Rate In July Research Articles

Analyzing and Assessing the Current Status of Heat-Related Illnesses in the South Korean Military.

The population of the Republic of Korea often experiences heat-related illnesses during summer that are exacerbated by significant variations. With rising temperatures attributed to global warming and other environmental changes within the military, combined with the military medical services' mission to uphold combat capabilities and promote health, it has become crucial to accurately understand the status of heat-related illnesses and integrate more comprehensive and systematic preventive measures. This study aimed to analyze data on heat-related illnesses between 2018 and 2022 to assess and reflect on the said diseases in the South Korean Military. We performed a secondary analysis using data provided by the Defense Medical Statistic Information System. This single-institution retrospective, cross-sectional study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Armed Forces Medical Command (approval number: AFMC-2023-11-001). Over the past 5 years, the annual number of soldiers treated for heat-related illnesses, whether as outpatients or inpatients, at division medical facilities and military hospitals ranged from 846 to 1,250 cases per year. The proportion of severe cases fluctuates annually between 1.1% and 1.8%. Notably, 94 to 96% of all heat-related illnesses were recorded between May and September, with peak rates in July and August. The army reported the highest number of heat-related illnesses among military branches, with soldiers comprising the majority of cases. This highlights the urgent need for enhanced heat illness prevention measures within army ranks. Notably, the incidence of these illnesses peaked during July and August, underlining the critical periods for intensified preventive efforts.

Profitability Analysis of Markets Traded on Borsa Istanbul

Supermarkets significantly increased product prices in response to the sudden and sharp rise in the exchange rate in July 2018. A similar situation unfolded in 2021 when interest rates dropped, and the exchange rate experienced a steep increase. The surge in demand for foreign currency and subsequent interest rate cuts led to an escalation in the exchange rate. Consequently, production costs rose due to inflated raw material prices, resulting in higher product prices. Additionally, supermarkets allegedly engaged in cartel-like behavior, purposely withholding products from sale, further contributing to price hikes between 2021 and 2022. This study evaluates whether supermarkets garnered substantial profits during the period. Financial statement data from 2018 to 2022 was analyzed using vertical, trend, and ratio analyses to assess the financial position and profitability of five companies listed on Borsa Istanbul. Throughout the 2018-2022 period, except for 2022, BIM demonstrated the highest return on assets ratio. The return on assets ratios for 2022 and 2021 exhibited an upward trend, indicating an increase in profitability during 2022. SOK recorded the highest return on equity ratio in the 2018-2022 period, while CarrefourSA reported the lowest. Furthermore, the companies witnessed notable growth in revenues, gross sales profitability, and net profitability in 2022, surpassing previous years. This suggests they earned more profit by increasing prices at a greater rate than their costs in 2022. The operating profitability of the companies also experienced an upswing during this period. BIM held the largest share of operating profit in revenues in 2022, while CarrefourSA possessed the smallest share. In terms of net profitability, the companies fared better in 2022 compared to 2021, with net profitability exhibiting a more substantial increase during 2022.

Assessment of an organizational model during the first wave of COVID -19 in the South-Eastern Tuscany Health Unit: intensifying community services as prescribed by Ministerial Decree 77 of 2022.

At the end of 2019 a new virus, called SARS-CoV-2, emerged in Wuhan, China. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health system of the Tuscany Region and the response implemented by the South-Eastern Local Health Unit, also in view of the new reform of territorial healthcare established by Ministerial Decree No. 77 of 2022. Data were taken from the "OpenToscana" database beginning when the first case was recorded in Italy (18 February 2020) until July 2020. We analyzed infections and deaths in each Local Heal.th Unit in the Tuscany Region and calculated the fatality rate (number of deaths/cases x 100) following COVID-19 infection. We subsequently compared the fatality rates among the Local Health Units by means of the Kruskal Wallis test. During the first wave, the South-Eastern Local Health Unit had fewer infections (a total of 1,532 by July) and fewer deaths (total: 107 by July) than the other Local Health Units. In the South-Eastern Local Health Unit, the fatality rate in July was 6.98%. The comparison of the fatality rates among the various LHUs and the whole Region showed statistically significant differences (p<0.001). The organizational models promptly implemented by the South-Eastern Local Health Unit for good territorial care and the management of COVID-19-positive patients limited the spread of infection, and consequently the deaths, thus reducing the fatality rate in the first wave of the pandemic.

Investigating The Molecular Aspects of Theileria Annulata In Naturally Infected Animals, Alongside A Mention of Tick Distribution In Hyderabad And Karachi

Introduction: The Theileria annulata is a haemo protozoan parasite that causes economically significant fatal tick-borne diseases in domesticated and wild animals. Methodology: The research focused on identifying Theileria annulata infection in both cattle and buffalo through molecular methods. To achieve this, DNA extraction was conducted using whole blood samples, followed by the design of specific primers for Theileria annulata and subsequent PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis. Results: Data were also collected on tick infestation and host-parasite relationship. A total of 2400 Cattle and Buffaloes were evaluated during the study. District-wise detection indicated that the highest rate of infected samples was recorded from Peri-Urban (Cattle=88.33%, Buffalo= 61.94%) and Urban areas (Cattle=65.38%, Buffalo=54.10%) of district Hyderabad, while the lowest rate was recorded from Peri-urban (Cattle=24%, Buffalo=17.9%) and Urban (20.38%, Buffalo=16.66%) areas of district Karachi, Month wise detection of Theileria annulata indicated the highest rate in July (Cattle= 74.0%, Buffalo=47.5%) and the lowest rate in December (Cattle=11.7%, Buffalo=18.1%). The prevalence of parasitic infection showed a notable increase (P&lt;0.05) in the areas of the Suburban region than in Cityscape areas. Conclusion: In the molecular identification of Theileria annulata, the infection rate exhibited a notable difference between District Hyderabad and District Karachi, with a higher prevalence in the former and a lower incidence in the latter. Additionally, cattle displayed greater susceptibility to tick infestation in comparison to buffalo.

Spatio-temporal variations of PM2.5 and O3 in China during 2013–2021: Impact factor analysis

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) pollution are regarded as significant secondary air pollutants. The PM2.5 in most regions in China declined, and the decreasing rate in January was lower than the annual average. However, O3 concentration showed a steady increasing trend in most regions, and the increasing rate in July was slightly higher than the annual average. In particular, the annual average PM2.5 concentration and excess rate showed an increasing trend on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains. Conversely, O3 concentrations had shown a consistent increasing trend, exceeding the annual average limit of 100 μg/m3. Surface pressure exhibited positive correlations with PM2.5 in winter and O3 in summer across urban agglomerations. Moreover, soil temperature at different depths explained over 30% of the variations in PM2.5 and O3 in the Chengdu-Chongqing, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, and Lanzhou-Xining urban agglomerations. In winter, relative humidity demonstrated a positive correlation with urban agglomerations in northeast and northwest China, regions characterized by dry climates. During the COVID-19 period, the impacts of meteorological factors and soil temperature on PM2.5 and O3 differed significantly compared to preceding and subsequent periods. Notably, during the winter of 2020, the Harbin-Changchuan urban agglomeration exhibited a notable transition, as O3 and PM2.5 concentrations shifted from a strong negative correlation to a robust positive correlation. This remarkable shift, with deviations explained up to 60%, represents a unique phenomenon worth emphasizing in the study's findings.

Spatio-temporal patterns of zooplankton community in the Yellow River estuary: Effects of seasonal variability and water-sediment regulation

Zooplankton community is ecological important because of its high sensitivity to environmental changes especially in estuarine areas. The Yellow River estuary (YRE) in China is the fifth biggest estuary in the world with significant seasonal characteristics and anthropogenic influence of Water-Sediment Regulation (WSR). This study investigated the spatio-temporal patterns of zooplankton in the YRE to explore the response of zooplankton to seasonal variation and WSR. Results suggested that the temporal patterns of zooplankton were mainly characterized by seasonal shift of dominant species. Hierarchical cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling determined summer, summer-autumn and winter-spring three zooplankton assemblages. Zooplankton spatial distributions represented seasonal consistency, in which the abundance generally showed a decreasing gradient from the river mouth to sea. WSR caused a high species replacement rate in July–August (80.36%) and a dramatic abundance decline from 4224.60 ind./m3 to 1541.10 ind./m3 with persistency and hysteresis effect. The high zooplankton abundance moved seaward in spatial distribution after WSR. Summer spatial pattern was determined with two and three zooplankton station assemblages, which was more clear after WSR. Redundancy analysis identified SSS, SST and transparency as important factors structuring zooplankton spatio-temporal patterns, in which SSS was the key one. The results provide a necessary reference for understanding the response of zooplankton community in estuarine areas to spontaneous changes and anthropogenic factors, and can help the protection of estuarine ecosystems and the formulation of hydrological regulatory policies.

First Identification and Genomic Characterization of NADC34-Like PRRSV Strains Isolated from MLV-Vaccinated Pigs in Korea

NADC34-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSVs) are emerging globally. Although lineage 1 PRRSVs are emerging in Korea, NADC34-like PRRSV strains have not been detected to date. This study reports the isolation of the first NADC34-like PRRSV strains from samples of MLV-vaccinated animals on a Korean farm with a severe PRRS outbreak causing high mortality and abortion rates in July 2022. Three PRRSV strains with a whole genome length of 15,088 bp were isolated from the outbreaks, and their phylogenetic, recombination properties, and in vitro growth kinetics were evaluated comprehensively. These Korean strains clustered with those of American and Chinese sublineage 1.5 (NADC34-like strains), according to phylogenetic analyses based on the ORF5 gene and the whole genome. All three complete genome sequences originated from recombination between the RespPRRS MLV and NADC34-like strains, according to recombination analysis. Full-length Nsp2 sequence alignment indicated that all three isolates had a continuous deletion in 100 aa, which was similar to that of the IA/2014/NADC34. Based on phylogenetic analysis and the Nsp2 deletion pattern, the isolates are identified as NADC34-like PRRSV. Growth kinetic analysis based on primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) and MARC-145 cells has revealed that Korean NADC34-like PRRSV strains had better replication ability in primary PAMs than other Korean lineage 1 viruses or the reference strain VR2332, implying higher pathogenicity in pigs. Considering the fact that NADC34-like PRRSV strains were detected in MLV-vaccinated animals on a farm in the area of the highest pig population density in Korea, additional vaccine failure cases and the spread of the virus could be detected in the near future. Collectively, these results aid in comprehending the current epidemic state of PRRSVs in Korea and highlight the need for continuous surveillance.

Modeling the positive testing rate of COVID-19 in South Africa using a semi-parametric smoother for binomial data.

Identification and isolation of COVID-19 infected persons plays a significant role in the control of COVID-19 pandemic. A country's COVID-19 positive testing rate is useful in understanding and monitoring the disease transmission and spread for the planning of intervention policy. Using publicly available data collected between March 5th, 2020 and May 31st, 2021, we proposed to estimate both the positive testing rate and its daily rate of change in South Africa with a flexible semi-parametric smoothing model for discrete data. There was a gradual increase in the positive testing rate up to a first peak rate in July, 2020, then a decrease before another peak around mid-December 2020 to mid-January 2021. The proposed semi-parametric smoothing model provides a data driven estimates for both the positive testing rate and its change. We provide an online R dashboard that can be used to estimate the positive rate in any country of interest based on publicly available data. We believe this is a useful tool for both researchers and policymakers for planning intervention and understanding the COVID-19 spread.

Die EZB-Geldpolitik in der Zwickmühle

AbstractIt seems clear that the ECB will raise interest rates in July 2022 and end its asset purchase program. This should send a strong and important signal to markets and economic players that the ECB continues to take its mandate for price stability seriously. However, it cannot be said with absolute certainty that these monetary policy decisions herald the start of a gradual tighter stance toward monetary policy normalisation. This is because economic uncertainty is currently extremely high. The ECB therefore finds itself in a difficult dilemma: It must take decisive action against high inflation, but should retain plenty of flexibility to be able to respond to a renewed crisis.

Differential uptake of nitrogen forms by two herbs in the Gurbantunggut desert, Central Asia.

Understanding how plants adjust their requirements for different N forms can help elucidate plant coexistence strategies in N-limited desert ecosystems. To understand the mechanisms involved, we investigated whether two desert herbs can directly absorb dissolved organic nitrogen (N) and tested whether the patterns changed over different growth stages. Two dominant herbaceous species, Astragalus arpilobus and Arnebia decumbens, from the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut desert, China, were selected. Short-term (24 h) 15 N-labelled tracer (15 N-NO3 , 15 N-NH4 , 2-13 C-15 N-Glycine) treatments were conducted at two soil depths (0-5 cm and 5-15 cm) in the season of rapid growth (June) and in the peak biomass season (July). Enrichment in 13 C and 15 N was assessed in the two species receiving glycine. The ratio 13 C:15 N was 0.21-1.39 at the 24-h harvest, suggesting that approximately 10.5-69.5% of glycine had been absorbed. The amount of absorbed 15 N was significantly affected by species, month, soil depth and N form. The two species absorbed most 15 N from the 0-5 cm soil layer, and the absorption rate in July was higher than that in June. The absorption of 15 N-NO3 and 15 N-NH4 was significantly higher than that of 2-13 C-15 N-Glycine. The results indicate that these herbs could use amino acids in the N-deficient desert ecosystem. The two co-existing species used different forms of inorganic N for their requirements and maintained a specific preference throughout various growth stages.

Changes in Reported Secondhand Smoke Incursions and Smoking Behavior after Implementation of a Federal Smoke-Free Rule in New York State Federally Subsidized Public Housing.

This study assessed changes in smoking behavior and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure after implementation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule prohibiting the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and waterpipes in all federally subsidized public housing, including within residential units (apartments). Using quantitative data from a repeated cross-sectional mail survey of New York State residents of five public housing authorities (N = 761 at Wave 1, N = 649 at Wave 2), we found evidence of policy compliance (99% decrease in odds of self-reported smoking in units, OR = 0.01, p < 0.01, CI: 0.00–0.16), reduced SHS incursions (77% decrease in odds of smelling smoke within developments, OR = 0.23, p < 0.01, CI: 0.13–0.44), and lower reported smoking rates in July 2018 (9.5%, down from 16.8%), 10 months after implementation of the rule. Despite evident success, one-fifth of residents reported smelling smoke inside their apartment at least a few times per week. This study provides insights into how the policy was implemented in selected New York public housing authorities, offers evidence of policy-intended effects, and highlights challenges to consistent and impactful policy implementation.

Shadow Monetary Policy Committee Votes 7 to 2 to Raise Bank Rate in July

At the July video conferencing meeting of the IEA’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (SMPC), the vote was seven to two to raise the bank rate. Six members wanted it increased to 0.25% immediately and one to 0.5%. Two members, however, voted to leave it at its current level of 0.1% for the time being. All SMPC members wanted QE to cease immediately, and seven wanted it to be reversed. Concern was expressed that QE was effectively ‘accommodating’ nascent inflation tendencies and distorting financial market behaviour. There was no agreement on when gilts should start to be sold by the monetary authorities but broad consensus that it should be in a manner that did not create negative feedback to the economy, banks or financial markets. There was broad agreement that the economy was on a sustained recovery path – risks to its pace notwithstanding – and therefore that the looseness of the monetary policy stance could not be justified. The risks to inflation from the recovery were increasingly skewed to the upside. As a result, there was a unanimous view that rates should be raised over the year ahead in small increments to a rate consistent in the SMPC’s perspective with the 2% annual inflation target in the medium term. Members noted two other policy issues. One is that a focus on output gaps by policymakers seems to be leading to weaker expected future inflation in their forecasts than if they took more account of monetary indicators. The second is that long term decline in population growth and its shrinkage over the decades ahead in advanced economies like the UK implies that monetary expansion will have to slow in historical and absolute terms from current levels. If policymakers try to maintain the pace of financial activity irrespective of these long-term trends, then the risk of embedded inflation is even higher.

Associations of Race/Ethnicity and Food Insecurity With COVID-19 Infection Rates Across US Counties

Food insecurity is prevalent among racial/ethnic minority populations in the US. To date, few studies have examined the association between pre-COVID-19 experiences of food insecurity and COVID-19 infection rates through a race/ethnicity lens. To examine the associations of race/ethnicity and past experiences of food insecurity with COVID-19 infection rates and the interactions of race/ethnicity and food insecurity, while controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, risk exposure, and geographic confounders. This cross-sectional study examined the associations of race/ethnicity and food insecurity with cumulative COVID-19 infection rates in 3133 US counties, as of July 21 and December 14, 2020. Data were analyzed from November 2020 through March 2021. Racial/ethnic minority groups who experienced food insecurity. The dependent variable was COVID-19 infections per 1000 residents. The independent variables of interest were race/ethnicity, food insecurity, and their interactions. Among 3133 US counties, the mean (SD) racial/ethnic composition was 9.0% (14.3%) Black residents, 9.6% (13.8%) Hispanic residents, 2.3% (7.3%) American Indian or Alaska Native residents, 1.7% (3.2%) Asian American or Pacific Islander residents, and 76.1% (20.1%) White residents. The mean (SD) proportion of women was 49.9% (2.3%), and the mean (SD) proportion of individuals aged 65 years or older was 19.3% (4.7%). In these counties, large Black and Hispanic populations were associated with increased COVID-19 infection rates in July 2020. An increase of 1 SD in the percentage of Black and Hispanic residents in a county was associated with an increase in infection rates per 1000 residents of 2.99 (95% CI, 2.04 to 3.94; P < .001) and 2.91 (95% CI, 0.39 to 5.43; P = .02), respectively. By December, a large Black population was no longer associated with increased COVID-19 infection rates. However, a 1-SD increase in the percentage of Black residents in counties with high prevalence of food insecurity was associated with an increase in infections per 1000 residents of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.33 to 1.47; P = .003). Similarly, a 1-SD increase in the percentage of American Indian or Alaska Native residents in counties with high levels of food insecurity was associated with an increase in COVID-19 infections per 1000 residents of 0.57 (95% CI, 0.06 to 1.08; P = .03). By contrast, a 1-SD increase in Hispanic populations in a county remained independently associated with a 5.64 (95% CI, 3.54 to 7.75; P < .001) increase in infection rates per 1000 residents in December 2020 vs 2.91 in July 2020. Furthermore, while a 1-SD increase in the proportion of Asian American or Pacific Islander residents was associated with a decrease in infection rates per 1000 residents of -1.39 (95% CI, -2.29 to 0.49; P = .003), the interaction with food insecurity revealed a similar association (interaction coefficient, -1.48; 95% CI, -2.26 to -0.70; P < .001). This study sheds light on the association of race/ethnicity and past experiences of food insecurity with COVID-19 infection rates in the United States. These findings suggest that the channels through which various racial/ethnic minority population concentrations were associated with COVID-19 infection rates were markedly different during the pandemic.

Price Sensitivity Measurement: A Yield Management Approach

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and identify the potential revenue losses, at price points determined by price sensitivity measurement, between actual revenue and potential revenue that can be gained, in terms of yield management. A case study was carried out in a 5 star hotel business in Aydın, Turkey. In the study, a questionnaire was conducted to determine price resistance levels, price threshold limits, price sensitivity levels and price perceptions based on the room quality perceptions of the tourists visiting the hotel business. Also, an interview was performed with the accounting manager and the front office manager about the room prices determined. Hotel businesses can determine the optimal price by depending on the quality and value perception of the customers; thus they can use their limited capacity more efficiently so that they can maximize yield. This study showed that the hotel business lost room revenue at all points calculated. The hotel business suffered a potential loss of 35-40% because of the high occupancy rate in July and August. The hotel industry could have room sales revenues much more than the actual room sales revenues, especially if the agency commission expenses can be reduced.

Risk of stress/depression and functional impairment in Denmark immediately following a COVID-19 shutdown

BackgroundExisting estimates of the impact of the COVID-19 burden on mental wellbeing come from countries with high mortality rates. This study therefore aimed to investigate the impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown (March–April 2020) on risk for stress/depression and functional impairment in a representative sample of adult individuals in Denmark, which had lower infection rates, and whether the impact of lockdown was heterogeneous across living situation.MethodsUsing a representative, randomly drawn sample from the complete Danish adult population interviewed in March 2 to April 13, 2020 (n = 2836) and again in July 2020 (n = 1526, 54% retention rate), we study how the imposed lockdown announced March 11 following the onset of the first Danish wave of COVID-19 infections affected mental wellbeing. We use the World Health Organization Five Well-being Index (WHO-5) and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) to capture risk for stress/depression (WHO-5 < 50) and functional impairment (WSAS > 10). Using covariate adjusted ordinary least squares linear probability models and exploiting variation in the timing of responses occurring just before and just after the introduction of lockdown, we compare respondents before lockdown to respondents that answered during lockdown, as well as to answers in re-interviews in July.ResultsIn our fully controlled models, we find reduced depressive symptoms among adults immediately after the shutdown, concentrated in adults with children living at home (−.089, p < .01 (from pre lockdown baseline .273)). Measures of functional impairment also declined immediately after the March shutdown among adults with children living at home (−.066, p < .05 (from pre lockdown baseline .150)). Impairment intensified for the entire sample between March and July (+.199, p < .001 (from pre lockdown baseline .248)), but depressive symptoms remained at lower rate in July (−.033, p < .05 (from pre lockdown baseline .332).ConclusionsFindings in Denmark indicate that living with children at home may have, in the short term, buffered the potential mental health sequelae of the COVID-19 shutdown.

Strategies for Successful Scallops Spat Collection on Artificial Collectors in the Taranto Gulf (Mediterranean Sea)

The high variability in natural recruitment of Pectinidae is a common feature of many marine invertebrates with a pelagic larval stage, but may negatively affect aquaculture activities. Detailed information on settlement patterns and spat availability is required to reduce costs and labor. In this regard, we attempted to establish the precise immersion time and the deployment dates for spat collectors in the Taranto Gulf (Mediterranean Sea, Italy). The first experiment was carried out from June to October 2013, deploying collectors every 15 days and retrieving them after 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks. Results from the first experiment allowed us to select 8 weeks as the best immersion time for spat collection. The second experiment was carried out from June 2013 to July 2014 when we deployed spat collectors every 15 days and recovered them after 8 weeks to detect the favorable periods to place the collectors in water to obtain the highest scallop spat harvest rate. Mimachlamys varia was the most abundant pectinid (greater than 90%), whose recruits were collected during most of the year studied, followed by Flexopecten glaber with the highest rates in July (87%) and Pecten jacobaeus, which never exceeded 17% of collected spat. M. varia had a long recruitment period (from October to early June), F. glaber showed a high number of spat during autumn months and from June to July while P. jacobaeus showed a restricted period of spawning. Our experiments provide useful insights into strategies for establishing scallop aquaculture in order to promote these mollusks as alternative candidates for aquaculture farming in the area.

Benefits from enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilisers in rainfed temperate pastures are seasonally driven

Context Enhanced-efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilisers (EEFs) can reduce N loss, but productivity and environmental benefits vary. A field experiment on rainfed ryegrass dominant pastures in southern Australia examined the effect of EEFs combined with reduced N rate on agronomic N efficiency (AE) (additional biomass per unit N applied) and apparent NUE (ApNUE) (additional plant N uptake per unit N applied) relative to urea. Methods EEFs examined were granular urea coated with (i) urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), (ii) nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) or (iii) polymer coating (PCU). Nitrogen was applied five times over 9 months at 0–84 kg N ha−1 per application. Key results AE varied with season from –0.5 to 22.3 kg DM kg N−1 in late (dry conditions) and early spring (ideal conditions), respectively. AE of PCU was significantly lower than urea for the first harvest due to slow N release. Using DMPP led to higher AE than equivalent urea rates in August (at 34 and 50 kg N ha−1) and early October (34 kg N ha−1). At the lowest rate (17 kg N ha−1), NBPT generally led to higher AE than at higher N rates. Using NBPT at 17 kg N ha−1 led to higher AE than urea at the same rate in July, August and February. The ApNUE ranged from 3.6% (summer) to 68% (early spring), and decreased with increasing N rate. Using DMPP did not significantly change cumulative ApNUE (entire experiment) (34%) due to limited leaching and denitrifying conditions. Cumulative ApNUE was lowest with PCU (23%) due to initial slow N release. Conclusion Seasonal variations in pasture responses to fertiliser N affected the efficiency outcomes from using EEFs. Implications Benefits in ApNUE and AE from using EEFs rely on their seasonal strategic use combined with reduced N inputs. The initial slow release of N from the PCU could be overcome by strategies such as combining the PCU with uncoated urea, to improve ApNUE.

Impact of tax Instruments on the Organic Food Market in Poland

This article is an analysis and assessment of the impact of tax instruments on the organic food market in Poland. The assessment was made on the basis of primary data obtained by the author as part of a survey conducted on the inhabitants of the Silesian Voivodeship. In Poland, the VAT rates on food vary, depending on the product classification code. They can be 23%, 8% or 5%. Organic food has not been treated exceptionally, while changes introduced in the tax rates in July 2020 for specific foods are quite significant. The impact of these changes on organic food purchases has been determined in the results of the survey. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to assess the impact of the VAT rate on the organic food market in Poland. (original abstract)

Effects of mulching and maize cultivars on grain yield and photosynthetic characteristics in the Loess Plateau

AbstractMillions of small farmers rely on maize (Zea mays L.) produced in the Loess Plateau of China. The purpose of this study was to find a fine maize variety in the Check Dam and to reveal the reasons for the effects of white plastic film mulch and maize varieties on crop yield and photosynthetic characteristics. Three maize cultivars (Dafeng 26 [DF], Xianyu 335 [XY], and Tianci 19 [TC]) were grown with and without plastic mulch in 2016 and 2017 in Ansai County, Shaanxi Province, China. Results showed that mulch increased grain yield by 10.5% in 2016 and 11.3% in 2017 across all cultivars. Among all cultivars, XY had the highest grain yield under both mulch and no mulch. Grain yield was significantly correlated with soil water content in the 0‐20 cm layer. Soil temperature under mulch decreased with increasing soil depth. On average, mulch increased soil temperature from 0.2 to 1.9 °C over the entire growing season. Photosynthetic characteristics were directly determined for all tested maize cultivars. Grain yield was more closely related to photosynthetic rate in July (r = .828, P = .001; n = 12) than in August (r = .617, P = .032; n = 12). Moreover, grain yield was correlated with stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in July and August (r = .913–.928, P &lt; .001; n = 12). Our findings suggest that photosynthetic characteristics were an important index affecting maize grain yield for small farmers using check dams in the Loess Plateau.

United States Remains in the Universal Postal Union, Rescinding Its Notice of Withdrawal

On September 25, 2019, the Third Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) adopted a proposal on terminal dues rates—a decision that led the United States to remain a member state. The United States had given its one-year notice of withdrawal from the UPU eleven months earlier, citing concerns that the existing system unfairly advantaged certain developing nations, including China. Following the UPU's decision, the United States rescinded its notice of withdrawal. Under the new system, the United States can begin self-posting terminal dues rates in July 2020.