Energy Consumption, Carbon Emissions and Global Warming Potential of Wolfberry Production in Jingtai Oasis, Gansu Province, China

During the last decade, China's agro-food production has increased rapidly and been accompanied by the challenge of increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental pollutants from fertilizers, pesticides, and intensive energy use. Understanding the energy use and environmental impacts of crop production will help identify environmentally damaging hotspots of agro-production, allowing environmental impacts to be assessed and crop management strategies optimized. Conventional farming has been widely employed in wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) cultivation in China, which is an important cash tree crop not only for the rural economy but also from an ecological standpoint. Energy use and global warming potential (GWP) were investigated in a wolfberry production system in the Yellow River irrigated Jingtai region of Gansu. In total, 52 household farms were randomly selected to conduct the investigation using questionnaires. Total energy input and output were 321,800.73 and 166,888.80 MJ ha−1, respectively, in the production system. The highest share of energy inputs was found to be electricity consumption for lifting irrigation water, accounting for 68.52%, followed by chemical fertilizer application (11.37%). Energy use efficiency was 0.52 when considering both fruit and pruned wood. Nonrenewable energy use (88.52%) was far larger than the renewable energy input. The share of GWP of different inputs were 64.52% electricity, 27.72% nitrogen (N) fertilizer, 5.07% phosphate, 2.32% diesel, and 0.37% potassium, respectively. The highest share was related to electricity consumption for irrigation, followed by N fertilizer use. Total GWP in the wolfberry planting system was 26,018.64 kg CO2 eq ha−1 and the share of CO2, N2O, and CH4 were 99.47%, 0.48%, and negligible respectively with CO2 being dominant. Pathways for reducing energy use and GHG emission mitigation include: conversion to low carbon farming to establish a sustainable and cleaner production system with options of raising water use efficiency by adopting a seasonal gradient water pricing system and advanced irrigation techniques; reducing synthetic fertilizer use; and policy support: smallholder farmland transfer (concentration) for scale production, credit (small- and low-interest credit) and tax breaks

Analyzing the Effects of the Platform-Switching Procedure on Stresses in the Bone and Implant-Abutment Complex by 3-Dimensional Fem Analysis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 2 different abutment types on the stress distribution in pen-implant bone and within the implant-abutment complex using 3-dimensional finite element analysis. A simple cylindrical implant (4 x 11 mm) was used in this study for efficacy calculation. One model simulated a 4.00-mm-diameter abutment connection, and the other was narrower, using a 3.2-mm-diameter abutment connection assuming a platform-switching configuration. The stress level in the cervical bone area at the implant was greatly reduced when the narrow-diameter abutment was connected compared with the regular-sized one, despite the fact that the stress level in the implant-abutment complex was increased. The results obtained in the platform-switching model can contribute to reduce the stress level at the implant-bone interface area. Results from this study showed the platform-switching procedure has the biomechanical advantage of shifting the stress concentration area away from the cervical bone-implant interface. The disadvantage of the configuration is the increasing stress in the abutment and implant-abutment junction

ANALYSIS OF WELFARE EFFECTS OF SUPPORT PURCHASE AND DEFICIENCY PAYM

Abstract: The aim of this study is to compare the welfare effects of support purchase policy implication with deficiency payment system on Turkey's hazelnut sector point of view of budget cost, effects on production, consumption and foreign trade, producer gain or loss, consumer gain or loss, and net social welfare. Partial Equilibrium Model was used in the study while making analysis. Research findings show that supporting purchase can be prefered to deficiency payment when budget cost is considered. On the other hand, deficiency payment have more advantage than the support purchase in terms of net social welfare

Factors affecting preference for homemade or manufactured yoghurt consumption in Turkey

Yoghurt is a basic food that can be enjoyed by people of all age groups for a healthy life. Yoghurt is known and consumed all over the world. However, its consumption can be traced back to very early times in Turkey. Both homemade and manufactured yoghurts are consumed in Turkey. Average yearly yoghurt consumption in Turkey is about 17.6 kg/capita. Spending on yoghurt constitutes 2.8% of total household food expenses. The aim of this study was to analyse socio-economical factors that affect homemade or manufactured yoghurt consumption of households. Data from a questionnaire conducted on 302 families living in Tokat Province of Turkey in 2005 were used. Data were analysed using binomial logit model. Of the variables used in the model, household income, work status of woman and number of elderly people in the household were significant in affecting the preference for homemade or manufactured yoghurt consumption. It was concluded that governments should make decisions to promote yoghurt manufacturing having better hygienic conditions and to facilitate the production of reasonably cheaper yoghurt

Energy balance and cost analysis for raisin production in Aegean Region in Turkey

The aim of this study is to determine energy consumption of input and output used in raisin production and making a cost analysis in Aegean Region. Energy output-input analysis is generally done to determine the scope of environment and energy efficiency of agricultural production. In this study the cost of raisin production was calculated by Manisa Viticulture Research Institute's records in 2015. Costs of inputs and prices of raisin were obtained from various sources such as Turkish Statistical Institute, Aegean Exporters' Association and Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. The total energy input necessity for raisin production was 39,066.91 MJ/ha. The research results indicated that the total energy input used for raisin was mainly dependent on non-renewable energy forms (%97). The high ratio of non-renewable energy in the total used energy inputs causes negative effects on the sustainability in agricultural production. Among input energy sources, diesel oil, chemical fertilizers and electricity contained highest energy shares with 34.30%, 26.96%, and 22.50% respectively. The energy ratio and energy productivity were found to be 6.04 and 0.51 kg/MJ. Gross production value and total variable costs for raisin were $8,600 and$ 4,528.25, respectively. As a result of cost analysis, gross margin was calculated as $ 4,071.75

Prevalence of Bruxism Awareness In Istanbul, Turkey

The reported prevalence of symptoms related to bruxism varies in the general population because of different investigative methodologies, operational definitions, clinical criteria, and samples of population. Awareness of bruxism in the general population is 15% to 23%, however, this rate increases to 50% to 90% in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported symptoms associated with bruxism in Istanbul, Turkey and to analyze the correlation between bruxism and factors such as age, gender, marital status, and occupation. Seven-hundred-ninety-five (795) adult subjects who resided in the city of Istanbul were interviewed by telephone about their age, gender, marital status, occupation, and description of the prevalence of bruxism awareness. The overall prevalence of clenching teeth was 45.7% and that of grinding teeth was 21.6%. Women responded positively to the questions more often than men. The data showed significant differences between males and females, regarding clenching teeth OR: 1.41 (95%CI: 1.05-1.87), difficulty opening OR: 2.64 (95% CI: 1.63-4.26), headache on awakening OR: 2.28 (95% CI: 1.58-3.27) joint sounds OR: 1.72 (95% CI: 1.24-2.38), sore on awakening OR: 2.97 (95% CI: 1.91-4.61), influence in daily activity (OR: 2.26 CI: 1.38-3.67). Tooth wear in the married group was higher than the single group. Age distribution showed significant differences related to grinding teeth, tooth wear and joint sounds. There were statistically significant differences between bruxism and job categories. As a conclusion, this study suggest an association between bruxism and stressful events such as marital status and job problems

Economic analysis of agricultural enterprises in Turkey according to their level of success Análise econômica de empresas agrícolas na Turquia de acordo com seu nível de sucesso

In this study, agricultural enterprises in Turhal, Tokat were grouped based on their degree of success, their structural characteristics have been identified and their outcomes of activities discussed. The objective of the study was to determine the aspects that render successful agricultural enterprises different from other agricultural enterprises. The point to be achieved through the study is to assist agricultural enterprises with a more effective utilization of existing means in order to help them to develop. Data has been collected from 71 agricultural enterprises, which have been determined by Neyman's Method that is a stratified sampling method, via questionnaires. The Criterion of Agricultural Income Per Enterprise Land Decar has been applied for the classification of the enterprises according to their level of success. When the agricultural income was sufficiently examined in the enterprises, moderate successful and unsuccessful enterprises cannot obtain agricultural income to meet family labor force cost. Their agricultural level is quite below the sum of the family labour wage equivalent and the real interest of the equivalent capital. Therefore, the agricultural income of the examined enterprises is considered insufficient. The rate of the net product to the active capital is 3.45% in successful enterprises, 0.57% in those with moderate success, and for the unsuccessful ones, it has a negative value of -2.22%. This ratio for successful enterprises is close to 5%. Accordingly, the successful enterprises work more efficiently in comparison to the other enterprise groups.<br>Neste estudo, empresas agrícolas de Turhal, Tokat foram agrupadas com base em seu grau de sucesso, suas características foram identificadas e seus resultados de atividades discutidos. O objetivo do estudo é determinar os aspectos que diferenciam empresas agrícolas de sucesso das demais. O ponto a ser alcançado pelo estudo é assistir as empresas agrícolas com um uso mais efetivo. O ponto a ser alcançado pelo estudo é assistir as empresas agrícolas com um uso mais efetivo dos meios existentes, para ajudar a desenvolvê-las. Foram utilizados dados de 71 empresas selecionadas pelo método estratificado de Neyman, através de questionários. O "Criterion of Agricultural Income Per Interprise Land Decar" foi aplicado para a classificação em relação ao nível de sucesso. Quando a renda agrícola foi suficientemente examinada, as empresas de sucesso moderado e as sem sucesso não podem obter renda agrícola suficiente para atender ao custo do trabalho familiar. Seu nível agrícola está muito abaixo da soma dos salários familiares e do juro real do capital equivalente. Por isso, a renda agrícola das empresas examinadas é considerada insuficiente. A relação entre o produto líquido e o capital ativo é 3,45% nas empresas de sucesso, 0,57% nas de moderado sucesso e -2,22% nas sem sucesso. Nesta relação, o limite do juro normal é de 5% para empresas de sucesso. Assim, empresas de sucesso trabalham mais eficientemente em comparação a outros grupos empresarias