This paper focused on analysing actual state-of-the-art personal protective equipment (PPE) used in humanitarian demining for the determination of potential gaps to provide improvements to increase the safety and, simultaneously, performance of PPE. The essential requirements and technical standards for PPEs used in humanitarian demining operations were analysed as a basis for gap identification. Furthermore based on the defined gap and risk analysis, the effect of accelerated ageing and simulation of the use of soft ballistic inserts designed with p-aramid woven fabrics was performed. The research provided new inputs for improvements in the standardisation of PPE with respect to performance and safety validation in a laboratory environment. Moreover the gap analysis resulted in strictly identified gap areas for PPE improvement in usability, functionality and safety.
Abstract:The total concentrations of free phenolic compounds and peroxidase were determined in spikes (collected at the flowering stage) of some spelt and common wheat cultivars differing in their response to F. culmorum infection. The antifungal activity of methanol extracts obtained from spikes was also evaluated. The tested genotypes differed significantly in their response to inoculation. The most resistant were Torka and Zebra among common wheat cultivars, and Weisser Grannenspelz among spelt cultivars. The average content of free phenolic compounds in spikes of spelt and common wheat was 1246.56 µg g −1 and 1236.58 µg g −1 , respectively. The cultivars whose spikes contained the largest amounts of phenols showed the weakest response to F. culmorum infection. No significant differences were observed with regard to peroxidase content, which was 5.22 U g −1 in common wheat spikes and 5.14 U g −1 in spelt spikes. Methanol extracts from spikes of all wheat cultivars contained antifungal substances. The extracts from spelt spikes inhibited the growth of F. culmorum on PDA to a lesser degree than the extracts from common wheat spikes. This corresponds to the results of field trials, in which T. spelta generally exhibited a stronger response to F. culmorum infection than common wheat. The high correlation (r = 0.816) between mycelium growth inhibition on the medium and F. culmorum infection indicates that an evaluation of the antifungal activity of extracts from spikes may be used for the selection of breeding materials directed towards increased resistance to Fusarium head blight.
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