Landscape dynamics and management of wild plant resources in shifting cultivation systems : a case study from a forest ejido in the Maya zone of Quintana Roo, Mexico

Wild plant resources are harvested and managed by people in a variety of land-uses but few studies examine the interactions of landscape dynamics and the use and availability of wild plant resources. I address this question using a case study of common property lands with a history of community forestry and traditional shifting cultivation. Specifically I ask: What is the perceived importance of plant resources obtained in agricultural and forest environments? Have forest and agricultural land-use/land covers changed? How do landscape changes, and in particular shorter fallow times, influence the availability and use of plant resources?The perceived importance of wild plant resources was studied using free-listing and ranking exercises with focus groups of men and women. Remote sensing and interviews served to analyse landscape dynamics (1976-2000) and to identify local forest conservation regulations. The impact of shorter fallow times on the availability of forage and firewood in agricultural fields was assessed by sampling 26 fields derived from short to long fallows, while a household survey served to characterize patterns of firewood collection.Men attributed highest importance to commercial forest products, while resources most valued by women were domestic resources obtained in a variety of environments. High rates of forest retention were observed; conservation was focused on forests with high densities of commercial products. The agricultural zones shifted from a mosaic of diverse successional stages to a homogeneous landscape dominated by younger fallows and shorter fallow periods; these changes led to reductions in the availability of firewood and some forage species. Firewood collection was related to accessibility; areas with the least amount of firewood available (short-fallow cycles and low forest cover) experienced the highest collection pressure.The findings demonstrate that indigenous territories can be very dynamic, even when rates of forest conservation are high, and that changes in land-use and landscape structure have important implications for the availability and use of wild plant resources. A conceptual model linking landscape dynamics to wild plant use is proposed and the significance of the results for community-based conservation initiatives is discussed

Combination of hydrogel nanoparticles and proteomics to reveal secreted proteins associated with decidualization of human uterine stromal cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Identification of secreted proteins of low abundance is often limited by abundant and high molecular weight (MW) proteins. We have optimised a procedure to overcome this limitation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Low MW proteins in the conditioned media of cultured cells were first captured using dual-size exclusion/affinity hydrogel nanoparticles and their identities were then revealed by proteomics.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This technique enables the analysis of secreted proteins of cultured cells low MW and low abundance.</p

“It doesn\u27t need to be equitable”: Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of Gender Equity

Despite federal legislation (e.g., Title IX), gender equity has yet to be achieved, specifically within sport spaces. Although nearly half (47%) of NCAA (2022) Division I athletes are women, men are viewed as superior athletes and often given more opportunities and resources than their female counterparts (Coakley, 2016). Therefore, we investigated NCAA Division I college athletes’ perceptions of gender equity. Using convenience sampling, 4 female and 4 male college athletes participated in semi-structured interviews. The data from the interviews divulged 3 themes: (not) discriminating, opportunity and fairness, and lack of exposure. In their own words, the participants revealed that despite efforts to enhance opportunities for women through collegiate sport participation, women are still at a disadvantage in collegiate sports. Specifically, women were seen being disadvantaged in the areas of media coverage, amenities, and equipment. All of the participants also described that football received exorbitant resources in comparison to all other sports. In fact, all non-football athletes felt inferior to football, with some participants even using football to justify inequitable conditions. The results of this study can assist athletic departments in better serving all athletes through equitable means, ensuring this population feels valued

He\u27s an Asshole : Power 5 College Football Athletes Navigating a Shady Coaching Transition

Head coaches play a crucial role in shaping both athletes’ athletic experiences and the complex team system. Consequently, coaching transitions have a tremendous effect on college athletes. Through the lens of transition theory, the purpose of this case study was to investigate the effect of multiple head coaching changes on NCAA Division I Power Five football athletes. Eight football athletes completed a 27- item open-ended questionnaire. Data analysis revealed three explicit, meaningful themes: support, achievement, and consistency. This study strives to assist athletic administrators and coaches in becoming increasingly aware of the potential impact that these abrupt coaching transitions can have on the athlete experience. Additionally, through the voices of the participants, this study attempts to assist college athletes in navigating a coaching transition

Seeding diversity : enhancing farmers’ access to crop varieties and quality planting materials in Uganda’s seed systems

Ensuring food and livelihood security in rural areas relies heavily on crop diversity, yet farmers often struggle to access suitable seeds and planting materials. This study maps and characterizes Uganda’s seed systems to identify approaches to enhance farmers’ access to seeds of well-adapted and preferred varieties. Based on qualitative data from key informant interviews (KIIs) with a range of actors involved in the seed system, focus group discussions (FGDs) with women and men farmers, document analysis, and stakeholder workshops, this report examines the country’s seed systems from the local to the national level focusing on key seed system functions and outcomes

Ability of GHTD-amide and analogs to enhance insulin activity through zinc chelation and dispersal of insulin oligomers

GHTD-amide is a tetrapeptide originally isolated from human urine that has hypoglycemic activity. Insulin occurs in secretory granules of beta cells as zinc-stabilized hexamers and must disperse to monomeric form in order to bind to its receptor. The aim of this study was to identify whether GHTD-amide and an analog called ISF402 (VHTD-amide) reduce blood glucose through enhancement of insulin activity by dispersing oligomers of insulin. Peptides containing the HTD-amide sequence and a free α-amino group were optimal at binding Zn2+ and adopting secondary structure in the presence of Zn2+. Binding was concentration dependent and resulted in a 1:1 Zn:peptide complex. In vitro the tetrapeptides dispersed hexameric insulin to dimers and monomers. GHTD-amide and ISF402 potentiated the activity of hexameric insulin when co-injected into insulin resistant Zucker rats. Injection of peptides with insulin caused reductions in blood glucose and C-peptide significantly larger than achieved with insulin alone, and serum insulin time profiles were also altered consistent with a reduced clearance or enhanced dispersal of the injected insulin. Insulin potentiation by ISF402 was reduced when lispro insulin, which does not form zinc-stabilized hexamers, was used in place of hexameric zinc insulin. In conclusion, GHTD-amide and ISF402 are zinc binding peptides that disperse hexameric insulin in vitro, and potentiate the activity of hexameric insulin more so than monomeric lispro insulin. These results suggest that dispersal of hexameric insulin through chelation of Zn2+ contributes to the hypoglycemic activity of these tetrapeptides. Crown Copyright © 2009

Le vivre ensemble en France : notion inclusive ou exclusive pour les femmes musulmanes ?

Peu de temps après les dernières constatations du Comité des droits de l’Homme des Nations concernant l’affaire dite « Babyloup », la France est encore une fois pointée du doigt par le comité onusien pour sa législation en matière de port du voile. En effet, dans ses constatations récentes du 23 Octobre 2018 sur la loi du 11 Octobre 2010 interdisant la dissimulation du visage dans l’espace public, le Comité des droits de l’Homme des nations unis fustige très sévèrement la loi française. Saisi par deux plaignantes s’estimant victimes de cette législation, le comité considère que cette loi n’est pas nécessaire et ne poursuit pas un but légitime, d’autant plus qu’elle est fondée sur des justifications abstraites et générales, tels que la notion de « vivre ensemble ». Cette notion est d’ailleurs particulièrement critiquée par le Comité. Appréciant les effets concrets de la loi du 11 Octobre 2010, le comité énonce que, loin de favoriser le vivre ensemble, la loi conduit au contraire à marginaliser les femmes musulmanes en France

Diet-induced obesity induces transcriptomic changes in neuroimmunometabolic-related genes in the striatum and olfactory bulb

The incidence of obesity has markedly increased globally over the last several decades and is believed to be associated with the easier availability of energy-dense foods, including high-fat foods. The reinforcing hedonic properties of high-fat foods, including olfactory cues, activate reward centers in the brain, motivating eating behavior. Thus, there is a growing interest in the understanding of the genetic changes that occur in the brain that are associated with obesity and eating behavior. This growing interest has paralleled advances in genomic methods that enable transcriptomic-wide analyses. Here, we examined the transcriptomic-level differences in the olfactory bulb and striatum, regions of the brain associated with olfaction and hedonic food-seeking, respectively, in high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. To isolate the dietary effects from obesity, we also examined transcriptomic changes in normal-chow-fed and limited-HFD-fed groups, with the latter being pair-fed with an HFD isocaloric to the consumption of the normal-chow-fed mice. Using RNA sequencing, we identified 274 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the striatum and 11 in the olfactory bulb of ad libitum HFD-fed mice compared to the chow-fed group, and thirty-eight DEGs in the striatum between the ad libitum HFD and limited-HFD-fed groups. The DEGs in both tissues were associated with inflammation and immune-related pathways, including oxidative stress and immune function, and with mitochondrial dysfunction and reward pathways in the striatum. These results shed light on potential obesity-associated genes in these regions of the brain