Concepts and Actors in Organic Livestock Husbandry in Bolivia

Traditional smallholder livestock production is expected to correspond widely with principles of organic livestock farming. Though, the real magnitude of livestock under organic and alike management is unknown. From stakeholder analysis and structured interviews with key persons in Bolivia it is deduced that similarities are widely given, whereas it is questioned whether a formal individual certification approach for livestock products will match the farmer interests and consumer demands

Evaluation of A Post-Treatment Follow-Up Program in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objectives The duration and the frequency of follow-up after treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma are not standardized in the current literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our local standard post-treatment and follow-up protocol. Materials and methods Overall, 228 patients treated curatively from 01/2006 to 07/2013 were reviewed. To evaluate the follow-up program, data on the secondary event were used. To determine risk groups, all patients with tumor recurrence were specifically analyzed. Relapse-free rate were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. The chi-square test was used to identify independent risk factors for tumor relapse. Results In total, 29.8 % patients had a secondary event. The majority of the relapse cases (88.2 %) were detected within 2 years postoperatively, 61.8 % of them within the first year. Most events were local recurrences (34.7 %). UICC-stage IV was significantly associated with tumor recurrence (p = 0.001). Gender (p = 0.188), age (p = 0.195), localization (p = 0.739), T-stage (p = 0.35), N-stage (p = 0.55), histologic grade (p = 0.162), and tobacco and alcohol use (p = 0.248) were not significantly associated with tumor recurrence. Patients with positive neck nodes relapsed earlier (p = 0.011). The majority of relapses (86.3 %) were found in asymptomatic patients at routine follow-up. Conclusions The results of this study suggest an intensified follow-up within the first 2 years after surgery. Clinical relevance Given the higher relapse rate of patients exhibiting an UICC-stage IV and/or positive neck nodes, it seems to be from special interest to perform in this group a risk-adapted follow-up with monthly examinations also in the second year

Southern California partyboat sampling study Quarterly Report no. 7

From January 1 through March 31, 1977, Department personnel made 100 sampling trips aboard southern California partyboats. A total of 16,400 fishes from 68 species was identified and measured. Otoliths, for age determination studies, were removed from 301 rockfish carcasses representing 23 species. The 10 most common species sampled during this quarter were bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis (38.5%); chilipepper, S. goodei (9.8%); widow rockfish, S. entomelas (7.7%); blue rockfish, S. mystinus (6.2%); olive rockfish, S. serranoides (4.2%); Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus (2.8%); vermilion rockfish, Sebastes miniatus (2.7%); speckled rockfish, S. ovalis (2.7%); greenspotted rockfish, S. chlorostictus (2.5%); and squarespot rockfish, S. hopkinsi (2.4%). Fishing effort during this quarter was directed almost exclusively toward "rockcod", as it was for the same period in 1976. (23pp.

Two tone response of radiofrequency signals using the voltage output of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Filter

In the presence of weak time harmonic electromagnetic fields, Superconducting Quantum Interference Filters (SQIFs) show the typical behavior of non linear mixers. The SQIFs are manufactured from high-T_c grain boundary Josephson junctions and operated in active microcooler. The dependence of dc voltage output V_dc vs. static external magnetic field B is non-periodic and consists of a well pronounced unique dip at zero field, with marginal side modulations at higher fields. We have successfully exploited the parabolic shape of the voltage dip around B=0 to mix quadratically two external time harmonic rf-signals, at frequencies f_1 and f_2 below the Josephson frequency f_J, and detect the corresponding mixing signal at f_1-f_2. When the mixing takes place on the SQIF current-voltage characteristics the component at 2f_2 - f_1 is present. The experiments suggest potential applications of a SQIF as a non-linear mixing device, capable to operate at frequencies from dc to few GHz with a large dynamic range.Comment: 10 pages, 3 Figures, submitted to J. Supercond. (as proceeding of the HTSHFF Symposium, June 2006, Cardiff

The Isolated Orbital Floor Fracture from a Transconjunctival or Subciliary Perspective-A Standardized Anthropometric Evaluation

Background: The influence of orbital fractures and their repair on the rate of deformities of the lower eyelid is an ongoing source of discussion in the literature. Most of the present studies include isolated blow-out as well as combined orbital fractures. Material and Methods: We present a retrospective evaluation of a series of 100 patients after isolated blow-out fracture repair using reference anthropometric data on standardized photographs. Analysis included eye fissure width and height, lid sulcus height, upper lid height, upper and lower iris coverage, position of cornea to palpebra inferior, canthal tilt, scleral show, ectropion and entropion. It was clearly distinguished between operated and contralateral eyelid, whether a transconjunctival or a subciliary approach was performed and amount of fracture. Our main interests were changes of the aforementioned parameters with regards to eyelid deformities. Results: Surgery per se did not significantly influence eyelid deformities. However, the surgical approach selected significantly affected eye fissure index, lower iris coverage and rate of scleral show, indicating retraction of the lower eyelid. Conclusions: The standardized measurements described here are accurate and objective to evaluate postoperative results. The subciliary approach included the highest risk of lower lid retraction as compared to transconjunctival approaches

\u3cem\u3eDesmodium velutinum\u3c/em\u3e: A High-Quality Shrub Legume for Acid Soils in the Tropics

Drought tolerant legume shrubs can enhance the sustainability of smallholder production systems in the tropics through the provision, year-round, of high-quality feed and through their positive effect on soil. Desmodium velutinum (Willd.) DC. is one of the few shrub species that have been identified as (1) well adapted to acid tropical soils and (2) of good nutritive value (Schultze-Kraft, 1996). It is a perennial native to SE Asia and tropical Africa growing up to 3 m high, the velutinous (velvety) surfaces of its 1-foliolate leaves being a characteristic feature. It grows well on soils ranging from pH 4.0 to alkaline, prefers high rainfall (1000 to \u3e 3000 mm/year) but tolerates up to five dry months. Though previous work in West Africa (e.g., Mzamane & Agishi, 1986) and South America (e.g., Thomas & Schultze-Kraft, 1990) has indicated the potential of the species, there are only few studies and these are restricted to only one or a few accessions. It is important to assess the genetic diversity and agronomic variability in the germplasm collection of about 140 accessions that is now available in order to identify a core collection and accessions with promising agronomic performance and nutritive value. Possible relationships between accession origins, morphological-agronomic characteristics, and genetic diversity need to be assessed. The first-year results from a field experiment on forage yield and quality are presented here. The project is financially supported by the Volkswagen Stiftung, Hannover, Germany