The Bioeconomics of Conservation Agriculture and Soil Carbon Sequestration in Developing Countries

Improving soil carbon through conservation agriculture in developing countries may generate some private benefits to farmers, as well as sequester carbon emissions, which is a positive externality to society. Leaving crop residue on the farm has become an important option in conservation agriculture practice. However, in developing countries, using crop residue for conservation agriculture has the opportunity cost of feed for livestock. In this paper, we model and develop an expression for an optimum economic incentive that is necessary to internalize the positive externality. A crude value of the tax is calculated using data from Kenya. We also empirically investigated the determinants of the crop residue left on the farm and found that it depends on the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil, the prices of maize, whether extension officers visit the plot or not, household size, the level of education of the household head, and alternative cost of soil conservation.conservation agriculture, soil carbon, climate change, bioeconomics, Kenya

Intravenous access in distressed children : effects of midazolam and nitrous oxide on success rate, hormone and metabolic stress responses

Background and Aims: Intravenous (IV) access has demonstrated high levels of pain and distress in children. A stress full IV access should be avoided, primarily by the children, but also for the parents and staff. When testing children with suspected endocrine and metabolic disorders there is a substantial risk that a stressful IV access influences the hormone releases and metabolic response. The aims of this thesis were to facilitate painful procedures and IV access in children at a paediatric outpatient clinic. To study the feasibility, effects and stress response of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) compared to Midazolam and EMLA alone in children with endocrine disorders and obesity. Material and Methods: Children with anxiety or previous difficulties establishing IV access were included (n=140). 50 children were openly randomised to EMLA (n=25) or EMLA+ N2O (n=25). 90 children (60 obese and 30 growth retarded) were double blinded randomised to; midazolam, 0.3mg/kg, max 15 mg, (n=30), 50% N2O (n=30), and to 10% N2O (n=30). A subgroup of 20 anxious children undergoing repeatedly painful procedures was also included. These children underwent two procedures with EMLA and EMLA+N2O, the order of priority being randomised. Measurments: Number of attempts; defined both as the number required to succeed in setting up double IV lines, and as a successful IV line procedure with 2 attempts for two iv lines vs >2 attempts, IV access time; defined as time from start of setting up the IV lines until two IV lines were established. Recovery time; defined as the time from establishment of the IV lines until regained alertness. Total procedure time; defined as IV access time plus recovery time. Evaluations; children’s, parents’ and nurses’ satisfaction of the IV line procedure, Pain; evaluated by the child. Sedation levels; assessed using the Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Score. Blood samples were obtained during 30 minutes at four time points after achieving venous access and, if possible, after 24 hours. 1; 0−1 min, 2; 5−6 min, 3; 14−15 min, and 4; 29−30 min. Analyses were compared between treatments and treatments over time. 60 children (40 obese and 20 growth retarded), served as controls. Results: Comparing all study children together with IV access problems, a significant difference in number of attempts between the treatments groups were seen (P<0.001) with differences between midazolam compared with 50% N2O and EMLA compared with midazoalm, 10%, 50% N2O. The percentage of successfully IV line procedures were 70% using 50% N2O. The children’s evaluations were significantly more positive for 50% N2O during IV access and painful procedures. 50% N2O was more efficient measured as total procedure time (P<0.001) and especially in obese children an unfavourable long procedure time was observed after midazolam. Significantly lower cortisol levels were detected when midazolam was used compared to both 50% and 10% N2O and to unstressed controls. Glucose levels among growth retarded children increased from 0 to 30 min, whereas the opposite was found in obese children regardless of treatment. The growth hormone levels decreased with time in the midazolam group compared to 50% and 10% N2O, where the effect of time was reversed. Conclusion: 50% N2O in combination with EMLA, was in all aspects superior to midazolam for facilitation of IV access for distressed children. The IV access procedure was more efficient, with a shorter total procedure time and an increased number of successful IV lines. Midazolam should only be used exceptionally in obese children due to the long recovery time. Treatment with N2O and midazolam influence the results of hormone analyses in the form of different levels and trends in glucose and stress hormones

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and the risk of injuries requiring hospitalization

Background and purpose Previous studies have suggested that Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is associated with repetitive trauma, coagulation problems and anatomical abnormalities of the blood supply to the femoral head. The hypothesis that repetitive trauma can affect the blood supply of the femoral head, leading to LCPD, is supported by an animal model. For evidence of an increased risk of repetitive trauma, we investigated whether patients with LCPD have a higher risk for severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Patients and methods We identified 2579 patients with LCPD in Sweden during the period 1964-2005. 13,748 individuals without LCPD were randomly selected from the Swedish general population, matched by year of birth, sex and region (control group). Cox proportional hazard regression estimated the risks. Results Compared to the control group, patients with LCPD had a modestly raised hazard ratio (HR) of 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.3) for injury requiring hospitalization. The risks were slightly higher for soft tissue injuries (HR = 1.3, 95% CI:1.1-1.4) than for fractures (HR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.3) and more pronounced among females. Compared to the control group, the higher risk for injury only applied to the lower extremities (HR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0-1.4) in patients with LCPD. Interpretation Patients with LCPD are vulnerable to injuries which could be interpreted as a marker of hyperactive behavior. It could also implicate that anatomical changes in the bone formation or blood supply of the femoral head - increasing its sensibility for trauma - contribute to the etiology of LCPD. © Copyright: ©Nordic Orthopaedic Federation

Unbalanced Bargaining: Trump Entertainment Resorts Unite Here Local 54 and Expired Collective Bargaining Agreements Under § 1113

The author explores Trump Entertainment Resorts Unite Here Local 54, in which the Third Circuit considered, as an issue of first impression, whether a chapter 11 debtor-employer is able to reject the continuing terms and conditions of an expired collective bargaining agreement with its unionized employees under 11 U.S.C. § 1113. After analyzing this decision, the author argues that expired collective bargaining agreements are not subject to rejection or modification through § 1113. The author concludes by providing recommendations for judges, debtor-employers, and unions that attempt to balance the conflicting policy concerns surround bankruptcy and collective bargaining agreements

Natur stay, a powerful alternative for reducing stress

Det rapporteras om en fortsatt ökning för individer som lider av stress och stressrelaterad psykisk ohälsa. Sambandet mellan den ökande urbaniseringen, samhällets ökande krav och den brutna kontakten med naturen omkring oss är slående. Flera forskningsstudier som presenteras i denna rapport visar på att naturen troligen kan reducera, förebygga och till och med läka stress och stressrelaterad ohälsa. I undersökningen studeras vad som händer i oss fysiologiskt och psykologiskt när vi blir stressade samt vilka faktorer som påverkar känslan av att naturen ger oss återhämtning. Den tar vidare upp forskning ur ett västerländskt och österländskt perspektiv för att påvisa svårigheten i bedömningen av individens ”upplevelsevärden”. Forskningen har hittills tenderat att koncentrera sig på att hitta en orsak eller ett botemedel, men stress är ett komplext system som saknar motstycke, då stress kan utlösas av flertalet bakomliggande orsaker samt att de individuella skillnaderna varierar stort. Slutsatsen kan dras att vi människor är multisensoriska varelser som består av en mängd olika emotioner, tankar, värderingar och uppfattningar som påverkar vår upplevelse i vår miljö på flera nivåer. Ett holistiskt angreppsätt måste till för att kunna möta individens alla sammankopplade sinnen och ges utrymme för läkning.A continued increase is reported for individuals suffering from stress and stress-related mental illness. The connection between the increasing urbanization, the increasing demands of society and the broken contact with the nature around us is striking. Several research studies presented in this study show that nature is likely to reduce, prevent, and even cure stress and stress-related ill health. The study examines what happens in us physiologically and psychologically when we become stressed and what factors affect the feeling that nature gives us recovery. It also takes up research from a Western and Eastern perspective to demonstrate the difficulty in assessing an individual's "experience values". Research has so far tended to concentrate on finding a cause or cure, but stress is a complex system that has no counterpart, since stress can be triggered by the majority of underlying causes and that the individual differences vary widely. It can be concluded that we humans are multi-sensory beings that consist of a variety of emotions, thoughts, values and perceptions that affect our experience in our environment on several levels. A holistic approach is needed to be able to meet the individual's all interconnected senses and be given room for healing

NPD Project Evaluation in the Manufacturing Industry

Title: NPD Project Evaluation in the Manufacturing Industry Seminar date: 26 May 2015 Course: FEKN90 Authors: Carl Ekbom and Alexander Wrange Supervisor: Ph.D. Christian Koch Key words: NPD projects, evaluation methods, evaluation criteria, portfolio management, manufacturing industry Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to increase the understanding of how new project de-velopment (NPD) projects can be evaluated in terms of methods and processes. Furthermore, it aims at scrutinizing the impacts of actors and structures on the evaluation process. Moreo-ver, it aims at identifying what challenges and trade-offs companies face when choosing eval-uation methods and organising processes for NPD project evaluation. Method: Qualitative multiple-case study of three large manufacturing companies in Sweden, with embedded design and influence from action research. Theoretical perspectives: Theories in financial project evaluation, project evaluation criteria, agency theory, portfolio management Empirical foundation: Semi-structures, in-depth interviews with a total of ten managers with different functions at the three case companies. Conclusions: Financial methods are essential for NPD project evaluation, but complementary criteria that consider the complexity of NPD projects are necessary to include. Portfolio man-agement can be used as a process to combine financial methods and complementary criteria. The impact of actors limits objectivity, but they provide important knowledge and experience. The structures serve as a cross-functional framework to guarantee the involvement of actors from different functions in the evaluation process. Companies face several challenges in rela-tion to NPD project evaluation and have to choose between using a comprehensible or sophis-ticated evaluation method, a common method or different methods, and the same set of crite-ria for all projects or use different sets for different types of projects

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and appetite control in offspring

Aims: Intrauterine exposure to tobacco smoke products has been associated with long-term neurobehavioral effects. Modified appetite control might explain the recently observed association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and obesity in offspring. Methods: Some 10,557 British adults aged 42 years born between 3-9 March 1958 were followed up in a birth cohort study (NCDS). The main outcome measure was self-reported poor appetite at age 42 years and main exposure was maternal smoking during pregnancy. Results: The proportion of offspring with poor appetite increased with maternal smoking during pregnancy: nonsmoking 4.5%; (4.0% - 5.0%), medium smoking 5.6%; (4.5 % - 6.8 %), variable smoking 6.8 %; (4.9 % - 9.1 %) and heavy smoking 7.7 %; (6.3 % - 9.4 %). The unadjusted odds ratios for maternal smoking during pregnancy (ever/never) and poor appetite is 1.49 (1.25 - 1.77) and after adjustment for BMI at 42 years and other potential confounding factors it is 1.22 (1.07 - 1.48). Conclusions: Offspring of mothers who smoked during pregnancy were more likely to report a poor appetite independent of a number of potential confounding factors. Although not in the expected direction, the results suggest maternal smoking during pregnancy may influence appetite perception through a developmental influence or through confounding by social factors

Effekt- och duglighetsprövning av bekämpningsmedel mot skadedjur 1974

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Maternal smoking during pregnancy, other prenatal and perinatal factors, and the risk of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

OBJECTIVE. The causes of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease are largely unknown, but this pediatric disease seems to result from interruption of the blood supply to the proximal femur and is considered a vascular disease. Because maternal smoking during pregnancy influences fetal development and is associated with cardiovascular diseases in offspring, we hypothesized that this exposure is a risk for Legg-Calvé- Perthes disease and also investigated other markers of impaired fetal development and early-life exposures. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The Swedish Inpatient Register identified 852 individuals with a diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease from 1983 to 2005, individually matched by year of birth, age, sex, and region of residence with 4432 randomly selected control subjects. Linkage with the Swedish Medical Birth Register provided information on prenatal factors, including maternal smoking. Conditional logistic regression examined associations of maternal smoking during pregnancy and the other measures with the risk of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in offspring, adjusted for socioeconomic index and other potential confounding factors. RESULTS. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with an increased Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease risk, and heavy smoking was associated with a risk increase of almost 100%. Very low birth weight and cesarean section were independently associated with ̃240% and 36% increases in the risk of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, respectively. CONCLUSION. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and other factors indicated by impaired fetal development may be associated with an increased risk of Legg-Calvé- Perthes disease