Reconciling the supply of and demand for carbon cycle science in the US agricultural sector

When asking the question, ``How can institutions design science policies for the benefit of decision makers?'' Sarewitz and Pielke Sarewitz, D., Pielke Jr., R.A., this issue. The neglected heart of science policy: reconciling supply of and demand for science. Environ. Sci. Policy 10] posit the idea of ``reconciling supply and demand of science'' as a conceptual tool for assessment of science programs. We apply the concept to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) carbon cycle science program. By evaluating the information needs of decision makers, or the ``demand'', along with the supply of information by the USDA, we can ascertain where matches between supply and demand exist, and where science policies might miss opportunities. We report the results of contextual mapping and of interviews with scientists at the USDA to evaluate the production and use of current agricultural global change research, which has the stated goal of providing ``optimal benefit'' to decision makers on all levels. We conclude that the USDA possesses formal and informal mechanisms by which scientists evaluate the needs of users, ranging from individual producers to Congress and the President. National-level demands for carbon cycle science evolve as national and international policies are explored. Current carbon cycle science is largely derived from those discussions and thus anticipates the information needs of producers. However, without firm agricultural carbon policies, such information is currently unimportant to producers. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pastureland use in the southeastern US: Implications for carbon sequestration

More than 13 Mha of nonfederal land in the southeastern U.S. are devoted to pastureland. Between 1982 and 1992, pastureland increased by 100,000 ha, with nearly 70% converted from cultivated land. We examined the potential for carbon (C) sequestration with improved pasture management and conversion into pastureland from cultivated land. Improved pasture management techniques, such as intensive grazing, fertilization, introduction of improved grass and legume species, and better irrigation systems can lead to sequestration of atmospheric C in soil. Literature values for the influence of changes in pasture management on soil C were summarized for several potential management changes in the Southeast. Soil C sequestration estimates for the Southeast were based on current pasture management practices and evaluated for a range of different adoption rates of improved practices. Conversion into pasture can also potentially sequester significant amounts of atmospheric C in soils. Land-use data from the National Resources Inventory and literature estimates of soil C changes following conversion to pasture were used to estimate historical (1982 to 1992) soil C sequestration in pastures. Potential future sequestration was estimated based on extrapolation of land-use trends between 1982 and 1992. With continued conversion into pasture and improvement of pasture management, southeastern U.S. pasture soils may be a significant C sink for several years.

Show us your mess!

Epilogue for the edited book "Nexus: New Intersections in Internet Research"

Formalin fixation affects equilibrium partitioning of an ionic contrast agent-microcomputed tomography (EPIC-[mu]CT) imaging of osteochondral samples

Equilibrium Partitioning of an Ionic Contrast agent with microcomputed tomography (EPIC-[mu]CT) is a non-invasive technique to quantify and visualize the three-dimensional distribution of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in fresh cartilage tissue. However, it is unclear whether this technique is applicable to already fixed tissues. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating whether formalin fixation of bovine cartilage affects X-ray attenuation, and thus the interpretation of EPIC-[mu]CT data.Design Osteochondral samples (n = 24) were incubated with ioxaglate, an ionic contrast agent, for 22 h prior to [mu]CT scanning. The samples were scanned in both formalin-fixed and fresh conditions. GAG content was measured using a biochemical assay and normalized to wet weight, dry weight, and water content to determine potential reasons for differences in X-ray attenuation.Results The expected zonal distribution of contrast agent/GAGs was observed for both fixed and fresh cartilage specimens. However, despite no significant differences in GAG concentrations or physical properties between fixed and fresh samples, the average attenuation levels of formalin-fixed cartilage were 14.3% lower than in fresh samples.Conclusions EPIC-[mu]CT is useful for three-dimensional visualization of GAGs in formalin-fixed cartilage. However, a significant reduction in X-ray attenuation for fixed (compared to fresh) cartilage must be taken into account and adjusted for accordingly when quantifying GAG concentrations using EPIC-[mu]CT.

catena-Poly[[[diaquacobalt(II)]-mu-(3,5-dinitro-2-oxidobenzoato)-kappa3O1,O2:O1'-[tetraaquacobalt(II)]-mu-(3,5-dinitro-2-oxidobenzoato)-kappa3-O1:O1',O2] dihydrate]

In the structure of polymeric title compound, {[Co2(C7H2N2O7)2(H2O)6] . 2H2O}n from the reaction of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid with cobalt(II) acetate, both slightly distorted octahedral Co(II) centres have crystallographic inversion symmetry. The coordination sphere about one Co centre comprises four O donors from two bidentate chelate O(phenolate), O(carboxyl) and bridging dianionic ligands and two water molecules [Co-O range, 2.0249(11)-2.1386(14)A] while that about the second Co centre has four water molecules and two bridging carboxyl O donor atoms [Co-O range, 2.0690(14)-2.1364(11)A]. The coordinated water molecules as well as the water molecules of solvation give water-water and water-carboxyl hydrogen-bonding interactions in the three-dimensional framework structure.

Being Grateful : Does it Bring Us Closer? Gratitude, Attachment and Intimacy in Romantic Relationships

To date, little is known about the function of gratitude in romantic relationships. Being grateful has been demonstrated to provide a number of positive benefits for individuals; however, few studies have explored how grateful experiences may be beneficial in enhancing romantic relationships. This study explored the extent to which adult attachment moderates the relationship between dispositional gratitude and the experience of intimacy within romantic relationships. A greater disposition toward gratitude was expected to result in more frequent experiences of gratitude. It was also anticipated that experiences of gratitude would be associated with feelings of closeness. Participants (n = 156) were required to be currently in a relationship of at least six months duration and completed a series of questionnaires assessing dispositional gratitude, attachment and emotional intimacy. Moderation analysis revealed that although a positive, weak correlation existed between dispositional gratitude and intimacy, attachment did not moderate this association. It was concluded that further investigation of the experience of gratitude is necessary to understand the function of gratitude in romantic relationships. Methods focusing on specific experiences of gratitude in romantic relationships, and the associated feelings of closeness experienced by each partner, may yield more conclusive findings and may provide support for therapeutic approaches focused on enhancing closeness between couples by increasing experiences of gratitude.

Being grateful : does it bring us closer? Gratitude, attachment and intimacy in romantic relationships

This study proposed that levels of dispositional gratitude influence experiences of intimacy within romantic relationships and that this influence is moderated by relationship attachment. Gratitude, in this study, was described as feelings of appreciation associated with the perception that one had been the focus of another’s intentionally beneficial actions. A greater disposition toward gratitude was expected to result in more frequent experiences of gratitude. It was also anticipated that experiences of gratitude would be associated with feelings of closeness toward the one responsible for the beneficial act. Participants (n=156) ranged in age from 18 – 70 and, although required to be currently in a relationship of at least six months’ duration, each was studied as an individual. Participants included both males and females, in same-sex or other-sex relationships, and completed a series of questionnaires assessing dispositional gratitude, attachment and emotional intimacy. Moderation analysis was conducted using hierarchical regression and revealed that although a positive, weak correlation exists between gratitude and intimacy, attachment did not moderate that association. However, the measures used did not elicit sufficiently divergent responses. Thus neither complete exploration of the proposed association between gratitude and intimacy, nor of the moderation of that association by attachment were possible. In conclusion, further investigation of experiences of gratitude, particularly in relation to enhancing feelings of closeness, is necessary to understand the function of gratitude in romantic relationships. Methods focusing on specific experiences of gratitude in romantic relationships and the associated feelings of closeness experienced by each partner may yield more conclusive findings. In addition, such findings may provide support for therapeutic approaches focused on enhancing closeness between couples by increasing experiences of gratitude.

Poly[di-mu-aqua-bis(mu-2-amino-4-nitrobenzoato)dicaesium]

In the structure of title compound [Cs2(C7H5N2O4)2(H2O)2]n the asymmetric unit comprises two independent and different Cs centres, one nine-coordinate, the other seven coordinate, with both having irregular stereochemistry. The CsO9 coordination comprises oxygen donors from three bridging water molecules, one of which is doubly bridging, three from carboxylate groups, and three from nitro groups, of which two are bidentate chelate bridging. The CsO6N coordination comprises the two bridging water molecules, one amine N donor, one carboxyl O donor and four O donors from nitro groups (two from the chelate bridges). The extension of the dimeric unit gives a two-dimensional polymeric structure which is stabilized by both intra- and intermolecular amine N-H...O and water O-H...O hydrogen bonds to carboxyl O acceptors, as well as inter-ring pi-pi interactions [minimum ring centroid separation, 3.4172(15)A].

Is the contemporary era behind us?

The advent of new technologies, like personal computers and networking platforms, represents a series of events that have impacted on society as a whole as well as challenging the artworld to reconsider what is 'contemporary'.

Poly[aqua([mu]3-2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzoato-[kappa]3O1:O1':O2)rubidium]

In the structure of title compound [Rb2(C7H4NO2)2(H2O)2]n the centrosymmetric cyclic dimeric repeating unit comprises two irregular RbO4 complex centres bridged by the carboxylate groups of the 5-nitrosalicylate ligands. The coordination about each Rb is completed by a monodentate water molecule and a phenolic O donor which gives a bridging extension [Rb-O range 3.116(7)-3.135(5)A]. The two-dimensional polymeric structure is stabilized by intermolecular water O-H...O(carboxyl) hydrogen bonds and weak inter-ring pi--pi interactions [minimum ring centroid separation, 3.620(4)A].

Poly[tetra-mu-aqua-diaquatetrakis[mu-(E)-2-nitrocinnamato]tetrarubidium]

In the structure of the title compound [Rb4(C9H6NO4)4(H~2~O)6]n, the asymmetric unit comprises four rubidium complex cations, two of which have an RbO7 coordination polyhedron with a monocapped distorted octahedral stereochemistry and two of which have a distorted RbO6 octahedral coordination. The bonding about both the seven-coordinate centres is similar, comprising one monodentate water molecule together with three bridging water molecules and three carboxylate O-atom donors, two of which are bridging. The environments about the six-coordinate cations are also similar, comprising a monodentate nitro O-atom donor, a bridging water molecule and four bridging carboxylate O-atom donors [overall Rb-O range, 2.849(2)-3.190(2)A]. The coordination leads to a two-dimensional polymeric structure extending parallel to (001), which is stabilized by interlayer water O-H...O hydrogen-bonding associations to water, carboxyl and nitro O-atom acceptors, together with weak inter-ring pi--pi interactions [minimum ring centroid separation = 3.5319(19)A].

catena-Poly[[diaqualithium]-mu-[rac-cis-(2-carboxycyclohexane-1-carboxylato-kO1:O2]]

In the structure of the title compound, [C8H11LiO4(H2O)2]n the distorted tetrahadral LiO4 coordination sphere comprises two water molecules and two carboxyl O-donors from separate bridging cis-2-carboxycyclohexane-1-carboxylate monoanions [Li-O range, 1.887(4)-1.946(3)A], giving chain substructures which extend along (010). Water-water and water-carboxyl O-H...O hydrogen bonds stabilize these chain structures and provide inter-chain links, resulting in a two-dimensional layered structure extending across (011).