Organic farming practices increase weed density and diversity over conventional practices: A meta-analysis.

Population growth and climate change challenge our food and farming systems and provide arguments for an increased intensification of agriculture. Organic farming has been seen as a promising option due to its eco-friendly approaches during production. However, weeds are regarded as the major hindrance to effective crop production which varies depending on the type of crop and spacing.

Maize grain yield and grain zinc concentration response to zinc fertilization: A meta-analysis.

Zinc deficiency in agricultural soils is a current global agroecosystems challenge. Maize exhibits elevated susceptibility to Zn deficiency and low response to zinc fertilization. As a result, there are contradicting literature reports on the crop response to zinc fertilization.

Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops.

A synthesis of available agronomic datasets and peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted to: (1) assess the status of micronutrients in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) arable soils, (2) improve the understanding of the relations between soil quality/management and crop nutritional quality and (3) evaluate the potential profitability of application of secondary and micronutrients to key food crops in SSA, namely maize (Zea mays L.), beans (Phaseolus spp. and Vicia faba L.

Neocytopheresis: a new approach for the transfusion of patients with thalassaemia major.

At present the treatment of thalassaemia major consists of regular blood transfusions coupled with chelation therapy using deferoxamine. A complementary approach to the problem is the use of blood units enriched with young red cells (neocytes), which reduce the transfusional frequency and thereby diminish the risk of iron overload. Young red cell units were collected from blood from 60 volunteer donors using a cell separator (IBM 2997).

[Anatomical function of the small intestine (malabsorption syndrome) in dermatological diseases].

Fifty patients with various long lasting skin diseases were examined. Past history and digestive-nutritional symptoms were recorded. Two or three samples of distal duodenum, elimination of fecal fat and d-xylose absortion test were intended to be performed in all patients, but this coincident parameters were obtained in only 35 patients.