Barriers for developing more robust organic arable farming systems in practice

There is a gap between the scientific idea of robust and economically viable organic arable farming systems with optimized crop rotations for nutrient and pest management and how these systems look like in practice. In order to explore this gap, we visited and interviewed ten organic arable farms in Denmark. Our main findings are: 1) Organic arable farming operates in a very dynamic and changing environment in terms of prizing and market opportunities, and the main focus of the farm managements was the coping strategy within this changing environment; 2) The farming systems were continuously changing and developing, buying and renting more land, changing manure agreements and other forms of cooperation and arrangements; 3) Short term profit was paid much more attention than more theoretical expectation on long term profit or opportunities in relation to optimizing the production system. This again seems logical in relation to the very dynamic world that the farmers have to operate within; 4) Most of the farmers do not see their farm as a coherent system but as a coordination of a series of separate operations, which means that most decisions are taken with specific reference to the individual field in at the present situation without considering the long-term effects. Management focus is thus much more on solving problems as they are occurring, by adjusting their practice, than it is on developing a robust system preventing problems to occur. This partial focus is also strongly supported by the way in which extension services mostly operate

Bond behavior of self consolidating concrete

The new generation of innovative projects has led to the use of greater amounts of reinforcement and the development of concrete with specific characteristics. It is necessary to use a material that ensures the uniformity of the cross section, as well as the adherence of the existing reinforcement, and due to this, the self-consolidating concrete becomes an technique alternative has great potential to achieve these properties. The aim of this paper is to analyze the bond behavior of self-consolidating concrete that was obtained by means of the Beam Test performed within a large experimental campaign of characterization. Four types of SCC were studied with two strength levels (40 MPa and 60MPa) and two different types of granular skeletons, using two specimens at each age (3, 7, and 28 days). All specimens were tested with a corrugated steel bar 10 mm in diameter. The results show that the adhesion tension independently of resistance presents a rapidly evolving at 7 days reached 95% of the total adhesion by 28 days.Postprint (published version

The Welfare Poor: Patterns of Association and Interaction in Discretionary Time

The welfare poor in America are classified into a subterranean\u27 strata not solely because of economic inequality but entrenched by racial ethnicity, age disadvantages, physical and psychological impairment, and broken family structures. While the misery and plight of the poor are often recognized in basic terms in which the survival necessity of food, clothing, health care, and shelter are real concerns, seemingly other less important cultural considerations are glossed over as trivia. Leisure participation continues to be neglected by researchers and because of this low priority, little or nothing is known of the leisure life style of the poor. Less still is known about how leisure or the absence of it affects the status of the poor. And of even greater interest are questions about lost autonomy, undifferentiation, and social isolation resulting from leisure patterns. Every one of these issues deserves further treatment but this research will be limited to probing the question of whether the poor have either a restrictive or multiple pattern of association in their leisure. The comparison is solely limited to testing the range of association among the poor and no comparisons are made either implicitly or explicitly on how higher status groups associate against the pattern of the poor. Before that task can be accomplished, it is necessary to determine exactly where the poor rank and the examination in some detail of that position in society may help to reveal how they associate in their leisure

Workplace Spirituality in State Universities and Colleges: Its Relation to the Work Well-Being and Job Satisfaction of Faculty Members

This study determined the relationship of workplace spirituality, work well-being, and job satisfaction among faculty members in state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Region XII, Philippines. The descriptive survey and correlational design were used employing quantitative data. The data were gathered through the questionnaire and administered to the 234 respondents.  The gathered data were analyzed through frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and Pearson (r) Coefficient Correlation. The findings of the study revealed that faculty members agreed that their workplace spirituality has a “very high” positive correlation to work well-being (Ho₁). It was also found out that faculty members agreed that their workplace spirituality has a “very high” correlation to job satisfaction (Ho₂). Given the overall results, the study recommends sustaining the workplace spirituality of the faculty members to remain high in their work well-being and job satisfaction

The practice of telemedicine and challenges to the regulatory authorities

The practice of telemedicine is viewed as a possible solution to the human resources crisis in health care in South Africa and internationally. Reports on its successful implementation and combating of health-related problems are readily available from both developed and developing countries. Even though these reports indicate that telemedicine seems to have addressed the problem related to the shortage of health care personnel, it is still posing a challenge to regulatory authorities such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa. The regulatory authorities are there to ensure that quality health care service is delivered and that the patient will be protected from possible mismanagement by the health care practitioners involved. Misconduct can occur through improper clinical care or excessive billing. Policies and guidelines from both developing and developed countries were reviewed to highlight how telemedicine is regulated elsewhere. The focus was on the ethical implications of telemedicine practice. Telemedicine has proved itself to be a possible solution to the human resources crisis, especially in developing countries or where there are vast rural communities. Success of telemedicine has been reported in a number of developed and developing countries as a way of alleviating the human resources crisis and providing quality health care to needy communities

The Use of a Touch Computer System for Distributing Information to Visitors at the 1982 World\u27s Fair

The use of computers to increase efficiency of operations is becoming a well recognized method in the leisure industry. This study examined the use of computers to provide information to visitors of the World\u27s Fair about the Knoxville area to help improve service. Findings indicate that the developed method is an effective aid, but to increase its efficiency the system must be more consumer oriented

Effects of shear on eggs and larvae of striped bass, morone saxatilis, and white perch, M. americana

Shear stress, generated by water movement, can kill fish eggs and larvae by causing rotation or deformation. Through the use of an experimental apparatus, a series of shear (as dynes/cm2)-mortality equations for fixed time exposures were generated for striped bass and white perch eggs and larvae. Exposure of striped bass eggs to a shear level of 350 dynes/cm2 kills 36% of the eggs in 1 min; 69% in 2 min, and 88% in 4 min; exposure of larvae to 350 dynes/cm2 kills 9.3% in 1 min, 30.0% in 2 min, and 68.1% in 4 min. A shear level of 350 dynes/cm2 kills 38% of the white perch eggs in 1 min, 41% in 2 min, 89% in 5 min, 96% in 10 min, and 98% in 20 min. A shear level of 350 dynes/cm2 applied to white perch larvae destroys 38% of the larvae in 1 min, 52% in 2 min, and 75% in 4 min. Results are experimentally used in conjunction with the determination of shear levels in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and ship movement for the estimation of fish egg and larval mortalities in the field

EXTENT OF UTILIZATION OF PAPERLESS TECHNOLOGY: BASIS FOR A PROPOSED INTERVENTION PROGRAM

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of utilization of paperless technology by the teachers in Bula District. The respondents of this study were the 204 teachers in the five different schools in Bula District namely: Bula Central Elementary School, Jose Divinagracia Elementary School, Dadiangas East Elementary School, Bula National School of Fisheries and Baluan National High School. A descriptive evaluative research design was utilized in this study. Based on the results of this study, it was revealed that the teachers have perceived that the utilization of paperless technology has been highly useful in grade management and test bank management; however, they found it moderately useful in user management. Nevertheless, the utilization of paperless technology by the teachers was highly recommended to utilized by the teachers. Finally, this study shows educators how paperless technology can reduce teacher workload, save money, and protect the environment while improving the teaching and learning process.  Article visualizations

Comparative analysis and optimization of technical and weight parameters of turbo-electric propulsion systems

According to Flightpath 2050, the aviation industry is aiming to substantially reduce emissions over the coming decades. One possible solution to meet these ambitious goals is by moving to hybrid-electric drivetrain architectures which require the electric components to be extremely lightweight and efficient at the same time. It has been claimed in several publications that cryogenic and in particular superconducting components can help to fulfill such requirements that potentially cannot be achieved with non-cryogenic components. The purpose of this work was to make a fair comparison between a cryogenic turbo-electric propulsion system (CEPS) and a non-cryogenic turbo-electric propulsion system (TEPS) on a quantitative level. The results on the CEPS were presented in detail in a previous publication. The focus of this publication is to present the study on the TEPS, which in conclusion allows a direct comparison. For both systems the same top-level aircraft requirements were used that were derived within the project TELOS based on an exemplary mission profile and the physical measures of a 220-passenger aircraft. Our study concludes that a CEPS could be 10% to 40% lighter than a TEPS. Furthermore, a CEPS could have a total efficiency gain of up to 18% compared to a similar TEPS