Aardehuizen / Permacultuur Meerstad Groningen

Dit onderzoek is opgesplitst in verschillende deelonderzoeken. In het eerste onderzoek is permacultuur onderzocht. Dit onderzoek gaat in op de ontwerpprincipes van permacultuur. Het onderzoek legt daarna uit wat ontwerpkenmerken zijn. Vervolgens worden er voorbeelden gegeven van permacultuur principes die vertaald zijn naar ontwerpkenmerken. Tot slot wordt er beschreven hoe de principes in het ontwerp zijn toegepast. In het tweede deelonderzoek is onderzocht hoe een agrarisch bedrijf functioneert binnen de permacultuur principes. Het agrarisch bedrijf zal de motor van de wijk worden. Het bedrijf zal de wijk voorzien van voedsel en het afval zal wordt verwerkt tot energie. Het bedrijf vervult een centrale rol binnen de opzet van de wijk. Deze samenleving werkt nauw samen om voedsel te produceren en te verwerken. In het derde deel is het concept Earthship bestudeerd. Dit onderzoek heeft voornamelijk betrekking op de toepassing van materialen en technische systemen waarvan verschillende Earthships gebruik maken. Aan de hand van deze twee onderwerpen worden de Earthships geanalyseerd, vanuit het bouwkundig en architectonisch oogpunt en met de voorafgaande onderzoeken in het achterhoofd. Studentenonderzoek in het kader van het thema Duurzaam bouwe

Groene keuzes voor de Nederlandse basisindustrie: Klimaatneutrale productie in een circulaire economie

Dit rapport schetst hoe de Nederlandse basisindustrie in 2050 klimaatneutraal en circulair kan produceren. Het is gebaseerd op discussies binnen het Sustainable Industry Lab vanaf medio 2021. De transitie van de basisindustrie is uitdagend, maar de ligging aan de Noordzee en het netwerk van industriële bedrijven, toeleveranciers en kennisinstellingen, maken het plausibel en wenselijk dat Nederland een flinke basisindustrie behoudt. Dat vraagt echter om keuzes, waarover de meningen uiteen lopen. We schetsen daarom ook hoe verschillende sociaal-maatschappelijke toekomstbeelden deze keuzes beïnvloeden

One CGIAR and the Integrated Agri-food Systems Initiative: From short-termism to transformation of the world’s food systems

Agri-food systems are besieged by malnutrition, yield gaps, and climate vulnerability, but integrated, research-based responses in public policy, agricultural, value chains, and finance are constrained by short-termism and zero sum thinking. As they respond to current and emerging agri-food system challenges, decision makers need new tools that steer toward multi-sector, evidence-based collaboration. To support national agri-food system policy processes, the Integrated Agri-food System Initiative (IASI) methodology was devel oped and validated through case studies in Mexico and Colombia. This holistic, multi-sector methodology builds on diverse existing data resources and leverages situation analysis, modeled predictions, and scenarios to synchronize public and private action at the national level toward sustainable, equitable, and inclusive agri-food systems. Culminating in collec tively agreed strategies and multi-partner tactical plans, the IASI methodology enabled a multi-level systems approach by mobilizing design thinking to foster mindset shifts and stakeholder consensus on sustainable and scalable innovations that respond to real-time dynamics in complex agri-food systems. To build capacity for these types of integrated, con text-specific approaches, greater investment is needed in supportive international institu tions that function as trusted in-region ‘innovation brokers.’ This paper calls for a structured global network to advance adaptation and evolution of essential tools like the IASI methodol ogy in support of the One CGIAR mandate and in service of positive agri-food systems transformation

Precision for Smallholder Farmers: A Small-Scale-Tailored Variable Rate Fertilizer Application Kit

Precision agriculture technology at the hands of smallholder farmers in the developing world is often deemed far-fetched. Low-resource farmers, however, are the most susceptible to negative changes in the environment. Providing these farmers with the right tools to mitigate adversity and to gain greater control of the production process could unlock their potential and support rural communities to meet the increasing global food demand. In this study, a real-time variable rate fertilizer application system was developed and tested as an add-on kit to conventional farm machinery. In the context of low investment costs for smallholder farmers, high user-friendliness and easy installment were the main concerns for the system to be viable. The system used nitrogen (N)-sensors to assess the plant nutrient status on the spot and subsequently adjust the amount of fertilizer deposited according to the plant’s needs. Test bench trials showed that the add-on kit performed well with basic operations, but more precision is required. Variability between N-sensors and metering systems, combined with power fluctuations, created inaccuracies in the resulting application rate. Nevertheless, this work is a stepping stone towards catalyzing the elaboration of more cutting-edge precision solutions to support small-scale farmers to become successful, high producing agro-entrepreneurs

Precision for Smallholder Farmers: A Small-Scale-Tailored Variable Rate Fertilizer Application Kit

Precision agriculture technology at the hands of smallholder farmers in the developing world is often deemed far-fetched. Low-resource farmers, however, are the most susceptible to negative changes in the environment. Providing these farmers with the right tools to mitigate adversity and to gain greater control of the production process could unlock their potential and support rural communities to meet the increasing global food demand. In this study, a real-time variable rate fertilizer application system was developed and tested as an add-on kit to conventional farm machinery. In the context of low investment costs for smallholder farmers, high user-friendliness and easy installment were the main concerns for the system to be viable. The system used nitrogen (N)-sensors to assess the plant nutrient status on the spot and subsequently adjust the amount of fertilizer deposited according to the plant’s needs. Test bench trials showed that the add-on kit performed well with basic operations, but more precision is required. Variability between N-sensors and metering systems, combined with power fluctuations, created inaccuracies in the resulting application rate. Nevertheless, this work is a stepping stone towards catalyzing the elaboration of more cutting-edge precision solutions to support small-scale farmers to become successful, high producing agro-entrepreneurs

Atelectasis and bilateral pneumothorax after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery: A case report and review

Respiratory complications after orthognathic surgery are rare but may be life-threatening. Upper airway impairment, atelectasis, pneumonia, pneumomediastinum, and pneumothorax have been reported. This article reports on a 19-year-old woman suffering from atelectasis, pneumomediastinum and a bilateral pneumothorax after bimaxillary surgery. Possible aetiologies for this cascade of complications are volutrauma and/or air dissecting down the cervical fascial planes. The bilateral pneumothorax is preferably treated with the placement of thoracic drains because of the high early success rates. Orthognathic surgeons should be aware of this potentially life-threatening complication. Keywords: Orthognathic surgery, Complications, Atelectasis, Pneumothorax, Pneumomediastinu

Hydrological classification, a practical tool for mangrove restoration

Mangrove restoration projects, aimed at restoring important values of mangrove forests after degradation, often fail because hydrological conditions are disregarded. We present a simple, but robust methodology to determine hydrological suitability for mangrove species, which can guide restoration practice. In 15 natural and 8 disturbed sites (i.e. disused shrimp ponds) in three case study regions in south-east Asia, water levels were measured and vegetation species composition was determined. Using an existing hydrological classification for mangroves, sites were classified into hydrological classes, based on duration of inundation, and vegetation classes, based on occurrence of mangrove species. For the natural sites hydrological and vegetation classes were similar, showing clear distribution of mangrove species from wet to dry sites. Application of the classification to disturbed sites showed that in some locations hydrological conditions had been restored enough for mangrove vegetation to establish, in some locations hydrological conditions were suitable for various mangrove species but vegetation had not established naturally, and in some locations hydrological conditions were too wet for any mangrove species (natural or planted) to grow. We quantified the effect that removal of obstructions such as dams would have on the hydrology and found that failure of planting at one site could have been prevented. The hydrological classification needs relatively little data, i.e. water levels for a period of only one lunar tidal cycle without additional measurements, and uncertainties in the measurements and analysis are relatively small. For the study locations, the application of the hydrological classification gave important information about how to restore the hydrology to suitable conditions to improve natural regeneration or to plant mangrove species, which could not have been obtained by estimating elevation only. Based on this research a number of recommendations are given to improve the effectiveness of mangrove restoration projects.</p

Development of methods for the determination of pK\u3csub\u3ea\u3c/sub\u3e values

\u3cp\u3eThe acid dissociation constant (pK\u3csub\u3ea\u3c/sub\u3e) is among the most frequently used physicochemical parameters, and its determination is of interest to a wide range of research fields. We present a brief introduction on the conceptual development of pK\u3csub\u3ea\u3c/sub\u3e as a physical parameter and its relationship to the concept of the pH of a solution. This is followed by a general summary of the historical development and current state of the techniques of pK\u3csub\u3ea\u3c/sub\u3e determination and an attempt to develop determination and an attempt to develop insight into future developments. Fourteen methods of determining the acid dissociation constant are placed in context and are critically evaluated to make a fair comparison and to determine their applications in modern chemistry. Additionally, we have studied these techniques in light of present trends in science and technology and attempt to determine how these trends might affect future developments in the field.\u3c/p\u3