Economic significance of Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 in the Gumelniţa culture (5th mill. BC): from food to technical resources

Sheep and goat breeding are sectors of the national economy that have a pronounced social and public significance. Sheep and goat breeding is an important, and in some cases the only source of such products as wool, lamb, milk, fur, the economic and social significance of which is not the same and is determined by the needs of the national economy, the possibility of production, the economic efficiency of the industry, its ability to use the natural and material and technical resources available in the country. Sheep and goat breeding remain important sources of animal protein and valuable raw materials, playing a key role in providing the population with high-quality food products and supporting the economy of regions, especially in areas with limited opportunities for other types of agricultural activity. Moreover, the development of these industries has significant export potential, allowing to increase foreign exchange earnings to the country and strengthen its position in the world market. Rational use of pasture resources, optimization of state support and adaptation to changing climatic conditions are also inextricably linked with the need for a deep and comprehensive analysis of the population of sheep and goats. Economic and political crises throughout the development of Russia have led to a significant reduction in sheep and goat breeding in the country, which has led to a reduction in the volume of production of commercial products and an increase in the cost of its production on small farms, which has led to a deterioration in the overall economic condition of the industry engaged in breeding sheep and goats. The study and assessment of the state of the livestock of sheep and goats is a multifaceted problem, the successful solution of which contributes to the stable growth of the industry, strengthening the food independence of the state, maintaining the viability of rural areas and effective adaptation to current economic, environmental and climatic realities, which makes this area of research especially important both in theoretical and practical terms.

Arecanut (Areca catechu), commonly known as betel nut, is a vital commercial crop in India, with Karnataka being the leading producer. Despite its economic significance, arecanut growers encounter various challenges, including increasing input costs, labor shortages, and limited knowledge of pest and disease management. Cooperatives like TUMCOS (Tota Utpannagala Marata Sahakara Sangha Niyamit) play a crucial role in supporting farmers by providing essential resources, training programs, and market linkages. This study assesses the production performance of arecanut growers by comparing TUMCOS members and non-members in Davanagere district, Karnataka. Conducted across five TUMCOS branch areas during 2020-2021, the study employed an ex-post facto research design. A total of 120 farmers (60 TUMCOS members and 60 non-members) were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured personal interviews and analyzed using statistical tools to evaluate production performance, knowledge levels, and adoption rates of recommended agricultural practices. Findings indicate that TUMCOS members exhibited superior performance compared to non-members, with over two-fifths (41.66%) of members achieving high production performance, whereas more than half (53.34%) of non-members fell into the medium-performance category. Similarly, knowledge levels were higher among members, with 41.66% possessing high knowledge compared to only 25.00% of non-members. This disparity was attributed to regular training sessions, extension services, and access to quality inputs facilitated by TUMCOS. Additionally, the adoption of recommended practices, particularly in irrigation methods, pest management, and intercropping, was more prevalent among members. The study underscores the significance of cooperative membership in enhancing farmers' technical expertise and resource availability, thereby improving productivity. Strengthening cooperative networks and expanding extension services can help bridge the gap between members and non-members, promoting sustainable arecanut farming. Addressing labor shortages, improving disease management knowledge, and ensuring access to high-quality seedlings are critical areas for future intervention.

When alloy composition information is sought across a single large artefact assemblage, how well do handheld methods solve the problem of museum environments which restrict the movement of artefacts and destructive sampling, and which have limited in‐house technical resources? The usefulness of relatively low‐cost handheld analytical instruments still needs evaluating in such arenas. The potential advantages which handheld laser‐induced breakdown spectrometry (HH‐LIBS), with its affordability, speed and micro‐destructive corrosion‐penetrating ability, might offer over handheld X‐ray fluorescence (HH‐XRF)/portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) in large intra‐assemblage comparisons of broad copper alloy composition were examined and reported on by the present study (tin and lead being the elements of interest). The context was an archaeological study in a major Greek museum, aimed at exploring the social and economic significance of alloying choice at a single large representative site of the Bronze–Iron transition, c.1200 bc. Archaeological interpretations are presented in another paper, with the alloying patterns/choices identified only being outlined in the present paper. The results of the methods comparison described suggest that HH‐LIBS has potential, but that HH‐XRF, despite its variable limitations in relation to penetrating corrosion (discussed here), is still the most reliable method for work in such circumstances.

African nations previously resistant to acknowledging the threat of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) now recognize the social and economic significance of this epidemic and are cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop AIDS prevention programs. 36 African states have reported the existence of 5000 AIDS victims and there may be up to 5 million infected individuals on the continent. In parts of Central and Eastern Africa 8-10% of the urban population is infected with the disease. In contrast to Western countries where AIDS is transmitted mainly by drug addicts and homosexuals in Africa the spread of AIDS has been associated with heterosexual practices and involuntary exposure to the virus through blood transfusions. The African AIDS prevention campaign includes a national coordinating committee an educational campaign involving health professionals and sociologists and epidemiological surveillance. Unfortunately Africa has the largest gap between the seriousness of the AIDS problem and the availability of resources to deal with it. Due to a lack of financial and technical resources a large amount of blood is still not being screened. Moreover a test confirming the AIDS diagnosis costs about US$20 which is more than the annual per capita health care expenditure in most African countries.

Although Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana share borders and climatic and geographic similarities, the countries have maintained little contact, due to language, political, and administrative differences. In 1993, two international organizations involved in the improvement of animal health, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and CIRAD-EMVT (Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement-Elevage et Medecine Veterinaire des Pays Tropicaux), jointly developed a collaborative project between the veterinary services of the three countries entitled "Hemoparasite Network for the Guianas." This project seeks to pool livestock, laboratory, and technical resources between the three countries in order to generate and exchange information on hemoparasites of livestock. A Hemoparasite Reference Laboratory for the Guianas has been created at the CIRAD-EMVT laboratory in Cayenne, French Guiana. Besides processing ruminant serum samples from the three countries, specialists from this organization conduct training in hemoparasite diagnostic techniques for laboratory personnel from Guyana and Suriname. A large-scale epidemiologic study of hemoparasites of cattle in the three countries is under way, to determine the prevalence, distribution, and clinical and economic significance of hemoparasites in the three countries, particularly Trypanosoma vivax and T. evansi. Preliminary results are presented and discussed. A Hemoparasite Information Network (TRYPNET) has been initiated, including a quarterly hemoparasite newsletter (TRYPNEWS), published in English and Spanish and disseminated to researchers in the Americas, Europe, and Africa. In 1995/96, it is proposed to expand the network's scope to include Venezuela and Brazil.