Patterns of participation in farmers’ research groups: Lessons from the highlands of southwestern Uganda

There is increasing interest in farmers’ organizations as an effective approach to farmer participatory research (FPR). Using data from an empirical study of farmers’ research groups (FRGs) in Uganda, this paper examines the patterns of participation in groups and answers questions such as: Who participates? What types of participation? How does participation occur? What are the factors determining participation? Results show that there is no single type of participation, but rather that FPR is a dynamic process with types of participation varying at different stages of the process. Farmers’ participation does not follow the normal adoption curve. Rather, it is characterized by high participation at the initial stages, followed by dramatic decrease and dropping-out, and slow increases toward the end. There is usually significantly higher participation among male farmers at the beginning of the process. However, as FRGs evolve, the proportion of men decreases sharply while the relative proportion of women continues to increase until it dominates the group. The findings do not support the common assumption that groups usually exclude women and the poor. On the contrary, we argue that FRGs are an effective mechanism to provide women and the poor with opportunities to participate in research. However, to be effective, this requires moving beyond head counting to promote more proactive gender and equity perspectives for amplifying the benefits of agricultural research to those who tend to be marginalized or excluded by mainstream development initiatives. This will be critical for making agricultural research more client-oriented and demand-driven.     

Bactericidal kinetics of marine-derived napyradiomycins against contemporary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

There is an urgent need for new antibiotics to treat hospital- and community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Previous work has indicated that both terrestrial and marine-derived members of the napyradiomycin class possess potential anti-staphylococcal activities. These compounds are unique meroterpenoids with unusual levels of halogenation. In this paper we report the evaluation of two previously described napyradiomycin derivatives, A80915A (1) and A80915B (2) produced by the marine-derived actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. strain CNQ-525, for their specific activities against contemporary and clinically relevant MRSA. Reported are studies of the in vitro kinetics of these chemical scaffolds in time-kill MRSA assays. Both napyradiomycin derivatives demonstrate potent and rapid bactericidal activity against contemporary MRSA strains. These data may help guide future development and design of analogs of the napyradiomycins that could potentially serve as useful anti-MRSA therapeutics.     

Spatial and temporal investigations of reported movements,births and deaths of cattle and pigs in Sweden

Background

Livestock movements can affect the spread and control of contagious diseases and new data recording systems enable analysis of these movements. The results can be used for contingency planning, modelling of disease spread and design of disease control programs.

Methods

Data on the Swedish cattle and pig populations during the period July 2005 until June 2006 were obtained from databases held by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Movements of cattle and pigs were investigated from geographical and temporal perspectives, births and deaths of cattle were investigated from a temporal perspective and the geographical distribution of holdings was also investigated.

Results

Most movements of cattle and pigs were to holdings within 100 km, but movements up to 1200 km occurred. Consequently, the majority of movements occurred within the same county or to adjacent counties. Approximately 54% of the cattle holdings and 45% of the pig holdings did not purchase any live animals. Seasonal variations in births and deaths of cattle were identified, with peaks in spring. Cattle movements peaked in spring and autumn. The maximum number of holdings within a 3 km radius of one holding was 45 for cattle and 23 for pigs, with large variations among counties. Missing data and reporting bias (digit preference) were detected in the data.

Conclusion

The databases are valuable tools in contact tracing. However since movements can be reported up to a week after the event and some data are missing they cannot replace other methods in the acute phase of an outbreak. We identified long distance transports of cattle and pigs, and these findings support an implementation of a total standstill in the country in the case of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The databases contain valuable information and improvements in data quality would make them even more useful.     

为中小企业做好融资参谋

在解决中小企业融资难这一问题上,银行不仅是“财神爷”,更是“智多星”。通过银行充分发挥主动性,为中小企业做好融资的参谋,不仅有利于后者的业务发展和风险控制,也将开辟银行新的盈利路径。     

Effects of medetomidine,l‐methadone,and their combination on arterial blood gases in dogs

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of l–methadone on medetomidine–induced changes in arterial blood gases and clinical sedation in dogs.Study designProspective experimental cross–over study (Latin square design).AnimalsFive 1–year–old purpose bred laboratory beagle dogs of both sexes.MethodsEach dog was treated three times: medetomidine (20 μg kg^?1 IV), l–methadone (0.1 mg kg^?1 IV) and their combination. Arterial blood was collected for blood gas analysis. Heart and respiratory rates were recorded, and clinical sedation and reaction to a painful stimulus were scored before drug administration and at various time points for 30 minutes thereafter.ResultsArterial partial pressure of oxygen decreased slightly after medetomidine administration and further after medetomidine/l–methadone administration (range 55.2–86.7 mmHg, 7.4–11.6 kPa, at 5 minutes). A slight increase was detected in arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide after administration of l–methadone and medetomidine/l–methadone (42.6 ± 2.9 and 44.7 ± 2.4 mmHg, 5.7 ± 0.4 and 6.0 ± 0.3 kPa, 30 minutes after drug administration, respectively). Arterial pH decreased slightly after administration of l–methadone and medetomidine/l–methadone. Heart and respiratory rates decreased after administration of medetomidine and medetomidine/l–methadone, and no differences were detected between the two treatments. Most dogs panted after administration of l–methadone and there was slight sedation. Medetomidine induced moderate or deep sedation, and all dogs were deeply sedated after administration of medetomidine/l–methadone. Reaction to a noxious stimulus was strong or moderate after administration of methadone, moderate or absent after administration of medetomidine, and absent after administration of medetomidine/l–methadone.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAt the doses used in this study, l–methadone potentiated the sedative and analgesic effects and the decrease in arterial oxygenation induced by medetomidine in dogs, which limits the clinical use of this combination.     

日粮中碳水化合物类型对多鳞白甲鱼幼鱼生长性能、体组成及健康状况的影响

为探究多鳞白甲鱼幼鱼日粮中最佳碳水化合物添加类型，以葡萄糖、麦芽糖、糊精、玉米淀粉及纤维素5种碳水化合物为糖源，分别配制5种日粮，对多鳞白甲鱼幼鱼进行了为期56 d的养殖实验。结果显示，(1)生长及饲料利用率方面，麦芽糖组的终末体重、特定生长率、饵料系数以及蛋白质效率等指标最佳，纤维素组最差。(2)体成分方面，纤维素组全鱼粗脂肪水平最低，粗灰分水平显著高于麦芽糖组，麦芽糖组及纤维素组肌糖原含量最低，糊精组肝糖原含量最低。(3)主成分分析表明，C16:0、SFA、MUFA和PUFA比例对肝胰脏脂肪酸比例产生主要影响，其中，C16:0和SFA比例在麦芽糖组显著提高，MUFA比例在糊精组显著提高，而PUFA在纤维素组显著提高；C18:1n-9和MUFA比例对肌肉和脂肪组织总体脂肪酸组成产生主要影响，二者比例在麦芽糖组显著提高。(4)血清生化指标方面，麦芽糖组及纤维素组谷丙转氨酶活性、麦芽糖组谷草转氨酶活性显著较高，葡萄糖组及纤维素组碱性磷酸酶活性、球蛋白含量较高，而血糖含量反之。(5)抗氧化能力方面，麦芽糖组肝胰脏过氧化氢酶、总超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性最高，纤维素组丙二醛含量最...