Systems,habitats or places: evaluating the potential role of landscape character assessment in operationalising the ecosystem approach

A key challenge for research and practice is to understand how the ecosystem approach can be rolled out in spatial planning, management and decision-making. Any framework used to apply the ecosystem approach needs to not only be environmentally coherent but also socially meaningful. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and case studies, this paper examines the potential role of one place-based approach, landscape character assessment, as a medium to ensure socio-ecological relevance in operationalising the ecosystem approach. Our findings show that although place-based approaches have value as frameworks for distilling the ecosystem approach into a manageable form, their ecological relevance is a subject of debate. However, the potential relationship between landscape character, function and ecosystem services presented a powerful pathway for operationalising the ecosystem approach. The ecosystem approach may, in turn, complement landscape character assessment by providing a framework for exploring the functional dimension of landscape condition.     

Assessment of Post-Earthquake Fire Behavior of a Steel MRF Building in a Low Seismic Region

International Journal of Steel Structures - Building-level response to post-earthquake fire hazards in steel buildings has been assessed using primarily two-dimensional analyses of the lateral...     

Comparison of 10,11‐Dehydrocurvularin Polyketide Synthases from Alternaria cinerariae and Aspergillus terreus Highlights Key Structural Motifs

Iterative type I polyketide synthases (PKSs) from fungi are multifunctional enzymes that use their active sites repeatedly in a highly ordered sequence to assemble complex natural products. A phytotoxic macrolide with anticancer properties, 10,11‐dehydrocurvularin (DHC), is produced by cooperation of a highly reducing (HR) iterative PKS and a non‐reducing (NR) iterative PKS. We have identified the DHC gene cluster in Alternaria cinerariae, heterologously expressed the active HR PKS (Dhc3) and NR PKS (Dhc5) in yeast, and compared them to corresponding proteins that make DHC in Aspergillus terreus. Phylogenetic analysis and homology modeling of these enzymes identified variable surfaces and conserved motifs that are implicated in product formation.     

Base Modification Strategies to Modulate Immune Stimulation by an siRNA

Immune stimulation triggered by siRNAs is one of the major challenges in the development of safe RNAi‐based therapeutics. Within an immunostimulatory siRNA sequence, this hurdle is commonly addressed by using ribose modifications (e.g., 2′‐OMe or 2′‐F), which results in decreased cytokine production. However, as immune stimulation by siRNAs is a sequence‐dependent phenomenon, recognition of the nucleobases by the trigger receptor(s) is also likely. Here, we use the recently published crystal structures of Toll‐like receptor 8 (TLR8) bound to small‐molecule agonists to generate computational models for ribonucleotide binding by this immune receptor. Our modeling suggested that modification of either the Watson–Crick or Hoogsteen face of adenosine would disrupt nucleotide/TLR8 interactions. We employed chemical synthesis to alter either the Watson–Crick or Hoogsteen face of adenosine and evaluated the effect of these modifications in an siRNA guide strand by measuring the immunostimulatory and RNA interference properties. For the siRNA guide strand tested, we found that modifying the Watson–Crick face is generally more effective at blocking TNFα production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) than modification at the Hoogsteen edge. We also observed that modifications near the 5′‐end were more effective at blocking cytokine production than those placed at the 3′‐end. This work advances our understanding of how chemical modifications can be used to optimize siRNA performance.     

Benzophenone vs. Copper/Benzophenone in Light‐Promoted Atom Transfer Radical Additions (ATRAs): Highly Effective Iodoperfluoroalkylation of Alkenes/Alkynes and Mechanistic Studies

Iodoperfluooralkylation of terminal alkenes and alkynes is effectively photo‐promoted by benzophenone 2 (BP) or the photoreducible copper(II) complex 1 . In particular, BP at 1 mol% in methanol upon 365 nm irradiation with a low‐pressure mercury lamp (type TLC=thin layer chromatography, 6 W) results in a fast reaction with excellent reaction yields. Complex 1 and BP 2 exhibited very similar reactivity, suggesting that the reactions involving 1 are likely to be governed by the benzophenone photoactivation processes, rather than copper(I)/(II) redox processes. Mechanistic investigations using transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that a deactivation pathway of the benzophenone triplet (³BP*) is via its reaction with the methanol solvent. We propose that the generated radicals, in particular ^.CH₂OH, play a key role in the initiation step forming R_f^. by reacting with R_fI, R_f^. then entering a radical chain cycle. ¹H NMR studies provided evidence that a substantial amount (∼7% NMR yield) of the hemiacetal CH₃OCH₂OH is formed, i.e., the possible by‐product of the reaction between ^.CH₂OH and R_fI. Finally, DFT calculations indicate that a triplet‐triplet energy transfer (TTET) process from ³BP* to perfluorooctyl iodide (C₈F₁₇I) is unlikely or should be rather slow under the reaction conditions, consistent with the transient absorption studies.

     

Determining consumer purchase intentions: the importance of dry matter, size, and price of kiwifruit

Abstract: Knowledge of the relative importance of food quality attributes in determining consumer purchase intention is critical for robust assessment of economic opportunities for industry growth. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how conjoint analysis methodology that incorporates tasting of fruit can be used to collect such information. Three hundred Japanese consumers took part in research designed to measure the importance of dry matter (DM), size, and price of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa “Hayward” and Actinidia chinensis “Hort16A”) for purchase intention. Measurement of consumer liking for kiwifruit of different DM content was a key first step. Liking increased as DM increased and was accompanied by increased purchase likelihood/choice probability for kiwifruit. The size of kiwifruit presented to consumers varied from “small” to “extra large.” Consumers liked “mid‐sized” kiwifruit over “small” or “extra‐large” kiwifruit. Despite these differences in liking, size was of little importance in determining purchase likelihood/choice probability for kiwifruit. Price was a very important factor in determining purchase likelihood/choice probability but was less important than DM content. As price increased, purchase likelihood/choice probability decreased. Beneath these general findings, heterogeneity existed. Some consumers placed more/less importance on the focal purchase drivers than suggested by the aggregate model. Overall, the results suggest that incentive schemes already implemented by industry should consider rewarding high‐DM fruit more than fruit size. Practical Application: This research has contributed to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry gaining a better understanding of the relative importance consumers place on DM, size, and price of kiwifruit and has resulted in changes to grower incentive schemes. The research approach presented forces consumer to tradeoff attributes of kiwifruit against each other and decide on how important two key quality attributes—DM and size—are relative to each other and relative to price. The application of conjoint analysis in this article can be transferred to other fruits, food, and beverages and help guide consumer‐led innovation.     

Quality changes and storage life of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) at various storage temperatures

The shelf life and freshness changes in pond-grown common carp (Cyprinus carpio L) during storage at 0–2°C, 5–6°C and room temperature (26–29°C) were investigated by sensory, microbiological, physical and chemical analyses. The effect of gutting on the shelf life during storage at 0–2°C was examined. Iodine/starch and potassium sorbate were examined for their effects on shelf life of whole fish stored at 0–2°C and 5–6°C. Sensory results indicated that the whole fish had a maximum shelf life of 24 to 25 days at 0– 2°C. The life of the fish to the point beyond which it would be unsuitable for sale (commercial shelf life) was 17 days at 0–2°C. Storage at 5–6°C shortened shelf life 2- to 2.5-fold. At room temperature (26–29°C), spoilage was evident after 13 h. Gutting the carp shortened its storage potential at 0–2°C. Iodine treatment of this species stored at 0–2°C and at 5–6°C did not extend shelf life. The maximum shelf life of sorbate-treated fish at 0–2°C and 5–6°C was extended by 1–2 days, commercial shelf life by 3–4 days. Total volatile basic nitrogen, pH and penetrometer analyses were not reliable indicators of changes in freshness during shelf life. Thiobarbituric acid values were not useful as rancid odours or flavours were not detected during storage.     

Plastic deformation of dense nanocrystalline yttrium oxide at elevated temperatures

Nanocrystalline yttrium oxide, Y₂O₃ with 110 nm average grain size was plastically deformed between 800 °C and 1100 °C by compression at different strain rates and by creep at different stresses. The onset temperature for plasticity was at 1000 °C. Yield stress was strongly temperature dependent and the strain hardening disappeared at 1100 °C. The polyhedral and equiaxed grain morphology were preserved in the deformed specimens. The experimentally measured and theoretically calculated stress exponent n = 2 was consistent with the plastic deformation by grain boundary sliding. Decrease in the grain size was consistent with decrease in the brittle to ductile transition temperature.     

Dynamics of support perceptions among couples coping with cardiac illness: The effect on recovery outcomes.

Objective: The current prospective study explored how male cardiac patients' perceptions of received support (i.e., active engagement, protective buffering, and overprotection) moderated the associations between female partners' perceptions of provided support and patients' recovery outcomes: psychological well-being, cholesterol levels, and smoking cessation. Methods: Couples (N = 86) completed surveys at the initial hospitalization after patients' Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), and 1 and 6 months later. Partners' ways of providing support and patients' concurrent perceptions of these ways were measured using the Ways of Giving Support Questionnaire; patients' depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Patients' cholesterol levels were assessed during hospitalization and 6 months later, and smoking habits were reported by the patients. Results: Female partners' protective buffering was positively associated with male patients' depressive symptoms at follow-up only when male patients' own perceptions of partners' protective buffering were low. Female partners' active engagement was positively associated with better odds for male patients' cessation of smoking only when patients' own perceptions of partners' active engagement were high. Finally, female partners' overprotection was associated with higher levels of male patients' harmful blood lipids at follow-up, but only when patients' own perceptions of partners' overprotection were high. Conclusions: As hypothesized, the effect of partners' perceptions of support provided on patients' recovery was moderated by patients' own perceptions of the support received. The effect of this interaction was determined by the specific types of support provided or received and by the specific recovery outcome that was measured. The clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transmittance from visible to mid infra-red in AZO films grown by atomic layer deposition system

We report transmittance and conductivity measurements of aluminum-doped zinc oxide films grown by atomic layer deposition. The results show that the films have 80–90% transmittance in the visible region and good transmittance in the infrared. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the transmittance of aluminum-doped zinc oxide is reported to extend beyond 2500–5000 nm. Following annealing, an optimal sheet resistance of 25 Ω/□ was obtained for a 575 nm thick film with a carrier density of 2.4 × 10²⁰ cm^?3 without compromising the transmittance in the visible regime.