Compositional dynamics of multilevel innovation platforms in agricultural research for development

Article purchasedInnovation platforms (IPs) form a popular vehicle in agricultural research for development (AR4D) to facilitate stakeholder interaction, agenda setting, and collective action toward sustainable agricultural development. In this article, we analyze multilevel stakeholder engagement in fulfilling seven key innovation system functions. Data are gathered from experiences with interlinked community and (sub)national IPs established under a global AR4D program aimed at stimulating sustainable agricultural development in Central Africa. Our findings show that all innovation systems functions required multilevel action, but that fulfillment of specific functions demands for strategic involvement of specific stakeholders at specific levels. We observed that a research- and dissemination-oriented sequence in the functions was prioritized in AR4D IPs and argue that such a sequence may be different in other types of (business) IPs. Our findings provide an incentive to think function oriented about compositional dynamics (stakeholder groups * levels) in innovation processes, rather than striving for equal stakeholder participation

Integrated Soil Fertility Management: Contributions of framework and practices to climate-smart agriculture

Updated on 13/09/2016. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is a set of practices related to cropping, fertilizers, organic resources and other amendments on smallholder farms to increase production and input use efficiency. ISFM delivers productivity gains, increased resilience, and mitigation benefits. ISFM benefits food security and incomes enhances yield stability in rainfed systems, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from soils and fertilizers making it of value to climate-smart agriculture

Elucidation of in Vitro Chlorinated Tyrosine Adducts in Blood Plasma as Selective Biomarkers of Chlorine Exposure

[Image: see text] Chlorine is a widely available industrial chemical and involved in a substantial number of cases of poisoning. It has also been used as a chemical warfare agent in military conflicts. To enable forensic verification, the persistent biomarkers 3-chlorotyrosine and 3,5-dichlorotyrosine in biomedical samples could be detected. An important shortfall of these biomarkers, however, is the relatively high incidence of elevated levels of chlorinated tyrosine residues in individuals with inflammatory diseases who have not been exposed to chlorine. Therefore, more reliable biomarkers are necessary to distinguish between endogenous formation and exogeneous exposure. The present study aims to develop a novel diagnostic tool for identifying site-specific chlorinated peptides as a more unambiguous indicator of exogeneous chlorine exposure. Human blood plasma was exposed in vitro to various chlorine concentrations, and the plasma proteins were subsequently digested by pronase, trypsin, or pepsin. After sample preparation, the digests were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS/MS). In line with other studies, low levels of 3-chlorotyrosine and 3,5-dichlorotyrosine were found in blank plasma samples in this study. Therefore, 50 site-specific biomarkers were identified, which could be used as more unambiguous biomarkers for chlorine exposure. Chlorination of the peptides TY*ETTLEK, Y*KPGQTVK, Y*QQKPGQAPR, HY*EGSTVPEK, and Y*LY*EIAR could already be detected at moderate in vitro chlorine exposure levels. In addition, the latter two peptides were found to have dichlorinated fragments. Especially, Y*LY*EIAR, with a distinct chlorination pattern in the MS spectra, could potentially be used to differentiate exogeneous exposure from endogenous causes as other studies reported that this part of human serum albumin is nitrated rather than chlorinated under physiological conditions. In conclusion, trypsin digestion combined with high-resolution MS analysis of chlorinated peptides could constitute a valuable technique for the forensic verification of exposure to chlorine

Coffee-Banana Intercropping: Implementation guidance for policymakers and investors

Coffee-Banana Intercropping (VBI) addresses all 3 pillars of CSA in a multifaceted way. CBI in both Arabica nad Robusta generates 50% more revenue then either coffee or banana monocrop. Farmers' risk is reduced by practising CBI, making them more resilient to climate change impacts. Transformational changes are needed in the attitude towards CBI, to support scaling up of the practice

HUBUNGAN PANJANG TUNGKAI DENGAN KEMAMPUAN LOMPATRNJAUH PADA MAHASISWA PROGRAM STUDI PENJASKESREK FKIP UNIVERSITAS SYIAH KUALA TAHUN AKADEMIK 2012/2013

Banda Ace

Cost-minimisation analysis of a treat-and-extend regimen with anti-VEGFs in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: Although intraocular anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGFs) are effective as treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), the (economic) burden on the healthcare system is considerable. A treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen is associated with a lower number of injections without compromising the effectiveness and can therefore help optimise nAMD treatment. This study investigates the per-patient costs associated with nAMD treatment, when using aflibercept, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab with a T&E regimen. METHODS: In this cost-minimisation model, the per-patient costs in the Netherlands were modelled using a healthcare payers’ perspective over a 3-year time horizon with the assumption that efficacy of treatments is similar. Additionally, the break-even price of the different anti-VEGFs was calculated relative to the cheapest option and injection frequency. RESULTS: The injection frequency varied from 14.2 for aflibercept to 27.4 for bevacizumab in 3 years. Nonetheless, bevacizumab remains the cheapest treatment option (€14,215), followed by aflibercept (€18,202) and ranibizumab (€31,048). The medication covers the majority of the per-patient costs for aflibercept and ranibizumab, while administration covers the majority of the per-patient costs for bevacizumab. The break-even prices of aflibercept and ranibizumab are respectively €507 and €60.58 per injection. Brolucizumab was included in the scenario analysis and was more expensive than aflibercept (€20,446). Brolucizumab should reduce to 13.8 injections over 3 years to be as costly as aflibercept. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab is the cheapest anti-VEGF treatment. The list prices of all anti-VEGFs should reduce to be as costly as bevacizumab. Aflibercept is the second-choice treatment and so far brolucizumab is not