“The Pen is Mightier than the Sword”: Popular Ethics in Edo Period Japan

By the end of the Edo period of Japan 1603 1868 the three major religious traditions of Japan each appear to have found formally defined roles within Japanese culture and politics In the mid-19 th century N Sontoku 1787 1858 succinctly summarized his understanding of their more formalized roles as follows Shinto is the way which provides the foundation of the country Confucianism is the way which provides for governing the country and Buddhism is the way which provides for governing one s min

Post-Supersessionism: Introduction, Terminology, Theology

This Special Issue of Religions is dedicated to exploring post-supersessionist readings of New Testament writings [...

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and its receptors in behaviour and neurobiology of adult mice, in the absence of an immune challenge

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a vital component of the immune system and CNS. We previously showed that 3-month-old TNF-α and TNF-α receptor knockout mice had impaired cognition, whilst at 12-months-old mice had better cognition. To extend these findings on possible age-dependent TNF-α effects in the brain, we investigated the behaviour of 6-month-old TNF-α knockout mice and their neurobiological correlates. 6-month-old TNF−/−, TNF-R1−/− and TNF-R2−/− mice were compared to age-matched WT mice and tested for various behaviours. ELISA hippocampal levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and qPCR mRNA levels of Tnfa, Tnfr1, Tnfr2, Il10 and Il1β were measured. TNF-R1−/− and TNF−/− mice were found to have lesser exploratory behaviour than WT mice, while TNF-R1−/− mice displayed better memory than WT and TNF-R2-/− mice. Both TNF−/− and TNF-R2−/− mice exhibited significantly lower immobility on the depression test than WT mice. Additionally, TNF−/− mice expressed significantly lower levels of BDNF than WT mice in the hippocampus while TNF-R1−/− mice displayed significantly lower BDNF levels compared to both WT and TNF-R2−/− mice. TNF-R2−/− mice also displayed significantly higher levels of NGF compared to TNF-R1−/− mice. These results illustrate that TNF-α and its receptors mediate several behavioural phenotypes. Finally, BDNF and NGF levels appear to be regulated by TNF-α and its receptors even under immunologically unchallenged conditions

Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO2

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) is increasing, which increases leaf‐scale photosynthesis and intrinsic water‐use efficiency. These direct responses have the potential to increase plant growth, vegetation biomass, and soil organic matter; transferring carbon from the atmosphere into terrestrial ecosystems (a carbon sink). A substantial global terrestrial carbon sink would slow the rate of [CO2] increase and thus climate change. However, ecosystem CO2‐responses are complex or confounded by concurrent changes in multiple agents of global change and evidence for a [CO2]‐driven terrestrial carbon sink can appear contradictory. Here we synthesise theory and broad, multi‐disciplinary evidence for the effects of increasing [CO2] (iCO2) on the global terrestrial carbon sink. Evidence suggests a substantial increase in global photosynthesis since pre‐industry. Established theory, supported by experiments, indicates that iCO2 is likely responsible for about half of the increase. Global carbon budgeting, atmospheric data, and forest inventories indicate a historical carbon sink, and these apparent iCO2‐responses are high in comparison with experiments and theory. Plant mortality and soil carbon iCO2‐responses are highly uncertain. In conclusion, a range of evidence supports a positive terrestrial carbon sink in response to iCO2, albeit with uncertain magnitude and strong suggestion of a role for additional agents of global change

Indicative Distribution Maps for Ecological Functional Groups - Level 3 of IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology

This dataset includes the original version of the indicative distribution maps and profiles for Ecological Functional Groups - Level 3 of IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology (v2.0). Please refer to Keith et al. (2020). The descriptive profiles provide brief summaries of key ecological traits and processes for each functional group of ecosystems to enable any ecosystem type to be assigned to a group. Maps are indicative of global distribution patterns are not intended to represent fine-scale patterns. The maps show areas of the world containing major (value of 1, coloured red) or minor occurrences (value of 2, coloured yellow) of each ecosystem functional group. Minor occurrences are areas where an ecosystem functional group is scattered in patches within matrices of other ecosystem functional groups or where they occur in substantial areas, but only within a segment of a larger region. Most maps were prepared using a coarse-scale template (e.g. ecoregions), but some were compiled from higher resolution spatial data where available (see details in profiles). Higher resolution mapping is planned in future publications. We emphasise that spatial representation of Ecosystem Functional Groups does not follow higher-order groupings described in respective ecoregion classifications. Consequently, when Ecosystem Functional Groups are aggregated into functional biomes (Level 2 of the Global Ecosystem Typology), spatial patterns may differ from those of biogeographic biomes. Differences reflect the distinctions between functional and biogeographic interpretations of the term, biome