What should the student-centered teacher of biochemistry and molecular biology be aware of?

[Excerpt] In BAMBED’s 2008 closing issue, Harold White highlights the importance of putting ‘‘ourselves in the students’ place’’. In fact, the importance of centering university-level teaching around students is the theme of entire books, guidelines, and recommendations from scientific societies

Carbon sequestration potential of second-growth forest regeneration in the Latin American tropics

Regrowth of tropical secondary forests following complete or nearly complete removal of forest vegetation actively stores carbon in aboveground biomass, partially counterbalancing carbon emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, burning of fossil fuels, and other anthropogenic sources. We estimate the age and spatial extent of lowland second-growth forests in the Latin American tropics and model their potential aboveground carbon accumulation over four decades. Our model shows that, in 2008, second-growth forests (1 to 60 years old) covered 2.4 million km2 of land (28.1%of the total study area).Over 40 years, these lands can potentially accumulate a total aboveground carbon stock of 8.48 Pg C (petagrams of carbon) in aboveground biomass via low-cost natural regeneration or assisted regeneration, corresponding to a total CO2 sequestration of 31.09 Pg CO2. This total is equivalent to carbon emissions from fossil fuel use and industrial processes in all of Latin America and the Caribbean from1993 to 2014. Ten countries account for 95% of this carbon storage potential, led by Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. We model future land-use scenarios to guide national carbon mitigation policies. Permitting natural regeneration on 40% of lowland pastures potentially stores an additional 2.0 Pg C over 40 years. Our study provides information and maps to guide national-level forest-based carbon mitigation plans on the basis of estimated rates of natural regeneration and pasture abandonment. Coupled with avoided deforestation and sustainable forestmanagement, natural regeneration of second-growth forests provides a low-costmechanism that yields a high carbon sequestration potential with multiple benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem services. © 2016 The Authors

Psychosocial functioning of adolescents in residential care: the mediator and moderator role of socio-cognitive, relational and individual variables

Na presente tese, o ajustamento dos jovens é explorado considerando os problemas psicológicos e o bem-estar, e integrando factores explicativos de natureza diversa, nomeadamente, individuais, socio-cognitivos, relacionais, e socio-ecológicos. A literatura com jovens acolhidos institucionalmente tem-se focado mais na psicopatologia e menos no bem-estar. Adicionalmente, mais evidência é necessária considerando o papel do mau trato prévio no ajustamento, e especificamente, através de estudos longitudinais. Finalmente, o foco tem sido no ajustamento a partir de uma perspectiva desenvolvimental, não tendo sido integrados modelos da psicologia social ou do ambiente. Para responder a estes problemas da literatura, foram desenvolvidos três estudos. O primeiro (longitudinal; quantitativo) revelou diferentes resultados na relação entre mau trato prévio e psicopatologia atual, em função do informante (jovens vs educadores). Foram ainda analisadas e discutidas um conjunto de variáveis individuais e da história de acolhimento. A evolução da psicopatologia durante um ano de acolhimento foi também analisada e foram identificados moderadores individuais. O segundo estudo (transversal; qualitativo) descreveu um modelo enraizado centrado na relação entre direitos percebidos e dificuldades psicológicas. Este modelo foi substanciado no terceiro estudo (transversal; quantitativo), tendo-se observado efeitos de moderação e mediação de variáveis socio-cognitivas e relacionais. A relação entre direitos e bem-estar psicológico foi também explorada, considerando-se o papel mediador da vinculação ao lugar. Os resultados reforçam o papel positivo destas variáveis socio-ecológicas no bem-estar psicológico. Finalmente, um modelo de saúde mental de dois fatores foi testado, reforçando a necessidade de considerar simultaneamente dificuldades psicológicas e bem-estar na análise do ajustamento dos jovens.In the present thesis, youth’s adjustment is explored considering psychological problems and well-being, integrating diverse explanatory factors, namely, individual, socio-cognitive, relational and socio-ecological. Literature with youth in residential care tends to be more focused on psychopathology than on well-being. Also, more evidence is needed on the role of previous maltreatment on adjustment, and specifically, through longitudinal studies. Finally, the focus has been mainly on a developmental perspective of adjustment and models from the social or environmental psychology have not been integrated. To address these research problems, three studies were developed. The first study (longitudinal; quantitative) provided different findings on the relationship between previous maltreatment and current psychopathology, according to the informant (youth vs educators). In addition, a set of individual and placement history variables were analyzed and discussed. Psychopathology progresses across one year in care were also examined and individual moderators were found. The second study (cross-sectional; qualitative) described a grounded model on the relationship between perceived rights and psychological difficulties. This model was substantiated in the third study (cross-sectional; quantitative), which showed evidence about the moderator and mediator effects of socio-cognitive and relational variables. The relationship between rights perceptions and psychological well-being was also explored, considering the mediator role of place attachment. The results highlight the positive role of these socio-ecological variables on the psychological well-being. Finally, a dual-factor model of mental health was tested underpinning the need to consider together psychological difficulties and well-being in the youth’ adjustment analysis

Psicothema

Resumen tomado de la publicaciónAntecedentes: a pesar de los significativos avances científicos en la literatura del apego al lugar, no existen instrumentos específicamente desarrollados o adaptados para el acogimiento residencial. Método: 410 adolescentes (11-18 años) participaron en este estudio. La escala de apego al lugar evalúa cinco dimensiones: Identidad al lugar, Dependencia al lugar, Vinculación institucional, Vinculación a cuidadores y Vinculación a amigos. El análisis de datos incluyó estadística descriptiva, validez de contenido, validez de constructo (análisis factorial confirmatorio), validez concurrente con la correlación con la satisfacción con la vida y con la institución, y evidencias de fiabilidad. La relación con las características individuales y duración del acogimiento también fue verificada. Resultados: el análisis de validez de contenido reveló que más de la mitad de los miembros del panel perciben todos los ítems como relevantes para evaluar el constructo en acogimiento residencial. La estructura con cinco dimensiones reveló buen ajuste estadístico y se encontraron evidencias de validez concurrente con correlaciones significativas con la satisfacción con la vida y con la institución. Se encontraron valores aceptables de consistencia interna, y fueran encontradas diferencias específicas de género. Conclusiones: las propiedades psicométricas preliminares de esta escala sugieren su potencial para ser utilizado con jóvenes en acogimiento residencialUniversidad de Oviedo. Biblioteca de Psicología; Plaza Feijoo, s/n.; 33003 Oviedo; Tel. +34985104146; Fax +34985104126; [email protected]

Data from: Legume abundance along successional and rainfall gradients in neotropical forests

Data from: Legume Abundance Along Successional And Rainfall Gradients In Neotropical ForestsThis database is the product of the 2ndFOR collaborative research network on secondary forests. The database contains total basal area data (in m2 ha-1) of legume trees (Leguminosae) for 1207 secondary forest plots differing in time since abandonment. The plots belong to different chonosequence studies. For a description of the database, see Gei et al. 2018. Legume Abundance Along Successional And Rainfall Gradients In Neotropical Forests. Nature Ecology and Evolution. The file Legume basal area 2ndFOR data.csv contains the following variables: Chronosequence: name of the chronosequence site Age: age of the plot (in years), OG indicates old-growth forest of unknown age LBA: total basal area of legume trees (Leguminosae) of the plot in m2 ha-1 Reference: a citation for the chronosequence study, if available PI/contact person: name(s) of the principal investigator(s) or contact person(s) for the chronosequence study.Legume basal area 2ndFOR data.csv,The nutrient demands of regrowing tropical forests are partly satisfied by nitrogen (N)-fixing legume trees, but our understanding of the abundance of those species is biased towards wet tropical regions. Here we show how the abundance of Leguminosae is affected by both recovery from disturbance and large-scale rainfall gradients through a synthesis of forest-inventory plots from a network of 42 Neotropical forest chronosequences. During the first three decades of natural forest regeneration, legume basal area is twice as high in dry compared to wet secondary forests. The tremendous ecological success of legumes in recently disturbed, water-limited forests is likely related to both their reduced leaflet size and ability to fix N2, which together enhance legume drought tolerance and water-use efficiency. Earth system models should incorporate these large-scale successional and climatic patterns of legume dominance to provide more accurate estimates of the maximum potential for natural N fixation across tropical forests

Data from: Legume Abundance Along Successional And Rainfall Gradients In Neotropical Forests

This database is the product of the 2ndFOR collaborative research network on secondary forests. The database contains total basal area data (in m2 ha-1) of legume trees (Leguminosae) for 1207 secondary forest plots differing in time since abandonment. The plots belong to different chonosequence studies. For a description of the database, see Gei et al. 2018. Legume Abundance Along Successional And Rainfall Gradients In Neotropical Forests. Nature Ecology and Evolution. The file "Legume basal area 2ndFOR data.csv" contains the following variables: Chronosequence: name of the chronosequence site Age: age of the plot (in years), "OG" indicates old-growth forest of unknown age LBA: total basal area of legume trees (Leguminosae) of the plot in m2 ha-1 Reference: a citation for the chronosequence study, if available PI/contact person: name(s) of the principal investigator(s) or contact person(s) for the chronosequence study

Data from: Legume abundance along successional and rainfall gradients in neotropical forests

The nutrient demands of regrowing tropical forests are partly satisfied by nitrogen (N)-fixing legume trees, but our understanding of the abundance of those species is biased towards wet tropical regions. Here we show how the abundance of Leguminosae is affected by both recovery from disturbance and large-scale rainfall gradients through a synthesis of forest-inventory plots from a network of 42 Neotropical forest chronosequences. During the first three decades of natural forest regeneration, legume basal area is twice as high in dry compared to wet secondary forests. The tremendous ecological success of legumes in recently disturbed, water-limited forests is likely related to both their reduced leaflet size and ability to fix N2, which together enhance legume drought tolerance and water-use efficiency. Earth system models should incorporate these large-scale successional and climatic patterns of legume dominance to provide more accurate estimates of the maximum potential for natural N fixation across tropical forests

Legume abundance along successional and rainfall gradients in Neotropical forests.

The nutrient demands of regrowing tropical forests are partly satisfied by nitrogen-fixing legume trees, but our understanding of the abundance of those species is biased towards wet tropical regions. Here we show how the abundance of Leguminosae is affected by both recovery from disturbance and large-scale rainfall gradients through a synthesis of forest inventory plots from a network of 42 Neotropical forest chronosequences. During the first three decades of natural forest regeneration, legume basal area is twice as high in dry compared with wet secondary forests. The tremendous ecological success of legumes in recently disturbed, water-limited forests is likely to be related to both their reduced leaflet size and ability to fix N2, which together enhance legume drought tolerance and water-use efficiency. Earth system models should incorporate these large-scale successional and climatic patterns of legume dominance to provide more accurate estimates of the maximum potential for natural nitrogen fixation across tropical forests