Conceptual development of a harmonised method for tracking change and evaluating policy in the agri-environment: The Agri-environmental Footprint Index

An aggregated farm-level index, the Agri-environmental Footprint Index (AFI), based on multiple criteria methods and representing a harmonised approach to evaluation of EU agri-environmental schemes is described. The index uses a common framework for the design and evaluation of policy that can be customised to locally relevant agri-environmental issues and circumstances. Evaluation can be strictly policy-focused, or broader and more holistic in that context-relevant assessment criteria that are not necessarily considered in the evaluated policy can nevertheless be incorporated. The Index structure is flexible, and can respond to diverse local needs. The process of Index construction is interactive, engaging farmers and other relevant stakeholders in a transparent decision-making process that can ensure acceptance of the outcome, help to forge an improved understanding of local agri-environmental priorities and potentially increase awareness of the critical role of farmers in environmental management. The structure of the AFI facilitates post-evaluation analysis of relative performance in different dimensions of the agri-environment, permitting identification of current strengths and weaknesses, and enabling future improvement in policy design. Quantification of the environmental impact of agriculture beyond the stated aims of policy using an 'unweighted' form of the AFI has potential as the basis of an ongoing system of environmental audit within a specified agricultural context. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

UV irradiance as a major influence on growth, development and secondary products of commercial importance in Lollo Rosso lettuce 'Revolution' grown under polyethylene films

The growth and production of anthocyanin, flavonoid and phenolic compounds were evaluated in Lollo Rosso lettuce 'Revolution' grown continuously under films varying in their ability to transmit LTV radiation (completely transparent to IN, transparent above 320, 350, 370 and 3 80 nm and completely opaque to LTV radiation). Plants were grown from seed under UV transparent and UV blocking films and destructively harvested 3-4 weeks after transplanting. Plants under a complete UV blocking film (UV400) produced up to 2.2 times more total above ground dry weight than plants under the UV transparent film. In contrast, anthocyanin content in plants under the UV blocking film was approximately eight times lower than in plants under a UV transparent film. Furthermore, there was a curvilinear relationship between the anthocyanin content and LTV wavelength cutoff such that above 370 run there was no further reduction in anthocyanin content. Fluorescence measurements indicated that photosynthetic performance index was 15% higher under the presence of UVB and UVA (UV280) than under the presence of UVA (UV320) and 53% higher than in the absence of UV radiation suggesting protection of the photosynthetic apparatus possibly by phenolic compounds. These findings are of particular importance as the potential of UV transmitting films to increase secondary compounds may offer the opportunity to produce plants commercially with increased health benefits compared to those grown under conventional films.

Changes in the flavonoid and phenolic acid contents and antioxidant activity of red leaf lettuce (Lollo Rosso) due to cultivation under plastic films varying in ultraviolet transparency

Red leaf lettuce (Lollo Rosso) was grown under three types of plastic films that varied in transparency to UV radiation (designated as UV block, UV low, and UV window). Flavonoid composition was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), total phenolics by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, and antioxiclant capacity by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Exposure to increased levels of UV radiation during cultivation caused the leaves to redden and increased concentrations of total phenols and the main flavonoids, quercetin and cyanidin glycosides, as well as luteolin conjugates and phenolic acids. The total phenol content increased from 1.6 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of fresh weight (FW) for lettuce grown under UV block film to 2.9 and 3.5 mg of GAE/g of FW for lettuce grown under the UV low and UV window films. The antioxiclant activity was also higher in lettuce exposed to higher levels of UV radiation with ORAC values of 25.4 and 55.1 mu mol of Trolox equivalents/g of FW for lettuce grown under the UV block and UV window films, respectively. The content of phenolic acids, quantified as caffeic acid, was also different, ranging from 6.2 to 11.1 mu mol/g of FW for lettuce cultivated under the lowest and highest UV exposure plastic films, respectively. Higher concentrations of the flavonoid glycosides were observed with increased exposure to UV radiation, as demonstrated by the concentrations of aglycones after hydrolysis, which were cyanidin (ranging from 165 to 793 mu g/g), quercetin (ranging from 196 to 880,mu g/g), and luteolin (ranging from 19 to 152 mu g/g). The results demonstrate the potential of the use of UV-transparent plastic as a means of increasing beneficial flavonoid content of red leaf lettuce when the crop is grown in polytunnels.

Changes in the flavonoid and phenolic acid contents and antioxidant activity of red leaf lettuce (Lollo Rosso) due to cultivation under plastic films varying in ultraviolet transparency

Red leaf lettuce (Lollo Rosso) was grown under three types of plastic films that varied in transparency to UV radiation (designated as UV block, UV low, and UV window). Flavonoid composition was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), total phenolics by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, and antioxiclant capacity by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Exposure to increased levels of UV radiation during cultivation caused the leaves to redden and increased concentrations of total phenols and the main flavonoids, quercetin and cyanidin glycosides, as well as luteolin conjugates and phenolic acids. The total phenol content increased from 1.6 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of fresh weight (FW) for lettuce grown under UV block film to 2.9 and 3.5 mg of GAE/g of FW for lettuce grown under the UV low and UV window films. The antioxiclant activity was also higher in lettuce exposed to higher levels of UV radiation with ORAC values of 25.4 and 55.1 mu mol of Trolox equivalents/g of FW for lettuce grown under the UV block and UV window films, respectively. The content of phenolic acids, quantified as caffeic acid, was also different, ranging from 6.2 to 11.1 mu mol/g of FW for lettuce cultivated under the lowest and highest UV exposure plastic films, respectively. Higher concentrations of the flavonoid glycosides were observed with increased exposure to UV radiation, as demonstrated by the concentrations of aglycones after hydrolysis, which were cyanidin (ranging from 165 to 793 mu g/g), quercetin (ranging from 196 to 880,mu g/g), and luteolin (ranging from 19 to 152 mu g/g). The results demonstrate the potential of the use of UV-transparent plastic as a means of increasing beneficial flavonoid content of red leaf lettuce when the crop is grown in polytunnels.

Plumatella geimermassardi, a newly recognized freshwater bryozoan from Britain, Ireland, and continental Europe (Bryozoa : Phylactolaemata)

Plumatella geimermassardi is a newly recognized species of phylactolaemate bryozoan. Its known range extends from Ireland east through southern Norway and south into Italy. Colonies grow close to the substrate with little free branching; the body wall is mostly transparent and without an obvious raphe. Floatoblasts are broadly oval and relatively small, with distinctively large dorsal fenestra and uniformly narrow ventral annulus. The sessoblast basal valve is low and dish-shaped; the annulus bears tubercles which vary in their prominence. This species brings to 14 the number of phylactolaemate bryozoans known in the region.

Advances in cycloaddition polymerizations

Cycloaddition reactions have been employed in polymer synthesis since the mid-nineteen sixties. This critical review will highlight recent notable advances in this field. For example, [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions have been utilized in numerous polymerizations to enable the construction of strained polymer systems such as poly(2-azetidinone)s that can, in turn, afford polyfunctional beta-amino acid derived polymers. Polymers have also been synthesized successfully via (3 + 2) cycloaddition methods utilizing both thermal and high-pressure conditions. 'Click chemistry'-a process involving the reaction of azides with olefins, has also been adopted to generate linear and hyperbranched polymer architectures in a very efficient manner. [4 + 2] Cycloadditions have also been utilized under thermal and high-pressure conditions to produce rigid polymers such as polyimides and polyphenylenes. These cycloaddition polymerization methods afford polymers with potential for use in high performance polymers applications such as high temperature resistant coatings and polymeric organic light emitting diodes.

A synthetic tripeptide as a novel organo-gelator: a structural investigation

A self-associating synthetic tripeptide [Boc-Ala(1)-Aib(2)-beta-Ala(3)-OMe (Aib: alpha-amino-isobutyric acid, beta-Ala: beta-alanine)] forms thermoreversible transparent gels in various organic solvents and this offers the first example of a peptide gelator whose molecular self-assembly afforded for gelation has been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic studies. The crystal structure of an analogous synthetic non-gelator tripeptide [Boc-Ala(1)-Gly(2)-beta-Ala(3)-OMe] is also discussed in light of the self-assembly of the gelator tripeptide. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Superacid-catalyzed polycondensation of acenaphthenequinone with aromatic hydrocarbons

A novel series of linear, high molecular weight polymers were synthesized by one-pot, superacid-catalyzed reaction of acenaphthenequinone (1) with aromatic hydrocarbons. The reactions were performed at room temperature in the Bronsted superacid CF3SO3H (trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, TFSA) and in a mixture of TFSA with methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which was used as both solvent and a medium for generation of electrophilic species from acenaphthenequinone. The polymer-forming reaction was found to be dependent greatly on the acidity of the reaction medium, as judged from the viscosity of the polymers obtained. Polycondensations of acenaphthenequinone with 4,4'-diphenoxybenzophenone (f), 1,3-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene (g), 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene (h), 1,10-bis(4-phenoxyphenyl)decane-1,10-dione (i), 2,6-diphenoxybenzonitrile), 2,6-diphenoxybenzoic acid (k), and 2-(4-biphenylyl)-6-phenylbenzoxazole (1) proceeded in a reaction medium of wide range of acidity, including pure TFSA (Hammett acidity function H-0 of pure TFSA is -14.1), whereas condensation of 1 with biphenyl, terphenyl, diphenyl ether, and 1,4-diphenoxybenzene needed a reaction medium of acidity H-0 less than -11.5. A possible reaction mechanism is suggested. The polymers obtained were found to be soluble in the common organic solvents, and flexible transparent films could be cast from the solutions. H-1 and C-13 NMR analyses of the polymers synthesized revealed their linear, highly regular structure. The polymers also possess high thermostability. Char yields for polymers 3a, 3c, 3d, and 3l in nitrogen were close to 80% at 1000 degrees C.

Film-forming polymers containing in the main-chain dibenzo crown ethers with aliphatic (C-10-C-16), aliphatic-aromatic, or oxyindole spacers

Novel, linear, soluble, high-molecular-weight, film-forming polymers and copolymers in which main-chain crown ether units alternate with aliphatic (C-10-C-16) units have been obtained for the first time from aromatic electrophilic substitution reactions of crown ethers by aliphatic dicarboxylic acids followed by reduction of the carbonyl groups. The crown ether unit is dibenzo-18-crown-6, dibenzo-21-crown-7, dibenzo-24-crown-8, or dibenzo-30-crown-10; the aliphatic spacer is derived from a dicarboxylic acid (sebacic, 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic, hexadecanedioic or 1,4-phenylenediacetic acids). The reactions were performed at 35 degrees C in a mixture of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) with phosphorus pentoxide, 12:1 (w/w), (Eaton's reagent). The carbonyl groups in the polyketones obtained were completely reduced to methylene linkages by treatment at room temperature with triethylsilane in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and dichloromethane. Polymers containing in the main chain crown ethers alternating with oxyindole fragments were prepared by one-pot condensation of crown ethers with isatin in a medium of Eaton's reagent. A possible reaction mechanism is suggested. According to IR and NMR analyses, the polyacylation reactions lead to the formation of isomeric (syn/anti-substituted) crown ether units in the main chain. The polymers obtained were soluble in the common organic solvents, and flexible transparent films could be cast from the solutions. DSC and X-ray studies of the polymers with "symmetrical" crown ethers reveal the presence of the endotherms corresponding to the supramolecular assemblies.

Carbon reduction in buildings (CaRB) - Understanding the social and technical factors that influence energy use in UK buildings

Attempts to reduce the energy consumed in UK homes have met with limited success. One reason for this is a lack of understanding of how people interact with domestic technology – heating systems, lights, electrical equipment and so forth. Attaining such an understanding is hampered by a chronic shortage of detailed energy use data matched to descriptions of the house, the occupants, the internal conditions and the installed services and appliances. Without such information it is impossible to produce transparent and valid models for understanding and predicting energy use. The Carbon Reduction in Buildings (CaRB) consortium of five UK universities plans to develop socio-technical models of energy use, underpinned by a flow of data from a longitudinal monitoring campaign involving several hundred UK homes. This paper outlines the models proposed, the preliminary monitoring work and the structure of the proposed longitudinal study.

Preliterate phonological awareness and early literacy skills in Turkish

The role of preschool phonological awareness in early reading and spelling skills was investigated in the transparent orthography of Turkish. Fifty-six preschool children (mean age=5.6 years) were followed into Grade 2 (mean age=7.6 years). While preschool phonological awareness failed to make any reliable contribution to future reading skills, it was the strongest longitudinal correlate of spelling skills measured at the end of Grades 1 and 2. Overall findings suggested that phonological awareness may be differentially related to reading and spelling, and that spelling is a more sensitive index of phonological processing skills. In this study, verbal short-term memory emerged as the most powerful and consistent longitudinal correlate of reading speed. This finding raised important questions about the component processes of reading speed, and the role of memory and morphosyntactic skills in an agglutinative and transparent orthography such as Turkish.

Miscibility studies of the blends of chitosan with some cellulose ethers

The polymeric films have been prepared based on blends of chitosan with two cellulose ethers-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and methylcellulose by casting from acetic acid solutions. The films were transparent and brittle in a dry state but an immersion of the samples in deionized water for over 24 h leads to their disintegration or partial dissolution. The miscibility of the polymers in the blends has been assessed by infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. It was shown that although weak hydrogen bonding exists between the polymer functional groups the blends are not fully miscible in a dry state. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Isomeric olefin tetracarbonyl complexes of tungsten(I): an infrared spectroelectrochemical study at low temperatures

In situ electrolysis within an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell was applied at 293-243 K in combination with FTIR spectroscopy to monitor spectral changes in the carbonyl stretching region accompanying oxidation of four tetracarbonyl olefin complexes of tungsten(0), viz., trans-[W(CO)(4)(eta(2)-ethene)(2)], trans-[W(CO)(4)(eta(2)-norbornene)(2)], [W(CO)(4)(eta(4)-cycloocta-1,5-diene)], and [W(CO)(4)(eta(4)-norbornadiene)]. In all cases, the one-electron-oxidized radical cations (17-electron complexes) have been identified by their characteristic nu(CO) patterns. For the bidentate diene ligands, the cis stereochemistry is essentially fixed in both the 18- and 17-electron complexes. The radical cation of the trans-bis(ethene) complex was observed only at 243 K, while at room temperature it isomerized rapidly to the corresponding cis-isomer. The thermal stability of the three studied radical cations in the cis configuration correlates with the relative strength of the W-CO bonds in the positions trans to the olefin ligand, which are more affected by the oxidation than the axial W-CO bonds. For the bulky norbornene ligands, their trans configuration in the bis(norbornene) complex remains preserved after the oxidation in the whole temperature range studied. The limited thermal stability of the radical cations of the trans-bis(alkene) complexes is ascribed to dissociation of the alkene ligands. The spectroelectrochemical results are in very good agreement with data obtained earlier by DFT (B3LYP) calculations.

Facebook faith - social networking in a faith based community

This paper views the increasing social networking as an efficient emerging ministry to the moveable generation. Through social network such as Facebook, ministry from a pastoral perspective can become more authentic and meaningful. Ministry is relational. Social Networking sites provide a strong platform to being part in other people’s life. Social networking and living online builds community beyond geographical boarders. Young adults and youths digital identity often reflects their faith, this is supported by research which suggests a practice of more openness to share and expose private issues online. Spiritual and religious views are freely shared, creating sacred spaces in the midst of life practising a holistic faith identity in a secular community. Providing a strong platform for information flow, Social Network is attractive in a postmodern society where inviting people to join in events are perceived as non threatening, making church community events transparent and available to people who do not attend church, inviting spiritual friendships and relationships. Social Networking strengthens relationship in a non hierarchical manner and invites the minister into lives where there previously would have been barriers, engaging in prayer and bible study as well as pastoral care through social networking, thus relationships deepens via social networking making people real. It has been observed that, although community building happens on the net, church affiliation loyalty remains to the local community. Therefore presence ministry though social networks emerges as a core form of ministry, where relations to youth who move from local church to university campuses are kept alive. The asynchronous nature of communication within social networking eases the minister in her work. The minister is able to engage with many individuals at the same time. Before the minister could visit one person at a time, now she visits 5-6 individuals at any given time. Therefore social networking not only increases the quality of the work, but also empowers the minister to be more efficient.

Comparative study of Barium Fluoride thin films produced by ion-beam sputtering and thermal evaporation

Coatings and filters for spaceflight far-infrared components require a robust, non-absorptive low-index thin film material to contrast with the typically higher refractive index infrared materials. Barium fluoride is one such material for the 10 to 20µm wavelength infrared region, however its optical and mechanical properties vary depending on the process used to deposit it in thin film form. Thin films of dielectric produced by thermal evaporation are well documented as having a lower packing density and refractive index than bulk material. The porous and columnar micro structure of these films causes possible deterioration of their performance in varied environmental conditions, primarily because of the moisture absorption. Dielectric thin films produced by the more novel technique of ion-beam sputtering are denser with no columnar micro structure and have a packing density and refractive index similar to the bulk material. A comparative study of Barium Fluoride (BaF2) thin films made by conventional thermal evaporation and ion-beam sputtering is reported. Films of similar thicknesses are deposited on Cadmium Telluride and Germanium substrates. The optical and mechanical properties of these films are then examined. The refractive index n of the films is obtained from applying the modified Manifacier's evvelope method to the spectral measurements made on a Perkin Elmer 580 spectrophotometer. An estimate is also made of the value of the extinction coefficient k in the infrared wavelength transparent region of the thin film. In order to study the mechanical properties of the BaF2 films, and evaluate their usefulness in spaceflight infrared filters and coatings, the thin film samples are subjected to MIL-F-48616 environmental tests. Comparisons are made of their performance under these tests.