Faktorer och processer som påverkar lantbrukare vid markförvärv

Världens befolkning ökar kontinuerligt vilket medför att mer livsmedel måste produceras samtidigt som den odlingsbara åkermarken i världen minskar. Detta på grund av klimatförändringar och exploatering från städerna som medför att det inte går att odla. I Sverige minskar årligen den odlingsbara åkermarksarealen främst på grund av igenväxning och beskogning. Mindre åkermark medför en ökad konkurrens om det som finns kvar. Att förvärva mark är en långsiktig investering för många som kan innefatta stora beslut påverkat av flera faktorer. Inte minst kräver markförvärv kapital. Detta medför att inte alla väljer att förvärva mark. Men det finns lantbrukare som väljer att förvärva mark och många undrar varför. Beslutsfattande hos lantbrukare har tidigare undersökts men ingen har frågat de svenska lantbrukarna vilka faktorer som medfört att de förvärvar mer åkermark. Arbetets syfte är att genom kvalitativa intervjuer med lantbrukare som förvärvat åkermark få en övergripande förståelse om hur deras beslutsprocess sett ut. Samt förstå vilka faktorer som påverkat varför de valt att förvärva. Semistrukturerade intervjuer gjordes med lantbrukare som förvärvat åkermark de senaste två åren där förvärvet inte berörde generationsskifte. Majoriteten av lantbrukarna var medelålders män med eftergymnasial utbildning inom lantbruk eller ekonomi. Resultatet från intervjuerna visade att lantbrukare förvärvar mark till stor del för att företagsmålen innefattar expansion av olika slag. Några presenterar expansionsmål för att säkra för generationsskifte och andra för att bygga ett lönsamt företag som kan ha anställda. Även den enskilda individens personlighet, känslor och intressen har genomgående påverkan i flera faktorer. En tro om värdeökning på åkermark samt en rädsla för att missa en chans är två faktorer som visats beröra majoriteten i deras markförvärv. När det gäller beslutsprocessen kan slutsats dras att beslutsprocessen påbörjas långt innan mark blir tillgängligt för förvärv vilket medför att processen går fort när åkermark väl finns tillgängligt. Vidare kan den utlösande händelsen konstateras vara när mål berörande expansion grundas. Familjen, kamrater och kollegor är personer som är av vikt för flera i beslutsprocessen för att diskutera beslutet.The world's population is continuously increasing, which means that more food must be produced at the same time as the arable land in the world is decreasing. This is due to climate change and exploit from the cities which means that it’s not possible to grow the land anymore. In Sweden, the cultivable arable land area decreases annually mainly due to overgrowth and afforestation. Less arable land means increased competition for what is left. Acquiring land is a long-term investment for many that can include major decisions influenced by several factors. Not least, land acquisition requires capital. This means that not everyone chooses to acquire land. But there are farmers who choose to acquire land and many wonder why. Farmers' decision-making has previously been investigated, but no one has asked the Swedish farmers what factors led them to acquire more arable land. The purpose of the work is to gain an overall understanding of what their decision-making process looked like through qualitative interviews with farmers who acquired arable land. As well as understanding which factors influenced why they chose to acquire. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with farmers who acquired arable land in the last two years where the acquisition did not involve generational change. Most farmers were middle-aged men with post-secondary education in agriculture or economics. The results from the interviews showed that farmers acquire land largely because the business goals include expansion of various kinds. Some present expansion goals to secure for generational change and others to build a profitable business that can have employees. Even the individual's personality, feelings and interests have a consistent impact on several factors. A belief in the increase in value of arable land as well as a fear of missing a chance are two factors that have been shown to affect the majority in their land acquisition. Regarding the decision-making process, it can be concluded that the decision-making process begins long before land becomes available for acquisition, which means that the process goes quickly once arable land is available. Furthermore, the triggering event can be found to be when goals concerning expansion are founded. The family, peers and colleagues are important to many in the decision-making process to discuss the decision

Electroactive Covalent Organic Framework Enabling Photostimulus-Responsive Devices

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) feature graphene-type 2D layered sheets but with a tunable structure, electroactivity, and high porosity. If these traits are well-combined, then 2D COFs can be applied in electronics to realize functions with a high degree of complexity. Here, a highly crystalline electroactive COF, BDFamide-Tp, was designed and synthesized. It shows regularly distributed pores with a width of 1.35 nm. Smooth and successive films of such a COF were fabricated and found to be able to increase the conductivity of an organic semiconductor by 103 by interfacial doping. Upon encapsulation of a photoswitchable molecule (spiropyran) into the voids of the COF layer, the resulted devices respond differently to light of different wavelengths. Specifically, the current output ratio after UV vs Vis illumination reaches 100 times, thus effectively creating on and off states. The respective positive and negative feedbacks are memorized by the device and can be reprogrammed by UV/Vis illumination. The reversible photostimulus responsivity and reliable memory of the device are derived from the combination of electroactivity and porosity of the 2D COF. This work shows the capability of 2D COFs in higher-level electronic functions and extends their possible applications in information storage

FKBP12 is a major regulator of ALK2 activity in multiple myeloma cells

Background The immunophilin FKBP12 binds to TGF-β family type I receptors, including the BMP type I receptor ALK2. FKBP12 keeps the type I receptor in an inactive state and controls signaling activity. Removal of FKBP12 with drugs such as the FKBP-ligand FK506 enhances BMP activity in various cell types. In multiple myeloma cells, activation of SMAD1/5/8 leads to apoptosis. We hypothesized that removing FKBP12 from ALK2 in myeloma cells would potentiate BMP-induced ALK2-SMAD1/5/8 activity and in consequence cell death. Methods Multiple myeloma cell lines were treated with FK506, or other FKBP-binding compounds, combined with different BMPs before analyzing SMAD1/5/8 activity and cell viability. SMAD1/5/8 activity was also investigated using a reporter cell line, INA-6 BRE-luc. To characterize the functional signaling receptor complex, we genetically manipulated receptor expression by siRNA, shRNA and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Results FK506 potentiated BMP-induced SMAD1/5/8 activation and apoptosis in multiple myeloma cell lines. By using FKBP-binding compounds with different affinity profiles, and siRNA targeting FKBP12, we show that the FK506 effect is mediated by binding to FKBP12. Ligands that typically signal via ALK3 in myeloma cells, BMP2, BMP4, and BMP10, did not induce apoptosis in cells lacking ALK3. Notably, BMP10 competed with BMP6 and BMP9 and antagonized their activity via ALK2. However, upon addition of FK506, we saw a surprising shift in specificity, as the ALK3 ligands gained the ability to signal via ALK2 and induce apoptosis. This indicates that the receptor complex can switch from an inactive non-signaling complex (NSC) to an active one by adding FK506. This gain of activity was also seen in other cell types, indicating that the observed effects have broader relevance. BMP2, BMP4 and BMP10 depended on BMPR2 as type II receptor to signal, which contrasts with BMP6 and BMP9, that activate ALK2 more potently when BMPR2 is knocked down. Conclusions In summary, our data suggest that FKBP12 is a major regulator of ALK2 activity in multiple myeloma cells, partly by switching an NSC into an active signaling complex. FKBP12 targeting compounds devoid of immunosuppressing activity could have potential in novel treatment strategies aiming at reducing multiple myeloma tumor load

Análisis del impacto de los programas de pregrado de la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales.

La presente publicación se enmarca en el tema de la evaluación del impacto de programas de pregrado. Precisamente, se construyó con el principal objetivo de evaluar el impacto de las acciones implementadas desde formación, investigación, proyección social y prácticas profesionales por los programas de la Facultad Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, profundizando en el nivel de pertinencia y relevancia percibidas entre graduados, organizaciones y comunidades de influencia. La presentación de los resultados puede ser de interés para la comunidad académica en general y, en particular, para los docentes investigadores y estudiantes interesados en la evaluación de impacto en educación superior. Con los hallazgos se espera contribuir a la construcción de indicadores de evaluación para los programas de la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales de UNIMINUTO, si bien pueden, perfectamente, ilustrar o guiar otros procesos investigativos que definan en sus objetivos profundizar sobre el tema desde la perspectiva de los actores convocados a contribuir en los procesos que se definan en las instituciones para mejorar o fortalecer los programas, de forma que se acerquen cada vez más a las expectativas y exigencias de la sociedad actual

Dose response of the 16p11.2 distal copy number variant on intracranial volume and basal ganglia.

Carriers of large recurrent copy number variants (CNVs) have a higher risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. The 16p11.2 distal CNV predisposes carriers to e.g., autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. We compared subcortical brain volumes of 12 16p11.2 distal deletion and 12 duplication carriers to 6882 non-carriers from the large-scale brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging collaboration, ENIGMA-CNV. After stringent CNV calling procedures, and standardized FreeSurfer image analysis, we found negative dose-response associations with copy number on intracranial volume and on regional caudate, pallidum and putamen volumes (β = -0.71 to -1.37; P < 0.0005). In an independent sample, consistent results were obtained, with significant effects in the pallidum (β = -0.95, P = 0.0042). The two data sets combined showed significant negative dose-response for the accumbens, caudate, pallidum, putamen and ICV (P = 0.0032, 8.9 × 10-6, 1.7 × 10-9, 3.5 × 10-12 and 1.0 × 10-4, respectively). Full scale IQ was lower in both deletion and duplication carriers compared to non-carriers. This is the first brain MRI study of the impact of the 16p11.2 distal CNV, and we demonstrate a specific effect on subcortical brain structures, suggesting a neuropathological pattern underlying the neurodevelopmental syndromes

Adapted cognitive behavior therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder: A clinical effectiveness study

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly co-occur. Adapted CBT for OCD in adults with ASD has not previously been evaluated outside the United Kingdom. In this study, 19 adults with OCD and ASD were treated using an adapted CBT protocol that consisted of 20 sessions focused on exposure with response prevention. The primary outcome was the clinician-rated Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Participants were assessed up to 3 months after treatment. There were significant reductions on the YBOCS at post-treatment (d=1.5), and improvements were sustained at follow-up (d=1.2). Self-rated OCD symptoms and depressive symptoms showed statistically significant reductions. Improvements in general functioning and quality of life were statistically non-significant. Three participants (16%) were responders at post-treatment and four (21%) were in remission from OCD. At follow-up, three participants (16%) were responders and one (5%) was in full remission. Adapted CBT for OCD in adults with co-occurring ASD is associated with reductions in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and depressive symptoms. However, outcomes are modest; few patients were completely symptom free, and treatment engagement was low with few completed exposures and low adherence to homework assignments. We identify and discuss the need for further treatment refinement for this vulnerable group

Análise das correlações entre as dimensões da qualidade em serviço por meio de modelagem de equações estruturais / Analysis of the correlations between the dimensions of quality in service by means of modeling of structural equations

O presente trabalho tem o intuito de avaliar como as dimensões da qualidade referente a serviços se relaciona, neste caso o serviço estudado foi o de transporte coletivo de uma cidade do sul da Bahia. Para isso foi estabelecido três hipóteses de pesquisa, como a dimensão aspectos tangíveis podem influenciar na forma pela qual os usuários julgam a confiabilidade deste serviço. Da mesma forma, como a confiabilidade do serviço pode influenciar nas garantias do serviço e por fim, como a presteza pode influenciar na dimensão empatia. O modelo selecionado como instrumento de pesquisa foi o SERVQUAL e foi coletado 86 casos válidos de estudantes de uma universidade pública que utilizam o transporte coletivo nos seus deslocamentos diários. Para iniciar a validação das hipóteses de pesquisa utilizou-se a técnica PLS-SEM. com isso, observou-se que todas as hipóteses pesquisadas foram validadas, logo a dimensão aspectos tangíveis está correlacionada com a dimensão confiabilidade, a dimensão confiabilidade está correlacionado com a dimensão garantias e por fim, a dimensão empatia está correlacionada com a dimensão presteza

Implementation and testing of the first prompt search for gravitational wave transients with electromagnetic counterparts

Aims. A transient astrophysical event observed in both gravitational wave (GW) and electromagnetic (EM) channels would yield rich scientific rewards. A first program initiating EM follow-ups to possible transient GW events has been developed and exercised by the LIGO and Virgo community in association with several partners. In this paper, we describe and evaluate the methods used to promptly identify and localize GW event candidates and to request images of targeted sky locations. Methods. During two observing periods (Dec 17 2009 to Jan 8 2010 and Sep 2 to Oct 20 2010), a low-latency analysis pipeline was used to identify GW event candidates and to reconstruct maps of possible sky locations. A catalog of nearby galaxies and Milky Way globular clusters was used to select the most promising sky positions to be imaged, and this directional information was delivered to EM observatories with time lags of about thirty minutes. A Monte Carlo simulation has been used to evaluate the low-latency GW pipeline's ability to reconstruct source positions correctly. Results. For signals near the detection threshold, our low-latency algorithms often localized simulated GW burst signals to tens of square degrees, while neutron star/neutron star inspirals and neutron star/black hole inspirals were localized to a few hundred square degrees. Localization precision improves for moderately stronger signals. The correct sky location of signals well above threshold and originating from nearby galaxies may be observed with ~50% or better probability with a few pointings of wide-field telescopes.Comment: 17 pages. This version (v2) includes two tables and 1 section not included in v1. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Sex differences in the adult human brain:Evidence from 5216 UK Biobank participants

Sex differences in the human brain are of interest for many reasons: for example, there are sex differences in the observed prevalence of psychiatric disorders and in some psychological traits that brain differences might help to explain. We report the largest single-sample study of structural and functional sex differences in the human brain (2750 female, 2466 male participants; mean age 61.7 years, range 44–77 years). Males had higher raw volumes, raw surface areas, and white matter fractional anisotropy; females had higher raw cortical thickness and higher white matter tract complexity. There was considerable distributional overlap between the sexes. Subregional differences were not fully attributable to differences in total volume, total surface area, mean cortical thickness, or height. There was generally greater male variance across the raw structural measures. Functional connectome organization showed stronger connectivity for males in unimodal sensorimotor cortices, and stronger connectivity for females in the default mode network. This large-scale study provides a foundation for attempts to understand the causes and consequences of sex differences in adult brain structure and function