Result-oriented Measures for Biodiversity in Mountain Farming - A Policy Handbook

The handbook includes: - An introduction to result-oriented measures - An overview of the advantages and disadvantages of result-oriented measures - Specific recommendations for the design, implementation and governance of resultoriented measures for biodiversity in mountain farming - Examples of result-oriented measures that have been implemente

Result-oriented Measures for Biodiversity in Mountain Farming. A Policy Handbook

International audienceThis handbook is based on the results, reports, deliverables and user fora of a project entitled ‘Merit based income from sustainable land management in mountain farming’ (MERIT). This research was carried out under the RURAGRI programme ; an ERA-NET supported by the European Commission and national governmental funding bodies under the 7th EU Framework research Programme (FP 7, CA 235175).This handbook is targeted at policy makers from governmental bodies, public authorities, farmers’ associations as well as other private or public organizations involved and interested in the development and implementation of agri-environmental policies. It provides information about the implementation of result-oriented agri-environmental measures, a relatively new approach of preserving, enhancing and supporting biodiversity on agricultural areas: here, in the context of meadows and pastures and other habitats and landscape elements in mountain regions in Europe. The handbook provides policy recommendations for the effective design, implementation and governance of such measures that can be adopted by public bodies (governments, other responsible administrative bodies) as well as private organisations (NGOs or food chain managers)

Result-oriented Measures for Biodiversity in Mountain Farming. A Policy Handbook

International audienceThis handbook is based on the results, reports, deliverables and user fora of a project entitled ‘Merit based income from sustainable land management in mountain farming’ (MERIT). This research was carried out under the RURAGRI programme ; an ERA-NET supported by the European Commission and national governmental funding bodies under the 7th EU Framework research Programme (FP 7, CA 235175).This handbook is targeted at policy makers from governmental bodies, public authorities, farmers’ associations as well as other private or public organizations involved and interested in the development and implementation of agri-environmental policies. It provides information about the implementation of result-oriented agri-environmental measures, a relatively new approach of preserving, enhancing and supporting biodiversity on agricultural areas: here, in the context of meadows and pastures and other habitats and landscape elements in mountain regions in Europe. The handbook provides policy recommendations for the effective design, implementation and governance of such measures that can be adopted by public bodies (governments, other responsible administrative bodies) as well as private organisations (NGOs or food chain managers)

Enhancing neuroimaging genetics through meta-analysis for Tourette syndrome (ENIGMA-TS): A worldwide platform for collaboration

Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics, and high-comorbidity rates with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety disorders (AXDs) are among the most prevalent TS comorbidities. To date, studies on TS brain structure and function have been limited in size with efforts mostly fragmented. This leads to low-statistical power, discordant results due to differences in approaches, and hinders the ability to stratify patients according to clinical parameters and investigate comorbidity patterns. Here, we present the scientific premise, perspectives, and key goals that have motivated the establishment of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis for TS (ENIGMA-TS) working group. The ENIGMA-TS working group is an international collaborative effort bringing together a large network of investigators who aim to understand brain structure and function in TS and dissect the underlying neurobiology that leads to observed comorbidity patterns and clinical heterogeneity. Previously collected TS neuroimaging data will be analyzed jointly and integrated with TS genomic data, as well as equivalently large and already existing studies of highly comorbid OCD, ADHD, ASD, MDD, and AXD. Our work highlights the power of collaborative efforts and transdiagnostic approaches, and points to the existence of different TS subtypes. ENIGMA-TS will offer large-scale, high-powered studies that will lead to important insights toward understanding brain structure and function and genetic effects in TS and related disorders, and the identification of biomarkers that could help inform improved clinical practice

Confirmation of the topology of the Wendelstein 7-X magnetic field to better than 1:100,000

Fusion energy research has in the past 40 years focused primarily on the tokamak concept, but recent advances in plasma theory and computational power have led to renewed interest in stellarators. The largest and most sophisticated stellarator in the world, Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), has just started operation, with the aim to show that the earlier weaknesses of this concept have been addressed successfully, and that the intrinsic advantages of the concept persist, also at plasma parameters approaching those of a future fusion power plant. Here we show the first physics results, obtained before plasma operation: that the carefully tailored topology of nested magnetic surfaces needed for good confinement is realized, and that the measured deviations are smaller than one part in 100,000. This is a significant step forward in stellarator research, since it shows that the complicated and delicate magnetic topology can be created and verified with the required accuracy