Silvopastoral and conventional management of extensive livestock and the diversity of bats in fragments of tropical dry forest in Córdoba, Colombia

The establishment of extensive livestock systems in the Colombian Caribbean Region has historically generated a strong loss of the tropical dry forest (TDF) with negative effects on biodiversity. Currently, the implementation of silvopastoral systems (SPS) has been proposed with strategy to curb the loss of biodiversity caused by the conventional management system (CS). The objective was to evaluate the effect of SPS and CS of extensive livestock on the assemblage of bats associated with fragments of TDF. During a continuous year and a sampling effort of 30,240 h-net/night, the structure and composition of bat assemblage between SPS and CS were compared. 2788 bats belonging to six families, 23 genera, and 39 species were captured. The Phyllostomidae family presented the highest species richness (S = 30), with the greatest abundance in the Stenodermatinae subfamily (n = 1543). Bat assemblage in the SPS fragments was more equitable; and the relative abundance per species, per genera, and per foraging guilds was also significantly higher. The capture success showed significant variations between the climatic seasons (dry and rainy). The rate of species turnover was higher in the CS fragments. The species Artibeus planirostris, Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Carollia castanea, Phyllostomus discolor, Dermanura phaeotis, Uroderma convexum, Glossophaga soricina, C. brevicauda, and Sturnira lilium accounted for 92% of the captures. In conclusion, frugivorous bats were more abundant in the SPS, type of extensive livestock management that can generate greater temporal stability of bat assemblage. This research provides the first scientific evidence of the positive effect of silvopastoral management on the diversity of bats in tropical dry forest areas of the Colombian Caribbean region.

Treatment of chronic resistant paediatric idiopathic pericardial effusion with intrapericardial injection of corticosteroids 4-year-old girl with rapid full resolution after intrapericardial injection of corticosteroids

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the conventional treatment for pericarditis. However, some patients will still suffer from persistence pericardial effusion despite exhausting all conventional management options. A 4-year-old girl with idiopathic pericardial effusion who did not respond to 2 months of conventional therapy had complete resolution of effusion within 5 days, with no recurrence after administration of intrapericardial steroids. As far as we know, this is the first published paediatric case who has shown a similar outcome to that seen in adult studies.

Pemberdayaan Manajemen Kelompok Usaha Pengolah Abon Ikan Tuna Desa Gajaherjo, Kabupaten Malang

Gajahrejo Village is one of the partner villages located on the southern coast of Malang Regency. The business of processing fish into shredded fish in Gajahrejo village was initiated in early 2017, and until now, it is still a home industry managed by PKK women in Gajahrejo Village by forming a Joint Business Group (KUB). Each group consists of 3-5 people who work together in the production and packaging processes. So far, shredded products are only produced if there is an order. This is due to the lack of information related to good business management, the lack of human resources who have the skills to make shredded with a distinctive taste, packaging techniques that are still conventional, management systems that are still very simple, and also the absence of a promotion and marketing system-selling the right product. With these various problems, the solutions that were carried out were counseling related to correct fish processing, conducting training and mentoring on a good and correct business management system at KUB Gajahrejo village, and making a simple patent for the recipe for shredded fish that had been made. The resulting products have been marketed around the coastal tourist sites of South Malang.

Comparison of Efficiency-Enhanced Management and Conventional Management of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization in Cotton Fields of Northwestern China

Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers and improper methods of irrigation under conventional management are common problems in the cotton fields of northwestern China. Efficiency-enhanced management, based on the water and nitrogen dynamics and crop requirements, has been used as a valuable strategy in different crops. The present study aimed to compare efficiency-enhanced management and conventional management of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in the cotton fields at the Junggar Basin (Shihezi) and Tarim Basin (Cele) of northwestern China. Compared with conventional management, efficiency-enhanced management reduced the amount of N fertilizer by 41% in Cele and 44% in Shihezi, and the irrigation quantity by 35% in Cele and 24% in Shihezi. However, the cotton yield under efficiency-enhanced management was similar to that found under conventional management at both the experimental sites. The efficiency-enhanced management increased the water-use efficiency (WUE) and reduced the residual soil mineralizable N (Nmin) and apparent N losses. This study indicated that efficiency-enhanced management can significantly enhance the utilization efficiency of irrigation water and N fertilizers for cotton production in the fields of northwestern China.

Morphological and biochemical characteristics in fruits of Mangifera indica L. var. Ataulfo with and without conventional management

Objective: To identify the morphometric and biochemical variation in mango fruits var. Ataulfo (Mangifera indica L.) in two contrasting environments with and without conventional management. Design/methodology/approximation: Morphological and biochemical variables were studied in mango fruits var. Ataulfo in two environments, one of them (La Norteña) with Leptosol soil and Aw climate with conventional agrochemical-based management and the other (Santa Cecilia) on Acrisol soil and Am climate with agroecological management. There were 30 fruits used, all from five trees (n=150) per study garden in a state of commercial maturity. Each fruit was considered as an experimental unit, and morphological and biochemical variables were evaluated for each fruit. Results: Increase in fruit weight, higher pH and increase in total soluble solids, but decrease in pulp weight on site with conventional handling. Increase in pulp content and firmness in fruits from the site without handling. Study Limitations/implications: Changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall in both environments each year. Findings / conclusions: Morphological and biochemical modifications are presented. Greater size and weight, pH and TSS content in the conventional production system, but increased pulp and greater firmness, as well as higher citric acid content in the agroecological system. The results suggest differential effects in mango fruits according to the management and environment where they develop.

Management of Nutrient-Rich Wastes and Wastewaters on Board of Ships

Ship-generated nutrient-rich waste sources, including food waste and sewage water, contribute to eutrophication and deoxygenation of marine ecosystems. This chapter aims to discuss the characteristics of these waste and wastewater sources, review current ship-generated organic waste and wastewater regulations, inventory conventional management and treatment practices, and identify future perspectives for more sustainable nutrient-rich waste and wastewater management on board of ships. According to regulations, untreated food waste and sewage can generally be discharged into the open sea at more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land, hence this is currently a common practice. However, special restrictions apply in special designated areas such as the Baltic Sea, where food waste must be comminuted/grounded and nutrients need to be removed from the sewage prior to discharge at 12 nautical miles from the nearest land. Current research looks at the valorisation of these waste and wastewater sources through anaerobic digestion, composting and/or nutrient recovery.

Hydrogel-based flexible materials for diabetes diagnosis, treatment, and management

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high glucose concentration in blood. Conventional management of diabetes requires skin pricking and subcutaneous injection, causing physical pain and physiological issues to diabetic individuals. Hydrogels possess unique advantages such as lightweight, stretchability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, offering the opportunities to be integrated as flexible devices for diabetes management. This review highlights the development of hydrogels as flexible materials for diabetes applications in glucose monitoring, insulin delivery, wound care, and cell transplantation in recent years. Challenges and prospects in the development of hydrogel-based flexible devices for personalized management of diabetes are discussed as well.