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1. Outcome of whole brain irradiation with a dose-escalated simultaneous-integrated boost in patients with multiple large and/or diffuse brain metastases: real live data and review of the literature

Author

Linda Agolli, Luca Nicosia, Thomas Hilger, Gheorghe Iancu, Ann-Katrin Exeli, Bastian Eul, Tobias Struffert, Till Acker, and Daniel Habermehl

Subjects
Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
Abstract

Abstract Background We retrospectively investigate feasibility and safety of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) including a simultaneous-integrated boost technique (WBRT-SIB) in a cohort of patients with a very poor prognosis suffering from multiple and/or large brain metastases, unfavorable primary histology, poor performance status and/or symptomatic BMs. Materials and Methods Thirty-five patients with high brain tumor burden, extracranial metastases and low life-expectancy were treated with WBRT-SIB mostly with 35-42 Gy/14 fractions. All metastases were boosted in patients with up to 12 BMs. In patients with > 12 BM, large and/or small metastases in critical brain regions were boosted up to a maximum of 12 SIB volumes. Results The median number of BM was 8 (range 2–45) and the median BM diameter was 12 mm (range 4–90 mm). Fifteen (43%) patients had ≥ 10 BMs and 25 patients presented with a Karnofski index ≤ 80%. Primary tumor histology was NSCLC (n = 13), SCLC (n = 11), breast cancer (n = 7), melanoma (n = 2), other (n = 2). The median iPFS was not reached, and 12- and 18-months iPFS were 75% and 50%, respectively. Overall, seven patients had intracranial progression: two patients within the SIB and WBRT area, one patient only within the SIB region and four patients had new BMs in the WBRT volume alone. The median iPFS for non-SCLC patients was 17 months and the 12- and 18-month iPFS were 56.8% and 28.4%, respectively. There was no significant OS difference between SCLC-group and non-SCLC patients (p = 0.38). Overall, median OS was 8.7 months and 1-year OS was 25%. The treatment was generally well-tolerated with no observed cases of radionecrosis. Conclusion Our WBRT-SIB approach involves a combination of whole brain radiotherapy and a simultaneous integrated boost to specific tumor volumes, and its effectiveness is compared with other treatment modalities in the literature. Further research, including prospective studies with larger patient cohorts, is necessary to validate and refine the findings.

Published
2024
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2. Biometric variability of inflorescence and flower traits among ex situ accessions of the neotropical oilseed palm Acrocomia Mart.

Author

Catherine Meyer, Thomas Hilger, Kalcida Naomi Kuki, Sérgio Yoshimitsu Motoike, and Georg Cadisch

Subjects
Acrocomia, flower biometry, inflorescence architecture, oilseed palm, phenotypic diversity, taxonomy, Ecology, QH540-549.5
Abstract

Abstract The oilseed palm genus Acrocomia is suitable for sustainable oil production in South America. The high phenotypic diversity of wild populations poses a challenge for the delimitation of the genus. Comparing the inflorescence architecture, a first‐order panicle, and staminate and pistillate flower traits could be a valuable tool in resolving the taxonomic disarray. Thus, this study aims to characterize the differences in the inflorescence architecture and floral structures of three common and economically significant Acrocomia species: A. aculeata, A. totai, and A. intumescens. Biometric traits of the inflorescence architecture and floral structures of various Acrocomia accessions in an ex situ germplasm collection in Brazil were assessed. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster analysis based on the Gower distance was used to measure dissimilarities between the individual plants of the accessions. To our best knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of the presence of second‐order rachillae in the genus Acrocomia. Evaluated traits showed a high level of variation within and between accessions, emphasizing the phenotypic diversity of the genus. The accessions of A. totai were distinguishable from those of the other two species by their inflorescence architecture and flower traits. The dissimilarities between A. aculeata and A. intumescens were not sufficient to differentiate both. In conclusion, the quantitative assessment of inflorescence and floral traits is a valuable tool for taxonomic resolution of the genus.

Published
2024
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3. Bacillus Strains with Catalase Enzyme Improve the Physiology and Growth of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Author

Syeda Wadia Zainab Saeed, Iqra Naseer, Zahir Ahmad Zahir, Thomas Hilger, Shumila Shahid, Zafar Iqbal, and Maqshoof Ahmad

Subjects
antioxidative enzymes, Bacillus spp., catalase activity, exopolysaccharide production, reactive oxygen species, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract

Catalase can decompose hydrogen peroxide in plants under controlled and stressed conditions. In a stressed environment, an increase in hydrogen peroxide production makes catalase activity a major defense system for plant growth. The current study was conducted to evaluate the catalase activity of the pre-isolated and identified bacterial strains Bacillus aryabhattai (AN30), Bacillus megaterium (AN24), Bacillus megaterium (AN31) and Bacillus megaterium (AN35) and their potential for rice seedling growth promotion. These strains were characterized for quantitative catalase, urease, siderophore and exopolysaccharide production using LB media. Subsequently, the effectiveness of these strains was checked by quantifying the catalase activity in the rhizosphere, roots and shoots of rice seedlings. The secretion of organic and phenolic compounds produced by the tested strains in liquid culture was also investigated. Plant growth parameters were also studied in a growth room trial. Our results showed that the strain AN24 showed the maximum catalase activity (1.36 mol cm−1), urease activity (1.35 mol cm−1) and exopolysaccharide (4.20 µg mL−1) and siderophore (2.32%) production in LB media. All tested strains showed significantly higher catalase activity in soil compared to the control. Among sole applications, strain AN24 showed better results; however, the consortium application of strains AN24 + AN30 + AN35 + AN31 showed the maximum improvement in dry biomass, shoot and root length, and increase in catalase activity of rice seedlings. The results showed that a consortium of these Bacillus strains with catalase activity has greater potential to enhance the antioxidant defense system and growth promotion of rice seedlings. However, further experimentation under natural conditions is required before using these strains as potential bioinoculants for improving rice growth and yield.

Published
2023
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4. Agricultural diversity linkage to income, wealth, diets and nutrition: Case of Lilongwe district in Malawi

Author

Paul Fatch, Charles Masangano, Irmgard Jordan, Thomas Hilger, Alexander Kalimbira, Maria Gracia Glas, Anna Roehlig, Gabriella Chiutsi-Phiri, Judith Francesca Mangani Kamoto, Isaac Mambo, and Ernst-August Nuppenau

Subjects
Crop diversity, Livestock diversity, Food system, Livelihoods, Science
Abstract

There is global debate whether to diversify agricultural production. A study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Lilongwe district, Malawi, to determine effects of agricultural diversity on income, wealth, diets and nutrition. A cross-sectional design was used in surveys on agriculture, income, assets, and nutrition coupled with anthropometric measurements targeting children, men, and women in 424 households. Using an agricultural diversity index constituting crop livestock and fruit diversity, level of agricultural diversity was 28.22%). Bivariate correlation analysis showed that agricultural diversity had a significant positive relationship with household income (r = 0.369), wealth (r = 0.363), and dietary diversity (r = 0.144 for children, r = 0.298 for women, and r = 0.211 for men). However, agricultural diversity had no significant effect on nutritional status of children, women, and men. This implies that to influence nutrition, other factors, such as better health, need to complement agricultural diversity.

Published
2023
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5. Combined Effects of Drought and Soil Fertility on the Synthesis of Vitamins in Green Leafy Vegetables

Author

Taewan Park, Sahrah Fischer, Christine Lambert, Thomas Hilger, Irmgard Jordan, and Georg Cadisch

Subjects
drought, environment, food composition, food security, human health, nutrition security, Agriculture (General), S1-972
Abstract

Green leafy vegetables, such as Vigna unguiculata, Brassica oleraceae, and Solanum scabrum, are important sources of vitamins A, B1, and C. Although vitamin deficiencies considerably affect human health, not much is known about the effects of changing soil and climate conditions on vegetable vitamin concentrations. The effects of high or low soil fertility and three drought intensities (75%, 50%, and 25% pot capacity) on three plant species were analysed (n = 48 pots) in a greenhouse trial. The fresh yield was reduced in all the vegetables as a result of lower soil fertility during a severe drought. The vitamin concentrations increased with increasing drought stress in some species. Regardless, the total vitamin yields showed a net decrease due to the significant biomass loss. Changes in vitamin concentrations as a result of a degrading environment and increasing climate change events are an important factor to be considered for food composition calculations and nutrient balances, particularly due to the consequences on human health, and should therefore be considered in agricultural trials.

Published
2023
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6. Are farmer perceptions among significant determinants of adoption of agricultural diversity in Malawi? A case of Lilongwe district

Author

Paul Fatch, Charles Masangano, Judith F. M. Kamoto, Irmgard Jordan, Thomas Hilger, Isaac Mambo, Alexander Kalimbira, and Ernst-August Nuppenau

Subjects
crop production, extension, innovation diffusion, livestock production, Agriculture
Abstract

Agricultural diversity can strengthen resilience of livelihood of farmers to climate change and market uncertainties while, potentially at the same time, offering better dietary and nutritional prospects for households. Adoption of agricultural diversity in Malawi is low. Policy-makers, researchers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and extension staff need to understand dynamics of adoption of agricultural diversity in order to develop appropriate policies and interventions to promote agricultural diversification. This study was conducted in Lilongwe District of Malawi to identify factors influencing adoption of agricultural diversity and particularly to test if farmer perceptions were among significant determinants of adoption of agricultural diversity. A survey of 424 randomly sampled households was conducted in 2016 and 2017. A Tobit model, having 16 possible determinants, was run against a holistic agricultural diversity index that combined number of crop, livestock, and fruit tree species and cropping patterns. The study found that farmer perceptions were among significant determinants of adoption of agricultural diversity. Some farmers perceived that they faced problems to find seeds of preferred varieties, droughts posed problems to farming; some crops produced good yields while other crops did not. Farmers with such perceptions were less likely to practice agricultural diversification. In addition to perceptions, engagement in off-farm sources of income also negatively affected agricultural diversity. Other factors, namely farmers’ access to land and credit, irrigation farming, selling of crops, ownership of radios, and farmer group membership fostered adoption of agricultural diversity.

Published
2020
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7. A Collaborative, Systems Approach for the Development of Biomass-Based Value Webs: The Case of the Acrocomia Palm

Author

Ricardo Vargas-Carpintero, Thomas Hilger, Karen Tiede, Carolin Callenius, Johannes Mössinger, Roney Fraga Souza, Juan Carlos Barroso Armas, Frank Rasche, and Iris Lewandowski

Subjects
Acrocomia spp., Acrocomia aculeata, bioeconomy, biomass-based value web, biobased value chain, agricultural value chain, Agriculture
Abstract

The diversification of biomass resources is key to the transition towards a bioeconomy. Acrocomia spp., a neotropical genus of palms, is an example of plants’ diversity potential for a sustainable bioeconomy. Acrocomia’s adaptability to environments outside rainforests, its specific fruit properties and high yields has generated the interest of researchers and entrepreneurs, triggering its introduction as a multipurpose oil crop. Developing sustainability-oriented and knowledge-based acrocomia value webs requires a collaborative, systems approach from the outset. Fostering an inter- and transdisciplinary dialogue on acrocomia through a participatory workshop with both academic and non-academic actors contributed to this endeavor. This allowed the identification of priorities, knowledge gaps, and stakeholder roles, and served as the basis for the co-creation of a research and development roadmap. Key steps for the introduction of acrocomia include intertwined technical aspects relating to the development of planting material, cultivation systems, processing technologies and applications, market entry, and value web governance aspects. A broad collaboration among scientists, the public and private sectors, farmers, and civil society, is required for the development of acrocomia value webs. The incorporation of sustainability and a consideration of context in the design and development phases are fundamental to fostering the sustainable performance of acrocomia value webs.

Published
2022
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8. Role of Policies, Stakeholder Programs and Interventions in Agricultural Diversification among Smallholder Farmers: A Case of Lilongwe District in Malawi

Author

Paul Fatch, Charles Masangano, Thomas Hilger, Irmgard Jordan, Judith Francesca Mangani Kamoto, Isaac Mambo, Alexander Kalimbira, Gabriella Chiutsi-Phiri, and Ernst-August Nuppenau

Subjects
diversification promotion, intervention challenges, policy impact, Agriculture
Abstract

Globally, governments and agricultural organizations implement policies and programs reflected in interventions such as input subsidies, extension services for modern inputs and training, which either enable or hinder agricultural diversification. A study was carried out from 2016 to 2019 in Lilongwe district, Malawi, to determine the influence of policies, programs and interventions on agricultural diversification. The study was using a mixed-method sequential explanatory design. It involved a literature review, interviews with 424 male and female smallholder farmers, 35 demonstration plots on agricultural diversification, 27 focus group discussions with farmers, and 17 key informant interviews with stakeholder representatives. The literature review showed that the 2016 Malawi agricultural policy already prioritized agricultural diversification as it included a policy statement and policy objective on agricultural diversification. This study found that stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Agriculture, Total Land Care, National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi, School of Agriculture for Family Independence, and Trustees of Agriculture Promotion Program, were promoting agricultural diversification. They did it by (i) organizing farmers into groups for agricultural diversification activities, (ii) provision of extension advice, and (iii) providing inputs for different crops as well as livestock either for free, on pass-on, or through loans. However, interventions were on small scale, had not fully addressed hindrances to agricultural diversification, were mostly supply-driven, and the interventions themselves faced sustainability-threatening problems such as failure to pass on livestock and seeds. The agricultural policy was thus not sufficiently translated into widespread programs and interventions to foster improvement in agricultural diversification. As such, we suggest re-channeling of funding from promoting mono-cropping to agricultural diversification by broadening the crop and livestock focus of advisory services, enabling farmer organization initiatives and community engagement for farmers to solve most diversification challenges on their own.

Published
2021
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9. Farmer-Centered and Structural Perspectives on Innovation and Scaling: A Study on Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition in East Africa

Author

Thomas Pircher, Magdalena Nertinger, Luisa Goss, Thomas Hilger, Jeninah Karungi-Tumutegyereize, Lydiah Waswa, and Andrea Knierim

Abstract

Purpose: We studied innovation processes in agriculture and nutrition to discuss a scaling approach that encompasses the technical, institutional, and behavioral dimensions of change. Approach: To understand dynamics across these dimensions, we analyzed farmers' innovation processes through two analytical lenses: farmer-centered and structural. Focus group discussions in Kapchorwa, Uganda, and Teso South, Kenya, looked at farmers' choices of innovations. Individual interviews and stakeholder workshops at both study sites increased understanding of the local innovation system. Findings: To address local challenges, strive for livelihood aspirations, and fulfill personal taste preferences, farmers selected and adapted practices promoted by a research project. A wide range of additional support providers encouraged farmers to develop innovations in agriculture, marketing, and nutrition. Practical implications: By promoting innovation as a process rather than an outcome, it is possible to address context-specific needs and enhance farmers' adaptive capacities. Scaling these processes necessitates the involvement of innovation support service providers in order to create an enabling environment for experimentation. Theoretical implications: Analytical dualism highlights the different roles of human agency and structures in innovation processes needed to design successful scaling strategies. Originality/value: This paper sets out a novel approach to understanding the increasingly discussed dimensions of scaling by linking them with concepts from innovation studies.

Published
2024
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10. Simulating Stakeholder-Based Land-Use Change Scenarios and Their Implication on Above-Ground Carbon and Environmental Management in Northern Thailand

Author

Melvin Lippe, Thomas Hilger, Sureeporn Sudchalee, Naruthep Wechpibal, Attachai Jintrawet, and Georg Cadisch

Subjects
Northern Thailand, land-use change, above-ground carbon, model soft-coupling, stakeholder-based scenarios, Agriculture
Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine whether the coupling of a land-use change (LUC) model with a carbon-stock accounting approach and participatory procedures can be beneficial in a data-limited environment to derive implications for environmental management. Stakeholder-based LUC scenarios referring to different storylines of agricultural intensification and reforestation were simulated to explore their impact on above-ground carbon (AGC) for a period of twenty years (2009–2029). The watershed of Mae Sa Mai, Northern Thailand was used as a case study for this purpose. Coupled model simulations revealed that AGC stocks could be increased by up to 1.7 Gg C through expansion of forests or orchard areas. A loss of up to 0.4 Gg C would occur if vegetable production continue to expand at the expense of orchard and fallow areas. The coupled model approach was useful due to its moderate data demands, enabling the comparison of land-use types differing in AGC build-up rates and rotation times. The scenario analysis depicted clear differences in the occurrence of LUC hotspots, highlighting the importance of assessing the impact of potential future LUC pathways at the landscape level. The use of LUC scenarios based on local stakeholder scenarios offer a higher credibility for climate mitigation strategies but also underline the need to co-design policy frameworks that acknowledge the heterogeneity of stakeholder needs and environmental management frameworks.

Published
2017
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11. Bacterial secondary metabolites: possible mechanism for weed suppression in wheat

Author

Abubakar Dar, Evans Were, Thomas Hilger, Zahir Ahmad Zahir, Maqshoof Ahmad, Azhar Hussain, and Frank Rasche

Subjects
Immunology, Genetics, General Medicine, Molecular Biology, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Microbiology
Abstract

Chemical weed control is an effective method, but has proved hazardous for humans, environment, and soil biodiversity. Use of allelopathic bacteria may be more efficient and sustainable weed control measure. The bacterial inoculants have never been studied in context of their interaction with weed root exudates and precursor-dependent production of the natural phytotoxins (cyanide, cytolytic enzymes and auxin) by these strains to understand their weed suppression and wheat growth promotion abilities. Therefore, root exudates of Avena fatua, Phalaris minor, Rumex dentatus, and wheat were quantified and their role in microbial root colonization and secondary metabolite production, i.e., cyanide, cytolytic enzymes, phenolics, and elevated auxin concentration, was studied. The results depicted l-tryptophan and glycine as major contributors of elevated cyanide and elevated levels in weed rhizosphere by the studied Pseudomonas strains, through their higher root colonization ability in weeds as compared with wheat. Furthermore, the higher root colonization also enhanced p-coumaric acid (photosynthesis inhibitor by impairing cytochrome c oxidase activity in plants) and cytolytic enzyme (root cell wall degradation) concentration in weed rhizosphere. In conclusion, the differential root colonization of wheat and weeds by these strains is responsible for enhancing weed suppression (enhancing phytotoxic effect) and wheat growth promotion (lowering phytotoxic effect).

Published
2023
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15. Gaia Early Data Release 3 The Gaia Catalogue of Nearby Stars

Author

Zoltan Balog, G. Tauran, Vincenzo Ripepi, Gerry Gilmore, M. Barros, Łukasz Wyrzykowski, Alberto Cellino, E. Poggio, P. Gavras, Simchon Faigler, Marc Audard, C. Nicolas, M. Vaillant, A. Mora, Paolo Tanga, Silvio Leccia, Despina Hatzidimitriou, A. Dapergolas, Eva Sciacca, Alberto Krone-Martins, N. Cheek, M. Hauser, Ulrike Heiter, S. Managau, L. Rohrbasser, Mathias Schultheis, E. Utrilla, Minia Manteiga, Marcella Marconi, Xavier Luri, F. De Angeli, Shay Zucker, Paolo Giacobbe, J. Juaristi Campillo, H. I. Siddiqui, J. Torra, F. X. Pineau, Roy Gomel, Thierry Morel, T. Cornez, Eric Gosset, Mario Gai, Jose M Hernandez, G. Giuffrida, A. de Torres, Laszlo Szabados, S. Ragaini, E. van Dillen, D. Semeux, Leanne P. Guy, R. Drimmel, L. M. Sarro, S. Voutsinas, Johannes Sahlmann, Damien Ségransan, S. Liao, Derek W. Morris, Jan Rybizki, André Moitinho, T. Roegiers, Bengt Edvardsson, Tristan Cantat-Gaudin, Martin Altmann, C. Turon, Laurent Chemin, K. Janßen, D. Garabato, Alejandra Recio-Blanco, Michał Pawlak, Lorenzo Rimoldini, Sergei A. Klioner, F. Torra, Carine Babusiaux, Alfred Castro-Ginard, G. Plum, Mariateresa Crosta, Iain A. Steele, A. Yoldas, Alex Lobel, J.-L. Bassilana, Harry Enke, Rosanna Sordo, Francesca Fragkoudi, F. De Luise, M. Bernet, Alessandro Sozzetti, M. Kontizas, Roberto Molinaro, C. Diener, S. Regibo, D. Barbato, T. Pauwels, R. E. de Souza, C. Fabricius, D. Souami, L. Martin Polo, M. Ramos-Lerate, Douglas J. Marshall, A. G. Butkevich, P. Madrero Pardo, P. Re Fiorentin, J. F. Le Campion, Jérôme Berthier, N. Tonello, Ummi Abbas, Y. Lebreton, M. Biermann, D. Munoz, N. Brouillet, David Teyssier, O. Vanel, P. A. Palicio, A. Jean-Antoine Piccolo, A. F. Lanza, Jesus Salgado, E. del Pozo, Antti Penttilä, R. Geyer, Ramachrisna Teixeira, L. Chaoul, Mike Smith, Rossella Cancelliere, J. M. Martín-Fleitas, D. Baines, M. Romero-Gómez, E. Anglada Varela, E. Livanou, X. Peñalosa Esteller, S. Diakite, Alberto Vecchiato, Thomas Wevers, Daniel Hestroffer, Sebastian L. Hidalgo, M. David, Angela Bragaglia, J. De Ridder, Mark Taylor, Roberto Morbidelli, A. Sagristà Sellés, Nigel Hambly, Arnaud Siebert, R. L. Smart, P. Burgess, Y. Le Fustec, Alessandro Bressan, H. Steidelmüller, Alberto Riva, H. E. Huckle, Morgan Fouesneau, N. Bauchet, P. Osborne, S. Marinoni, Krzysztof A. Rybicki, A. Masip, Laia Casamiquela, R. Messineo, A. Garofalo, Antonella Vallenari, R. Mor, Sahar Shahaf, P. de Laverny, G. Sadowski, Peter G. Jonker, A. Kochoska, F. Taris, A. F. Mulone, M. Ajaj, C. Ducourant, T. A. Lister, F. A. Jansen, Ruth Carballo, J. M. Carrasco, Tatiana Muraveva, W. van Reeven, P. Sartoretti, Jordi Portell, Andreas Korn, E. Salguero, Ana Ulla, P. Di Matteo, Coryn A. L. Bailer-Jones, J. Bakker, F. Riclet, G. Altavilla, Ulrich Bastian, P. Esquej, R. Buzzi, M. Segol, A. C. Lanzafame, L. Balaguer-Núñez, Beatrice Bucciarelli, C. Panem, E. Balbinot, T. Carlucci, Davide Massari, P. de Teodoro, Sébastien Lambert, M. I. Carnerero, Amina Helmi, F. Solitro, C. Robin, Carlos Dafonte, Tsevi Mazeh, A. Panahi, C. Fabre, Sergi Blanco-Cuaresma, Deborah Busonero, Maroussia Roelens, O. Marchal, Tomaz Zwitter, B. Holl, G. Holland, William Thuillot, Michael Davidson, E. Licata, Michele Bellazzini, Teresa Antoja, E. Szegedi-Elek, Francesca Figueras, Eric Slezak, Sergio Messina, N. Samaras, E. Poujoulet, Mark Cropper, A. Burlacu, R. Blomme, Elmé Breedt, Annie C. Robin, H. E. Delgado, Z. Kostrzewa-Rutkowska, Georges Kordopatis, Conny Aerts, L. Noval, Daniel Michalik, P. J. Richards, L. Karbevska, Grigori Fedorets, Maria Süveges, F. Crifo, J. Guiraud, D. Eappachen, K. Kruszyńska, Gisella Clementini, P. Yvard, Carme Jordi, L. Bramante, G. Busso, P. David, E. Fraile, Ugo Becciani, A. Lorca, Sanjeev Khanna, Alex Bombrun, Isabella Pagano, C. Dolding, A. M. Piersimoni, Paolo Montegriffo, A. Abreu Aramburu, Anthony G. A. Brown, Simon Hodgkin, Ennio Poretti, M. Fabrizio, I. Gonzalez-Santamaria, N. A. Walton, P. Panuzzo, Benoit Carry, Raphael Guerra, J. J. González-Vidal, T. Lebzelter, Nami Mowlavi, C. Barache, M. M. S. Marcos Santos, S. Cowell, Marco Castellani, J. J. Aguado, N. R. Millar, A. Baudesson-Stella, N. Leclerc, S. Bartolomé, J. Álvarez Cid-Fuentes, F. van Leeuwen, S. Bouquillon, Uwe Lammers, D. W. Evans, L. Eyer, M. van Leeuwen, A. Guerrier, J. González-Núñez, H. E. P. Lindstrøm, Miguel García-Torres, Ilaria Musella, L. Palaversa, W. Roux, W. Löffler, J.-B. Delisle, Dimitri Pourbaix, Timo Prusti, J. Osinde, M. Riello, G. Orrù, C. Crowley, Alessandra Mastrobuono-Battisti, Hector Canovas, D. L. Harrison, Y. Lasne, E. F. del Peloso, Laurent Galluccio, N. Hładczuk, T. Boch, Martin A. Barstow, László Molnár, Aldo Dell'Oro, C. Pagani, Krzysztof Nienartowicz, Stefano Bertone, Patrick Charlot, Eduard Masana, Elisabetta Caffau, N. Robichon, Luciana Bianchi, Federica Spoto, Felix Franke, J. L. Halbwachs, R. Gutiérrez-Sánchez, L. Pulone, Yassine Damerdji, Frédéric Arenou, Richard I. Anderson, Elena Pancino, David Hobbs, P. Castro Sampol, Yves Fremat, Pierre Kervella, C. Zurbach, Sofia Randich, Robert G. Mann, J. C. Segovia, Diego Bossini, D. Katz, Nicholas Rowell, P. Ramos, E. Racero, G. Gracia-Abril, R. Santoveña, R. Haigron, N. Unger, Enrique Solano, S. G. Baker, W. J. Cooper, F. Royer, S. Accart, George M. Seabroke, João Alves, Emese Plachy, Thomas Hilger, Pedro García-Lario, Gérard Jasniewicz, Kevin Benson, Christos Siopis, J. Souchay, Agnes Fienga, Giovanni Comoretto, F. Julbe, A. Hutton, Pierre Fernique, Céline Reylé, F. Pailler, Stefan Jordan, J. H. J. de Bruijne, C. A. Stephenson, E. Gerlach, Elisa Distefano, Karri Muinonen, Y. Viala, H. Zhao, L. Siltala, C. P. Murphy, Maria-Rosa L. Cioni, Andrea Chiavassa, D. Molina, J. Fernández-Hernández, G. Jevardat de Fombelle, Federico Marocco, Nicoletta Sanna, Alexey Mints, Juan Zorec, Ángel Gómez, I. Bellas-Velidis, M. G. Lattanzi, C. M. Raiteri, E. Brugaletta, Mikael Granvik, O. L. Creevey, Guy Rixon, Francois Mignard, P. M. Marrese, M. A. Álvarez, Caroline Soubiran, Rene Andrae, C. Ordénovic, A. Delgado, V. Sanchez Gimenez, J. Castañeda, D. Vicente, R. De March, A. Garcia-Gutierrez, M. Weiler, F. Thévenin, Lennart Lindegren, Isabelle Lecoeur-Taïbi, Jon Marchant, Monica Rainer, Alessandro Spagna, Andrej Prsa, M. Sarasso, Nicolas Rambaux, Paul J. McMillan, Ludovic Delchambre, M. Garcia-Reinaldos, M. Haywood, C. Fouron, S. Girona, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Universidad de Barcelona, Xunta de Galicia, Generalitat de Catalunya, INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino (OATo), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Univers, Transport, Interfaces, Nanostructures, Atmosphère et environnement, Molécules (UMR 6213) (UTINAM), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Galaxies, Etoiles, Physique, Instrumentation (GEPI), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Joseph Louis LAGRANGE (LAGRANGE), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES), Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac] (LAB), Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Astronomische Rechen-Institut [Heidelberg] (ARI), Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg (ZAH), Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg]-Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg], Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg (ObAS), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS), Mésocentre de calcul (MESOCENTRE), Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Centre de Données Astronomiques de Strasbourg, Partenaires INRAE, Géoazur (GEOAZUR 7329), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA), Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier (LUPM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Université Montpellier 2 - Sciences et Techniques (UM2), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA (UMR_8109)), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), Institut de Physique de Rennes (IPR), Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), THALES, Université de Namur [Namur] (UNamur), Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Météo-France -Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Météo-France, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg] = Heidelberg University-Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg] = Heidelberg University, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics (LESIA), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Université de Rennes (UR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), THALES [France], Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Montpellier 2 - Sciences et Techniques (UM2)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universidad de Cantabria, Gaia Collaboration, Planetary-system research, Department of Physics, Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Astronomy, and ITA

Subjects
trigonometric parallaxes, Solar neighborhood, Stars: luminosity function, mass function, Astronomy, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, luminosity function, mass function [Stars], Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi, luminosity: mass function [Stars], Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, MAIN-SEQUENCE, Hertzsprung-Russell-diagram, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Stars:low-mass brown-dwarfs, wide binaries, Physics, education.field_of_study, north galactic pole, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astrometry, BROWN DWARF, Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics, mass function, NORTH GALACTIC POLE, Physical Sciences, symbols, CIRCULAR-VELOCITY CURVE, Halo, astro-ph.SR, Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, stars: luminosity function, astro-ph.GA, Posterior probability, Population, main-sequence, Luminosity-Function, FOS: Physical sciences, Mass-Function, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Computer Science::Digital Libraries, Photometry (optics), DWARF LUMINOSITY-FUNCTION, dwarf luminosity-function, sky-survey, symbols.namesake, Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia e Astrofisica, luminosity function [stars], low-mass [Stars], 0103 physical sciences, Stars: luminosity: mass function, Stars: low-mass, WHITE-DWARFS, education, Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR), brown dwarf, catalogs, astrometry, Hertzsprung-Russell and C-M diagrams, stars: low-mass, solar neighborhood, Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies, SKY-SURVEY, white-dwarfs, Science & Technology, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Luminosity function, White dwarf, TRIGONOMETRIC PARALLAXES, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Low-mass, 115 Astronomy, Space science, WIDE BINARIES, Stars, Physics::History of Physics, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA), solar-neighborhood, Catalogs, circular-velocity curve, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
Abstract

Aims. We produce a clean and well-characterised catalogue of objects within 100 pc of the Sun from the Gaia Early Data Release 3. We characterise the catalogue through comparisons to the full data release, external catalogues, and simulations. We carry out a first analysis of the science that is possible with this sample to demonstrate its potential and best practices for its use., Methods. Theselection of objects within 100 pc from the full catalogue used selected training sets, machine-learning procedures, astrometric quantities, and solution quality indicators to determine a probability that the astrometric solution is reliable. The training set construction exploited the astrometric data, quality flags, and external photometry. For all candidates we calculated distance posterior probability densities using Bayesian procedures and mock catalogues to define priors. Any object with reliable astrometry and a non-zero probability of being within 100 pc is included in the catalogue., Results. We have produced a catalogue of 331 312 objects that we estimate contains at least 92% of stars of stellar type M9 within 100 pc of the Sun. We estimate that 9% of the stars in this catalogue probably lie outside 100 pc, but when the distance probability function is used, a correct treatment of this contamination is possible. We produced luminosity functions with a high signal-to-noise ratio for the main-sequence stars, giants, and white dwarfs. We examined in detail the Hyades cluster, the white dwarf population, and wide-binary systems and produced candidate lists for all three samples. We detected local manifestations of several streams, superclusters, and halo objects, in which we identified 12 members of Gaia Enceladus. We present the first direct parallaxes of five objects in multiple systems within 10 pc of the Sun., Conclusions. We provide the community with a large, well-characterised catalogue of objects in the solar neighbourhood. This is a primary benchmark for measuring and understanding fundamental parameters and descriptive functions in astronomy.

Published
2021
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17. Sustainable land use options for optimum resources use in maize based cropping system on uplands of Western Thailand

Author

Thomas Hilger, Khalid Hussain, Ayesha Ilyas, Chalermchart Wongleecharoen, Georg Cadisch, Ashfaq Ahmad, and Aftab Wajid

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, biology, Agroforestry, business.industry, Conservation agriculture, Forestry, Intercropping, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, biology.organism_classification, 01 natural sciences, Tillage, Minimum tillage, Agriculture, Soil retrogression and degradation, 040103 agronomy & agriculture, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Environmental science, Cropping system, Soil conservation, business, Agronomy and Crop Science, 010606 plant biology & botany
Abstract

Worldwide, soil degradation due to erosion is still a major issue. Minimum tillage, intercropping, and alley cropping are important features of conservation agriculture and food security, but the farming communities are reluctant to accept these practices due to area reduction and plant competition. We investigated maize sole cropping (T1) as current farmers’ practice; T2: maize intercropped with chilies, tillage and fertilization; T3: maize-chili intercrop, mini. tillage, fertilization, Jack-bean relay cropping; T4: Like T3 but with hedges; T5 and T6 like T3 and T4, respectively, but without fertilization on Thai uplands during 2010 and 2011. Maize above ground biomass (AGB) was higher in T2 than T1 during both years. Light use efficiency (LUE) for AGB was 1.44–1.56 and 1.44–1.96 g DM MJ−1 in T4 during 2010 and 2011, 17–47% higher than T1, respectively. Land equivalent ratio was 1.23 and 1.17 in T2 while 1.28 and 1.21 in T4 during 2010 and 2011, respectively. Maize grain nitrogen (Ng) was significantly lower in unfertilized treatments. Intercropping with soil conservation enhanced land use efficiency with soil protection against erosion. Understanding spatial variations of LUE, Ng, as well as their impact on crop productivity are useful for fine-tuning crop management in conservation agriculture and sustainable land use on uplands.

Published
2020
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19. Acrocomia spp.: neglected crop, ballyhooed multipurpose palm or fit for the bioeconomy? A review

Author

Thomas Hilger, Johannes Mössinger, Karen Tiede, Ricardo Vargas-Carpintero, Roney Fraga Souza, Iris Lewandowski, and Juan Carlos Barroso Armas

Subjects
Sustainable development, Environmental Engineering, biology, Agroforestry, business.industry, biology.organism_classification, Elaeis guineensis, Acrocomia, Water scarcity, Agriculture, Sustainability, Applied research, business, Agronomy and Crop Science, Cropping
Abstract

Acrocomia spp., a genus of wild-growing palms in the neotropics, is rapidly gaining interest as a promising multipurpose crop. Diverse products can be derived from various components of the palm, the oils being of highest interest. Acrocomia shows similar oil yield and fatty acid composition to the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). It is, however, able to cope with a wider range of environmental conditions, including temporary water scarcity and lower temperatures, thus potentially a more sustainable alternative to its tropical counterpart. Acrocomia’s research history is recent compared to other traditional crops and thus knowledge gaps, uncertainty, and challenges need to be addressed. This review attempts to assess the acrocomia’s preparedness for cultivation by highlighting the state-of-the-art in research and identifying research gaps. Based on a systematic literature search following a value web approach, it (a) provides a comprehensive overview of research topics, (b) shows the development of publication activities over time and the drivers of this development, and (c) compiles main findings to assess the acrocomia’s preparedness for commercial cultivation. Our results confirm its multipurpose characteristic as a potential feedstock for manifold sectors. Research has continued to increase over the last decade, especially on A. aculeata and is driven by the interest in bioenergy. Increasing knowledge on botany has contributed to understanding the genetic diversity and genus-specific biology. This has enabled applied research on seed germination and propagation toward domestication and initial plantation activities, mostly in Brazil. Main research gaps are associated with genotype–environment interaction, planting material, crop management, and sustainable cropping systems. Overall, we conclude that acrocomia is at an early phase of development as an alternative and multipurpose crop and its up-scaling requires the integration of sustainability strategies tailored to location-based social-ecological conditions.

Published
2021
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21. Determinants of Children’s Fruit Intake in Teso South Sub-County, Kenya—A Multi-Phase Mixed Methods Study among Households with Children 0–8 Years of Age

Author

Eleonore, Kretz, Irmgard, Jordan, Annet, Itaru, Maria Gracia, Glas, Sahrah, Fischer, Thomas, Pircher, Thomas, Hilger, and Lydiah Maruti, Waswa

Subjects
Adult, Crops, Agricultural, Male, Time Factors, Child Behavior, Nutritional Status, Recommended Dietary Allowances, Article, Food Supply, Young Adult, fruit trees, children, Humans, TIPs, TX341-641, Child, Family Characteristics, Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Age Factors, Infant, Newborn, nutrition education, Infant, food and beverages, fruit availability, Feeding Behavior, Middle Aged, Kenya, fruit consumption, Child, Preschool, Fruit, Female, Seasons, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Nutritive Value
Abstract

Fruits are micronutrient-rich sources which are often underrepresented in children's diets. More insights into the determinants of children's fruit consumption are needed to improve nutrition education in Teso South Sub-County, Kenya. A multiphase mixed method study was applied among 48 farm households with children 0-8 years of age. A market survey together with focus group discussions were used to design a formative research approach including qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The unavailability of fruits and the inability to plant fruit trees in the homesteads were the main challenges to improve fruit consumption behaviour, although a number of different fruit species were available on the market or in households. Perceived shortage of fruits, financial constraints to purchase fruits and taste were important barriers. Fruits as snacks given between meals was perceived as helpful to satisfy children. The mean number of fruit trees in the homesteads was positively associated with fruit consumption. Field trials are needed to test how best fruit trees within home gardens and on farms can be included, acknowledging limited space and constraints of households with young children. This should be combined with nutrition education programs addressing perceptions about the social and nutrient value of fruits for children.

Published
2021

22. Do we need more drought for better nutrition? The effect of precipitation on nutrient concentration in East African food crops

Author

Sahrah Fischer, Georg Cadisch, Thomas Hilger, Hans-Peter Piepho, and Irmgard Jordan

Subjects
Crops, Agricultural, Manihot, Environmental Engineering, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Rain, 010501 environmental sciences, Biology, Zea mays, 01 natural sciences, Crop, Soil, Nutrient, Musa acuminata, parasitic diseases, Environmental Chemistry, Uganda, Waste Management and Disposal, Nutrient bioavailability, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Geography, fungi, food and beverages, Xylem, Musa, Food composition data, Nutrients, Micronutrient, biology.organism_classification, Kenya, Pollution, Droughts, Agronomy, Phloem, Edible Grain
Abstract

Soil, inputs, and environmental factors such as weather control plant nutrient availability and nutrient content in food. Drought periods affect nutrient bioavailability. Nutrient transport within the plant and allocation of nutrients within organs of the plant is water dependent and therefore drought susceptible. This study compared Kapchorwa, Uganda and Teso South, Kenya that experienced drought during the second season in 2016. The main research questions were: (i) do droughts have an impact on the nutrient composition of food; (ii) is there a difference in nutrient concentrations in food based on their xylem or phloem mobility? Maize (Zea mays) grain (n = 62) and matooke (Musa acuminata) fruit samples (n = 90) in Kapchorwa, and maize grain (n = 61) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) tuber (n = 64) in Teso South were collected during a normal season (March–July) and drought season (October–December) in 2016. Crop samples were analysed using a pXRF for P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was calculated using TAMSAT database to compare drought intensities. The drought in Kapchorwa (SPI: −1.14 to −0.32) was severer and began 2 months prior to Teso South (SPI: 0.09 to 0.55). Nutrient concentration in Kapchorwa decreased significantly from normal to drought in both crops. In contrast, during the moderate drought in Teso South, nutrient concentrations increased significantly. Lacking nutrient phloem mobility is suggested to play a vital role in mobilisation of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, and Cu) as shown by their decreased concentration under severe drought in the yield. Total nutrients assimilated in crop samples were significantly higher in the normal than the drought for almost all samples. Micronutrients and yields during drought were strongly affected, leading to a double-burden for consumers through affected quantity and quality. Future research considerations should particularly include the focus on potential nutrient increases during mild drought.

Published
2019
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23. Sustainable Soil Loss Management in Tropical Uplands: Impact on Maize-Chili Cropping Systems

Author

Irshad Bibi, Thomas Hilger, Ayesha Ilyas, and Khalid Hussain

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Geography, Planning and Development, Land management, TJ807-830, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, TD194-195, 01 natural sciences, Renewable energy sources, Minimum tillage, Human fertilization, GE1-350, hedgerows, biology, Land use, Environmental effects of industries and plants, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Intercropping, soil conservation, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, biology.organism_classification, Environmental sciences, Agronomy, minimum tillage, Field trial, 040103 agronomy & agriculture, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Environmental science, land use options, Soil conservation, Cropping, intercropping, 010606 plant biology & botany
Abstract

Intensive land use with inappropriate land management is directly degrading South Asian uplands. A field trial was carried out on the uplands of Western Thailand with a 25% slope to examine the effect of land use management on soil loss for sustainable crop production during two consecutive years (2010–2011). Various cropping systems with soil conservation practices were compared to maize sole cropping (MSC). Results revealed that soil loss was at a minimum in the intercropping system of maize-chili-hedgerows with minimum tillage and fertilization that was 50% to 61% and 60% to 81% less than MSC and the bare soil plot during both years, respectively. Yield advantage was at its maximum, as indicated by the highest land equivalent ratios of 1.28 and 1.21 during 2010 and 2011, respectively, in maize-chili-hedgerows-intercropping with minimum tillage and fertilization. The highest economic returns (5925 and 1058 euros ha−1 during 2010 and 2011, respectively) were also obtained from maize-chili-hedgerows-intercropping with minimum tillage and fertilization. Chili fresh fruit yield was maximum in the chili alone plot during both years due to the greater area under cultivation compared with intercropping. Maize-chili-hedgerows with minimum tillage and fertilization reduced soil loss and increased land productivity and net returns, indicating its promising features for sustainable crop production on uplands.

Published
2021

24. The Galactic Anticentre

Author

Vincenzo Ripepi, A. de Torres, Annie C. Robin, Mariateresa Crosta, C. Diener, L. Noval, Daniel Michalik, P. J. Richards, L. Karbevska, K. Kruszyńska, E. Fraile, André Moitinho, Michał Pawlak, P. Panuzzo, M. Riello, Benoit Carry, A. Yoldas, Harry Enke, N. Tonello, P. Gavras, M. Vaillant, Rosanna Sordo, E. del Pozo, Lorenzo Rimoldini, M. Bernet, G. Orrù, W. van Reeven, J. M. Martín-Fleitas, S. Diakite, P. Burgess, P. Osborne, Derek W. Morris, M. I. Carnerero, Amina Helmi, Mike Smith, Iain A. Steele, Alessandro Sozzetti, M. Kontizas, A. Sagristà Sellés, Roberto Molinaro, B. Holl, D. Baines, D. Molina, J. Fernández-Hernández, S. Marinoni, Michele Bellazzini, Maria Süveges, Teresa Antoja, D. Barbato, Uwe Lammers, Isabella Pagano, Davide Massari, G. Plum, P. Ramos, G. Jevardat de Fombelle, M. Biermann, C. Crowley, Mathias Schultheis, D. W. Evans, P. A. Palicio, Paolo Montegriffo, Ramachrisna Teixeira, R. Blomme, Elmé Breedt, T. A. Lister, F. A. Jansen, Ruth Carballo, Marcella Marconi, A. Abreu Aramburu, J. M. Carrasco, F. Royer, S. Accart, A. Burlacu, S. Regibo, Andrej Prsa, M. Sarasso, Nicolas Rambaux, A. F. Mulone, Ana Ulla, Eric Gosset, Alessandra Mastrobuono-Battisti, George M. Seabroke, H. E. Delgado, Federico Marocco, C. Nicolas, T. Lebzelter, Nami Mowlavi, C. Barache, Nicoletta Sanna, G. Gracia-Abril, R. Santoveña, R. Haigron, N. Unger, Silvio Leccia, A. Jean-Antoine Piccolo, A. F. Lanza, Alberto Vecchiato, Thomas Wevers, F. Figueras, G. Busso, C. Fabre, P. Di Matteo, F. Riclet, F. Solitro, Eric Slezak, N. Samaras, João Alves, Emese Plachy, Timo Prusti, F. van Leeuwen, J. Osinde, O. Marchal, M. Ajaj, C. Ducourant, Tatiana Muraveva, Shay Zucker, H. Steidelmüller, Alberto Riva, D. Semeux, N. Cheek, Laurent Galluccio, Martin A. Barstow, Alex Bombrun, S. Liao, M. van Leeuwen, R. E. de Souza, P. de Laverny, T. Roegiers, Paul J. McMillan, G. Holland, Alexey Mints, G. Giuffrida, L. M. Sarro, Juan Zorec, G. Sadowski, P. Yvard, Carme Jordi, J. L. Halbwachs, Laurent Chemin, Ludovic Delchambre, M. Garcia-Reinaldos, Ugo Becciani, Diego Bossini, Ángel Gómez, Sergi Blanco-Cuaresma, Rossella Cancelliere, C. Fabricius, J. De Ridder, L. Eyer, L. Pulone, Simon Hodgkin, Ennio Poretti, F. De Angeli, M. Haywood, E. Anglada Varela, Antonella Vallenari, F. X. Pineau, D. Garabato, A. Guerrier, H. E. P. Lindstrøm, Thomas Hilger, I. Bellas-Velidis, Frédéric Arenou, Paolo Giacobbe, Ilaria Musella, Tristan Cantat-Gaudin, L. Palaversa, Pedro García-Lario, David Hobbs, C. Turon, E. Balbinot, P. de Teodoro, Sébastien Lambert, D. Katz, Angela Bragaglia, Anthony G. A. Brown, Paolo Tanga, P. Castro Sampol, J. C. Segovia, Alejandra Recio-Blanco, Yves Fremat, Jon Marchant, Jose M Hernandez, S. Ragaini, Sofia Randich, P. Re Fiorentin, J. F. Le Campion, Gisella Clementini, M. Segol, P. David, R. Drimmel, F. Crifo, J. Guiraud, M. David, R. L. Smart, M. Fabrizio, I. Gonzalez-Santamaria, D. Eappachen, M. G. Lattanzi, Miguel García-Torres, Andreas Korn, S. Voutsinas, László Molnár, Simchon Faigler, A. Mora, Nicholas Rowell, Antti Penttilä, R. Geyer, Sanjeev Khanna, Aldo Dell'Oro, H. E. Huckle, C. Dolding, N. Leclerc, Monica Rainer, R. Mor, J. Bakker, Maroussia Roelens, Douglas J. Marshall, A. G. Butkevich, Nigel Hambly, A. Masip, Laia Casamiquela, R. Messineo, Martin Altmann, A. M. Piersimoni, Alessandro Spagna, Gerry Gilmore, Stefano Bertone, Patrick Charlot, O. Vanel, Daniel Hestroffer, Marco Castellani, Sebastian L. Hidalgo, W. Roux, Łukasz Wyrzykowski, Krzysztof A. Rybicki, M. M. S. Marcos Santos, Raphael Guerra, Alberto Cellino, E. Poggio, Gérard Jasniewicz, J. J. González-Vidal, S. Cowell, Peter G. Jonker, C. M. Raiteri, S. Bartolomé, J. Álvarez Cid-Fuentes, Elisabetta Caffau, J. J. Aguado, N. R. Millar, Ulrike Heiter, Federica Spoto, Felix Franke, A. Baudesson-Stella, M. Barros, Tsevi Mazeh, A. Panahi, E. Brugaletta, R. Buzzi, Elena Pancino, G. Altavilla, E. Racero, Enrique Solano, Mikael Granvik, Minia Manteiga, C. Robin, Tomaz Zwitter, Deborah Busonero, Alberto Krone-Martins, Marc Audard, Kevin Benson, Christos Siopis, L. Balaguer-Núñez, C. A. L. Bailer-Jones, E. Poujoulet, O. L. Creevey, E. Szegedi-Elek, C. Fouron, Michael Davidson, E. Licata, Despina Hatzidimitriou, Mark Cropper, Z. Kostrzewa-Rutkowska, S. Managau, A. Dapergolas, Sergio Messina, Laszlo Szabados, H. I. Siddiqui, W. Löffler, Mario Gai, J.-B. Delisle, Leanne P. Guy, S. G. Baker, W. J. Cooper, Alfred Castro-Ginard, Conny Aerts, A. Lorca, Xavier Luri, Damien Ségransan, Grigori Fedorets, A. Garofalo, J. Juaristi Campillo, F. De Luise, F. Pailler, F. Taris, L. Bramante, Thierry Morel, T. Cornez, L. Martin Polo, M. Ramos-Lerate, Jordi Portell, E. Salguero, Sergei A. Klioner, K. Janßen, Ulrich Bastian, Stefan Jordan, P. Esquej, A. C. Lanzafame, Beatrice Bucciarelli, C. Panem, Y. Lebreton, Carlos Dafonte, S. Girona, D. Munoz, Dimitri Pourbaix, William Thuillot, J. H. J. de Bruijne, N. Brouillet, L. Chaoul, F. Torra, Alex Lobel, J.-L. Bassilana, Francesca Fragkoudi, M. Romero-Gómez, C. A. Stephenson, T. Pauwels, Eva Sciacca, Alessandro Bressan, Morgan Fouesneau, E. Livanou, E. Gerlach, X. Peñalosa Esteller, Roberto Morbidelli, L. Rohrbasser, Johannes Sahlmann, Elisa Distefano, P. Sartoretti, Karri Muinonen, Zoltan Balog, Y. Viala, J. Torra, H. Zhao, L. Siltala, G. Tauran, D. Souami, P. Madrero Pardo, David Teyssier, Jesus Salgado, J. Souchay, C. P. Murphy, Maria-Rosa L. Cioni, N. A. Walton, S. Bouquillon, Andrea Chiavassa, Agnes Fienga, Giovanni Comoretto, F. Julbe, A. Hutton, Yassine Damerdji, Richard I. Anderson, Pierre Fernique, Céline Reylé, M. Hauser, E. Utrilla, Pierre Kervella, C. Zurbach, Robert G. Mann, Ummi Abbas, Hector Canovas, D. L. Harrison, Y. Lasne, Mark Taylor, Y. Le Fustec, E. F. del Peloso, N. Bauchet, E. van Dillen, Jan Rybizki, N. Hładczuk, T. Boch, J. González-Núñez, Carine Babusiaux, C. Pagani, Krzysztof Nienartowicz, Eduard Masana, G. Kordopatis, N. Robichon, Luciana Bianchi, R. Gutiérrez-Sánchez, Arnaud Siebert, A. Kochoska, T. Carlucci, Jérôme Berthier, J. Castañeda, D. Vicente, R. De March, A. Garcia-Gutierrez, M. Weiler, F. Thévenin, Lennart Lindegren, Isabelle Lecoeur-Taïbi, Guy Rixon, Francois Mignard, P. M. Marrese, M. A. Álvarez, Caroline Soubiran, Rene Andrae, C. Ordénovic, A. Delgado, V. Sanchez Gimenez, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Universidad de Barcelona, Xunta de Galicia, European Commission, Centros de Excelencia Severo Ochoa, BARCELONA SUPERCOMPUTING CENTER (BSC), SEV2015-0493, Krone Martins, A. [0000-0002-2308-6623], McMillan, P. [0000-0002-8861-2620], Carrasco Martínez, J. P. [0000-0002-3029-5853], Sozzetti, A. [0000-0002-7504-365X], Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MINECO/ICTI2013-2016/MDM-2014-0369, Centrode Excelencia Científica Instituto de Ciencias del Cosmos Universidad de Barcelona, MINECO/ICTI2013-2016/SEV2015-0493, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), European Commission (EC), European Research Council (ERC), Institut des Sciences de l'Univers (INSU), Institut National Polytechnique (INP), Institut National de Physique nucleaire et de Physique des Particules (IN2P3), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungarian National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (NKFIH), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Israel Science Foundation (ISF), Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Italian Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), Polish National Science Centre, Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSW), Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Slovenian Research Agency, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), Generalitat de Catalunya, United Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA), Gaia Collaboration, Universidad de Cantabria, Astronomy, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Institut de Ciencies del Cosmos (ICCUB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Joseph Louis LAGRANGE (LAGRANGE), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Kapteyn Astronomical Institute [Groningen], University of Groningen [Groningen], INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova (OAPD), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Institut de recherches sur la catalyse et l'environnement de Lyon (IRCELYON), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), M2A 2021, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac] (LAB), Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA (UMR_8109)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), Institut de Physique de Rennes (IPR), Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Planetary-system research, Department of Physics, Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics (LESIA), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Université de Rennes (UR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), and Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
trigonometric parallaxes, SOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD, Astronomy, SAGITTARIUS DWARF GALAXY, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, sagittarius dwarf galaxy, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Physics, [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], solar neighborhood, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astrometry, Gelexy: kinematics and dynamics, Kinematics and Dynamics, Open clusters and asssociations: individual: Berkeley 29, sky survey, Disk, Physical Sciences, kinematics and dynamics [Gelexy], old open clusters, MILKY-WAY, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, open clusters and associations: individual: Berkeley 29, Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics, disk [Galaxy], individual: Berkeley 29 [open clusters and associations], Astrometria, Berkeley 29, EXPLORING HALO SUBSTRUCTURE, LOCAL KINEMATICS, Milky Way, FOS: Physical sciences, Open Clusters and Associations, Individual, exploring halo substructure, Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Computer Science::Digital Libraries, stellar structure, Galaxy: disk, Open clusters and associations: individual: Saurer 1, Galactic halo, Halo, Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia e Astrofisica, individual: Berkeley 29 [Open clusters and asssociations], 0103 physical sciences, distances [stars], halo [Galaxy], Disc, Stars: distances, milky-way, Saurer 1, Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics, canis-major, Science & Technology, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, TRIGONOMETRIC PARALLAXES, Galaxy: halo, stars: distances, open clusters and associations: individual: Saurer 1, Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Galactic plane, kinematics and dynamics [Galaxy], 115 Astronomy, Space science, CANIS-MAJOR, Stars, Galaxy, Physics::History of Physics, Estels, individual: Saurer 1 [open clusters and associations], Distances, local kinematics, OLD OPEN CLUSTERS, Space and Planetary Science, Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA), SKY SURVEY, Open cluster, STELLAR STRUCTURE
Abstract

Aims. We aim to demonstrate the scientific potential of the Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) for the study of different aspects of the Milky Way structure and evolution and we provide, at the same time, a description of several practical aspects of the data and examples of their usage., Methods. We used astrometric positions, proper motions, parallaxes, and photometry from EDR3 to select different populations and components and to calculate the distances and velocities in the direction of the anticentre. In this direction, the Gaia astrometric data alone enable the calculation of the vertical and azimuthal velocities; also, the extinction is relatively low compared to other directions in the Galactic plane. We then explore the disturbances of the current disc, the spatial and kinematical distributions of early accreted versus in situ stars, the structures in the outer parts of the disc, and the orbits of open clusters Berkeley 29 and Saurer 1., Results. With the improved astrometry and photometry of EDR3, we find that: (i) the dynamics of the Galactic disc are very complex with oscillations in the median rotation and vertical velocities as a function of radius, vertical asymmetries, and new correlations, including a bimodality with disc stars with large angular momentum moving vertically upwards from below the plane, and disc stars with slightly lower angular momentum moving preferentially downwards; (ii) we resolve the kinematic substructure (diagonal ridges) in the outer parts of the disc for the first time; (iii) the red sequence that has been associated with the proto-Galactic disc that was present at the time of the merger with Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage is currently radially concentrated up to around 14 kpc, while the blue sequence that has been associated with debris of the satellite extends beyond that; (iv) there are density structures in the outer disc, both above and below the plane, most probably related to Monoceros, the Anticentre Stream, and TriAnd, for which the Gaia data allow an exhaustive selection of candidate member stars and dynamical study; and (v) the open clusters Berkeley 29 and Saurer 1, despite being located at large distances from the Galactic centre, are on nearly circular disc-like orbits., Conclusions. Even with our simple preliminary exploration of the Gaia EDR3, we demonstrate how, once again, these data from the European Space Agency are crucial for our understanding of the different pieces of our Galaxy and their connection to its global structure and history.

Published
2021
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25. Gaia early data release 3: summary of the contents and survey properties (Corrigendum)

Author

Mathias Schultheis, Marcella Marconi, N. Robichon, Luciana Bianchi, F. Crifo, J. Guiraud, D. Eappachen, R. Gutiérrez-Sánchez, Sanjeev Khanna, A. M. Piersimoni, Raphael Guerra, J. J. González-Vidal, J. J. Aguado, N. R. Millar, A. Baudesson-Stella, Tristan Cantat-Gaudin, Alejandra Recio-Blanco, Ummi Abbas, Francesca Figueras, R. Blomme, Elmé Breedt, G. Busso, A. Jean-Antoine Piccolo, Gerry Gilmore, A. Panahi, S. Messina, C. Babusiaux, Łukasz Wyrzykowski, Mark Taylor, Alex Bombrun, M. Barros, M. Riello, M. Ajaj, C. Ducourant, Tatiana Muraveva, Alberto Cellino, E. Poggio, Y. Le Fustec, C. P. Murphy, Maria-Rosa L. Cioni, Hector Canovas, D. L. Harrison, Y. Lasne, Elena Pancino, N. Bauchet, G. Orrù, Sergi Blanco-Cuaresma, Simon Hodgkin, Ennio Poretti, A. F. Lanza, Alberto Vecchiato, Thomas Wevers, Andrea Chiavassa, E. Szegedi-Elek, A. G. A. Brown, Laszlo Szabados, A. Masip, Laia Casamiquela, R. Messineo, C. Crowley, Alessandra Mastrobuono-Battisti, E. Poujoulet, Zoltan Balog, L. Eyer, A. Guerrier, H. E. P. Lindstrøm, Ilaria Musella, Laurent Galluccio, Martin A. Barstow, Aldo Dell'Oro, Mark Cropper, Z. Kostrzewa-Rutkowska, Angela Bragaglia, Arnaud Siebert, Damien Ségransan, A. Kochoska, J. L. Halbwachs, E. F. del Peloso, N. Hładczuk, F. Pailler, Stefan Jordan, Stefano Bertone, L. Pulone, Frédéric Arenou, Patrick Charlot, David Hobbs, P. Castro Sampol, Yves Fremat, Sofia Randich, Marc Audard, Despina Hatzidimitriou, A. Dapergolas, L. Palaversa, W. van Reeven, M. Hauser, E. Utrilla, Georges Kordopatis, Sergei A. Klioner, Alex Lobel, J.-L. Bassilana, G. Tauran, T. Prusti, H. Steidelmüller, Alberto Riva, Diego Bossini, Maria Süveges, Isabella Pagano, J. H. J. de Bruijne, Elisabetta Caffau, Federica Spoto, Felix Franke, T. Boch, M. I. Carnerero, T. Carlucci, Grigori Fedorets, J. Castañeda, W. Löffler, Enrique Solano, Paolo Montegriffo, A. Abreu Aramburu, T. Lebzelter, Nami Mowlavi, C. Barache, C. A. Stephenson, A. Lorca, L. Bramante, Amina Helmi, J.-B. Delisle, B. Holl, D. Molina, J. Fernández-Hernández, G. Jevardat de Fombelle, F. van Leeuwen, C. Robin, D. Katz, E. Gerlach, Elisa Distefano, Michele Bellazzini, P. de Laverny, G. Sadowski, Tomaz Zwitter, A. Burlacu, Teresa Antoja, Rossella Cancelliere, F. Torra, C. Pagani, Annie C. Robin, Johannes Sahlmann, Karri Muinonen, Eva Sciacca, D. Vicente, Krzysztof Nienartowicz, A. F. Mulone, Shay Zucker, Nicholas Rowell, H. E. Delgado, Dimitri Pourbaix, G. Giuffrida, H. E. Huckle, Federico Marocco, L. Noval, Daniel Michalik, P. J. Richards, Y. Viala, E. van Dillen, L. Karbevska, H. Zhao, L. Siltala, Nicoletta Sanna, K. Kruszyńska, E. Fraile, R. De March, Y. Lebreton, C. M. Raiteri, D. W. Evans, Ana Ulla, Francesca Fragkoudi, Jan Rybizki, E. Brugaletta, L. Rohrbasser, Andreas Korn, S. G. Baker, A. Garcia-Gutierrez, L. M. Sarro, R. Buzzi, T. Pauwels, Jérôme Berthier, L. Chaoul, W. J. Cooper, Eduard Masana, M. van Leeuwen, D. Garabato, P. Panuzzo, Maroussia Roelens, Benoit Carry, Deborah Busonero, Michael Davidson, J. González-Núñez, Thomas Hilger, E. Licata, M. Weiler, Mikael Granvik, Alessandro Bressan, Morgan Fouesneau, Miguel García-Torres, W. Roux, Pedro García-Lario, Iain A. Steele, P. Ramos, Alessandro Sozzetti, Roberto Molinaro, O. L. Creevey, D. Barbato, Lorenzo Rimoldini, Uwe Lammers, Alexey Mints, P. Sartoretti, E. Livanou, D. Souami, P. Madrero Pardo, David Teyssier, M. Bernet, Yassine Damerdji, X. Peñalosa Esteller, C. Fabre, F. Thévenin, Gérard Jasniewicz, Roberto Morbidelli, Jesus Salgado, Juan Zorec, Ángel Gómez, Douglas J. Marshall, A. G. Butkevich, M. Biermann, E. Racero, J. Torra, R. Gomel, O. Vanel, Daniel Hestroffer, Sebastian L. Hidalgo, P. A. Palicio, F. De Angeli, Richard L. Smart, J. M. Martín-Fleitas, Derek W. Morris, F. Royer, S. Diakite, S. Accart, C. Dolding, P. Burgess, Richard I. Anderson, A. Garofalo, I. Bellas-Velidis, George M. Seabroke, P. Osborne, Claus Fabricius, Jon Marchant, Ramachrisna Teixeira, João Alves, G. Gracia-Abril, R. Santoveña, R. Haigron, N. Unger, Lennart Lindegren, Isabelle Lecoeur-Taïbi, Paolo Giacobbe, Emese Plachy, M. Fabrizio, I. Gonzalez-Santamaria, F. Taris, Kevin Benson, Christos Siopis, M. M. S. Marcos Santos, S. Cowell, Jose M Hernandez, S. Ragaini, Jordi Portell, Linda K. Molnar, R. Drimmel, Pierre Kervella, C. Zurbach, S. Bartolomé, J. Álvarez Cid-Fuentes, E. Salguero, Ulrich Bastian, Robert G. Mann, Marco Castellani, J. Osinde, E. Balbinot, Caroline Soubiran, Rene Andrae, J. Souchay, M. G. Lattanzi, S. Voutsinas, Agnes Fienga, Giovanni Comoretto, P. Esquej, A. C. Lanzafame, Beatrice Bucciarelli, C. Panem, Carlos Dafonte, Alfred Castro-Ginard, J. C. Segovia, Monica Rainer, F. Julbe, A. Hutton, Peter G. Jonker, William Thuillot, A. de Torres, F. De Luise, Pierre Fernique, Céline Reylé, M. Kontizas, G. Plum, Martin Altmann, L. Martin Polo, M. Ramos-Lerate, P. de Teodoro, Sébastien Lambert, G. Altavilla, André Moitinho, D. Munoz, N. Brouillet, Alessandro Spagna, C. Ordénovic, Gisella Clementini, C. Nicolas, Michał Pawlak, Silvio Leccia, A. Delgado, M. Romero-Gómez, N. Cheek, A. Yoldas, Harry Enke, Rosanna Sordo, V. Sanchez Gimenez, Mike Smith, P. David, D. Baines, Paolo Tanga, Guy Rixon, Alberto Krone-Martins, S. Managau, N. A. Walton, S. Bouquillon, C. Fouron, Francois Mignard, Xavier Luri, J. Juaristi Campillo, S. Girona, Thierry Morel, T. Cornez, P. M. Marrese, M. A. Álvarez, S. Liao, Andrej Prsa, M. Sarasso, Nicolas Rambaux, Paul J. McMillan, Ludovic Delchambre, M. Garcia-Reinaldos, M. Haywood, E. Anglada Varela, Antonella Vallenari, S. Regibo, R. E. de Souza, Sahar Shahaf, J. De Ridder, M. Segol, Simchon Faigler, A. Mora, Ulrike Heiter, Carla Cacciari, Minia Manteiga, H. I. Siddiqui, Mario Gai, Leanne P. Guy, N. Leclerc, T. A. Lister, F. A. Jansen, Ruth Carballo, J. M. Carrasco, Bengt Edvardsson, P. Di Matteo, K. Janßen, F. Riclet, F. Solitro, O. Marchal, G. Holland, F. X. Pineau, C. Turon, P. Re Fiorentin, Tsevi Mazeh, Mariateresa Crosta, C. Diener, J. F. Le Campion, Vincenzo Ripepi, M. David, R. Mor, N. Tonello, E. del Pozo, J. Bakker, Davide Massari, A. Sagristà Sellés, Marco Delbo, Eric Slezak, P. Gavras, N. Samaras, S. Marinoni, M. Vaillant, J. M. Petit, P. Yvard, Carme Jordi, Ugo Becciani, Antti Penttilä, R. Geyer, Nigel Hambly, Krzysztof A. Rybicki, L. Balaguer-Núñez, C. A. L. Bailer-Jones, Conny Aerts, Eric Gosset, D. Semeux, T. Roegiers, and Laurent Chemin

Subjects
Physics, Addenda, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Errata, Parallaxes, Astronomy, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Astrophysics, Astrometry, Photometric, 01 natural sciences, Techniques, catalogs, astrometry, parallaxes, proper motions, techniques: photometric, errata, addenda, Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia e Astrofisica, Space and Planetary Science, 0103 physical sciences, Proper motions, Catalogs, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Data release, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

We present the early installment of the third Gaia data release, Gaia EDR3, consisting of astrometry and photometry for 1.8 billion sources brighter than magnitude 21, complemented with the list of radial velocities from Gaia DR2. Gaia EDR3 contains celestial positions and the apparent brightness in G for approximately 1.8 billion sources. For 1.5 billion of those sources, parallaxes, proper motions, and the (G_BP-G_RP) colour are also available. The passbands for G, G_BP, and G_RP are provided as part of the release. For ease of use, the 7 million radial velocities from Gaia DR2 are included in this release, after the removal of a small number of spurious values. New radial velocities will appear as part of Gaia DR3. Finally, Gaia EDR3 represents an updated materialisation of the celestial reference frame (CRF) in the optical, the Gaia-CRF3, which is based solely on extragalactic sources. The creation of the source list for Gaia EDR3 includes enhancements that make it more robust with respect to high proper motion stars, and the disturbing effects of spurious and partially resolved sources. The source list is largely the same as that for Gaia DR2, but it does feature new sources and there are some notable changes. The source list will not change for Gaia DR3. Gaia EDR3 represents a significant advance over Gaia DR2, with parallax precisions increased by 30 percent, proper motion precisions increased by a factor of 2, and the systematic errors in the astrometry suppressed by 30--40 percent for the parallaxes and by a factor ~2.5 for the proper motions. The photometry also features increased precision, but above all much better homogeneity across colour, magnitude, and celestial position. A single passband for G, G_BP, and G_RP is valid over the entire magnitude and colour range, with no systematics above the 1 percent level.

Published
2021

26. Gaia early data release 3: the astrometric solution

Author

V. Sanchez Gimenez, C. Barache, J. Torra, F. Torra, Sergei A. Klioner, S. Liao, David Hobbs, G. Gracia-Abril, Francois Mignard, Alexey Mints, A. Masip, X. Peñalosa Esteller, Roberto Morbidelli, Rossella Cancelliere, C. Fabricius, J. Castañeda, E. Poggio, D. Molina, Nicholas Rowell, Stefano Bertone, Patrick Charlot, E. F. del Peloso, M. Hauser, E. del Pozo, M. Ramos-Lerate, L. Balaguer-Núñez, Jose M Hernandez, H. Steidelmüller, C. Pagani, A. de Torres, R. Buzzi, Lennart Lindegren, Ugo Becciani, H. I. Siddiqui, E. Fraile, S. Bartolomé, D. Souami, C. Crowley, Eva Sciacca, Mario Gai, Luciana Bianchi, David Teyssier, R. Geyer, M. Clotet, Nigel Hambly, Martin Altmann, Alex Bombrun, Massimiliano Lattanzi, Anthony G. A. Brown, Pasquale Panuzzo, F. Taris, Michael Davidson, E. Licata, Jordi Portell, Iain A. Steele, K. Janßen, Ulrich Bastian, P. Re Fiorentin, N. Garralda, P. Esquej, Beatrice Bucciarelli, M. Biermann, Ronald Drimmel, E. Anglada Varela, W. van Reeven, Mariateresa Crosta, W. Löffler, T. Carlucci, A. Sagristà Sellés, S. Bouquillon, Tim Lister, Z. Kostrzewa-Rutkowska, Thomas Hilger, A. G. Butkevich, D. Busonero, M. Bernet, Richard L. Smart, Agnes Fienga, U. Abbas, E. Utrilla, Stefan Jordan, E. Gerlach, C.A. Stephenson, Jon Marchant, Alessandro Spagna, M. Sarasso, Paul J. McMillan, M. Garcia-Reinaldos, U. Lammers, C. P. Murphy, Maria-Rosa L. Cioni, Zoltan Balog, J.J. González-Vidal, Alberto Vecchiato, Alberto Riva, Alcione Mora, Raphael Guerra, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac] (LAB), Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), European Commission, German Centre for Air and Space Travel, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Swedish National Space Agency, University of Bristol, and University College London

Subjects
Astrophysics - instrumentation and methods for astrophysics, Proper motion, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Data analysis, FOS: Physical sciences, 7. Clean energy, 01 natural sciences, instruments [Space vehicles], Methods: data analysis, 0103 physical sciences, Calibration, Methods, Space vehicles: instruments, data analysis [Methods], Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM), 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Mathematics, Data processing, [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Epoch (reference date), Parallaxes, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space vehicles, Astrometry, Geodesy, Space and Planetary Science, Magnitude (astronomy), Satellite, Proper motions, Parallax, Instruments, astro-ph.IM
Abstract

[Context] Gaia Early Data Release 3 (Gaia EDR3) contains results for 1.812 billion sources in the magnitude range G = 3-21 based on observations collected by the European Space Agency Gaia satellite during the first 34 months of its operational phase. [Aims] We describe the input data, the models, and the processing used for the astrometric content of Gaia EDR3, as well as the validation of these results performed within the astrometry task. [Methods] The processing broadly followed the same procedures as for Gaia DR2, but with significant improvements to the modelling of observations. For the first time in the Gaia data processing, colour-dependent calibrations of the line- and point-spread functions have been used for sources with well-determined colours from DR2. In the astrometric processing these sources obtained five-parameter solutions, whereas other sources were processed using a special calibration that allowed a pseudocolour to be estimated as the sixth astrometric parameter. Compared with DR2, the astrometric calibration models have been extended, and the spin-related distortion model includes a self-consistent determination of basic-angle variations, improving the global parallax zero point. [Results] Gaia EDR3 gives full astrometric data (positions at epoch J2016.0, parallaxes, and proper motions) for 1.468 billion sources (585 millionwith five-parameter solutions, 882 million with six parameters), and mean positions at J2016.0 for an additional 344 million.Solutions with five parameters are generally more accurate than six-parameter solutions, and are available for 93% of the sources brighter than the 17th magnitude. The median uncertainty in parallax and annual proper motion is 0.02-0.03 mas at magnitude G = 9-14, and around 0.5 mas at G = 20. Extensive characterisation of the statistical properties of the solutions is provided, including the estimated angular power spectrum of parallax bias from the quasars., This work was financially supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the framework of the Gaia project; the German Aerospace Agency (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V., DLR) through grants 50QG0501, 50QG0601, 50QG0901, 50QG1401 and 50QG1402; the Spanish Ministry of Economy (MINECO/FEDER, UE) through grants ESP2016-80079-C2-1-R, RTI2018-095076-B-C21 and the Institute of Cosmos Sciences University of Barcelona (ICCUB, Unidad de Excelencia “María de Maeztu”) through grants MDM-2014-0369 and CEX2019-000918-M; the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA/Rymdstyrelsen); and the United Kingdom Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), the United Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) through the following grants to the University of Bristol, the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Leicester, the Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory of University College London, and the United Kingdom Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL): PP/D006511/1, PP/D006546/1, PP/D006570/1, ST/I000852/1, ST/J005045/1, ST/K00056X/1, ST/K000209/1, ST/K000756/1, ST/L006561/1, ST/N000595/1, ST/N000641/1, ST/N000978/1, ST/N001117/1, ST/S000089/1, ST/S000976/1, ST/S001123/1, ST/S001948/1, ST/S002103/1, and ST/V000969/1.

Published
2021
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27. Evaluating Biochar-Microbe Synergies for Improved Growth, Yield of Maize, and Post-Harvest Soil Characteristics in a Semi-Arid Climate

Author

Hina Ahmed Malik, Maqshoof Ahmad, Azhar Hussain, Adnan Mustafa, Xiukang Wang, Farheen Nazli, Muhammad Luqman, Qudsia Saeed, Thomas Hilger, Zahir Ahmad Zahir, and Muhammad Latif

Subjects
chemistry.chemical_classification, Soil health, soil health, Soil organic matter, fungi, lcsh:S, food and beverages, Straw, Manure, lcsh:Agriculture, Agronomy, chemistry, Bacillus sp, aridity, Loam, Soil water, Biochar, Environmental science, biochar, nutrient availability, organic matter, Organic matter, Agronomy and Crop Science
Abstract

Arid and semi-arid regions are characterized by high temperature and low rainfall, leading to degraded agricultural soils of alkaline calcareous nature with low organic matter contents. Less availability of indigenous nutrients and efficacy of applied fertilizers are the major issues of crop production in these soils. Biochar application, in combination with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria with the ability to solubilize nutrients, can be an effective strategy for improving soil health and nutrient availability to crops under these conditions. Experiments were planned to evaluate the impact of biochar obtained from different sources in combination with acid-producing, nutrient-solubilizing Bacillus sp. ZM20 on soil biological properties and growth of maize (Zea mays L.) crops under natural conditions. Various biochar treatments, viz. wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw biochar, Egyptian acacia (Vachellia nilotica L.) biochar, and farm-yard manure biochar with and without Bacillus sp. ZM20, were used along with control. Soil used for pot and field trials was sandy loam in texture with poor water holding capacity and deficient in nutrients. Results of the pot trial showed that fresh and dry biomass, 1000 grain weight, and grain yield was significantly improved by application of biochar of different sources with and without Bacillus sp. ZM20. Application of biochar along with Bacillus sp. ZM20 also improved soil biological properties, i.e., soil organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, ammonium, and nitrate nitrogen. It was also observed that a combined application of biochar with Bacillus sp. ZM20 was more effective than a separate application of biochar. The results of wheat straw biochar along with Bacillus sp. ZM20 were better as compared to farm-yard manure biochar and Egyptian acacia biochar. Maximum increase (25.77%) in grain yield was observed in the treatment where wheat straw biochar (0.2%) was applied in combination with Bacillus sp. ZM20. In conclusion, combined application of wheat straw biochar (0.2%) inoculated with Bacillus sp. ZM20 was the most effective treatment in improving the biological soil properties, plant growth, yield, and quality of maize crop as compared to all other treatments.

Published
2020
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28. Can Occurrence and Distribution of Ground Beetles (Carabidae) Be Influenced by the Coffee Farming System in the Mount Elgon Region of Uganda?

Author

Scola Cherukut, Samuel Kyamanywa, Anthony Raphael Ijala, Thomas Hilger, Jeninah Karungi, and Christopher Sebatta

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Anisodactylus, Farms, biology, Monocropping, Shade tree, Microclimate, Agriculture, Coffea, Vegetation, biology.organism_classification, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Crop, Coleoptera, 010602 entomology, Altitude, Agronomy, Insect Science, Animals, Uganda, Chlaenius
Abstract

The Mount Elgon region of Uganda has coffee farmlands distributed along the slopes of the mountain, in a mosaic of differing crop combinations, and semi-natural vegetation. Thus, there are parcels of varying microclimate that create disparities in occurrence of key insect functional groups. The study quantified the occurrence of Carabidae in 72 coffee farmlands categorized by altitude: low (1400–1499 m.a.s.l), mid (1500–1679 m.a.s.l), and high (1680–2100 m.a.s.l); and farming system: coffee monocrop, coffee+annual crops, coffee+banana, and coffee+banana+shade trees. The results revealed highly significant effects of altitude, farming systems, and the interaction of the two on occurrence of three Carabidae genera (Anisodactylus, Chlaenius, and Harpalus.). The abundance of Harpalus spp. was higher at lower altitudes in coffee monocropped farming systems; Anisodactylus spp. were more abundant at higher altitudes in coffee+annual crop systems; and Chlaenius spp. were highest in the coffee+banana+shade tree system at mid altitudes. The belowground microclimate parameters of soil moisture, pH, EC; and the aboveground diversity of semi-natural vegetation explained some of the differences in occurrence of the different Carabidae genera. This distinctiveness in preference of different genera in the same family hinders collective recommendations but looks to a more pragmatic strategy in nurturing diversity on a holistic scale.

Published
2020

29. Gaia Early Data Release 3: Parallax bias versus magnitude, colour, and position

Author

C.A. Stephenson, H. Steidelmüller, A. de Torres, Ulrich Bastian, Sergei A. Klioner, U. Lammers, E. Gerlach, Paul J. McMillan, David Hobbs, Lennart Lindegren, M. Biermann, Jose M Hernandez, Alex Bombrun, M. Ramos-Lerate, R. Geyer, F. van Leeuwen, and Thomas Hilger

Subjects
Physics, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Ecliptic, FOS: Physical sciences, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Quasar, Context (language use), Astrometry, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, Space and Planetary Science, 0103 physical sciences, Magnitude (astronomy), Range (statistics), Parallax, Large Magellanic Cloud, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM), 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Gaia Early Data Release 3 (Gaia EDR3) gives trigonometric parallaxes for nearly 1.5 billion sources. Inspection of the EDR3 data for sources identified as quasars reveals that their parallaxes are biased, that is systematically offset from the expected distribution around zero, by a few tens of microarcsec. We attempt to map the main dependencies of the parallax bias in EDR3. In principle this could provide a recipe for correcting the EDR3 parallaxes. For faint sources the quasars provide the most direct way to estimate parallax bias. In order to extend this to brighter sources and a broader range of colours, we use differential methods based on physical pairs (binaries) and sources in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The functional forms of the dependencies are explored by mapping the systematic differences between EDR3 and DR2 parallaxes. The parallax bias is found to depend in a non-trivial way on (at least) the magnitude, colour, and ecliptic latitude of the source. Different dependencies apply to the five- and six-parameter solutions in EDR3. While it is not possible to derive a definitive recipe for the parallax correction, we give tentative expressions to be used at the researcher's discretion and point out some possible paths towards future improvements., Comment: 32 pages, 30 figures. Submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics. Revised version where typos in (A.3) have been corrected. For associated code, see https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/edr3-code (code was not affected by the typos)

Published
2020
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30. Gaia Early Data Release 3: Acceleration of the solar system from Gaia astrometry

Author

Vincenzo Ripepi, P. Gavras, M. Vaillant, Mathias Schultheis, László Molnár, E. Poujoulet, Mark Cropper, C. Babusiaux, D. Molina, J. Fernández-Hernández, G. Jevardat de Fombelle, A. de Torres, Aldo Dell'Oro, J. Castañeda, Z. Kostrzewa-Rutkowska, A. Bombrun, André Moitinho, Marcella Marconi, Rossella Cancelliere, M. Hauser, M. Ajaj, C. M. Raiteri, L. Eyer, Michał Pawlak, H. I. Siddiqui, C. Ducourant, Tatiana Muraveva, Tsevi Mazeh, A. Panahi, Federico Marocco, Stefano Bertone, D. Vicente, Patrick Charlot, A. Guerrier, R. De March, Mario Gai, J. Souchay, H. E. P. Lindstrøm, Nicoletta Sanna, Agnes Fienga, Giovanni Comoretto, Jon Marchant, A. Lorca, E. Utrilla, A. Garcia-Gutierrez, Ilaria Musella, L. Balaguer-Núñez, Leanne P. Guy, N. Leclerc, E. Brugaletta, A. Yoldas, Harry Enke, Rosanna Sordo, Zoltan Balog, H. E. Huckle, L. Palaversa, Monica Rainer, T. A. Lister, F. A. Jansen, Ruth Carballo, Alessandro Spagna, J. M. Carrasco, Mikael Granvik, Derek W. Morris, F. Julbe, A. Hutton, J. Osinde, D. W. Evans, M. van Leeuwen, M. Weiler, F. Thévenin, F. Torra, Iain A. Steele, Lorenzo Rimoldini, Alessandro Sozzetti, Francesca Fragkoudi, K. Janßen, O. L. Creevey, J. González-Núñez, T. Pauwels, R. Buzzi, Miguel García-Torres, S. Liao, G. Tauran, Lennart Lindegren, C. Fouron, Pierre Fernique, Céline Reylé, P. Di Matteo, E. Szegedi-Elek, F. Pailler, Stefan Jordan, Roberto Molinaro, Elisabetta Caffau, Federica Spoto, Felix Franke, D. Barbato, Isabelle Lecoeur-Taïbi, Tristan Cantat-Gaudin, Alejandra Recio-Blanco, E. Livanou, W. Roux, X. Peñalosa Esteller, P. A. Palicio, J. H. J. de Bruijne, Sergi Blanco-Cuaresma, Deborah Busonero, F. Riclet, Conny Aerts, Georges Kordopatis, Guy Rixon, F. Solitro, Davide Massari, Mike Smith, D. Baines, Roberto Morbidelli, Gerry Gilmore, G. Plum, Alexey Mints, O. Marchal, Juan Zorec, Ángel Gómez, C. A. Stephenson, Michael Davidson, C. Fabricius, E. Licata, Sergio Messina, Laszlo Szabados, M. Biermann, A. Garofalo, G. Holland, F. De Angeli, Andreas Korn, E. Anglada Varela, Grigori Fedorets, S. Girona, E. Gerlach, Antonella Vallenari, M. Riello, Łukasz Wyrzykowski, Damien Ségransan, F. Taris, L. Bramante, Alberto Cellino, S. Regibo, Andrej Prsa, M. Sarasso, E. Poggio, W. Löffler, Paolo Giacobbe, Jordi Portell, Elisa Distefano, Eric Slezak, I. Bellas-Velidis, Nicolas Rambaux, E. Balbinot, J.-B. Delisle, Maroussia Roelens, E. Salguero, P. de Teodoro, E. van Dillen, Y. Lebreton, Francois Mignard, Sergei A. Klioner, Ulrich Bastian, N. Samaras, G. Orrù, R. E. de Souza, P. Esquej, Paul J. McMillan, A. C. Lanzafame, Sébastien Lambert, Beatrice Bucciarelli, Jose M Hernandez, M. Bernet, S. Ragaini, Gisella Clementini, A. F. Mulone, Ludovic Delchambre, C. Panem, Eric Gosset, P. David, M. Garcia-Reinaldos, Ana Ulla, F. Crifo, J. Guiraud, Mariateresa Crosta, L. Chaoul, C. Diener, Carlos Dafonte, Karri Muinonen, Alex Lobel, J.-L. Bassilana, Maria Süveges, Isabella Pagano, Dimitri Pourbaix, D. Eappachen, M. Haywood, R. Drimmel, Y. Viala, S. Voutsinas, D. Semeux, William Thuillot, N. A. Walton, Paolo Montegriffo, A. Abreu Aramburu, C. Fabre, H. Zhao, Alessandro Bressan, S. Bouquillon, Sanjeev Khanna, T. Lebzelter, N. Tonello, L. Siltala, M. G. Lattanzi, C. Crowley, P. Yvard, Carme Jordi, Elena Pancino, E. del Pozo, Jan Rybizki, Nami Mowlavi, C. Barache, Morgan Fouesneau, J. De Ridder, Ugo Becciani, Martin Altmann, F. van Leeuwen, P. M. Marrese, M. A. Álvarez, A. Jean-Antoine Piccolo, A. F. Lanza, Alberto Vecchiato, Thomas Wevers, Caroline Soubiran, C. P. Murphy, A. M. Piersimoni, Alessandra Mastrobuono-Battisti, Peter G. Jonker, A. Sagristà Sellés, T. Roegiers, S. Marinoni, Johannes Sahlmann, Rene Andrae, P. Sartoretti, G. Altavilla, Raphael Guerra, F. X. Pineau, M. Segol, T. Prusti, J. J. González-Vidal, J. J. Aguado, N. R. Millar, A. Baudesson-Stella, Andrea Chiavassa, Laurent Chemin, C. Turon, H. Steidelmüller, Douglas J. Marshall, A. G. Butkevich, Alberto Riva, P. de Laverny, Simchon Faigler, Laurent Galluccio, A. Mora, P. Re Fiorentin, C. Ordénovic, J. F. Le Campion, A. Delgado, V. Sanchez Gimenez, M. David, G. Sadowski, R. L. Smart, A. Masip, Laia Casamiquela, R. Messineo, R. Mor, J. Bakker, C. Dolding, J. M. Martín-Fleitas, S. Diakite, Coryn A. L. Bailer-Jones, D. Souami, P. Madrero Pardo, Martin A. Barstow, David Teyssier, Ummi Abbas, Jesus Salgado, Paolo Tanga, A. Burlacu, O. Vanel, Ulrike Heiter, Daniel Hestroffer, Sebastian L. Hidalgo, H. E. Delgado, Alberto Krone-Martins, C. Robin, Kevin Benson, Christos Siopis, S. Managau, P. Burgess, Tomaz Zwitter, M. M. S. Marcos Santos, S. Cowell, J. L. Halbwachs, Xavier Luri, Antti Penttilä, R. Geyer, Minia Manteiga, Yassine Damerdji, Nigel Hambly, S. Bartolomé, J. Álvarez Cid-Fuentes, P. Osborne, J. Juaristi Campillo, Mark Taylor, Richard I. Anderson, Y. Le Fustec, Thierry Morel, T. Cornez, Krzysztof A. Rybicki, L. Pulone, N. Bauchet, Pierre Kervella, C. Zurbach, Alfred Castro-Ginard, Frédéric Arenou, P. Ramos, Robert G. Mann, Annie C. Robin, J. C. Segovia, M. Barros, Hector Canovas, D. L. Harrison, Y. Lasne, L. Noval, David Hobbs, E. F. del Peloso, P. Castro Sampol, Yves Fremat, F. De Luise, Daniel Michalik, P. J. Richards, L. Karbevska, N. Hładczuk, K. Kruszyńska, T. Boch, Sofia Randich, A. G. A. Brown, C. Pagani, L. Martin Polo, M. Ramos-Lerate, Krzysztof Nienartowicz, Eduard Masana, E. Racero, E. Fraile, Marc Audard, N. Robichon, Luciana Bianchi, G. Gracia-Abril, R. Santoveña, R. Haigron, N. Unger, Jérôme Berthier, Despina Hatzidimitriou, R. Gutiérrez-Sánchez, M. Fabrizio, I. Gonzalez-Santamaria, A. Dapergolas, P. Panuzzo, Benoit Carry, Francesca Figueras, R. Blomme, Elmé Breedt, D. Munoz, Diego Bossini, G. Busso, D. Katz, Simon Hodgkin, Ennio Poretti, N. Brouillet, Marco Castellani, Nicholas Rowell, Arnaud Siebert, M. Romero-Gómez, Shay Zucker, W. van Reeven, A. Kochoska, G. Giuffrida, Eva Sciacca, T. Carlucci, L. M. Sarro, M. I. Carnerero, Amina Helmi, D. Garabato, B. Holl, Michele Bellazzini, L. Rohrbasser, Teresa Antoja, J. Torra, Thomas Hilger, Pedro García-Lario, Gérard Jasniewicz, Enrique Solano, S. G. Baker, W. J. Cooper, F. Royer, S. Accart, George M. Seabroke, João Alves, Emese Plachy, C. Nicolas, Silvio Leccia, N. Cheek, Uwe Lammers, Ramachrisna Teixeira, Techniche Universtât Desden, Joseph Louis LAGRANGE (LAGRANGE), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Lund Observatory, Lund University [Lund], Zentrum für astronomie, Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg], Department of nuclear medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen (UiB)-University of Bergen (UiB), Merck Serono S.A [Geneva Research Center], Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA (UMR_8109)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), Institut de Physique de Rennes (IPR), Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg] = Heidelberg University, Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics (LESIA), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Université de Rennes (UR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Planetary-system research, Department of Physics, Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Gaia Collaboration, Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Instituto de Ciencias del Cosmos Universidad de Barcelona, MDM-2014-0369, Centro de Excelencia Científica Severo Ochoa, Instituto de Ciencias del Cosmos de la Universidad de Barcelona, SEV2015-0493, Deliste, J. B. [0000-0001-5844-9888], Sozzeti, A. [0000-0002-7504-365X], Forderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF), Belgian federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO), Hertha Firnberg Programme, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Comite Francais d'Evaluation de la Cooperation Universitaire et Scientifique avec le Bresil (COFECUB), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), China Scholarship Council (CSC), European Commission (EC), European Research Council (ERC), Hungarian National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (NKFIH), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Israel Science Foundation (ISF), Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA), Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), European Space Agency (ESA), Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR), Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN), Slovenian Research Agency, Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), United Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Generalitat de Catalunya, Xunta de Galicia, Universidad de Cantabria, ITA, European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Astronomy, and Kapteyn Astronomical Institute

Subjects
Data Analysis, Solar System, Astronomy, kinematics and dynamics, virgo cluster, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, bar, Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi, large-magellanic-cloud, Methods, Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Physics, Astrophysics of Galaxies, [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astrometry, VIRGO CLUSTER, Kinematics and Dynamics, Amplitude, kinematics, Physical Sciences, MILKY-WAY, astrometry, Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics, PROPER MOTION, Proper motion, perturbation, proper motions, reference systems, methods: data analysis, Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies, FOS: Physical sciences, Context (language use), proper motion, Astronomy & Astrophysics, MASS, Computer Science::Digital Libraries, Gravitational potential, Acceleration, Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia e Astrofisica, 0103 physical sciences, data analysis [methods], Vector spherical harmonics, KINEMATICS, distance, milky-way, Science & Technology, PERTURBATION, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, kinematics and dynamics [Galaxy], 115 Astronomy, Space science, Physics::History of Physics, BAR, Galaxy, Space and Planetary Science, [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics], Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA), DISTANCE, mass, LARGE-MAGELLANIC-CLOUD
Abstract

Context. Gaia Early Data Release 3 (Gaia EDR3) provides accurate astrometry for about 1.6 million compact (QSO-like) extragalactic sources, 1.2 million of which have the best-quality five-parameter astrometric solutions., Aims. The proper motions of QSO-like sources are used to reveal a systematic pattern due to the acceleration of the solar systembarycentre with respect to the rest frame of the Universe. Apart from being an important scientific result by itself, the acceleration measured in this way is a good quality indicator of the Gaia astrometric solution., Methods. Theeffect of the acceleration was obtained as a part of the general expansion of the vector field of proper motions in vector spherical harmonics (VSH). Various versions of the VSH fit and various subsets of the sources were tried and compared to get the most consistent result and a realistic estimate of its uncertainty. Additional tests with the Gaia astrometric solution were used to get a better idea of the possible systematic errors in the estimate., Results. Our best estimate of the acceleration based on Gaia EDR3 is (2.32 +/- 0.16) x 10(-10) m s(-2) (or 7.33 +/- 0.51 km s(-1) Myr-1) towards alpha = 269.1 degrees +/- 5.4 degrees, delta = -31.6 degrees +/- 4.1 degrees, corresponding to a proper motion amplitude of 5.05 +/- 0.35 mu as yr(-1). This is in good agreement with the acceleration expected from current models of the Galactic gravitational potential. We expect that future Gaia data releases will provide estimates of the acceleration with uncertainties substantially below 0.1 mu as yr(-1).

Published
2020
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32. Field evaluation of multistrain biofertilizer for improving the productivity of different mungbean genotypes

Author

Abubakar Dar, Shahid Riaz Malik, Frank Rasche, Ghulam Abbas, Maqshoof Ahmad, Zahir Ahmad Zahir, and Thomas Hilger

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, biofertilizers, lcsh:GE1-350, mungbean, Field (physics), Biofertilizer, 030106 microbiology, food and beverages, Soil Science, Biology, Environmental Science (miscellaneous), sustainability, lcsh:S1-972, 03 medical and health sciences, Agronomy, profitability, lcsh:Agriculture (General), Productivity, intensification, lcsh:Environmental sciences
Abstract

Mungbean can successfully be grown in the small slots present in the existing cropping systems that may increase the farmer income and can also restore soil fertility. The inoculation of crop plants with bacterial inoculants has the potential to increase crop productivity even under different soil and climatic conditions. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of multi-strain biofertilizer prepared through combined use of Rhizobium phaseoli and Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis for enhancing the growth, nodulation and productivity of ten mungbean genotypes under field conditions, and effect of inoculation on total bacterial DNA (population) in soil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with factorial arrangements and three replications. Results revealed that inoculation with multistrain biofertilizer increased the nodule numbers, growth, and yield under different mungbean genotypes when compared with their respective uninoculated control. The genotypes showed different productive potentials either with or without inoculation under field conditions. The genotype NCM 2015 yielded more but inoculation was more effective with genotypes NM 17, NM 19 and NCM-252- 10 under field conditions of Bahawalpur. Results of 16S rRNA analysis showed a higher number of gene copies in the rhizosphere of inoculated plants of all mungbean genotypes than those of uninoculated plants. Maximum total bacterial population was observed in the rhizosphere of inoculated plants in NM 11 that was significantly better than un-inoculated control plants of the same mungbean line but non-significant when compared with other lines under inoculation. It is concluded that the use of multistrain biofertilizer prepared through combined use of Rhizobium and PGPR strains containing ACC-deaminase could be an effective approach to improve growth, nodulation and yield of mungbean genotypes. The response of different genotypes to the inoculation varied significantly. So, research for the development of inoculum for different advanced genotypes should be continued and more emphasis should be deployed to develop biofertilizers with efficient strains to use them under different climate and soil conditions.

Published
2018
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33. Beans with Benefits—The Role of Mungbean (Vigna radiate) in a Changing Environment

Author

Roland Schafleitner, Lisa Pataczek, Thomas Hilger, Ramakrishnan M. Nair, Maqshoof Ahmad, Georg Cadisch, Saima Rani, and Zahir Ahmad Zahir

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Food security, business.industry, Conservation agriculture, fungi, Deficit irrigation, Farm income, food and beverages, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, General Medicine, Biology, 01 natural sciences, Crop, Green manure, Agronomy, Agriculture, 040103 agronomy & agriculture, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, business, Legume, 010606 plant biology & botany
Abstract

Dryland areas are experiencing low agricultural yields due to severe water shortages and salinity, leading to food scarcity. Mungbean (Vigna radiate) is gaining attention as a short-season crop that can tolerate dryland conditions, and fix atmospheric nitrogen, decreasing soil nutrient depletion. It is a source of high-quality protein for human consumption and can serve as a multipurpose crop, if harvest residues are used as fodder or green manure. However, little of this legume’s potential has been explored. This review aims to underline the importance of mungbean as an agricultural crop by reviewing relevant literature on the potential contribution of mungbean to food security and a balanced diet as well as the effect of mungbean cultivation on farm income and gender equality. The challenges of climate change in plant production are discussed, and how progress in mungbean breeding and the application of improved cultivation techniques, such as regulated deficit irrigation, conservation agriculture, and inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria can overcome them.

Published
2018
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34. Missing association between nutrient concentrations in leaves and edible parts of food crops – A neglected food security issue

Author

Irmgard Jordan, Thomas Hilger, Georg Cadisch, Hans-Peter Piepho, and Sahrah Fischer

Subjects
Crops, Agricultural, Biology, 01 natural sciences, Analytical Chemistry, Crop, Soil, 0404 agricultural biotechnology, Nutrient, Musa acuminata, Micronutrients, Food security, business.industry, 010401 analytical chemistry, Food composition data, Nutrients, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, General Medicine, Micronutrient, biology.organism_classification, 040401 food science, Trace Elements, 0104 chemical sciences, Plant Leaves, Agronomy, Food Security, Agriculture, business, Food quality, Food Science
Abstract

Crop nutrient deficiencies are determined based on leaf nutrient composition, and rarely on food composition. Consequently, it remains unclear whether leaf nutrients are useable to form conclusions on quality of produced foods. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between plant macro- (Mg, P, S, K, Ca) and micronutrient (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu) concentrations of leaves and edible parts of three East African staple crops: Zea mays, Manihot esculenta, and Musa acuminata. Low phloem mobile nutrients Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu showed the largest differences in correlations between leaves and edible parts. Perennial crops showed lower correlations between nutrient concentrations of leaves and edible parts than annuals. Leaves may provide information on plant health, however do not provide enough information to gauge both yields and food quality, particularly regarding micronutrients. Therefore, agricultural and nutritional scientists should harmonize methods to develop sustainable management options for increased food and nutrition security.

Published
2021
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35. Holistic agricultural diversity index as a measure of agricultural diversity: A cross-sectional study of smallholder farmers in Lilongwe district of Malawi

Author

Thomas Hilger, Charles Masangano, Ernst-August Nuppenau, Irmgard Jordan, Judith Francesca Mangani Kamoto, Isaac Mambo, Alexander A Kalimbira, and Paul Fatch

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, business.industry, Cross-sectional study, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, Diversification (marketing strategy), 01 natural sciences, Crop, Agricultural science, Diversity index, Geography, Agriculture, Scale (social sciences), 040103 agronomy & agriculture, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Animal Science and Zoology, Livestock, business, Agronomy and Crop Science, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Diversity (business)
Abstract

Malawi, a country with 70% of land allocated to maize production and maize dominated diets, sees the need to engage in a serious drive towards agricultural diversity. A study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Lilongwe District to measure the status of agriculture diversity among 424 randomly selected smallholder households from 36 proportional probability sampled villages. Results showed that 82.5% of farmers identified maize as their priority crop. Diversity of fruit trees was low as 40.3% of households grew mangoes, followed by 3.3% who grew paw paws. Only 22.4% of the farmers had backyard gardens. Livestock and poultry diversity was also low as only 50.9% of households owned chickens, followed by 26.2% of household who owned goats, while only 1.7% of the households owned cows. A Holistic Agricultural Diversity Index was constructed with a scale ranging from zero (for complete non-diversification) to one (for complete diversification). Mean diversity index among sampled households was 0.2822 and a standard deviation of 0.1938 indicating low agricultural diversity in Lilongwe. Proximity to Lilongwe city agriculture market did not trigger higher agricultural diversity. Policies and programs need to promote production of crops that require low levels of inputs such as groundnuts and cassava, as well as provision of veterinary services and implementation of livestock (such as poultry, goats, and rabbits) pass-on programs to increase crop, and livestock diversity, respectively. Further research is required in other districts to measure agricultural diversity under different conditions and to test the Holistic Agricultural Diversity Index proposed in this study.

Published
2021
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36. Sediment trap efficiency of paddy fields at the watershed scale in a mountainous catchment in northwest Vietnam

Author

Johanna Slaets, Thomas Hilger, Tran Duc Vien, Georg Cadisch, and Petra Schmitter

Subjects
0208 environmental biotechnology, Drainage basin, lcsh:Life, 02 engineering and technology, Silt, Sink (geography), lcsh:QH540-549.5, Puddling, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Earth-Surface Processes, Hydrology, geography, geography.geographical_feature_category, lcsh:QE1-996.5, Sediment, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, 020801 environmental engineering, lcsh:Geology, lcsh:QH501-531, 040103 agronomy & agriculture, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Paddy field, Environmental science, lcsh:Ecology, Soil fertility, Surface runoff
Abstract

Composite agricultural systems with permanent maize cultivation in the uplands and irrigated rice in the valleys are very common in mountainous Southeast Asia. The soil loss and fertility decline of the upland fields is well documented, but little is known about reallocation of these sediments within the landscape. In this study, a turbidity-based linear mixed model was used to quantify sediment inputs, from surface reservoir irrigation water and from direct overland flow, into a paddy area of 13 hectares. Simultaneously, the sediment load exported from the rice fields was determined. Mid-infrared spectroscopy was applied to analyze sediment particle size. Our results showed that per year, 64 Mg ha−1 of sediments were imported into paddy fields, of which around 75 % were delivered by irrigation water and the remainder by direct overland flow during rainfall events. Overland flow contributed one third of the received sandy fraction, while irrigated sediments were predominantly silty. Overall, rice fields were a net sink for sediments, trapping 28 Mg ha−1 a−1 or almost half of total sediment inputs. As paddy outflow consisted almost exclusively of silt- and clay-sized material, 24 Mg ha−1 a−1 of the trapped amount of sediment was estimated to be sandy. Under continued intensive upland maize cultivation, such a sustained input of coarse material could jeopardize paddy soil fertility, puddling capacity and ultimately also food security of the inhabitants of these mountainous areas. Preventing direct overland flow from entering the paddy fields, however, could reduce sand inputs by up to 34 %.

Published
2016

37. Gaia Data Release 2

Author

H. E. Huckle, F. Riclet, R. Buzzi, D. J. Marshall, Deborah Busonero, Michael Davidson, C Boeche, Sergio Messina, F. X. Pineau, G. Jasniewicz, L. Balaguer-Núñez, C. A. L. Bailer-Jones, L. Chaoul, J. L. Halbwachs, D. Teyssier, A. F. Lanza, Alberto Vecchiato, Shay Zucker, Francois Taris, Conny Aerts, L. Pulone, Mario Gai, L. M. Sarro, Frédéric Arenou, Á. L. Juhász, Alessandro Bressan, Joao Alves, Morgan Fouesneau, David Hobbs, Yves Fremat, L. Ruiz-Dern, A. Hutton, Sofia Randich, Gerry Gilmore, D. Garabato, Leanne P. Guy, J. González-Núñez, M. Weiler, H. Steidelmüller, D. de Martino, M. A. Álvarez, Vincenzo Ripepi, G. Gracia-Abril, Uwe Lammers, P. de Laverny, G. Sadowski, Nicolas Mary, Bengt Edvardsson, Laszlo Szabados, Łukasz Wyrzykowski, David Barrado, Alberto Cellino, Damien Ségransan, T Roegiers, Olivier Wertz, A. Recio-Blanco, Sergei A. Klioner, J. Durán, A. Panahi, A. Karampelas, Alex Lobel, J.-L. Bassilana, H. Voss, Sven Zschocke, A. Bombrun, F. De Angeli, Toni Santana-Ros, J. C. Segovia, D. Vicente, S. Blanco-Cuaresma, A. G. Butkevich, M. Riello, Amina Helmi, J. Bakker, J. Souchay, A. Kewley, R Alvarez, Daniel Hestroffer, Sergey E. Koposov, Tsevi Mazeh, Maria Süveges, F. F. Suess, P. Drazinos, B. Holl, H. Ziaeepour, T. Wevems, Eva Sciacca, P. Esquej, A. Gueguen, J. Heu, R. Geyer, J. Fernández-Hernández, E. Licata, Laurent Galluccio, J. Cuypers, Peter G. Jonker, Ummi Abbas, Elena Pancino, Jean Surdej, E. Anglada Varela, Michele Bellazzini, Teresa Antoja, Martin A. Barstow, László Molnár, Isabella Pagano, E. Solano, E. Brugaletta, P. Koubsky, Paolo Tanga, Alberto Krone-Martins, M. Clotet, Nigel Hambly, R. L. Smart, Paolo Giacobbe, Simchon Faigler, G. Giuffrida, Aldo Dell'Oro, Yveline Lebreton, Stefano Bertone, Mario G. Lattanzi, Paul S. Barklem, D. Tapiador, Patrick Charlot, A. H. Andrei, Luciano Nicastro, S. Managau, Lorenzo Rimoldini, Mario Di Martino, Paolo Montegriffo, A. Abreu Aramburu, O. Marchal, Marcella Marconi, K. Janßen, K. Findeisen, Xavier Luri, A. Berihuete, M. Schultheis, P. Di Matteo, R. Mor, C. Barata, A. Mora, W. van Reeven, Mikael Granvik, M. Barros, Carine Babusiaux, A. G. A. Brown, Mark Taylor, Y. Le Fustec, T. Lebzelter, Nami Mowlavi, O. L. Creevey, F. Barblan, Thierry Morel, Timo Prusti, A. Riva, S. Girona, S. Liao, Viktor Votruba, Frédéric Royer, Laurent Chemin, G. Altavilla, A. M. Piersimoni, Davide Massari, Marco Delbo, S. Diakite, V. Valette, N. Bach, H. Lenhardt, André Moitinho, Christophe Barache, S. Galleti, Michał Pawlak, A. Yoldas, Harry Enke, Rosanna Sordo, A. Jean-Antoine-Piccolo, Patrice David, Giacomo Cannizzaro, W. Löffler, J. Torra, Tristan Cantat-Gaudin, Marc Audard, D. Katz, Jose M Hernandez, Gijs Nelemans, S. Ragaini, P. Osborne, D. Terrett, A. J. Falcão, D. L. Harrison, G. Plum, R. G. Mann, Ulrike Heiter, Carla Cacciari, Gal Matijevic, J. M. Petit, A. Titarenko, Despina Hatzidimitriou, Juan Zorec, Angela Bragaglia, Nicholas Rowell, Annie C. Robin, Mario David, Tri L. Astraatmadja, Giovanni Comoretto, F. Julbe, Derek W. Morris, R. Drimmel, F. García-Sedano, A. Dapergolas, L. Noval, Mike Smith, Grigori Fedorets, H. Palacin, L. Bramante, D. Molina, Jesus Salgado, C. Dolding, M. Vaillant, Daniel Michalik, H. I. Siddiqui, Minia Manteiga, P. J. Richards, D. Barbato, A. Fonti, Raphael Guerra, J. J. González-Vidal, E. del Pozo, Mariateresa Crosta, M. Žerjal, F. Torra Clotet, C. Diener, M. Hauser, G. Walmsley, Sonia Nieto, I. Bellas-Velidis, T. Boch, Antonella Vallenari, M. Segol, S. Voutsinas, F. Leroux, A. F. Mulone, Pierre Fernique, Céline Reylé, P. Panuzzo, W. Hofmann, S. Bouquillon, F. Crifo, S. Cowell, Ana Ulla, Benoit Carry, C. Ordenovic, F. Pailler, E. Utrilla, Dimitri Pourbaix, A. Hypki, Stefan Jordan, T. Carlucci, Gráinne Costigan, Alfred Castro-Ginard, C. Fabre, C. Crowley, R. Borrachero, Sébastien Lambert, J. H. J. de Bruijne, D. W. Evans, C. Turon, T. Brüsemeister, F. De Luise, R. Haigron, Carme Jordi, G. Marschalkó, C. von Essen, C. Pagani, Katrien Kolenberg, M. van Leeuwen, N. R. Millar, Gisella Clementini, A. de Torres, Ugo Becciani, S. Marinoni, Geraldine Bourda, A. F. Silva, L. Eyer, Misha Haywood, C. Fabricius, Krzysztof Nienartowicz, Miguel García-Torres, S. Regibo, P. Gavras, Gábor Marton, Elisa Distefano, A. Guerrier, H. E. P. Lindstrøm, N. A. Walton, N. Brouillet, G. Eynard Bontemps, T. A. Lister, F. A. Jansen, Ruth Carballo, Steve Vogt, J. M. Carrasco, G. Mantelet, M. Romero-Gómez, Ramachrisna Teixeira, Kjell Eriksson, A. Kochoska, Johannes Sahlmann, Joakim Klar, R. Gutiérrez-Sánchez, Ilaria Musella, L. Palaversa, Karri Muinonen, J. M. Martín-Fleitas, T. Sagristà Sellés, Marco Castellani, Y. Viala, Laia Casamiquela, R. Messineo, Eduard Masana, R. de Souza, H. Stoev, L. Siltala, B. Frezouls, E. Szegedi-Elek, Tomaz Zwitter, G. Kordopatis, C. Ducourant, Tatiana Muraveva, P. Burgess, J. De Ridder, E. Salguero, A. Burlacu, I-C. Shih, U. Stampa, V. Icardi, Iain A. Steele, Alessandro Sozzetti, M. Kontizas, Roberto Molinaro, F. Solitro, H. E. Delgado, G. Holland, J.-B. Lavigne, Andreas Korn, M. Biermann, E. Fraile, M. Fabrizio, Francesca Figueras, R. Blomme, P. Teyssandier, Elisabetta Caffau, G. Busso, Maroussia Roelens, Maarten A. Breddels, Simon Hodgkin, Luciana Bianchi, Olivier Bienaymé, Silvio Leccia, C. Le Poncin-Lafitte, Morgan Fraser, M. Ramos-Lerate, M. Gomes, N. Cheek, J. Osinde, Jérôme Berthier, Kevin Benson, Christos Siopis, P. Balm, E. Gosset, Yassine Damerdji, Richard I. Anderson, C. Zurbach, Jonas Debosscher, G. Cocozza, William O'Mullane, Andrea Chiavassa, F.E. van Leeuwen, Diego Bossini, Federica Spoto, G. Jevardat de Fombelle, Nicoletta Sanna, J. Guiraud, G. Tauran, K. W. Smith, E. Poujoulet, Mark Cropper, Z. Kostrzewa-Rutkowska, F. Glass, J. Gerssen, Thomas Hilger, C.A. Stephenson, D. Ordóñez-Blanco, Andrej Prsa, M. Sarasso, E. Kontizas, Luciana Federici, Paul J. McMillan, Nicolas Rambaux, Ludovic Delchambre, M. Garcia-Reinaldos, T. Pauwels, M. Farràs Casas, S. Bartholomé Muñoz, E. Livanou, E. Van Hemelryck, Roberto Morbidelli, R. Kohley, A. Garofalo, Jovan Veljanoski, Jon Marchant, Jordi Portell, Ulrich Bastian, M. Lopez, Bernardino Arcay, H. Savietto, Alessandro Spagna, A. C. Lanzafame, Beatrice Bucciarelli, C. Panem, Carlos Dafonte, Y. Lasne, P. Sartoretti, E. Racero, William Thuillot, A. Gavel, J. Castañeda, Gaetano Valentini, A. Rivard, E. Poggio, N. Garralda, R. De March, S. G. Baker, S. Accart, M. Altmann, F. Filippi, George M. Seabroke, F. Thévenin, A. van Elteren, Emese Plachy, Lennart Lindegren, Isabelle Lecoeur-Taïbi, Guy Rixon, S Uzzi, M Vaschetto, Francois Mignard, E. Antiche, P. M. Marrese, N. Leclerc, Caroline Soubiran, Rene Andrae, A. Delgado, and Rossella Cancelliere

Subjects
Physics, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Astronomy, Astronomy and Astrophysics, galaxies: dwarf, Astrophysics, Astrometry, globular clusters: general, 01 natural sciences, Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia e Astrofisica, Space and Planetary Science, 0103 physical sciences, Local Group, astrometry, High Energy Physics, Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics, astrometry, globular clusters: general, galaxies: dwarf, Local Group, errata, addenda, Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics, addenda, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Data release, Astrophysique, errata, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

0, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2020
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38. Soil and farm management effects on yield and nutrient concentrations of food crops in East Africa

Author

Erick K. Towett, Hans-Peter Piepho, Irmgard Jordan, Thomas Hilger, Jeninah Karungi, Keith D. Shepherd, Sahrah Fischer, and Georg Cadisch

Subjects
Farms, Environmental Engineering, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, 010501 environmental sciences, Biology, Zea mays, 01 natural sciences, Soil, Agricultural science, Nutrient, Environmental Chemistry, Uganda, Organic matter, Waste Management and Disposal, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, chemistry.chemical_classification, Crop yield, fungi, food and beverages, Food composition data, Nutrients, Kenya, Pollution, Human nutrition, chemistry, Crop diversity, Soil water, Soil fertility
Abstract

Crops that grow on soils with higher fertility often have higher yields and higher tissue nutrient concentrations. Whether this is the case for all crops, and which soil and management factors, or combinations mostly affect yields and food nutrient concentrations however, is poorly understood. Here, the main aim was to evaluate effects of soil and management factors on crop yields and food nutrient concentrations in (i) grain, fruit and tuber crops, and (ii) between high and low soil fertility areas. Total elemental concentrations of Mg, P, S, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu were measured using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (pXRF) in maize grain (Zea mays; Teso South, Kenya: n = 31; Kapchorwa, Uganda n = 30), cassava tuber (Manihot esculenta; Teso South: n = 27), and matooke fruit (Musa acuminata; Kapchorwa, n = 54). Soil properties measured were eCEC, total N and C, pH, texture, and total elemental content. Farm management variables (fertilisation, distance to household, and crop diversity) were collected. Canonical Correspondence Analyses (CCA) with permutation rank tests identified driving factors of alterations in nutrient concentrations. Maize grain had higher correlations with soil factors (CCA > 80%), than cassava tuber (76%) or matooke fruit (39%). In contrast, corresponding correlations to management factors were much lower (8–39%). The main soil properties affecting food nutrients were organic matter and texture. Surprisingly, pH did not play an important role. A positive association of crop diversity with nutrient concentration and yield in lower fertility areas was observed. Considering, food nutrient composition, apart from yield, as response variables in agronomic trials (e.g. fertilisation or soil improvement strategies), would contribute towards discounting the notion that crops growing on fertile soils always produce healthy and high quality foods.

Published
2020
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39. Quantifying uncertainty on sediment loads using bootstrap confidence intervals

Author

Hans-Peter Piepho, Petra Schmitter, Georg Cadisch, Johanna Slaets, and Thomas Hilger

Subjects
Mixed model, Hydrology, lcsh:GE1-350, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, lcsh:T, 0208 environmental biotechnology, lcsh:Geography. Anthropology. Recreation, Sediment, Statistical model, Soil science, 02 engineering and technology, Sedimentation, 01 natural sciences, lcsh:Technology, Confidence interval, Siltation, lcsh:TD1-1066, 020801 environmental engineering, Standard error, Hydrology (agriculture), lcsh:G, Environmental science, lcsh:Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering, lcsh:Environmental sciences, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Load estimates are more informative than constituent concentrations alone, as they allow quantification of on- and off-site impacts of environmental processes concerning pollutants, nutrients and sediment, such as soil fertility loss, reservoir sedimentation and irrigation channel siltation. While statistical models used to predict constituent concentrations have been developed considerably over the last few years, measures of uncertainty on constituent loads are rarely reported. Loads are the product of two predictions, constituent concentration and discharge, integrated over a time period, which does not make it straightforward to produce a standard error or a confidence interval. In this paper, a linear mixed model is used to estimate sediment concentrations. A bootstrap method is then developed that accounts for the uncertainty in the concentration and discharge predictions, allowing temporal correlation in the constituent data, and can be used when data transformations are required. The method was tested for a small watershed in Northwest Vietnam for the period 2010–2011. The results showed that confidence intervals were asymmetric, with the highest uncertainty in the upper limit, and that a load of 6262 Mg year−1 had a 95 % confidence interval of (4331, 12 267) in 2010 and a load of 5543 Mg an interval of (3593, 8975) in 2011. Additionally, the approach demonstrated that direct estimates from the data were biased downwards compared to bootstrap median estimates. These results imply that constituent loads predicted from regression-type water quality models could frequently be underestimating sediment yields and their environmental impact.

Published
2018

40. Preliminary study on phosphate solubilizing Bacillus subtilis strain Q3 and Paenibacillus sp. strain Q6 for improving cotton growth under alkaline conditions

Author

Thomas Hilger, Maqshoof Ahmad, Sajid Mahmood Nadeem, Zahir Ahmad Zahir, Iqra Ahmad, Moazzam Jamil, Azhar Hussain, and Muhammad Furqan Akhtar

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, 0301 basic medicine, chemistry.chemical_element, lcsh:Medicine, Bacillus subtilis, Cotton, Growth, Microbiology, 01 natural sciences, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, 03 medical and health sciences, chemistry.chemical_compound, Root colonization, Food science, Agricultural Science, Axenic, Productivity, Rhizosphere, biology, Strain (chemistry), General Neuroscience, Phosphorus, lcsh:R, General Medicine, Phosphate, biology.organism_classification, 16S ribosomal RNA, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, 030104 developmental biology, chemistry, Nutrient availability, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 010606 plant biology & botany
Abstract

BackgroundLow phosphorus availability limits crop production in alkaline calcareous soils in semi-arid regions including Pakistan. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria may improve crop growth on alkaline calcareous soils due to their ability to enhance P availability.MethodsTwenty rhizobacterial isolates (Q1–Q20) were isolated from rhizosphere of cotton and characterized for their growth promoting attributesin vitro. The selected phosphate solubilizing isolates were further screened for their ability to improve cotton growth under axenic conditions (jar trial). The phosphorus solubilization capacities of selected strains were quantified and these strains were identified through 16S rDNA sequencing.ResultsIsolates Q2, Q3, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q13 and Q14 were able to solubilize phosphate from insoluble sources. Most of these isolates also possessed other traits including catalase activity and ammonia production. The growth promotion assay showed that Q3 was significantly better than most of the other isolates followed by Q6. Maximum root colonization (4.34 × 106cfu g−1) was observed in case of isolate Q6 followed by Q3. The phosphorus solubilization capacities of these strains were quantified, showing a maximum phosphorus solubilization by Q3 (optical density 2.605 ± 0.06) followed by the Q6 strain. The strain Q3 was identified asBacillus subtilis(accession #KX788864) and Q6 asPaenibacillussp. (accession #KX788865) through 16S rDNA sequencing.DiscussionThe bacterial isolates varied in their abilities for different growth promoting traits. The selected PGPRBacillus subtilisstrain Q3 andPaenibacillussp. strain Q6 have multifarious growth promoting traits including ability to grow at higher EC and pH levels, and phosphorus solubilizing ability. These strains can efficiently colonize cotton roots under salt affected soils and help plants in phosphorus nutrition. It is concluded that both strains are potential candidates for promoting cotton growth under alkaline conditions, however further investigation is required to determine their potential for field application.

Published
2018

41. Gaia Data Release 2: The astrometric solution

Author

Luciana Bianchi, A. de Torres, Geraldine Bourda, G. Comoretto, Werner Hofmann, David Hobbs, Iain A. Steele, M. Biermann, Alex Bombrun, U. Stampa, Mario G. Lattanzi, Alberto Vecchiato, Jose M Hernandez, B. Holl, Martin Altmann, Alberto Riva, C.A. Stephenson, H. Steidelmüller, H. I. Siddiqui, U. Abbas, N. Cheek, Sergei A. Klioner, S. Bouquillon, G. Gracia, E. Licata, C. Crowley, Ugo Becciani, A. Abreu, Stefan Jordan, Daniel Michalik, J. Torra, J. H. J. de Bruijne, T. Carlucci, J. Castañeda, Thomas Hilger, Rossella Cancelliere, J. M. Martín-Fleitas, A. Mora, W. Löffler, Eva Sciacca, Roberto Morbidelli, C. Fabricius, A. Hutton, Stefano Bertone, Patrick Charlot, R. Messineo, R. Buzzi, Alexandre Humberto Andrei, M. Ramos-Lerate, C. Barache, R. Drimmel, L. Balaguer-Núñez, Lennart Lindegren, S. Liao, J.J. González-Vidal, F. van Leeuwen, Michael Davidson, M. Sarasso, Francois Mignard, T. Brüsemeister, Richard L. Smart, Nicholas Rowell, Paul J. McMillan, D. Busonero, F. Taris, E. Anglada, Agnes Fienga, U. Lammers, Jordi Portell, Ulrich Bastian, E. Poggio, P. Esquej, Beatrice Bucciarelli, R. Geyer, M. Clotet, Nigel Hambly, Tim Lister, Jon Marchant, Alessandro Spagna, A. van Elteren, Raphael Guerra, F. de Felice, Mariateresa Crosta, M. Hauser, W. van Reeven, H. Lenhardt, Mario Gai, N. Garralda, E. Salguero, E. Fraile, Maison des Agriculteurs, Association pour le Développement de l'Apiculture Provençale (ADAPI), Université Grenoble Alpes - UFR Langage, lettres et arts du spectacle, information et communication - Dpt Lettres et arts du spectacle (UGA UFR LLASIC LAS), Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Zentrum für astronomie, Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg], Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés (LISBP), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées - Toulouse (INSA Toulouse), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Agence Spatiale Européenne (ESA), European Space Agency (ESA), Department of nuclear medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen (UIB)-University of Bergen (UIB), Department of Plant Ecology, Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (OAA), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University [Port Elizabeth, South Africa], Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología [Lugo, Spain], Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli [Lugo, Spain] (LREC), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela [A Coruña, Spain] (USC )-Universidade de Santiago de Compostela [A Coruña, Spain] (USC ), AUTRES, Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174) (FEMTO-ST), Université de Franche-Comté (UFC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM)-Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM), Departamento de Fisica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), CEA Le Ripault (CEA Le Ripault), Direction des Applications Militaires (DAM), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), M2A 2018, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac] (LAB), Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Observatoire de Besançon, INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino (OATo), Laboratorio de Inmunologıa y Virologıa, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, Heckscher-Klinikum, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Département immunologie-oncologie, Sanofi-Synthélabo, Laboratoire de Cosmologie, Astrophysique Stellaire & Solaire, de Planétologie et de Mécanique des Fluides (CASSIOPEE), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institute of Hepatology, Birkbeck College [University of London]-Foundation for Liver Research, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center-College of Medicine and Public Health [Colombus], Astrophysics Research Institute [Liverpool] (ARI), Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), Astrometry, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Association pour le Developpement de l'Apiculture Provencale (ADAPI), Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019]), Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg] = Heidelberg University, Agence Spatiale Européenne = European Space Agency (ESA), University of Bergen (UiB)-University of Bergen (UiB), Technische Universität Dresden = Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden), Nelson Mandela University [Port Elizabeth], Universidade de Santiago de Compostela [Spain] (USC )-Universidade de Santiago de Compostela [Spain] (USC ), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC), Departamento de Fisica de la Materia Condensada [Madrid] (FMC), Facultad de Ciencas [Madrid], Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Géoazur (GEOAZUR 7329), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA ), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019]), Joseph Louis LAGRANGE (LAGRANGE), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universitat de Barcelona, Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository, Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)-Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, and COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
instruments [space vehicles], Proper motion, Astrometria, Epoch (astronomy), FOS: Physical sciences, Paral·laxi, 01 natural sciences, proper motions, 0103 physical sciences, data analysis [methods], reference systems, space vehicles: instruments, Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM), Parallax, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Physics, [PHYS]Physics [physics], 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Astronomy, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Quasar, Astrometry, astrometry, parallaxes, methods: data analysis, [SDU.ASTR.IM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM], Space and Planetary Science, Magnitude (astronomy), Satellite, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Reference frame
Abstract

Gaia Data Release 2 (Gaia DR2) contains results for 1693 million sources in the magnitude range 3 to 21 based on observations collected by the European Space Agency Gaia satellite during the first 22 months of its operational phase. We describe the input data, models, and processing used for the astrometric content of Gaia DR2, and the validation of these results performed within the astrometry task. Some 320 billion centroid positions from the pre-processed astrometric CCD observations were used to estimate the five astrometric parameters (positions, parallaxes, and proper motions) for 1332 million sources, and approximate positions at the reference epoch J2015.5 for an additional 361 million mostly faint sources. Special validation solutions were used to characterise the random and systematic errors in parallax and proper motion. For the sources with five-parameter astrometric solutions, the median uncertainty in parallax and position at the reference epoch J2015.5 is about 0.04 mas for bright (G, 25 pages, 29 figures. Special A&A issue on Gaia Data Release 2

Published
2018
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42. Chiral-partner D mesons in a heat bath within QCD sum rules

Author

Burkhard Kampfer, Stefan Leupold, Thomas Hilger, and Thomas Buchheim

Subjects
Physics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, QCD sum rules, Particle physics, Nuclear Theory, Heat bath, Meson, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, High Energy Physics::Lattice, Scalar (mathematics), Spectral properties, High Energy Physics::Phenomenology, FOS: Physical sciences, 01 natural sciences, Nuclear Theory (nucl-th), General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, 0103 physical sciences, High Energy Physics::Experiment, 010306 general physics, Nuclear theory
Abstract

Utilizing QCD sum rules, we extract the temperature dependences of the spectral properties of the pseudo-scalar and scalar D mesons regarded as chiral partners. Besides the masses also decay constants are analyzed as the D meson yields in heavy-ion collisions may be sensitive to their altered decay properties in an ambient strongly interacting medium. Our findings are ($i$) a decreasing scalar D meson mass for growing temperatures while its pseudo-scalar partner meson seems hardly affected, which is in qualitative agreement with hadronic model calculations; ($ii$) inferring an equally weak temperature dependence of the pseudo-scalar D meson decay properties the decreasing residua and decay constants of the scalar particle point towards partial chiral restoration. As a bonus of our analysis in the pseudo-scalar sector we determine the pseudo-scalar decay constant at vanishing temperature. Due to the connection to particular leptonic branching fractions this decay constant is of great interest allowing for the determination of the off-diagonal CKM matrix element $|V_{cd}|$ at zero temperature., Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures

Published
2018

43. Global Dyson-Schwinger-Bethe-Salpeter Approach to Mesons with Open Flavour

Author

María Gómez-Rocha, Andreas Krassnigg, Wolfgang Lucha, and Thomas Hilger

Subjects
Quark, Particle physics, Bethe–Salpeter equation, Nuclear Theory, Meson, High Energy Physics::Lattice, QC1-999, Flavour, FOS: Physical sciences, Model parameters, 01 natural sciences, High Energy Physics - Experiment, Nuclear Theory (nucl-th), High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex), High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph), 0103 physical sciences, Bound state, 010306 general physics, Nuclear Experiment, Physics, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, High Energy Physics::Phenomenology, Propagator, Quarkonium, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics::Experiment
Abstract

Exploiting an interplay of the Bethe-Salpeter equation enabling us to regard mesons as bound states of quark and antiquark and the Dyson-Schwinger equation controlling the dressed quark propagator, we amend existing studies of quarkonia by a comprehensive description of open-flavour mesons composed of all conceivable combinations of quark flavour. Employing throughout a fixed set of model parameters, we predict some basic characteristics of these mesons, i.e., their masses, leptonic decay constants and corresponding in-hadron condensates entering in a generalized formulation of the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, contributed to "QCD@Work 2018 - International Workshop on Quantum Chromodynamics: Theory and Experiment" (25 - 28 June 2018, Matera, Italy)

Published
2018

44. Modelling resource competition and its mitigation at the crop-soil-hedge interface using WaNuLCAS

Author

Ashfaq Ahmad, Georg Cadisch, Chalermchart Wongleecharoen, Thanuchai Kongkaew, Khalid Hussain, and Thomas Hilger

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, biology, Monocropping, business.industry, Agroforestry, Simulation modeling, Forestry, Intercropping, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, biology.organism_classification, 01 natural sciences, Tillage, Minimum tillage, Agriculture, 040103 agronomy & agriculture, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Environmental science, Soil conservation, business, Agronomy and Crop Science, Pruning, 010606 plant biology & botany
Abstract

Agroforestry systems have a large potential to increase systems’ productivity and provide soil conservation in hilly terrain but comprise complex interactions at the crop-soil-tree interface. Modelling can be an operational approach to unravel the later. We used the spatially explicit, dynamic Water Nutrient and Light Capture in Agroforestry Systems model to (i) predict maize above ground biomass (AGB) and interactions at the crop-soil-hedge interface, (ii) improve our understanding of trees’ impact on crops in alley cropping, and (iii) identify mitigation strategies. A 2-year-data set from a soil conservation experiment in Western Thailand with maize farmers’ practice (monocropping, tillage), maize-chili-hedgerow intercropping (±fertilization; minimum tillage) was used as model input. Model validation showed satisfactory results for maize AGB (R2 = 0.76, root mean square error = 4.2, model efficiency = 0.69). Simulations revealed nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), rather than light and water, as main limiting factors at the crop-soil-hedge interface reducing maize AGB in rows close to hedgerows. Growth limitation by P was stronger than that of N while light competition was alleviated by four to six hedgerow prunings already. WaNuLCAS simulations clearly indicated that small-targeted additional N and P dressings to maize in rows close to hedges helped overcoming nutrient competition. Such strategic management options can be done for local farmers’ and hence, foster adaptation of soil conservation techniques for sustainable crop production in future.

Published
2015
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45. Identifying resource competition in maize-based soil conservation systems using13C and15N isotopic discrimination

Author

Vu Dinh Tuan, Georg Cadisch, and Thomas Hilger

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, δ13C, media_common.quotation_subject, Soil Science, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, Biology, 01 natural sciences, Competition (biology), Minimum tillage, Water balance, Agronomy, Abundance (ecology), 040103 agronomy & agriculture, Erosion, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Soil conservation, Cover crop, Agronomy and Crop Science, 010606 plant biology & botany, media_common
Abstract

Soil conservation measures such as establishing grass barriers or cover crops effectively control erosion but also provoke competition, which reduces yields of companion crops. We used 13C and 15N natural abundance profiles to identify the causes of competition of soil conservation measures on a field with 59% slope in Northwest Vietnam three years after establishment. Treatments were maize under farmer’s practice (T1, control), maize with Guinea grass barriers (T2), maize under minimum tillage (MT) with Pinto peanuts as cover crop (T3), and maize under MT and relay cropped with Adzuki beans (T4). A pretest using data from zero-N plots revealed that abundance of water and limited nitrogen availability induced low grain N concentrations, enriched leaf δ13C, and reduced maize grain yield. Similar low N leaf concentrations and elevated δ13C values were observed in maize growing close to frequently pruned grass barriers under positive water balance conditions, indicating that yield decline in these rows can b...

Published
2015
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46. Combining δ13C measurements and ERT imaging: improving our understanding of competition at the crop-soil-hedge interface

Author

Jan Diels, Georg Cadisch, Sarah Garré, Wattanai Onsamrarn, Thomas Hilger, Marc-André Sparke, Khalid Hussain, Thanuchai Kongkaew, Chalermchart Wongleecharoen, and Jan Vanderborght

Subjects
biology, Monocropping, media_common.quotation_subject, Soil Science, Intercropping, Plant Science, engineering.material, biology.organism_classification, Competition (biology), Leucaena, Nutrient, Agronomy, Soil water, engineering, Environmental science, Fertilizer, Electrical resistivity tomography, media_common
Abstract

Hedgerow cropping decreases erosion in hillside agriculture but also competes for water and nutrients with crops. This study combined two methods for an improved understanding of water and nutrient competition at the crop-soil-hedge interface. δ13C isotopic discrimination in plants and soil electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) imaging were used in a field trial with maize monocropping (MM) vs. leucaena hedgerow intercropping with and without fertilizer (MHF+ and MHF−) in Thailand. Hedges significantly reduced maize grain yield and aboveground biomass in rows close to hedgerows. ERT revealed water depletion was stronger in MM than in MHF+ and MHF- confirming time domain reflectometry and leaf area data. In MHF+, water depletion was higher in maize rows close to the hedge compared to rows distant to hedges and maize grain δ13C was significantly less negative in rows close to hedges (-10.33‰) compared to distant ones (-10.64‰). Lack of N increased grain δ13C in MHF- (-9.32‰, p ≤ 0.001). Both methods were correlated with each other (r = 0.66, p ≤ 0.001). Combining ERT with grain δ13C and %N allowed identifying that maize growth close to hedges was limited by N and not by water supply. Combining ERT imaging and 13C isotopic discrimination approaches improved the understanding of spatial-temporal patterns of competition at the hedge-soil-crop interface and allowed distinguishing between water and N competition in maize based hedgerow systems.

Published
2015
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47. Defining medium-specific condensates in QCD sum rules for D and B mesons

Author

Thomas Hilger, Burkhard Kampfer, and Thomas Buchheim

Subjects
Physics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, symbols.namesake, QCD sum rules, Particle physics, Meson, Lorentz transformation, QCD vacuum, symbols, Order (group theory), B meson, Operator product expansion, Tensor
Abstract

QCD sum rules for D and B mesons in a strongly interacting environment require the decomposition of Gibbs averaged operators related to tensor structures. We present a procedure to decompose these operators into vacuum and medium-specific parts, thus defining plain medium-specific condensates with coe cients vanishing in vacuum. Our decomposition allows for an identification of potential elements of order parameters for chiral restoration, in particular for higher mass-dimension quark-condensates which would be masked otherwise if operators with uncontracted Lorentz indices would be linked to DIS amplitudes.

Published
2015
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48. Light-quarkonium spectra and orbital-angular-momentum decomposition in a Bethe–Salpeter-equation approach

Author

Andreas Krassnigg, Thomas Hilger, and María Gómez-Rocha

Subjects
Quantum chromodynamics, Physics, Angular momentum, Bethe–Salpeter equation, Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), Meson, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, High Energy Physics::Lattice, Partial wave analysis, High Energy Physics::Phenomenology, FOS: Physical sciences, lcsh:Astrophysics, Quarkonium, 01 natural sciences, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph), lcsh:QB460-466, 0103 physical sciences, Content (measure theory), lcsh:QC770-798, lcsh:Nuclear and particle physics. Atomic energy. Radioactivity, Invariant mass, 010306 general physics, Engineering (miscellaneous), Mathematical physics
Abstract

We investigate the light quarkonium spectrum using a covariant Dyson-Schwinger-Bethe-Salpeter-equation approach to QCD. We discuss splittings among as well as orbital angular momentum properties of various states in detail and analyze common features of mass splittings with regard to properties of the effective interaction. In particular, we predict the mass of sbars exotic 1-+ states, and identify orbital angular momentum content in the excitations of the rho meson. Comparing our covariant model results, the rho and its second excitation being predominantly S-wave, the first excitation being predominantly D-wave, to corresponding conflicting lattice-QCD studies, we investigate the pion-mass dependence of the orbital-angular-momentum assignment and find a crossing at a scale of $m_\pi$ ~ 1.4 GeV. If this crossing turns out to be a feature of the spectrum generated by lattice-QCD studies as well, it may reconcile the different results, since they have been obtained at different values of $m_\pi$., Comment: 26 pages, 21 figures, 3 tables, revised version according to reviewer comments

Published
2017
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49. Aspects of open-flavour mesons in a comprehensive DSBSE study

Author

Andreas Krassnigg, María Gómez-Rocha, Thomas Hilger, and Wolfgang Lucha

Subjects
Physics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Particle physics, Bethe–Salpeter equation, Meson, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, High Energy Physics::Lattice, Quark model, Flavour, Nuclear Theory, High Energy Physics::Phenomenology, FOS: Physical sciences, Quarkonium, 01 natural sciences, Fundamental interaction, Particle decay, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph), 0103 physical sciences, Invariant mass, High Energy Physics::Experiment, 010306 general physics, Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

Open-flavour meson studies are the necessary completion to any comprehensive investigation of quarkonia. We extend recent studies of quarkonia in the Dyson-Schwinger-Bethe-Salpeter-equation approach to explore their results for all possible flavour combinations. Within the inherent limitations of the setup, we present the most comprehensive results for meson masses and leptonic decay constants currently available and put them in perspective with respect to experiment and other approaches., 38 pages, 26 figures, 2 tables, revised according to reviewer comments

Published
2017

50. Nitrogen recovery and downslope translocation in maize hillside cropping as affected by soil conservation

Author

Vu Dinh Tuan, Georg Cadisch, Thomas Hilger, and Tran Duc Vien

Subjects
biology, Field experiment, Soil Science, biology.organism_classification, Minimum tillage, Tillage, Agronomy, Soil horizon, Environmental science, Arachis pintoi, Cover crop, Soil conservation, Agronomy and Crop Science, Panicum
Abstract

We conducted a field experiment on a 53 %-slope in Northwest Vietnam using 15N-labelled urea to trace its fate in maize (Zea mays) under intensive tillage and fertilization (T1, control) versus maize with Panicum maximum grass barriers (T2), under minimum tillage (MT) with Arachis pintoi as cover crop (T3) or relay cropped with Phaseolus calcaratus (T4). 15N-labelled urea was applied to one maize row at the top of each plot one year after trial establishment. At harvest, 21.6 % of the labelled 15N were recovered by maize in T1, 8.9 % in T2, 29 % in T3, and 30.9 % in T4. In T2, maize and P. maximum competed heavily for N with a total 38.1 % of 15N recovered in barriers. Less than 6 % of 15N applied was found in maize rows along the slope regardless of the treatment. MT reduced 15N translocation to deeper soil layers (40–80 cm), indicating a safety net function. Less than 0.1 kg N ha−1 of applied 15N reached the collection devices at the bottom of plots; the majority of added 15N was intercepted by plants along the slope. Current farming practice (T1) induced a negative N balance of −142 kg N ha−1 in which residue burning and erosion were major pathways for N losses. Reduced N losses by erosion in T2 contributed to a less negative N balance as compared to T1. Positive N balances of MT treatments were associated with strongly reduced N losses by erosion and abandonment of burning residues, indicating a viable option for hillside cropping.

Published
2014
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