An Analysis of Alternative Maize Marketing Policies in South Africa

The maize-oriented agricultural economies throughout Southern Africa are in fundamental transition. Increased recognition of the costs of historical controls on pricing and marketing already has led to partial maize market liberalization in several countries in the region. However, there is still intense debate over the appropriate scope and implementation of future food market reform. Much of the debate derives from uncertainty over the consequences of comprehensive and politically risky changes to domestic markets, especially at a time when regional market conditions are also in flux due to agricultural restructuring in neighboring countries. There is currently little information on the direction and magnitude of grain trade between South Africa, Zimbabwe, and other countries in the region under a deregulated external trading environment. There is also a lack of information on the regional consequences of alternative domestic maize policy scenarios currently under deliberation in South Africa. The purpose of this research is fourfold. First, we consider the role of food market reform in affecting future economic growth and food security in South Africa, and discuss the congruence between the government's food policy objectives and the existing marketing and pricing system. Second, trends in maize production, trade, prices and marketing costs in South Africa and Zimbabwe, the two largest maize traders in the region, are presented. Third, we present four alternative maize policy scenarios in South Africa, and then estimate their effects on maize production, gross revenues, consumer prices, and trade flows under various weather and pricing scenarios in Zimbabwe. A comparison of results across four policy scenarios clarifies the gainers, losers, and extent of income transfers between various regions and socio-economic groups within each region. The final section identifies means by which national food policy objectives in South Africa may be more cost-effectively achieved through harmonization of policies between South Africa and its regional neighbors.food security, food policy, maize market, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing, Q13,

Fluvastatin in the therapy of acute coronary syndrome: Rationale and design of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (The FACS Trial)[ISRCTN81331696]

BACKGROUND: Activation of inflammatory pathways plays an important contributory role in coronary plaque instability and subsequent rupture, which can lead to the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Elevated levels of serum inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) represent independent risk factors for further cardiovascular events. Recent evidence indicates that in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, statins also decrease levels of inflammatory markers. Previous controlled clinical trials reporting the positive effects of statins in participants with ACS were designed for very early secondary prevention. To our knowledge, no controlled trials have evaluated the potential benefits of statin therapy, beginning immediately at the time of hospital admission. A previous pilot study performed by our group focused on early initiation of cerivastatin therapy. We demonstrated a highly significant reduction in levels of inflammatory markers (CRP and interleukin-6). Based on these preliminary findings, we are conducting a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of another statin, fluvastatin, as an early intervention in patients with ACS. METHODS: The FACS-trial (Fluvastatin in the therapy of Acute Coronary Syndrome) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of fluvastatin therapy initiated at the time of hospital admission. The study will enroll 1,000 participants admitted to hospital for ACS (both with and without ST elevation). The primary endpoint for the study is the influence of fluvastatin therapy on levels of inflammatory markers (CRP and interleukin-6) and on pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A). A combined secondary endpoint is 30-day and one-year occurrence of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, recurrent symptomatic ischemia, urgent revascularization, and cardiac arrest. CONCLUSION: The primary objective of the FACS trial is to demonstrate that statin therapy, when started immediately after hospital admission for ACS, results in reduction of inflammation and improvement of prognosis. This study may contribute to new knowledge regarding therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from ACS and may offer additional clinical indications for the use of statins

Fluvastatin in the first-line therapy of acute coronary syndrome: results of the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (the FACS-trial)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Statins have been proved to be effective in reduction of mortality and morbidity when started in the early secondary prevention in stabilized patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The safety and efficacy of statin administration directly in the first-line therapy in unstable ACS patients is not clear. The aim of our study was, therefore, to assess the effect of statin treatment initiated immediately at hospital admission of patients with ACS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The trial was stopped prematurely after enrollment of one hundred and fifty-six patients with ACS that were randomized at admission to fluvastatin 80 mg (N = 78) or placebo (N = 78). Study medication was administered immediately after randomization and then once daily for 30 days; all patients were then encouraged to continue in open-label statin therapy and at the end of one-year follow-up 75% in the fluvastatin group and 78% in the placebo group were on statin therapy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We did not demonstrate any difference between groups in the level of C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A on Day 2 and Day 30 (primary endpoint). Fluvastatin-therapy, however, significantly reduced one-year occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (11.5% vs. 24.4%, odds ratio (OR) 0.40, 95% CI 0.17-0.95, P = 0.038). This difference was caused mainly by reduction of recurrent symptomatic ischemia (7.7% vs. 20.5%, OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12-0.88, P = 0.037).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study failed to prove the effect of fluvastatin given as first-line therapy of ACS on serum markers of inflammation and plaque instability. Fluvastatin therapy was, however, safe and it may reduce cardiovascular event rate that supports immediate use of a statin in patients admitted for ACS.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00171275</p

First record of the pathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu, and Soper (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) within an outbreak populations of Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in Croatia

Background and Purpose: The last wave of a gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) outbreak in Croatia and recent discoveries of its fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga in eastern neighboring countries focused the attention of researchers on the possible presence of this pathogen in local gypsy moth populations. Since the first introduction of E. maimaiga in Bulgaria in 1999, several southeastern European countries confirmed its presence in subsequent years. One unchecked report made by a local forester "of dramatically high mortality in gypsy moth larvae at one locality at the easternmost part of Croatia in early summer 2012" raised the interest in whether E. maimaiga occurred in Croatia even higher. In spring 2013, the gypsy moth outbreak area grew even larger. Large areas were aerially sprayed with a Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki-based bacterial insecticide and larval development was closely inspected in the field. One of the tasks was to check on the possible presence of E. maimaiga in gypsy moth populations in Croatia, and these results are presented here. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted during June and July 2013 throughout the Eastern part of Croatia where gypsy moth populations entered into or continued an ongoing outbreak. From ten selected localities where excessive mortality was observed by local foresters, larval cadavers were sampled fromtree trunks 0,5 – 1,5mabove the ground. Only older larval stages (L4–L6) were sampled due to the period of sampling. The cadavers were placed in Petri dishes on moistened filter paper discs, after which they were stored in the refrigerator on +4 °C for 48 – 72 h. Larval tissue samples were inspected under the light microscope.During the process many images were recorded by digital camera. Measurements of spores and vegetative stages were made via digital imaging software associated with a compound microscope. Selected samples of field collected dead larvae were stored in ETOH for further DNA molecular analysis. Results: In nine out of ten field samples of dead gypsy moth larvae, either conidia or resting spores of E. maimaiga were confirmed. Depending on collection date, microscopic analysis confirmed both conidia and azygospores or azygospores only. The latter was typically the case when fully dry cadavers were collected towards mid July and later. Spore dimensions were as follows: pear-shaped conidia 24.2–35.8 μm crosswise and 29.5–43.6 μm lengthwise; azygosporees 31.7–47.1 μm diameter. Spore sizes and their general shape varied in accordance with gypsy moth cadaver age in days, time of year when collecting was done and general weather conditions that prevailed immediately prior to sampling.Macroscopic symptoms ofE.maimaiga attackwere already clearly visible in the field, along with some signs of larval mortality caused by ucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV), but to a lesser extent. There were very few signs of parasitoid mortality and no visible presence of typical gypsy moth predators like Calosoma sycophanta. Larval mortality that could be assigned dominantly to E. maimaigawas highest in the easternmost localities. By the beginning of June thousands of larvae were hanging head down on tree trunks and no living larva or viable pupa could be found in the area. Conclusions: Based on the field collections and microscopic analysis, it can be concluded that E. maimaiga, a pathogen of L. dispar introduced on the European continent, has been confirmed in Croatia. On the basis of some reports from the previous year, it is reasonable to assume that E. maimaiga appeared at least one year earlier (2012) but this cannot be proved now, in spite of the fact that the location of its possible presence in 2012was somehowlogical as itwas reported fromthe far eastern borderwith Serbia and E.maimaiga alreadywas known to occur in Serbia. Further targeted research in subsequent years, following the ongoing gypsy moth outbreak, should give a better picture of the spread and efficacy of this pathogen within Europe

Modelling the distribution and compositional variation of plant communities at the continental scale

P. 978-990Aim: To investigate whether (1) environmental predictors allow to delineate the distri- bution of discrete community types at the continental scale and (2) how data complete- ness influences model generalization in relation to the compositional variation of the modelled entities.S

P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in skeletal muscle: Experts' consensus recommendations

Skeletal muscle phosphorus-31 31P MRS is the oldest MRS methodology to be applied to in vivo metabolic research. The technical requirements of 31P MRS in skeletal muscle depend on the research question, and to assess those questions requires understanding both the relevant muscle physiology, and how 31P MRS methods can probe it. Here we consider basic signal-acquisition parameters related to radio frequency excitation, TR, TE, spectral resolution, shim and localisation. We make specific recommendations for studies of resting and exercising muscle, including magnetisation transfer, and for data processing. We summarise the metabolic information that can be quantitatively assessed with 31P MRS, either measured directly or derived by calculations that depend on particular metabolic models, and we give advice on potential problems of interpretation. We give expected values and tolerable ranges for some measured quantities, and minimum requirements for reporting acquisition parameters and experimental results in publications. Reliable examination depends on a reproducible setup, standardised preconditioning of the subject, and careful control of potential difficulties, and we summarise some important considerations and potential confounders. Our recommendations include the quantification and standardisation of contraction intensity, and how best to account for heterogeneous muscle recruitment. We highlight some pitfalls in the assessment of mitochondrial function by analysis of phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery kinetics. Finally, we outline how complementary techniques (near-infrared spectroscopy, arterial spin labelling, BOLD and various other MRI and 1H MRS measurements) can help in the physiological/metabolic interpretation of 31P MRS studies by providing information about blood flow and oxygen delivery/utilisation. Our recommendations will assist in achieving the fullest possible reliable picture of muscle physiology and pathophysiology

An Analysis of Alternative Maize Marketing Policies in South Africa

The maize-oriented agricultural economies throughout Southern Africa are in fundamental transition. Increased recognition of the costs of historical controls on pricing and marketing already has led to partial maize market liberalization in several countries in the region. However, there is still intense debate over the appropriate scope and implementation of future food market reform. Much of the debate derives from uncertainty over the consequences of comprehensive and politically risky changes to domestic markets, especially at a time when regional market conditions are also in flux due to agricultural restructuring in neighboring countries. There is currently little information on the direction and magnitude of grain trade between South Africa, Zimbabwe, and other countries in the region under a deregulated external trading environment. There is also a lack of information on the regional consequences of alternative domestic maize policy scenarios currently under deliberation in South Africa. The purpose of this research is fourfold. First, we consider the role of food market reform in affecting future economic growth and food security in South Africa, and discuss the congruence between the government's food policy objectives and the existing marketing and pricing system. Second, trends in maize production, trade, prices and marketing costs in South Africa and Zimbabwe, the two largest maize traders in the region, are presented. Third, we present four alternative maize policy scenarios in South Africa, and then estimate their effects on maize production, gross revenues, consumer prices, and trade flows under various weather and pricing scenarios in Zimbabwe. A comparison of results across four policy scenarios clarifies the gainers, losers, and extent of income transfers between various regions and socio-economic groups within each region. The final section identifies means by which national food policy objectives in South Africa may be more cost-effectively achieved through harmonization of policies between South Africa and its regional neighbors