Evaluation of Box Type Paddy Dryers in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Indonesia is the third biggest paddy producing country worldwide with its annual production of around 54 million ton. South Sumatra Province has an annual paddy production of around 2.32 million ton. Paddy has high moisture content, up to 24%, when it is harvested. Moist paddy needs immediate drying after it is harvested to reduce its moisture content to 14% or less for milling or for safe storage, respectively. Sun drying of paddy has been practiced for years despite many problems associated with it. Different studies show that the post harvest loss of the paddy lies in between 10% and 37%, in which drying related losses might be from 1% up to 10%. Like in any other parts of the country, South Sumatra Province also has no commercial paddy drying systems in practice. In 2004, as a first prototype of such type, a box type paddy dryer with a rice husk burning oven was introduced in Upang village. Now there are already more than 30 box dryers installed in three neighbouring villages – Muliasari, Upang and Upangceria - where this study was carried out. The drying capacity of each dryer varies between 3.5 ton and 10 ton of harvested paddy. Although the widespread of dryers is rapid in these villages, none of the field experiments were carried out so far to evaluate their technical, economical and social performances. This study aimed to conduct the experiments on the selected dryers and to assess their technical performances at first. Three dryers were chosen for the experiments and altogether eight experiments were carried out. Parallel sun drying experiments were carried out for quality test of rice yielded from milling the paddy dried in box dryer and dried in sun drying. Based on the observed data, economic analysis of paddy drying considering two important stakeholders – investors and farmers is presented in this paper

Priority areas for watershed service conservation in the Guapi-Macacu region of Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

Introduction: Land use intensification and urbanisation processes are degrading hydrological ecosystem services in the Guapi-Macacu watershed of Rio de Janeiro. A proposal to pay farmers to restore natural watershed services might be an alternative to securing the water supply in the long-term for the around 2.5 million urban water users in the study region. This study quantifies the costs of changing current land use patterns to enhance watershed services and compares these costs to the avoided costs associated with water treatment for public supply. Methods: We use farm-household data to estimate the opportunity costs of abandoning current land uses for the recovery of natural vegetation; a process that is very likely to improve water quality in terms of turbidity due to reduced inputs from erosion. Opportunity cost estimates are extrapolated to the watershed scale based on remote sensing land use classifications and vulnerability analysis to identify priority zones for watershed management interventions. To assess the potential demand for watershed services, we analyse water quality and treatment cost data from the main local water treatment plant. Results: Changing agricultural land uses for watershed services provision generally comes at high opportunity costs in our study area near to the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro. Alternative low cost watershed conservation options do exist in the livestock production sector. These options have the potential to directly reduce the amount of sediments and nutrients reaching the water bodies, and in turn decrease the costs of treatment needed for drinking water. Land cover changes at the scale needed to improve water quality will, nonetheless, likely exceed the cost of additional investments in water treatment. Conclusions: The state water utility company?s willingness to pay for watershed services alone will not be enough to induce provision of additional watershed services. We conclude that monetary incentives conditioned on specific adjustments to existing production systems could still have a complementary role to play in improving watershed services. However, we note that our willingness to pay analysis focusses on only one of the potentially wide range of ecosystem services provided by natural vegetation in the Guapi-Macacu watershed. Factoring these ecosystem services into the willingness to pay equation is likely to change our assessment in favour of additional conservation action, be it through PES or other policy instruments

Towards cost-effective watershed management in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: valuing forest ecosystem services related to water quality in the Guapi-Macacu watershed.

The Brazilian Atlantic forest is considered a global biodiversity hotspot, harbouring a large number of endemic species, and providing essential watershed services to millions of urban water users. However, agricultural expansion and urban development have reduced the forest area to less than 8% of its original size. Multiple pressures on the Atlantic forest ecosystem continue. Payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes are increasingly proposed by local initiatives and supported by international cooperation to manage the trade‐offs among agricultural uses and watershed services in a cost‐effective manner. Studying the provision costs of as well as the demand for watershed services can help decision makers to evaluate the scope and economic feasibility of PES and alternative management options. The Guapi‐Macacu watershed in the state of Rio de Janeiro supplies water to 2.5 million inhabitants within five municipalities. Water resources are of utmost importance for agriculture and industries, such water bottle companies, breweries and the biggest Brazilian petrochemical complex COMPERJ. Our study concentrates on valuing watershed services in terms of controlling nutrient and sediment loads under different land use systems. Nutrient loads include Nitrogen and Phosphorus found in surface water, whereas sediment loads are measured in terms of turbidity and total solids. Replacement and avoided cost methods are applied focusing on the local water treatment facility to estimate demand for service maintenance and improvement. To provide empirical evidence of the link between land use/land cover and water quality indicators, we rely on water quality modelling and monitoring specifically adapted to this area. This takes place within the framework of the multi‐disciplinary German‐Brazilian cooperation project DINARIO/MP2. Spatial conservation opportunity cost analysis is used to study the costs of watershed services maintenance and improvement and derive implication for cost‐effective management on the basis of scenario analyses

Metodologia para priorização de áreas para intervenção no âmbito de PSA hídrico na bacia Guapi-Macacu, Rio de Janeiro.

Os Pagamentos por Serviços Ambientais (PSA) hídricos estão em expansão no Brasil e fornecem incentivos para a conservação dos recursos hídricos. Neste contexto surgem lacunas, sendo uma delas estabelecer critérios e métodos para seleção de áreas prioritárias à intervenção. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a integração dos mapas de vulnerabilidade dos recursos hídricos e de custo de oportunidade da terra visando apontar áreas prioritárias à conservação no âmbito de PSA Hídricos na bacia Guapi-Macacu. Inicialmente os métodos de Análise Custo-Benefício e Custo de Oportunidade da terra (CO) foram aplicados a partir de entrevistas aos produtores rurais. Na sequência, os resultados foram especializados, utilizando o mapa de uso e cobertura da terra da bacia (áreas agrícolas e de pastagem), sendo obtido o mapa de CO. Foi elaborado o mapa de vulnerabilidade dos recursos hídricos utilizando sistema de suporte à decisão espacial, modelo conceitual de Pressão/Estado/Resposta e ponderação dos temas por especialistas. O mapa de áreas prioritárias à intervenção foi obtido em SIG, a partir da sobreposição dos mapas de CO e de vulnerabilidade dos recursos hídricos. Obteve-se que sub-bacias com maior vulnerabilidade hídrica e com menores CO são as com maior prioridade em termos de intervenção no âmbito de um PSA hídrico

EXPLAIN Fragile-X: an explorative, longitudinal study on the characterization, treatment pathways, and patient-related outcomes of Fragile X Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by a mutation of the FMR1 gene on the X chromosome, is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. Comprehensive data are lacking, however, on the characteristics and management patients with FXS in Germany. METHODS/DESIGN: EXPLAIN is a prospective, observational, longitudinal registry with a non-probability sampling approach. It collects data on patient characteristics, therapeutic interventions, psychosocial parameters (including those of family members and caregivers), quality of life of caregiver and patient, caregiver burden, and health economic parameters, such as hospitalisation time. It is designed to include data from 300 patients in ambulatory care from about 50 centres that employ psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, and other relevant specialists, in Germany. The study was initiated in March, 2013. Patients will be followed for at least two years. DISCUSSION: The registry is expected to provide much-needed data on the characteristics and management of patients with FXS in Germany. It will also allow comparisons with other countries, and will enable gap analyses based on current guidelines for management of these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT01711606

Characterization, treatment patterns, and patient-related outcomes of patients with Fragile X syndrome in Germany: final results of the observational EXPLAIN-FXS study

BACKGROUND: As data on the phenotype, characteristics and management of patients with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) are limited, we aimed to collect such data in Germany in experienced centres involved in the treatment of such patients. METHODS: EXPLAIN-FXS is a prospective observational (non-interventional) study (registry) performed between April 2013 and January 2016 at 18 sites in Germany. Requirements for patient participation included confirmed diagnosis of FXS by genetic testing (>200 CGG repeats) and written informed consent. Patients were followed for up to 2 years. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients (84.0 % males, mean age 16.7 +/- 14.5 years, ranging from 2 - 82 years) were analysed. The mean 6-item score, determined according to Giangreco (J Pediatr 129:611-614, 1996), was 6.9 +/- 2.5 points. At least one neurological finding each was noted in 53 patients (69.7 %). Specifically, ataxia was noted in 5 patients (6.6 %), lack of fine motor skills in 40 patients, (52.6 %), muscle tonus disorder in 4 patients (5.3 %), and other neurological disorders in 39 patients (51.3 %). Spasticity was not noted in any patient. Seizures were reported in 6 patients (8.1 %), anxiety disorders in 22 patients (30.1 %), depression in 7 patients (9.6 %), ADHD/ADD in 36 patients (49.3 %), impairment of social behavior in 39 patients (53.4 %), and other comorbidities in 23 patients (31.5 %). The mean Aberrant Behaviour Checklist Community Edition (ABC-C) score on behavioral symptoms, obtained in 71 patients at first documentation, was 48.4 +/- 27.8 (median 45.0, range 5-115). The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score, obtained in 59 patients at first documentation, was 84.9 +/- 14.6 points (median 90; range 50 - 100). CONCLUSIONS: This report describes the largest cohort of patients with FXS in Europe. The reported observations indicate a substantial burden of disease for patients and their caregivers. Based on these observations, an early expert psychiatric diagnosis is recommended for suspected FXS patients. Further recommendations include multimodal and multi-professional management that is tailored to the individual patient's needs

Enhancing cost-effective watershed management in the brazilian Atlantic Forest by valuing forest ecosystem services linked to water quality in the Guapi-Macacu watershed.

The Guapi-Macacu watershed is located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, has a drainage area of about 1.640 km2, and drains into the Guanabara Bay northeast of the metropolitan area. The upper catchment in the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range is covered by dense old-growth forest of high biological diversity, while pastures and agricultural land dominate in the lower catchment. Apart from its outstanding biological value, the watershed provides crucial services including water supply to 2.5 million inhabitants in five municipalities. Nevertheless, forests and soils in the lower watershed are highly degraded due to the expansion of the agricultural frontier, overexploitation, and suburbanisation processes. Several pressures on this ecosystem persist. Therefore payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes are proposed by local initiatives and supported by international organizations as a suitable instrument to deal with the trade-offs between agricultural use and watershed services in a cost-effective manner. Studying the provision costs of and the demand for watershed services can support decision making process to evaluate the scope and economic feasibility of PES and alternative management options. Water resources in the watershed are of extreme importance for agriculture and also for industries, such as water bottle companies, breweries and the biggest Brazilian petrochemical complex, COMPERJ. Our study concentrates on calculating the opportunity costs related to the provision of watershed services under varying land use systems and evaluating the feasibility of PES related aspects, such as preserving or recovering forest areas and integrating good agricultural practices. Watershed services are valued in terms of controlling nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus in surface water) and sediment loads (measured in terms of turbidity and total solids). Replacement and avoided cost methods are applied focusing on the local water treatment facility to estimate demand for service maintenance and improvement. To provide empirical evidence of the link between land use and water quality indicators, we rely on water quality modelling and monitoring specifically adapted to this area. Spatial conservation opportunity cost analysis is used to study the costs of watershed services maintenance and improvement and derive implication for cost-effective management on the basis of scenario analyses. The research activities take place within the framework of the multi-disciplinary German-Brazilian cooperation project DINARIO/MP2

Twenty-million-year relationship between mammalian diversity and primary productivity

At global and regional scales, primary productivity strongly correlates with richness patterns of extant animals across space, suggesting that resource availability and climatic conditions drive patterns of diversity. However, the existence and consistency of such diversity–productivity relationships through geological history is unclear. Here we provide a comprehensive quantitative test of the diversity–productivity relationship for terrestrial large mammals through time across broad temporal and spatial scales. We combine >14,000 occurrences for 690 fossil genera through the Neogene (23–1.8 Mya) with regional estimates of primary productivity from fossil plant communities in North America and Europe. We show a significant positive diversity–productivity relationship through the 20-million-year record, providing evidence on unprecedented spatial and temporal scales that this relationship is a general pattern in the ecology and paleo-ecology of our planet. Further, we discover that genus richness today does not match the fossil relationship, suggesting that a combination of human impacts and Pleistocene climate variability has modified the 20-million-year ecological relationship by strongly reducing primary productivity and driving many mammalian species into decline or to extinction

Perfil dos sistemas de produção agropecuária: uma visão do produtor rural na sub-bacia de Batatal em Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.

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