The role of government in agricultural innovation: Lessons from Bolivia

"Many governments in developing countries attempt to foster agricultural development and innovation by setting up funding facilities, extension programs, and research centers and by subsidizing private-sector and farm activities through fiscal measures. However, when trying to manage complex innovation processes involving many and different actors, governments sometimes find it difficult to design effective interventions and therefore end up supporting and managing only the public research and extension organizations that directly depend upon them. With the aid of various donors, Bolivia introduced a scheme in 2001—the Bolivian Agricultural Technology System (SIBTA)—by which government support to agricultural research and extension was partly delegated to regional semiautonomous foundations. This brief presents the results of a study on the role of the Bolivian government in guiding and managing SIBTA. The study found that despite a number of weaknesses related to the design of the system and the government's limited commitment, the regional foundations have been able to effectively identify the demands of small farmers, set priorities, and provide transparency and accountability with regard to funding and decisionmaking. It suggests that instead of micromanaging such foundations, the government should focus on the big picture and conduct policy analysis and strategic planning to identify opportunities for agricultural innovation and set up incentive mechanisms and information networks that support the many actors involved in innovation processes." from textAgricultural innovations, Private sector, Technological innovations, Agricultural research, Agricultural development, stakeholders, Farmers, Producer organizations, Extension,

El rol gubernamental en el proceso de innovación agropecuaria: La experiencia de Bolivia

"Muchos gobiernos en países en desarrollo intentan estimular el crecimiento y la innovación agropecuaria estableciendo entidades de financiamiento, programas de extensión y centros de investigación pública, así como subvencionando actividades agrícolas y al sector privado por medio de medidas fiscales. Sin embargo, al tratar de gestionar procesos complejos de innovación, donde participan múltiples y diversos actores, en ocasiones los gobiernos encuentran difícil definir intervenciones eficaces y, en consecuencia, acaban apoyando y gestionando únicamente las entidades de investigación y extensión públicas que dependen directamente de ellos. Gracias a la colaboración de una diversidad de donantes, en el año 2001 Bolivia introdujo un novedoso sistema —el Sistema Boliviano de Tecnología Agropecuaria (SIBTA) — mediante el cual el apoyo gubernamental a la investigación y la extensión agropecuaria se delegó parcialmente a fundaciones regionales semiautónomas. Esta síntesis presenta los resultados de un estudio sobre el rol desempeñado por el gobierno boliviano en la definición de los lineamientos y la administración del SIBTA. En el estudio se determinó que, a pesar de algunas debilidades en cuanto al diseño del sistema y al limitado compromiso del gobierno, las fundaciones regionales han logrado identificar eficazmente las demandas de los pequeños productores, establecer prioridades y trabajar con transparencia y responsabilidad en los aspectos de financiamiento y toma de decisiones. En consecuencia, se sugiere que, en lugar de microgestionar dichas fundaciones, el gobierno concentre sus esfuerzos en considerar el panorama completo, realizando los análisis de políticas y la planificación estratégica que permitan identificar oportunidades para la innovación agropecuaria, y estableciendo esquemas de incentivos y redes de información que respalden a los muchos actores que toman parte en los procesos de innovación." from textAgricultural innovations, Private sector, Technological innovations, Agricultural research, Agricultural development, stakeholders, Farmers, Producer organizations, Extension,

Effect of N-fertilization, fungicide treatment, seed density and abiotic stress factors on the total ß-glucan content of six-rowed winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

In Germany, the first six-rowed waxy winter barley cultivar (cv.) `Waxyma` was registered in 2008. Besides changes in starch composition, waxy barley is rich in ß-glucans offering new applications in the food industry as ß-glucans reduce the blood cholesterol level. To investigate the stability of the ß-glucan content, cv. `Waxyma`, three waxy breeding lines and the non-waxy cv. `Lomerit` were grown in field trials, shelter-, green house- and growth chamber experiments. Besides this, `Waxyma` was grown in field trials at varying nitrogen levels and different seed rates, both with and without fungicide treatment. Waxyma showed a significant increase of the ß-glucan content under optimal nitrogen fertilization and fungicide treatment, but the influence of the seed density was not significant. Under shelter and greenhouse conditions the influence of drought stress during grain filling was analyzed. The increase of the ß-glucan content under drought stress in the shelter and under rising temperatures in growth chambers was only significant for the non waxy cv. `Lomerit` while no influence of drought stress was  observed under green house conditions.  In summary the high ß-glucan content of cv. `Waxyma` seems to be relatively stable with respect to growing conditions making it a suitable raw material for human nutrition

Multiformin-Type Azaphilones Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Binding to ACE2 Receptor

Protein microarray screenings identified fungal natural products from the azaphilone family as potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding to host ACE2 receptors. Cohaerin F, as the most potent substance from the cohaerin group, led to more than 50% less binding of ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. A survey for structurally related azaphilones yielded the structure elucidation of six new multiformins E–J (10–15) and the revision of the stereochemistry of the multiformins. Cohaerin and multiformin azaphilones (1–5, 8, 12) were assessed for their activity in a cell-based infection assay. Calu-3 cells expressing human ACE2 receptor showed more than 75% and 50% less infection by SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped lentivirus particles after treatment with cohaerin C (1) and cohaerin F (4), respectively. Multiformin C (8) and G (12) that nearly abolished the infection of cells. Our data show that multiformin-type azaphilones prevent the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the cell entry receptor ACE2

Wat zien ik daar?

Wat zien ik daar? Een onderzoek naar het aanleren van de vaardigheden ordenen en determineren. Dit artikel beschrijft een onderzoek naar de verschillen in gebruikte didactiek tussen de Bilthovense scholen De Werkplaats Kindergemeenschap en Het Nieuwe Lyceum bij het aanleren van de vaardigheden “ordenen” en “determineren” in het eerste leerjaar. Als leidraad wordt op beide scholen de methode Biologie voor jou (Malmberg) gebruikt. De basis van het onderzoek is de vraag of, en hoe beide schoolsystemen en de werkwijzen van de verschillende docenten van invloed zijn op dit aanleren. Het onderzoek heeft geleid tot een aantal algemene aanbevelingen die op beide scholen van toepassing zijn

Interactive dance choreography assistance

Creative support for the performing arts is prevalent in many fields, however, for the art of dance, automated tools supporting creativity have been scarce. In this research, we describe ongoing research into (semi)automatic automated creative choreography support. Based on state-of-the-art and a survey among 54 choreographers we establish functionalities and requirements for a choreography assistance tool, including the semantic levels at which it should operate and communicate with the end-users. We describe a user study with a prototype tool which presents choreography alternatives using various simple strategies in three dance styles. The results show that the needs for such a tool vary based on the dance discipline. In a second user study, we investigate various methods of presenting choreography variations. Here, we evaluate four presentation methods: textual descriptions, 2D animations, 3D animations and auditory instructions in two different dance styles. The outcome of the expert survey shows that the tool is effective in communicating the variations to the experts and that they express a preference for 3D animations. Based on these results, we propose a design for an interactive dance choreography assistant tool

Екслібриси Станіслава Шодуара на книжках родового бібліотечного зібрання Шодуарів у фондах НБУВ

Проаналізовано екслібриси з рукописно-книжкового зібрання найвідомішого представника роду баронів Шодуарів – Станіслава Шодуара, зокрема, здійснений їх книгознавчий та мистецтвознавчий аналіз, визначено кількість та різновиди екслібрисів Станіслава Шодуара у різні періоди, атрибутовано авторство, встановлено роль екслібрисів у контексті формування та розвитку зібрання першої половини ХІХ ст.The author performs the analysis of the bookplates from the manuscript and book collection of the most famous member of the Chaudoir family – Stanislav Chaudoir. In particular, their bibliological and art analysis is carried out, the number and kinds of Chaudoir’s bookplates are defined, the authorship is attributed, the role of bookplates in the context of formation and growth of the collection if the 1st half of the 19th century is ascertained