SOCIOCULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VALUES – ORGANIC FOOD CONSUMPTION IN FAIRS AND SUPERMARKETS IN CAMPINAS, SP. BRAZIL

This scientific research was meant to encompass the meaning of economic and sociocultural consumption and its relationship to human values such as: environmental respect, commitment to health principles, solidarity among rural and urban social groups, and economic aspects (prices etc.)

Reflecting on the experiential journey: Creating, developing and understanding leadership in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within a Faculty

London South Bank University (LSBU) appointed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) leads in each of its Schools in 2021/22. The leaders’ remit was to deliver and embed LSBU’s EDI strategy cognisant of the uniqueness of the Schools. LSBU’s pioneering EDI strategy has been recognised as a symbol of excellence and shortlisted for two national EDI awards. The composition of LSBU’s academic senior management does not yet fully reflect the intersectional diversity of the organisation. Therefore, this session aims to share the experience of LSBU’s EDI leads and facilitate discussion about the benchmarks for achieving leadership in EDI within a School

Tracing Uganda’s global primary organic pineapple value chain

The organic sector is one of the fastest growing sectors globally. The sector provides an opportunity for developing countries to export high value products in the global market. One such opportunity for Uganda is the export of organic pineapples. The organic pineapple enterprise is relatively new, having existed for approximately 10 years. This paper traces the organic pineapple value chain, characterises and explains the functions of the actors in the chain. The study used the Global Value Chain Analysis Framework, using data obtained from 140 organic farmers, 10 exporters and 3 support institutions in Uganda. It is clear from the study that the chain is private- sector-driven, has relatively young smallholder farmers, and comprises of 10 small scale export companies. Only 45% of the organic pineapples produced by farmers reach the organic consumers. Reasons for this included limited processing capacity of exporters, competition from conventional buyers and the few local organic consumers. Other reasons were declining soil fertility, limited regulative institutional support and poor infrastructure. We recommend increased use of soil amendments, favourable legislations and investment environment, increased horizontal coordination among exporters and increasing the range of the organic export products in order to increase organic pineapple sales.Keywords: Certification, organic consumer value strea

The role of the P2X7 receptor on bone loss in a mouse model of inflammation-mediated osteoporosis

In inflammatory autoimmune diseases, bone loss is frequent. In most cases, secondary osteoporosis is caused by treatment with systemic glucocorticoid. However, the pathogenesis behind the bone loss is presumed multifactorial. We aimed to elucidate the role of the P2X7 receptor on bone mineral density (BMD), microarchitecture, and bone strength in a standardized mouse model of inflammation-mediated osteoporosis (IMO). In total 146 mice completed our protocol, 70 wild type (WT) mice and 76 P2X7−/− (knockout, KO). BMD at the femur and spine decreased significantly from baseline to day 20 in the WT IMO mice (p < 0.01). In the WT vehicle, KO vehicle and KO IMO, no significant BMD changes were found. Bone strength showed a lower mid-shaft max strength (p = 0.038) and also a non-significant trend towards lower strength at the femoral neck of the WT IMO group. Trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and connectivity density (CD) after 20 days were significantly decreased in the WT IMO group (p = 0.001). In contrast, the WT vehicle and KO vehicle, BV/TV and CD did no change at 20 days. Cortical bone revealed no significant microarchitectural changes after 20 days in the WT IMO group, whereas the total cortical area increased significantly in WT vehicle and KO IMO after 20 days (5.2% and 8.8%, respectively). In conclusion, the P2X7 receptor KO mice did not respond to inflammation with loss of BMD whereas the WT mice had a significant loss of BMD, bone strength and trabecular microarchitecture, demonstrating a role for the P2X7 receptor in inflammatory bone loss

Nocturnal sleep, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life in stable patients on hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of chronic kidney disease, compromised quality of life continues to be a significant problem for patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). However, in spite of the high prevalence of sleep complaints and disorders in this population, the relationship between these problems and quality of life remains to be well characterized. Thus, we studied a sample of stable HD patients to explore relationships between quality of life and both subjective and objective measures of nocturnal sleep and daytime sleepiness METHODS: The sample included forty-six HD patients, 24 men and 22 women, with a mean age of 51.6 (10.8) years. Subjects underwent one night of polysomnography followed the next morning by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), an objective measure of daytime sleepiness. Subjects also completed: 1) a brief nocturnal sleep questionnaire; 2) the Epworth Sleepiness Scale; and, 3) the Quality of Life Index (QLI, Dialysis Version) which provides an overall QLI score and four subscale scores for Health & Functioning (H&F), Social & Economic (S&E), Psychological & Spiritual (P&S), and Family (F). (The range of scores is 0 to 30 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.) RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation; SD) of the overall QLI was 22.8 (4.0). The mean (SD) of the four subscales were as follows: H&F – 21.1 (4.7); S&E – 22.0 (4.8); P&S – 24.5 (4.4); and, F – 26.8 (3.5). H&F (r(s )= -0.326, p = 0.013) and F (r(s )= -0.248, p = 0.048) subscale scores were negatively correlated with periodic limb movement index but not other polysomnographic measures. The H&F subscale score were positively correlated with nocturnal sleep latency (r(s )= 0.248, p = 0.048) while the H&F (r(s )= 0.278, p = 0.030) and total QLI (r(s )= 0.263, p = 0.038) scores were positively associated with MSLT scores. Both of these latter findings indicate that higher life quality is associated with lower sleepiness levels. ESS scores were unrelated to overall QLI scores or the subscale scores. Subjective reports of difficulty falling asleep and waking up too early were significantly correlated with all four subscale scores and overall QLI. Feeling rested in the morning was positively associated with S&E, P&S, and Total QLI scores. CONCLUSION: Selected measures of both poor nocturnal sleep and increased daytime sleepiness are associated with decreased quality of life in HD patients, underscoring the importance of recognizing and treating these patients' sleep problems

Stable Hydrogen Isotope Analysis of Bat Hair as Evidence for Seasonal Molt and Long-Distance Migration

Although hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) are presumed to be migratory and capable of long-distance dispersal, traditional marking techniques have failed to provide direct evidence of migratory movements by individuals. We measured the stable hydrogen isotope ratios of bat hair (∂Dh) and determined how these values relate to stable hydrogen isotope ratios of precipitation (∂Dp). Our results indicate that the major assumptions of stable isotope migration studies hold true for hoary bats and that the methodology provides a viable means of determining their migratory movements. We present evidence that a single annual molt occurs in L. cinereus prior to migration and that there is a strong relationship between ∂Dh and ∂Dp during the molt period. This presumably reflects the incorporation of local ∂Dp into newly grown hair. Furthermore, we present evidence that individual hoary bats are capable of traveling distances in excess of 2,000 km and that hair is grown at a wide range of latitudes and elevations. Stable hydrogen isotope analysis offers a promising new tool for the study of bat migration

Stable Hydrogen Isotope Analysis of Bat Hair as Evidence for Seasonal Molt and Long-Distance Migration

Although hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) are presumed to be migratory and capable of long-distance dispersal, traditional marking techniques have failed to provide direct evidence of migratory movements by individuals. We measured the stable hydrogen isotope ratios of bat hair (∂Dh) and determined how these values relate to stable hydrogen isotope ratios of precipitation (∂Dp). Our results indicate that the major assumptions of stable isotope migration studies hold true for hoary bats and that the methodology provides a viable means of determining their migratory movements. We present evidence that a single annual molt occurs in L. cinereus prior to migration and that there is a strong relationship between ∂Dh and ∂Dp during the molt period. This presumably reflects the incorporation of local ∂Dp into newly grown hair. Furthermore, we present evidence that individual hoary bats are capable of traveling distances in excess of 2,000 km and that hair is grown at a wide range of latitudes and elevations. Stable hydrogen isotope analysis offers a promising new tool for the study of bat migration

Urbanization and transformation of agri-food system: Opportunities for organic producers in developing countries

Developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa are pronominally agricultural based. Where the majority of the population resides in rural areas and engaged in agriculture as a source of livelihood. However, recently there has been a growing debate globally on rapid urban population growth in developing countries. The aim of this paper is to present opportunities for organic producers emanating from transformations of agri-food systems in urban area. The paper is based on research activities of a project ‘Productivity and Growth in Organic Value Chains (ProGrOV)’. ProGrOV is collaboration between universities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Denmark addressing the need for sustainable development of smallholder farming systems in East Africa with focus on value chains for local high-value markets as well as export chains. The project addresses innovations for improving production as well as market access. The transformations of agri-food systems addressed in this paper resulting from urbanization are evidenced by proliferation of supermarkets, specialized organic-food shops, food supply to tourist industry and traditional farmer markets. Efforts for promoting organic products in East Africa have traditionally focused on export markets this paper based on evidence from ProGrOV studies argue that there is opportunity for developing domestic organic product value chains to meet the demand from urban population growth and transformed agri-food systems