Valuing Ecosystem Goods and Services in the Columbia River Basin

The values presented in this report apply to the Columbia River Basin (CRB) in the US as a whole. While further work will be needed to estimate the values directly associated with the Columbia River Treaty (CRT), our analysis clearly demonstrates the need for acknowledgment of non-market, ecosystembased values connected to Treaty operations as the sovereign parties consider options for renegotiation, or modification, of the CRT. We acknowledge that many cultural and spiritual ecosystem values transcend economic values. We present this work as a comment on the fact that the contribution of ecosystems is currently valued at zero in the CRT. We organize the report in three sections, each of which aligns with one of the report’s objectives: Section 1 outlines the past, present, and future contexts of the Treaty. We also discuss the nexus of natural resources in the Basin – food, water, energy, and biodiversity – in the context of the Treaty. In Section 2, we detail the methods we used to arrive at our estimates of the economic benefits of ecosystem goods and services (EGS) in the CRB. We introduce the concept of natural capital valuation and describe some of the techniques researchers use to assign monetary values to nature. We also use a case study of the Arrow Lake Reservoir to discuss some of the opportunity costs BC is incurring due to the coordinated management of the river under the Treaty. In Section 3, we explore the effects that a changing climate may have on the values of EGS and the nexus in the future. We summarize projected changes in hydrology and human development in the CRB, and identify the importance of considering these changes in a renegotiated or modified Treaty. We conclude by making the case for including the value of ecological goods and services in any discussion of an adjusted Canadian Entitlement. &nbsp

Potential for Small Satellite Use in NOAA’s Operational Polar Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) manages operational satellite systems for the remote sensing of the Earth System, including the Polar-orbiting operational Environmental Satellite (POES) system. A new configuration of the POES system will be introduced about 1998. Small satellite technology is being investigated by NOAA as a supplement for the future POES system. The baseline payload for the new POES configuration is known and under development. Candidate payload additions are also known. Both payload categories are described. NOAA perceives POES mission advantages as being associated with the use of small satellites in the future system. These advantages, and possible roles for small satellites in POES, are discussed. NOAA is in the early period of its evaluation of small satellite use in its systems. To date, this includes: conducting a general study to establish small satellite options and costs at the order of magnitude level; investigating the technical advantages of transferring the Search and Rescue mission to small satellites; and starting the technical and programmatic review of the possibilities of a small satellite mission for collecting warning data about the onset of geomagnetic storms. These and other evaluations are reported. NOAA\u27s plans and schedules for developing the next-generation POES system, and reaching decisions on small satellite use, are presented

Gamma-ray Novae: Rare or Nearby?

Classical Novae were revealed as a surprise source of gamma-rays in Fermi LAT observations. During the first 8 years since the LAT was launched, 6 novae in total have been detected to > 5 sigma in gamma-rays, in contrast to the 69 discovered optically in the same period. We attempt to resolve this discrepancy by assuming all novae are gamma-ray emitters, and assigning peak one-day fluxes based on a flat distribution of the known emitters to a simulated population. To determine optical parameters, the spatial distribution and magnitudes of bulge and disc novae in M31 are scaled to the Milky Way, which we approximate as a disc with a 20 kpc radius and elliptical bulge with semi major axis 3 kpc and axis ratios 2:1 in the xy plane. We approximate Galactic reddening using a double exponential disc with vertical and radial scale heights of r_d = 5 kpc and z_d = 0.2 kpc, and demonstrate that even such a rudimentary model can easily reproduce the observed fraction of gamma-ray novae, implying that these apparently rare sources are in fact nearby and not intrinsically rare. We conclude that classical novae with m_R < 12 and within ~8 kpc are likely to be discovered in gamma-rays using the Fermi LAT.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS, 10 pages, 7 figure

Redressing the Failure of Environmental Law to Protect Birds and their Habitat

The Audubon Report indicates that the forty-seven bird species occupying grassland habitats may be at the greatest risk. This category has the highest proportion of species at great risk of extinction. The risk of extinction is also high for shrubland birds. Most shrublands are degraded, and 107 bird species reside in shrubland habitat. Twelve species are of high conservation concern and twenty-four are of moderate concern. One hundred sixty-four avian species occupy woodland habitats. Sixteen of those species are of high concern and another twenty-eight are of moderate concern. For woodland species, the Audubon Report established a declining trend for seventy-six of 164 bird species. Water environments provide habitat for 268 bird species and thirty-nine of these species are declining. However, sixty-seven species are reported to be increasing in population. The Audubon Report reaches somewhat different conclusions for bird species found in the urban environment. With respect to the forty-five urban bird species, only one, the green parakeet, is of moderate conservation concern. This finding may be due to the fact that although all urban birds are found in natural habitats, these birds adapt to live in urban environments. While seventeen urban species show significant increase in populations, the Audubon Report establishes that the news is not all positive; the populations of nearly half of the urban birds, such as the Chimney Swift, have declined during the report period. In addition to the Audubon Report, another significant study on the decline of bird species conducted by researchers at Stanford University was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2004. This study predicts that by 2100, 10 percent of all bird species are likely to disappear and another 15 percent could be on the brink of extinction

Redressing the Failure of Environmental Law to Protect Birds and their Habitat

The Audubon Report indicates that the forty-seven bird species occupying grassland habitats may be at the greatest risk. This category has the highest proportion of species at great risk of extinction. The risk of extinction is also high for shrubland birds. Most shrublands are degraded, and 107 bird species reside in shrubland habitat. Twelve species are of high conservation concern and twenty-four are of moderate concern. One hundred sixty-four avian species occupy woodland habitats. Sixteen of those species are of high concern and another twenty-eight are of moderate concern. For woodland species, the Audubon Report established a declining trend for seventy-six of 164 bird species. Water environments provide habitat for 268 bird species and thirty-nine of these species are declining. However, sixty-seven species are reported to be increasing in population. The Audubon Report reaches somewhat different conclusions for bird species found in the urban environment. With respect to the forty-five urban bird species, only one, the green parakeet, is of moderate conservation concern. This finding may be due to the fact that although all urban birds are found in natural habitats, these birds adapt to live in urban environments. While seventeen urban species show significant increase in populations, the Audubon Report establishes that the news is not all positive; the populations of nearly half of the urban birds, such as the Chimney Swift, have declined during the report period. In addition to the Audubon Report, another significant study on the decline of bird species conducted by researchers at Stanford University was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2004. This study predicts that by 2100, 10 percent of all bird species are likely to disappear and another 15 percent could be on the brink of extinction

Arthroscopic Anterior Shoulder Stabilization With Incorporation of a Comminuted Bony Bankart Lesion.

Bony Bankart lesions are a common finding in patients with anterior glenohumeral dislocation. Although there are no defined guidelines, small bony Bankart fractures are typically treated arthroscopically with suture anchors. The 2 main techniques used are double- and single-row suture anchor stabilization, with debate over superiority. Biomechanical studies have shown improved reduction and stabilization with the double-row over the single-row suture anchor technique; however, this has not been reported for small or comminuted bony fragments. Both techniques have shown promising preliminary clinical outcomes. In this Technical Note, we describe our preferred technique for arthroscopic instability repair using a single-row all-suture anchor method with the incorporation of a comminuted bony Bankart fragment in the lateral decubitus position

The European Union Science Olympiad: towards a multidisciplinary strategy for science education

The European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) is a unique, multidisciplinary, integrated, Science, practical-based, team competition. It was established to provide young EU students with a platform to display their scientific capabilities. The concept of the EUSO thus developed from the senior Olympiads which existed at international level at the time. To be accepted by EU Science educators and governments, it would have to mirror these single subject, individual, theory-based Olympiads in several respects and yet be novel in aspects that embody and reflect new ways of teaching and learning. This thesis tracks the historical growth and success of the EUSO from its establishment in 2003 to the present day. It describes the background and significant difficulties involved in convincing EU Science educators of its merits. The philosophy, rationale, teething problems, evolution, integration and key role of team-work are outlined. The EUSO's contribution to the education system of today, and the performance of Irish students in EUSO in comparison to the performance of students from the old and new Europe, are examined. A crucial element in this success story has been the methodology used in the organisation of the EUSO: Participatory Action Research (PAR). Through this democratic process, participants were released from the constraints of the established Olympiad structures and enabled to function in an environment which allowed them to investigate their own reality in order to change it. Such actions have resulted in the development of a new science Olympiad model, the EUSO model. The EUSO has worked: 22 countries and 132 students participated in 2012. 906 students have taken part since 2003. The most striking finding in its ten year history, however, is the dominance of the gold and silver medal categories by the former Soviet Bloc countries

Optical Spectroscopy of Bright Fermi LAT Blazars

We report on HET and Palomar 5 m spectroscopy of recently identified $\gamma$-ray blazars in the {\it Fermi} LAT Bright Source List. These data provide identifications for 10 newly discovered $\gamma$-ray flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQ) and six new BL Lacs plus improved spectroscopy for six additional BL Lacs. We substantially improve the identification completeness of the bright LAT blazars and give new redshifts and $z$ constraints, new estimates of the black hole masses and new measurements of the optical SED.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap

937-2 Safety and Efficacy of QW3600 (EchoGen®) in Producing LV Opacification During Stress Echocardiography in Normals

QW 3600 (EchoGen®) (EG) is a new ultrasonic contrast agent which produces intense LV cavity and even myocardial opacification following IV injection in animals. However, no data exists regarding the potential of this agent to be used in conjunction with stress echo in humans. Therefore, in 17 normals we compared the results of injecting equal volumes of normal saline and progressive doses of EG: 0.02 cc/kg (5 pts). 0.05cc/kg (4). and 0.1cc/kg (8) during stress echo performed to 85% of maximal heart rate. Echo was performed in apical 4 chamber view, and LV contrast opacification was assessed qualitatively (1 + weak and incomplete, 2+ complete cavity. 3+dense and complete) and by videodensitometry (0.3cm2) region of interest in mid cavity. All subjects tolerated the injections well without adverse events. No significant changes were observed in pulse oximetry, the ECG, or 25 laboratory studies. We analyzed the maximal change (Δ) in systolic (S) and diastolic (D) pressure (mmHg) and heart rate (HR) and peak videointensity (PVI) from baseline to post exertion following the injection of either saline or EG (Table, all p=NS for saline vs EG except PVI)DoseSalineEGΔHRΔSBPΔDBPPVIΔHRΔSBPΔDBPPVI0.0248431813424917280.0537351611434321420.13740191037441962LV opacification was absent with saline, was inconsistent at 0.02 and 0.05cc/kg doses, but was≥ 2+ in all but one 0.1cc/kg administration (mean 2.4). Peak LV videointensity after EG was 62 for 0.1cc/kg. Thus, EchoGen® is a new contrast agent which is well tolerated when used with stress echo in normals and results in complete LV opacification at a dose of 0.1cc/kg. EchoGen® should prove to be a useful adjunct to clinical stress echo

Aspire2Health and COVID-19: the impact of the pandemic on outcomes from an outreach program to increase high school student interest in rural health careers

Introduction: Rural health career outreach programs promote health careers to secondary school students and aim to address rural health workforce shortages. This study analyses student feedback data from Aspire2Health, a multidisciplinary rural health career outreach program conducted in Queensland Australia before COVID in 2019, and during COVID lockdown and isolation periods during 2020-2021. The study aims were to assess the suitability of the program and its elements, the program&#039;s short-term impact on students&#039; interest in health careers and whether COVID restrictions on program delivery affected students&#039; program experience and outcomes. Methods: We conducted statistical and semantic analysis of data collected pre- and peri-COVID from participating secondary school students living in regional, rural and remote Australian communities. Data validity was established by triangulating quantitative results from items using a five-point Likert scales, qualitative themes from short-response items and frequency analysis of themes. Data were collected pre-COVID (2019, n=125) and peri-COVID (2020-21, n=248). Results: Student responses to the program remained extremely positive despite COVID-imposed restrictions. Feedback scores indicated quite strong agreement in pre- and peri-COVID periods that the program motivated students to pursue a career in health (mean (M)=4.6 pre-COVID v M=4.5 peri-COVID) and that students would recommend the program to a friend (M=4.8 pre-COVID v M=4.7 peri-COVID). Overall ratings of the event were high, although a drop occurred during the peri-COVID period (M=4.8 pre-COVID v M=4.7 peri-COVID; p=0.043). Activity interest rankings indicated that, irrespective of the pandemic, clinical skills sessions, meeting health professionals and watching the emergency scenario were more interesting to students than ambulance and hospital tours (p&lt;0.001). Four themes were generated from analysing qualitative data. In response to the item &#039;What did you enjoy the most?&#039; the themes were &#039;clinical skills&#039; (n=203, 55% of respondents) and &#039;interacting with professionals&#039; (n=146, 39% of respondents). Responses to &#039;Is there anything we could do differently?&#039; produced the themes &#039;no changes required&#039; (n=158, 58% of respondents) and &#039;variety and duration&#039; (n=40, 11% of respondents). &#039;Variety and duration&#039; described students&#039; desire for more variety, more professionals and more time to engage in activities. The themes and their frequency among student responses indicate strong support for the validity of the results. Conclusion: This study found that the Aspire2Heath program continued to motivate rural students to pursue health careers during the COVID-19 pandemic and that student interest is greatest during activities with hands-on clinical skills and student-professional interactions. These results suggests that rural health career outreach programs can be run under challenging social circumstances with confidence that students can be successfully encouraged to pursue health careers. Furthermore, program design should emphasise hands-on clinical skills and interactions with professions. These findings have practical implications for rural health career outreach programs, particularly those faced with restricted financing or external circumstances that limit their access to external healthcare resources