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Where Are African Agricultural Policies Heading and How Does this Influences Migration?
Get PDFThis paper addresses the link between lack of rural development and migration flows and investigates whether weak agricultural development and poor governance indicators can be explaining factors for migration. The African continent offers a mixed picture with both positive developments and challenges ahead. With regards to its agricultural sector, Africa still has many challenges to face. Lack of quality infrastructures, widespread poverty, environmental degradation and human capital issues have to be addressed if the continent is to rise up from its current situation. As regards migration, the paper was unable to establish a clear correlation between weak development indicators and effective migration flows. Further data needs to be collected in order to establish a more comprehensive analysis. Nevertheless the paper recommends the creation of a comprehensive strategy strengthening the international governance of agricultural policies in Africa.O
Influence of the Introduction of Tax Assignations on the Amount of Donations and Subsidies
Get PDFTax assignations give tax-paying citizens an opportunity to make decisions about a portion of their income tax paid and determine its recipient. Tax assignations are an additional source of income for non-governmental non-profit organizations. The Czech Republic has not introduced them yet, however, the other Visegrád Group countries have embodied this concept in their tax systems. The aim of the paper is to confirm or possibly refute the benefits of the concept of tax assignations for the current tax system of the Czech Republic. The influence of the possible introduction of tax assignations is being investigated in connection with the amount of government subsidies and in relation to motivation for philanthropic giving. In this context, the paper presents current conditions for the introduction of tax assignations. It also discusses the pros and cons of tax assignations that may serve as main arguments for or against the introduction of tax assignations in the Czech Republic. The focus of this paper is on the application of tax assignations in Slovakia as Slovakia with its historical development and structure is very close to the Czech Republic. If tax assignations are introduced in the Czech Republic, a similar development can be expected. Analysis of statistical data for Slovakia was used to explore whether tax assignations affected the amount of transfers to non-governmental organizations and whether tax assignations could be a good additional source of funding for non-profit organizations in the Czech Republic.O
Experiences of Therapeutic Diet Based on Amazonian Medicinal Plants at the Takiwasi Center in Peru
No full textEste capítulo se centra en las experiencias de dieta terapéutica a base de plantas medicinales amazónicas en Takiwasi, Centro de Rehabilitación de Toxicómanos y de Investigación de Medicinas Tradicionales, Perú. La dieta es uno de los métodos claves de la MTA. Podemos distinguir dos tipos de la dieta: la chamánica, que tiene como objetivo el aprendizaje de los conocimientos necesarios para el manejo de las plantas, y la dieta terapéutica, cuyo fin principal es la curación de la persona. Esta investigación estaba enfocada en la dieta terapéutica que se realiza en el Centro Takiwasi. El objetivo principal del Centro Takiwasi es el tratamiento de los TCS, en el cual la dieta también tiene su lugar. La dieta también está se organiza para las personas que están viniendo por diferentes motivaciones, sin sufrir de los TCS. En Takiwasi, la dieta es el trabajo con plantas (se empieza con una sesión purgativa, después una sesión de ayahuasca y toma de las plantas maestras) con el acompañamiento psicoterapéutico y un retiro de 8 días en la selva. El propósito de este texto es presentar los motivos de 80 personas que vinieron al Centro Takiwasi para hacer el tratamiento de dieta, y no el de adicciones. El enfoque de la investigación es sobre los efectos físicos, psíquicos y aspectos positivos y negativos que los participantes sintieron durante la dieta. En esta investigación se usan las cartas de motivación que cada persona tiene que escribir antes de la dieta y los protocolos que les piden generar después de la participación.This chapter focuses on the experiences with therapeutic diet based on Amazonian medicinal plants as performed in the Takiwasi Center for Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts and Research on Traditional Medicines, located in Peru. The diet is one of the key methods of traditional Amazonian medicine. Two types of diets can be distinguished: the shamanic diet, which aims to learn the necessary knowledge for the management of plants; and the therapeutic diet, whose main purpose is the recovery of the person. This research is focused on the therapeutic diet that is implemented in the Takiwasi Center. The main objective of the Center is the treatment of substance use disorders. The diet is also made for people who are coming for different nonsubstance use related reasons. In Takiwasi, the diet is based on the work done with the medicinal plants (it begins with a purgative session, then an ayahuasca ingesting session, to finish with the preparation of "master plants") along with psychotherapy help followed by an 8-day retreat in the jungle. The purpose of this text is to present the reasons of 80 people who came to the Takiwasi Center for diet, and not for an addiction treatment. The focus of the research is based on the physical, psychological, and positive and negative effects that participants felt during the diet. For this research the motivation letters that each person filled out before the diet and the protocols that they were asked to fill out after participation were used.Published Versio
The Use of Wayusa and Its Health Benefits
No full textEste texto desarrolla los capítulos dedicados a la bebida de la planta wayusa (Ilex guayusa) en las partes anteriores del libro Amazonía unida, que se centraron en sus características bioquímicas y las especificidades culturales de su uso, así como en la documentación fotográfica del ritual de la wayusa. Los autores discuten la percepción de los beneficios para la salud de I. guayusa en diferentes entornos socioculturales, es decir, en la República Checa y Ecuador. El resultado de la investigación es una comparación basada en una encuesta con cuestionario y entrevistas semiestructuradas de 20 a 30 minutos, que fue organizada del 1 de noviembre de 2020 al 31 de enero de 2021. El objetivo de la investigación fue identificar los beneficios de salud a largo plazo en los usuarios que han consumido wayusa al menos una vez a la semana durante 3 meses. La muestra de la investigación de ambos países consta de 16 informantes. Se realizó una entrevista semiestructurada dos veces para cada informante. En la República Checa, se encontró que el uso de wayusa mejora la concentración y con el tiempo también la digestión y el sueño. Por otro lado, en Ecuador, tomar wayusa es una actividad que está estrechamente relacionada con la tradición local, y entre sus beneficios los informantes destacan sus efectos energizantes y diuréticos.This chapter is dedicated to the drink of wayusa plant (Ilex guayusa) in previous parts of the book Amazonía unida, which focused on its biochemical characteristics and cultural specifications of its use, and the photographic documentation of the wayusa ritual. The authors discuss the perception of the health benefits of I. guayusa in different sociocultural environments, i.e., in the Czech Republic and Ecuador. The result of this research is a comparison based on a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews, which were organized from November 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. The aim of the research was to identify longterm health benefits among people who have ingested wayusa at least once a week for 3 months. The research sample from both countries consisted of 16 informants. A semi-structured interview was conducted twice for each informant. In the Czech Republic, the use of wayusa was found to improve concentration and over time also digestion and sleep behaviors. On the other hand, in Ecuador, drinking wayusa is considered an activity that is closely related to local tradition, and among its benefits the informants highlighted its energizing and diuretic effects.O
Wayusa: Biochemical Characteristics and Specific Cultural Aspects of its Use
No full textDurante la investigación nos enfocamos en la determinación de la actividad antioxidante y el contenido total de polifenoles en la wayusa. La descripción de los métodos aplicados se presenta en este capítulo. La wayusa, desde el punto de vista ancestral, para el pueblo shuar, se caracteriza por ser una bebida energizante que es ingerida en horas de la madrugada y en ayunas, con el fi n de purifi car el organismo y proveerlo de energía durante todo el día. Esta tradición aún se mantiene pese a los cambios que ha vivido el territorio shuar, entre los que fi guran la expansión agrícola y ganadera. La wayusa es considerada una planta medicinal que según relatos de chamanes cuando se toma dicha infusión a primeras horas de la mañana, brinda protección contra los peligros de la selva, y a las mujeres les provee de fertilidad. Una parte del ritual consiste en contar los sueños de los participantes y poder descifrar su interpretación por medio de la bebida de la wayusa. Hoy en día, se puede apreciar cómo algunas comunidades shuar, tratan de reivindicar su tradición oral y su conocimiento ancestral por medio de la revalorización de wayusa que es parte de su identidad.During the research we focused on the determination of the antioxidant activity and the total content of polyphenols in wayusa. The description of the applied methods is presented in this chapter. Wayusa, from the ancestral point of view, for the Shuar people, is characterized by being an energizing drink that is ingested in the early morning and on an empty stomach, in order to purify the body and provide it with energy throughout the day. This tradition is still maintained despite the changes that the Shuar territory has undergone, among which are agricultural and livestock expansion. Wayusa is considered a medicinal plant that according to shamans' accounts, when ingested in the early morning hours, provides protection against the dangers of the jungle, and provides women with fertility. A part of wayusa ritual consists of counting the dreams of the participants and being able to decipher their interpretation by means of the drink. Currently, it is possible to see how some Shuar communities try to claim their oral tradition and ancestral knowledge through the revaluation of wayusa that is part of their identity.Published Versio
Surface charring of silver fir wood cladding using an enhanced traditional Japanese Yakisugi method
Get PDFThe aim of this work was to better understand the ignition method of timber charring in order to improve the industrial process. Three silver fir boards were tied together to make a triangular prism, which acted as a chimney. To start the charring process, the traditional Yakisugi method uses an ignitor paper ball. This ignitor paper ball was in this research replaced with a gas burner. The gas burner supplies the required energy in an even level and provides airflow in the upward direction. The surface temperature of the samples increased from 10 to 500 oC in approximately 40 to 80 s at all recorded positions, which is considerably faster than when using a traditional method. The thickness of the charred layer and the resulting cupping effect were investigated as an indicator of the quality of the process. The charred layer produced by the gas burner method was not as thick as was achieved with the traditional method, which can be attributed to a shorter charring time. Approximately half the specimens showed cupping to the charred side, which may be related not only to a shorter charring time than previous studies, but also to the annual ring orientation of the timber. Further research should be performed on the charred layer thickness and cupping to define all relevant parameters.O
Changes in the somatic cells counts and total bacterial counts in raw goat milk during lactation and their relationships to selected milk traits
Get PDFThe main aim of our study was to assess changes in the somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC) in the raw milk of White Short-haired (WSH) goats (n = 13) during lactation and their relationships to daily milk yield (DMY), basic milk components, the acidity of milk and California mastitis test (CMT). All monitored goats were in the second lactation and throughout the study, all these goats were clinically healthy. Individual milk recording and sampling of each goat during lactation were carried, from the end of April to October on the mean 54, 89, 124, 159, 194 and 229 day of lactation and all monitored goats were milked by hand. Throughout lactation, the mean values of Log SCC ranged from 5.60 to 5.91 and the mean values of Log TBC from 2.85 to 3.58, whilst the SL had no significant effect on any of these traits. The Log SCC had a significant positive correlation (p <= .01) only with CMT, which suggests that CMT may be a good predictor of the SCC. On the other hand, all correlations of Log TBC with all other traits were insignificant. Regarding the effect of the SL on all other monitored traits, it had a highly significant effect (p <= .01) on the DMY, contents of fat and total protein and titratable acidity. The SL had also a significant effect (p <= .05) on the pH. Nevertheless, the SL had no significant effect on lactose content and CMT. The results of our study suggest that in clinically healthy WSH goats, the SCCs in goat milk after milking should only rarely be higher than 1,000,000 cells/mL and if strict milking hygiene is applied, the TBCs should be significantly lower than 500,000 cfu/mL. The present study also suggests that the SCCs in milk in WSH goats are comparable to their counts in most other breeds.O
The Effect of the Tractor Tires Load on the Ground Loading Pressure
Get PDFThe contribution, based on the experimental measurement, analyses the issue of a specific pad loading pressure in relation to radial wheel load and tire inflation. Tile inflation in terms of allowed radial load, which we wish to be high as far as possible in terms of the power transmission from the wheels to the ground is important for the field tensile works, on the other hand, the pressure in the tire is closely related to the contact area and ground loading pressure. The obtained results show the following: Michelin Multibib 650/65 R38 tire, inflated to a pressure of 80 kPa has a sufficient reserve in radial load. As the measurement results show, ground loading pressure at the highest load of 36.55 kN, which was used during the measurement, is under the value of 100 kPa, which would mean on loamy soil at a humidity of 17 % that the limit of the ground pressure on the ground has not been exceeded.O
Influence of customer focused mission statement on customer satisfaction
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to examine the influence of customer-focused mission statements on customer satisfaction in selected cell phone manufacturing companies in the United States. The study employed content analysis for the mission statement and data from America customer satisfaction index (ACSI). In analysing our data, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression techniques were used. The result showed that product and service, technology, philosophy, self-concept, and public image mission statement components are strongly positively correlated with customer satisfaction. Customer, survival, growth and profitability and market mission statement components are insignificantly negatively correlated with customer satisfaction. The study, therefore, recommends that companies that want to remain competitive by enhancing customer satisfaction should formulate mission statements from a customer perspective so that they include product and service, technology, philosophy, self-concept, and public image components. The main limitation of the study represents the sample size and structure. This study empirically investigated the correlation and association of nine mission statement components with customer satisfaction.O
Effect of variety, sowing date and location on yield and nutritional characteristics of sorghum
Get PDFSorghum is a forage species important in animal nutrition with an increased potential in the upcoming difficulties in agricultural practices in regard to climate change. Therefore, this paper describes its yield and nutritional parameters depending on growing conditions simulated on two locations (humid and fertile Obora, less fertile and dry Písky), two sowing dates (29. 5. and 25. 6.), and variety (11 varieties). Fresh matter yield was determined by weighing the sample on the field immediately after harvest, Dry matter yield and nutritional content were determined in laboratory by Weende analysis from dried and homogenized samples. Nutritional parameters measured were crude fibre, fat, nitrogen and ash content. Additionally, digestibility of organic as well as dry matter was determined. No significant differences in average fresh matter yield or dry matter yield were found between the two locations and sowing dates in general. There were significant differences among varieties, the highest yields were measured in KWS Zerberus (51.57 +- 3.76 t/ha of fresh matter yield, 15.98 +- 1.34 t/ha of dry matter yield, with higher values observed on Písky). Our data suggest, that sowing date does significantly affect fat content (higher in June sowing). Other nutritional parameters were also higher in sorghum sown in June, with the exception of ash. Nutritional composition of samples did not significantly differ variety to variety, however, there were differences in digestibility of the biomass. Organic matter digestibility was 70.58-85.67%, dry matter digestibility was 73.21-86.70%, with highest digestibility in DMS 45-480. Varieties with the highest importance to farmers in the area are KWS Zerberus, KWS Tarzan and KWS Kallisto (based on dry matter yield), and Triumfo BMR, Sweet Susana and DSM 45-480 (based on digestibility). Sorghum was able to perform well even on dry sandy soil with lower fertilization, which shows the high variability and suitability of sorghum in agricultural practice.O