Intercultural science education as a trading zone between traditional and academic knowledge

Intercultural science education requires negotiations between knowledge systems and of tensions between them. Building on ethnographic fieldwork and educational interventions in two farming communities in the Northeast of Brazil, we explore the potential of science education to mediate between traditional and academic knowledge. While traditional knowledge shapes agricultural practices and interactions with the environment in the villages of Coração de Maria and Retiro, academic knowledge is emphasized in biology education. On the basis of philosophical debates about “partial overlaps” between epistemologies, ontologies and value systems, we analyze relations between traditional and academic ecological knowledge in these communities and argue that they can inform reflective practices in intercultural dialogue. By investigating biology education as a “trading zone” between knowledge systems, we analyze how partial overlaps become negotiated in educational practices in rural Brazil and provide the basis for educational interventions that foster intercultural dialogue.</p

Immune deconvolution and temporal mapping identifies stromal targets and developmental intervals for abrogating murine low-grade optic glioma formation

BACKGROUND: Brain tumor formation and progression are dictated by cooperative interactions between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. This stromal dependence is nicely illustrated by tumors arising in the Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) cancer predisposition syndrome, where children develop low-grade optic pathway gliomas (OPGs). Using several authenticated METHODS: A combination of bulk and single-cell RNA mouse optic nerve sequencing, immunohistochemistry, T cell assays, and pharmacologic and antibody-mediated inhibition methods were used in these experiments. RESULTS: We show that T cells and microglia are the main non-neoplastic immune cell populations in both murine and human LGGs. Moreover, we demonstrate that CD8 CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings provide proof-of-concept demonstrations that targeting stromal support during early gliomagenesis durably blocks murine LGG formation

RBCS1 expression in coffee: Coffea orthologs, Coffea arabica homeologs, and expression variability between genotypes and under drought stress

Background: In higher plants, the inhibition of photosynthetic capacity under drought is attributable to stomatal and non-stomatal (i.e., photochemical and biochemical) effects. In particular, a disruption of photosynthetic metabolism and Rubisco regulation can be observed. Several studies reported reduced expression of the RBCS genes, which encode the Rubisco small subunit, under water stress. Results: Expression of the RBCS1 gene was analysed in the allopolyploid context of C. arabica, which originates from a natural cross between the C. canephora and C. eugenioides species. Our study revealed the existence of two homeologous RBCS1 genes in C. arabica: one carried by the C. canephora sub-genome (called CaCc) and the other carried by the C. eugenioides sub-genome (called CaCe). Using specific primer pairs for each homeolog, expression studies revealed that CaCe was expressed in C. eugenioides and C. arabica but was undetectable in C. canephora. On the other hand, CaCc was expressed in C. canephora but almost completely silenced in non-introgressed ("pure") genotypes of C. arabica. However, enhanced CaCc expression was observed in most C. arabica cultivars with introgressed C. canephora genome. In addition, total RBCS1 expression was higher for C. arabica cultivars that had recently introgressed C. canephora genome than for "pure" cultivars. For both species, water stress led to an important decrease in the abundance of RBCS1 transcripts. This was observed for plants grown in either greenhouse or field conditions under severe or moderate drought. However, this reduction of RBCS1 gene expression was not accompanied by a decrease in the corresponding protein in the leaves of C. canephora subjected to water withdrawal. In that case, the amount of RBCS1 was even higher under drought than under unstressed (irrigated) conditions, which suggests great stability of RBCS1 under adverse water conditions. On the other hand, for C. arabica, high nocturnal expression of RBCS1 could also explain the accumulation of the RBCS1 protein under water stress. Altogether, the results presented here suggest that the content of RBCS was not responsible for the loss of photosynthetic capacity that is commonly observed in water-stressed coffee plants. Conclusion: We showed that the CaCe homeolog was expressed in C. eugenioides and non-introgressed ("pure") genotypes of C. arabica but that it was undetectable in C. canephora. On the other hand, the CaCc homeolog was expressed in C. canephora but highly repressed in C. arabica. Expression of the CaCc homeolog was enhanced in C. arabica cultivars that experienced recent introgression with C. canephora. For both C. canephora and C. arabica species, total RBCS1 gene expression was highly reduced with WS. Unexpectedly, the accumulation of RBCS1 protein was observed in the leaves of C. canephora under WS, possibly coming from nocturnal RBCS1 expression. These results suggest that the increase in the amount of RBCS1 protein could contribute to the antioxidative function of photorespiration in water-stressed coffee plants. (Résumé d'auteur

Análise de políticas públicas municipais de pagamento por serviços ambientais hídricos através do Índice de Avaliação de Políticas Públicas: o estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) como modelo de estudo

This work proposes to analyze the Municipal Public Policies (PPMs) of Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) Water in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with the application of the Public Policy Assessment Index (IAPP). The PPMs were raised through virtual searches for the extensions “rj.gov.br” and “rj.leg.br” with keywords “Municipal Policy for Payments for Environmental Services” and associated keywords, in addition to the scientific literature. The IAPP has 12 parameters organized into two elements of analysis: Management and Impact, with a maximum score of 1.0 and classification “Beginner”, “Satisfactory”, “Superior” and “Advanced”. 20 PPMs of Water PSA were found. The municipality of Rio Claro/RJ-Brazil, which has an agreement with the regional Hydrographic Basin Committee (CBH), obtained the best score, 0.8, with a “Superior” classification. More than 50 % of PPMs are “Beginners”, indicating a need for development. The participation of CBHs is a relevant option for the studied PPMs.Este trabajo propone analizar las Políticas Públicas Municipales (PPM) de Pago por Servicios Ambientales (PSA) Agua en el estado de Río de Janeiro, con la aplicación del Índice de Evaluación de Políticas Públicas (IAPP). Los PPM se levantaron a través de búsquedas virtuales de las extensiones “rj.gov.br” y “rj.leg.br” con las palabras clave “Política Municipal de Pagos por Servicios Ambientales” y palabras clave asociadas, además de la literatura científica. El IAPP cuenta con 12 parámetros organizados en dos elementos de análisis: Gestión e Impacto, con una puntuación máxima de 1,0 y clasificación “Principiante”, “Satisfactorio”, “Superior” y “Avanzado”. Se encontraron 20 ppm de agua PSA. El municipio de Rio Claro/RJ-Brasil, que tiene convenio con el Comité de Cuenca Hidrográfica (CBH) regional, obtuvo la mejor puntuación, 0,8, con clasificación “Superior”. Más del 50 % de los PPM son “Principiantes”, lo que indica una necesidad de desarrollo.Ce travail propose d'analyser les politiques publiques municipales (PPM) de paiement pour les services environnementaux (PSA) de l'eau dans l'État de Rio de Janeiro, avec l'application de l'indice d'évaluation des politiques publiques (IAPP). Les PPM ont été relevés grâce à des recherches virtuelles des extensions “rj.gov.br” et “rj.leg.br” avec les mots-clés “Municipal Policy for Payments for Environmental Services” et les mots-clés associés, en plus de la littérature scientifique. L'IAPP comporte 12 paramètres organisés en deux éléments d'analyse: Gestion et Impact, avec une note maximale de 1,0 et une classification “Débutant”, “Satisfaisant”, “Supérieur” et “Avancé”. 20 PPM de PSA dans l'eau ont été trouvés. La municipalité de Rio Claro/RJ-Brésil, qui a un accord avec le Comité régional de bassin hydrographique (CBH), a obtenu le meilleur score, 0,8, avec une classification “Supérieur”. Plus de 50 % des PPM sont des “Débutants”, indiquant un besoin de développement.Questo lavoro si propone di analizzare le Politiche Pubbliche Municipali (PPM) di Pagamento per Servizi Ambientali (PSA) Acqua nello stato di Rio de Janeiro, con l'applicazione dell'Indice di Valutazione delle Politiche Pubbliche (IAPP). I PPM sono stati rilevati tramite ricerche virtuali delle estensioni “rj.gov.br” e “rj.leg.br” con parole chiave “Politica Comunale per i Pagamenti dei Servizi Ambientali” e parole chiave associate, oltre alla letteratura scientifica. L'IAPP ha 12 parametri organizzati in due elementi di analisi: Management e Impact, con un punteggio massimo di 1.0 e classificazione “Principiante”, “Soddisfacente”, “Superiore” e “Avanzato”. Sono stati trovati 20 PPM di Water PSA. Il comune di Rio Claro/RJ-Brasile, convenzionato con il Comitato Regionale di Bacino Idrografico (CBH), ha ottenuto il punteggio migliore, 0,8, con una classificazione “Superiore”. Più del 50 % dei PPM sono “Principianti”, il che indica la necessità di sviluppo. La partecipazione dei CBH è un'opzione rilevante per i PPM studiati.Neste trabalho propõe-se analisar as Políticas Públicas Municipais (PPMs) de Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais (PSA) Hídrico do estado do Rio de Janeiro, com a aplicação do Índice de Avaliação de Políticas Públicas (IAPP). As PPMs foram levantadas através de buscas virtuais pelas extensões “rj.gov.br” e “rj.leg.br” com palavras-chave “Política Municipal de Pagamentos por Serviços Ambientais” e associadas, além da literatura científica. O IAPP possui 12 parâmetros organizados em dois elementos de análise: Gestão e Impacto, com pontuação máxima de 1,0 e classificação “Iniciante”, “Satisfatório”, “Superior” e “Avançado”. Foram encontradas 20 PPMs de PSA Hídrico. O município de Rio Claro/RJ-Brasil, conveniado com o Comitê de Bacia Hidrográfica (CBH) regional, obteve a melhor pontuação, 0,8, com classificação “Superior”. Mais de 50 % das PPMs são “Iniciantes”, indicando necessidade de desenvolvimento. A participação dos CBHs é opção relevante as PPMs estudadas