Politics of nanotechnologies in food and agriculture

The chapter discusses the reasons for the delay in the regulatory intervention concerning nanotechnologies used in the agriculture and food sectors. The main finding is that unregulated introduction of nanoinnovation into the food system is due to the current neoliberal food policy and to the power struggles that characterize the economic, social and political dynamics within the global supply chain. Therefore, it is necessary to put the ‘question concerning technology’ at the center of the regulatory debate in order to implement a regulatory system able to face nanorisks. Which means looking at the way in which technology controls power relationships within society. Attention should be shifted from efficiency to power issues, and new technologies should be assessed from a political rather than an economic or ethical perspective

Examining Interaction Modality Effects Toward Engagement In An Interactive Learning Environment

The primary goals of interactive learning environments (ILEs) are to improve student engagement and learning outcomes. In this paper, we examine different tablet-based user interaction strategies within the domain of analytical geometry (i.e., the intersection of algebra and geometry) that supports active learning for math problem solving. From a learning technology view, we ground our work using cognitive engagement theory and apply usability to evaluate and further infer user engagement by using different interaction metaphors. We propose two ILE features: (1) self-constructed graphing, which provides a Cartesian coordinate interface so that students can graph toward a solution and (2) system-generated graphing, where the ILE automatically translates written algebraic equations into their geometric equivalents. We recruited 24 college students and conducted a 2 × 2 mixed factorial experimental design by varying two levels (with & without) for each condition (self-constructed & system-generated graphing). We found that these two features combined optimally increased student engagement and solving performance. More importantly, letting students control multi-modal user interactions (given the self-constructed graphing feature) should be provided before introducing automated user interactions (given the system-generated graphing feature)

Global and Gene‐Specific Analyses Show Distinct Roles for Myod and Myog at a Common Set of Promoters

We used a combination of genome‐wide and promoter‐specific DNA binding and expression analyses to assess the functional roles of Myod and Myog in regulating the program of skeletal muscle gene expression. Our findings indicate that Myod and Myog have distinct regulatory roles at a similar set of target genes. At genes expressed throughout the program of myogenic differentiation, Myod can bind and recruit histone acetyltransferases. At early targets, Myod is sufficient for near full expression, whereas, at late expressed genes, Myod initiates regional histone modification but is not sufficient for gene expression. At these late genes, Myog does not bind efficiently without Myod; however, transcriptional activation requires the combined activity of Myod and Myog. Therefore, the role of Myog in mediating terminal differentiation is, in part, to enhance expression of a subset of genes previously initiated by Myod