Labor productivity: A biophysical definition and assessment

A model of energy analysis is presented to study the concept of labor productivity from a biophysical perspective. It is argued that current methods of defining and assessing labor productivity in the fields of work physiology and input/output energy analysis are relatively poor operational tools for assessing productivity in the economy and society. We propose to adopt society as the hierarchical level of analysis rather than the individual, as labor productivity can best be studied as a function of parameters related to the technological development of society. Parameters considered are: the ratio exosomatic/endosomatic energy used in society, the ratio working/non-working population, the return on the circulating energy investment, and the profile of human time allocated to the economic process. The links between patterns of human time allocation, population structure, standard of living, technological development, and demand on natural resources are analyzed. The results suggest that the role and meaning of human labor differ widely in societies with different levels of technological development.     

Lysine-rich c-zeins are secreted in transgenic Arabidopsis plants

We have previously shown that the maize (Zea mays L.) storage prolamine γ-zein, accumulates in endoplasmic reticulum-derived protein bodies in transgenic plants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) ecotype R+P. The retention of γ-zein in the endoplasmic reticulum was found to be mediated by structural features contained in the polypeptide, an N-terminal proline-rich and a C-terminal cysteine-rich domain which were necessary for the correct retention and assembly of γ-zein within protein bodies (M.I. Geli et al., 1994, Plant Cell 6: 1911–1922). In the present work we incorporated in the γ-zein gene lysine-rich coding sequences which were positioned after the N-terminal proline-rich domain and at five amino-acid residues from the C-terminus. The targeting of lysine-rich γ-zeins was analyzed by expression of chimeric genes regulated by the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. The lysine-rich γ-zeins were detected by immunoblotting and we found that these proteins were modified post-translationally to reach their mature form. Subcellular fractionation and immunocytochemical studies demonstrated that glycosylated lysine-rich γ-zeins were secreted to the cell wall of transgenic Arabidopsis leaf cells. Received: 9 May 1997 / Accepted: 31 October 1997     

Reducing Energy Inputs in the US Food System

Petroleum and natural gas are the primary fuels in the US food system. Both fuels are now in short supply and significant quantities are being imported into the USA from various nations. An investigation documented that fossil energy use in the food system could be reduced by about 50% by appropriate technology changes in food production, processing, packaging, transportation, and consumption. The results suggest that overall, farmers benefit as well as consumers.     

General Trends of Technological Changes in Agriculture

In this article we show that technological development in agriculture exhibits general trends when assessed on a large scale. These trends are generated by changes in the larger socioeconomic context in which the farming system operates. We characterize agricultural performance by land and farm labor productivity and the pattern of use of technological inputs. By means of a cross-sectional analysis of agricultural performance of 20 countries (at the national level), we show that increases in demographic pressure and socioeconomic pressure (increases in average income and labor productivity) in society are the main driving forces of technological development in agriculture. Further, it is shown that the ecological impact of farming (environmental loading) is linked to the particular combination of land productivity and labor productivity at which the agricultural sector operates (through the particular mix and the level of inputs used in agricultural production). Briefly we discuss the role of international trade in agricultural policies and performance. Special attention is given to the situation of Chinese agriculture.     

AChemS: the beginning. Association for Chemoreception Sciences

This paper unfolds the events, the people and the times that led up to the founding of AChemS and fashioned its character during its early formative years. It describes the path over which AChemS came, going from the original assertions and denials for the need of such an organization to its later inception and nascent development. This narration highlights such topics as the debate over the need for AChemS, the role of National Science Foundation in the founding of AChemS, the derivation of the Association's name, the choice of Sarasota and the Hyatt House as the meeting site, the generation of the programs for the early annual meetings, the adoption of the bylaws, the process of incorporation and tax deferment, and the birth of the Givaudan Lectureship. Most emphatically highlighted, however, is the enthusiasm, commitment and hard work that the members of the chemosensory research community displayed in bringing AChemS to fruition.