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Background: The utilization of Trifolium subterraneum L. cover crops may represent an innovative and efficient option in low-input and organic farming, especially in Mediterranean agroecosystems where low and irregular rainfall require frequent soil tillage and use of herbicides to reduce moisture losses and weed competitiveness. Since imbalances of soil macro- and micro-nutrients due to cover cropping establishment could be responsible for numerous problems in specialized orchards, such as disturbances in the normal tree growth and quality of fruits, the objective of this study was to investigate, the cumulative effects of a 3-years established T. subterraneum cover cropping, compared with a spontaneous flora and a conventional management (as a control), on the levels of mineral nutrients in the apricot leaves and fruits., Results: Our findings indicated that T. subterraneum cover cropping tended to stimulate higher leaf macro- and micro-nutrients content than conventional management and flora spontaneous cover cropping. In addition, the presence of T. subterraneum cover cropping, especially with the incorporation of dead mulches into the soil, increased the content of potassium (K), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in apricot fruits., Conclusion: Taking also into account the effects of T. subterraneum cover cropping on both the reduction of soil weed and enhancement of bacteria communities involved in the soil N-cycle, we may suggest its application in Mediterranean orchards as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic herbicides for weed control and mineral N fertilizers, while enhancing the apricot tree nutritional status and fruit quality. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Cover crops are gaining in popularity as an eco-friendly tool for weed control in organic and low-input agricultural systems. A 5-year study was carried out in a Mediterranean environment (Sicily, south Italy) to (1) quantify cover crop biomass production and (2) evaluate the effects on weed soil seed bank, aboveground biomass, species richness, species composition and associations between communities. Cover crop treatments included subterranean clover ( Trifolium subterraneum L.) and spontaneous flora, both with and without burying dead mulch into the soil, compared to a conventional management treatment. Weed biomass was significantly reduced by subterranean clover, contrariwise to spontaneous flora, with season-dependent results. Cover crop biomass, which ranged from 44 to more than 290 g DW m -2 , was negatively correlated to weed biomass. Moreover, subterranean clover decreased the size of the soil seed bank and species richness. Based on relative frequency, a low similarity was found between the conventional management and cover crop treatments. In addition, no significant differences in species composition across treatments were observed, whereas principal component analysis highlighted some associations. The results suggest that subterranean clover cover cropping is a good option for weed management in Mediterranean agroecosystems.

Background: The aim of this study was to find stratification criteria in a group of children assigned to the green triage category at an emergency department (ED)., Methods: We analyzed a sample of patients admitted to the ED of Gaslini Children's Hospital in Genoa between February 2014 and January 2015 who had been given a green code on triage. We analyzed the following parameters: age, sex, nationality, reason for admission, number and type of the procedures performed, length of stay in the ED, destination on discharge, color code and diagnosis on discharge., Results: Of the 2875 patients enrolled, 258 (8.97%) were hospitalized, 135 (4.70%) were placed in short intensive observation, 1609 (55.97%) were discharged from the ED without any intervention, 829 (28.83%) were discharged after undergoing procedures (blood tests, microbiology investigation, imaging, specialist evaluation) and 44 (1.5%) spontaneously left the ED. Among the patients who were hospitalized and those kept under short intensive observation, the most frequent discharge diagnosis was gastrointestinal disease; among those patients discharged with and without undergoing procedures, the most frequent diagnosis was respiratory disease. The mean age of patients admitted to hospital and of those discharged without undergoing procedures was 46 months, while the mean ages of patients kept under short intensive observation and of those discharged after undergoing procedures were 54 and 61 months, respectively., Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that one of the main criteria of stratification of green codes on triage is the association between 2 variables: age and pathology.

Background: Leukapheresis procedures require adequate flow rates, which in children may frequently involve invasive vascular access placement., Study Design and Methods: A minimally invasive peripheral radial artery catheter was used for drawing blood in 85 leukapheresis procedures performed in 33 pediatric patients. Blood return to the patients was provided by either a central Broviac-type catheter or a peripheral venous access. The patients' age range was 1 to 18 years (median, 9.5) and the weight range was 9 to 73 kg (median, 29 kg). Vasocan Braunüle Luer Lock IV cannulas (22 gauge in 78 and 20 gauge in 7) were placed percutaneously under local anesthesia, and in 8 patients, catheter placement was carried out during general anesthesia for other procedures. A continuous flow cell separator was used in all cases (Fresenius AS104 in 23 and AS204 in 62)., Results: Flow rates ranged from 18 to 45 mL per minute, the mean number of total blood volumes processed was 2.07 (range, 0.51-2.51), and the mean duration of the procedures was 150 minutes (range, 90-260). The 22-gauge cannulas provided adequate flow rates independently of patient age and weight. No significant thrombotic, embolic, hemorrhagic, ischemic, or infectious complications were observed., Conclusion: Peripheral radial artery catheters are safe, are minimally invasive, and provide steady, high-flow rates, and they should be considered for patients requiring leukapheresis and lacking a suitable vascular access for drawing blood.