Farmers’ ethno-ecological knowledge of vegetable pests and pesticidal plant use in Malawi and Zambia

While pests are a major constraint in vegetable production in many parts of Southern Africa, little is known about farmers’ knowledge and management practices. A survey was conducted among 168 and 91 vegetable farmers in Northern Malawi and Eastern Zambia, respectively, to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and traditional management practices in tomato and crucifers (brassica). All respondents in Malawi and Zambia reported pest damage on tomato and crucifers, and 75% had used synthetic pesticides. The use of pesticidal plants, cultural practices and resistant varieties constituted a smaller portion of the pest control options in both crucifers and tomato. Over 70% of the respondents were aware of pesticidal plants, and more female (75%) than male (55%) respondents reported using them. While over 20 different plant species were mentioned by respondents, Tephrosia vogelii accounted for 61 and 53% of the pesticidal species known to respondents in Malawi and Zambia, respectively. Farmers with small landholdings were more inclined to use pesticidal plants than those with medium and large landholding highlighting the importance of this management alternative for poor farmers. Most respondents were willing to cultivate pesticidal plants, which indicate that farmers understand the potential value of these plants in pest management

Digital technologies, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) & Global Value Chains (GVCs) nexus with emerging economies’ future industrial innovation dynamics

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has the potential to transform emerging economies to another developmental echelon by increasing productivity and improving future fluidity of innovation across various industries. Predictively, 4IR in emerging economies will come with newest technologies that are disruptive. This technological innovation will cause changes not only in industries and business but also in societies in general. The current article is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) of secondary data sources, mainly peer reviewed reputable journal articles. The purpose is to draw conclusions and to identify the research gaps. Results depicted that the key challenge is for the emerging economies to establish ways of engaging themselves into Global Value Chains (GVCs) that are dynamic in nature. Future researchers are encouraged to consider alternative methodologies to examine 4IR and GVCs nexus with emerging economies’ within a longitudinal research design. Systematic literature review in the current article is based on a structural analysis methodology to frame the categories of the major analysis in combination with scientific rigour to a broad and complex problem

An investigation into the design of precision weeding mechanisms for inter and intra-row weed control

There is an increasing interest in the use of mechanical intra-row weeders because of concern over environmental degradation and a growing demand for organically produced food. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the design of precision weeding mechanisms for inter-and intra-row weed control. The purpose is to increase the understanding of the dynamics of the soil-machine interactions and to develop a system for either organic farming or to reduce the environmental loading of agrochemicals in conventional agriculture. Both the graphical computer simulation studies and the use of a mathematical model (O’Dogherty et al., 2007) for the kinematics of discs were used as tools to aid the disc design to determine the optimum geometric characteristics for a rotating disc that will be able to treat the intra-row area between the crop plants undisturbed circle. The model has wide applicability for the interactive design of discs for a range of crops. A force prediction model for shallow asymmetric static and rotating discs (about a vertical axis) developed to predict the forces on rotating discs. The model takes into account the geometric parameters of the discs, the speed of operation, the working depth and the physical properties of the soil based upon those required for the general soil mechanics equation which obeys the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. A comparison of all experimental work encompassing the laboratory experiments with non-rotating and rotating discs, incorporating the deflection effect of the shaft when working at 0o inclination angle showed that the model is able to predict the draught force with good accuracy. The predicted forces were 3.5% more than the measured forces overall for a linear regression line (with a coefficient of determination of 0.7) and 61% of the data were within bounds of ± 25% a line of equal magnitude. The effect of working depth, inclination angle and disc geometry on draught and penetration force requirements for flat and convex discs were assessed under controlled laboratory conditions. Because of its simplicity a flat disc was an obvious one to study as it is a circular blade with incorporating a cut-out sector, whilst the convex disc has the advantage of underside clearance. The effect of the concavity on soil failure proved to be of interest by providing smaller aggregates. Four inclination angles (0o - 15o) were examined at 0.5 m s-1 (1.8 km h-1) driving speed and 1 rev s-1 rotational speed at 10 mm deep. Four depths (10 mm - 25 mm) were examined at 0.5 m s-1 driving speed and 1 rev s-1 rotational speed at 10 mm deep and 0o inclination angle were tested under controlled conditions. Inclination angle and disc geometry had a significant effect on disc forces and soil failure. A small increase in inclination angle to the direction of travel reduces the magnitude of draught and vertical force by 70% and 80% respectively on average for both flat and convex disc geometries. The convex disc requires 15% less draught force than an equivalent flat disc. This allowed the optimum working parameters for a disc to be selected to eliminate the weeds with the minimum force requirements. The results of a field experiment after 16; 23; and 33 days transplanting with a working speed of 0.5 m s-1 (1.8 km h-1) showed that the proposed novel mechanical weed control system can achieve a weed reduction within the crop row up to 87%. The disc-hoe has a lower cost for an area of 125 ha of £81 ha-1,in comparison to £139 ha-1 for the inter-row and hand weeding combination and £690 ha-1 for a six man gang manual intra-row weeding, for two passes. It is also less expensive than the cost of the 24 m tractor mounted sprayer of £100 ha-1 The use of the rotating disc-hoe for mechanical weed control would have the benefits of lower mechanical weeding cost, increased potential for organic production and reduction in the number of weeding operations through better targeting to minimise problems caused by frequent soil disturbance and reduced herbicide use having the benefits of environmental advantage.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Rip current related drowning deaths and rescues in Australia 2004–2011

Rip currents are a common hazard to beachgoers found on many beaches around the world, but it has proven difficult to accurately quantify the actual number of rip current related drowning deaths in many regions and countries. Consequently, reported estimates of rip current drowning can fluctuate considerably and are often based on anecdotal evidence. This study aims to quantify the incidence of rip current related drowning deaths and rescues in Australia from 2004 to 2011. A retrospective search was undertaken for fatal and non-fatal rip-related drowning incidents from Australia's National Coronial Information System (NCIS), Surf Life Saving Australia's (SLSA, 2005–2011) SurfGuard Incident Report Database (IRD), and Media Monitors for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2011. In this time, rip currents were recorded as a factor in 142 fatalities of a total of 613 coastal drowning deaths (23.2%), an average of 21 per year. Rip currents were related to 44% of all beach-related drowning deaths and were involved in 57.4% of reported major rescues in Australian locations where rips occur. A comparison with international operational statistics over the same time period describes rip-related rescues as 53.7% of the total rescues in the US, 57.9% in the UK and 49.4% in New Zealand. The range 49–58% is much lower than 80–89% traditionally cited. The results reported are likely to underestimate the size of the rip current hazard, because we are limited by the completeness of data on rip-related events; however this is the most comprehensive estimate to date. Beach safety practitioners need improved data collection and standardized definitions across organisations. The collection of drowning data using consistent categories and the routine collection of rip current information will allow for more accurate global comparisons

Rethinking the social impacts of the arts

The paper presents a critical discussion of the current debate over the social impacts of the arts in the UK. It argues that the accepted understanding of the terms of the debate is rooted in a number of assumptions and beliefs that are rarely questioned. The paper goes on to present the interim findings of a three‐year research project, which aims to rethink the social impact of the arts, with a view to determining how these impacts might be better understood. The desirability of a historical approach is articulated, and a classification of the claims made within the Western intellectual tradition for what the arts “do” to people is presented and discussed

The effects of midazolam and butorphanol, administered alone or combined, on the dose and quality of anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in goats

Goats are rarely anaesthetised; consequently, scant information is available on the efficacy of anaesthetic drugs in this species. Alfaxalone is a relatively new anaesthetic agent, of which the efficacy in goats has not yet been studied. In this study, the sedative and alfaxalonesparing effects of midazolam and butorphanol, administered alone or concomitantly, in goats were assessed. Eight clinically healthy goats, four does and four wethers, were enlisted in a randomised crossover manner to receive intramuscular sedative treatments consisting of saline 0.05 mL/kg, or midazolam 0.30 mg/kg, or butorphanol 0.10 mg/kg, or a combination of midazolam 0.30 mg/kg with butorphanol 0.10 mg/kg before intravenous induction of general anaesthesia with alfaxalone. Following induction, the goats were immediately intubated and the quality of anaesthesia and basic physiological cardiorespiratory and blood-gas parameters were assessed until the goats had recovered from anaesthesia. The degree of sedation, quality of induction and recovery were scored. When compared with saline (3.00 mg/kg), midazolam, administered alone or with butorphanol, caused a statistically significant increased level of sedation and a reduction in the amount of alfaxalone required for induction (2.00 mg/kg and 1.70 mg/kg, respectively). Butorphanol alone (2.30 mg/kg) did not cause significant changes in level of sedation or alfaxalone-induction dose. During induction and recovery, the goats were calm following all treatments, including the control group. Cardiorespiratory and bloodgas parameters were maintained within clinically acceptable limits. The present study showed that midazolam, administered alone or combined with butorphanol, produces a degree of sedation that significantly reduces the dose of alfaxalone required for induction of general anaesthesia in goats, without causing any major adverse cardiorespiratory effects.The University of Pretoria and the Beit Trust.http://www.jsava.co.zaam201

Turning round the telescope. Centre-right parties and immigration and integration policy in Europe

This is an Author's Original Manuscript of 'Turning round the telescope. Centre-right parties and immigration and integration policy in Europe', whose final and definitive form, the Version of Record, has been published in the Journal of European Public Policy 15(3):315-330, 2008 [copyright Taylor & Francis], available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi.org/10.1080/13501760701847341