Fission stories: Using PomBase to understand Schizosaccharomyces pombe biology

PomBase (www.pombase.org), the model organism database (MOD) for the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, supports research within and beyond the S. pombe community by integrating and presenting genetic, molecular, and cell biological knowledge into intuitive displays and comprehensive data collections. With new content, novel query capabilities, and biologist-friendly data summaries and visualisation, PomBase also drives innovation in the MOD community.

Developing peatland ecosystem accounts to guide targets for restoration

The United Nations System of Environmental and Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) is a geospatial approach, whereby existing data on ecosystem stocks and flows are collated to show changes over time. The framework has been proposed as a means to track and monitor ecosystem restoration targets across the EU. Condition is a key consideration in the conservation assessment of habitats protected under the EU Habitats Directive and ecosystem condition accounts are also integral to the SEEA EA. While SEEA EA accounts have been developed at EU level for an array for ecosystem types, condition accounts remain the least developed. Collating available datasets under the SEEA EA framework, we developed extent and rudimentary condition accounts for peatland ecosystems at catchment scale in Ireland. Information relating to peatland ecosystem sub-types or habitat types was collated for peatland habitats listed under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive, as well as degraded peatlands not included in EU nature conservation networks. While data relating to peatland condition were limited, understanding changes in ecosystem extent and incorporating knowledge of habitat types and degradation served as a proxy for ecosystem condition in the absence of more comprehensive data. This highlighted the importance of the ecosystem extent account, which underpins all other accounts in the SEEA EA framework. Reflecting findings at EU level, drainage, disturbance and land conversion were identified as the main pressures affecting peatland condition. We highlighted a number of options to gather data to build more robust, time-series extent and condition accounts for peatlands at varying accounting scales. Overall, despite the absence of comprehensive data, bringing information under the SEEA EA framework is considered a good starting point, with the integration of expert ecological opinion considered essential to ensure development of reliable accounts, particularly when working at ecosystem sub-type (habitat type) and catchment scale.

The Social Sustainability Barometer 2017–2019: Survey Data on the Energiewende

A large majority of citizens supports the German transition toward clean energy production (Energiewende). Yet, the Energiewende involves a large suite of aspects that determine the support. The social sustainability barometer provides a comprehensive data base on a large variety of questions related to the Energiewende that was collected in three survey waves spanning from 2017 to 2019 among more than 6000 household heads.

The Ethnic Stacking in Africa Dataset: When leaders use ascriptive identity to build military loyalty

Ethnicity has played a core role in the construction of African security institutions, with leaders often relying on coethnics to secure military loyalty. Such practices, termed ethnic stacking, likely have profound consequences for a range of important outcomes, from combat effectiveness to coup propensity to democratization. The Ethnic Stacking in Africa Dataset provides the first comprehensive data on the ethnic stacking practices of all African countries, from independence to 2018 (with 95.7% of leaders and 98.3% of country years recovered). This new data will allow scholars to better understand African militaries and their behavior and capabilities.

Curved Diffraction Patterns of 2D-Cross-Grating Experiments ---Double Slit Still Has Much to Offer

Young’s double slit experiments represent the mystery of quantum mechanics. To explore the mystery, varieties of the single slit, double slit, cross-double slit and 1D-grating experiments were performed, which show the universal phenomena that the interference/diffraction patterns are curved, expanded and inclined. In this article, we show novel phenomena that the diffraction patterns of the 2D-cross-grating experiments can be curved, expanded and inclined simultaneously and continuously. Those experiments provide comprehensive data for developing/testing a theoretical model.

Curved Diffraction Patterns of 2D-Cross-Grating Experiments---Double Slit Still Has Much to Offer

Young’s double slit experiments represent the mystery of quantum mechanics. To explore the mystery, varieties of the single slit, double slit, cross-double slit and 1D-grating experiments were performed, which show the universal phenomena that the interference/diffraction patterns are curved, expanded and inclined. In this article, we show novel phenomena that the diffraction patterns of the 2D-cross-grating experiments can be curved, expanded and inclined simultaneously and continuously. Those experiments provide comprehensive data for developing/testing a theoretical model.