Applied soybean and maize residue contributions to soil organic matter in a temperate soybean/maize intercropping system

Intercropping, defined as two or more crops grown on the same land area at the same time, is a sustainable alternative to sole crops. Intercropping has been associated with multiple benefits, such as increased nutrient and soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling, decreased soil erosion and increased carbon (C) sequestration. A common intercropping practice is to integrate cereal and legume crops such as maize (Zea mays L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Most studies on intercropping have focused on yield, weed control, and land use efficiency in the tropics. Few studies have researched C and nitrogen (N) dynamics in temperate intercrops, with respect to soybean and maize residue stabilization. Soil from Balcarce, Argentina, was incubated for 140 days with soybean, maize, or no residue. Throughout the incubation, results illustrated the effect of residue application upon the soil, specifically through significantly higher amounts of light fraction (LF) C and LFN concentrations, soil microbial biomass (SMB) C and SMBN concentrations, higher microbial diversity, lower N2O production rates, in addition to distinct isotopic values in soil fractions and CO2 (p<0.05). Furthermore, it was observed from δ15N-TN and δ15N-LF that treatments with soybean residues included had higher N cycling (p<0.05), emphasizing the importance of including N-fixing legumes in complex agroecosystems. Significant changes over time in SMB and SMCS characteristics, and isotope values (p<0.05) indicated the preferential utilization of relatively young and easily accessible litter. Furthermore, the loss of labile material over the incubation resulted in more recalcitrant forms (such as older C and lignin) to be utilized. Slightly higher SOC, TN, LFC and LFN concentrations, as well as lower CO2 production rates suggested 2:3 (rows of maize:rows of soybean) as a more desirable intercrop design for C sequestration. The 1:2 intercrop design was observed to be more beneficial for microbial community structure, furthering the idea that intercropping is a beneficial alternative to sole cropping. This study improves knowledge in residue stabilization and C sequestration in complex agroecosystems, providing encouragement for the implementation of more sustainable management practices

Föräldradjur inom slaktkycklingindustrin

Dagens slaktkycklingindustri har medfört flera välfärdsproblem för de avelsfåglar (föräldradjuren) som används för att producera slaktkycklingar och detta arbete syftar till att ge en överblick över dessa välfärdsproblem samt redogöra för eventuella försök till åtgärder som gjorts. De mest uppmärksammade problemen handlar om foderrestriktioner samt aggressiva beteenden vid parning. Genetisk selektion för snabb tillväxt har skapat en ökad aptit och därmed ökad foderkonsumtion, något som samtidigt gett hälso- och reproduktionsproblem hos föräldradjuren. Detta löser man i dagsläget med strikta foderrestriktioner som för fåglarna medför stress på grund av kronisk hunger och som leder till stereotypa beteenden. Det sker nu en ökad användning av dvärgbroilerhöns, som en väg att undkomma de striktaste foderrestriktionerna. Försök har även gjorts med utspädda foder och aptitsänkande substanser. Genetisk selektion verkar också ha gett upphov till störda parningsbeteenden hos avelsfåglarna. Tuppar uppvaktar inte hönor korrekt och hönorna visar sig inte parningsvilliga, något som leder till aggressiva beteenden med skador som följd. Skador fås även som en följd av överparning. Experiment med täckande paneler har setts kunna minska aggressiva interaktioner men är inget som används i dagsläget. I många länder används stympning såsom näbbtrimning istället för att minska mängden skador. Den karga omgivning som föräldradjuren generellt hålls i, bidrar till låg aktivitetsgrad och ökad mängd aggressiva och stereotypa beteenden. Sittpinnar har visats kunna minska andelen golvägg, beteendeproblem och kloakkannibalism hos värpande hönor, dock är det då viktigt att sittpinnarna är rätt utformade, placerade samt att de introduceras tidigt i fåglarnas liv. Inspektioner har visat på ett visst behov av utbildning kring avlivningsmetoder bland den personal som arbetar på både slakterier och i uppfödningarna. Bland annat måste man vara aktsam att fåglar som väger över 5 kilo avlivas på ett adekvat sätt. Ammoniak och damm samt val av ljusintensitet i djuranläggningarna är andra välfärdsområden där brister kan ses. Vid för höga ammoniaknivåer fås irritation i fåglarnas luftvägar och ögon och det har också negativ inverkan på bland annat fåglarnas immunförsvar. Eftersom föräldradjuren använder samma ströbädd i över 60 veckor, är det viktigt att den hålls torr och att ventilationen i anläggningen fungerar bra. Luftkvalitén kan förbättras genom att använda strömaterial som avger mindre mängder damm men mot slutet av produktionsperioden blir det ändå svårt att hålla nere dammnivåerna då en stor mängd gödsel, fjädrar och matpartiklar har ansamlats och bidrar till dammet. Som ett verktyg mot fjäderhackning används låg ljusintensitet. Då uppstår dock problem eftersom djuren inte kan se vad de gör och skador på ögonen kan uppkomma. I Sverige är det lag på dagsljus i fjäderfäanläggningar men vid djurskyddskontroller som gjorts har det konstaterats att 70 procent inte hade tillgång till dagsljus. En anledning till det är att stor osäkerhet råder kring vad som är bästa belysningen och vad som är praktiskt genomförbart. Eftersom produktionen av slaktkyckling ökar i både Sverige och globalt är det viktigt att se över, inte bara slaktkycklingarnas situation men också föräldradjurens. Kanske måste avelsföretagen helt sluta att använda de hårdavlade broilerlinjerna för att bli av med de största välfärdsproblemen.Today's broiler industry has resulted in many welfare problems for the broiler breeders (the parent stock). The purpose of this thesis is to give an overview of these welfare problems, as well as attempted solutions that has been tried out. The most high-profile problems are about feed restrictions and aggressive behavior during mating. Genetic selection for growth rate has led to increased appetite, and thus increased feed consumption, which creates health and reproductive problems in broiler breeders. To solve this problem severe feed restriction is applied, something which leads to stress due to chronic hunger and stereotypical behavior. There is now an increased use of dwarf hens, as a way to avoid the most severe feed restrictions. Attempts have also been made with diluted feed and appetite suppressants. Genetic selection seem to have led to disturbed mating behaviors in broiler breeders. Roosters are lacking courtship behaviors and females do not show crouching behavior when approached by males. This lack of communication leads to aggressive behavior and injuries. Injuries also result from over-mating. It has been shown that the use of cover panels can reduce aggressive interactions, but panels are not being used by today’s breeding industry. Instead, in many countries mutilation such as beak trimming is used to reduce the amount of injuries. The barren environment in which the parentstock is generally held, contributes to low activity level and increased amount of aggressive and stereotyped behaviors. Perches have been shown to decrease the amount of floor eggs, behavioral problems and cloacal cannibalism in laying hens, however, it is important that perches are properly designed, placed and that they are introduced early in the life of the bird. Inspections have revealed a need for culling training on farms and in abbattoirs. For example staff has to be aware that birds weighing over 5 kilograms need to be culled in a different manner. Ammonia and dust as well as light intensity in animal facilities are other welfare areas where problems can be seen. High ammonia levels causes irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes, and it also has a negative impact on, among other things, birds' immune system. Because the broiler breeders are using the same litter for over 60 weeks, it is important that it is kept dry and that the ventilation in the facility works well. The air quality can be improved by using low-dust litter material but towards the end of the production period, it will still be difficult to keep down dust levels when large amounts of manure, feathers and food particles are lining the ground and contributes to the dust. As a tool to avoid feather pecking, low light intensity is used. However this leads to a situation where the birds cannot see what they are doing and eye damage may occur. According to Swedish law there has to be windows for daylight in poultry farms, but animal welfare inspections have shown that 70 percent of inspected facilities had no access to day light. One reason for that is the disagreement about what constitutes good lighting and what is feasible. As the production of broilers is increasing both in Sweden and globally, it is important to review not only the broiler situation, but also the broiler breeders. Perhaps the breeding indust

Development of Testing Method for Puncture and Cut Resistant Gloves

Certain situations while working at American Packaging require employees to handle extremely sharp Doctor Blades. The handling of these objects poses a threat to the workers safety, and a possible financial problem for American Packaging

Sistema de colheita florestal para uma propriedade em Ortigueira - Paraná : estudo de caso

Orientador: Prof. MsC. Paulo Roberto MagistraliMonografia (especialização) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Agrárias, Curso de Pós-graduação em Gestão FlorestalInclui referênciasResumo: O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a viabilidade de um sistema de colheita florestal Full tree para uma propriedade de Ortigueira, Paraná. O sistema Full tree considera a colheita pelo método semi-mecanizado no corte, mecanizado no arraste, no traçamento, no baldeio, no carregamento e no transporte. Os fatores considerados para o trabalho foram a área de trabalho do sistema, o tipo de trabalho a ser executado, o tipo de solo, a topografia, a especificação da máquina e preço da máquina, a qualificação da mão de obra disponível, a facilidade da operação, manutenção, regulagem e assistência técnica, a influência das condições climáticas e custo do sistema de colheita. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que as variáveis ambientais encontradas para a área não foram limitantes para a prospecção do sistema de colheita florestal. O custo de colheita florestal com o sistema correspondeu a R$ 33,18/m³

STUDY ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE ACTIVITY OF A HOSPITAL INSTITUTION IN ROMANIA

The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted substantial pressure on health systems around the world, and the Romanian medical system, which in the last three decades has faced numerous challenges generated by several factors, such as corruption that has strongly highlighted the disaster generated by the epidemiological context. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activity of an emergency hospital in north-eastern Romania in a comparative way by analyzing the aspects of the pre-pandemic period compared to the pandemic period, analyzing the activity reports over a period of 6 months. The variables analyzed were the budget used for goods and services, for medicines and sanitary materials and for professional training. The authors examined the data of a total of 12 reports for the chosen period. The authors findings are around the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has not significantly changed the budget allocated to personnel expenditures but has significantly changed the budget allocated to goods and services, the budget allocated for medicines and sanitary materials and the one for the professional training of medical staff. Several economic, financial and social analyses carried out in the next period will support these research hypotheses, anticipating that the effect of COVID-19 will have a long-term impact on the way in which medical services are provided in Romania

Cancer patient experience measures: An evidence review

© 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Objectives: This research investigates the instruments currently available to measure the cancer patient experience of health care. An investigation of the number of instruments, the domains covered by the instruments, and the structure and psychometric performance of instruments is undertaken. Methods: A narrative synthesis approach is used to gather evidence from multiple studies and explain the findings. Purposely broad search terms and strategies are used to capture studies with cancer patients at all stages of disease and across a range of cancer types and health care settings. Results: The majority of identified instruments were originally designed for the oncology field. Twelve of the studies developed new cancer patient measures; eight studies adapted existing or utilized items from existing instruments, and seven studies assessed the psychometric properties of existing instruments or assessed validated tools under different conditions (e.g., cross-cultural adaptation). The number of instruments assessing cancer patient experience that have sound psychometric properties across items was found to be low. The properties least tested are test–retest reliability, construct, convergent and discriminant validity, scale variability (floor/ceiling effects), and interpretability. Conclusion: This review examined 10 years of research on the development of instruments to measure the cancer patient experience of health care. It found that research in this area is still in early stages of development. Further inquiry based on development and validation of cancer patient experience measures is required to support improvements in cancer care based on the perspective of cancer patients

Management of COPD in the UK primary-care setting : an analysis of real-life prescribing patterns

Peer reviewedPublisher PD