The state of sustainable agriculture and agroecology research and impacts: A survey of U.S. scientists

A growing body of research suggests that although sustainable agriculture, particularly agroecology, can address challenges such as those related to climate change, ecosystem services, food insecurity, and farmer livelihoods, the transition to such systems remains limited. To gain insight into the state of U.S. sustainable agriculture and agroecology, we developed a 28-question mixed-method survey that was administered to scientists in these fields. Respondents (N=168) represented diverse locations, institutions, and career stages. They offered varied definitions of sustainable agriculture, with 40% considering economic and social well-being to be core components. Respondents identified the amount and duration of public research funding as important obstacles to conducting research on sus- tainable agriculture (85% and 61%, respectively). Further, most expressed challenges in communi- cating findings beyond academia, including to the media and policymakers, potentially limiting the impacts of such research. However, respondents expressed satisfaction in several areas, including relationships with community members (81%) and local producers (81%), and interest from students (80%) and research communities (73%), suggesting positive momentum in this field. Earlier versus later career scientists rated research on “human dimensions” as more important, expressed greater concerns over career stability, and were less satisfied with opportunities for policy engagement. Results imply that greater public investments, particularly fostering human dimensions, could support a transition to agroecology and its associated benefits

The Gendered Image of Sun Bu’er in Yuan Hagiographies

This research examines the gendered image of the Song dynasty (960-1279) Daoist matriarch Sun Bu’er (1119-1182) based on four hagiographies dedicated to her in four different anthologies from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Building on Sun’s representation in these hagiographies, previous scholarship argued that Sun Bu’er’s Daoist identity is more significant than her gender identity. However, a close study of these hagiographic narratives reveals that as the only female disciple among the Seven Perfected Sun Bu’er was chronicled differently than the six male disciples, with emphasis on her gender. This is evident in the Daoist designation given to her by the Quanzhen founder Wang Chongyang (1113-1170). It is also evident within the hagiographic narratives, where we can detect many themes highlighting Sun Bu’er‘s gender, rather than her Daoist identity. This examination of the hagiographic treatment of Sun Bu’er can further our understanding of how gender played a role in the construction of sainthood, as well as provide a more nuanced understanding of the often idealized relationship between women and the Daoist tradition

A study of the recent chemical evolution of the Large Magellanic Cloud

Abstract: we present the results of a study of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) chemical evolution during the last 2.2 Gyr. This study is based on Washington photometric observations of LMC's star clusters carried out with the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) 4 m telescope, using the C and T_1 filters. As tracers of the LMC's chemical enrichment we used 83 star clusters, from which 40 clusters are projected onto the bar region, 23 in the inner disc and 20 in the outer disc. More than half of the total sample has not been previously studied. We determine size, reddening, deprojected distance, age and metallicity of the observed star clusters.Fil: Palma, Tali. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Palma, Tali. Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación de la Nación. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Clariá Olmedo, Juan José. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Clariá Olmedo, Juan José. Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación de la Nación. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Ahumada, Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Ahumada, Andrea. Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación de la Nación. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Astronomía (incluye Astrofísica y Ciencias del Espacio

The state of sustainable agriculture and agroecology research and impacts: A survey of U.S. scientists

A growing body of research suggests that although sustainable agriculture, particularly agroecology, can address challenges such as those related to climate change, ecosystem services, food insecurity, and farmer livelihoods, the transition to such systems remains limited. To gain insight into the state of U.S. sustainable agriculture and agroecology, we developed a 28-question mixed-method survey that was administered to scientists in these fields. Respondents (N=168) represented diverse locations, institutions, and career stages. They offered varied definitions of sustainable agriculture, with 40% considering economic and social well-being to be core components. Respondents identified the amount and duration of public research funding as important obstacles to conducting research on sus- tainable agriculture (85% and 61%, respectively). Further, most expressed challenges in communi- cating findings beyond academia, including to the media and policymakers, potentially limiting the impacts of such research. However, respondents expressed satisfaction in several areas, including relationships with community members (81%) and local producers (81%), and interest from students (80%) and research communities (73%), suggesting positive momentum in this field. Earlier versus later career scientists rated research on “human dimensions” as more important, expressed greater concerns over career stability, and were less satisfied with opportunities for policy engagement. Results imply that greater public investments, particularly fostering human dimensions, could support a transition to agroecology and its associated benefits

Shifts of Effective Connectivity within a Language Network during Rhyming and Spelling

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0864-05.2005.We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine task-specific modulations of effective connectivity within a left-hemisphere language network during spelling and rhyming judgments on visually presented words. We identified sites showing task-specific activations for rhyming in the lateral temporal cortex (LTC) and for spelling in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). The inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and fusiform gyrus were engaged by both tasks. Dynamic causal modeling showed that each task preferentially strengthened modulatory influences converging on its task-specific site (LTC for rhyming, IPS for spelling). These remarkably selective and symmetrical findings demonstrate that the nature of the behavioral task dynamically shifts the locus of integration (or convergence) to the network component specialized for that task. Furthermore, they suggest that the role of the task-selective areas is to provide a differential synthesis of incoming information rather than providing differential control signals influencing the activity of other network components. Our findings also showed that switching tasks led to changes in the target area influenced by the IFG, suggesting that the IFG may play a pivotal role in setting the cognitive context for each task. We propose that task-dependent shifts in effective connectivity are likely to be mediated through top-down modulations from the IFG to the task-selective regions in a way that differentially enhances their sensitivity to incoming word-form information

Histological evaluation following treatment of recession-type defects with coronally advanced flap and a novel human recombinant amelogenin.

OBJECTIVES To histologically evaluate the effects of a novel human recombinant amelogenin (rAmelX) on periodontal wound healing / regeneration in recession-type defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 17 gingival recession-type defects were surgically created in the maxilla of three minipigs. The defects were randomly treated with a coronally advanced flap (CAF) and either rAmelX (test), or a CAF and placebo (control). At three months following reconstructive surgery, the animals were euthanized, and the healing outcomes histologically evaluated. RESULTS The test group yielded statistically significantly (p = 0.047) greater formation of cementum with inserting collagen fibers compared with the control group (i.e., 4.38 mm ± 0.36 mm vs. 3.48 mm ± 1.13 mm). Bone formation measured 2.15 mm ± 0.8 mm in the test group and 2.24 mm ± 1.23 mm in the control group, respectively, without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.94). CONCLUSIONS The present data have provided for the first-time evidence for the potential of rAmelX to promote regeneration of periodontal ligament and root cementum in recession-type defects, thus warranting further preclinical and clinical testing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The present results set the basis for the potential clinical application of rAmelX in reconstructive periodontal surgery

Histological evaluation following treatment of recession-type defects with coronally advanced flap and a novel human recombinant amelogenin

ObjectivesTo histologically evaluate the effects of a novel human recombinant amelogenin (rAmelX) on periodontal wound healing / regeneration in recession-type defects.Materials and methodsA total of 17 gingival recession-type defects were surgically created in the maxilla of three minipigs. The defects were randomly treated with a coronally advanced flap (CAF) and either rAmelX (test), or a CAF and placebo (control). At three months following reconstructive surgery, the animals were euthanized, and the healing outcomes histologically evaluated.ResultsThe test group yielded statistically significantly (p = 0.047) greater formation of cementum with inserting collagen fibers compared with the control group (i.e., 4.38 mm & PLUSMN; 0.36 mm vs. 3.48 mm & PLUSMN; 1.13 mm). Bone formation measured 2.15 mm & PLUSMN; 0.8 mm in the test group and 2.24 mm & PLUSMN; 1.23 mm in the control group, respectively, without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.94).ConclusionsThe present data have provided for the first-time evidence for the potential of rAmelX to promote regeneration of periodontal ligament and root cementum in recession-type defects, thus warranting further preclinical and clinical testing

Confirmation of a New Metal-poor Globular Cluster in the Galactic Bulge

© 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.We use deep near-IR photometry of the VISTA Variables in the V'a L'ctea (VVV) Survey and deep DECam Plane Survey (DECaPS) optical photometry to confirm the physical reality of the candidate globular cluster (GC) Minni 22, which is located in the Galactic bulge. This object, which was detected as a high density region in our maps of bulge red giants, is now confirmed as a real GC based on the optical and near-IR color'magnitude diagrams. We also recover three known fundamental mode (ab type) RR Lyrae stars within 2 arcmin of the cluster center. The presence of RR Lyrae stars also seems to confirm Minni 22 as a bonafide old and metal-poor GC. We estimate a cluster reddening E(J - Ks) = 0.6 mag and determine its heliocentric distance D = 7.4 ± 0.3 kpc. The optical and near-IR color'magnitude diagrams reveal well-defined red giant branches in all cases, including a red giant branch bump at Ks = 13.30 ± 0.05 mag. The comparison with theoretical isochrones yields a mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = -1.3 ± 0.3 dex, and age of t ∼ 11.2 Gyr. This is a good example of a new low-luminosity (MV = -6.2 mag) GC found in the central bulge of the Milky Way. After discussing the different ways to confirm the existence of bulge GC candidates, we find that one of the best methods is to use the CMDs from the combination of the DECaPS + VVV photometries.Peer reviewe

Plant growth enhancement by elevated CO 2 eliminated by joint water and nitrogen limitation

Rising atmospheric CO 2 concentrations can fertilize plant growth. The resulting increased plant uptake of CO 2 could, in turn, slow increases in atmospheric CO 2 levels and associated climate warming. CO 2 fertilization e ects may be enhanced when water availability is low, because elevated CO 2 also leads to improved plant water-use e ciency. However, CO 2 fertilization e ects may be weaker when plant growth is limited by nutrient availability. How variation in soil nutrients and water may act together to influence CO 2 fertilization is unresolved. Here we report plant biomass levels from a five-year, open-air experiment in a perennial grassland under two contrasting levels of atmospheric CO 2 , soil nitrogen and summer rainfall, respectively. We find that the presence of a CO 2 fertilization e ect depends on the amount of available nitrogen and water. Specifically, elevated CO 2 levels led to an increase in plant biomass of more than 33% when summer rainfall, nitrogen supply, or both were at the higher levels (ambient for rainfall and elevated for soil nitrogen). But elevated CO 2 concentrations did not increase plant biomass when both rainfall and nitrogen were at their lower level. We conclude that given widespread, simultaneous limitation by water and nutrients, large stimulation of biomass by rising atmospheric CO 2 concentrations may not be ubiquitous