Pilgrims’ Progress: Faculty and University Factors in Graduate Student Integration of Faith and Learning

Graduate students\u27 perspectives on integration of faith and profession were investigated using item response to identify underlying constructs. Students (N = 595) from various professions and four universities were sampled. Three factors were supported as separate and important constructs for students. The first two factors were drawn from Sorenson\u27s research on attachment theory, faculty as bulwark of the faith versus fellow sojourner and faculty as emotionally transparent versus emotionally distant. A new domain of integration, environmental factors such as class Scripture reading, was supported as a unique factor. An examination of diversity variables gave preliminary evidence that females and students of color may see emotional transparency and environmental factors as more important in Christian integration than other students

State Level Maize Days

Northwest India has become a major challenge owing to faster depletion of groundwater table, stagnating or declining productivity growth, degrading soil health and environmental quality including air pollution and public health concerns, and diminishing farm profitability. Therefore, diversification of rice crop is the need of hour to sustain the declining natural resources to ensure food security in long-run in Punjab and Haryana. To save earth and to save health, paddy is to be replaced with maize. Currently this coarse grain is cultivated in about 10.2 million ha in India. The increasing interest of the consumers in nutritionally enriched products and rising demand as poultry feed, which accounts 47% of total maize consumption, are the driving forces behind increasing consumption of maize in the country. State Levels Maize Days organized this year in Punjab and Hariyana states of northwest India has gained in stature and popularity on account of the focus on covering very relevant participation from right stakeholders and covering topical issues. The programmes were focused on solutions that will help increase maize productivity by building efficiencies in entire chain and thus generating higher value for the farmers. Scientists and private partners to convince farmers with credible solution to enhance credibility by giving a proof of the technology at the farmers’ field. Timely availability of the input is critical for farmers and providing good market is essential for realisation of diversification with maize replacing rice. In these programmes, knowledge on improved agronomic production technologies and agro-inputs such as seeds of improved maize varieties, herbicides, and pesticides to control fall armyworm have been distributed to the farmers

Climate-smart agricultural practices influence the fungal communities and soil properties under major agri-food systems

Fungal communities in agricultural soils are assumed to be affected by climate, weather, and anthropogenic activities, and magnitude of their effect depends on the agricultural activities. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of the portfolio of management practices on fungal communities and soil physical–chemical properties. The study comprised different climate-smart agriculture (CSA)-based management scenarios (Sc) established on the principles of conservation agriculture (CA), namely, ScI is conventional tillage-based rice–wheat rotation, ScII is partial CA-based rice–wheat–mungbean, ScIII is partial CSA-based rice–wheat–mungbean, ScIV is partial CSA-based maize–wheat–mungbean, and ScV and ScVI are CSA-based scenarios and similar to ScIII and ScIV, respectively, except for fertigation method. All the scenarios were flood irrigated except the ScV and ScVI where water and nitrogen were given through subsurface drip irrigation. Soils of these scenarios were collected from 0 to 15 cm depth and analyzed by Illumina paired-end sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) for the study of fungal community composition. Analysis of 5 million processed sequences showed a higher Shannon diversity index of 1.47 times and a Simpson index of 1.12 times in maize-based CSA scenarios (ScIV and ScVI) compared with rice-based CSA scenarios (ScIII and ScV). Seven phyla were present in all the scenarios, where Ascomycota was the most abundant phyla and it was followed by Basidiomycota and Zygomycota. Ascomycota was found more abundant in rice-based CSA scenarios as compared to maize-based CSA scenarios. Soil organic carbon and nitrogen were found to be 1.62 and 1.25 times higher in CSA scenarios compared with other scenarios. Bulk density was found highest in farmers' practice (Sc1); however, mean weight diameter and water-stable aggregates were found lowest in ScI. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were found better under CSA-based practices, which also increased the wheat grain yield by 12.5% and system yield by 18.8%. These results indicate that bundling/layering of smart agricultural practices over farmers' practices has tremendous effects on soil properties, and hence play an important role in sustaining soil quality/health

An evaluation framework to determine the impact of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve and the activities of the Lyme Bay Consultative Committee on ecosystem services and human wellbeing.

This research evaluates the social and economic impact of the management measures that form the Lyme Bay Reserve and the partnership activities of the Lyme Bay Consultative Committee (LBCC) on Lyme Bay resource users. For the purpose of this evaluation it is the combination of the 2008 Statutory Instrument (SI) closure and the more recently designated Site of Community Interest (SCI) that form the boundary of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve, termed as the Lyme Bay Reserve. Data is analysed between 2005 and 2015. The results show that the habitats and species of Lyme Bay interact to support the delivery of several ecosystem processes (e.g. primary and secondary production, formation of species habitat) and the realisation of ecosystem services (e.g. fish for food). Overall it is clear that the closure of the area to mobile fishing gear has benefitted static gear fishermen by separating spatial conflict between gear types. The closure has enabled reef habitats to recover which in turn has supported increased catches of some reef associated species e.g. scallops. Further management and support measures agreed through the LBCC have clearly been successful in improving the well-being for those fishermen directly involved in the project. This research represents collaboration between Plymouth University, Exeter University, The Blue Marine Foundation and CEFAS. Input into the evaluation was provided by the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), the Southern IFCA, local fishermen and fishery representatives

Conservation Agriculture: Gateway for Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Systems

The Conservation Agriculture (CA) practices with increased acceptance across the globe are being considered as harbinger for sustainable intensification of smallholder production systems. Its positive impact on natural resources, and adaptation to and mitigation of climate change effects are widely acknowledged. In developing world specially Asia and Africa, CA is a relatively new introduction and hence capacity development is vital for development, adaptation and scaling CA based technologies for impact at scale on smallholder farmers in these regions. The training objectives were centered on understanding Conservation Agriculture (CA) and its applications in Asia and Africa. The key findings from the training were that participants need more collaboration with educational institutions and stakeholders when it comes to new knowledge and information, that they would need to re-visit the research, education, and extension linkages vis-à-vis the CA practices, and that the information gained during the course had to cascade to students and the farming community. The participants were pleased that the CA practices was out and that they could begin to explore different areas they could implement on-site in their contexts. Furthermore, participants noted that the CA practices was a useful technology to their work situations. Finally, the participants stated that the partnerships they had with the different experts represented by the different institutions was paramount to the subsequent programs and activities, that would follow the CA practices

Designing CS Farming Systems towards Carbon-Neutral Sustainable Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India

In the South India region, the inefficient use and mismanagement of production resources, especially land, water, energy and agro-chemicals, have vastly impacted health of the natural resource base resulting into global warming led climatic variability. Several climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) developed, refined and tested by several agencies and research organizations, demonstrated improved productivity, resilience and adaptive capacity for different commodities and agro-ecological zones within the region. However, the perception of farmers on climate vulnerability and responses of the CSAPs vary with bio-physical and socio-economic diversity of farm households. The lack of integration of bio-physical and socio-economic knowledge in technology targeting, limits the large-scale adoption by diaspora of farmers specially marginalized and women farmers. Therefore, development and targeting portfolios of CSAPs require in-depth understanding of the diversity of farming practices, and assessment of various interventions on the adaptive capacity of farming community as well as food security. Designing and applying adapted household survey to understand the diversity of farming systems in each location. The major cropping systems in Andhra Pardesh and Telanana, India are maize-maize and rice-maize where the farmer’s field size is very small comparatively. Conducted meetings and trainings with group of farmers in selected villages through demonstration of different interventions and distributed required implements to small holding farmers, trained them about LCC, GS and MNBS by experts. Also visited progressive farmers’ field and planned about the rabi sowing crop and shared to the data collection sheet and urea calculator

Trends in left ventricular assist device use and outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries, 2004–2011

Objective: To characterise the trends in the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation rates and outcomes between 2004 and 2011 in the Medicare population. Since the approval of the HeartMate II in 2008, the use of LVADs has steadily climbed. Given the increase in LVAD use, issues around discharge disposition, post-implant hospitalisations and costs require further understanding. Methods: We examined LVAD implantation rates and short-term and long-term outcomes among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalised for LVAD implantation. We also conducted analyses among survivors 1-year post-discharge to examine rehospitalisation rates. Lastly, we reported Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) payments for both index hospitalisation and rehospitalisations 1 year post-discharge. Results: A total of 2152 LVAD implantations were performed with numbers increasing from 107 in 2004 to 612 in 2011. The 30-day mortality rate decreased from 52% to 9%, and 1-year mortality rate decreased from 69% to 31%. We observed no change in overall length of stay, but post-procedure length of stay increased. We also found an increase in home discharge dispositions from 26% to 53%. Between 2004 and 2010, the rehospitalisation rate increased and the number of hospital days decreased. The adjusted CMS payment for the index hospitalisation increased from $188 789 to$225 697 over time but decreased for rehospitalisation from $60 647 to$53 630. Conclusions: LVAD implantations increased over time. We found decreasing 30-day and 1-year mortality rates and increasing home discharge disposition. The proportion of patients rehospitalised among 1-year survivors remained high with increasing index hospitalisation cost, but decreasing post-implantation costs over time