Thermal stability of soil organic matter responds to long-term fertilization practices

International audienceWe used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to infer thermal properties of soil organic matter (SOM) in the static fertilization experiment in Bad Lauchstädt, Germany, which has been established in 1902. Four treatments (null N, change from null to manuring in 1978 NM, change from manuring to null in 1978 MN, and permanent manure and mineral fertilization since 1902 M) were sampled in 2004. Soil organic carbon contents were highest for M (2.4%), lowest for N (1.7%), and similar for MN and NM (2.2%). DSC thermograms were characterized by three peaks at around 354, 430, and 520°C, which were assigned to as thermally labile and stable SOM and combustion residues from lignite, respectively. DSC peak temperatures were relatively constant among treatments, but peak heights normalized to the organic C content of the soil were significantly different for labile and stable SOM. Labile C was higher for M>MN=NM=N, and stable C decreased in the order N=NM>MN=M, showing that agricultural depletion of SOM increases the share of thermally stable C. Lignite-derived C was not affected by management, suggesting a homogeneous deposition across treatments

Thermal stability responses of soil organic matter to long-term fertilization practices

International audienceWe used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to infer thermal properties of soil organic matter (SOM) in the static fertilization experiment in Bad Lauchstädt, Germany, which has been established in 1902. Four treatments (null N, change from null to manuring in 1978 NM, change from manuring to null in 1978 MN, and permanent manure and mineral fertilization since 1902 M) were sampled in 2004. Soil organic carbon contents were highest for M (2.4%), lowest for N (1.7%), and similar for MN and NM (2.2%). Three heat flow peaks at around 354°C, 430°C, and 520°C, which were assigned to as thermally labile and stable SOM and combustion residues from lignite, respectively, characterized DSC thermograms. DSC peak temperatures were relatively constant among treatments, but peak heights normalized to the organic C content of the soil were significantly different for labile and stable SOM. Labile C was higher for M>MN=NM=N, and stable C decreased in the order N=NM>MN=M, showing that agricultural depletion of SOM increases the share of thermally stable C. Lignite-derived C was not affected by management, suggesting a homogeneous deposition across treatments

Comparison of governance approaches for the control of antimicrobial resistance: Analysis of three European countries

Policy makers and governments are calling for coordination to address the crisis emerging from the ineffectiveness of current antibiotics and stagnated pipe-line of new ones – antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Wider contextual drivers and mechanisms are contributing to shifts in governance strategies in health care, but are national health system approaches aligned with strategies required to tackle antimicrobial resistance? This article provides an analysis of governance approaches within healthcare systems including: priority setting, performance monitoring and accountability for AMR prevention in three European countries: England, France and Germany. Advantages and unresolved issues from these different experiences are reported, concluding that mechanisms are needed to support partnerships between healthcare professionals and patients with democratized decision-making and accountability via collaboration. But along with this multi-stakeholder approach to governance, a balance between regulation and persuasion is needed

Ensemble modelling, uncertainty and robust predictions of organic carbon in long-term bare-fallow soils

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was supported by the project “C and N models inter-comparison and improvement to assess management options for GHG mitigation in agro-systems worldwide” (CN-MIP, 2014- 2017), which received funding by a multi-partner call on agricultural greenhouse gas research of the Joint Programming Initiative ‘FACCE’ through national financing bodies. S. Recous, R. Farina, L. Brilli, G. Bellocchi and L. Bechini received mobility funding by way of the French Italian GALILEO programme (CLIMSOC project). The authors acknowledge particularly the data holders for the Long Term Bare-Fallows, who made their data available and provided additional information on the sites: V. Romanenkov, B.T. Christensen, T. Kätterer, S. Houot, F. van Oort, A. Mc Donald, as well as P. Barré. The input of B. Guenet and C. Chenu contributes to the ANR “Investissements d’avenir” programme with the reference CLAND ANR-16-CONV-0003. The input of P. Smith and C. Chenu contributes to the CIRCASA project, which received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no 774378 and the projects: DEVIL (NE/M021327/1) and Soils‐R‐GRREAT (NE/P019455/1). The input of B. Grant and W. Smith was funded by Science and Technology Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, under the scope of project J-001793. The input of A. Taghizadeh-Toosi was funded by Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark as part of the SINKS2 project. The input of M. Abdalla contributes to the SUPER-G project, which received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no 774124.Peer reviewedPostprin

Dietary and other lifestyle characteristics of Cypriot school children: results from the nationwide CYKIDS study

Dietary and lifestyle behaviors at young ages have been associated with the development of various chronic diseases. Schools are regarded as an excellent setting for lifestyle modification; there is a lack, however, of published dietary data in Cypriot school children. Thus, the objective of this work was to describe lifestyle characteristics of a representative segment of Cypriot school children and provide implications for school health education. Methods. The CYKIDS (Cyprus Kids Study) is a national, cross-sectional study conducted among 1140 school children (10.7 0.98 years). Sampling was stratified and multistage in 24 primary schools of Cyprus. Dietary assessment was based on a 154-item semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire and three supplementary questionnaires, assessing dietary patterns and behaviors. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated by the KIDMED index (Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents). Physical activity was assessed by a 32-item, semi-quantitative questionnaire. Results. Analysis revealed that 6.7% of the children were classified as high adherers, whereas 37% as low adherers to the Mediterranean diet. About 20% of boys and 25% of girls reported "not having breakfast on most days of the week", while more than 80% of the children reported having meals with the family at least 5 times/week. Some food-related behaviors, such as intake of breakfast, were associated with socio-demographic factors, mostly with gender and the geomorphological characteristics of the living milieu. With respect to physical activity, boys reported higher levels compared to girls, however, one fourth of children did not report any kind of physical activity. Conclusion. A large percentage of Cypriot school children have a diet of low quality and inadequate physical activity. Public health policy makers should urgently focus their attention to primary school children and design school health education programs that target the areas that need attention in order to reduce the future burden of metabolic disorders and chronic diseases