Organic seed propagation: current status and problems in Europe

Report is part of Deliverable 4 of 6th FP SSA project “Environmental friendly food production system: requirements for plant breeding and seed production” (ENVIRFOOD) and contains information about current status and problems in EU regarding to organic seed propagation

Assessment of Spring Barley Populations in Comparison to Homogenous Varieties

The necessity to increase genetic diversity in agriculture has been widely discussed during the last decades. Heterogeneous populations is one of the ways to increase genetic diversity in varieties of self-pollinating cereals. The aim of this research was to compare grain yield, its stability, foliar diseases severity and competitiveness against the weeds of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) populations and homogenous varieties. Field trials consisting of three types of populations (simple, complex and composite cross populations – CCP) containing different levels of diversity and three check varieties were carried out during 2015-2018 under organic and conventional farming systems. No one of the populations had a significantly higher average yield than any of the check varieties. CCP1 showed a tendency to be more productive under organic growing conditions and can be characterized as widely adaptable to various growing conditions with a significantly higher yield as the average overall environments. One of the complex populations showed adaptability to favorable growing conditions and yield insignificantly higher than overall average. Other studied populations can be characterized with wide adaptability and various yield levels. For most of the populations under organic and conventional conditions, a significantly lower net blotch (caused by Pyrenophora teres) severity was observed in comparison with the most susceptible variety; infection with powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis) lower than for check varieties was observed under organic growing conditions, whereas such trend was not observed under conventional conditions. All populations had a significantly lower crop ground cover and slightly lower competiveness against weeds than the variety with the best competitiveness

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSTURAL ALIGNMENT IN STANDING BY PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND STATIC BALANCE IN CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

This study was executed to explore correlation between postural alignment in standing measured through photogrammetry and static balance in children with visual, hearing, intellectual and physical disability. METHODS: Participants were 34 children (age 7-12 years) including 8 children with hearing, 8 with visual, 6 with physical, and 12 children with intellectual disabilities Postural alignment in standing was measured through photogrammetry. Static balance data were obtained in 15 s bipedal stance with eyes open and eyes closed, and also in 10 s unipedal stance. A force plate was used to collect data of Centre of Pressure amplitude in anterior-posterior, medio-lateral directions and velocity. Correlation was obtained using Spearman's Rank Correlation co-efficient in SPSS software (version 19.0). RESULTS: Moderate positive correlation (r = 0.338 to r = 425; p ≤ 0.05) was found between angle of head position and angle of frontal and sagittal ASIS and PSIS level. Also, moderate positive correlation was found between angles in shoulder level and angles of the head (r =  .365 to r = .453, p .05). In assessing the static balance outcomes between the four groups, results presented significant differences in results during bipedal stance with eyes open. CONCLUSION: Degree of forward head posture correlates directly with hip and shoulder anatomical placement. Children with intellectual disability presented larger displacement of the center of pressure with more body sway observed during eyes open condition

Exploring of Discrete and Continuous Input Control for AI-enhanced Assistive Robotic Arms

Robotic arms, integral in domestic care for individuals with motor impairments, enable them to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) independently, reducing dependence on human caregivers. These collaborative robots require users to manage multiple Degrees-of-Freedom (DoFs) for tasks like grasping and manipulating objects. Conventional input devices, typically limited to two DoFs, necessitate frequent and complex mode switches to control individual DoFs. Modern adaptive controls with feed-forward multi-modal feedback reduce the overall task completion time, number of mode switches, and cognitive load. Despite the variety of input devices available, their effectiveness in adaptive settings with assistive robotics has yet to be thoroughly assessed. This study explores three different input devices by integrating them into an established XR framework for assistive robotics, evaluating them and providing empirical insights through a preliminary study for future developments.Comment: Companion of the 2024 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interactio

Biomass Yield of Different Plants for Biogass Production

In order to investigate yield potential of plants probably suitable for biogas production preliminary field trials were carried out at Research and Study farm “Vecauce” in 2010 using eight annual plant species: maize, winter oil-seed rape, oil radish, sunflower, foxtail millet, millet, hemp and amaranth. All species (except oil radish) were represented with several varieties, and some species were harvested at 2-3 development stages. Obtained fresh biomass yield was from 33.05 (millet „Rudes‟) till 74.60 (amaranth „Raudonukai‟) t ha-1, but dry matter yield – from 6.98 (amaranth „Margiai‟) till 22.05 (winter oil-seed rape „Excalibur‟ at GS 85) t ha-1. It was self-evident that biomass yield substantially depended on used species, but also variety influence within the species was relevant. Our data clearly demonstrated substantial (p less then 0.05) harvest time influence by harvesting winter oil-seed rape and maize at three different times; the highest yield was obtained for rape at GS 85, but for maize – in early October. Studies are only at the initial stage and have to be continued

STEM vs. Non-STEM Cultures in a R1 University

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) academic departments are expected to promote cutting-edge education supported by rapidly changing curriculum. Despite perceptions and assumptions for embracing innovation, funding agencies continue to target major educational reform in STEM disciplines, suggesting a lack of success. Research suggests difficulty in implementing curriculum change may be due to a non-innovative organizational culture. We examined whether the organizational culture of STEM academic departments is less change-oriented than assumed, which might explain the constant need for overhauling curriculum. Findings have implications for future funding decisions, STEM departments, and pedagogy in the discipline

A critical analysis of strict product liability in South Africa

The goal of this dissertation is to highlight the ambiguities contained in section 61 of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA), which attempts to introduce strict product liability for the entire supply chain in the event of product failure, and to propose amendments from which both the consumer as well as the supply chain could benefit. The new dispensation of strict product liability will lead to a step away from the no-fault based liability system that our courts have implemented for decades. Although this system is unfamiliar to South Africa, strict liability regimes have been followed in foreign countries for a considerable period of time. A comparative study of the approaches followed in America and Europe, which both advanced strict product liability regimes, will be undertaken in this study in order to illuminate problematic aspects relating to the concept of defect contained in section 61 of the CPA as well as the various duties of the supply chain in a strict product liability regime. It is argued that the provisions of the CPA ought to be supplemented with regulations, including, but not limited to, the implementation of adequate safety regulations to mitigate product recalls and product liability claims.Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012.Mercantile Lawunrestricte

EFFECTS OF SOIL TILLAGE AND SOWING TECHNOLOGIES ON WINTER WHEAT

The influence of soil tillage and sowing technologies on the yield of winter wheat were studied on sod podzolic loam soils in the LUA Research and Study Farm “Vecauce” during 1998 to 2000. Classic early ploughing, late ploughing with soil pacomat and sowing without soil reversing were used as comparison variants o f soil tillage for winter wheat. The using of soil pacomat and local mineral fertilizing increased the yield o f winter wheat in the research conditions. Direct sowing and conservation soil tillage gave a decrease o f grain cost and provide the same level o f yield achieved with classic soil tillage and sowing technologies

FUNGSI TUTURAN KONSTATIF PADA KOMIK PETUALANGAN ASTERIX “LA SERPE D’OR” KARYA RENĖ GOSCINNY DAN ALBERT UDERZO

Skripsi ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan fungsi-fungsi tuturan ilokusi konstatif yang diucapkan oleh tokoh utama Asterix dalan komik Petualangan Asterix “La Serpe d’Or”. Sumber data dalam penelitian ini adalah komik Petualangan Asterix “La Serpe d’Or” karya RenéGoscinny dan Albert Uderzo. Subjek penelitian ini adalah seluruh tuturan dalam komik Petualangan Asterix “La Serpe d’Or”.Sedangkan objek penelitian berupa tuturan konstatif dalam komik Petualangan Asterix “La Serpe d’Or”.Dalam pengumpulan data digunakan metode simak, dengan teknik lanjutan Simak Bebas Libat Cakap (SBLC) dan teknik catat dengan menggunakan tabel data. Untuk menganalisis data digunakan metode padan referensial, dengan daya pilah referensial berupa komponen tutur SPEAKING.Validitas yang diterapkan adalah validitas semantik dan reliabilitas yang digunakan adalah pembacaan berulang-ulang dengan expert judgement sebagai kontrol. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa tuturan konstatif berfungsi: 1) asertif yaitu menegaskan atau mempertahankan suatu kepercayaan (25 data), 2) prediktif yang berarti memperkirakan apa yang akan terjadi atau meramalkan (6 data), 3) deskriptif yang dimaksudkan untuk melukiskan atau menggambarkan (3 data), 4) askriptif yang berarti mengacukan atau mengatribusikan (3 data), 5) informatif yang berarti untuk menasehati, mengumumkan, menekankan, melaporkan, menunjukkan, menceritakan, atau memberikan kesaksian (5 data), 6) konfirmatif yang berarti menilai, mengevaluasi, menyimpulkan, mengkonfirmasi, mendiagnosis, menemukan, memutuskan, memvalidasi, dan membuktikan (29 data), 7) retraktif yakni membenarkan, menolak, menyangkal, membantah, menyanggah, atau menarik kembali (3 data), 8) asentif yaitu menerima, menyepakati, dan menyetujuiberjumlah 6 data, 9) dissentif yaitu membedakan, menidaksepakati, menidaksetujui, dan menolak (6 data), 10) disputatif yang berarti menolak, berkeberatan, memprotes, dan mempertanyakan (12 data), 11) responsif yaitu menjawab, membalas, dan menanggapi (21 data), 12) sugestif yaitu menerka, menebak, berhipotesis, bersepekulasi, dan menyarankan (13 data), dan 13) suppositif yaitu mengasumsikan, berhipotesis, mempostulasikan, menstipulasikan, memperkirakan, dan berteori (7 data). Tuturan konstatif yang berfungsi konfirmatif dalam komik Petualangan Asterix ”La Serpe d’Or” adalah tuturan yang dominan. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa Asterix adalah sosok orang yang cerdasdan bijaksana.Kecerdasan dan kebijaksanaan Asterix terlihat dari kemampuannya dalam menilai, mengevaluasi, mendiagnosis, dan membuktikan fakta yang ada