scholarly journals Two decades of research with the GreenLab model in agronomy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe de Reffye ◽  
Baogang Hu ◽  
Mengzhen Kang ◽  
Véronique Letort ◽  
Marc Jaeger

Abstract Background With up to 200 published contributions, the GreenLab mathematical model of plant growth, developed since 2000 under Sino-French co-operation for agronomic applications, is descended from the structural models developed in the AMAP unit that characterize the development of plants and encompass them in a conceptual mathematical framework. The model also incorporates widely recognized crop model concepts (thermal time, light use efficiency and light interception), adapting them to the level of the individual plant. Scope Such long-term research work calls for an overview at some point. That is the objective of this review paper, which retraces the main history of the model’s development and its current status, highlighting three aspects. (1) What are the key features of the GreenLab model? (2) How can the model be a guide for defining relevant measurement strategies and experimental protocols? (3) What kind of applications can such a model address? This last question is answered using case studies as illustrations, and through the Discussion. Conclusions The results obtained over several decades illustrate a key feature of the GreenLab model: owing to its concise mathematical formulation based on the factorization of plant structure, it comes along with dedicated methods and experimental protocols for its parameter estimation, in the deterministic or stochastic cases, at single-plant or population levels. Besides providing a reliable statistical framework, this intense and long-term research effort has provided new insights into the internal trophic regulations of many plant species and new guidelines for genetic improvement or optimization of crop systems.

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Tomsett ◽  
Julian Leyland

Abstract. Vegetation plays a critical role in the modulation of fluvial process and morphological evolution. However, adequately capturing the spatial variability and complexity of vegetation characteristics remains a challenge. Currently, most of the research seeking to address these issues takes place at either the individual plant scale or via larger scale bulk classifications, with the former seeking to characterise vegetation-flow interactions and the latter identifying spatial variation in vegetation types. Herein, we devise a method which extracts functional vegetation traits using UAV laser scanning and multispectral imagery, and upscale these to reach scale guild classifications. Simultaneous monitoring of morphological change is undertaken to identify eco-geomorphic links between different guilds and the geomorphic response of the system in the context of long-term decadal changes. Identification of four guilds from quantitative structural modelling based on analysis of terrestrial and UAV based laser scanning and two further guilds from image analysis was achieved. These were upscaled to reach-scale guild classifications with an overall accuracy of 80 % and links to magnitudes of geomorphic activity explored. We show that different vegetation guilds have a role in influencing morphological change through the stabilisation of banks, but that limits on this influence are evident in the prior long-term analysis. This research reveals that remote sensing offers a solution to the difficulty of scaling traits-based approaches for eco-geomorphic research, and that these methods may be applied to larger areas using airborne laser scanning and satellite imagery datasets.


Author(s):  
David M. Willumsen

The central argument of this book is that voting unity in European legislatures is not primarily the result of the ‘disciplining’ power of the leadership of parliamentary parties, but rather the result of a combination of ideological homogeneity through self-selection into political parties and the calculations of individual legislators about their own long-term benefits. Despite the central role of policy preferences in the subsequent behaviour of legislators, preferences at the level of the individual legislator have been almost entirely neglected in the study of parliaments and legislative behaviour. The book measures these using an until now under-utilized resource: parliamentary surveys. Building on these, the book develops measures of policy incentives of legislators to dissent from their parliamentary parties, and show that preference similarity amongst legislators explains a very substantial proportion of party unity, yet alone cannot explain all of it. Analysing the attitudes of legislators to the demands of party unity, and what drives these attitudes, the book argues that what explains the observed unity (beyond what preference similarity would explain) is the conscious acceptance by MPs that the long-term benefits of belonging to a united party (such as increased influence on legislation, lower transaction costs, and better chances of gaining office) outweigh the short-terms benefits of always voting for their ideal policy outcome. The book buttresses this argument through the analysis of both open-ended survey questions as well as survey questions on the costs and benefits of belonging to a political party in a legislature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 7181
Author(s):  
Seong-Im Park ◽  
Hyeok Jin Kwon ◽  
Mi Hyeon Cho ◽  
Ji Sun Song ◽  
Beom-Gi Kim ◽  
...  

The AP2/EREBP family transcription factors play important roles in a wide range of stress tolerance and hormone signaling. In this study, a heat-inducible rice ERF gene was isolated and functionally characterized. The OsERF115/AP2EREBP110 was categorized to Group-IIIc of the rice AP2/EREBP family and strongly induced by heat and drought treatment. The OsERF115/AP2EREBP110 protein targeted to nuclei and suppressed the ABA-induced transcriptional activation of Rab16A promoter in rice protoplasts. Overexpression of OsERF115/AP2EREBP110 enhanced thermotolerance of seeds and vegetative growth stage plants. The OsERF115/AP2EREBP110 overexpressing (OE) plants exhibited higher proline level and increased expression of a proline biosynthesis P5CS1 gene. Phenotyping of water use dynamics of the individual plant indicates that the OsERF115/AP2EREBP110-OE plant exhibited better water saving traits under heat and drought combined stress. Our combined results suggest the potential use of OsERF115/AP2EREBP110 as a candidate gene for genetic engineering approaches to develop heat and drought stress-tolerant crops.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 892
Author(s):  
Marcelo Epstein

The constitutive characterization of the uniformity and homogeneity of binary elastic composites is presented in terms of a combination of the material groupoids of the individual constituents. The incorporation of these two groupoids within a single double groupoid is proposed as a viable mathematical framework for a unified formulation of this and similar kinds of problems in continuum mechanics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 714-715
Author(s):  
Marie Gualtieri

Abstract The recent reauthorization of the Older Americans Act adds language and definitions to current issues facing the aging population. Specifically, Title I includes definitions related to program adaptation and coordination, workforce and long-term care issues, nutrition and social isolation, as well as family caregivers. Different from the last authorization, these definitions span beyond the individual experience to include other entities impacted by an aging society, such as the workforce and families. Overall, the Title I reauthorization seeks to modernize policy to reflect the current influx of the older adult population and its consequences.


2020 ◽  
pp. 030802262097951
Author(s):  
Lizette Norin ◽  
Björn Slaug ◽  
Maria Haak ◽  
Susanne Iwarsson

Introduction Adults with spinal cord injuries are living longer than previously, and a majority are living in ordinary housing in the community. Housing accessibility is important for maintaining independent occupational performance for this population, but knowledge in this area is insufficient. We investigated housing adaptations and current accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing (>10 years) spinal cord injuries. Method Data from home visits among 122 older adults with spinal cord injuries in Sweden were used. Housing adaptations and environmental barriers were descriptively analysed. Findings Kitchens, entrances, and hygiene areas were common locations for housing adaptations and environmental barriers that generated accessibility problems. The most common adaptations were ramps, wheelchair-accessible stovetops, and ceiling-lifts. Wall-mounted cupboards and high shelves (kitchen), inaccessible storage areas (outside the dwelling), and a lack of grab bars (hygiene area) generated the most accessibility problems. Conclusion Despite housing adaptations, there are considerable accessibility problems in the dwellings of older adults with long-standing spinal cord injuries in Sweden, indicating that long-term follow-up of the housing situation of this population is necessary. Focusing on accessible housing as a prerequisite for occupational performance is at the core of occupational therapy, deserving attention on the individual as well as the societal level.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4116
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Siodla ◽  
Aleksandra Rakowska ◽  
Slawomir Noske

A medium voltage (MV) cable network is a substantial component of the distribution network. Present management of this grid segment is mainly based on the failure rate analysis, i.e., a rise in the number and kind of faults on the actual line means that its technical condition is getting worse. The efficiency of the power system is low and additional costs of repair works, supply interruption, difficulties in the investment planning and operation and maintenance works are necessary. The aim of the R&D works done in the realised project is to implement the management of the MV cable network based on the estimated condition of the individual cable line, obtained from diagnostic measurements. The diagnostic investigations of the cable lines are the reference. Many years of research work have led to the development of the Health Index based on diagnostic, technical and service data.


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