Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on urology practice: A single-center experience

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the urology outpatient clinic and provide objective data for the allocation of the resources during the pandemic. Materials and methods. The patient records who were admitted to our Hospital Urology outpatient clinic during March 20th - May 29th, 2019, and March 20th - May 29th, 2020 has been evaluated and constituted two groups as Non-Pandemic Group and Pandemic Group according to application date. Groups have been compared according to demographic and cohort-specific variables. Results. There has been a statistically significant difference between groups according to age, gender, admission, prescription, and hospitalization rates. During the pandemic period, we found that the rates of patient admission, frequency and the number of hospitalizations decreased, and the rate of prescribing increased. Also, we found that male patients aged 18-65 years were admitted more frequently during the pandemic period. The analysis of the subgroups constituted according to diagnostic segmentation revealed that the patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and pediatric urology patients decreased while infertility and infection groups were increased. Conclusion. The urology outpatient clinic has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from various perspectives. This alteration should take into consideration for the planning of the services during a pandemic.

Metamitron and Shade Effects on Leaf Physiology and Thinning Efficacy of Malus × domestica Borkh

Thinning strategies, namely shade or photosynthetic inhibitors, rely on the reduction of carbon supply to the fruit below the demand, causing fruit abscission. In order to clarify the subject, seven field trials were carried out in Lleida, Girona, and Sint-Truiden (2017 + 2018), using orchards of ‘Golden’ and ‘Gala’ apple trees. At the stage of 9–14-mm fruit diameter, four treatments were implemented: (A) CTR-control, trees under natural environmental conditions; (B) SN-shaded trees, trees above which shading nets reducing 50% of irradiance were installed 24 h after metamitron application date—without application of metamitron—and removed after five days; (C) MET-trees sprayed with 247.5 ppm of metamitron; (D) MET + SN-trees submitted to the combined exposure to metamitron application and shading nets. Low radiation significantly increased metamitron absorption (36–53% in the three locations in 2018) and reduced its degradation. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were strongly reduced in all treatments, with minimum values 2 days after spraying (DAS) and incomplete recovery 10 DAS in MET + SN. All treatments resulted in leaf sucrose and sorbitol decreases, leading to a negative carbon balance. SN and MET + SN promoted the highest thinning efficacy, increasing fruit weight and size, with MET + SN causing over-thinning in some trials. Leaf antioxidant enzymes showed moderate changes in activity increases under MET or MET + SN, accompanied by a rise of glutathione content and a reduction in ascorbate, however without lipid peroxidation. This work shows that environmental conditions, such as cloudy days, must be carefully considered upon metamitron application, since the low irradiance enhances metamitron efficacy and may cause over-thinning.

Meta-analysis of soybean yield response to foliar fungicides evaluated from 2005 to 2018 in the United States and Canada

Random-effect meta-analyses were performed on data from 240 field trials conducted between 2005 and 2018 across nine U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, to quantify the yield response of soybean after application of foliar fungicides at beginning pod (R3). Meta-analysis showed that the overall mean yield response when fungicide was used compared to not applying a fungicide was 2.7% (110 kg/ha). Moderator variables were also investigated and included fungicide group, growing season, planting date, and base yield, which all significantly influenced the yield response. There was also evidence that precipitation from the time of planting to the R3 growth stage influenced yield when fungicide was used (P = 0.059). Fungicides containing a premix of active ingredients from multiple groups (either two or three ingredients) increased the yield by 3.0% over not applying a fungicide. The highest and lowest yield responses were observed in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Better yield response to fungicides (a 3.0% increase) occurred when soybeans were planted not later than 21 May and when total precipitation between planting and the R3 application date was above historic averages. Temperatures during the season did not influence the yield response . Yield response to fungicide was higher (a 4.7% increase) in average yield category (no spray control yield 2878 to 3758 kg/ha) and then gradually decreased with increasing base yield. Partial economic analyses indicated that use of foliar fungicides is less likely to be profitable when foliar diseases are absent or at low levels.

Early Season Applications of Bifenthrin Suppress Host-seeking Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) Nymphs

We assessed the efficacy of bifenthrin to suppress Ixodes scapularis Say and Amblyomma americanum (L.) nymphs when applied prior to the initiation of spring host-seeking activity versus when nymphs were already active. Treatment and control plots were sampled for host-seeking ticks every week from mid-April through June, and single occasion bifenthrin applications were done in different sets of treatment plots on 15 April, 29 April, 13 May, and 27 May. Ixodes scapularis nymphs and A. americanum nymphs and adults were effectively suppressed after each application, with at or near 100% suppression of all ticks being observed for up to 8-wk postapplication. Irrespective of the bifenthrin application date, the level of suppression of I. scapularis nymphs never declined below 70% during the study period. However, with the exception of the last application, the suppression of A. americanum nymphs decreased dramatically to below 25% by the conclusion of the trial. The results of this study demonstrated that preseason applications of bifenthrin can mitigate acarological risk of exposure to ticks throughout much of their spring peak activity period.

Control of thrips (Enneothrips flavens Moulton.) with synthetic and biological insecticides in different peanut genotypes

In peanut, pests are controlled by application of insecticides throughout the crop cycle, boosting production costs. This study compared the control of thrips (Enneotrhips flavens Moulton) in 10 peanut genotypes by biological and synthetic insecticides in the field in tropical area in Southeastern Brazil (21°13’29.9’’S 48°54’33.0’’W). The experiment was arranged in a randomized block, 10 x 3 factorial design with three replications. The first factor corresponded to 10 peanut genotypes and the second to different insecticides (synthetic, biological and control). The plants were evaluated 36, 44, 51, 59, 65, 72, and 79 days after sowing to determine the number of thrips individuals and the damage on leaflets caused by E. flavens. The plant height (cm), branch length (cm) and pod yield (kg ha-1) were also determined. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and averages compared by Tukey’s test. In prior evaluation carried out before the start of the applications of insecticides (25 DAS), natural infestation of thrips was observed in all genotypes. The genetic variability of lines L. 386 and L. 314 and cultivar IAC 113 was not significant, whereas yield difference was not observed among treatments of insecticides and control, showing tolerance to E. flavens. The synthetic insecticide Engeo PlenoTM showed of 39% higher efficiency (as average) for controlling thrips in peanut. The insecticides Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) (AUIN®) and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch.) (GR-INN®) have potential to control E. flavens in peanut, but further studies are needed to better define the application date and products doses.

Securitization in the Capital Markets Union

On 30 May 2017, the European Parliament, Council, and Commission reached a political agreement on the package of regulatory reforms of the European securitisation market. The package is aimed at facilitating the development of a securitisation market in Europe. The package represents the latest development of a negotiation process that started back in September 2015. The application date is expected to be 1 January 2019. Meanwhile, market participants have expressed uncertainties as to its effectiveness. This chapter considers the risk that the package will have a negative effect on the European securitisation market, resulting in further contraction. The primary focus of the chapter is on the rules on long-term securitisations as opposed to the short-term securitisations (asset-backed commercial paper).