The influence salt stone sites have on the potential spread of CWD among wild reindeer, red deer and sheep in the Norwegian highlands

A common practice in Norway is to let sheep, goats and cattle roam freely in the mountains during summer. They are provided with salt licks, which is mainly done by farmers having sheep on summer pasture. Salt licks’ potential effect on spread of disease has been questioned in a larger context in Norway since 2016, when the first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was discovered in a population of wild reindeer. CWD is a prion disease that mainly affects deer, it spreads in the nervous system, it causes brain damage, emaciation and eventually death. The wild reindeer in Norway is the last of the population in Scandinavia and most of the whole population in northern Europe. It is important to understand their migration pattern and behaviours to understand the spread of the disease. This study was conducted to investigate the wild reindeer’s behaviours performed at the salt licks to evaluate the risk of being infected or spread CWD. Sheep, reindeer and red deer were part of the study to evaluate the overlap of habitat usage between the species, since this is believed to lead to interspecies transmission of CWD, even if the transmission routs need to be further investigated. By creating a machine learning model, this project analysed > 500 000 pictures from 34 camera traps in four different parts of the Norwegian highlands: Nordfjella, Dovrefjell, Knutshø and Forollhogna. The results showed that during the period May-October visits of wild reindeer, sheep and red deer overlapped at 27 of total 34 cameras. The behavioural study of reindeer made clear that they perform the behaviour grazing/head to the ground most frequent at the salt licks. It needs to be further investigated if removing the salt licks for sheep is an alternative for the future to stop spread of CWD and how that affects all animals in the highland

Processing of the chloroplast transit peptide of pea carbonic anhydrase in chloroplasts and in Escherichia coli Identification of two cleavage sites

AbstractThe chloroplast transit peptide (cTP) of pea carbonic anhydrase was shown to be processed at two different sites, giving protein subunits of two sizes. The cleavage sites were identified and found to be localized immediately before and after a highly charged part, containing 8 acidic and 6 basic residues, of the cTP. Properties of pea carbonic anhydrase produced in Escherichia coli show that folding, oligomerization and catalytic activity do not depend on the presence of the acidic part or the rest of the cTP. The pattern of processing of the cTP in E. coli indicates that cleavage at site I is specific for a chloroplastic stromal peptidase and that cleavage at site I prevents processing at site II

Food Dishes for Sustainable Development: A Swedish Food Retail Perspective

Current dietary patterns contribute negatively to greenhouse gas emissions and to the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Earlier research on sustainable food consumption mainly focuses on diets, rather than single meals. Diets are difficult to measure, which is usually executed through self-reporting. This paper aims to identify frequently prepared dishes in a home setting through sales statistics, and how they can be altered to reduce climate impact and increase nutritional value. Commonly prepared food dishes in a home setting among customers of a major food retailer in Sweden were identified through sales statistics. The dishes were altered to reach nutritional and climate impact guidelines. Commonly prepared food dishes exceeded goals for climate boundaries by more than threefold and were not in line with nutritional guidelines. The content of fat, including saturated fat, was too high. Vegetables, fruits, wholegrains and fiber need to be increased. To reduce climate impact and increase nutritional value, the amount of animal-based product need to be reduced and/or exchanged to plant-based alternatives. This research contributes empirically to understandings of how portfolio management decisions influence food consumption based on sales statistics and how nutritional and climate impact guidelines can be applied from a single meal perspective

Genus, välbefinnande och hållbart lantbruksföretagande?

Studien syftar till att utifrån perspektivet företagande kvinnor och välbefinnande undersöka hur traditionella genusnormer påverkar lantbrukets kvinnor. Detta ska sedan bejakas utifrån perspektivet hur dessa normer både förstärks och reproduceras. Arbetet är en kvalitativ studie som bygger på ett empiriskt material som bygger på fem stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer med kvinnliga lantbrukare. Den teoretiska referensramen behandlar forskning utifrån tre teman; genusnormer, företagande och välbefinnande. Resultatet bygger i sin tur på tidigare forskning och bekräftar hur genusnormer påverkar kvinnor som är företagsledare. Resultat framhåller också någon ny aspekt som inte den teoretiska referensramen framhåller. Studien påvisar att det som tidigare forskning visar kvarstår och styrks. Så som att kvinnor missgynnas i ägande, får bära stora lass inom hushållsansvar och inte får samma gehör gentemot männen. Det finns också en medvetenhet hos lantbrukarna om skillnader i förutsättningar som de på gårdsnivå försöker att bekämpa för att skapa ett så hållbart och socialt lantbruk som möjligt. Utifrån de strategier och roller en kvinna i regel får i ett lantbruk så påverkas välbefinnandet av brist på kontroll. Ett stort hinder som identifieras, för de kvinnor som är starka inom lantbruk, är att många väljer att skaka av sig olämpliga kommentarer och förtryck. Det bidrar i sin tur till att genusnormen förstärks och reproduceras.This study aims to examine, from the perspective of entrepreneurial women and well-being, how traditional gender norms affect women in agriculture. This will then be discussed from the perspective of how these standards are both reinforced and reproduced. The work is a qualitative study based on an empirical material based on five semi-structured interviews with female farmers. The theoretical frame of reference deals with research based on three themes; gender norms, enterprise and well-being. The results, in turn, are based on past research and confirm how gender norms affect women who are business leaders. Results also highlight some new aspects that the theoretical frame of reference does not highlight. The study shows that what previous research shows remains and is reinforced. For example, that women are disadvantaged in ownership, they can bear great burdens in household responsibilities and do not receive the same hearing compared to men. There is also an awareness among the farmers about differences in conditions that they try to fight at farm level to create as sustainable and social agriculture as possible. Based on the strategies and roles a woman usually receives in agriculture, well-being is affected by a lack of control. However, a major obstacle has been identified. Those women who are strong and independent within agriculture, is more likely to don’t bother about inappropriate comments and oppressions. This in turn contributes to strengthening and reproducing the gender norm

Different systems for soaking the slats with water : could it be the future to cleaner pigs?

Hygien i svenska slaktsvinsstallar och arbetsbelastningen under sommartid kan vara ett problem i Sverige på grund av att grisarna använder den fasta liggytan som gödselyta under sommartid. Att grisen försöker kyla sig när den utsätts för värmestress, hög beläggning, icke optimal utfodringsstrategi samt ökad produktivitet är faktorer som alla bidrar till dålig boxhygien. Detta påverkar både personerna som arbetar i stallet samt grisens välmående då det i stallarna blir nedsmutsade boxar och en ökad ammoniakavgång. I Sverige är det lag på en fast liggyta som möjliggör att lantbrukare kan ge grisen sysselsättning i form av halm. Grisar som är gödselförorenade bidrar till problematik inom djurvälfärd samt ur ett livsmedelssäkerhets perspektiv och denna problematik behöver åtgärdas på något sätt. I detta examensarbete undersöks frågan om spaltbevattning kan vara en lösning genom en enkätstudie. Enkäter skickades ut till lantbrukare som har som har spaltbevattning. Det innehåller också en litteraturstudie som ska ge mer kunskap inom ämnet spaltbevattning. Punkter som det diskuteras kring är om spaltbevattning kan bidra till en bättre miljö i de svenska stallarna och om det går att minska andelen gödselförorenande grisar. Investeringskostnad, etiska och sociala aspekter är också viktiga frågor som bearbetas. Dessa punkter diskuteras utifrån två olika utformningar av spaltbevattning; droppbevattning och duschbevattning. Droppbevattning innebär att det droppar vatten ned på spaltgången medan duschbevattning är en dusch av vatten med mindre droppar som sprutas ned på spaltgången. Det som påvisats är att de olika systemen bidrar till minskning i arbetstid gällande gödselskrapning och att boxhygienen blir bättre. Duschbevattningen leder till att grisen kan kylas och således få ett bättre välmående. Det är enligt lantbrukarna däremot ingen kvickfix som leder till att alla boxar blir rena direkt. Med droppbevattning väljer grisen att inte ligga på spalten. Grisen slappnar inte av med droppande vatten på sig och sover då på den torra liggytan vilket kan vara en bidragande orsak till att dessa boxar blir renare.Hygiene in Swedish slaughter pig houses and the workload during summer time can be a problem in Sweden because the solid lying surface gets polluted with dung during the summer. The fact that the pig is trying to cool down themselves when exposed to heat stress, high stocking-rates, non-optimal feeding strategy and increased productivity are all reasons to problems with bad hygiene in the pens. This affects both the people who work in the stable and the well-being of the pig due to fouled pens and increased amount of ammonia in the air. There is a law in Sweden to have solid lying surfaces. These surfaces are for the pig to rest on and also a spot where the pigs can occupy themselves with straw. Pigs that are contaminated with manure contribute to problems in animal welfare. This study processes the questions about systems for soaking the slats with water by means of an inquiry sent to farmers who have such systems installed. There is also a literature study that will provide more knowledge in the field of pens for slaughter pigs and hygiene problems. The study discusses whether or not drip or shower cooling could contribute to a better environment in the Swedish stables. Another point is if there is a possibility to reduce the rate of pigs with the behavior when it comes to fouling. Investment costs, ethical and social aspects are also important issues that are being processed. These points are discussed based on two different designs of slat soaking systems; drip soaking and shower soaking. Drip soaking means that water drops down onto the slat while shower soaking is a shower of water with smaller droplets that is sprayed onto the slat. We can point out that the various systems contribute to a reduction in workload and that the pen hygiene becomes better. Shower soaking leads to pigs being able to cool down and to be more prosperous during the summer period with warm weather. According to the farmers, on the other hand, it is not a quick fix that results in that all pens become immediately clean. With drip soaking, the pig does not choose to lie on the slat. The pig does not relax with dripping water on them and they choose to sleep on the dry and solid lying surface which can be a contributing reason for why these pens becoming cleaner

Different systems for soaking the slats with water : could it be the future to cleaner pigs?

Hygien i svenska slaktsvinsstallar och arbetsbelastningen under sommartid kan vara ett problem i Sverige på grund av att grisarna använder den fasta liggytan som gödselyta under sommartid. Att grisen försöker kyla sig när den utsätts för värmestress, hög beläggning, icke optimal utfodringsstrategi samt ökad produktivitet är faktorer som alla bidrar till dålig boxhygien. Detta påverkar både personerna som arbetar i stallet samt grisens välmående då det i stallarna blir nedsmutsade boxar och en ökad ammoniakavgång. I Sverige är det lag på en fast liggyta som möjliggör att lantbrukare kan ge grisen sysselsättning i form av halm. Grisar som är gödselförorenade bidrar till problematik inom djurvälfärd samt ur ett livsmedelssäkerhets perspektiv och denna problematik behöver åtgärdas på något sätt. I detta examensarbete undersöks frågan om spaltbevattning kan vara en lösning genom en enkätstudie. Enkäter skickades ut till lantbrukare som har som har spaltbevattning. Det innehåller också en litteraturstudie som ska ge mer kunskap inom ämnet spaltbevattning. Punkter som det diskuteras kring är om spaltbevattning kan bidra till en bättre miljö i de svenska stallarna och om det går att minska andelen gödselförorenande grisar. Investeringskostnad, etiska och sociala aspekter är också viktiga frågor som bearbetas. Dessa punkter diskuteras utifrån två olika utformningar av spaltbevattning; droppbevattning och duschbevattning. Droppbevattning innebär att det droppar vatten ned på spaltgången medan duschbevattning är en dusch av vatten med mindre droppar som sprutas ned på spaltgången. Det som påvisats är att de olika systemen bidrar till minskning i arbetstid gällande gödselskrapning och att boxhygienen blir bättre. Duschbevattningen leder till att grisen kan kylas och således få ett bättre välmående. Det är enligt lantbrukarna däremot ingen kvickfix som leder till att alla boxar blir rena direkt. Med droppbevattning väljer grisen att inte ligga på spalten. Grisen slappnar inte av med droppande vatten på sig och sover då på den torra liggytan vilket kan vara en bidragande orsak till att dessa boxar blir renare.Hygiene in Swedish slaughter pig houses and the workload during summer time can be a problem in Sweden because the solid lying surface gets polluted with dung during the summer. The fact that the pig is trying to cool down themselves when exposed to heat stress, high stocking-rates, non-optimal feeding strategy and increased productivity are all reasons to problems with bad hygiene in the pens. This affects both the people who work in the stable and the well-being of the pig due to fouled pens and increased amount of ammonia in the air. There is a law in Sweden to have solid lying surfaces. These surfaces are for the pig to rest on and also a spot where the pigs can occupy themselves with straw. Pigs that are contaminated with manure contribute to problems in animal welfare. This study processes the questions about systems for soaking the slats with water by means of an inquiry sent to farmers who have such systems installed. There is also a literature study that will provide more knowledge in the field of pens for slaughter pigs and hygiene problems. The study discusses whether or not drip or shower cooling could contribute to a better environment in the Swedish stables. Another point is if there is a possibility to reduce the rate of pigs with the behavior when it comes to fouling. Investment costs, ethical and social aspects are also important issues that are being processed. These points are discussed based on two different designs of slat soaking systems; drip soaking and shower soaking. Drip soaking means that water drops down onto the slat while shower soaking is a shower of water with smaller droplets that is sprayed onto the slat. We can point out that the various systems contribute to a reduction in workload and that the pen hygiene becomes better. Shower soaking leads to pigs being able to cool down and to be more prosperous during the summer period with warm weather. According to the farmers, on the other hand, it is not a quick fix that results in that all pens become immediately clean. With drip soaking, the pig does not choose to lie on the slat. The pig does not relax with dripping water on them and they choose to sleep on the dry and solid lying surface which can be a contributing reason for why these pens becoming cleaner

Permutations in Binary Trees and Split Trees

We investigate the number of permutations that occur in random node labellings of trees. This is a generalisation of the number of subpermutations occuring in a random permutation. It also generalises some recent results on the number of inversions in randomly labelled trees [Cai et al., 2017]. We consider complete binary trees as well as random split trees a large class of random trees of logarithmic height introduced by Devroye [Devroye, 1998]. Split trees consist of nodes (bags) which can contain balls and are generated by a random trickle down process of balls through the nodes. For complete binary trees we show that asymptotically the cumulants of the number of occurrences of a fixed permutation in the random node labelling have explicit formulas. Our other main theorem is to show that for a random split tree with high probability the cumulants of the number of occurrences are asymptotically an explicit parameter of the split tree. For the proof of the second theorem we show some results on the number of embeddings of digraphs into split trees which may be of independent interest

Embedding Small Digraphs and Permutations in Binary Trees and Split Trees

We investigate the number of permutations that occur in random labellings of trees. This is a generalisation of the number of subpermutations occurring in a random permutation. It also generalises some recent results on the number of inversions in randomly labelled trees (Cai et al. in Combin Probab Comput 28(3):335-364, 2019). We consider complete binary trees as well as random split trees a large class of random trees of logarithmic height introduced by Devroye (SIAM J Comput 28(2):409-432, 1998. 10.1137/s0097539795283954). Split trees consist of nodes (bags) which can contain balls and are generated by a random trickle down process of balls through the nodes. For complete binary trees we show that asymptotically the cumulants of the number of occurrences of a fixed permutation in the random node labelling have explicit formulas. Our other main theorem is to show that for a random split tree, with probability tending to one as the number of balls increases, the cumulants of the number of occurrences are asymptotically an explicit parameter of the split tree. For the proof of the second theorem we show some results on the number of embeddings of digraphs into split trees which may be of independent interest