Characteristics of Lactobacillus plantarum QZW5 and its effects on wheat silage under multigelation

Background Silages, as a nutritious and long-term preserved fodder, is achieved through fermentation. However, the constant low temperatures and freeze–thaw event are key factors that affect the quality of silages due to low levels of lactic acid production and undesirable microbial community revitalization. In this study, we attempt to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum QZW5 on the fermentation characteristics of wheat silage under ensiling conditions at the order of the following temperatures: constant low temperatures (5 °C for 30 days), multigelation (10 ℃ at day and – 10 ℃ at night for 30 days) and room temperature (aerobic/anaerobic, 10 days). Results Under multigelation condition, Lactobacillus plantarum QZW5 inoculation significantly increased the contents of lactic acid and acetic (P < 0.05) in the silage. The pH, bacterial richness index (Chao) and diversity index (Shannon) of the silage were significantly decreased by Lactobacillus plantarum QZW5 (P < 0.05). In Lactobacillus plantarum QZW5 inoculated silage, the dominant genera were L. plantarum subsp. plantarum. However, those in the control silage were Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Leuconostoc fallax. LAB (lactic acid bacteria) inoculation increased the abundance of desirable Lactobacillus spp. and inhibited the growth of undesirable Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Filamentous fungi, among others in the silage. Conclusions Therefore, inoculation of L. plantarum QZW5 during ensiling could stimulate favorable fermentation and reconstruct bacterial community for better silage preservation. Graphic abstract

Cultural Landscape Development Integrated with Rural Revitalization: A Case Study of Songkou Ancient Town

As a form of World Heritage, cultural landscapes have evolved linked with production systems and living space and have become an important topic of rural studies worldwide. This paper attempts to examine the development experiences of local revitalization combined with the cultural landscape in Songkou ancient town, China. Firstly, the rural livelihood-based landscape characteristics of mixing natural and man-made environments are the resources of cultural landscape development. Secondly, community action forms the cultural landscape through a spatial identification process involving place, identity, and heritage. Thirdly, “experience grafting” is a coordinated action for industrial development that has allowed the experience of community revitalization in Taiwan to make an effective contribution to the cultural landscape development of Songkou ancient town. The main findings are as follows: (1) The close connection between man and nature is confirmed from the perspective of landscape cognition and provides farmers with a means of earning a living. Hence, agricultural activities meet the principles of sustainable and organic agriculture by using natural resources responsibly. (2) By considering ecological orchards as cultural landscapes, community actions promote a consensus of local values and an effective way of making a livelihood.

‘Monstrous’ craft activism: A city yarn installation that wrought controversy through textile togetherness and community engagement

Yarn has the potential to be monstrous when placed in public places. It can cause controversy, even when carefully planned as a public art installation involving collaboration with business developers and city stakeholders. This article focuses on the fallout from City Hall on one such yarn installation at a public park in Rochester, New York, in summer 2018 and applies the theoretical lens of ‘monstrosity’ used by Nicola Moffat in the book Textiles, Community and Controversy: The Knitting Map. The article demonstrates that while the twelve original tapestries were well received by the Rochester community, they were deemed ‘not natural’ by City Hall and ordered to be removed, despite permission previously granted by a city official. Ultimately, despite the handcraft controversy, this yarn installation ignited a positive community-based response in favour of public art and ‘textile togetherness’, a term defined in this article. And later the tapestries found a second life in a different community revitalization project. The article offers suggestions for future organizers of yarn installations and calls for more public art to be placed in urban areas as the output of community engagement.

National Hazards Vulnerability and the Remediation, Restoration and Revitalization of Contaminated Sites—2. RCRA Sites

Natural hazards can be powerful mechanisms that impact the restoration of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) contaminated sites and the community revitalization associated with these sites. Release of hazardous materials following a natural hazard can impact communities associated with these sites by causing the release of hazardous or toxic materials. These releases can inhibit the restoration of the sites, thus altering the long-term sustainable community revitalization. Hazard-related contaminant releases in areas characterized by large populations can create problems equal to those posed by the original site clean-up. Similarly, natural hazards can enhance the probability of future issues associated with the renovated sites. This manuscript addresses the co-occurrence of 12 natural hazards (singly and in combination) at individual RCRA sites. The co-occurrence was determined by the co-location of exposure likelihoods determined from the Cumulative Resilience Screening Index (CRSI) and the site locations for RCRA facilities provided by Environmental Protection Agency. Results showed that several natural hazards were likely to occur at RCRA facilities and these occurrences should be included in management and policy evaluations of these sites.

Adaptive Reuse of Distressed Malls for Dementia-Friendly City Centers: Outcomes From Community Focus Groups

It is estimated that 5.4 million Americans have some form of dementia and these numbers are expected to rise in the coming decades, leading to an unprecedented demand for memory care housing and services. In searching for innovative options to create more autonomy and better quality of life in dementia care settings, repurposing existing structures, in particular vacant urban malls, may be one option for the large sites needed for the European model of dementia villages. These settings may become sustainable Dementia Friendly City Centers (DFCC), because in the case of enclosed mall construction, the internal infrastructure is in place for lighting, HVAC, with varied spatial configuration of public spaces. This presentation describes the community engagement research being conducted by a research team at a Midwestern university, laying groundwork for the DFCC model for centralized dementia programs, services and attached housing. Focus group outcomes from four disciplines (caregiver, physician, designer, community development) detailed four principle themes including : community revitalization, building sustainability, urban regreening and the nurturing of innovation to further a culture of dementia care which is inclusive, progressive and convergent with the needs of an aging. The DFCC model can be seen as one opportunity to make life better not only for those with needs associated with dementia now, but also for ourselves in the future, therefore educating and updating future stakeholders about the value of this model of care will be critical in transforming current hurdles into future opportunities.