Thesis (M.Sc. (Pasture Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / Forage sorghum is widely grown in South Africa as annual summer forage to supplement pasture production for sheep, beef and dairy cattle. A number of sorghum cultivars are available commercially, and periodically some cultivars are added while others are withdrawn from the market. The potential yield figures and the nutritive value of these forage sorghum cultivars are generally not known. The management practices that improve forage sorghum production and quality include the time of planting and time of harvesting. The genetic makeup of different forage sorghum cultivars also accounted for a portion of the production and quality. A field experiment was conducted at Dewageningsdrift Experimental Farm (DWD), Moloto, Gauteng and Nooitgedacht Agricultural Development Center (NGD), Ermelo, Mpumalanga to study the influence of planting date on the growth potential of different forage sorghum cultivars. Three planting dates were used: mid-December 2006, mid-January 2007 and mid-February 2007. Thirteen different cultivars were incorporated in the trial to evaluate influence of the breeding history. The cultivars were defoliated at three different stages: cut repeatedly at six weekly intervals (Dt 1), cut repeatedly when it reached a grazing stage (± 800 mm high) (Dt 2) and once at the silage stage (soft dough) (Dt 3). At DWD the average total dry matter (TDM) productions, for the six week cutting treatment (Dt 1), were 10760 kg/ha, 5195 kg/ha and 1944 kg/ha for December, January and February planting date respectively. For the same treatment, at NGT, the average TDM productions were 6396 kg/ha and 1737 kg/ha for December and January respectively. The February planting resulted in the poor germination and seedling emergency. The seedlings did not survive due to low temperatures. The minimum of 13 ºC and 11.8 ºC as well as the maximum of 24.1 ºC and 23.0 ºC in February and March were below the required germination temperature (15 ºC). The highest producers that is available in the market were Jumbo, Sentop, Piper, Kow Kandy, and Sugargraze. Defoliated repeatedly at grazing stage (Dt 2), at DWD, resulted in average TDM productions of 8541 kg/ha, 4950 kg/ha and 2683 kg/ha for December, January and February, respectively. At NGT the average TDM productions were 7769 kg/ha and 3010 kg/ha for December and January respectively. The highest producers were Jumbo, Kow Kandy, Piper, Sentop and Sugargraze. The average TDM productions at the silage stage (Dt 3), at DWD, were 17923 kg/ha, 15015 kg/ha and 2529 kg/ha for December, January and February respectively. At NGT the average TDM production iii was 11856 kg/ha and 5350 kg/ha for December and January, The highest producers were Jumbo, Sugargraze, Kow Kandy, Sentop and Kow Kandy.December planting proved to be the best planting date for optimum DM production, compared to later plantings in January and February. Keywords Forage sorghum, cultivars, planting dates, defoliation stages, grazing stage, silage

Orientador: Renato de Campos / Banca: Vagner Cavenaghi / Banca: Marcel Andreotti Musetti / Resumo: Na dinâmica dos mercados globais, a função produção contínua a ser uma área essencial para obtenção da vantagem competitiva nas organizações, onde, a maturidade dos processos produtivos está diretamente relacionada com o potencial competitivo dos negócios, principalmente, nas empresas de manufatura. Este trabalho examina os principais conceitos sobre estratégia competitiva e de produção, destacando o conceito dos critérios de desempenho, proposto por Slack (1993); o conceito das cinco forças competitivas, proposto por Porter (1979); e o conceito dos quatro estágios da função produção, proposto por Hayes e Wheelwright (1985), tendo como objetivo a elaboração de um estudo em seis empresas do setor calçadista da região de Birigui-SP, buscando identificar perfil estratégico destas empresas e proceder uma classificação do grau de maturidade da função produção, baseando-se no modelo dos quatro estágios de Hayes e Wheelwright. A pesquisa detém uma abordagem qualitativa e descritiva, utilizando o método de estudo de casos múltiplos. Quanto à maturidade da função produção nas empresas, os resultados sugerem, segundo as pesquisas, classificações ligeiramente variadas, onde as empresas mantiveram-se entre os estágios 1 e 2 do modelo proposto. Quanto à visão estratégica das empresas, é possível observar uma preocupação distinta com o design de seus produtos e o bem estar de seus clientes. No que se refere às forças de competitivas, é possível notar que os fornecedores e os produtos substitutos destacaram-se como as principais forças de impacto nas empresas analisadas, e os principais critérios de desempenho foram o custo e qualidade. Entende-se que os resultados encontrados são significativos e a utilização do modelo de quatro estágios da função produção se aplica como uma ferramenta para avaliação e classificação da função produção ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In the dynamics of global markets, production function remains a key area for securing competitive advantage in organizations, where the maturity of processes is directly related to potential competitive business, especially in manufacturign companies. This paper examines the main concepts of the competitive strategy and production, highlighting the concept of performance criteria, proposed by Slack (1993), the concept of the five competitive forces proposed by Porter (1979), and the concept of the four stages of production function proposed by Hayes and Weelwright (1985), aiming at the elaboration of a study in six companies in the footwear sector in the region of Birigui-SP in order to identify the strategic profile of these companies and make a classification of the degree of maturity of the production function, based on the model of four stages of Hayes and Wheelwright. The research has a qualitative and descriptive, using the method of multiple case study. As for the maturity of the production function in business, the results suggest, according to polls, ratings varied slightly, where companies have remained between stages 1 and 2 of the proposed model. As for the strategic vision of companies, we can observe a distinct concern with the design of its products and the welfare of their customers. With regard to competitive forces, it is possible to note that suppliers and substitute products stood out as key forces in business impact analysis and key performance criteria were cost and quality. It is understood that the results are significant and use the model of the four stages of production function is applied as a tool for assessment and classification of production function, and may assist in performance measurement and strategic alignment of organizational practice / Mestre

<p>Abstract:</p><p>It is important to determine the optimal living accommodations depending on which stage of life a person is in. The authors of this paper present, with the help of previous studies, five different stages in life. They have also been in contact with eleven experts within the following areas: the house or apartments design such as architecture, the human beings´ private sphere, the area surrounding the living accommodations, environmental issues and energy consumption and the municipal standards and law regarding production and the building and restoration of old and new real-estate.</p><p>Purpose:</p><p>This paper aims to construct a handbook that covers the optimal living accommodations depending on in which lifecycle the focus is on .The handbook which has been developed, aims to help the people who operate on this market to coordinate their different areas of knowledge to provide the optimal living accommodations for each lifecycle.</p><p>Method:</p><p>A feasibility study has been carried out with the purpose of finding experts within each area mentioned above and also to have them be part of the semi-structured interviews that have been carried out.</p><p>Conclusions:</p><p>There are a lot of different factors which affects the way people wish to live. The conclusions made in this paper presents a handbook with recommendations on how cityplanners, politicians and contractors can offer the optimal living accommodations depending on different factors that influence the way we live, together with different stages of life.</p>

<p>Three species of burnet moths (<em>Zygaena</em> <em>filipendulae</em>,<em> Z</em>. <em>lonicerae</em> and <em>Z</em>. <em>viciae</em>) were studied on the Baltic island Öland, Sweden, in order to reveal the habitat requirements of different life stages. Larvae were found among a higher cover of their most important host plant, <em>Lotus corniculatus</em>, <em>Trifolium medium</em>/<em>pratense </em>or<em> Vicia </em>spp., than were pupae or imagines, and were also observed on plants larger than randomly examined plants. Imagines actively selected nectar plants of <em>Centaurea </em>and <em>Cirsium</em>, growing in sunny conditions, but other red and violet Asteraceae flowers were also favoured. Pupae of <em>Z</em>.<em> filipendulae</em> appeared in taller vegetation than larvae and imagines, probably because the cocoons are spun high on stems of grasses and other plants. The chance of finding such suitable substrates rises with increasing vegetation height. A large scale analysis of occupancy patterns was also made, evaluating the relationship between burnet presence or absence and the area of meadows and pastures within 10 x 10 km grid cells in southern Sweden. All three species showed a positive relationship with increasing area of semi-natural grassland. Thresholds for the amount of habitat, below which the likelihood of occurrence declined more rapidly, could be distinguished around a 40-50 % probability of occurrence. Conservational work should aim at preserving and restoring open and sunny areas, rich in the respective host plants and nectar sources, but vegetation management must be executed with great care or late in the season to not harm unhatched pupae and to maintain substrates suitable for <em>Z</em>. <em>filipendulae</em> pupation.</p>

<p>The relationship between Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is not entirely elucidated and a clonal relation may be present more often than previously believed. Mechanisms of tumour progression and resistance to therapy are poorly understood.</p><p>Between 1974 and 1994 all individuals in Sweden with both HL and NHL were identified. Thirty-two cases were studied using clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. The second lymphoma often appeared in an aggressive clinical form and a significant correlation between the expression of p53 and LMP-1 in the first and second lymphoma was demonstrated.</p><p>The treatment outcome for 307 patients with advanced stages of HL, in an unselected population was in accordance with the treatment results of large centres world-wide. Some patients were successfully selected for a shorter chemotherapy-regimen without inferior treatment results.</p><p>In 124 patients with relapse, the survival of those primarily treated with radiotherapy according to the National guidelines was in accordance with the survival of patients of initially advanced stages. A worse outcome was found for those who received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy initially, probably because of a higher frequency of bulky disease in this group. </p><p>Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumour suppressor protein p53 and retinoblastoma protein (Rb) of paired samples at diagnosis and at relapse in 81 patients did not reveal any specific staining pattern affecting survival.</p><p>A novel B-cell line (U-2932) was established from a patient with a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma previously treated for advanced stage and subsequent relapses of HL. An identical rearranged IgH gene was demonstrated in tumour cells from the patient and in U-2932. A p53 point mutation was detected and over-expression of the p53 protein was found. A complex karyotype with high-level amplifications of the chromosomal regions 18q21 and 3q27, i.e. the loci for <i>bcl-2</i> and <i>bcl-6</i> were demonstrated. </p>

The relationship between Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is not entirely elucidated and a clonal relation may be present more often than previously believed. Mechanisms of tumour progression and resistance to therapy are poorly understood. Between 1974 and 1994 all individuals in Sweden with both HL and NHL were identified. Thirty-two cases were studied using clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. The second lymphoma often appeared in an aggressive clinical form and a significant correlation between the expression of p53 and LMP-1 in the first and second lymphoma was demonstrated. The treatment outcome for 307 patients with advanced stages of HL, in an unselected population was in accordance with the treatment results of large centres world-wide. Some patients were successfully selected for a shorter chemotherapy-regimen without inferior treatment results. In 124 patients with relapse, the survival of those primarily treated with radiotherapy according to the National guidelines was in accordance with the survival of patients of initially advanced stages. A worse outcome was found for those who received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy initially, probably because of a higher frequency of bulky disease in this group. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumour suppressor protein p53 and retinoblastoma protein (Rb) of paired samples at diagnosis and at relapse in 81 patients did not reveal any specific staining pattern affecting survival. A novel B-cell line (U-2932) was established from a patient with a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma previously treated for advanced stage and subsequent relapses of HL. An identical rearranged IgH gene was demonstrated in tumour cells from the patient and in U-2932. A p53 point mutation was detected and over-expression of the p53 protein was found. A complex karyotype with high-level amplifications of the chromosomal regions 18q21 and 3q27, i.e. the loci for bcl-2 and bcl-6 were demonstrated.

Tinnitus is common, and some individuals with tinnitus display high levels of distress. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective in reducing tinnitus distress, but is rarely available. CBT-based self-help, with or without guidance, has yielded positive results in other problem areas, and one initial randomized controlled trial (RCT) has shown promising results for tinnitus. This thesis is based on four studies; Study I showed that Internet-based self-help treatment with e-mail guidance alleviated tinnitus distress among consecutive patients and was rated as credible as traditional treatments. Active participation in treatment predicted outcome. Study II, an RCT, showed that an extended and more interactive version of the Internet-based self-help treatment with e-mail therapist support appeared to be equally effective as a group treatment. In study III, another RCT, a self-help book with weekly telephone support was superior to a wait-list control group. No strong evidence for the importance of telephone contact on outcome was found. In both study II and III, the positive outcome remained after one year and self-help approaches appeared more therapist time-effective compared to group treatment. Also, the received treatment-dose for patients in guided self-help was not lower than in the group treatment. Study IV found that the ‘Stages of Change’, from the transtheoretical model, are probably not the right theoretical framework to use with tinnitus patients. Predictors of outcome were found, but they were not in line with the theory behind the Stages of Change. The predictors were better understood when conceptualized as coping, showing that helplessness and less coping before treatment correlated with better outcome. In sum, guided cognitive behavioural self-help can decrease tinnitus distress. It appears to be therapist time-effective and shows effects comparable to or slightly below traditional CBT for tinnitus. Effects remain one year after treatment and generalize to a routine clinical setting.

Three species of burnet moths (Zygaena filipendulae, Z. lonicerae and Z. viciae) were studied on the Baltic island Öland, Sweden, in order to reveal the habitat requirements of different life stages. Larvae were found among a higher cover of their most important host plant, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium medium/pratense or Vicia spp., than were pupae or imagines, and were also observed on plants larger than randomly examined plants. Imagines actively selected nectar plants of Centaurea and Cirsium, growing in sunny conditions, but other red and violet Asteraceae flowers were also favoured. Pupae of Z. filipendulae appeared in taller vegetation than larvae and imagines, probably because the cocoons are spun high on stems of grasses and other plants. The chance of finding such suitable substrates rises with increasing vegetation height. A large scale analysis of occupancy patterns was also made, evaluating the relationship between burnet presence or absence and the area of meadows and pastures within 10 x 10 km grid cells in southern Sweden. All three species showed a positive relationship with increasing area of semi-natural grassland. Thresholds for the amount of habitat, below which the likelihood of occurrence declined more rapidly, could be distinguished around a 40-50 % probability of occurrence. Conservational work should aim at preserving and restoring open and sunny areas, rich in the respective host plants and nectar sources, but vegetation management must be executed with great care or late in the season to not harm unhatched pupae and to maintain substrates suitable for Z. filipendulae pupation.

Abstract: It is important to determine the optimal living accommodations depending on which stage of life a person is in. The authors of this paper present, with the help of previous studies, five different stages in life. They have also been in contact with eleven experts within the following areas: the house or apartments design such as architecture, the human beings´ private sphere, the area surrounding the living accommodations, environmental issues and energy consumption and the municipal standards and law regarding production and the building and restoration of old and new real-estate. Purpose: This paper aims to construct a handbook that covers the optimal living accommodations depending on in which lifecycle the focus is on .The handbook which has been developed, aims to help the people who operate on this market to coordinate their different areas of knowledge to provide the optimal living accommodations for each lifecycle. Method: A feasibility study has been carried out with the purpose of finding experts within each area mentioned above and also to have them be part of the semi-structured interviews that have been carried out. Conclusions: There are a lot of different factors which affects the way people wish to live. The conclusions made in this paper presents a handbook with recommendations on how cityplanners, politicians and contractors can offer the optimal living accommodations depending on different factors that influence the way we live, together with different stages of life.

Detailed knowledge about the habitat requirements of butterflies is vital for successful conservation. The aim of the present study was to examine the habitat requirements of the endangered butterfly Scolitantides orion on 15 sites in Östergötland, Sweden. The requirements of adults and ovipositing females were studied with regard to several environmental variables measured at three scales; small, transect and large scale. The probability of finding adults increased with decreasing tree cover at the small scale, and adult numbers increased with the proportion of bare rock at the large scale. In contrast, ovipositing females mainly responded to the small scale. The main finding was that females oviposited in areas with higher tree cover (&lt; 70 %) than that preferred by dwelling adults (&lt; 20 %). However, there was a greater probability of finding eggs when tree cover was less than 50 %. Furthermore, egg numbers on host plants increased with the number of leaves on the stem and with the proportion of surrounding bare rock or bare ground. At the transect scale, females oviposited in areas with a higher density of host plants. To conclude, S. orion predominately inhabits open areas with warm microclimatic conditions for dwelling and oviposition. To conserve this species, suitable areas containing nectar plants and high densities of host plants with large leaf numbers and surrounded by large proportions of bare rock or bare ground, should be preserved. The areas should be maintained by selective clearing at regular intervals to uphold canopy openness and heterogeneity.