Ecosystem Carbon Stock Influenced by Plantation Practice: Implications for Planting Forests as a Measure of Climate Change Mitigation

Uncertainties remain in the potential of forest plantations to sequestrate carbon (C). We synthesized 86 experimental studies with paired-site design, using a meta-analysis approach, to quantify the differences in ecosystem C pools between plantations and their corresponding adjacent primary and secondary forests (natural forests). Totaled ecosystem C stock in plant and soil pools was 284 Mg C ha−1 in natural forests and decreased by 28% in plantations. In comparison with natural forests, plantations decreased aboveground net primary production, litterfall, and rate of soil respiration by 11, 34, and 32%, respectively. Fine root biomass, soil C concentration, and soil microbial C concentration decreased respectively by 66, 32, and 29% in plantations relative to natural forests. Soil available N, P and K concentrations were lower by 22, 20 and 26%, respectively, in plantations than in natural forests. The general pattern of decreased ecosystem C pools did not change between two different groups in relation to various factors: stand age (<25 years vs. ≥25 years), stand types (broadleaved vs. coniferous and deciduous vs. evergreen), tree species origin (native vs. exotic) of plantations, land-use history (afforestation vs. reforestation) and site preparation for plantations (unburnt vs. burnt), and study regions (tropic vs. temperate). The pattern also held true across geographic regions. Our findings argued against the replacement of natural forests by the plantations as a measure of climate change mitigation

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Performance of broilers and layers supplemented with Moringa stenopetala leaf meal under hot humid tropical conditions

Context: Heat stress poses a major limit to poultry production. Moringa stenopetala leaf meal (MSL) could be a promising feed additive for poultry raised under heat stress as it is rich in antioxidants. Aims: To determine the effect of (MSL) supplementation on the production and quality of broilers under heat stress conditions. Methods: In the meat growth trial, 156 one-day old Cobb 500 broilers were assigned to four groups containing three replicates of 13 chicks each. For the egg production trial, 108 Bovan Brown layers aged 20 weeks were allocated to four groups containing three replicates of 9 hens. The four groups of broiler and layer chicken were supplemented with MSL at a level of 0% (control), 1% (MSL1), 1.5% (MSL1.5) and 2% (MSL2). Relative humidity, minimum and maximum temperature were 82%, 13°C and 23°C respectively. The effect of MSL supplementation on growth performance, characteristics of digestive organs, carcass traits, egg production and egg quality was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Key results: Moringa stenopetala leaf supplementation up to a level of 2% (MSL2) did not significantly affect feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds. Supplemented broilers had significantly longer large intestine (24% for MSL1, 37% for MSL1.5 and 49% for MSL2) and heavier pancreas (82% for MSL1, 67% for MSL1.5, and 57% for MSL2) compared to the control broilers. Hot and cold carcass weight, dressing yield, dressing percentage, breast meat weight, drumstick and thigh meat, wing meat weight, back weight and meat pH were not significantly affected by MSL supplementation. Ash content of meat of MSL2-fed birds was significantly higher than that of the control (3.51% vs. 2.74% respectively). Egg production, feed conversion ratio and interior and exterior egg quality parameters were not significantly affected by MSL supplementation. Intensity of yolk colour was significantly and linearly enhanced due to MSL supplementation (by ~5-8 times compared to the control). Conclusions: Supplementation of MSL at a level up to 2% improved yolk colour of Bovan Brown layers eggs with no effect on meat and egg production. Implications: Yolk colour of eggs of layers raised under heat stress can be improved by 1% of MSL supplementation with a minimum increase in the diet cost

Strategic Response to COVID-19 in Ethiopia

COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, has posed a major threat to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to inadequate health infrastructure and human resources. Ethiopia, a low-income country with the second largest population in Africa, has coordinated a strategic response, leveraging existing infrastructure and health systems and mobilizing public health professionals and specialist expert physicians for a multifaceted, unified government approach and adaptive response. Resource limitations, particularly in critical care, have still posed challenges, but the public health and clinical interventions thus far have prevented the catastrophic toll that many predicted. As the pandemic continues, Ethiopia expects to use a triple care model integrated at all levels, consisting of COVID-19 care, isolation care for suspected cases, and essential health services, and urges intensified non-pharmaceutical interventions alongside equitable global vaccine distribution as the ultimate answers to pandemic control. This paper draws on existing data, national planning and guidelines, and expertise from health leadership to describe this response in hopes of providing an example of how future large-scale health challenges might be faced in LMICs, using Ethiopia\u27s successes and challenges in facing the pandemic

Estrutura e organização do trabalho infantil em situação de rua em Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil Structure and organization of children's work on the streets in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

Este artigo analisa a estrutura e as práticas de trabalho infantil em situação de rua, focalizando as estratégias e o papel das famílias. O método utilizado combina técnicas de observação da atividade, entrevistas simultâneas e entrevistas fora do local da atividade. As categorias de interesse para responder à hipótese do estudo foram organizadas, classificadas e analisadas por meio de cartas temáticas. Os resultados mostram a influência das famílias e da comunidade na execução das atividades e a mobilização de estratégias, visando alcançar os objetivos de trabalho. Esse comportamento expressa a aceitação e a participação familiar e da sociedade na estruturação do trabalho infantil. Porém a exposição à violência não é minimizada pela participação dos genitores, tampouco pela constituição de uma suposta rede de solidariedade. Não se vislumbram possibilidades educativas, dadas as condições de trabalho, incompatíveis com a idade dos sujeitos.<br>This article analyses the organization and work practices of subjects enrolled in public programs of income transfer, focusing on the strategies developed and on the role of families in placing children and adolescents in street jobs. The qualitative method that was used applied activity observation techniques combined with simultaneous and outside work interviews. Narrative analysis was used based on categories of interest defined to answer the study hypothesis. The results show that there is a direct influence of families and the community on the performance of the activities and that the groups mobilize strategies to achieve their aims. This behavior expresses that the family and society accept and participate in the organization of children's work on the street. However, exposure to violence is not diminished by parents' participation nor by the constitution of a supposed solidarity network. Educational possibilities are not anticipated due to the work conditions, which are incompatible with the subjects' age