Europe's Brazil? How Ukraine could transform Europe's role in global food supply

Ukraine is an untapped asset. It presents opportunities both nationally and for Europe as an engine of foreign policy in a century troubled by climate change and resources scarcity. Its 32 million ha of arable could easily become 40 million ha which would add 25% of new cropland to the European Union - from 160 million to 200 million ha - making Europe the world’s largest agricultural producer. And 65% of Ukraine is Chernozem: the best soil in the world for the arable crops that are crucial to water-short economies in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and, moreover, mainstay of the global corporate food regime. 'Wheat is the currency of currencies'. Although most global breadbaskets are closed or constrained by climate change, Ukraine is an empty country endowed with fertile soil. Clever investment in AI-driven, post-human farming could create a new future: in any case, the minefields and war damage offer no alternative

Methods of Administering Superimposed High-Frequency Jet Ventilation and the Associated Risk for Aspiration in a Model of Tracheal Bleeding

Background: To determine the suitability of different superimposed high-frequency jet ventilation (SHFJV) application methods during tracheal bleeding. Objective: To determine the effect of SHFJV on the aspiration of blood during tracheal bleeding. Methods: A test lung was ventilated using SHFJV via a rigid endoscope, a jet laryngoscope and a 4-lumen jet catheter. Packed red blood cells (PRBCs) were injected into the artificial trachea caudally to the rigid endoscope and jet laryngoscope ventilation, and both caudally and cranially during ventilation via the 4-lumen jet catheter, and the migration of PRBCs during ventilation was studied using continuous video recording. Results: Migration of blood into the lower respiratory tract did not occur during SHFJV via the rigid endoscope and jet laryngoscope and via the 4-lumen jet catheter with the bleeding caudal to ventilation source. If the bleeding was cranial to the 4-lumen jet catheter ventilation, migration of blood into the lower respiratory tract was seen when reflux of blood reached the entrainment area. From this area, blood is transported within the jet stream into the lower respiratory tract. Conclusions: SHFJV protects the lower respiratory tract from blood aspiration in case of tracheal bleeding. During SHFJV via the 4-lumen jet catheter, aspiration of blood only occurs if bleeding is localized cranial to the 4-lumen jet catheter ventilation. In case of heavy tracheal bleeding, the jet sources should be positioned cranial to the site of bleeding

Do Modernity and Traditionality Exist in Chinese Americans?

American researchers have not clearly conceptualized nor quantified whether traditionality and modernity exist in the United States despite these constructs being psychological variables investigated in China and Taiwan. The article first begins with delineating the conceptual and measurement barriers when quantifying traditionality and modernity in previous empirical literature. Next a project is discussed that measured these two constructs through developing a quantitative scale for Chinese-Americans measuring traditionality and modernity. A 46-item scale was given to 172 self-identified Chinese-Americans after items were constructed through review by two panel of experts as well as presented at state, regional and international conferences. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using maximum likelihood with a promax rotation yielded a five factor structure with 21 items. The five factor structure included themes of Family Relationships, Family Gender Roles, Indigenous Spiritual Practices, Image Management and Cultural Adherence. The new themes presenting the conceptualization of these two constructs are discussed along with an analysis of how the scale items further elucidate traditionality and modernity

Abrasive Waterjet Turning of High Performance Materials

AbstractThe cutting of high performance materials requires specific machine tools and cutting tools. The wear resistance of cutting tools is important for turning of hypereutectic aluminium silicon or titanium aluminide alloys. Abrasive waterjet turning has been shown to be a suitable cutting process for these challenging materials. The tool life time of at least 10hours combined with a material removal rate of up to 0.8cm3/min and low process temperatures give this cutting technology a very high potential. Furthermore the material close to the cutting surface is less modified compared to conventional rough turning. The same effects are of particular interest with regard to the functional capability of waterjet turned γ-TiAl-alloys

Soil pH mapping with an on-the-go sensor

Soil pH is a key parameter for crop productivity, therefore, its spatial variation should be adequately addressed to improve precision management decisions. Recently, the Veris pH ManagerTM, a sensor for high-resolution mapping of soil pH at the field scale, has been made commercially available in the US. While driving over the field, soil pH is measured on-the-go directly within the soil by ion selective antimony electrodes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Veris pH ManagerTM under farming conditions in Germany. Sensor readings were compared with data obtained by standard protocols of soil pH assessment. Experiments took place under different scenarios: (a) controlled tests in the lab, (b) semicontrolled test on transects in a stop-and-go mode, and (c) tests under practical conditions in the field with the sensor working in its typical on-the-go mode. Accuracy issues, problems, options, and potential benefits of the Veris pH ManagerTM were addressed. The tests demonstrated a high degree of linearity between standard laboratory values and sensor readings. Under practical conditions in the field (scenario c), the measure of fit (r2) for the regression between the on-the-go measurements and the reference data was 0.71, 0.63, and 0.84, respectively. Field-specific calibration was necessary to reduce systematic errors. Accuracy of the on-the-go maps was considerably higher compared with the pH maps obtained by following the standard protocols, and the error in calculating lime requirements was reduced by about one half. However, the system showed some weaknesses due to blockage by residual straw and weed roots. If these problems were solved, the on-the-go sensor investigated here could be an efficient alternative to standard sampling protocols as a basis for liming in Germany