluorescence and thermal imaging

European Journal of Plant Pathology - One of the most important soilborne diseases affecting avocado (Persea americana Mill.) crops is white root rot, caused by the fungus Rosellinia necatrix. In...     

Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (ω-3) Supplementation on Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors with a Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet

Background: the ketogenic diet (KD) has become a widely used nutritional approach for weight loss. Some of the KD’s positive effects on metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors are similar to those seen after n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3) supplementation. We hypothesized that a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts combined with ω-3 supplementation may have increased positive effects on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation. Methods: We analyzed 34 male overweight subjects; aged between 25 and 65 years who were overall healthy apart from overweight. The subjects followed a ketogenic diet protocol for four weeks; with (KDO3) or without (KD) ω-3 supplementation. Results: All subjects experienced a significant loss of body weight and body fat and there was no significant differences between treatment (body weight: KD—4.7 kg, KDO3—4.03 kg, body fat KD—5.41 kg, KDO3—5.86 kg). There were also significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-c, and glucose levels. Triglycerides and insulin levels decreased more in KDO3 vs. KD subjects, with a significant difference. All the investigated inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) decreased significantly in KDO3 subjects whilst only TNF-α showed a significant decrease in KD subjects over the 12 month study period. No significant changes were observed in anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-1Ra), creatinine, urea and uric acid. Adiponectin increased significantly only in the KDO3 group. Conclusions: ω-3 supplementation improved the positive effects of a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts on some cardiovascular/metabolic risk factors and inflammatory state.     

Fucoxanthin and Its Metabolite Fucoxanthinol in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid present in the chloroplasts of brown seaweeds. When ingested, it is metabolized mainly to fucoxanthinol by digestive enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. These compounds have been shown to have many beneficial health effects, including anti-mutagenic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic actions. In every cancer tested, modulatory actions of fucoxanthinol on viability, cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis and members of the NF-κB pathway were more pronounced than that of fucoxanthin. Anti-proliferative and cancer preventing influences of fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol are mediated through different signalling pathways, including the caspases, Bcl-2 proteins, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, AP-1, GADD45, and several other molecules that are involved in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, anti-angiogenesis or inhibition of metastasis. In this review, we address the mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol according to different types of cancers. Current findings suggest that these compounds could be effective for treatment and/or prevention of cancer development and aggressiveness.