SOIL PRODUCTIVITY AND FARMERS' EROSION CONTROL INCENTIVES--A DYNAMIC MODELING APPROACH

Important linkages between farm management variables, soil loss, crop yields, and incentives to practice soil conservation have often been omitted from previous empirical studies, due to regional data limitations and incomplete knowledge of soil loss/crop yiled relationships. An optimal control model is developed with explicit attention to interactions between management choices, soil loss, and long-term farmland productivity. Analysis of the optimality conditions generates a number of hypotheses related to farmers' productivity-linked conservation incentives, which can be tested empirically without precise knowledge of specific erosion-productivity relationships.Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use,

Queer binge: harmful alcohol use among sexual minority young people in Australia

© 2019 The Royal Society for Public Health Objectives: The literature suggests that sexual minority young people (SMYP) use alcohol at disproportionate levels when compared with their heterosexual counterparts. Little is known about alcohol dependency symptoms and correlations between high-risk alcohol use/dependency symptoms and minority stress in this population in general and between subgroups. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Descriptive statistics, adjusted odds ratios, and analysis of covariance were used to determine high-risk alcohol use, dependency symptoms, differences between subgroups, and correlations between alcohol use, dependency symptoms, and minority stress. Results: A total of 1556 Australian SMYPs aged 18 to 35 years completed the survey. Fifty percent of the participants reported high-risk alcohol consumption with significant differences between subgroups. Typical dependency symptoms such as ‘health, social, legal or financial problems due to alcohol consumption’ (16.8%, n = 247) were identified in large parts of the sample. High-risk consumption and dependency symptoms were significantly correlated with minority stress. Conclusion: High levels of high-risk alcohol use and dependency symptoms were found, largely consistent with existing literature. However, disparities are not distributed equally in this population, suggesting that future health promotion interventions should focus on SMYP subgroups. Significant correlations between minority stress and dependency symptoms/high-risk use suggest a potential route for future interventions in these populations

Risky alcohol consumption, dependency symptoms and minority stress in sexual minority young people

Background Sexual Minority Young People (SMYP) use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs at disproportionate levels when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Limited research has been conducted on dependency symptoms in this population as well as correlations between risky use of alcohol and minority stress including potential differences between identity subgroups. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 1,556 SMYPs (mean age: 22.6 years) from Australia. Variables include demographics, alcohol use, dependency symptoms and different dimensions of minority stress. Descriptive and correlational analyses, and binary logistic regressions were conducted. Results Most participants surveyed identified as gay or lesbian (59%) and as men (55%). Regular binge drinking (43%) as well as general high-risk alcohol use (52%) was prevalent in the sample. Dependency symptoms were also common in the sample including health, social, legal or financial problems as a result of alcohol consumption (17%). Meaningful differences in consumption and symptoms between subgroups were identified. Minority stress, including negative family reactions and homophobic harassment were significantly correlated with higher alcohol use and dependency symptoms. Conclusions High-risk alcohol consumption including binge drinking as well as dependency symptoms are highly prevalent in Australian SMYP but are not distributed equally across subgroups. Public health initiatives should consider targeting SMYP subgroups and concentrate on the role of alcohol as a potential maladaptive coping mechanism for minority stress. Main Message Sexual minority young people drink alcohol at risky levels. Minority stress likely to be linked to risky alcohol consumption and dependency symptoms

Ambiente de apoio ao processo ensino-aprendizagem na internet para desenvolvimento de projetos educacionais

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção.A Internet cria novas oportunidades de reformular as relações entre alunos e professores e de rever a relação da escola com o meio social, ao diversificar os espaços de desenvolvimento do conhecimento, ao transformar processos e metodologias de aprendizagem, permitindo à escola uma nova forma de interação com os indivíduos e com o mundo. Neste contexto, o fundamental é colocar as informações e experiências adquiridas à disposição de um número cada vez maior de pessoas. Esta pesquisa aborda o trabalho com projetos como sendo um caminho para transformar a escola em um espaço aberto à aprendizagens significativas para todos que dele participam. A Internet é apresentada como instrumento na educação que promove uma revisão e mudanças nas formas tradicionais de ensinar e aprender, valorizando os processos interativos de comunicação, colaboração e criatividade indispensáveis ao novo profissional da sociedade do conhecimento. Com isso, surge a necessidade de um ambiente de aprendizagem que promova a realização de trabalhos utilizando-se recursos da Internet, motivando a aprendizagem e auxiliando no aprimorando das capacidades básicas necessárias ao indivíduo da sociedade da informação, como a de saber pesquisar, buscar informações, analisá-las e selecioná-las; a capacidade de aprender, criar, formular e trabalhar em equipe. Nesse processo, professores e alunos são aprendizes e colaboradores e a escola passa a ter o papel importante de buscar formas de promover o aperfeiçoamento e as adequações necessárias no processo educacional. Com base nos conceitos apresentados na fundamentação teórica, enfatizando os trabalhos colaborativos na Internet, é apresentado o protótipo do ambiente de apoio ao processo de ensino e aprendizagem na Internet para desenvolvimento de projetos Educacionais. O protótipo tem por finalidade possibilitar a integração "entre escolas", formando uma comunidade educacional, incentivando o desenvolvimento de projetos dentro das instituições, complementando o trabalho realizado em sala de aula. No ambiente proposto, os professores podem compartilhar com a comunidade sua experiência em projetos já desenvolvidos através de documentações como relatório final e diário de bordo e os alunos têm a possibilidade de desenvolver projetos usando as ferramentas de interação e de integração, como o editor cooperativo de texto (Co-Word) e o editor cooperativo de imagem. O ambiente apoia e incentiva o trabalho do professor, e no contexto de projetos colaborativos, reforça a idéia de que o aluno é visto como um agente ativo, que aprende a fazer coisas e a refletir sobre o que faz; que tem a oportunidade de pensar por si mesmo e comparar o seu processo de pensar com o dos outros, estimulando assim, o pensamento crítico, característica essencial na sociedade da informação para a qual ele está sendo preparado

Coherent Population Trapping with Controlled Interparticle Interactions

We investigate Coherent Population Trapping in a strongly interacting ultracold Rydberg gas. Despite the strong van der Waals interactions and interparticle correlations, we observe the persistence of a resonance with subnatural linewidth at the single-particle resonance frequency as we tune the interaction strength. This narrow resonance cannot be understood within a meanfield description of the strong Rydberg--Rydberg interactions. Instead, a many-body density matrix approach, accounting for the dynamics of interparticle correlations, is shown to reproduce the observed spectral features

Sexual health knowledge and behaviours in International MSM Students in Australia

Background International sexual minority students, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM), experience disparities in health, including a significantly higher prevalence of HIV and other STIs and lower levels of sexual health services use. Limited research has been conducted in this population around sexual health knowledge, behaviour and services use. Methods A multi-language cross-sectional online survey was completed by 168 international MSM tertiary students (median age: 25 years) in New South Wales (Australia). Variables included demographics, sexual identity and behaviour, sexual health knowledge and behaviour including PrEP use as well as sexual health services use. Descriptive and correlational analyses, and binary logistic regressions were conducted. Results Sexual health knowledge including routes of HIV transmission was overall high in the sample, while 20% had limited knowledge regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and 28% regarding post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Less than half (44%) reported inconsistent condom use. PrEP use was low in the sample (14%) and not correlated with condom use. Sexual health behaviours and dimensions LGBT Community connectedness were significantly correlated with the use of different sexual health services. Conclusions This first comprehensive study among international MSM tertiary students in Australia demonstrates a high level of inconsistent condom use and low levels of PrEP use as well as strong correlations between sexual health behaviour and HIV/STI testing, and connectedness with other sexual minority men. International MSM students do not feel included in the local LGBT Community but demonstrate a strong desire to be involved. Those included were more likely to use vital sexual health services. Main Message International MSM students are an emerging priority population for sexual health research and practice. , and future health promotion campaigns should consider incorporating strong community building and connectedness elements

Acute exercise facilitates brain function and cognition in children who need it most: An ERP study of individual differences in inhibitory control capacity

AbstractThe present study examined the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on aspects of cognitive control in two groups of children categorized by higher- and lower-task performance. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were collected in 40 preadolescent children during a modified flanker task following 20min of treadmill walking and seated rest on separate occasions. Participants were bifurcated into two groups based on task performance following the resting session. Findings revealed that following exercise, higher-performers maintained accuracy and exhibited no change in P3 amplitude compared to seated rest. Lower-performers demonstrated a differential effect, such that accuracy measures improved, and P3 amplitude increased following exercise. Lastly, both groups displayed smaller N2 amplitude and shorter P3 latency following exercise, suggesting an overall facilitation in response conflict and the speed of stimulus classification. The current findings replicate prior research reporting the beneficial influence of acute aerobic exercise on cognitive performance in children. However, children with lower inhibitory control capacity may benefit the most from single bouts of exercise. These data are among the first to demonstrate the differential effect of physical activity on individuals who vary in inhibitory control, and further support the role of aerobic exercise for brain health during development

Cytomegalovirus Management in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Pre-COVID-19 Survey From the Working Group of the European Society for Organ Transplantation

Infections are leading causes of morbidity/mortality following solid organ transplantation (SOT) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) is among the most frequent pathogens, causing a considerable threat to SOT recipients. A survey was conducted 19 July–31 October 2019 to capture clinical practices about CMV in SOT recipients (e.g., how practices aligned with guidelines, how adequately treatments met patients’ needs, and respondents’ expectations for future developments). Transplant professionals completed a ∼30-minute online questionnaire: 224 responses were included, representing 160 hospitals and 197 SOT programs (41 countries; 167[83%] European programs). Findings revealed a heterogenous approach to CMV diagnosis and management and, sometimes, significant divergence from international guidelines. Valganciclovir prophylaxis (of variable duration) was administered by 201/224 (90%) respondents in D+/R− SOT and by 40% in R+ cases, with pre-emptive strategies generally reserved for R+ cases: DNA thresholds to initiate treatment ranged across 10–10,000 copies/ml. Ganciclovir-resistant CMV strains were still perceived as major challenges, and tailored treatment was one of the most important unmet needs for CMV management. These findings may help to design studies to evaluate safety and efficacy of new strategies to prevent CMV disease in SOT recipients, and target specific educational activities to harmonize CMV management in this challenging population

Spontaneous crystal coalescence enables highly efficient perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar cells have recently reached staggering efficiencies, through efforts focused on reducing grain boundaries, by enlarging the size of the crystalline domains that constitute the perovskite films. Here, we demonstrate that smaller crystallites within perovskite films spontaneously coalesce into larger ones, even when complete devices are stored in the dark at room temperature. We show that crystal coalescence greatly improves the performance of state of the art perovskite solar cells. Our results reveal the dynamic nature of the morphology of perovskite films and highlight the crucial role that coalescence plays in producing highly efficient device