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Impact of Supply Chain Management on Business Sustainability: Case of Water Bottling Companies in and Around Finfinnee, Ethiopia
Get PDFBackground: Effective supply chain management (SCM) is widely considered vital for enhancing business sustainability, yet empirical evidence across industries and contexts remains limited. This paper aims to address this gap by presenting empirical findings specific to a particular industry, business size, and economic setting. Methods: The data are collected from small- and medium-sized water bottling companies in Ethiopia utilizing a Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using SPPS version 29 using multi-variable regression analysis. Results: The findings reveal a statistically significant positive influence of supply chain management practices on economic, environmental, and social sustainability business performances. Accordingly, supply chain internal practices and customer and supplier integration impact business economic sustainability, while customer and supplier integration affect business environmental sustainability performance. Customer integration, supplier integration, and supply chain internal practices significantly influence business social sustainability performance. Conclusions: These results highlight the potential for businesses to achieve holistic sustainability goals through targeted improvements in SCM practices. The research results are consistent with most previous studies on this topic, except for a few variations that may need further investigation. The discussion highlighted the intricate links between supply chain management practices and business sustainability, underscoring the need for comprehensive further empirical studies in various contexts
Biologiskt kulturarv i vägbyggnadsprojekt
Get PDFBiologiskt kulturarv är natur som berättar om kultur. Förindustriellt jordbruk formade en mängd naturtyper: slåtterängar, hagar, skogsbeten och olika slags åkermarker. Brukandet av dessa marker har till stor del upphört, men växter i markfloran, kulturformade träd och buskar och andra spår kan leva kvar som ett biologiskt kulturarv under kortare eller längre tid, och berätta om den historiska markanvändningen. Vägkanter erbjuder lämpliga växtplatser för många arter, och vägkanterna har under historiens gång koloniserats av växter från det omgivande kulturlandskapet. Vägkantsfloran kan därför vara ett biologiskt kulturarv från landskapshistorien. Genom att ta vara på landskapets arter i vägbyggnadsprojekt, kan nya sidoområden bidra till att bevara det lokala biologiska kulturarvet.I detta FoI-projekt (2020-2024) studerades olika aspekter på biologiskt kulturarv i sidoområden, med ett byggprojekt i Uppsala län som fallstudie: ny väg 288 mellan Gimo och Börstil. FoI-projektet innehåller flera delstudier
Health Shock Effects on Diet: More Severe Shock-Stronger Response?
Get PDFWe investigate whether the severity of lifestyle-related health shocks affects the response in dietary patterns. Using data from official patient registers in Denmark, we analyze the effects from strong health shock (SHS) occurrences (cardiovascular disease) and mild health shock (MHS) occurrences (arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia). These data are combined with scanner data on food purchases obtained from a consumer panel. Our analysis examines dietary effects stemming from these health shocks, including various nutrients, food groups, and overall adherence to dietary guidelines. Our findings reveal immediate dietary responses to both severe and mild health shocks, with a larger effect observed for SHS compared to MHS. However, among individuals previously exposed to mild health shocks, we observe minimal to no alteration in food consumption after experiencing a SHS. We argue that failing to account for this potential self-selection may lead to a misconception that severe health shocks do not result in dietary improvements
Changes in Aquatic Carbon Following Rewetting of a Nutrient-Poor Northern Peatland
Get PDFRewetting drained peatlands by raising the groundwater table is currently suggested, and widely implemented, as an efficient measure to reduce peat soil degradation and decrease CO2 emissions. However, limited information exists regarding effects of peatland rewetting on lateral carbon export (LCE) via the aquatic pathway. Any changes in LCE are critical to consider, as they affect the overall peatland C balance, and may offset any climatic benefits from rewetting. Additionally, altered LCE could have consequences for downstream water quality and biota. Here, we monitored aquatic C content (DOC, DIC and CH4) in runoff and pore water, as well as radiocarbon content of DOC in runoff from a drained, nutrient-poor boreal peatland that was rewetted during autumn 2020. By comparing pre- (2019-2020) and post- (2021-2022) rewetting periods, we detected changes in the aquatic C export. The results showed that the rewetting effect was site-, season- and C form-specific. Overall, one catchment showed elevated (DOC, DIC) or highly elevated (CH4) concentrations and exports post-rewetting, whereas the other site showed only elevated DOC. Changes in runoff C concentrations after rewetting were likely driven by site-specific factors such as expansion of open-water areas, altered hydrological flow paths and proportion of filled in ditches of total ditch length. Finally, radiocarbon measurements indicated enhanced export of contemporary DOC via runoff following rewetting. These initial (short-term) findings highlight the need for site-specific before-after assessments to better evaluate the C sequestration capacity of peatlands while undergoing rewetting operations
INCREASED DNA METHYLATION 3 forms a potential chromatin remodelling complex with HAIRPLUS to regulate DNA methylation and trichome development in tomato
Get PDFDNA methylation, a dynamic epigenetic mark influencing gene expression, is regulated by DNA demethylases that remove methylated cytosines at genomic regions marked by the INCREASED DNA METHYLATION (IDM) complex. In Arabidopsis, IDM3, a small alpha-crystalline domain-containing protein, stabilises the IDM complex. To investigate its role in tomato, we generated slidm3 mutants using genome editing. These mutants displayed a 'hairy' phenotype with increased glandular trichomes, resembling the hairplus (hap) mutant. Affinity purification of SlIDM3-GFP associated proteins identified several chromatin remodelling factors, including HAP. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis revealed sequence context dependent alterations in the slidm3-1 plants, similar to the hap mutant. CHH methylation was predominantly increased, while CG methylation, particularly in intergenic regions, was decreased in both mutants. This imbalanced methylation suggests the presence of a 'methylstat' mechanism attempting to restore methylation levels at abnormally demethylated sites in the mutants. Comparative functional analysis of differentially methylated regions in the slidm3-1 and hap mutants identified potential methylation-regulated genes that could be linked to the hairy phenotype. Our findings indicate that SlIDM3 may form a chromatin remodelling complex with HAP, epigenetically regulating trichome development
Retrospective analyses to understand how wolf territory density impacts moose quotas, harvest and observation rate
Get PDFThe ever-growing human population along with the expansion of settlements and land use, and effective hunting methods increasingly influence wildlife populations. Knowledge of management responses to re-establishing large carnivores is important to understand the overall impact of humans on large carnivores and their prey populations. We examined the response of moose (Alces alces) harvest, but also population size and composition in relation to wolf (Canis lupus) territory density along a latitudinal gradient in two bordering countries in northern Europe. Moose harvest density was negatively related to wolf territory density with model estimates showing that harvest was 35% (Norway) to 39% (Sweden) lower in moose management units (MMUs) with average wolf territory density, compared to MMUs without wolves during the previous five years. The corresponding model estimates for moose observation rate was 21% lower in Sweden and 1% lower in Norway. In both countries, management actions were taken to reduce the total moose mortality (reduced harvest) as well as to maximize productivity in the population (reduced harvest of adult females) in response to increased wolf territory density. Annual changes in quotas were related to fulfilment of last years quota and wolf territory density in the previous two years. The annual change in harvest were affected by actual harvest the previous year and by set quotas, showing that harvest followed management plans. Abilities to adjust to new conditions is a key in wildlife management where conflicting societal objectives such as forestry, sustainable ungulate harvest yield, and carnivore conservation should be balanced
Factors contributing to disease phenotypes in conifers
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the genetic and environmental factors and mechanisms influencing disease development in conifers, focusing on Scots pine and Norway spruce in Sweden. The thesis contributes new knowledge on the threat that diseases pose to forest ecosystems.I studied two pathogens in pine: the opportunistic necrotroph Diplodia sapinea and the biotrophic rust fungus Melampsora pinitorqua. Drought stress exacerbates dieback, and the pathogen likely acts as an accelerating factor in decline but surviving trees can recover. An investigation into co-infection by M. pinitorqua and D. sapinea in Scots pine found no direct link between the infections but evidence for variation in susceptibility to both pathogens. In a subsequent study, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were used to identify genetic markers associated with disease symptoms caused by M. pinitorqua and D. sapinea. Markers for reduced susceptibility to D. sapinea were validated in a population of progenies from elite trees in the Swedish Scots pine breeding programme, showing potential for resistance breeding in Scots pine.In the final study, the potential to improve resistance to the necrotrophic root rot fungus H. parviporum in Norway spruce through genomic selection was evaluated. The results indicate sufficient genetic variation within the studied Swedish breeding population. Although genomic selection shows great potential, the findings highlight the need for more data to train the models to improve prediction accuracy.Overall, this thesis demonstrates the importance of understanding host–pathogen interactions and utilising genetic tools to breed disease-resistant conifers, which is essential for ensuring the long-term health and resilience of Nordic forests in the context of climate change
Early supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics to pigs
Get PDFThe early establishment of intestinal microbiota is essential for gut health in pigs. Nutritional interventions that target the microbiota during the first weeks of life can positively influence microbiota development and thereby impact gut health, immune function, growth, as well as behavioural development. This thesis aimed to evaluate the effects of early dietary interventions by supplementing piglets’ oat β-glucan or two lactobacilli strains during the suckling period. The oat β-glucan supplement was examined for its effects on gut microbiota development, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, growth, gut histology, and behaviour. The supplement with lactobacilli, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum focused on effects on microbiota composition, SCFA, gut histology, and growth performance. The initial study, predominantly showed age-related effects, with limited oat β-glucan supplement specific impacts. However, analysis of microbiota composition and behaviour in the follow-up study revealed significant correlations between certain bacterial taxa and specific behavioural traits. Oat β-glucan negatively affected reversal learning. The supplement with the two lactobacilli did not significantly alter microbiota composition rectal swabs of piglets, but induced localised changes in the ileum and colon, including an increased abundance of Prevotella 2 in ileum mucosa and an increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4136 in ileum mucosa, colon mucosa, and colon digesta. The supplements did not affect SCFA production, gut histology, or growth performance compared to controls. Taken together, the results revealed certain, albeit limited, impacts of prebiotic and probiotics for gut health in piglets during suckling. Additional studies are needed to clarify these findings and unravel the complexity of their interactions
Decadal decline in forest floor soil organic carbon after clear-cutting in Nordic and Canadian forests
Get PDFNordic and Canadian forests store substantial amounts of carbon (C) and are largely managed in a silvicultural system with clear-cut harvest. Previous meta-analyses of harvesting effects on soil C have shown short- to longterm declines after harvest, but effects of clear-cutting on boreal and northern temperate forest soil C stocks remain unresolved. We harmonized National Forest Soil Inventory (NFSI) data from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Canada to examine soil C stocks up to 53 years following clear-cut harvest using a space-for-time approach. We analyzed forest floor and mineral soil C stocks in coniferous and deciduous/mixed forests. Coniferous forest floor C stocks decreased for -30 years after clear-cutting: when at its lowest stock level, Picea and Pinus forest floor C stocks had decreased by 23 % and 14 % relative to initial stock levels, respectively. Picea forest floor C stocks then remained close to its lowest levels until 53 years after clear-cutting, while for Pinusdominated forests they increased again and recovered to the pre-harvest level 48 years after clear-cutting. No C stock changes were detected in the 0-10 cm or 10-20 cm mineral soil layers, while a small increase in 55-65 cm mineral soil was detected in Podzol soils. Data was too limited to detect statistical signals of clear-cutting for deciduous/mixed forests. Our results shows that clear-cut harvest has substantial and long-lasting effects on northern temperate and boreal forest soil C storage, and that combining data from several NFSIs can help elucidate forest management effects on soil C storage
Semiochemically assisted trap cropping to reduce broad bean beetle (Bruchus rufimanus) infestation in faba bean
Get PDFDamaged beans and adults of broad bean beetles (Bruchus rufimanus) in harvested beans are currently a bottleneck for faba bean production, especially for human consumption. The availability and efficiency of insecticides to control broad bean beetles are limited. We tested trap cropping combined with semiochemical trapping as an alternative pest management strategy. A field experiment was performed in south central Sweden over two years, in 2021 and 2023, in a total of 24 faba bean fields. Fields were paired, such that each pair (n = 12) contained one treated field with a perimeter strip of an early flowering faba bean cultivar used as a trap crop in combination with semiochemical traps, and one control field with just the faba bean main crop without a trap crop or semiochemical traps. Eggs per pod and proportion of beans with emergence holes were 147 % and 73 % higher in the trap crop strip in treated fields compared to the corresponding area grown with the main crop cultivar in control fields. Eggs per pod and proportion beans with emergence holes were conversely 28 % and 18 % lower respectively, in the main crop in fields with trap crops compared to control fields, but only in the field centers and not the field edges. Yield of the main crop was not affected by semiochemically assisted trap cropping. Overall the trap crop treatment successfully reduced damage by broad bean beetles but only modestly so. Further development of the trap cropping strategy might, however, be able to contribute to satisfactory broad bean beetle control