Organic production of strawberries

Organic fruit and vegetable growing is increasing world-wide, but knowledge concerning best practice is generally empirical rather than field-based. This thesis extends knowledge concerning best practice in Swedish organic strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa (Duch)) production, which is usually based on a two-year crop. A series of four field experiments were conducted at Rånna Experimental Station (58°27’N, 13°51’E) on the strawberry cultivars ‘Honeoye’, ‘Cavendish’ and ‘Korona’. Specific objectives were to investigate: the effects of different organic fertilisers combined with degradable plastic mulch on plant establishment, yield and nitrogen mineralisation in soil; the efficiency of biological pest control using a predatory mite against strawberry mites (Phytonemus pallidus); innate within-field dispersal capacity of strawberry mite; the effects of pyrethrum combined with fleece covering on damage by strawberry blossom weevil (Anthonomus rubi). Plant establishment measured as fruit yield was improved by 60% when degradable plastic mulch was used, probably through more flowers being initiated. Additional applications of organic fertiliser during the cropping period had little effect on yield. Biological control using the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris reduced strawberry mite populations by up to 50% but there was no increase in yield. It was difficult to draw clear conclusions from the strawberry mite dispersal pilot study, but mites tended to move more easily along planted rows than between rows. Pyrethrum alone had no visible effect on flower bud damage by strawberry blossom weevil but when combined with fleece covering it reduced the number of ‘Honeoye’ buds damaged by weevils by approximately 10%. This was followed by a corresponding increase in cultivar yield. Similar effects were not recorded in the other cultivar examined. The study identified the following practical consequences for organic strawberry production: • Choice of pest-resistant cultivars is extremely important for success. • Use of clean plants and an efficient predatory species is essential in controlling mite infestations. • Use of degradable plastic mulching is recommended. • Fleece covering is recommended for protecting some cultivars against strawberry blossom weevils. • Only an initial starter fertilisation is required. • Use of pyrethrum is not recommended

Focus on the proposal

Th is thesis is about how to create communicative images. It is mainly for landscape architects. With communicative images, I mean images created with the purpose to communicate a proposal or idea in a direct way to. By only looking at the image, the viewer should get an idea of what the proposal entails. A communicative image should also create an interest in the proposal. I have chosen to write about this topic because it is a big part of a landscape architects profession and there are many diff erent aspects to consider. As a landscape architect create images as part of a context, and in order to communicate or develop an idea. The pictures should show an imaginary future and is an image of what a place is expected to become. It diff ers in this way, for example from an artist or a photographer's work, where the image itself is oft en the fi nal product. Landscape architect thus has diff erent requirements on what their images communicate. The purpose of this thesis is to fi nd the tools to present proposals and ideas through images. To achieve the purpose, I have formulated two questions: • What is the purpose of a visual presentation of a design proposal in landscape architecture? • What is important to keep in mind when you want to create a communicative picture? The thesis is based on literature studies, interviews and analysis of architects’ images. The literature studies and interviews gave me a background to what is important to think about when you present a proposal using images. It also gave me knowledge and how to make the work of create images eff ectively. I then summarized this background with a list of items to take into consideration when creating images. To develop and customize the items to suit a landscape architects work with images, I used them for the analysis of images, taken from presentations of architect competitions in landscaping. Th e images are fetched from completed competitions published at Swedish architects website. Th e choice of images was based on whether the communicative image from the contest presentation caught my interest or not. Aft er the analysis, I came up with six tools that can be used to present proposals and ideas with the help of images. To investigate how the tools work in practice, I use them as help in the creation of my own perspective. I used a proposal I made earlier in the program. I created several communicative image of this proposal and examined thus diff erent ways to interpret the tools. Th e tools I came up with are the following: • Focus on the proposal - Let the proposal help to guide the design of the image by always having the proposal in focus. It is also important to understand the context in which the image is created, where the target audience, stage and type of projects are important aspects to consider. • Space for imagination - Decide how much space the viewer should to have to fi ll in with their own imagination. In a perspective where everything is exactly reproduced and anchored and where details and folklore are carefully plotted, it is diffi cult to add your own associations. A perspective with much empty space or details that are diffi cult to interpret, it can be easy to fi ll in with their own imagination, but diffi cult to understand what its author intended. • Viewing angle - Select a viewing angel that display the proposal and highlights it in a positive way. Show parts that are important for the proposal and select the angle based on how much you wish shown in the image. A bird's eye view gives such a large scale, with less opportunity to detail. • Dynamics and balance - Place deliberately out various details with the desired direction, to thereby create dynamic or harmonic images. Images with even large areas give a balanced perspective. Th e selected angle can also aff ect the image dynamics and balance. Given directions can then be reinforced or counteracted by the addition of details and movement. • Contrasts and color - Use contrasts and colors to create eff ects and highlight desired objects. It provides a perspective that draws attention. • Details and scale fi gures- Th ink about how to use details. An image with too much information and details can appear cluttered and is easily misinterpreted. Remove anything that takes the focus off what is to be communicated and select the details that fi ll a purpose in the image. Scale Figures in the form of people facilitates the understanding of the image, the features on the site and create atmosphere

Politiets arbeid med og mot 1 % MC-klubber i Norge : en teoretisk oppgave

Bachelor i politiutdannin

Copy approval – a clash of journalism and citizen ethics between Sweden and Britain?

”The story took a year to work out. It was never told before, less so published. The subject was sensitive and the people interviewed were vulnerable, so I had to compromise a little.” What compromising did Sarah Morrison, then a journalist at The Independent have to do? What ethical short-cut did this morally-motivated reporter (who now works for Global Witness, a human rights NGO) have to take to secure the first every feature length story ever told in British mainstream media about intersex women? Actually, very little, from my point of view

Effects of nutrient loading in Lutz spruce seedlings (Picea x lutzii Littl.) during nursery rotation and on subsequent growth in field

Lutz spruce (Picea x lutzii Littl.) seedlings were nutrient loaded using four fertilization regimes, receiving in total 0, 7.8, 22.2 and 31.4 g N/m2 over a period of eight weeks (6th august – 27th September) to investigate the effects on biomass allocation, frost hardiness, root growth capacity and nutrient status after the nursery rotation. The total biomass of loaded seedlings was similar to unloaded seedlings after the nursery culture, but the increase in N from the nutrient loading was 29%, 41% and 48% for loaded treatments 7.8 – 31.4 mg N, respectively. A delay in accumulation of frost hardiness during the autumn was not detected, and the root growth capacity was not affected by the nutrient loading when measured the following spring. To investigate if the internal N status of the seedlings affected growth, survival and N content after one growing season in field, the seedlings were planted at two field trials (sites A and B), with or without field fertilizer. The shoots of loaded treatments without fertilizer application in the field had on average 31% and 52% more dry mass than unloaded treatments without fertilizer at sites A and B, respectively, after one growing season in field. Field fertilization also increased total shoot mass on average by 35% and 52% at sites A and B, respectively. The loading treatments without field fertilization increased N content in current needles by 104% and 109% for sites A and B, respectively. Field fertilization also increased N content on average in loaded treatments by 33% and 33% at site A and B, respectively. Nitrogen retranslocation from old to new needles was detected. The results illustrate the significance of retranslocation of stored nutrients to support new growth early in the season when root growth and nutrient uptake are still low. Survival was not affected by the nutrient loading after the first growing season, but fertilizing significantly decreased the damage caused by Otiorhynchus larvae in heath land. It was concluded that loading might provide an additional input for faster plantation establishment during the first crucial growing season after planting

Towards a neutral North : identifying factors that drive a municipality to actively propel a low carbon transition : a case study of Akureyri, Iceland

Lowering global carbon emission is one of the most pressing issues of our time. A rising interest in the role of cities in lowering emissions has been detected. Although urban areas are active entities in the production of carbon emissions they are also potential hubs for designing and implementing solutions. Such processes has been referred to as urban low carbon transitions (ULCT) by academics. In this thesis I investigate the ULCT currently underway in Akureyri, Iceland. The main aspects of that transition has been an emergence of a persistent niche and creation of an official municipal ‘carbon neutral Akureyri strategy’ (CNAS). Analysing this I utilise transition theories, multilevel perspective (MLP) framework as well as a newer ULCT framework for further understanding of city transitions. With empirical data from 19 interviews with relevant interdisciplinary actors I identify CNAS precursors, transition trends as well as actors’ perceived driving forces and success factors. Transitions are known to be driven by multitude of factors and causality is rarely simple and this study is no exception. Results show the main driving forces are active and enthusiastic individuals and municipal branding possibilities. Success factors being mainly close community connections, strong public- private partnerships and stable local political support for green initiatives. The sociotechnical system of carbon flows in Akureyri is has connected local waste management and transport regimes through fuel production. A presence of an active intermediary, Vistorka Ltd. functions to support niche innovations affecting carbon flows. The intermediary is propelled by two identified ‘transition champions’ in Akureyri. Some unique underlying factors were found, such as underlying culture environmental surroundings, yet many aspects can be generalised and thus have some instrumental value as a case to learn from and upscale for further transitions

Alien Registration- Tevanian, Rakel (Portland, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/32056/thumbnail.jp

How can Readers Theatre in a third-grade Norwegian EFL classroom promote student's motivation to read English?

This thesis is about how Readers Theatre in a third -grade Norwegian EFL classroom can promote student’s motivation to read English. Readers Theatre is a group activity where students rehearse a text and read it aloud in a group in front of the class. The study followed one class where Readers Theatre was implemented over a period of four weeks. The research questions aimed to find out how Readers Theatre can promote student’s motivation to read English and if RT can help the students develop positive attitudes towards reading English. The findings are collected based on mixing of the two methods; qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative methods that has been used are observation, a pre- and a post-project interview with the teacher and two student group interviews. The quantitative method that was used was a questionnaire. The study revealed that RT was an enjoyable and engaging reading instruction method. During the observation, the students seemed to be enthusiastic about the project. Some of the students were hesitant at first due to their low confidence in reading English. However, after repeated readings of the script, and support from their group, most of the students were confidently performing their script at the end of the project. Data from the questionnaire suggests that almost all of the students wanted to participate in another RT project. Data from the student group interviews showed that the students found the RT activity to be difficult at first, because they did not have a lot of experience reading in English. However, after practicing their scripts, their confidence in reading and performing in front of an audience increased as a result. The teacher claimed that she had a positive experience with RT and she believed her students did as well. The teacher agreed with the pupils and said that she wanted to use RT again and also introduce it to her collogues. The main challenges of using RT concerned the logistics in preparing the project and finding appropriate rooms. In addition, the young students could not work as independently as the researcher thought, and the students were a bit noisy on occasions. Even though there was three teacher presents in the class at all times, this was still a challenge. If a teacher were to do an RT project alone, one could make adaptations to make it easier for them. Possible solutions could include that some of the students rehearse, and some do something completely different that they can do alone and then switch

Integrative Medicine and Palliative Care

Overall Goals and Objectives: Identify recent advances in integrative medical care and discuss their application to clinical practice. Describe the latest data on complementary and alternative medical therapies that could improve patient outcomes. Discuss core integrative medicine topics that patients frequently ask physicians about. Presentation: 16 minute