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Influence of Drought on Tree Growth in Different Thinning Treatments in Second Rotation of Poplar Plantations
Get PDFThis study examines the dynamic interplay between tree growth and drought stress in a second
rotation poplar plantation in southern Sweden. It evaluates the responses of trees, focusing on growth
metrics (volume, basal area increments) and recovery patterns after water stress, across various
thinning treatments and tree sizes by analysing tree ring width. Significant variations in growth
metrics were observed, particularly during the drought of 2018.
To analyse the resistance (ability to remain largely unchanged) of trees during the drought, deltaDiv
was calculated, where deltaDiv = (projected growth - observed growth) / observed growth. This
calculated result highlighted that smaller diameter trees (dbh 9-11 cm) showed higher resistance to
drought compared to larger diameter trees (dbh 25-35 cm).
The analysis of Volume Increment (VI) and Basal Area Increment (BAI) aimed to reveal the
resilience (capacity to recover) of trees across different tree sizes (dbh 9-11 cm, 15-18 cm, 20-22
cm, and 25-35 cm) and thinning treatments (control/unthinned, light thinning, medium thinning, and
heavy thinning). The study found that tree density influences drought resilience, with heavy thinning
treatment (550 trees/ha) demonstrating higher resilience compared to unthinned plots (6000
trees/ha) and light thinning (3000 trees/ha) treatments, which showed limited growth responses
Disseminating the European Union’s Normative Power in the Global Fishing Industry
Get PDFThis thesis explores the normative power, as understood by Ian Manners (2002), of the EUs Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) in the fishing industry. It does this by investigating how the human rights aspects of the CS3D are perceived by stakeholders in the European Union’s fishery governance, and in what way the CS3D could shape the EUs normative power in the fishing industry. Through a methodology inspired by grounded theory key stakeholders were interviewed and the data was thematically analysed to produce a conceptual framework and three examples of norm dissemination. The conceptual framework highlights political will, capacity, and enforcement as the three key perspectives of the CS3Ds normative power in the fishing industry. Three ways of disseminating norms through the CS3D are derived from the data: upholding international standards, increasing accountability, and to lever the EUs reputation. Results show that there is a high willingness to implement human rights due diligence in the EU but that the capacity to enforce the directive in the fishing industry is lacking
Representationer av hållbarhetsutmaningar och blind spots
Get PDFDenna studie undersöker framställningen av centrala hållbarhetsutmaningar i Region Skånes utvecklingsstrategi Det öppna Skåne 2030. Studien syftar till att identifiera eventuella aspekter som utelämnas eller osynliggörs i Det öppna Skåne 2030, samt vilka sociala grupper som kan tänkas drabbas av detta. För att uppfylla detta syfte har studien besvarat följande frågeställningar: Vad framställs som centrala hållbarhetsutmaningar i Region Skånes utvecklingsstrategi Det öppna Skåne 2030? Vad utelämnas eller osynliggörs i Region Skånes utvecklingsstrategi Det öppna Skåne 2030? Vilka olika sociala grupper kan komma att drabbas av detta utelämnande eller osynliggörande? Dessa frågeställningar besvaras med metod och teori som tar avstamp i Carol Bacchis (2009) analysramverk “What’s the problem represented to be?” (WPR). Utöver WPR-ramverkets teoretiska ansatser tillämpas begreppen blind spots och intersektionalitet för att besvara frågeställningarna. Undersökningen visar att Det öppna Skåne 2030 framställer ökande ojämlikheter och skillnader mellan olika samhällsgrupper, behov av teknisk utveckling, otillräcklig fysisk och digital infrastruktur, samt bristande eller otillräcklig kunskap och samverkan som centrala hållbarhetsutmaningar. Studien identifierar också följande blind spots i Det öppna Skåne 2030: att sociala och kulturella hållbarhetsaspekter riskerar att osynliggöras eller åsidosättas till följd av att hållbarhetsutmaningar representeras som tekniska problem, samt en avsaknad av ett tydligt intersektionellt perspektiv. Om dessa blind spots inte adresseras kan grupper och individer vars sociala identiteter inte kan reduceras till enskilda kategorier eller dikotomier missgynnas eller direkt skadas.This study examines the representation of key sustainability challenges in Region Skåne's development strategy The Open Skåne 2030. The study aims to identify potential aspects that are silenced or fail to be problematised in The Open Skåne 2030, as well as which social groups may be affected by this. To fulfill this purpose, the study has answered the following questions: What are represented as key sustainability challenges in The Open Skåne 2030? What aspects are silenced or fail to be problematised in The Open Skåne 2030? What different social groups may be affected by this silencing or failure to problematise? These key questions are answered with methods and theory inspired by Carol Bacchi's (2009) analytical framework "What's the problem represented to be?" (WPR). In addition to the WPR framework's theoretical approaches, the concepts of blind spots and intersectionality are applied to answer the questions. The study shows that The Open Skåne 2030 represents increasing inequalities and differences between different social groups, the need for technological development, insufficient physical and digital infrastructure, as well as lack of or insufficient knowledge and cooperation as key sustainability challenges. The study also identifies the following blind spots in The Open Skåne 2030: that the representation of sustainability challenges as technical issues may result in social and cultural sustainability aspects being silenced or set aside, as well as the lack of a prominent intersectional perspective. If these blind spots are not addressed, groups and individuals whose social identities cannot be reduced to singular categories or dichotomies may be disadvantaged or directly harmed
Lunchtime food consumption and waste in preschools of two different serving styles
Get PDFIn the pursuit of more sustainable food systems, understanding food consumption and waste is
crucial. This is particularly relevant for public meals that reach a large proportion of the
population. In Sweden, 2.5 million public meals are served every day, including those served in
preschools. The Swedish National Food Agency emphasizes the importance of understanding
more about the consumption and waste in preschools, making sure that the right food ends up in
the children’s stomachs.
One strategy for promoting sustainable eating is through the lunch serving style, which is
affected by the physical and social environment surrounding preschool meals. Currently, two
common serving options are prevalent in Sweden, buffet- and family-style, which can be
implemented in either dining halls or dining rooms. Since there are different serving approaches
commonly used in preschools, it is of interest to investigate potential differences in food
consumption and the waste they may generate.
In this observational study conducted in six preschools in the Swedish municipality of Skövde,
lunch consumption and waste were measured to compare the two serving styles. Each preschool
underwent nine measurements. Preschools using buffet-style service in a dining hall, showed a
statistically significant higher consumption of staple foods, meat dishes, and mixed vegetables,
averaging 36 g/guest more per lunch. This was 17% higher than the consumption in a family-style
service in dining rooms. Additionally, serving waste was 62% lower in buffet-style in a dining
hall, with a statistically significant difference of 31 g/guest. No significant difference was
observed in plate waste, which averaged 18 and 20 g/guest.
The observed differences could be due to variances in the physical and social environments
associated with the serving styles, as well as different applications in food waste management
practices. Future research should focus on assessing food waste further, and particularly by
collecting plate waste composition data applicable to preschool settings. Finally, to build on these
results, there is of high interest in understanding more about the various aspects of the serving
styles that may influence food consumption and serving waste. More knowledge will help
optimize preschool lunch servings, to ultimately benefit both the children and the planet
An analysis of the current status of chinese food culture in contemporary Sweden and the causes of the challenges it faces - Based on quantitative and qualitative research
Get PDFAccording to relevant records, in 1786, the first Chinese from Guangdong, China, set foot on Swedish land with the ships of the Swedish East India Company, and in 1959, the first Chinese restaurant opened in Sweden and officially welcomed customers in Gothenburg. People, as carriers of their original culture, travel together with them, while restaurants, as the main carriers of ethnic cuisine culture, provide them with a soil for rooting and development overseas. Therefore, the story between Chinese cuisine and its culture and Sweden may have already begun. So, what is the current situation of Chinese cuisine and its culture in Sweden? What are the challenges? What are the reasons that have led to such a situation and challenges? Through interviews with six Swedish Chinese restaurant operators and a questionnaire survey targeting the local Chinese community, the following content can be summarized and analyzed: Chinese cuisine and culture exist in different forms in different occasions and conditions in Sweden today, and have adapted to local social conditions and cultural traditions to some extent in certain aspects. The dietary behavior, habits, preferences, and other aspects of the Chinese community living in Sweden are still significantly influenced by traditional Chinese cuisine related cultural content in their daily lives. At the individual level, corresponding adjustments need to be made to the traditional Chinese cooking process to suit the local situation in Sweden. Chinese restaurants generally offer traditional Chinese cuisine as well as adjusted versions to cater to different tastes and increase profits. The challenges that exist are often conflicts between certain ingredients and processing methods of traditional Chinese cuisine and the local dietary habits and culture. The sense of non identification arising from certain dishes may lead to some people's rejection and misunderstanding of the overall culture of Chinese cuisine. In addition, the restrictions on the variety of vegetables and seasonings in the local market have also to some extent limited the development of Chinese cuisine in the area. Analyzing the reasons, the survival and development of Chinese cuisine and its culture in Sweden are influenced by various and complex factors. At the individual level, it may be due to personal living habits, potential rejection of foreign cultures, and inevitable cross-cultural communication barriers. At the macro level, political factors, policy factors, changes in the number of Chinese immigrants and residents in Sweden, and the composition of the catering market may also become influencing factors for the survival status and challenges faced by Chinese food culture in Sweden
Antimicrobial Sales in Nairobi’s Peri-Urban Poultry Farming:
Get PDFThe antimicrobial drug market in Kenya is currently unregulated, and there is a lack of knowledge regarding the extent of antimicrobial use in peri-urban poultry farming. The overuse of anti-microbials, particularly antibiotics, is driving antimicrobial resistance, posing a global threat. An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) application was introduced among selected agrovets in Kajiado and Machakos counties in Kenya to track antimicrobial sales. The sales data from three months were then analysed.
64% of the purchases contained antibiotics, with 68% of these composed of multiple antibiotic classes. Oxytetracycline and tylosin in combination with doxycycline was the most utilized antibiotics. All substances in the ten most common antibiotic purchases are classified as highly or critically important for human medicine by the WHO. The most common reference for a purchase was a new prescription (33%), followed by no reference (31%). In 34% of the purchases, a specific product was requested.
Interviews about the ICT program were conducted in each county, with a total of 12 agrovets attending. The recording of their sales impacted their awareness of antibiotic usage and provided them with new insights. The biggest problem they faced as agrovets was the ethical dilemma of being educated on responsible antimicrobial use while depending on the sales of these products for their business. They found it challenging to steer buyers away from a specific product once their minds were made up. They expressed a desire for stronger regulations to protect their profession, as well as education on antimicrobials for farmers not conducted by pharmaceutical companies promoting their products.
The heavy reliance on antibiotics for treating sick animals, the common practice of self-treatment among farmers, and how past experiences influence drug choices are concerning. Further mapping and surveillance can enhance the precision of interventions aimed at reducing antimicrobial usage
Current and future treatment options for insect bite hypersensitivity
Get PDFThis paper explored the treatment options available for insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses through a literature study. The conclusion was that drugs used today to treat IBH are primarily systemic glucocorticosteroids and antihistamines. However, antihistamines have not been proven effective enough by themselves, even when high plasma concentrations are achieved. Systemic glucocorticoids have a good effect on IBH but carry many severe adverse effects and other treatment alternatives are therefore warranted. Traditional treatment methods such as rugging and stalling horses inside, alongside the use of fans and insect repellants are often used. New drugs such as vaccines against IL-5 and IL-31 have shown great potential as possible treatments of IBH. These types of vaccines have shown good effect on pruritus in dogs. At the moment these vaccines are too expensive to produce for treatment of equines and therefore not commercially viable. To summarize, improved therapies that are cost efficient are needed to treat IBH in horses.Detta arbete har genom en litteraturstudie utforskat de olika behandlingsalternativen som finns tillgängliga för sommareksem hos häst. Slutsatsen som drogs var att de läkemedel som primärt används idag för att behandla sommareksem är glukokortikoider samt antihistaminer. Dock så har antihistaminer inte funnits vara tillräckligt effektiva även när höga plasmakoncentrationer har uppnåtts. Systemiska glukokortikoider har en god effekt på sommareksem men har risk för flera allvarliga bieffekter, det är således motiverat att ta fram andra behandlingsalternativ. Traditionell, konservativ behandling såsom att täcka och använda insektsmedel på hästarna, samt hålla hästar inomhus tillsammans med andra åtgärder för att hålla området insektsfritt används ofta för behandling. Nya läkemedel såsom vacciner mot IL-5 och IL-31 har visat stor potential som möjliga behandlingar för sommareksem. Dessa typer av vacciner används framgångsrikt för att behandla klåda hos hund, de är dock i dagsläget för dyra för att kunna producera för häst och är därmed inte kommersiellt gångbara. Sammanfattningsvis så krävs det nya förbättrade behandlingar som är kostnadseffektiva för att behandla sommareksem hos häst
Building economic resilience for small food and beverage manufacturers
Get PDFThe city of Malmö, Sweden supports numerous local, small food and beverage manufacturers. This study uses the Malmö local food community and Malmö’s three active craft coffee roasteries as a case to examine the role of social capital in building economic resilience for small food and beverage brands in a market where global multinational corporations also compete. The theories of cultural embeddedness and relational work are employed to analyze and explain the research findings, which show that external cultural alignment can create a structure for community support and economic resilience, while relational work can meliorate market culture misalignment. Incorporating both external cultural alignment and relational work into business strategy is a active step that small food and beverage manufacturers can employ to succeed
Estimation of dairy heifer body weight using 3D computer vision : a precision livestock farming approach to youngstock management
Get PDFYoungstock plays a crucial role within dairy operations as the next generation of milking cows. Despite this, the cost of rearing youngstock and the impact of rearing management on growth trajectories and associated reproductive and production performance of replacement heifers are often overlooked. This is partly due to the challenges in efficiently and effectively monitoring youngstock performance throughout rearing. This thesis aimed to validate the concept that the body weight of developing dairy heifers (5 to 20 months) can be accurately estimated through the application of 3D computer vision technology. The hypothesis is that an overhead rearview image can provide sufficient information to extract adequate body measurements for development of an accurate BW estimation model. Thereby enabling timely monitoring and management of youngstock, leading to more cost-effective management and improved health, production, and reproductive performance in future dairy cows.
The study was conducted at the Swedish Livestock Research Centre in Uppsala, Sweden, over a period of four months starting in January 2024. Data was collected on four occasions, on 101 diary heifers of two breeds: Swedish Red (n = 59) and Swedish Holstein (n = 42). The collected data included body weights, 3D images, three manual metric body measurements (hip ischial width, hip height, and external hip joint width), and manual body condition scores for heifers aged ≥ 13 months.
The body measurements were manually acquired as reference values and extracted through photogrammetry applied to 3D time-of-flight imaging. These images were acquired directly after the heifer exited the weighing scale, with an overhead caudal rear view. Pearson correlations showed strong correlations between body weights from the scale and reference body measurements: hip ischial width (r = 0.94), hip height (r = 0.88), and hipometer (r = 0.88). Age in months also showed strong correlations (r = 0.93), while body condition score was weakly correlated (r = 0.27). Model training input features were age and 3D image extracted hip ischial width, hip height, and hip width measures, whereof hip width have been established to have a strong correlation to BW in other research (r = 0.75). Model training was performed with Gradient Boosting and Group K-Fold cross-validation, achieving a regression score of 0.93 (± 0.02) between estimated and reference body weights. The relative error across all 101 heifers was 5.35 % (± 0.51 %) with a relative mean square error of 26.0 kg (± 2.5 kg).
This thesis validated the possibility of accurately estimating body weight in developing dairy heifers using 3D computer vision, indicating the potential for further model enhancement and utilization to advance precision livestock farming (PLF) technology
Torkaresistens hos ektomykorrhizasvampar i släktet Suillu
Get PDFRising instances of drought are causing more tree seedling fatalities post-nursery outplanting. In the face of climate change, fostering resilient forestry practices is imperative for preserving the health and functionality of our forests. Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM), crucial for the drought resistance of key Swedish trees like pine and spruce, play a significant role in forest resilience. With the hypothesis that ECM species with a higher innate drought resistance can more effectively aid their tree symbionts in conditions of drought, it becomes interesting to investigate how drought influences the ECM mycobiont. Differential expressions of specialised water channel proteins called aquaporins (AQPs) have been found under conditions of drought, suggesting an integral role in the drought resilience of ECMs themselves, as well as in the mycorrhizal partnership.
This master project aimed to deepen the understanding of drought resistance in the ectomycorrhizal Suillus genus. The characteristics of the gene repertoire of aquaporins within the Suillus genus were explored and drought effects on the growth patterns of three fungal species, S. variegatus, S. luteus and S. bovinus, were investigated.
Fungal growth was studied under drought as simulated on Petri dishes by incorporating polyethylene glycol into the agar medium. Only a single isolate, being S. variegatus LV-1, showed a significant decrease in diameter and weight when subjected to drought compared to control conditions without PEG. Increased pigmentation and hyphal density were observed across all isolates growing in drought conditions, leading to the conclusion that although drought was achieved, the stress of the mycelium was not generally expressed in terms of diameter of growth or weight. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis of AQPs was carried out using the programs MAFFT and FigTree and key amino-acid motifs (i.e. NPA) that influence AQP substrate specificity as well as the topology of Suillus AQPs was analysed. Motifs and protein topology in the Suillus genus were generally consistent with the literature on fungal AQPs, with a few interesting divergences regarding the NPA motif. The thesis study resulted in the design of primers and validation of stable reference genes for future qPCR analysis of AQPs in S. variegatus.En ökad förekomst av torka leder till fler dödsfall hos unga träd vid utplantering. I och med klimatförändringarna är det kritiskt att främja härdigt och beständigt skogsbruk för att bevara hälsan och funktionaliteten av våra skogar. Ektomykorrhizasvampar (ECM) är avgörande för torkaresistensen hos centrala svenska träd såsom tall och gran, och spelar en betydande roll i skogens hållfasthet. Med hypotesen att ECM-arter med en högre torktålighet kan hjälpa sina trädsymbionter mer effektivt under torkaförhållanden, blir det intressant att undersöka hur torka påverkar ECM-mykobionten. Differentiella uttryck av specialiserade vattenkanalproteiner, så kallade aquaporiner, har påvisats under torkförhållanden, vilket tyder på att de har en väsentlig roll i ECMs egna torktålighet, samt i den mykorrhizala symbiosen.
Detta masterprojekt syftade till att fördjupa förståelsen för torkaresistensen inom ektomykorrhizasläktet Suillus. Genuppsättningen av aquaporiner inom Suillus-släktet utforskades, och torkans effekter på tillväxten av mycelet av de tre svamparter, S. variegatus, S. luteus och S. bovinus, undersöktes.
Mycelets tillväxt studerades vid torka som simulerades i Petriskålar genom att inkorporera polyetylenglykol i agarmediet. Endast ett enskilt isolat, S. variegatus LV-1, visade en signifikant minskning i diameter och vikt när den utsattes för torka jämfört med kontrollförhållanden. Däremot observerades en ökad pigmentering och hyftäthet hos samtliga isolat som växte under torkförhållanden, vilket ledde till slutsatsen att även om torka uppnåddes, uttrycktes inte stressen hos myceliet generellt sett i termer av minskad tillväxtdiameter eller vikt. Därtill genomfördes en fylogenetisk analys av svamp-aquaporiner med hjälp av programmen MAFFT och FigTree. Centrala aminosyramotiv (d.v.s. NPA) som påverkar substratspecificiteten hos aquaporinerna samt topologin hos Suillus AQPs analyserades. Aminosyramotiv och proteintopologin hos Suillus-släktet var generellt konsekvent med det som hittades i litteraturen angående svamp-aquaporiner, med några intressanta avvikelser gällande NPA-motivet. Examensarbetet resulterade i en framgångsrik design av primrar och validering av stabila referensgener för framtida qPCR-analys av S. variegatus aquaporine