Winterackerbohnen im Ökologischen Landbau: Einfluss von Zwischenfrüchten und Sortenwahl auf Kornertrag und Unkrautbesatz

Zwei Winterackerbohnensorten wurden über zwei Jahre an einem Versuchstandort im südlichen Rheinland nach drei verschiedenen Zwischenfrüchten (Sonnenblumen, Buchweizen, Selbstbegrünung) angebaut. Ziel war die Erfassung und Bewertung von Wachstums- und Ertragsparametern von Winterackerbohnen (WAB) sowie des Unkrautbesatzes. Sonnenblumenzwischenfruchtanbau vor WAB hatte eine tendenziell verminderten Unkrautbesatz im Vergleich zu Selbstbegrünung zur Folge. Gemittelt über zwei Versuchsjahre war der Kornertrag der WAB nach Zwischenfrucht Sonnenblumen und Selbstbegrünung signifikant geringer verglichen mit Buchweizen

Vitamin D Status among Pulmonary TB Patients and Non-TB Controls: A Cross-Sectional Study from Mwanza, Tanzania.

Little is known about vitamin D status in low-income populations burdened with infectious diseases. Hence, there is a need for data on correlates of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (S-25(OH)D) and its validity during infections. To assess the role of pulmonary TB (PTB) and HIV as correlates of S-25(OH)D. Age-sex-matched cross-sectional study among PTB patients and non-TB controls. PTB patients were categorized as sputum negative (PTB-) and positive (PTB+) by culture. Non-TB controls were randomly selected among age-sex-matched neighbours to PTB+ patients. Height, weight, arm circumference and triceps skinfold were measured, and body mass index (BMI), arm fat (AFA) and muscle area (AMA) computed. HIV status, and S-25(OH)D, C-reactive protein (S-CRP) and α1-acid glycoprotein (S-AGP) were determined. Linear regression analysis with controls and PTB patients combined was used to identify correlates of S-25(OH)D. S-25(OH)D data were available on 97.8% (1570) of 1605 participants. Mean (SD) S-25(OH)D was 84.4 (25.6) nmol/L with 39.6% <75 nmol/L among 347 non-TB controls. Time of recruitment, sex, PTB and HIV, and elevated S-AGP were correlates of S-25(OH)D. S-25(OH)D was 24.8 (95% CI 18.6;30.9) nmol/L higher in PTB compared to controls among females, but only 9.8 (95% CI:4.5;15.2) nmol/L among males (interaction p<0.0001). Females had 13.8 (95% CI:8.2;21.9) nmol/L lower S-25(OH)D than males, and HIV infected individuals had 8.5 (95% CI:4.9;12.1) higher S-25(OH)D compared to uninfected. Elevated S-AGP was a positive correlate of S-25(OH)D. Low BMI was associated with S-25(OH)D, but not with infections or S-AGP in the model. While S-25(OH)D may decline transiently during a mild acute phase response, it may increase if the acute phase response leads to loss of fat. The validity of S-25(OH)D as a marker of vitamin D status may be affected by infections

Weed control by cover crop residues of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) in organic winter faba bean

In den Jahren 2007 und 2008 wurde jeweils ein zweifaktorieller Feldversuch mit Winter-Ackerbohnen an der Lehr- und Versuchsstation für Organischen Landbau ‚Wiesengut‘ bei Bonn angelegt. Ziel der Versuche war es, den Einfluss der Faktoren Sorte (Hiverna und Diva) und Zwischenfrucht (Sonnenblume, Buchweizen, Selbstbegrünung) auf Wachstum, Ertrag und Verunkrautung von Winter-Ackerbohnen unter den Anbaubedingungen des Ökologischen Landbaus zu quantifizieren und zu bewerten. Das erfasste Parameterspektrum (u. a. Bestandesdichte, Wuchshöhe, Sprossmasse, Kornertrag und Unkraut­deckungsgrad) wurde einer varianzanalytischen Auswertung mit anschließendem Tukey-Test unterzogen. Nach Zwischenfrucht Sonnenblume war die Wuchshöhe von Winter-Ackerbohnen im Vergleich zu Buchweizen z. T. sig­nifikant geringer. Der Kornertrag war nach Zwischenfrucht Sonnenblume bei zweijähriger Auswertung mit 30,9 dt TM ha–1 signifikant geringer als nach Zwischenfrucht Buchweizen (34,8 dt TM ha–1). Der Unkrautdeckungsgrad und die Unkrautbiomasse waren nach Zwischenfrucht Sonnenblumen im Vergleich zu Selbstbegrünung zum Teil sig­nifikant geringer. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich unter den gegebenen Standortbedingungen wirtschaft­liche Kornerträge mit Winter-Ackerbohnen im Ökologischen Landbau erzielen lassen. Die praktische Nutzung allelopathischer Effekte von Sonnenblumen- und Buchweizenmulch zur natürlichen Unkrautkontrolle in Winter-Ackerbohnen bedarf weiterführender Untersuchungen. &nbsp; &nbsp;A two-factorial field trial with winter faba bean was carried out at the experimental farm for Organic Agriculture ‘Wiesengut’ close to Bonn, Germany, in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The objective of the experiments was to quantify and evaluate the influence of the factors variety (Hiverna and Diva) and cover crop species (sunflower, buckwheat, green fallow) on a range of growth, yield and weed parameters of organically grown winter faba bean. Data were subjected to ANOVA with subsequent Tukey-Test. Crop height of winter faba bean was significantly lower after cover crop sunflower compared with buckwheat. In a joint two-year analysis grain yield of winter faba bean after cover crop sunflower was significantly lower (3.09 t DM ha–1) compared with buckwheat (3.48 t DM ha–1). Weed ground cover and biomass were significantly lower after cover crop sunflower and buckwheat compared with green fallow at several assessment dates of both trials. Results have shown that under the climatic conditions of the Rhineland area the production of organic winter faba bean can be realized with economic yields. The practical use of cover crops such as sunflower known to feature allelopathic effects against weeds still deserves further research. &nbsp; &nbsp

Data-Driven Market Segmentation: The Case of Medical Tourists in Lebanon

Purpose – This research aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of medical tourists’ segments and the variations that exist within them as tourists and patients. Design/Methodology/Approach – A data-driven segmentation approach using the two-step cluster analysis technique was applied on a sample of 212 participants visiting Lebanon for medical purposes. The research instruments combine travel motivation variables, along with socio-demographic, geographic, and behavioral characteristics. Findings and implications – The results identified two distinct segments: “the international patients” and “the elective medical tourists.” The delineated segments have significant implications for scholars, allowing them to understand the profile of tourists and their associated motivations and behaviors better. They can guide medical tourism service providers, marketers, and destination managers in providing specific medical tourism products and services that meet the expectations of each segment. Limitations – Limitations were experienced during the data collection process due to a lack of collaboration and prompt responses by some medical centers, as well as the political and economic contexts of Lebanon that discouraged tourism inflow. These limitations prevented the researchers from obtaining a larger sample size. Originality – There is limited understanding of medical tourists and their diversities in medical tourism literature to date. This study addresses the gap by proposing a new segmentation method in the field of medical tourism that delineates segments by investigating medical tourists’ travel motivations in line with their characteristics

Atletas paralímpicos que competem nos jogos olímpicos e as implicações potenciais para os jogos paralímpicos

The 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, held in Rio de Janeiro, reignited public interest and discussion around Paralympic athletes attempting to qualify for, and compete at, the Olympic Games. That Paralympians have sought to compete at the Olympic Games is, however, not new. This paper looks at the largely unrecognised and often underreported history of Paralympians competing at the Olympic Games and addresses why it is that Paralympians may wish to compete at the Olympic Games. To do this we use historical examples, but also look at the contemporary cases of 3 such athletes: Jason Smyth, Alan Fonteles Cardoso and Markus Rehm. The paper also explores whether or not with advances in medical and prosthetic technologies, as well as potentially increased income and funding, we can expect to see more Paralympians attempting to crossover and compete in the Olympic Games in the future. The methodology used is one of qualitative case studies. The research question was: "What can be learned from the media coverage of Smyth, Oliveira and Rehm’s attempts to qualify for the Olympic Games?†We identify the type of editorial (political, social, cultural, sportive, educational, economic or gossip column); whether or not pictures were used (type of approach - sportive, personal or disability) and the narrative interpretations. We argue that how newspapers choose to report on the aims of Paralympians wishing to compete in the Olympics and the level of coverage that they receive it important. This level of depth of coverage suggests both positive and negative implications for the Paralympic Games, should this trend of athletes wishing to crossover continue.Os Jogos Olímpicos e Paralímpicos de 2016 realizados no Rio de Janeiro, reencararam o interesse público e levaram a tona a discussão em torno dos atletas paralímpicos que buscam se qualificar e competir para os Jogos Olímpicos. O assunto não é novidade no que se trata do interesse de atletas paralímpicos em competir nos Jogos Olímpicos. Este artigo olha com profundidade na discussão e evidências históricas com base em reportagens jornalísticas dos atletas paralímpicos que queriam competir nos Jogos Olímpicos Rio 2016 e apresenta outros casos de paralímpicos ao longo da história que fizeram parte dos Jogos Olímpicos. Foram avaliados os casos dos atletas Paralímpicos: Jason Smyth, Alan Fonteles Cardoso e Markus Rehm. A metodologia utilizada neste artigo é uma análise qualitativa dos casos tratados pela mídia brasileira a respeito dos atletas. A questão da pesquisa foi: "o que pode ser aprendido com a cobertura da mídia nas tentativas de Smyth, Oliveira e Rehm para se qualificar para os Jogos Olímpicos?". Identificamos o tipo de coluna editorial (política, social, cultural, esportiva, educacional, econômica e fofoca). Foram observadas também as imagens usadas e o tipo de abordagem sobre a fotografia apresentada, qualificando-as como foco: esportivo, pessoal ou sobre a deficiência - e, realizou-se uma leitura das interpretações narrativas de acordo com a importância dada. Como conclusão, entedeu-se que esse nível de profundidade de cobertura, sugere implicações tanto positivas quanto negativas para os Jogos paraolímpicos, quando tende-se a colocar os Jogos Olímpicos em evidência mediante aos atletas

The Role of Diabetes Co-Morbidity for Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study from Mwanza, Tanzania.

Due to the association between diabetes and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), diabetes may threaten the control of TB. In a prospective cohort study nested in a nutrition trial, we investigated the role of diabetes on changes in anthropometry, grip strength, and clinical parameters over a five months follow-up period. Among pulmonary TB patients with known diabetes status, we assessed anthropometry and clinical parameters (e.g. haemoglobin) at baseline and after two and five months of TB treatment. A linear mixed-effects model (repeated measurements) was used to investigate the role of diabetes during recovery. Of 1205 TB patients, the mean (standard deviation) age was 36.6 (13.0) years, 40.9% were females, 48.9% were HIV co-infected, and 16.3% had diabetes. TB patients with diabetes co-morbidity experienced a lower weight gain at two (1.3 kg, CI95% 0.5; 2.0, p = 0.001) and five months (1.0 kg, CI95% 0.3; 1.7, p = 0.007). Similarly, the increase in the level of haemoglobin was lower among TB patients with diabetes co-morbidity after two (Δ 0.6 g/dL, CI95% 0.3; 0.9 p < 0.001) and five months (Δ 0.5 g/dL, CI95% 0.2; 0.9 p = 0.004) of TB treatment, respectively. TB patients initiating TB treatment with diabetes co-morbidity experience delayed recovery of body mass and haemoglobin, which are important for the functional recovery from disease