| 1. |
- Lundström, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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Care in dairy farming with automatic milking systems, identified using an Activity Theory lens
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Rural Studies. - : Elsevier. - 0743-0167 .- 1873-1392. ; 87, s. 386-403
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ContextIn Sweden, 34% of herds in official statistics 2021 (77% of the cows) have an automatic milking system (AMS) and keep 19% of the dairy cows.ObjectiveThis study should be considered in relation to the rapid increase of digitalisation in agriculture. It aimed at investigating Swedish farmers’ experiences and reflections in dairy farming concerning AMS use from a care perspective, based on two research questions: 1) What kinds of success factors and management challenges do farmers experience with AMS usage? and 2) How do farmers view their work environment in this kind of system?MethodsA mixed method approach was performed, using method triangulation through a questionnaire, interviews, and field visits. The Activity Theory (AT) was used as a theoretical lens to consider care practice in the dairy farming as a learning system.Results and conclusionsParticipating dairy farmers were found to be in a continuous learning process on different levels in their system, from detailed problems with an individual cow or the herd to the whole dairy system. Implementation of AMS required learning in order to manage, and thus care for, a system comprising of animals, technology, and humans, to increase business viability. In successful AMS use, willingness to learn, adapt to the local situation, and continually improve practice, or care as a patterning of activities, appeared to be the most important factors. With more people involved, differentiations were possible, which in turn accentuated the need for more trained staff who can perform more complicated tasks. The findings indicated high importance of experience and a ‘stockperson's eye’, in combination with tool-mediated seeing using data from the robot, in developing enhanced professional vision and good care. A good stockperson had broad competence combining a stockperson's eye with experience with robot data. One of the greatest challenges for dairy farms was finding a good stockperson as staff or advisor. Increased flexibility in work and better physical health were important driving forces for implementing AMS, while handling alarms was mentally stressful and gave different perspectives on AMS vulnerability. Overall, the analysis of the collected data showed that AMS had brought major, primarily positive, changes in daily work and increased work satisfaction for most farmers, with a clear majority of the respondents feeling good in their work situation and enjoying their work.SignificanceApplication of AT in studying AMS from a care perspective, represents a shift from traditional research that normally addresses technological inventions, to studying farmers’ socio-technical system. The AT lens revealed the work practices in performing care, as a patterning of activities accomplished by a tinkering learning process, in the rich and messy matrix of humans, cows, and technology.
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| 2. |
- Svensson, Catarina, et al.
(författare)
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Dairy farmer and farm staff attitudes and perceptions regarding daily milk allowance to calves
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - : Elsevier. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 106:10, s. 7220-7239
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The benefits of feeding calves more milk are increasingly being recognized by dairy farmers. However, most producers have still not implemented higher feeding plans. The aim of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of farmer and farm staff attitudes, and the perceptions and factors considered in their decision-making regarding daily milk allowances. We collected data through focus group interviews with dairy farmers, farm managers, and calf-care workers who were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. In total, 40 persons (24 women and 16 men) joined a focus group interview (6 in all, each with 5–8 participants). Interviews were recorded, and recordings were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Participants had contrasting opinions about the minimum, maximum, and recommended daily milk allowances to their calves. Their suggested lowest daily milk allowance to sustain animal welfare ranged from 4 to 8–10 L and the maximum allowance from 6 to 15 L. We found that farmers' and farm staff's choices and recommendations of milk-feeding protocols were influenced by a large number of factors that could be grouped into 4 themes: (1) Life beyond work, (2) Farm facilities and equipment, (3) Care of the calves, and (4) Profitability and production. Participants' considerations were similar and aimed to maximize daily milk allowance based on farm conditions. However, the allowances they described as optimal for their calves often differed from what they considered practically feasible. We found that the care of the calves and the well-being of the owners and the staff was central in the participants' decision-making, but that this care perspective was challenged by the social and economic sustainability of the farm. Most participants fed their calves twice daily and did not think that increasing that number would be practically feasible. Our results indicate that the participants' viewpoints regarding calves were important for their decision-making about milk allowances. We suggest that a more holistic perspective should be used when advising farmers about milk allowances, putting particular emphasis on the caring and social sustainability aspects of the individual farm.
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| 3. |
- Palmqvist, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Maghemite Nanoparticles Acts as Nanozymes, Improving Growth and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Brassica napus
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nanoscale Research Letters. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1931-7573 .- 1556-276X. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Yttrium doping-stabilized γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were studied for its potential to serve as a plant fertilizer and, through enzymatic activity, support drought stress management. Levels of both hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation, after drought, were reduced when γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were delivered by irrigation in a nutrient solution to Brassica napus plants grown in soil. Hydrogen peroxide was reduced from 151 to 83 μM g−1 compared to control, and the malondialdehyde formation was reduced from 36 to 26 mM g−1. Growth rate of leaves was enhanced from 33 to 50% growth compared to fully fertilized plants and SPAD-measurements of chlorophyll increased from 47 to 52 suggesting improved agronomic properties by use of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles as fertilizer as compared to chelated iron.
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| 4. |
- Hernandez Velasco, Marco, 1985-
(författare)
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Enabling year-round cultivation in the Nordics : Agrivoltaics and adaptive Led lighting control of Daily Light Integral
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : Springer Nature. - 2077-0472. ; 11:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High efficacy LED lamps combined with adaptive lighting control and greenhouse integrated photovoltaics (PV) could enable the concept of year-round cultivation. This concept can be especially useful for increasing the production in the Nordic countries of crops like herbaceous perennials, forest seedlings, and other potted plants not native of the region, which are grown more than one season in this harsh climate. Meteorological satellite data of this region was analyzed in a parametric study to evaluate the potential of these technologies. The generated maps showed monthly average temperatures fluctuating from −20 °C to 20 °C throughout the year. The natural photoperiod and light intensity also changed drastically, resulting in monthly average daily light integral (DLI) levels ranging from 45–50 mol·m−2·d−1 in summer and contrasting with 0–5 mol·m−2·d−1 during winter. To compensate, growth room cultivation that is independent of outdoor conditions could be used in winter. Depending on the efficacy of the lamps, the electricity required for sole-source lighting at an intensity of 300 µmol·m−2·s−1 for 16 h would be between 1.4 and 2.4 kWh·m−2·d−1. Greenhouses with supplementary lighting could help start the cultivation earlier in spring and extend it further into autumn. The energy required for lighting highly depends on several factors such as the natural light transmittance, the light threshold settings, and the lighting control protocol, resulting in electric demands between 0.6 and 2.4 kWh·m−2·d−1. Integrating PV on the roof or wall structures of the greenhouse could offset some of this electricity, with specific energy yields ranging from 400 to 1120 kWh·kW−1·yr−1 depending on the region and system design.
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| 5. |
- Leblanc, Neil, et al.
(författare)
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Development of a magnetic bead microarray for simultaneous and simple detection of four pestiviruses
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Virological Methods. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-0934 .- 1879-0984. ; 155:1, s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study reports a novel method for the rapid detection and identification of the four recognized species in the pestivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, i.e. classical swine fever virus (CSFV), border disease virus (BDV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 1 (BVDV1) and type 2 (BVDV2). The analysis of pestivirus PCR products was performed on microarrays by means of magnetic bead detection. The process utilizes an oligonucleotide array, onto which 5' biotinylated PCR products were hybridized, followed by visualization with streptavidin-coated magnetic particles by the naked eye, microscope or biochip reader. The assay was tested on a collection of pestiviruses that included all four species and allowed a specific and sensitive detection. Sensitivity was compared with other post-PCR detection methods, namely gel electrophoresis and suspension microarray. The results indicate that due to its high sensitivity, specificity and simple detection procedure, the magnetic bead assay provides a powerful tool for detection and identification of viral pathogens. Considering the simplicity of the assay, the protocols for hybridization and magnetic bead detection offer an emerging application for molecular diagnoses in virology that is amenable for use in a modestly equipped laboratory.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Aulin, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
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In situ cross-linkable hyaluronan hydrogel enhances chondrogenesis
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1932-6254 .- 1932-7005. ; 5:8, s. E188-E196
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present work describes the feasibility of a cross-linkable injectable hyaluronan hydrogel for cartilage repair. The hydrogel used is a two-component system based on aldehyde-modified hyaluronan and hydrazide-modified polyvinyl alcohol, which are rapidly cross-linked in situ upon mixing. The in vitro study showed that chondrocytes and mesenchymal cells cultured in the gel form cartilage-like tissue, rich in glycosaminoglycans, collagen type II and aggrecan. In a rabbit animal model the injection of the hydrogel improved the healing of a full-thickness cartilage defect created in the knee as compared to non-treated controls. This rabbit study showed that the regenerated cartilage defects stained more intensely for type II collagen upon treatment with the hydrogel. The hyaluronan-based hydrogel may be used as a delivery vehicle for both growth factors and/or cells for cartilage repair. The in vivo study also indicated that the hydrogel alone has a beneficial effect on cartilage regeneration.
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| 8. |
- Afshar, Reza, et al.
(författare)
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Creep in oak material from the Vasa ship: : verification of linear viscoelasticity and identification of stress thresholds
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Journal of Wood and Wood Products. - : Springer Nature. - 0018-3768 .- 1436-736X. ; 78:6, s. 1095-1103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Creep deformation is a general problem for large wooden structures, and in particular for shipwrecks in museums. In this study, experimental creep data on the wooden cubic samples from the Vasa ship have been analysed to confrm the linearity of the viscoelastic response in the directions where creep was detectable (T and R directions). Isochronous stress–strain curves were derived for relevant uniaxial compressive stresses within reasonable time spans. These curves and the associated creep compliance values justify that it is reasonable to assume a linear viscoelastic behaviour within the tested ranges, given the high degree of general variability. Furthermore, the creep curves were ftted with a one-dimensional standard linear solid model, and although the rheological parameters show a fair amount of scatter, they are candidates as input parameters in a numerical model to predict creep deformations. The isochronous stress–strain relationships were used to defne a creep threshold stress below which only negligible creep is expected. These thresholds ranges were 0.3–0.5 MPa in the R direction and 0.05–0.2 MPa in the T direction.
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| 9. |
- Hallingbäck, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Association mapping in Salix viminalis L. (Salicaceae) - identification of candidate genes associated with growth and phenology
- 2016
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology Bioenergy. - : Wiley. - 1757-1693 .- 1757-1707. ; 8:3, s. 670-685
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Willow species (Salix) are important as short-rotation biomass crops for bioenergy, which creates a demand for faster genetic improvement and breeding through deployment of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS). To find markers associated with important adaptive traits, such as growth and phenology, for use in MAS, we genetically dissected the trait variation of a Salix viminalis (L.) population of 323 accessions. The accessions were sampled throughout northern Europe and were established at two field sites in Pustnas, Sweden, and at Woburn, UK, offering the opportunity to assess the impact of genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE) on trait-marker associations. Field measurements were recorded for growth and phenology traits. The accessions were genotyped using 1536 SNP markers developed from phenology candidate genes and from genes previously observed to be differentially expressed in contrasting environments. Association mapping between 1233 of these SNPs and the measured traits was performed taking into account population structure and threshold selection bias. At a false discovery rate (FDR) of 0.2, 29 SNPs were associated with bud burst, leaf senescence, number of shoots or shoot diameter. The percentage of accession variation explained by these associations ranged from 0.3% to 4.4%, suggesting that the studied traits are controlled by many loci of limited individual impact. Despite this, a SNP in the EARLY FLOWERING 3 gene was repeatedly associated (FDR<0.2) with bud burst. The rare homozygous genotype exhibited 0.4-1.0 lower bud burst scores than the other genotype classes on a five-grade scale. Consequently, this marker could be promising for use in MAS and the gene deserves further study. Otherwise, associations were less consistent across sites, likely due to their small estimates and to considerable GxE interactions indicated by multivariate association analyses and modest trait accession correlations across sites (0.32-0.61).
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| 10. |
- Wagner, Leopold, et al.
(författare)
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The influence of chemical degradation and polyethylene glycol on moisture-dependent cell wall properties of archeological wooden objects : a case study of the Vasa shipwreck
- 2016
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Ingår i: Wood Science and Technology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0043-7719 .- 1432-5225. ; 50:6, s. 1103-1123
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cell wall measures allow for direct assessment of wood modification without the adverse effect of varying density and microstructure. In this study, cell wall properties of recent and archeological oak wood from the Vasa shipwreck were investigated for cell wall stiffness, hardness and creep with respect to effects of chemical degradation, impregnation with a preservation agent, namely polyethylene glycol, and moisture. For this purpose, nanoindentation tests were performed at varying relative humidity, leading to different moisture contents in the wood samples. Concurrently, microstructural and chemical characterization of the mate- rial was conducted. Impregnated and untreated recent oak wood showed a softening effect of both moisture and preservation agent at the wood cell wall level. On the contrary, increased stiffness was found for non-impregnated Vasa oak, which can be explained by aging-related modifications in cell wall components. These effects were counteracted by the softening effect of polyethylene glycol in the impregnated Vasa material, where a lower overall stiffness was measured. The reverse effect of the preservation agent and moisture, namely increased indentation creep of the cell wall material, was revealed. The loss of acetyl groups in the hemicelluloses explained the decreased hygroscopicity of the Vasa oak. In the impregnated Vasa oak, this effect seemed to be partly counteracted by the presence of low-molecular polyethylene glycol contributing to higher hygroscopicity of the cell wall. Thus, the higher overall sorptive capacity of the impregnated Vasa material, with respect to the non-impregnated material, was detected, which has resulted in a sorptive behavior similar to that of recent oak wood. The proposed approach requires only small amounts of material, making it especially suitable for application to precious historical wooden artifacts.
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