Growers can do something to attract bees to orchards

Far more solitary bees than social bumblebees and honeybees were caught in pan traps in apple trees in 2016. Virtually all the solitary bees were ground nesting bees. Solitary bees require nesting sites and the fruit growers can do something to increase the number of sites

Frugtavlere kan målrette tiltrækningen af vilde bier

I 2016 gik langt flere enlige bier end sociale humlebier og honningbier i fælder opsat i æbletræer. Stort set alle de enlige bier var jordboende. Det stiller krav til redepladser, og her kan frugtavleren gøre noget for at forbedre forholdene

BeeFarm – mapping resources for pollinators at the farm

The aim of the BeeFarm project is to develop a farmer’s tool for assessing resources for bees at the farm. The tool includes a guided tour through the fields and semi-natural habitats of a farm, in order for the farmer to systematically assess the bee resources on the farm. The tool will make it possible for the farmers to identify resources, which are potentially limiting wild pollinator populations

Clopyralid applied to winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) contaminates the food products nectar, honey and pollen

Clopyralid is a systemic herbicide used in oilseed rape and other crops. It was found in Danish honey from 2016 in concentrations exceeding the maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.05 mg kg−1. About 50% of the Danish honey is based on nectar from winter oilseed rape. In 2019 and 2020, winter oilseed rape fields were sprayed with clopyralid just before the assigned spraying deadline. At flowering, nectar and pollen samples were collected and the content of clopyralid was measured. Honey and pollen samples were also collected from beehives next to ten conventional winter oilseed rape fields sprayed with clopyralid. Clopyralid was found in nectar and pollen from the experimental fields, and in honey and pollen from beehives next to the conventional fields. For most samples the content in nectar and honey exceeded the MRL. The concentrations found, may not pose any health risk for consumers, as the MRL is based on the original detection limit and not on toxicological tests. However, it can have a significant economical consequence for the beekeepers, who are not allowed to sell the honey if the concentration of clopyralid exceeds 0.1 mg kg−1. Reducing the acceptable applicable rate of clopyralid or implementing an earlier deadline for spraying of clopyralid may reduce the risk of contaminating bee food products. However, if it is not possible to obtain a satisfactory effect of clopyralid on the weed flora under these conditions, spraying with pesticides containing clopyralid should be restricted in winter oilseed rape. Determination of an MRL value based on toxicological tests might result in a higher value and make it acceptable selling the honey containing higher levels of clopyralid.Clopyralid applied to winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) contaminates the food products nectar, honey and pollenpublishedVersio

Production of virgin coconut oil via centrifugation and oven methods

The conventional ways of breaking emulsions using heat is disadvantageous from the both economic and environmental perspectives. In this study, the production of virgin coconut oil from coconut oil milk was investigated. Centrifugation and hot method were used for separation of oil. Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography. Results show that, production of virgin coconut oil increases with increasing centrifugal speed. The optimum temperature required to maintain the nutrition oil oil was found to be 60oC. Experimental data also presented to show the influence of Triton –X-100, Tween 20 and SDDS on stability of virgin coconut oil emulsion

Teatro e educação: uma relação historicamente construída

Este texto faz parte de uma pesquisa que tem como objetivo investigar as contribuições de atividades de teatro, desenvolvidas em escolas de ensino básico, na formação de conceitos de cidadania para os alunos. Para atingir tal meta, a pesquisa teve como ponto de partida a realização de uma breve retrospectiva das relações entre teatro e educação ao longo da História, e é essa retrospectiva que este texto apresenta prioritariamente. Observamos que os diferentes contextos históricos influenciaram as diversas práticas pedagógicas e a diversidade de maneiras de se pensar o drama na educação (tanto a formal, escolar, quanto a não formal, extraescolar). Constatamos que, a despeito dos diferentes objetivos pedagógicos valorizados em cada período, o teatro sempre foi concebido como um aliado à educação. Apoiado em referenciais teóricos como Berthold (2006), Courtney (1980) e Japiassu (2009), o trabalho apresenta algumas das principais contribuições de filósofos e pensadores que teceram considerações a respeito do assunto. A importância do resgate histórico ora apresentado é dada pela necessidade de construção de referenciais para a atuação de professores na realidade atual. O texto também apresenta uma retrospectiva da relação entre teatro e educação especificamente no Brasil, apontando para uma vasta multiplicidade teórica e metodológica de abordagens, e indicando a necessidade de uma maior valorização da prática teatral na escola básica, na atualidade. Dentre as principais conclusões destaca que, ainda que os Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (BRASIL, MEC, 1998) garantam a presença do teatro na escola, há muito para ser discutido e aprimorado, para que as potencialidades dessa arte sejam exploradas e aproveitadas como contribuição significativa à formação dos alunos e à educação brasileira

Application of different pharmacokinetic models to describe and predict pharmacokinetics of voriconazole in magellanic penguins following oral administration

Aspergillosis is a condition causing serious morbidity and mortality in captive penguins and other bird species. It can be treated with antifungal drugs, such as voriconazole. However, the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole are variable between different animal and bird species. Therefore, the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole were investigated in this study in Magellanic penguins. Pharmacokinetic models were constructed and applied to predict the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole during long-term treatment in Magellanic penguins, since the voriconazole treatment duration in chronic aspergillosis cases can last up to several months. Plasma voriconazole concentration-time data from adult Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus; n = 15) following a single oral (PO) dose of either 2.5 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg in a herring in three separate study periods 7-12 months apart were collected. Mean plasma voriconazole concentrations were above the targeted MIC for Aspergillus fumigatus for 2 hr following a single 2.5 mg/kg voriconazole dose while the plasma concentrations exceeded the MIC for least 24 hr following a 5 mg/kg dose. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was used to fit two pharmacokinetic models, one with first-order and another with saturable elimination, to the single-dose data. Fits were good for both, as long as dose was included as a covariate for the first-order model so that clearance was lower and the half-life longer for animals receiving the 5 mg/kg dose. Although the single-dose data suggested saturated elimination at higher concentrations, the model with saturable elimination did not predict plasma voriconazole concentrations well for a clinical aspergillosis case receiving long-term treatment, possibly because of induction of metabolizing enzymes with chronic exposure. Pharmacokinetic models should accurately predict plasma drug concentrations for different dosage regimens in order to be applicable in the field. Future studies should focus on determining clearance at steady-state to be able to refine the pharmacokinetic models presented here and improve model performance for long-term oral voriconazole administration in Magellanic penguins