Predicting poverty trends by survey-to-survey imputation: The challenge of comparability

Poverty in low-income countries is usually measured using large and infrequent household consumption surveys. The challenge is to find methods to measure poverty rates more frequently. This study validates a survey-to-survey imputation method, based on a statistical model utilizing consumption surveys and light surveys to measure changes in poverty rates over time. A decade of poverty predictions and regular poverty estimates in Malawi provides a unique case study. The analysis suggests that this modelling approach works within the same context given that households’ demographic composition is included in the model. Predicting poverty using different surveys is challenging because of different aspects of comparability. A new way to account for seasonal coverage strengthens the model when imputing for surveys covering different seasons. It is important for national statistics offices and supporting agencies to prioritize maintaining consistency in the way data are collected in surveys to provide comparable trends over time.publishedVersio

Combining cutting and herbicide application for Ambrosia artemisiifolia control

The effect on Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) of combining cutting and herbicide application was studied in pot experiments in Germany and Denmark in 2013. Single plants of common ragweed were established in 2 L pots in glasshouses. Two cutting treatments were conducted: cutting to 10 cm height at the beginning of male budding (BBCH 51-59) and no cutting. Clopyralid (in Germany: Lontrel 600, in Denmark: Matrigon), mesotrione (in Germany and Denmark: Callisto) and glyphosate (in Germany: Clinic, in Denmark: Roundup Bio) were applied at 4 doses at three different timings: on the day of cutting, one week and two weeks after cutting. The plants were harvested 5 weeks after the last herbicide application. At both sites clopyralid and mesotrione had a low efficacy on common ragweed when applied on developed plants with only minor differences in efficacy at the three timings. Application after cutting improved the efficacy of clopyralid at both sites and of mesotrione in Denmark. In Germany glyphosate had a higher efficacy on noncut plants in comparison to the cut plants, in Denmark it was vice versa. The highest dose of glyphosate provided higher control levels on developed plants than clopyralid and mesotrione at both sites. In Denmark the highest effects were obtained shortly after cutting with the maximum dose of each herbicide and declined with time between cutting and herbicide application. In summary the results demonstrated that herbicides can be applied shortly after cutting without loss of efficacy.Kombination von Herbizidapplikation und Schneiden zur Bekämpfung von Ambrosia artemisiifoliaIn Deutschland und Dänemark wurde in Gewächshausversuchen die Kombinationswirkung von Herbizid und Schnitt auf Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Beifußblättrige-Ambrosie) untersucht. Einzelpflanzen der Beifußblättrigen- Ambrosie wurden in 2 L Gefäßen im Gewächshaus angezogen. Zwei Schnittvarianten wurden durchgeführt: Schnitt der Pflanzen auf 10 cm Höhe zum Beginn der männlichen Blüte (BBCH 51-59) und kein Schnitt. Clopyralid (in Deutschland: Lontrel 600, in Dänemark: Matrigon), Mesotrione (in Deutschland und Dänemark: Callisto) und Glyphosat (in Deutschland: Clinic, in Dänemark: Roundup Bio) wurden mit 4 Dosierungen zu drei verschiedenen Zeitpunkten ausgebracht: am Tag des Schneidens, eine Woche und zwei Wochen nach dem Schnitt. Die Ernte der gesamten Pflanze fand 5 Wochen nach der letzten Herbizidapplikation statt. An beiden Standorten hatten Clopyralid und Mesotrione eine geringere Wirkung auf die ungeschnittenen Pflanzen, ungeachtet des Applikationszeitpunktes. Die Herbizidausbringung nach erfolgtem Schnitt verbesserte die Wirkung von Clopyralid an beiden Standorten und von Mesotrione in Dänemark. In Deutschland war die Wirkung von Glyphosat auf die ungeschnittenen Pflanzen besser als auf die geschnittenen, am dänischen Standort war es umgekehrt. Glyphosat mit der maximalen Dosis hatte an beiden Standorten eine bessere Wirkung auf ältere Pflanzen als Clopyralid und Mesotrione. In Dänemark wurde die höchste Wirkung kurz nach dem Schnitt mit der maximalen Dosis und jedem Herbizid erreicht, diese Wirkung nahm ab, je später die Herbizidapplikation nach dem Schnitt erfolgte. Zusammenfassend lässt sich festhalten, dass die angewendeten Herbizide kurz nach dem Schnitt ausgebracht werden können, ohne dass ein Wirkungsverlust zu verzeichnen ist

Spatial Modelling of Within-Field Weed Populations - a Review

Concerns around herbicide resistance, human risk, and the environmental impacts of current weed control strategies have led to an increasing demand for alternative weed management methods. Many new weed management strategies are under development; however, the poor availability of accurate weed maps, and a lack of confidence in the outcomes of alternative weed management strategies, has hindered their adoption. Developments in field sampling and processing, combined with spatial modelling, can support the implementation and assessment of new and more integrated weed management strategies. Our review focuses on the biological and mathematical aspects of assembling within-field weed models. We describe both static and spatio-temporal models of within-field weed distributions (including both cellular automata (CA) and non-CA models), discussing issues surrounding the spatial processes of weed dispersal and competition and the environmental and anthropogenic processes that affect weed spatial and spatio-temporal distributions. We also examine issues surrounding model uncertainty. By reviewing the current state-of-the-art in both static and temporally dynamic weed spatial modelling we highlight some of the strengths and weaknesses of current techniques, together with current and emerging areas of interest for the application of spatial models, including targeted weed treatments, economic analysis, herbicide resistance and integrated weed management, the dispersal of biocontrol agents, and invasive weed species

RELEVANCE VERSUS RIGOR IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH: AN ISSUE OF QUALITY

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Effects of Renal Denervation on Insulin Sensitivity and Inflammatory Markers in Nondiabetic Patients with Treatment-Resistant Hypertension

Increased sympathetic activity is important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and insulin resistance. Afferent signaling from the kidneys elevates the central sympathetic drive. We investigated the effect of catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on glucose metabolism, inflammatory markers, and blood pressure in nondiabetic patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. Eight subjects were included in an open-labelled study. Each patient was studied before and 6 months after RDN. Endogenous glucose production was assessed by a 3-3H glucose tracer, insulin sensitivity was examined by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, hormones and inflammatory markers were analyzed, and blood pressure was measured by office blood pressure readings and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Insulin sensitivity (M-value) increased nonsignificantly from 2.68 ± 0.28 to 3.07 ± 0.41 (p=0.12). A significant inverse correlation between the increase in M-value and BMI 6 months after RDN (p=0.03) was found, suggesting beneficial effects on leaner subjects. Blood pressure decreased significantly, but there were no changes in hormones, inflammatory markers, or endogenous glucose production. Our results indicate that RDN may improve insulin sensitivity in some patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, albeit confirmation of these indications of beneficial effects on leaner subjects awaits the outcome of larger randomized controlled studies

RELEVANCE VERSUS RIGOR IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH: AN ISSUE OF QUALITY

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Fission yeast 26S proteasome mutants are multi-drug resistant due to stabilization of the pap1 transcription factor

Here we report the result of a genetic screen for mutants resistant to the microtubule poison methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) that were also temperature sensitive for growth. In total the isolated mutants were distributed in ten complementation groups. Cloning experiments revealed that most of the mutants were in essential genes encoding various 26S proteasome subunits. We found that the proteasome mutants are multi-drug resistant due to stabilization of the stress-activated transcription factor Pap1. We show that the ubiquitylation and ultimately the degradation of Pap1 depend on the Rhp6/Ubc2 E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme and the Ubr1 E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. Accordingly, mutants lacking Rhp6 or Ubr1 display drug-resistant phenotypes