pSESYNTH project: Community mobilization for a multi-disciplinary paleo database of the Global South

How to enhance paleoscientific research, collaboration and application in the Global South? The INQUA-funded multi-year pSESYNTH project envisions the first multi-disciplinary Holocene paleo database through a collaborative vision for past human-environmental systems in the Global South, and their future sustainability

Latin American consumption of major food groups: Results from the ELANS study

Background The Latin American (LA) region is still facing an ongoing epidemiological transition and shows a complex public health scenario regarding non-communicable diseases (NCDs). A healthy diet and consumption of specific food groups may decrease the risk of NCDs, however there is a lack of dietary intake data in LA countries. Objective Provide updated data on the dietary intake of key science-based selected food groups related to NCDs risk in LA countries. Design ELANS (Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health) is a multicenter cross-sectional study assessing food consumption from an urban sample between15 to 65 years old from 8 LA countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela). Two 24-HR were obtained from 9, 218 individuals. The daily intake of 10 food groups related to NCDs risk (fruits; vegetables; legumes/beans; nuts and seeds; whole grains products; fish and seafood; yogurt; red meat; processed meats; sugar-sweetened beverages (ready-to-drink and homemade)) were assessed and compared to global recommendations. Results Only 7.2% of the overall sample reached WHO's recommendation for fruits and vegetables consumption (400 grams per day). Regarding the dietary patterns related to a reduced risk of NCDs, among the overall sample legumes and fruits were the food groups with closer intake to the recommendation, although much lower than expected (13.1% and 11.5%, respectively). Less than 3.5% of the sample met the optimal consumption level of vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and yogurt. Largest country-dependent differences in average daily consumption were found for legumes, nuts, fish, and yogurt. Mean consumption of SSB showed large differences between countries. Conclusion Diet intake quality is deficient for nutrient-dense food groups, suggesting a higher risk for NCDs in the urban LA region in upcoming decades. These data provide relevant and up-to-date information to take urgent public health actions to improve consumption of critically foods in order to prevent NCDs. Copyright

Crowdsourcing hypothesis tests: Making transparent how design choices shape research results

To what extent are research results influenced by subjective decisions that scientists make as they design studies? Fifteen research teams independently designed studies to answer fiveoriginal research questions related to moral judgments, negotiations, and implicit cognition. Participants from two separate large samples (total N > 15,000) were then randomly assigned to complete one version of each study. Effect sizes varied dramatically across different sets of materials designed to test the same hypothesis: materials from different teams renderedstatistically significant effects in opposite directions for four out of five hypotheses, with the narrowest range in estimates being d = -0.37 to +0.26. Meta-analysis and a Bayesian perspective on the results revealed overall support for two hypotheses, and a lack of support for three hypotheses. Overall, practically none of the variability in effect sizes was attributable to the skill of the research team in designing materials, while considerable variability was attributable to the hypothesis being tested. In a forecasting survey, predictions of other scientists were significantly correlated with study results, both across and within hypotheses. Crowdsourced testing of research hypotheses helps reveal the true consistency of empirical support for a scientific claim.</div

Many Labs 2: Investigating Variation in Replicability Across Samples and Settings

We conducted preregistered replications of 28 classic and contemporary published findings, with protocols that were peer reviewed in advance, to examine variation in effect magnitudes across samples and settings. Each protocol was administered to approximately half of 125 samples that comprised 15,305 participants from 36 countries and territories. Using the conventional criterion of statistical significance (p < .05), we found that 15 (54%) of the replications provided evidence of a statistically significant effect in the same direction as the original finding. With a strict significance criterion (p < .0001), 14 (50%) of the replications still provided such evidence, a reflection of the extremely highpowered design. Seven (25%) of the replications yielded effect sizes larger than the original ones, and 21 (75%) yielded effect sizes smaller than the original ones. The median comparable Cohen’s ds were 0.60 for the original findings and 0.15 for the replications. The effect sizes were small (< 0.20) in 16 of the replications (57%), and 9 effects (32%) were in the direction opposite the direction of the original effect. Across settings, the Q statistic indicated significant heterogeneity in 11 (39%) of the replication effects, and most of those were among the findings with the largest overall effect sizes; only 1 effect that was near zero in the aggregate showed significant heterogeneity according to this measure. Only 1 effect had a tau value greater than .20, an indication of moderate heterogeneity. Eight others had tau values near or slightly above .10, an indication of slight heterogeneity. Moderation tests indicated that very little heterogeneity was attributable to the order in which the tasks were performed or whether the tasks were administered in lab versus online. Exploratory comparisons revealed little heterogeneity between Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) cultures and less WEIRD cultures (i.e., cultures with relatively high and low WEIRDness scores, respectively). Cumulatively, variability in the observed effect sizes was attributable more to the effect being studied than to the sample or setting in which it was studied.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIP

Assessment of the spatial variability in tall wheatgrass forage using LANDSAT 8 satellite imagery to delineate potential management zones

Hay poca información disponible sobre el grado de variabilidad dentro del campo de la producción potencial de alto agropiro alargado (Thinopyrum ponticum) de forraje bajo secano condiciones. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la variabilidad espacial de la biomasa acumulada (AB) sin limitaciones nutricionales a través de índices de vegetación, y luego utilizar esta información para determinar el potencial de gestión zonas. Se eligió un tamaño de celda de la cuadrícula 27- × -27-m y 84 zonas de muestreo de biomasa (BSA), cada 2 m2 de superficie, fueron georreferenciados. Fertilizantes de nitrógeno y fósforo se aplicaron después de un corte inicial a 3 cm de altura. A 500 ° C día, el AB de cada área de muestreo, se recogido y evaluado. La variabilidad espacial de AB fue estimada con mayor precisión utilizando la Diferencia Normalizada Índice de vegetación (NDVI), calculada a partir de Landsat 8 imágenes obtenidas el 24 de noviembre 2014 (NDVInov) y 10 de diciembre 2014 (NDVIdec) porque el potencial AB fue altamente asociada con NDVInov y NDVIdec (r2 = 0,85 y 0,83, respectivamente). Estas modelos de datos entre el potencial de AB y NDVI eran evaluadas por el error cuadrático medio (RMSE) y relativa error cuadrático medio (RRMSE). Este último coeficiente fue 12 y 15% para NDVInov y NDVIdec, respectivamente. Correlación espacial potencial de AB y NDVI se cuantificaron con semivariogramas. La dependencia espacial de AB fue baja. Seis clases de NDVI se analizaron para la comparación, y se establecieron dos zonas de manejo (MZ) con ellos. Con el fin de evaluar si el método NDVI permite nos delimitar MZ con diferentes rendimientos alcanzables, la AB estimada para estos MZ se compararon a través de una prueba de ANOVA. El potencial AB tenía diferencias significativas entre MZ. Basándose en estos resultados, se puede concluir NDVI que obtuvo de LANDSAT 8 imágenes pueden ser utilizado de forma fiable para la creación de MZ en suelos bajo permanente pasturas dominadas por agropiro alargado.Little information is available on the degree of within-field variability of potential production of Tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum) forage under unirrigated conditions. The aim of this study was to characterize the spatial variability of the accumulated biomass (AB) without nutritional limitations through vegetation indexes, and then use this information to determine potential management zones. A 27-×-27-m grid cell size was chosen and 84 biomass sampling areas (BSA), each 2 m2 in size, were georeferenced. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were applied after an initial cut at 3 cm height. At 500 °C day, the AB from each sampling area, was collected and evaluated. The spatial variability of AB was estimated more accurately using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), calculated from LANDSAT 8 images obtained on 24 November 2014 (NDVInov) and 10 December 2014 (NDVIdec) because the potential AB was highly associated with NDVInov and NDVIdec (r2 = 0.85 and 0.83, respectively). These models between the potential AB data and NDVI were evaluated by root mean squared error (RMSE) and relative root mean squared error (RRMSE). This last coefficient was 12 and 15 % for NDVInov and NDVIdec, respectively. Potential AB and NDVI spatial correlation were quantified with semivariograms. The spatial dependence of AB was low. Six classes of NDVI were analyzed for comparison, and two management zones (MZ) were established with them. In order to evaluate if the NDVI method allows us to delimit MZ with different attainable yields, the AB estimated for these MZ were compared through an ANOVA test. The potential AB had significant differences among MZ. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that NDVI obtained from LANDSAT 8 images can be reliably used for creating MZ in soils under permanent pastures dominated by Tall wheatgrass.EEA BalcarceFil: Cicore, Pablo Leandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Sousa, Adelia. University of Évora, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas; Portugal. Centro de Inovação em Tecnologias de Informação; PortugalFil: Costa, Jose Luis. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Marques da Silva, José Rafael. Centre for Interdisciplinary Development and Research on Environment, Applied Management and Space; Portugal. University of Évora, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas; Portugal. Centro de Inovação em Tecnologias de Informação; PortugalFil: Serrano, João. University of Évora, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas; PortugalFil: Shahidian, Shakib. University of Évora, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas; Portuga

An enchanted modernity: Making sense of Latin America’s religious landscape

This is an interpretative, critical, and selective review of scholarly contributions that explore Latin America’s religious landscape. We present data, both qualitative and quantitative, from Latin America and analyze the explanations given to make sense of it. After assessing the literature that uses either secularization theory or the “religious economy” approach, we study explanations that highlight a Latin American style of “popular religiosity.” These three models, in different ways, put the emphasis on religious institutions—their vitality, commands, competition, and authority. We propose, instead, a focus on the religious practices of regular believers. We speculate that embarking from that focus, the idea of an “enchanted modernity” will help make sense of Latin America’s religious landscape. Nuanced elucidation of Latin America’s religious particularities will situate them in dialogue with other regions of the world, like western Europe and the United States, while also acknowledging the fact that Latin America is experiencing a modernization process distinct from the North Atlantic one.Fil: Morello SJ, Gustavo. Boston College; Estados UnidosFil: Romero, Catalina. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú; PerúFil: Rabbia, Hugo Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudio sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Centro de Investigaciones de la Facultad de Psicología - Grupo Vinculado CIPSI; ArgentinaFil: Da Costa, Néstor. Universidad Catolica de Uruguay; Urugua