Integrating a finantial module in the Web-Ecoyield-SAFE model for bioeconomic assessment of agroforestry systems

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The potential for adoption of climate smart agricultural practices in Sub-Saharan livestock systems

Livestock systems play an important role in the livelihoods of many rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa while being responsible for an important share of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to evaluate the potential for adoption of climate smart agricultural practices in Sub-Saharan livestock systems, related to the improvement in feed, animal husbandry, and grassland management. These practices present productivity and mitigation benefits and in some cases may also contribute to enhance resilience. In this study, we used a data set of 1538 farm households across nine Sub-Saharan countries. A mixed logit model was used to assess the influence on adoption and to estimate the probability of adoption. Our results show that there seems to be stronger influence of physical and financial capitals on adoption than the other capitals. Different types of capitals influence the uptake of different agricultural practices. Yet the probability of adoption would change across countries. The results of this study could help to refine adoption estimates calculated through global or regional modelling approaches and to inform the design of policies to better target investments in order to foster adoption

Modelling the economics of agroforestry at field- and farm-scale

This report (Deliverable 6.18) assesses the economics of agroforestry systems at field- and farm-scales and compares them with alternative land uses such as arable cropping, pasture and forestry. This analysis is undertaken in terms of financial profitability (e.g. from a farmer perspective) and economic benefits (e.g. from a societal perspective)N/

Assessing the environmental externalities of arable, forestry and silvoarable systems: new developments in farm-SAFE

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Topical application of acyclovir-loaded microparticles: quantification of the drug in porcine skin layers.

The goal of this work was to increase the amount of acyclovir (ACV) in the basal epidermis, site of Herpes virus simplex infections, using microparticles as carriers. Poly(d,l-lactic–co-glycolic acid) microparticles loaded with ACV were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique. ACV distribution into porcine skin after topical application of microparticles for 6, 24 and 88 h, was determined by horizontal slicing of the skin. An ACV suspension served for comparison. The results showed that, at 6 and 24 h, the quantity of the drug in the basal epidermis with the microparticles, is similar to that obtained with the ACV suspension. However, after 88 h, the ACV reservoir in the basal epidermis was higher with the microparticles compared with the control suspension. This could be explained by the controlled drug release produced by the vector in the basal epidermis. Besides, at 88 h the amount of ACV detected in the receptor chamber of the diffusion cells was much lower with the microparticles than with the suspension. This type of carrier can improve acyclovir topical therapy since it increases drug retention in the basal epidermis and consequently increases the time intervals between doses

Using EcoYieldSAFE to compare soil carbon dynamics under future climate in two contrasting agroforestry systems

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Keeping a parameter-sparse concept in agroforestry modeling while integrating new processes and dynamics: new developments in yield-safe

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Optimization of topical cidofovir penetration using microparticles.

Edelfosine is the prototype molecule of a family of anticancer drugs collectively known as synthetic alkyl-lysophospholipids. This drug holds promise as a selective antitumor agent, and a number of preclinical assays are in progress. In this study, we observe the accumulation of edelfosine in brain tissue after its oral administration in Compritol® and Precirol® lipid nanoparticles (LN). The high accumulation of edelfosine in brain was due to the inhibition of P-glycoprotein by Tween® 80, as verified using a P-glycoprotein drug interaction assay. Moreover, these LN were tested in vitro against the C6 glioma cell line, which was later employed to establish an in vivo xenograft mouse model of glioma. In vitro studies revealed that edelfosine-loaded LN induced an antiproliferative effect in C6 glioma cell line. In addition, in vivo oral administration of drug-loaded LN in NMRI nude mice bearing a C6 glioma xenograft tumor induced a highly significant reduction in tumor growth (p < 0.01) 14 days after the beginning of the treatment. Our results showed that Tween® 80 coated Compritol® and Precirol® LN can effectively inhibit the growth of C6 glioma cells in vitro and suggest that edelfosine-loaded LN represent an attractive option for the enhancement of antitumor activity on brain tumors in vivo

Agroforestry systems of high natural and cultural value in Europe: structure, management, goods and services

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