The pol'al behavior (PB) of a little community in the valley of Sao Francisco in the State of Bahia, Brazil, was studied by the method of functional analysis. By referring to the distinction expressed by R. K. Merton between function (adaptation) & disfunction (inadaptation), the various manifestations of pol'al life were classified. The analysis revealed the presence of a conflict between 2 portions of the community, which might or might not be an adaptation to pol'al life. There remains to be determined the aspect of PB, functional or disfunctional, which exercises the greatest influence: concerning which res always poses a delicate methodological problem. It is apparent that inadaptation has a serious repercussion on adjustment, from which stems a certain frustration felt by the opposition; this, in turn, has repercussions in the tension of the entire community & threatens to bring about its dissolution. Tr by J. A. Broussard from IPSA.
The Asian swamp buffalo, representing 20.51% of the olds buffalo population, has played a major role as source of draft power in the production of major agricultural crops,and secondarily, as source of meat and milk among East and Southeast Asian countries forcenturies. In the past few decades, however, the intensification of crop farming, coupledwith increased farm mechanization, diminished the swamp uffaloes role as source of draftin small farms. Despite this development, their value as source of livelihood and foodremains high in small farm settings. To fully harness the potentials of this huge existinganimal resource to contribute to the growing demand for ruminant-derived products andmore importantly, to benefit the smallholders by way of increased income and access tonutritious food, the direction for its development can be shifted towards improving for meatand milk production. Genetic transformation is pursued thru cross breeding and sustainedbackcrossing with riverine buffalo breeds. For a wide-scale crossbreeding and geneticimprovement program to be achieved and sustained, a national policy has to be legislatedand the necessary program elements need to be institutionalized, including focused fundingand human resources. Critical elements include the establishment of National Gene Pool ofelite riverine buffaloes from where genetic materials for wide-scale crossbreeding will bederived. Complemented with a responsive AI system for maximum use of superior genetics.A scheme to stimulate village buffalo-based entrepreneurship with emphasis on the dairyaspect is essential in order to ensure ready market and increased income among small holdproducers. Further, essential components are relevant research and effective extensionservices. Key Words: Philippine Carabao, Swamp and Riverine Buffalo Crossbreeding, Small FarmEnterprise Development, Buffalo Meat and Milk Production
Introducción: Un uso positivo de internet y de los medios sociales, aprovechando sus oportunidades o afrontando sus peligros, requiere de habilidades digitales. La mediación parental es considerada como un factor crítico para que los adolescentes adquieran estos conocimientos y habilidades digitales, adoptándolos en su comportamiento cotidiano. Metodología: Este artículo examina las relaciones entre las diferentes formas de mediación parental reportadas por los adolescentes, por un lado, y sus competencias digitales y desempeño, por otro. A partir de los datos de una encuesta a una muestra representativa de 524 alumnos matriculados en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (12-16 años) de la Comunidad de Madrid (España) con dos estudios de regresión lineal jerárquica por pasos. Resultados: El análisis mostró que tanto la mediación parental restrictiva como la mediación parental orientada hacia el bienestar de los menores impactan, aunque de forma débil, en las competencias online de los adolescentes: La primera limita el desarrollo de competencias digitales, mientras que la segunda las favorece. Sin embargo, la edad y el tiempo de uso influyen más en la puesta en práctica de competencias digitales. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que las prácticas parentales restrictivas y las prácticas familiares orientadas a advertir y aconsejar a los mejores sobre los riesgos y buenos usos online no son más relevantes que los factores relacionados con la edad y la experiencia de uso en el desempeño digital.
Transport activities are essential for economic and social development. Nevertheless, the transport sector has also shown the fastest growth in energy consumption in the European Union and its contribution to increasing greenhouse gas emissions merits the thorough attention of academics and policy makers. In this paper we analyze the relationship of economic growth and transport activities with transport final energy consumption. Energy Kuznets curves are estimated for a panel data set covering the EU27 countries in the period 1995–2009 for total transport energy use, household transport energy use, and productive transport energy use (all three in absolute and per capita energy use terms). The productive transport energy use and gross value added relationship are further considered as per hour worked. Finally, the control variables of energy prices and differences in the economic structures are tested. Empirical results show that the elasticity of transport energy use with respect to gross value added in per capita terms decreases from a threshold for the three transport energy consumption variables, but the turning point of improved environmental quality is not reached in any instance. ; Fundación Roger Torné, Universidad de Sevilla, Cátedra de Economía de la Energía y del Medio Ambiente 1394/0103 ; Junta de Andalucía proyecto SEJ-132 ; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ECO2014 – 56399-R ; Universidad de Coimbra, Proyecto de I + D EMSURE Energía y Movilidad para el Desarrollo Sostenible Regiones CENTRO 070224 FEDER 002004
A systematic method has been established to perform and analyse in detail the Energy Performance Certification of 21 Faculty Buildings located at the University of Zaragoza (Spain), according to the transposition of Directive 2010/31/EU. First of all, the problem background and a review of the state-of-the-art of the energy certification in buildings is outlined, regarding both the actual state of the Government regulations and the studies undertaken in several countries to assess the energy performance of different types of buildings, residential and non-residential. A summary of the causes found in other studies for the discrepancies between the estimated (by simulation) and actual energy consumption is shown which is afterwards tested and compared with the results found in the present study. Thereafter, the method followed to undertake the buildings' Energy Performance Certification is explained, and the main results found together with the discussion are detailed, comparing actual vs. estimated energy consumption in the different case studies and proposing reasons for these deviations. The energy consumption breakdown by uses for several buildings is also analysed, and potential improvements for the simulation software are assessed.
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) ; Brazilian company Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S/A (Cenibra) ; Brazilian government National Council of Science and Technology (CCT) ; Biosolids are residues from the treatment of urban fluids used as a source of nutrients for agricultural and forestry crops. The organic matter contained in this residue and its chemical characteristics may interfere with the behavior of herbicides in the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of biosolids on the potential for leaching herbicides mimicking auxin. Two simultaneous experiments were performed: a leaching test of picloram + 2.4-D in soil column with addition of thermally treated biosolids or solarized biosolids and another one to evaluate the effect of leachate application from the leaching tests under inert material. Each type of biosolid was incorporated in sandy soil in the proportions of 0%, 50%, 100% and 150% of the maximum recommended dose for subsurface fertilization for eucalyptus. The soil was conditioned in PVC columns and the herbicide columns based on picloram + 2.4-D ( Turuna (R) Commercial Formulation), corresponding to 240 g L-1 of 2.4-D + 64 g L-1 of picloram at a dose of 3.5 L ha(-1) of the commercial product. The columns were submitted to rain simulation and the resulting leachate was collected, followed by its application in sand-filled pots. The Cucumis sativus was sown along the profile of the soil columns and in the pots. The incorporation of the biosolid, independently of the type and dose tested did not interfere in the leaching potential of picloram + 2.4-D. Symptoms of intoxication were observed along all soil columns and pots. Therefore this residue is not very effective for the resolution of environmental problems caused by the leaching of auxin-mimicking herbicides in the soil.
This paper reviews the scientific literature on water buffalo welfare in all stages of the live animal supply chain from the farm gate to slaughter (loading/unloading, markets, transportation, handling, lairage, stunning and slaughter) with the objective of identifying risk factors and potential mitigation strategies. Although in some countries legislation exists to protect the welfare of farm animals during transport and killing, the handling practices used to load and unload buffaloes and move them in livestock markets and abattoirs are often harsh. This is frequently due to inadequate equipment designed principally for cattle, and the fact that water buffaloes are considered more temperamental than cattle. Additionally, more reactive animals have increased stress responses to handling, which can lead to more negative human interventions with increased numbers of skin lesions and bruises to the carcasses. During transport, buffaloes may suffer periods of thermal stress due to overstocking, inadequate ventilation and because in many tropical climates trips are made during the hottest time of the day. The anatomical and physiological characteristics of water buffalo make them particularly susceptible to thermal stress in the absence of water for wallowing. Although water buffaloes belong to the same Bovidae family as domestic cattle, certain anatomical features of the head make effective stunning very problematic. Buffaloes have extensive sinuses and frontal bones, meaning that the penetrating captive bolt devices recommended for cattle may prove ineffective in reliably inducing unconsciousness. There is a need for further development of procedures, stunning positions and appropriate devices to improve the efficiency of buffalo stunning. Finally, in many parts of the world where buffalo are routinely slaughtered in basic conditions without prior stunning. Slaughter without stunning can result in pain and stress associated with delays in the time to loss of consciousness, pain from the cutting of the neck and potential distress associated with aspiration of blood into the respiratory tract. Specific legislation, guidelines and handler/stockman/operator training programmes should be developed to improve the welfare of buffaloes during all ante mortem stages of loading, unloading, handling, stunning and slaughter.
In: Alcohol and alcoholism: the international journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism (MCA) and the journal of the European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ESBRA), Band 50, Heft suppl 1, S. i4.1-i4
In: Alcohol and alcoholism: the international journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism (MCA) and the journal of the European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ESBRA), Band 46, Heft Supplement 1, S. i3-i4
Background Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index 60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04384926. Findings Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16–30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77–0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50–0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80–0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54–0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11 827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include protected elective surgical pathways and long-term investment in surge capacity for acute care during public health emergencies to protect elective staff and services. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, Medtronic, Sarcoma UK, The Urology Foundation, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Background Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index 60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04384926. Findings Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16–30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77–0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50–0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80–0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54–0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include protected elective surgical pathways and long- term investment in surge capacity for acute care during public health emergencies to protect elective staff and services. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, Medtronic, Sarcoma UK, The Urology Foundation, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research.