The agricultural sector is of particular importance for the national economy in the conditions of real membership of the country in the European Union. The liberalization of world trade, the ...association of Bulgaria with European structures and the restoration of some traditional market positions pose new problems and opportunities for the agricultural sector. The aim of the study is to analyze the typology of agricultural holdings. The objects of study are agricultural holdings in the countries of the European Union. The latest published agricultural holding counting on Eurostat is included in the survey. The main source of agricultural statistics are the farm structure surveys that are made periodically. The significance of the study is to provide a realistic picture of structural conditions in Bulgaria’s agriculture, which helps to analyze results which can also be compared across the EU. These conclusions are needed not only for examination the reasons of structural changes in this important economic sector, but also for future prognosis.The methods used in the survey are comparing analyze, method of statistics grouping, experts valuation and etc.
Farm management is related to the decisions that affect the profitability of this business. Limited resources are allocated, and after taking a certain risk, a return is expected. In order to manage ...risk effectively, it needs to be clearly identified and valued.
Determining the production structure of an agricultural holding in the current study is considered in the short term, in the case of choosing between two annual crops. Solving this problem in the future involves establishing the amount of investment funds, areas in which to invest, and the use of tangible fixed assets as efficiently as possible.
In carrying out the investment process, financial and investment decisions are made, developing this dynamic method for every possible alternative to investing capital.
The purpose of this study is to propose a method for making management decisions in agriculture, when choosing to invest financial resources in terms of choosing between two crops - wheat and sunflower.
The liquidity of the agricultural holding makes it possible to establish to what extent it is possible for it to cover its liabilities in the near future. The company can focus on sticking to certain ...values of these indicators - these are values that according to the financial management of the company if achieved, it will mean that there will be no significant problems in terms of repayment of current obligations. The purpose of the research is after measuring the state of financial liquidity of agricultural holdings and capturing the trend, to analyze whether current ratios are enough for covering short-term expenses. The study has included representatives of the micro business in Bulgaria using survey and comparative analysis. The results reveal satisfactory levels of liquidity and managed to capture a descending trend comparing the levels of liquidity for the researched period.
Novel perennial grains in agriculture have the potential of providing soil ecosystem services and boosting plant-soil microbial relationships via increasing soil organic matter (SOM). Hence, we ...evaluated the implication of perennial intermediate wheatgrass agroecosystems (+/− alfalfa intercrop) in contrast to organic and conventional rotation systems on SOM and related soil microbial parameters. Soil samples were obtained from perennial intermediate wheatgrass (IWG), sole (IWG-SC) or intercropped with alfalfa (IWG-IC), as well as organic (ORG-A) and conventional (CON-A) rotation systems of annual wheat. Soil samples were taken in two depths (0–30 cm and 30–60 cm) and analyzed for total and fractionated soil organic C (SOC), microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN), basal microbial respiration (Rb), potential enzyme activities related to C and N cycling (Cellobiohydrolase (CBH), Leucine-aminopeptidase (LAP)), and abundance of functional genes related to N cycling (amoA, nifH) and 16S rRNA genes. Despite the lack of fertilization in the IWG systems, SOC concentration and the amount of C in the particulate organic matter were higher in the 30–60 cm depth of IWG systems than ORG-A and CON-A. Higher MBN and LAP activities were observed in the 0–30 cm depth of ORG-A than both IWG and CON-A. Mass specific CBH activities and metabolic quotient qCO2 were lower in the 30–60 cm depth of IWG systems, implying reduced C losses and high C use efficiency in these systems. Similarly, we observed higher amounts of 16S rRNA in the 30–60 cm depth of IWGs than ORG-A and CON-A. Hence, IWG systems increased SOC and microbial biomass and activities in the 30–60 cm depth than ORG-A and CON-A. However, the more diverse IWG (+ alfalfa intercrop) did not increase microbial biomass and activities than IWG monoculture. Our study provides a reflection of how perennial grain agroecosystems, in conjunction with organic rotation systems, induce a positive influence on SOC and microbial activities than CON-A. It further suggested that perennial grain cultivation goes beyond the reach of organic farming dominated by annual crops to induce SOC and support relevant soil microbial functions in subsoils.
•Perennial grains can improve biological and ecological functions in arable soils.•Perennial monoculture and intercrop increased soil organic carbon in the subsoil.•Functional gene abundance positively correlated with soil organic carbon fractions.
ABSTRACT
A European transect was established, ranging from Sweden to the Azores, to determine the relative influence of geographic factors and agricultural small-scale management on the grassland ...soil microbiome. Within each of five countries (factor ‘Country’), which maximized a range of geographic factors, two differing growth condition regions (factor ‘GCR’) were selected: a favorable region with conditions allowing for high plant biomass production and a contrasting less favorable region with a markedly lower potential. Within each region, grasslands of contrasting management intensities (factor ‘MI’) were defined: intensive and extensive, from which soil samples were collected. Across the transect, ‘MI’ was a strong differentiator of fungal community structure, having a comparable effect to continental scale geographic factors (‘Country’). ‘MI’ was also a highly significant driver of bacterial community structure, but ‘Country’ was clearly the stronger driver. For both, ‘GCR’ was the weakest driver. Also at the regional level, strong effects of MI occurred on various measures of the soil microbiome (i.e. OTU richness, management-associated indicator OTUs), though the effects were largely regional-specific. Our results illustrate the decisive influence of grassland MI on soil microbial community structure, over both regional and continental scales, and, thus, highlight the importance of preserving rare extensive grasslands.
Across a European transect, comprising five countries, we did show that small-scale agricultural grassland management can affect soil fungal community structure as much as continental scale geographic patterns.
This study was designed with the purpose of testing the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Attitudes toward Prostitution and Prostitutes Scale through three studies with different ...samples. The first one explores the test's dimensional structure or constructs validity through confirmatory factor analysis, as well as internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The second one focuses on discriminant and criteria validity. Finally, the third one examines the scale's convergent validity and its sensitivity to detecting changes. The results support two subscales with an optimal index of internal consistency, structural stability over time, and discriminative power between groups of participants. It is, therefore, an adequate tool for adults as well as young people and teenagers, and for detecting changes in the context of intervention or awareness workshops.
This paper presents the design of a front-end circuit for monolithic active pixel sensors. The circuit operates with a sensor featuring a small, low-capacitance (< 2 fF) collection electrode and is ...integrated in the DPTS chip, a proof-of-principle prototype of 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm including a matrix of 32 × 32 pixels with a pitch of 15 μm. The chip is implemented in the 65 nm imaging technology from the Tower Partners Semiconductor Co. foundry and was developed in the framework of the EP-R&D program at CERN to explore this technology for particle detection. The front-end circuit has an area of 42 μm 2 and can operate with a power consumption as low as 12 nW. Measurements on the prototype relevant to the front-end will be shown to support its design.
Abstract Introduction Decentralized clinical trials are a new approach in health technology research and development that take advantage of innovative digital technologies in data collection for ...clinical trial purposes. Decentralized clinical trials achieve shorter participant recruitment periods, better adherence to assigned therapy, lower drop-out rates and shorter trial duration overall. Participants reported greater convenience compared to traditional clinical trials due to the studies being conducted at home and the removal of transport and time barriers. Materials and methods A literature review was conducted using the Scoping Review methodology defined by Arskey and O’Malley in 2005 and further updated in 2010 and 2014. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar scientific databases were searched using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and keywords: virtual clinical trials, and/or decentralized clinical trials and barriers and challenges. Results The literature review found 40 articles that met the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of the different studies in this area show that decentralized clinical trials achieve shorter recruitment periods, better adherence to assigned therapy, lower dropout rates from trials, and shorter trial duration overall. Participants reported greater convenience compared to traditional clinical trials due to the studies being conducted at home and the removal of transport and time barriers. Major challenges with this type of trial is the difficulty in conducting physical examinations, invasive therapies by the investigators, and privacy protection. Conclusion The adoption of a regulatory framework for digital healthcare, education of medical professionals and patients about innovative technologies are necessary, especially in countries from Central and Eastern Europe.
Electricity supply in remote areas around the world is mostly guaranteed by diesel generators. This relatively inefficient and expensive method is responsible for 1.2 million tons of greenhouse gas ...(GHG) emission in Canada annually. Some low- and high-penetration wind–diesel hybrid systems (WDS) have been experimented in order to reduce the diesel consumption. We explore the re-engineering of current diesel power plants with the introduction of high-penetration wind systems together with compressed air energy storage (CAES). This is a viable alternative to major the overall percentage of renewable energy and reduce the cost of electricity. In this paper, we present the operative principle of this hybrid system, its economic benefits and advantages and we finally propose a numerical model of each of its components. Moreover, we are demonstrating the energy efficiency of the system, particularly in terms of the increase of the engine performance and the reduction of its fuel consumption illustrated and supported by a village in northern Quebec.
► The Wind–Diesel-Compressed Air Storage System (WDCAS) has a very important commercial potential for remote areas. ► The WDCAS is conceived like the adaptation of the existing engines at the level of the intake system. ► A wind turbine and an air compression and storage system are added on the diesel plant. ► This study demonstrates the potential of WDCAS to reduce fuel consumption and increase the efficiency of the diesel engine. ► This study demonstrates that we can expect savings which can reach 50%.
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