ABSTRACT
One constraint of Thai soybean production is the volume of seeds used for cultivation in the dry season or after the rice season. PhuPha Man district, KhonKaenprovince, in Northeast Thailand, faces the same problem and can be solved by producing seeds during the rainy season for use in the dry season. The collaborative brainstorming to participatory action development employed in this community-based soybean production project involves four steps: (1) needs assessment, (2) planning, (3) implementation, and (4) evaluation. From 2019-2020, a total of 40 farmers jointly participated in this project: 20 from the Non-Korm Sub-district and 20 from the Sawab Sub-district. They agreed to implement three missions: (1) Farmer group management. A Community-based Soybean Seed Production Center (CSSPC) was established in each area. Each CSSPC was responsible for determining the structure and role of management, including the implementation of disciplines. (2) Seed production management. During its implementation, a shortage of rainfall and drought occurred from September to October 2019, causing soybean production to decline. Moreover, product harvesting and project evaluation took place at the site during the COVID-19 pandemic from January to May 2020, influencing the ability of farmers and facilitators to work together on group activities which required delicate management of the monitoring, control, production, exchange, and learning to solve problems. (3) Seed purchasing and distribution management. Rainfall shortage and drought influenced the ability of the farmers to produce the required soybean seeds. Consequently, the CSSPC did not purchase the seeds and manage their distribution.Copyright © 2023, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The role of animal movement in spreading infectious diseases is highly recognized by various legislations and institutions such as the World Organisation for Animal Health and the International Animal Health Code. The increased interactions at the nexus of human-animal-ecosystem interface have seen an unprecedented introduction and reintroduction of new zoonotic diseases with high socio-economic impacts such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that affects both humans and animals and is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes or through contact with the body fluids of infected animals. This study seeks to characterize movement patterns of pastoralist and how this movement behaviour increases their susceptibility to RVF virus exposure. We levarage on a rapidly growing field of movement ecology to monitor five herds collared from 2013 – 2015 in an RVF endemic semi-arid region in Kenya. The herds were also sampled for RVF antibodies to assess their exposure to RVF virus during the rainy seasons. adehabitatLT package in R was used to analyze the trajectory data whereas the first passage time (FPT) analysis was used to measure the area utilized in grazing. Sedentary herds grazed within 15km radius while migrating herds presented restricted space use patterns during the dry seasons and transient movement during the start and end of the rainy season. Furthermore, RVF virus antibodies were generally low for sedentary herds whereas the migrating herds recorded high levels during their transition periods. This study can be used to identify RVF risk zones for timely and targeted management strategies.
ABSTRACT
Background. Data regarding respiratory pathogen epidemiology in the tropical country of Ecuador are limited. Here, we describe the temporal patterns and etiologies of medically attended acute respiratory infections among Ecuadorean children during the 20-month period preceding the onset of the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods. Children < 5 years old presenting to a designated outpatient clinic with at least 2 new symptoms consistent with an acute respiratory infection are eligible for enrollment. Informed consent is obtained. Demographic and clinical details are collected. A nasopharyngeal sample is collected for diagnostic testing of 22 target pathogen groups using Biofire's Respiratory Panel v1.7 multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay. Results. Of the 820 subjects enrolled between July 15, 2018 and March 15, 2020, 655 (80%) tested positive for at least one pathogen. The detection of pathogens was more likely from samples collected from children enrolled in Quito (85%) compared to Machala (76%) (p < 0.05). The most frequently detected pathogen groups were rhinovirus/ enterovirus (46%), parainfluenza virus (14%), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (12%), and influenza virus (10%). Two or more pathogen groups were codetected in 174 (27%) of the respiratory samples. Pathogen specific seasonal patterns were not observed for rhinovirus/enterovirus, adenovirus, or atypical bacteria at either site. Samples collected in Quito were positive for the detection of RSV spanning a 32-week period between November and June. In contrast, detection of RSV from samples collected in Machala spanned only a 17- week period between February and May. In Quito, influenza viruses were detected between August and February, with influenza A activity preceding that of influenza B. In Machala, the detection of influenza B virus coincided with the dry season, while detection of influenza A virus was clustered in the rainy period between January and March. Conclusion. The specific etiologies and seasonality of acute respiratory tract infections among Ecuadorean children < 5 years of age differ by site of enrollment. Such differences in regional data can be used to optimize regional implementation of existing and soon-to-be available public health prevention measures.
ABSTRACT
The city-wide lockdown management was implemented in Shanghai from the end of March to the beginning of June in response to the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic. The sudden change of the way of work, lifestyle and industrial structure in the megacity would inevitably influence the characteristics of wastewater production, the composition of wastewater, the influent conditions, and operations of wastewater treatment plants（WWTPs）. The main countermeasures of operation in typical WWTPs were analyzed, which could provide a reference for early-warning and precaution when similar situations occur in WWTPs in the future. In order to eliminate the interference caused by the hysteresis effect after the rain stops in the combined drainage system, the corresponding relationship between the rainfall conditions and the influent quantity and quality of WWTPs was studied.The new statistical standard was established for distinguishing"rainy days"or"count dry days". The contemporaneous data of WWTPs in Shanghai central area during dry season in the past three years was analyzed. It was found that the quantity and quality of the influent showed a reverse trend during Shanghai's city-wide lockdown period. The quantity of wastewater decreased by 6% in the corresponding period, and the concentration of COD and NH3-N decreased by 33% and 17%, respectively. The addition of a large amount of chlorine-containing disinfectants led to an increase in the concentration of residual chlorine in the influent of some WWTPs. Based on the analysis of treatment process and design parameters of the existing WWTPs, the operation mode of exploiting potentialities was finally adopted.WWTPs operated stably and the effluent quality could meet the discharge standards through measures such as strengthening pretreatment, prolonging sludge retention time, controlling the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the biological reaction section, and increasing the dosage of phosphorus removal agents.
ABSTRACT
Construction of small ponds that collect and store rainwater to be used for livestock watering has been one of the most widespread adaptive solutions in Iberian rangelands to cope with water scarcity, a problem that has become particularly relevant in recent decades due to the progressive increase in livestock density on farms. However, watering ponds can also be a source of health problems due to the consumption of low-quality water by livestock. In this study, we analyzed the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of water from a set of watering ponds located in Iberian rangelands and evaluated its suitability for livestock consumption by comparing the analytical results with internationally recognized water standards for livestock. In addition, seasonal and spatial variations in pond water quality and the influence of some physical and managerial factors were assessed by multivariate statistical analysis. Results showed a high seasonality in pond water composition. The quality of pond water was sufficient to be used for livestock during the rainy season, but high bacterial pollution of fecal origin was evidenced at the end of the dry season in many ponds, with consequent risk for animal health. Dilution by rainwater and evapo-concentration processes were the main mechanisms that determined the concentrations of contaminants in pond water, while livestock density did not seem to have a significant influence. We propose some strategies, such as diversification in water supply sources and regular water quality testing, that farmers could adopt to deal with the detected water quality problems.
ABSTRACT
Air pollution has become a serious concern for its potential health hazard, however, often got less attention in developing countries, like Bangladesh. It is expected that worldwide lockdown due to COVID-19 widespread cause reduction in environmental pollution in particularly the air pollution: however, such changes have been different in different places. In Chittagong, a city scale lockdown came in force on 26 March 2020, a week after when first three cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Bangladesh. This study aims to statistically evaluate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown (26 March to 26 April 2020) on selected air quality pollutants and air quality index s. The daily average concentrations of air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2 and CO of Chittagong city during COVID-19 lockdown were statistically evaluated and were compared with dry season data averaging over previous 8 years (2012 to 2019). During lockdown, except NO2, all other pollutants studied showed statistically significant decreasing trend. During the COVID-19 shutdown notable reduction of 40%, 32% and 13% compared to the daily mean concentrations of these previous dry season were seen for PM2.5, PM10 and NO2, respectively. The improvement in air quality index value was found as 26% in comparison to the previous dry season due to less human activities in COVID-19 shutdown. The factor analysis showed that AQI in Chittagong city is largely influenced by PM10 and PM2.5 during COVID-19 shutdown. The lesson learnt in this forced measure of lockdown is not surprising and unexpected. It is rather thought provoking for the decision makers to tradeoff the tangible air quality benefits with ongoing development strategies' that was often overlooked directly or indirectly.
ABSTRACT
Cemeteries are sites for the final disposal of human bodies that constitute a source of contamination of soil and water as a result of the cadaveric decomposition generated. The current research performed an initial study on the contamination of soil and water due to the influence of cemeteries and verified compliance with the legislation regulating land use and occupation of Central Ecuador (PUGS) with the aim of proposing an environmental and territorial solution to the problems generated by the mismanagement of cemeteries, through the physicochemical analysis of soil and water and studies of land use compatibility. The results indicate the tendency of contamination caused by the studied cemeteries, since the samples taken in both the rainy and dry season for the measurement of parameters BOD5, COD, DO, pH and electrical conductivity fail to meet the established requirements of the Ecuadorian and international environmental regulations. In addition, land use conflicts were encountered in the cemetery grounds. It is concluded that the existing cemeteries should be subjected to more detailed environmental analysis and subsequently should be treated as security landfills in the closure and post-closure stage. Also, it has been concluded that the cemeteries should not be located in urban or peri-urban areas.
ABSTRACT
The integrated farming activities have become more popular in the last decade. It expects to increase productivity by optimizing the land and minimizing environmental pollution. The study aims to understand the perception level of society towards the environmental pollution of the integrated livestock-fish production system on raising catfish and laying duck (Clarias sp and Anas platyrhynchos). The study was conducted in Desa Balunijuk, Bangka. The questionnaire was used for the data collection technique through a face-to-face interview by following the health protocol of Covid-19. Two stages of data collection were applied: before and after treatment of Probio_Fm. Qualitative descriptive was employed to analyze the data. The respondents were the society who lived nearby the location of the study. A mixture of probiotics was employed on the feed and the catfish pond. The study found that the perception was significantly different between before and after treatment of Probio_Fm particularly on the negative environmental effects such as odor pollutants due to unmanaged animal waste. It occurred at the very beginning of the study during the wet season before the probiotic treatment. Interestingly, during the dry season, the probiotic treatment was regularly applied. The odor pollutant impact decreased even not having a bad odor at all. The waste both absorbed in the sand and was streamed through the drain pipeline. However, most of the respondents were not disturbed due to the odor pollutant surrounding the integrated livestock-fish production system. It articulated that the probiotic treatment worked effectively in unraveling the bacteria so that the pollutant level decreased drastically. The study recommended various solutions to the problems: the draining pipeline should be repaired, the animal feed should use probiotics to achieve optimal use of nutrition, consistent and effective feeding should be applied, and the cleanliness of the duck house should be properly maintained. The monitoring and evaluation of the environmental impact towards the integrated livestock-fish production system should involve relevant stakeholders such as a village government, the management, and society as a whole so that the healthy and environment-friendly integrated fisheries activity can be achieved.
ABSTRACT
In the Brazilian Pantanal, wildfire occurrence has increased, reaching record highs of over 40,000 km2 in 2020. Smoke from wildfires worsened the situation of isolated, as well as urban communities, already under an increasing toll of COVID-19. Here we review the impacts and the possible causes of the 2020 mega-fires and recommend improvements for public policies and fire management in this wetland. We calculated the amount of area burnt annually since 2003 and describe patterns in precipitation and water level measurements of the Paraguay River. Our analyses revealed that the 2020 wildfires were historically unprecedented, as 43% of the area (over 17,200 km2) had not been burnt previously in the last two decades. The extent of area affected in 2020 represents a 376% increase compared to the annual average of the area burnt annually in the last two decades, double than the value in 2019. Potential factors responsible for this increase are (i) severe drought decreased water levels, (ii) the fire corridor was located in the Paraguay River flood zone, (iii) constraints on firefighters, (iv) insufficient fire prevention strategy and agency budget reductions, and (v) recent landscape changes. Climate and land use change will further increase the frequency of these extreme events. To make fire management more efficient and cost-effective, we recommend the implementation of an Integrated Fire Management program in the Pantanal. Stakeholders should use existing traditional, local ecological, and scientific knowledge to form a collective strategy with clear, achievable, measurable goals, considering the socio-ecological context. Permanent fire brigades, including indigenous members, should conduct year-round fire management. Communities should cooperate to create a collaborative network for wildfire prevention, the location and characteristics (including flammability) of infrastructures should be (re)planned in fire-prone environments considering and managing fire-catalysed transitions, and depending on the severity of wildfires. The 2020 wildfires were tackled in an ad-hoc fashion and prioritisation of areas for urgent financial investment, management, protection, and restoration is necessary to prevent this catastrophe from happening again.