Interpersonal and economic resources

High population density and increased institutional specialization, which are relatively novel features of human society. have provided conditions for a more efficient exchange of universalistic resources, while decreasing the opportunity for exchanging particularistic ones. The parallel with physical environment is striking: in both cases technology has created new problems in the process of solving old ones. Whether it is natural resources or interpersonal resources, physical ecology or social ecology, recognizing and defining the new problem is the first step toward its solution. The importance of particularistic resources in solving problems of modern society has scarcely been recognized. Welfare institutions, for example, often require clients to lose status for the money they receive. This form of exchange deprives the client of a resource which is already scarce for him, thus further reducing his chances of autonomous performance as a resource exchanger in society. By ignoring the significance of particularistic resources for social functioning, we tend to see the solution of social problems exclusively in terms of a better distribution of economic resources. Improvement of education, for instance, is considered almost equivalent to allocating more money for schools. Truly money is one of the neighbors of information in the order, but the other one is status. Evidence to suggest that higher status improves educational achievement has, indeed, been repeatedly reported (26). The very mention of particularistic resources in social planning causes uneasiness and bafflement. The economist Levitan (27), for example, in reviewing the activities of VISTA (a program of the Office of Economic Opportunity), wonders how to evaluate goals such as dedication, involvement, and good feeling. The reluctance to include particularistic resources in social engineering will hopefully decrease as we improve techniques for their observation and measurement and as we begin to understand their rules of exchange and their relationship to other resources. The work described here may constitute a step in such a direction. The opportunity to progress more decisively toward a comprehensive picture of the state of resources in society is provided by the proposal to institute social indicators (28). Properly constructed they could supply much needed information about resource deficiencies that affect the health of society and could suggest. measures to overcome them. The purpose of this article has been to summarize some of the knowledge we already possess about interpersonal resources and to outline its application to certain problems of modern society. It has been shown that when resources are classified into six categories and plotted on a two-coordinate space a definite structural pattern emerges. The position of each resource class in the structure appears related to certain properties which in turn affect differentially the exchange of resources in an urban environment. The structural charateristics of resources provide a theoretical basis for the understanding and solution of social problems in modern culture.     

Tree row spacing affected agronomic and economic performance of Eucalyptus-based agroforestry in Andhra Pradesh, Southern India

The 3 × 2 m spacing currently used for eucalyptus plantations in the state of Andhra Pradesh, southern India does not permit intercropping from the second year. This discourages small landholders who need regular income from taking up eucalyptus plantations and benefiting from the expanding market for pulpwood. Therefore, on-farm experiments were conducted near Bhadrachalam, Khammam district (Andhra Pradesh) for over 4 years from August 2001 to November 2005 to examine whether wide-row planting and grouping of certain tree rows will facilitate extended intercropping without sacrificing wood yield. Eucalyptus planted in five-spatial arrangements in agroforestry [3 × 2 m (farmers’ practice), 6 × 1 m, 7 × 1.5 m paired rows (7 × 1.5 PR), 11 × 1 m paired rows (11 × 1 PR) and 10 × 1.5 m triple rows (10 × 1.5 TR)] was compared with sole tree stands at a constant density of 1,666 trees ha^?1. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) was intercropped during the post-rainy seasons from 2001 to 2004, and fodder grasses (Panicum maximum and Brachiaria ruziziensis) were intercropped during both the seasons of 2005. At 51 months after planting, different spatial arrangements did not significantly affect height and diameter at breast height (dbh). Total dry biomass of eucalyptus in different spatial arrangements ranged between 59.5 and 52.9 Mg ha^?1, the highest being with 6 × 1 m and the lowest with 10 × 1.5 TR, but treatment differences were not significant. The widely spaced paired row (11 × 1 PR) and triple row (10 × 1.5 TR) arrangements produced 62–73% of sole cowpea yield in 2003, 59–66% of sole cowpea yield in 2004, and 79–94% of sole fodder in 2005. In contrast, the 3 × 2 m spacing allowed only 17–45% of sole crop yields in these years. The better performance of intercrops in widely spaced eucalyptus was likely because of limited competition from trees for light and water. Intercropping of eucalyptus in these wider rows gave 14% greater net returns compared with intercropping in eucalyptus spaced at 3 × 2 m, 19% greater returns compared with that from sole tree woodlot and 263% greater returns compared with that from sole crops. Therefore, in regions where annual rainfall is around 1,000 mm and soils are fairly good, eucalyptus at a density of 1,666 plants per ha can be planted in uniformly spaced wide-rows (6 m) or paired rows at an inter-pair spacing of 7–11 m for improving intercrop performance without sacrificing wood production.     

Influence of exogenous application of n-3 fatty acids on meat quality, lipid composition, and oxidative stability in pigs.

The effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids on the fatty acid composition and lipid peroxidation of different tissues in pigs were studied. 20 castrated male pigs were included in this investigation, one half was fed daily a diet containing 1.3 g n-3 fatty acids/kg diet (control) and 10 pigs were fed a diet containing 14 g n-3 fatty acids/kg diet (n-3 diet) at the growing-finishing period. The intake of dietary n-3 fatty acids increased the concentration of these fatty acids in backfat, and the neutral and polar fractions of skeletal muscle and heart homogenates. The polar fraction showed an increased relative concentration of n-3 fatty acids in comparison to control, while the n-6 fatty acid content was reduced. In heart homogenates there was an enlargement of n-3 fatty acids both in polar lipids and in neutral lipids whilst n-6 fatty acids were decreased. Feeding n-3 fatty acid enriched diet had no influence on meat quality parameters drip loss, meat colour or pH value. The lipid peroxidation (measured as malondialdehyde equivalents) was in the order liver > heart > skeletal muscle with higher values in the n-3 group. However, by stimulation of oxidation by Fe2+/ascorbate for 3 hours the order of oxidative products in the n-3 group was muscle > liver > heart, whereas in the control group the order was liver > heart = muscle. Summarized, feeding a highly n-3 fatty acid enriched diet caused an incorporation of these fatty acids and increased the susceptibility to peroxidation in all investigated tissues.     

Effect of dietary inclusion of ascorbic acid and palm oil on the performance of laying hens in a hot tropical environment

1. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of including ascorbic acid (AA), palm oil or a combination of both in the diets of laying hens during the hot months in a tropical environment.

2. The inclusion of AA improved egg production, food intake and efficiency of utilisation, and decreased the cost of food per kg egg. The addition of 400 mg AA/kg diet gave the most efficient performance.

3. Palm oil inclusion reduced the effect of heat stress and increased egg production, egg weight, food intake and efficiency of utilisation.

4. When 200 mg AA and 50 g palm oil/kg were used, additive responses were obtained with further improvements in egg production, food cost and efficiency.

5. Ascorbic acid and palm oil when fed alone or in combination reduced the incidence of cracked eggs.

6. Thus, 400 mg ascorbic acid/kg of diet, 50 g palm oil or 200 mg AA plus 50 g palm oil/kg diet ameliorated the effects of heat stress in laying hens.     

Evaluating agroforestry interventions in extension projects

Because of the relative dearth of scientific information in agroforestry, monitoring and evaluation of agroforestry technologies in development projects plays an important role in the development and improvement of technical extension recommendations. To identify appropriate methodologies, ICRAF conducted in 1988–89 a review of agroforestry technology monitoring and evaluation in 166 projects worldwide, of which 108 responded. Almost 80% of these were involved in technology evaluation. Many extension projects were conducting research to test technologies on-farm or on research plots. Technology evaluation by projects focused on the biological of trees, often with inadequate consideration of the technology context. Few projects seemed to use farmer assessment in evaluation. Recommendations are made for an effective evaluation process and selection of appropriate methods and variables to be assessed by projects. Methods should be selected according to the availability of resources and should favour collaborative or collegial interaction between farmers and project staff.     

钙与钙调素对番茄果实乙烯生物合成和信号转导基因表达的调控

为了研究CaM和Ca^2 在调控乙烯生物合成和信号转导组分基因表达中的相互关系,利用272mmol／L CaCl2及272mmol／L CaCl2 100μmol／L W5(或W7)处理绿熟期番茄果实圆片,然后采用无菌培养的方法在20℃的条件下进行培养。结果表明：CaCl2处理能够抑制番茄果实圆片的乙烯生成,抑制LeACO1,NR,LeERF2基因的表达,而CaCl2 W5(或W7)能消除Ca^2 对果实圆片乙烯生成及LeACO1,NR,LeERF2基因的表达的抑制作用,但CaCl2和CaCl2 W5(或W7)处理均对LeACS2基因表达影响不明显。以上研究结果表明外源钙处理对乙烯生物合成和信号转导途径中相关基因表达的影响可能与CaM有关。     

Dust storm erosion and its impact on soil carbon and nitrogen losses in northern China

There is increased awareness of the environmental impacts of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) losses through wind erosion, especially in areas heavily affected by dust storm erosion. This paper reviews the recent literature concerning dust storm-related soil erosion and its impact on soil C and N losses in northern China. The purpose of our study is to provide an overview of the area of erosion-affected soils and to estimate the magnitude of soil C and N losses from farmland affected by dust storm erosion.According to the second national soil erosion remote-sensing survey in 2000, the area affected by wind erosion was 1.91 million km², accounting for 20% of the total land area in China. This area is expanding quickly as the incidence of heavy dust storms has greatly increased over the last five decades, mainly as a result of the intensification of soil cultivation. The economic and ecological damage caused by wind erosion is considerable. Heavily affected areas show a loss of nutrients and organic carbon in soils and the heavily degraded soils are much less productive. Compared with the non-degraded soil, the C and N contents in degraded soils have declined by 66% and 73%, respectively. The estimated annual losses per cm toplayer of soil C and N by dust storm erosion in northern China range from 53 to 1044 kg ha^− 1 and 5 to 90 kg ha^− 1, respectively. Field studies suggest that soil losses by wind erosion can be reduced by up to 79% when farmers shift from conventional soil tillage methods to no-till. Thus shifting to no-till or reduced tillage systems is an effective practice for protecting soil and soil nutrients. Our study indicates that soil conservation measures along with improved soil fertility management measures should be promoted in dry-land farming areas of northern China. As erosion is a major mechanism of nutrient withdrawal in these areas, we plead for the development of accurate methods for its assessment and for the incorporation of erosion, as a nutrient output term, in nutrient budget studies.     

Anatrichosoma sp. in the footpads of a cat: Diagnosis and pathology of Namibian case

Anatrichosoma species are an unusual group of zoonotic trichuroid nematodes. Due to limited knowledge of their life cycle and diagnostic challenges, anatrichosomiasis has been reported only 3 times in domestic animals. A short-haired cat from central Windhoek, Namibia, presented with ulceration, swelling, and sepsis on all four paws, a severe generalized lymphadenopathy and considerable invasive eosinophilia. Histological analysis revealed epidermal hyperplasia, with severe serocellular crusting on the skin surface. One specimen revealed a series of thick-walled eggs within nematode segments with a few sections containing eggs with bioperculate appearance which is compatible with the Aphasmid group of nematodes, more specifically, the genus Anatrichosoma. Ivermectin treatment completely cleared the condition. This is the first report of Anatrichosoma sp. in the Republic of Namibia, identified from a unique location in the capital, Windhoek.