Impact of climate change on agricultural production and food security of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has a food security issue due to lack of suitable agricultural land, short growing seasons, and unsustainable agricultural policies promoting conventional industrial farming practices, with a limited range of agricultural produce (milk, eggs and poultry) and no facilities for secondary processing of these. The food security issue has been exacerbated in the last decades by climate change events (extreme temperatures, heavy rains and more frequent droughts) which have negatively impacted the province’s agricultural industry. The conventional industrial agricultural practices and the profit focus of maximization agricultural policies have contributed to and have intensified several environmental, social and economic problems. They have as well provided an inadequate guarantee for food security, as the NL agriculture industry does not secure enough healthy, fresh, nutritious, and affordable food alternatives for people to live and be healthy. This research is based on quantitative and qualitative data, collected through surveying both crop and dairy farmers located in western, central and eastern regions of the Newfoundland and Labrador province, and through a literature review of peer-reviewed articles, published government reports and documents and news articles. The research results show that any attempt to solve the multi-faceted problems of the NL agriculture impacted by climate change increases the significance of pursuing an agro-ecological approach to farming in the province. Integrated and small, highly diversified farms are one sustainable alternative to modern industrial farming, as they can make the current agricultural practices more resilient to global climate change (GCC), can enhance food security in the province, as well as reduce the impact of agricultural practices on GCC. This study has found that 100 percent of the crop and dairy farms production has been affected by two or more natural hazards, such as long winters/short growing seasons, late spring frost and heavy rains/rain storms, which are the results of climate change. More interestingly, 56 percent of the farm owners in the study area believe that industrial or conventional farm practices have little or no impact on environmental degradation or climate change, since they follow the agriculture rules and guiding principles imposed by the provincial and the federal government of Canada and apply efficient farm management strategies. In some cases, the soils, chemical fertilizers and fossil fuels are poorly managed by the farmers surveyed in the study area, but a good percentage of the farmers are trying to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and fossil fuels and at the same time, are trying to increase the use of organic fertilizers, pesticides and renewable energy. Moreover, the current research has shown that there are incipient agro-ecological practices in the province, and that farmers are aware about climate change and the need to adopt more environment friendly farming practices. New policy frameworks and work plans are needed to speed up the transition from the current unsustainable farming practices to small-scale, organic, energy efficient and high yielding agro-ecological practices. Provincial as well as federal government support, and collaboration among educational and research institutions, agricultural farms, non-government organizations and the general public will promote agricultural diversification and integration and more environmentally-friendly farm practices within the province. These will ameliorate province’s food security issue, by increasing the supply of local fresh and healthy food, will provide additional financial benefits to the farm holders, as well as protect the local and the global environment

In vitro Release Kinetics Study of Diltiazem Hydrochloride from Wax and Kollidon SR Based Matrix Tablets

Abstract Extended-release matrix tablets of diltiazem hydrochloride (DTZ) were prepared using waxy materials alone or in combination with Kollidon SR. Matrix waxy materials were carnauba wax (CW), bees wax (BW), cetyl alcohol (CA) and glyceryl monostearate (GMS). Dissolution studies were carried out by using a six stations USP XXII type 1 apparatus. The in vitro drug release study was done in 1000 ml phosphate buffer of pH 6.8 for 12 h. Initial burst release was observed in case of waxy granules. Tablets prepared in combination of waxy granules and Kollidon SR sustained the drug release for more than 12 h. Addition of ludipress instead of Kollidon SR caused the drug release faster (for less than 12 h). Fitting the in vitro drug release data to Korsmeyer equation indicates that diffusion along with erosion could be the mechanism of drug release. Significant differences were found among the drug release profile from different polymeric matrices

Symptom Levels in Care-Seeking Bangladeshi and Nepalese Adults With Advanced Cancer

Purpose Three-fourths of patients with advanced cancer are reported to suffer from pain. A primary barrier to provision of adequate symptom treatment is failure to appreciate the intensity of the symptoms patients are experiencing. Because data on Bangladeshi and Nepalese patients’ perceptions of their symptomatic status are limited, we sought such information using a cell phone questionnaire. Methods At tertiary care centers in Dhaka and Kathmandu, we recruited 640 and 383 adult patients, respectively, with incurable malignancy presenting for outpatient visits and instructed them for that single visit on one-time completion of a cell phone platform 15-item survey of questions about common cancer associated symptoms and their magnitudes using Likert scales of 0 to 10. The questions were taken from the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and the Brief Pain Inventory instruments. Results All but two Bangladeshi patients recruited agreed to study participation. Two-thirds of Bangladeshi patients reported usual pain levels ≥ 5, and 50% of Nepalese patients reported usual pain levels ≤ 4 (population differences significant at P \u3c .001). Conclusion Bangladeshi and Nepalese adults with advanced cancer are comfortable with cell phone questionnaires about their symptoms and report high levels of pain. Greater attention to the suffering of these patients is warranted

Evolution of Industry 4.0 and Its Implications for International Business

Industry 4.0 is the natural consequence of the techno-industrial development of the last decades. It has the huge potentiality to change the way globalization of manufacturing and consumption of goods and services that take place in the global markets. This chapter will focus on the evolution of Industry 4.0 and how this new technological framework will create values for firms and consumers, and how we can use it for a firm’s competitiveness and save them from the fallout of its development. An extensive literature review shows that the multi-faceted technology will hugely impact the global value chain, global supply chain, and new global division of labor (NGDL). It will reconfigure and re-distribute the business activities in the developing, emerging, and developed country markets and small and medium sizes firms and MNCs. The rapid development of technological and human capabilities can allow firms to reap benefits from this technology. At the same time, there are many challenges related to skill shortages, technological issues, business ethics, and values that need to be overcome to reap a profit from this new technological advancement

Preparation and In vitro Evaluation of Theophylline Loaded Gastroretentive Floating Tablets of

ABSTRACT: This investigation describes the preparation and in vitro evaluation of gastroretentive floating tablets of theophylline. Hydrophilic polymer METHOCEL K4M was used for its gel forming and release controlling properties. Sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were incorporated as gas generating agents. The effects of soluble components (sodium bicarbonate and citric acid), gel forming agent (METHOCEL K4M) and dose variation on drug release profile and floating properties were investigated. It has been observed that in all cases increase of the amount of floating agent caused a decrease of the floating lag time. Increase of theophylline load showed an increase of the floating lag time, which was independent of floating agent content. The release mechanisms were explored and explained with zero order, first order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer and Hixon-Crowell equations. The release rate, extent and mechanisms were found to be governed by the content of polymer and floating agent. The content of active ingredient was also a vital factor in controlling drug release pattern. It was found that polymer content and amount of floating agent significantly affected the time required for 50 % of drug release (T50%), percentage drug release after 8 hours, release rate constant, and diffusion exponent (n). Kinetic modeling of dissolution profiles revealed that the drug release mechanism could range from diffusion controlled to case II transport, which was mainly dependent on presence of relative amount of theophylline, polymer and floating agent