scholarly journals A Qualitative Analysis of the Commercial Broiler System, and the Links to Consumers' Nutrition and Health, and to Environmental Sustainability: A South African Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Queenan ◽  
Soledad Cuevas ◽  
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi ◽  
Michael Chimonyo ◽  
Rob Slotow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Commercial Broiler

Food systems face growing challenges to meet targets of Zero Hunger (SDG 2), and South Africa is no exception given its triple burden of malnutrition, foodborne disease outbreaks, and threats of climate change to food production. Broiler meat is South Africa's most affordable meat option, supporting household food and nutrition security. Although considered healthier and less environmentally harmful than ruminant meat, it is not without food safety risks and environmental impacts. This research aimed to present the foremost commercial broiler system narratives in South Africa, around targets of SDG 2, and to discuss key considerations for policymakers. Twenty-nine key informants and stakeholders, purposively selected to cover a wide range of opinions, participated in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts underwent a qualitative framework analysis. Results showed a highly efficient system, dominated by a small number of interlinked large-scale actors, vulnerable to competition from cheaper imports, yet pressurized to maintain high food safety and environmental impact standards, with a price-sensitive consumer base. Existing policies lack integration and enforcement capacity, and are undermined by siloed government departments, and mistrust and power struggles between public and private sectors. We propose removal of silo walls, and trust building through participatory policy development, with collaborative and transformative public-private partnerships that are designed to build capacity to deliver sustainable solutions.

scholarly journals Structure and Biodiversity of Rhodolith Seabeds: A Special Issue

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Tuya
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Algal Species ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
Decapod Crustaceans ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Associated Fauna ◽  
Climate Fluctuations ◽  
Wide Range

Rhodolith seabeds function as ‘ecosystems engineers’, which globally provide a range of ‘ecosystem services’. However, knowledge on the structure, composition and distribution of rhodolith seabeds is still lacking. This Special Issue comprises six articles, addressing specific questions of rhodolith seabeds, and covering a wide range of topics. Two papers provide new large-scale information on the presence, structure and distribution of rhodolith beds at two southern hemisphere areas, in particular continental shelfs off South Africa and Brazil. Another two studies contributed to the discovery on new algal species from rhodolith beds, including Sporolithon franciscanum, a new rhodolith-forming species from Brazil, and the small benthic alga Schizocladia ischiensis. In terms of associated fauna, the taxonomic composition and patterns of abundance of decapod crustaceans are described in another article, including the description of a depth-partitioning in the abundance of juveniles and adults of the crab Nanocassiope melanodactylus. Rhodoliths are often present in fossilized deposits, so we can track changes in their presence with climate fluctuations. High temperatures during the Eocene and widespread oligotrophic conditions are finally connected with low abundances of rhodolith beds at mid and high latitudes, despite a larger presence at equatorial regions.

PP31 Data awareness for sending help (DASH): policy opportunities & challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. e12.2-e12
Author(s):  
Archie Drake ◽  
Alex Pollitt ◽  
Leanne Smith ◽  
Elizabeth Sklar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Ambulance Dispatch ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Impact

BackgroundThe DASH project is a collaboration between King’s College London and the London Ambulance Service (LAS). Its goal is to explore the potential impact of integrating new and emerging data sources and technologies on emergency response, using technical and policy approaches in tandem. Computer science and public health both emphasise dynamic systems thinking in which elements should be connected to others, e.g. ‘data linkage’, ‘health in all policies’. EMS research has started to demonstrate the value of connecting LAS information systems to transport and environmental as well as emergency department data. Policy research question: what are the opportunities and challenges for EMS, wider healthcare providers and the public in the integration of new and emergent data sources and technologies in ambulance dispatch?MethodsMixed Methods study, including literature review, framework analysis, stakeholder and process mapping, open policy development and interviews. Primary data collection (thematic analysis) entails approximately: 15 semi-structured interviews with LAS staff and 60 unstructured interviews with a variety of stakeholders. Secondary data analysis of LAS incident and response datasets over calendar year 2016 with other publicly available administrative data.ResultsA wide range of new and emergent data sources have a potential impact on ambulance dispatch decision-making. The opportunities extend beyond the operational level into tactical and strategic dimensions. But the challenges are significant across a range of perspectives, impeding efforts to realise the benefits in practice. The study suggests a prioritisation of new and emergent data sources and technologies for LAS based on a utility/feasibility matrix which is presented to provoke discussion.ConclusionsMore effective, dynamic ‘data aware’ dispatch systems are likely to improve patient outcomes. Ambulance services can usefully raise awareness to seek the necessary data and support – simultaneously furthering health system integration and wider public health goals. See https://dash.kcl.ac.uk/reports/ for project outputs.

scholarly journals The Role of Biosurfactants in the Continued Drive for Environmental Sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibukun Olasanmi ◽  
Ronald Thring
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Industry Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Microbial Products ◽  
Near Future

Biosurfactants are microbial products that have been increasingly researched due to their many identified advantages, such as low toxicity and high activity at extreme temperatures, but more importantly, they are biodegradable and compatible with the environment. Biosurfactants are versatile products with vast applications in the clean-up of environmental pollutants through biodegradation and bioremediation. They also have applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and other industries. These advantages and wide range of applications have led to the continued interest in biosurfactants. In particular, there is a growing discussion around environmental sustainability and the important role that biosurfactants will increasingly play in the near future, for example, via the use of renewable by-products as substrates, waste reduction, and potential reuse of the treated waste. This has resulted in increased attention on these microbial products in industry. Research highlighting the potential of biosurfactants in environmental sustainability is required to drive efforts to make biosurfactants more viable for commercial and large-scale applications; making them available, cheaper and economically sustainable. The present review discusses the unique relationship between biosurfactants and environmental sustainability, especially the role that biosurfactants play in the clean-up of environmental pollutants and, therefore, increasing environmental protection.

scholarly journals Agroecology in Large Scale Farming—A Research Agenda

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Tittonell ◽  
Gervasio Piñeiro ◽  
Lucas A. Garibaldi ◽  
Santiago Dogliotti ◽  
Han Olff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Third Way ◽  
Research Technology ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Agriculture ◽  
Key Aspects

Agroecology promises a third way between common global agriculture tradeoffs such as food production and nature conservation, environmental sustainability and ecosystem services. However, most successful examples of mainstreaming agroecology come from smallholder, family agriculture, that represents only about 30% of the world agricultural area. Mainstreaming agroecology among large scale farmers is urgently needed, but it requires addressing specific questions in research, technology and policy development to support sustainable transitions. Here we take stock of the existing knowledge on some key aspects necessary to support agroecological transitions in large scale farming, considering two contrasting starting points: highly subsidized and heavily taxed agricultural contexts, represented here by the examples of Western Europe and temperate South America. We summarize existing knowledge and gaps around service crops, arthropod-mediated functions, landscape and watershed regulation, graze-based livestock, nature-inclusive landscapes, and policy mechanisms to support transitions. We propose a research agenda for agroecology in large scale farming organized in five domains: (i) Breeding for diversity, (ii) Scalable complexity, (iii) Managing cycles beyond fields and farms, (iv) Sharing the cultivated landscape, and (v) Co-innovation with farmers, value chains and policy makers. Agroecology may result in a renewed impetus in large scale farming, to attract the youth, foster clean technological innovation, and to promote a new generation of large-scale farmers that take pride in contributing to feeding the world while serving the planet and its people.

Electron microscopy study of reactively sputter-deposited Ti/N films on silicon

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1362-1363
Author(s):  
V. C. Kannan ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
R. B. Irwin ◽  
S. Chittipeddi ◽  
F. D. Nkansah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hexagonal Phase ◽  
Microscopy Study ◽  
Electron Microscopy Study ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Tin Films ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fcc Phase ◽  
Circuits Vlsi

Titanium nitride (TiN) films have historically been used as diffusion barrier between silicon and aluminum, as an adhesion layer for tungsten deposition and as an interconnect material etc. Recently, the role of TiN films as contact barriers in very large scale silicon integrated circuits (VLSI) has been extensively studied. TiN films have resistivities on the order of 20μ Ω-cm which is much lower than that of titanium (nearly 66μ Ω-cm). Deposited TiN films show resistivities which vary from 20 to 100μ Ω-cm depending upon the type of deposition and process conditions. TiNx is known to have a NaCl type crystal structure for a wide range of compositions. Change in color from metallic luster to gold reflects the stabilization of the TiNx (FCC) phase over the close packed Ti(N) hexagonal phase. It was found that TiN (1:1) ideal composition with the FCC (NaCl-type) structure gives the best electrical property.

Free but fragile: Human relations amidst poverty and HIV in democratic South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-94
Author(s):  
Christina Landman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Predominantly White ◽  
Black People ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Human Relations ◽  
White People ◽  
Black And White ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Black Township

Dullstroom-Emnotweni is the highest town in South Africa. Cold and misty, it is situated in the eastern Highveld, halfway between the capital Pretoria/Tswane and the Mozambique border. Alongside the main road of the white town, 27 restaurants provide entertainment to tourists on their way to Mozambique or the Kruger National Park. The inhabitants of the black township, Sakhelwe, are remnants of the Southern Ndebele who have lost their land a century ago in wars against the whites. They are mainly dependent on employment as cleaners and waitresses in the still predominantly white town. Three white people from the white town and three black people from the township have been interviewed on their views whether democracy has brought changes to this society during the past 20 years. Answers cover a wide range of views. Gratitude is expressed that women are now safer and HIV treatment available. However, unemployment and poverty persist in a community that nevertheless shows resilience and feeds on hope. While the first part of this article relates the interviews, the final part identifies from them the discourses that keep the black and white communities from forming a group identity that is based on equality and human dignity as the values of democracy.

THE SOME QUESTIONS OF AUTONOMOUS MOTION AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND-MOBILE ROBOTIC COMPLEXES FOR UKRAINIAN GROUND FORCESE

2019 ◽  
pp. 53-58
Author(s):  
О. Кravchuk ◽  
V. Symonenkov ◽  
I. Symonenkova ◽  
O. Hryhorev
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Distributed Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Highly Effective ◽  
Information Management Systems ◽  
Robotic Devices ◽  
Principles And Standards ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Eu

Today, more than forty countries of the world are engaged in the development of military-purpose robots. A number of unique mobile robots with a wide range of capabilities are already being used by combat and intelligence units of the Armed forces of the developed world countries to conduct battlefield intelligence and support tactical groups. At present, the issue of using the latest information technology in the field of military robotics is thoroughly investigated, and the creation of highly effective information management systems in the land-mobile robotic complexes has acquired a new phase associated with the use of distributed information and sensory systems and consists in the transition from application of separate sensors and devices to the construction of modular information subsystems, which provide the availability of various data sources and complex methods of information processing. The purpose of the article is to investigate the ways to increase the autonomy of the land-mobile robotic complexes using in a non-deterministic conditions of modern combat. Relevance of researches is connected with the necessity of creation of highly effective information and control systems in the perspective robotic means for the needs of Land Forces of Ukraine. The development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine management system based on the criteria adopted by the EU and NATO member states is one of the main directions of increasing the effectiveness of the use of forces (forces), which involves achieving the principles and standards necessary for Ukraine to become a member of the EU and NATO. The inherent features of achieving these criteria will be the transition to a reduction of tasks of the combined-arms units and the large-scale use of high-precision weapons and land remote-controlled robotic devices. According to the views of the leading specialists in the field of robotics, the automation of information subsystems and components of the land-mobile robotic complexes can increase safety, reliability, error-tolerance and the effectiveness of the use of robotic means by standardizing the necessary actions with minimal human intervention, that is, a significant increase in the autonomy of the land-mobile robotic complexes for the needs of Land Forces of Ukraine.

Stirring and aeration system for the upgrading of small waste water treatment plants

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Höfken ◽  
Katharina Zähringer ◽  
Franz Bischof
Keyword(s):  
Waste Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Waste Water Treatment ◽  
Water Treatment Plants ◽  
Waste Water Treatment Plants ◽  
Basic Fluid ◽  
Aeration System ◽  
Technical Realization ◽  
Wide Range

A novel agitating system has been developed which allows for individual or combined operation of stirring and aeration processes. Basic fluid mechanical considerations led to the innovative hyperboloid design of the stirrer body, which ensures high efficiencies in the stirring and the aeration mode, gentle circulation with low shear forces, excellent controllability, and a wide range of applications. This paper presents the basic considerations which led to the operating principle, the technical realization of the system and experimental results in a large-scale plant. The characteristics of the system and the differences to other stirring and aeration systems are illustrated. Details of the technical realization are shown, which conform to the specific demands of applications in the biological treatment of waste water. Special regard is given to applications in the upgrading of small compact waste water treatment plants.

Thin structure of heterogeneous and multiphase fluid flows

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-180
Author(s):  
Yu.D. Chashechkin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Fundamental System ◽  
Fluid Flows ◽  
Regular Solutions ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
Group Methods ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Thin Structure ◽  
Multiphase Fluid ◽  
Complete Solutions

According to the results of visualization of streams, the existence of structures in a wide range of scales is noted: from galactic to micron. The use of a fundamental system of equations is substantiated based on the results of comparing symmetries of various flow models with the usage of theoretical group methods. Complete solutions of the system are found by the methods of the singular perturbations theory with a condition of compatibility, which determines the characteristic equation. A comparison of complete solutions with experimental data shows that regular solutions characterize large-scale components of the flow, a rich family of singular solutions describes formation of the thin media structure. Examples of calculations and observations of stratified, rotating and multiphase media are given. The requirements for the technique of an adequate experiment are discussed.

Integrative Data Analysis from a Unifying Research Synthesis Perspective

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun-Young Mun ◽  
Anne E. Ray
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Research Synthesis ◽  
Alcohol Intervention ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Integrative Data Analysis ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Model Complex ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Individual Participant

Integrative data analysis (IDA) is a promising new approach in psychological research and has been well received in the field of alcohol research. This chapter provides a larger unifying research synthesis framework for IDA. Major advantages of IDA of individual participant-level data include better and more flexible ways to examine subgroups, model complex relationships, deal with methodological and clinical heterogeneity, and examine infrequently occurring behaviors. However, between-study heterogeneity in measures, designs, and samples and systematic study-level missing data are significant barriers to IDA and, more broadly, to large-scale research synthesis. Based on the authors’ experience working on the Project INTEGRATE data set, which combined individual participant-level data from 24 independent college brief alcohol intervention studies, it is also recognized that IDA investigations require a wide range of expertise and considerable resources and that some minimum standards for reporting IDA studies may be needed to improve transparency and quality of evidence.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document