567 research outputs found
LE CONSEIL AGRICOLE AU CARREFOUR DU DEVELOPPEMENT SECTORIEL ET DU DEVELOPPEMENT TERRITORIAL :ACCOMPAGNER L'ACTIVITE AGRICOLE EN SITUATIONE
N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceThis paper provides a framework to analyse the undergoing changes in agricultural and rural development. As a result of these changes, agricultural extension is faced with the challenge of standing at the crossroads between sector development and territorial development, which is the issue analysed here. This paper contributes to a new conceptualization of agricultural activity, reaching beyond its technical, economic, and productive aspects so as to include cultural and political factors, as well as the spatial and time dimensions related to local and daily life activities. This leads to the establishment of a new approach of agricultural changes and their accompaniment, and of public policy guidelines, which places collective actions, together with their situated dimension, purposes, and knowledge, at the heart of the analysis. The subsequent conceptual framework has being tested in a number of French studies, which first results, reported in Part 2, can be synthesized as three major trends: territorial factors are progressively being integrated in agricultural advice, including in traditional farming sectors; the public and the objects of agricultural extension are diversifying; extension agents need to cooperate with the development agents of non-agricultural sector. All in all, the skills of the extension agents, and their ability to facilitate collective actions, are the most sensitive issues brought about by these new challenges
FIREBall-2: advancing TRL while doing proof-of-concept astrophysics on a suborbital platform
Here we discuss advances in UV technology over the last decade, with an
emphasis on photon counting, low noise, high efficiency detectors in
sub-orbital programs. We focus on the use of innovative UV detectors in a NASA
astrophysics balloon telescope, FIREBall-2, which successfully flew in the Fall
of 2018. The FIREBall-2 telescope is designed to make observations of distant
galaxies to understand more about how they evolve by looking for diffuse
hydrogen in the galactic halo. The payload utilizes a 1.0-meter class telescope
with an ultraviolet multi-object spectrograph and is a joint collaboration
between Caltech, JPL, LAM, CNES, Columbia, the University of Arizona, and NASA.
The improved detector technology that was tested on FIREBall-2 can be applied
to any UV mission. We discuss the results of the flight and detector
performance. We will also discuss the utility of sub-orbital platforms (both
balloon payloads and rockets) for testing new technologies and proof-of-concept
scientific ideasComment: Submitted to the Proceedings of SPIE, Defense + Commercial Sensing
(SI19
Functional interaction between the homeoprotein CDX1 and the transcriptional machinery containing the TATA-binding protein
We have previously reported that the CDX1 homeoprotein interacts with the TATA-box binding protein (TBP) on the promoter of the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) gene. We show here that CDX1 interacts with TBP via the homeodomain and that the transcriptional activity additionally requires the N-terminal domain upstream of the homeodomain. CDX1 interacting with TBP is connected to members of the TFIID and Mediator complexes, two major elements of the general transcriptional machinery. Transcription luciferase assays performed using an altered-specificity mutant of TBP provide evidence for the functionality of the interaction between CDX1 and TBP. Unlike CDX1, CDX2 does not interact with TBP nor does it transactivate the G6Pase promoter. Swapping experiments between the domains of CDX1 and CDX2 indicate that, despite opposite functional effects of the homeoproteins on the G6Pase promoter, the N-terminal domains and homeodomains of both CDX1 and CDX2 have the intrinsic ability to activate transcription and to interact with TBP. However, the carboxy domains define the specificity of CDX1 and CDX2. Thus, intra-molecular interactions control the activity and partner recruitment of CDX1 and CDX2, leading to different molecular functions
When it’s okay to hit: How Turkish and U.S. preschoolers and adults make judgments about permissible and impermissible acts of force
To navigate their complex social worlds, children need to make judgments about when, if ever, it is okay to use force against others. By adulthood, most come to condemn violence in most situations yet accept or even encourage force in other situations, such as self-defense or contact sports. This research examined key factors expected to guide how preschoolers and adults make judgments about permissible and impermissible force. These factors included the antecedent events—preceding the force act—and the emotion attributed to the victim. In four studies with Turkish and U.S. preschoolers and adults, an interviewer presented participants with vignettes in which one child used force against another. The antecedent event significantly affected children's and, to an even greater extent, adults’ judgments about force. Participants were also more likely to judge force as permissible when they attributed positive or neutral emotions to the victim. Some cultural differences also emerged. The findings shed light on how children begin to draw moral distinctions between permissible and impermissible force
Assessment of Confounding Factors Affecting the Tumor Markers SMRP, CA125, and CYFRA21-1 in Serum
The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate if serum levels of potential tumor markers for the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer are affected by confounding factors in a surveillance cohort of workers formerly exposed to asbestos. SMRP, CA125, and CYFRA21-1 concentrations were determined in about 1,700 serum samples from 627 workers formerly exposed to asbestos. The impact of factors that could modify the concentrations of the tumor markers was examined with linear mixed models. SMRP values increased with age 1.02-fold (95% CI 1.01–1.03) and serum creatinine concentration 1.32-fold (95% CI 1.20–1.45). Levels differed by study centers and were higher after 40 years of asbestos exposure. CA125 levels increased with longer storage of the samples. CYFRA21-1 values correlated with age 1.02-fold (95% CI 1.01–1.02), serum creatinine 1.21-fold (95% CI 1.14–1.30) and varied by study centers due to differences in sample handling. Tumor marker concentrations are influenced by subject-related factors, sample handling, and storage. These factors need to be taken into account in screening routine
Management of childbearing with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders:A scoping review and expert co-creation of evidence-based clinical guidelines
Objective To co-create expert guidelines for the management of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery in the context of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). Design Scoping Review and Expert Co-creation. Setting United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, France, Sweden, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Sample Co-creators (n = 15) included expertise from patients and clinicians from the International Consortium on the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders, facilitated by the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Methods A scoping review using Embase, Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CINHAL was conducted from May 2022 to September 2023. Articles were included if they reported primary research findings in relation to childbearing with hEDS/HSD, including case reports. No language limitations were placed on our search, and our team had the ability to translate and screen articles retrieved in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Danish, German, and Portuguese. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess bias and quality appraise articles selected. The co-creation of guidelines was based on descriptive evidence synthesis along with practical and clinical experience supported by patient and public involvement activities. Results Primary research studies (n = 14) and case studies (n = 21) including a total of 1,260,317 participants informed the co-creation of guidelines in four overarching categories: 1) Preconceptual: conception and screening, 2) Antenatal: risk assessment, management of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy, gastrointestinal issues and mobility, 3) Intrapartum: risk assessment, birth choices (mode of birth and intended place of birth), mobility in labor and anesthesia, and 4) Postpartum: wound healing, pelvic health, care of the newborn and infant feeding. Guidelines were also included in relation to pain management, mental health, nutrition and the common co-morbidities of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, other forms of dysautonomia, and mast cell diseases. Conclusions There is limited high quality evidence available. Individualized strategies are proposed for the management of childbearing people with hEDS/HSD throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. A multidisciplinary approach is advised to address frequently seen issues in this population such as tissue fragility, joint hypermobility, and pain, as well as common comorbidities, including dysautonomia and mast cell diseases.</p
Management of childbearing with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders:A scoping review and expert co-creation of evidence-based clinical guidelines
Objective To co-create expert guidelines for the management of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery in the context of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). Design Scoping Review and Expert Co-creation. Setting United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, France, Sweden, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Sample Co-creators (n = 15) included expertise from patients and clinicians from the International Consortium on the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders, facilitated by the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Methods A scoping review using Embase, Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CINHAL was conducted from May 2022 to September 2023. Articles were included if they reported primary research findings in relation to childbearing with hEDS/HSD, including case reports. No language limitations were placed on our search, and our team had the ability to translate and screen articles retrieved in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Danish, German, and Portuguese. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess bias and quality appraise articles selected. The co-creation of guidelines was based on descriptive evidence synthesis along with practical and clinical experience supported by patient and public involvement activities. Results Primary research studies (n = 14) and case studies (n = 21) including a total of 1,260,317 participants informed the co-creation of guidelines in four overarching categories: 1) Preconceptual: conception and screening, 2) Antenatal: risk assessment, management of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy, gastrointestinal issues and mobility, 3) Intrapartum: risk assessment, birth choices (mode of birth and intended place of birth), mobility in labor and anesthesia, and 4) Postpartum: wound healing, pelvic health, care of the newborn and infant feeding. Guidelines were also included in relation to pain management, mental health, nutrition and the common co-morbidities of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, other forms of dysautonomia, and mast cell diseases. Conclusions There is limited high quality evidence available. Individualized strategies are proposed for the management of childbearing people with hEDS/HSD throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. A multidisciplinary approach is advised to address frequently seen issues in this population such as tissue fragility, joint hypermobility, and pain, as well as common comorbidities, including dysautonomia and mast cell diseases.</p
Reconstruction of primary vertices at the ATLAS experiment in Run 1 proton–proton collisions at the LHC
This paper presents the method and performance of primary vertex reconstruction in proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 1 of the LHC. The studies presented focus on data taken during 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of √s=8 TeV. The performance has been measured as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing over a wide range, from one to seventy. The measurement of the position and size of the luminous region and its use as a constraint to improve the primary vertex resolution are discussed. A longitudinal vertex position resolution of about 30μm is achieved for events with high multiplicity of reconstructed tracks. The transverse position resolution is better than 20μm and is dominated by the precision on the size of the luminous region. An analytical model is proposed to describe the primary vertex reconstruction efficiency as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing and of the longitudinal size of the luminous region. Agreement between the data and the predictions of this model is better than 3% up to seventy interactions per bunch crossing
Biodiversity and pollination benefits trade off against profit in an intensive farming system
Agricultural expansion and intensification have boosted global food production but have come at the cost of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Biodiversity-friendly farming that boosts ecosystem services, such as pollination and natural pest control, is widely being advocated to maintain and improve agricultural productivity while safeguarding biodiversity. A vast body of evidence showing the agronomic benefits of enhanced ecosystem service delivery represent important incentives to adopt practices enhancing biodiversity. However, the costs of biodiversity-friendly management are rarely taken into account and may represent a major barrier impeding uptake by farmers. Whether and how biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service delivery, and farm profit can go hand in hand is unknown. Here, we quantify the ecological, agronomic, and net economic benefits of biodiversity-friendly farming in an intensive grassland–sunflower system in Southwest France. We found that reducing land-use intensity on agricultural grasslands drastically enhances flower availability and wild bee diversity, including rare species. Biodiversity-friendly management on grasslands furthermore resulted in an up to 17% higher revenue on neighboring sunflower fields through positive effects on pollination service delivery. However, the opportunity costs of reduced grassland forage yields consistently exceeded the economic benefits of enhanced sunflower pollination. Our results highlight that profitability is often a key constraint hampering adoption of biodiversity-based farming and uptake critically depends on society’s willingness to pay for associated delivery of public goods such as biodiversity
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