Manure sampling instructions

These instructions for manure sampling were formulated within the project Manure Standards (Advanced manure Standards for sustainable nutrient management and reduced emissions, Interreg Project No #R057) with the aim of harmonising sampling methods used within the Baltic Sea Region. The instructions are based on output from a previous project, Baltic Manure (Sindhöj et al., 2013), literature from within and outside the EU and feedback from tests of a first version on around 100 farms representing all nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea. These instructions have been circulated to project partners (see list in Appendix 2) and associate partners, including universities, research organisations, advisory services and other stakeholders in the Manure Standards project. A central factor during the work was to assess the impact on the analysis results of sampling factors such as number of samples (or subsamples), sampling depth, handling of samples, time period between sampling and analysis etc. Note that some countries, or even food companies, may have more rigid regulations on how sampling should be carried out (e.g. number of subsamples needed). In such cases, those special instructions should of course be followed in the first instance

Spatio-temporal activation of caspase-8 in myeloid cells upon ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke (caused by thrombosis, embolism or vasoconstriction) lead to the recruitment and activation of immune cells including resident microglia and infiltrating peripheral macrophages, which contribute to an inflammatory response involved in regulation of the neuronal damage. We showed earlier that upon pro-inflammatory stimuli, the orderly activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3/7 regulates microglia activation through a protein kinase C-δ dependent pathway. Here, we present in vivo evidence for the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3 in microglia/macrophages in post-mortem tissue from human ischemic stroke subjects. Indeed, CD68-positive microglia/macrophages in the ischemic peri-infarct area exhibited significant expression of the cleaved and active form of caspase-8 and caspase-3. The temporal and spatial activation of caspase-8 was further investigated in a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model of ischemic stroke. Increasing levels of active caspase-8 was found in Iba1-positive cells over time in the peri-infarct area, at 6, 24 and 48 h after artery occlusion. Analysis of post-mortem brain tissue from human subject who suffered two stroke events, referred as recent and old stroke, revealed that expression of cleaved caspase-8 and -3 in CD68-positive cells could only be found in the recent stroke area. Analysis of cleaved caspase-8 and -3 expressions in a panel of human stroke cases arranged upon days-after stroke and age-matched controls suggested that the expression of these caspases correlated with the time of onset of stroke. Collectively, these data illustrate the temporal and spatial activation of caspase-8 and -3 in microglia/macrophages occurring upon ischemic stroke and suggest that the expression of these caspases could be used in neuropathological diagnostic wor

Deletion of caspase-8 in mouse myeloid cells blocks microglia pro-inflammatory activation and confers protection in MPTP neurodegeneration model

Increasing evidence involves sustained pro-inflammatory microglia activation in the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD). We recently uncovered a completely novel and unexpected role for caspase-8 and its downstream substrates caspase-3/7 in the control of microglia activation and associated neurotoxicity to dopaminergic cells. To demonstrate the genetic evidence, mice bearing a floxed allele of CASP8 were crossed onto a transgenic line expressing Cre under the control of Lysozyme 2 gene. Analysis of caspase-8 gene deletion in brain microglia demonstrated a high efficiency in activated but not in resident microglia. Mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide, a potent inducer of microglia activation, or with MPTP, which promotes specific dopaminergic cell damage and consequent reactive microgliosis. In neither of these models, CASP8 deletion appeared to affect the overall number of microglia expressing the pan specific microglia marker, Iba1. In contrast, CD16/CD32 expression, a microglial pro-inflammatory marker, was found to be negatively affected upon CASP8 deletion. Expression of additional proinflammatory markers were also found to be reduced in response to lipopolysaccharide. Of importance, reduced pro-inflammatory microglia activation was accompanied by a significant protection of the nigro-striatal dopaminergic system in the MPTP mouse model of PD.España Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad SAF2012-39029España Andalucía Junta de Andalucia P10-CTS-649

Sõnniku proovivõtmise juhend

Käesolev sõnnikuproovide võtmise juhend on koostatud projekti „Sõnnikustandardite arendamine parendamaks jätkusuutlikku toitainete kasutamist ja vähendamaks saasteainete emissioone“ (Interreg projekt Nr #R057) raames, eesmärgiga ühtlustada proovide võtmise metoodikaid Baltimere regioonis. Juhend tugineb projekti „Läänemeremaade foorum sõnniku jätkusuutliku käitlemise uuenduslikest tehnoloogiatest” (Sindhöj et al., 2013) tulemustele, sõnniku käitlemist käsitlevatele kirjandusallikate andmetele Euroopas ja väljaspool Euroopat ning samuti testfarmidest (ca 100) saadud tagasisidele. Testfarmid hõlmasid kõiki üheksat Balti mere riiki. Juhend on kättesaadav kõigile projekti s.h assotsieerunud partneritele (vt. Lisa 2), mille hulka kuuluvad nii ülikoolid, teadusinstituudid, konsulenditeenuseid pakkuvad ettevõtted ja teised projektiga seotud huvirühmad. Projekti keskseks eesmärgiks oli hinnata, kuidas mõjutavad erinevad tegurid, nt. proovide või osaproovide arv, proovi võtmise sügavus, proovi käitlemine, aeg proovi võtmisest analüüsini jne, analüüsi tulemust. NB! Mõnedes riikides või laboratooriumides võivad proovide võtmiseks ja käitlemiseks olla rangemad (spetsiifilisemad) eeskirjad (nt. vajalik osaproovide arv vms). Sellisel juhul tuleb esmalt järgida vastavaid (piirkondlikke) instruktsioone

Caspase-8 inhibition represses initial human monocyte activation in septic shock model

In septic patients, the onset of septic shock occurs due to the over-activation of monocytes. We tested the therapeutic potential of directly targeting innate immune cell activation to limit the cytokine storm and downstream phases. We initially investigated whether caspase-8 could be an appropriate target given it has recently been shown to be involved in microglial activation. We found that LPS caused a mild increase in caspase-8 activity and that the caspase-8 inhibitor IETD-fmk partially decreased monocyte activation. Furthermore, caspase-8 inhibition induced necroptotic cell death of activated monocytes. Despite inducing necroptosis, caspase-8 inhibition reduced LPS-induced expression and release of IL-1β and IL-10. Thus, blocking monocyte activation has positive effects on both the pro and anti-inflammatory phases of septic shock. We also found that in primary mouse monocytes, caspase-8 inhibition did not reduce LPS-induced activation or induce necroptosis. On the other hand, broad caspase inhibitors, which have already been shown to improve survival in mouse models of sepsis, achieved both. Thus, given that monocyte activation can be regulated in humans via the inhibition of a single caspase, we propose that the therapeutic use of caspase-8 inhibitors could represent a more selective alternative that blocks both phases of septic shock at the source.Unión Europea, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad SAF2012-39029Unión Europea, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad SAF2015-64171REspaña,Junta de Andalucía P10-CTS-649

On the relations between geometry and algebra in Gestrinius\u27 edition of Euclid\u27s Elements

In 1637 the Swedish mathematician Martinus Erici Gestrinius contributed with a commented edition of Euclid’s Elements. In this article we analyse the relationship between geometry and algebra in Gestrinius’ Elements, as presented in Book II. Of particular interest are Propositions 4, 5, and 6, dealing with straight lines cut into equal and unequal parts, and the three kinds of quadratic equations Gestrinius associates with them. We argue that Gestrinius followed Clavius translation of the Elements, but was influenced by Ramus to include algebra

Inblandning av aska från biobränslen i flytande biogasrötrest

The increased use of bio-materials for energy purposes is generating large amounts of ash. In most cases, e.g. during incineration of straw and grain, bottom ash contains small amounts of heavy metals, but significant amounts of the plant nutrients phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Bottom ash also contains some micronutrients (e.g. copper and zinc) that are good for plants in small doses, together with generally small amounts of undesirable heavy metals, including cadmium. Biogas plants are becoming increasingly common in Sweden. They produce considerable amounts of digestate, a liquid fertiliser with a high content of nitrogen (N) comparable with that of pig slurry but lower contents of P and K. High quality biogas digestate may now be applied to arable land. This study investigated techniques and systems for blending and spreading liquid digestate with ash admixture. The physical and alkaline properties and solubility in water of some ash types were therefore studied at laboratory scale, as were the buffering properties of some digestates. The influence of ash admixture on digestate pH and ammonia emissions was also studied. At pilot scale, the properties of different ash/digestate mixtures were studied and a cell wheel for liquid manure was tested for adding the ash. Three types of ash (from oats, straw and wood pellets) and two types of digestate were studied. The ash produced so much dust that dust reduction measures and breathing masks proved necessary during handling. It also contained so much abrasive material that the risk of wear to pumps, pipes and other parts of the spreading equipment was rated high. It is therefore best if the ash can be added as late as possible to equipment for spreading on arable land, and also it can be prevented from passing through pumps and other moving parts. Only a minor proportion of the oat ash and straw ash was soluble in water. All three types of ash were alkaline and therefore increased the pH when mixed with water. However, the digestate had a high buffering capacity, so the overall effect on pH when moderate amounts of ash were included was slight. When oat ash was mixed into digestate, equilibrium concentrations of ammonia did not increase. There is thus no risk of increased ammonia emissions as long as the mixture does not contain more than 5% ash. In fact, ammonia concentrations were lower when ash was added, possibly because of ammonia binding to some metal ions. In practice, the SNFS 1994:2 limit values for P and heavy metals mean that the test ash-digestate mixtures with 1% by weight of ash can be applied to the same field at most twice in a three-year period. Mixtures with 3% by weight of ash can be spread at most every third year and mixtures with 5% by weight of ash at most every fifth year. Batch admixture of ash into liquid digestate is unsuitable, because the majority of the ash settles and forms sediment in the bottom of the tank, despite efficient stirring. For continuous dosage of finely pulverised ash into digestate, a cell wheel made for dosage of liquid manure can be used. However, for dosage into a flow under pressure a sluice is necessary to prevent digestate being pressed up into the ash container. Admixture of ash into solid digestate is another possible alternative, e.g. during movement of the solid fraction from a digestate separator to a store

Instruktion till provtagning och analys av stallgödsel

This report presents instructions for manure sampling and analysis produced within the project MANURE STANDARDS financed by Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme (2014-2020). The project developed joint guidelines for taking representative manure samples, recommendations for manure analysis in the laboratories and a farm-level calculation tool for farm-specific manure mass balance calculation. All materials areavailable in English at: https://www.luke.fi/manurestandards/en/frontpage/