The Bioeconomics of Conservation Agriculture and Soil Carbon Sequestration in Developing Countries

Improving soil carbon through conservation agriculture in developing countries may generate some private benefits to farmers, as well as sequester carbon emissions, which is a positive externality to society. Leaving crop residue on the farm has become an important option in conservation agriculture practice. However, in developing countries, using crop residue for conservation agriculture has the opportunity cost of feed for livestock. In this paper, we model and develop an expression for an optimum economic incentive that is necessary to internalize the positive externality. A crude value of the tax is calculated using data from Kenya. We also empirically investigated the determinants of the crop residue left on the farm and found that it depends on the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil, the prices of maize, whether extension officers visit the plot or not, household size, the level of education of the household head, and alternative cost of soil conservation.conservation agriculture, soil carbon, climate change, bioeconomics, Kenya

Intravenous access in distressed children : effects of midazolam and nitrous oxide on success rate, hormone and metabolic stress responses

Background and Aims: Intravenous (IV) access has demonstrated high levels of pain and distress in children. A stress full IV access should be avoided, primarily by the children, but also for the parents and staff. When testing children with suspected endocrine and metabolic disorders there is a substantial risk that a stressful IV access influences the hormone releases and metabolic response. The aims of this thesis were to facilitate painful procedures and IV access in children at a paediatric outpatient clinic. To study the feasibility, effects and stress response of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) compared to Midazolam and EMLA alone in children with endocrine disorders and obesity. Material and Methods: Children with anxiety or previous difficulties establishing IV access were included (n=140). 50 children were openly randomised to EMLA (n=25) or EMLA+ N2O (n=25). 90 children (60 obese and 30 growth retarded) were double blinded randomised to; midazolam, 0.3mg/kg, max 15 mg, (n=30), 50% N2O (n=30), and to 10% N2O (n=30). A subgroup of 20 anxious children undergoing repeatedly painful procedures was also included. These children underwent two procedures with EMLA and EMLA+N2O, the order of priority being randomised. Measurments: Number of attempts; defined both as the number required to succeed in setting up double IV lines, and as a successful IV line procedure with 2 attempts for two iv lines vs >2 attempts, IV access time; defined as time from start of setting up the IV lines until two IV lines were established. Recovery time; defined as the time from establishment of the IV lines until regained alertness. Total procedure time; defined as IV access time plus recovery time. Evaluations; children’s, parents’ and nurses’ satisfaction of the IV line procedure, Pain; evaluated by the child. Sedation levels; assessed using the Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Score. Blood samples were obtained during 30 minutes at four time points after achieving venous access and, if possible, after 24 hours. 1; 0−1 min, 2; 5−6 min, 3; 14−15 min, and 4; 29−30 min. Analyses were compared between treatments and treatments over time. 60 children (40 obese and 20 growth retarded), served as controls. Results: Comparing all study children together with IV access problems, a significant difference in number of attempts between the treatments groups were seen (P<0.001) with differences between midazolam compared with 50% N2O and EMLA compared with midazoalm, 10%, 50% N2O. The percentage of successfully IV line procedures were 70% using 50% N2O. The children’s evaluations were significantly more positive for 50% N2O during IV access and painful procedures. 50% N2O was more efficient measured as total procedure time (P<0.001) and especially in obese children an unfavourable long procedure time was observed after midazolam. Significantly lower cortisol levels were detected when midazolam was used compared to both 50% and 10% N2O and to unstressed controls. Glucose levels among growth retarded children increased from 0 to 30 min, whereas the opposite was found in obese children regardless of treatment. The growth hormone levels decreased with time in the midazolam group compared to 50% and 10% N2O, where the effect of time was reversed. Conclusion: 50% N2O in combination with EMLA, was in all aspects superior to midazolam for facilitation of IV access for distressed children. The IV access procedure was more efficient, with a shorter total procedure time and an increased number of successful IV lines. Midazolam should only be used exceptionally in obese children due to the long recovery time. Treatment with N2O and midazolam influence the results of hormone analyses in the form of different levels and trends in glucose and stress hormones

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and the risk of injuries requiring hospitalization

Background and purpose Previous studies have suggested that Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is associated with repetitive trauma, coagulation problems and anatomical abnormalities of the blood supply to the femoral head. The hypothesis that repetitive trauma can affect the blood supply of the femoral head, leading to LCPD, is supported by an animal model. For evidence of an increased risk of repetitive trauma, we investigated whether patients with LCPD have a higher risk for severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Patients and methods We identified 2579 patients with LCPD in Sweden during the period 1964-2005. 13,748 individuals without LCPD were randomly selected from the Swedish general population, matched by year of birth, sex and region (control group). Cox proportional hazard regression estimated the risks. Results Compared to the control group, patients with LCPD had a modestly raised hazard ratio (HR) of 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.3) for injury requiring hospitalization. The risks were slightly higher for soft tissue injuries (HR = 1.3, 95% CI:1.1-1.4) than for fractures (HR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.3) and more pronounced among females. Compared to the control group, the higher risk for injury only applied to the lower extremities (HR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0-1.4) in patients with LCPD. Interpretation Patients with LCPD are vulnerable to injuries which could be interpreted as a marker of hyperactive behavior. It could also implicate that anatomical changes in the bone formation or blood supply of the femoral head - increasing its sensibility for trauma - contribute to the etiology of LCPD. © Copyright: ©Nordic Orthopaedic Federation

Effekt- och duglighetsprövning av bekämpningsmedel mot skadedjur 1974

vokKirjasto Aj-

Cancer risk among patients with multiple sclerosis and their parents

Background: We investigated cancer risk among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and whether variation by age at MS diagnosis helps to elucidate mechanisms underlying the previously reported reduced cancer risk. We also studied cancer risk among parents to ascertain if MS susceptibility genes may confer protection against cancer in relatives. Methods: Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for age, sex, area, and socioeconomic index, estimated cancer risk among 20,276 patients with MS and 203,951 individuals without MS, using Swedish general population register data. Similar analyses were conducted among 11,284 fathers and 12,006 mothers of patients with MS, compared with 123,158 fathers and 129,409 mothers of controls. Results: With an average of 35 years of follow-up, there was a decreased overall cancer risk among patients with MS (hazard ratio = 0.91, 0.87-0.95). Increased risks were observed for brain tumors (1.44, 1.21-1.72) and urinary organ cancer (1.27, 1.05-1.53). Parents of patients with MS did not have a notably increased or decreased overall cancer risk. Conclusions: The reduction in cancer risk in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may result from behavioral change, treatment, or we speculate that some immunologic characteristics of MS disease activity improve antitumor surveillance. The lack of association among parents indicatesthat a simple inherited characteristic is unlikely to explain the reduced cancer risk among patients with MS. MS is associated with increased risk for some cancers, such as of urinary organs and brain tumors (although surveillance bias may be responsible). copyright © by AAN Enterprises, Inc

Cancer risk among patients with cystic fibrosis and their first-degree relatives

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at increased risk of some cancers. Little is known about the cancer risks among carriers heterozygous for the CF mutation and it is hypothesized this may be associated with reduced cancer risk. Using Swedish general population-based registers, we identified 884 patients with CF from 1968 to 2003 and 3,033 of their first-degree relatives The subjects were followed from birth of index persons or 1958, whichever came later, until death, emigration or 2003, whichever came first. Cancer risks were compared with the general Swedish population using standardized incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Patients, followed for an average of 21 years, were at a higher overall risk of cancer. Some 26 cancer diagnoses, after excluding multiple diagnoses of nonmelanoma skin cancer in one man, produced an overall SIR of 3.2 (95%CI 2.1-4.6).We found statistically significantly increased risks for kidney, thyroid, endocrine, lymphoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. There was no modification of cancer risk among parents and siblings, with an average of 21 years of follow-up. This study did not identify a heterozygote advantage for CF gene mutations in relation to cancer risk. © 2009 UICC

Maternal smoking during pregnancy, other prenatal and perinatal factors, and the risk of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

OBJECTIVE. The causes of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease are largely unknown, but this pediatric disease seems to result from interruption of the blood supply to the proximal femur and is considered a vascular disease. Because maternal smoking during pregnancy influences fetal development and is associated with cardiovascular diseases in offspring, we hypothesized that this exposure is a risk for Legg-Calvé- Perthes disease and also investigated other markers of impaired fetal development and early-life exposures. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The Swedish Inpatient Register identified 852 individuals with a diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease from 1983 to 2005, individually matched by year of birth, age, sex, and region of residence with 4432 randomly selected control subjects. Linkage with the Swedish Medical Birth Register provided information on prenatal factors, including maternal smoking. Conditional logistic regression examined associations of maternal smoking during pregnancy and the other measures with the risk of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in offspring, adjusted for socioeconomic index and other potential confounding factors. RESULTS. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with an increased Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease risk, and heavy smoking was associated with a risk increase of almost 100%. Very low birth weight and cesarean section were independently associated with ̃240% and 36% increases in the risk of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, respectively. CONCLUSION. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and other factors indicated by impaired fetal development may be associated with an increased risk of Legg-Calvé- Perthes disease

Prövning av bekämpningsmedel mot skadedjur 1976

Nimekkeen selvennys: Avdelningenför skadedjursforskning.Prövning av bekämpning smedelmot skaddejur 1976 Resultat.vokKirjasto Aj-

Tuhoeläinten torjunta-aineiden tehokkuus- ja käyttökelpoisuustutkimukset 1974

Nimekkeen selvennys: Tuhoeläinosasto 532-2 Torjunta-ainelain edellyttämät tehtävät Tutkimustuloksia vuodelta 1974.vokKirjasto Aj-