A win-win for legume mixtures

The inter-relationship between food production and biodiversity is now well established. The ecosystem services provided by the organisms within the environment include, for example, nutrient cycling, pest regulation and pollination, to name but a few. However, perhaps the greatest challenge now facing agricultural production is to find ways of enhancing these ecosystem services, while at the same time increasing food production – particularly in light of food security issues. A range of farm and landscape management options include ‘setting aside’ land for wildlife. However, some proponents argue that such land should be used for food production. While the debate continues, there is no doubt that a large body of scientific evidence from the last three decades highlights the wildlife benefits of organic farming. This article will describe how the Legume LINK project has identified a win-win system for biodiversity conservation and increased productivity through legume-base fertility building. Although this project has focused on organic farming systems, it is of direct relevance to non-organic production, particularly with the increasing interest in legumes across the industry

ExoMol line lists -- LII. Line Lists for the Methylidyne Cation (CH+)

Comprehensive and accurate rovibronic line lists for the X $^{1}\Sigma^{+}$ and A $^{1}\Pi$ states of $^{12}$C$^{1}$H$^{+}$ and $^{13}$C$^{1}$H$^{+}$ which should be applicable up to temperatures of 5000 K are presented. Available empirical potential energy curves and high-level ab initio dipole and transition dipole moment curves are used with the program LEVEL to compute rovibronic energy levels and Einstein $A$ coefficients. $\Lambda$-doubling is incorporated into the energy levels and $A$-coefficients involving the A $^{1}\Pi$ state using an empirical method. For $^{12}$C$^{1}$H$^{+}$, line positions are improved by using both laboratory and astronomical observational spectra as input to the MARVEL procedure. The $^{12}$C$^{1}$H$^{+}$ line list contains 1505 states and 34194 transitions over the frequency range of 0 - 33010 cm$^{-1}$ ($\lambda > 300$ nm). Comparisons with observed astronomical and laboratory spectra give very good agreement. The PYT CH$^{+}$ line lists and partition functions are available from the ExoMol database at www.exomol.com

A4_6 Banana Power

In this paper we have concluded that a Potassium-40 fueled Radioisotope Generator, sourced frombananas, is not a feasible option to power even small common place electrical needs. We havecalculated that to power a 100 W light bulb, a total of 1.1 x 10^17 bananas would be needed,resulting in a spherical fuel cell of radius 15 x 10^3 m, and weighing 1.3 x 10^16 kg

A4_2 Flipping Vehicles

Vehicles sometimes roll over when driving. We investigated whether this was due only to excessive speeding or if other factors were at play. By creating a model comparing bend radius, velocity and angle to the vehicle's centre of mass, we concluded that in most cases other factors relating to the road surface would be involved

A4_5 Solar Propelled Rocket

In this paper we discuss whether it would be feasible to replace the current Soyuz rocket’s Earth launch phase, with the radiation pressure from reflected solar radiation. We find that the mirror would need an area 2.05 × 105 km^2 in an ideal situation. This is deemed too large to be practical

Three lessons from evidence-based medicine and policy: increase transparency, balance inputs and understand power

Evidence-based medicine is often described as the ‘template’ for evidence-based policymaking. EBM has evolved over the last 70 years, and now tends to be methodologically pluralistic, operates through specific structures to promote EBM, and is inclusive of a wide range of stakeholders. These strategies allow EBM practitioners to effectively draw on useful evidence, be transparent, and be inclusive; essentially, to share power. We identify three lessons EBP could learn from EBM. Firstly, to be more transparent about the processes and structures used to find and use evidence. Secondly, to consider how to balance evidence and other interests, and how to assemble the evidence jigsaw. Finally–and this is a lesson for EBM too–that understanding power is vital, and how it shapes how knowledge is produced and used. We suggest that advocates of evidence use, and commentators, should focus on thinking about how the type of problem faced by decision-makers should influence what evidence is produced, sought, and used