Sociology's Potential to Improve Forest Management and Inform Forest Policy

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Energy and the Rural Sociological Imagination

Energy is the lifeblood of any society. It drives a society’s material culture and the reproduction of that culture. It is essential for the production of food, shelter, clothing, and for transportation, trade, and communication. This article makes the case for a rural sociology of energy. Relative to the impact that energy issues have for rural places and people, energy, as a subject area, has been understudied by rural sociologists and is infrequently represented in the journals devoted to rural sociology and rural studies. Energy production and distribution activities such as coal mining, uranium mining, hydroelectric dams, wind farms, nuclear, biomass and ethanol production facilities, transmission lines, pipelines, shale gas development, and other energy related activities clearly have major implications for rural life. These activities affect power relations in local areas, landscape and amenity values, labor markets, economic development, income, poverty, health, mobility, and many other thematic areas that are common in rural sociology and rural studies. This article presents an analysis of energy related content to the major journals where rural sociologists publish, including Journal of Rural Social Science (formerly Journal of Southern Rural Sociology), Rural Sociology, Sociologia Ruralis, Journal of Rural Studies, the Journal of Rural and Community Development, and Society & Natural Resources. Some speculation is offered on historical reasons for the lack of attention to energy issues. The article ends with an invitation to turn our collective sociological imaginations toward an explicit rural sociology of energy across several themes and through several specific research questions

Sizing Mobility Readiness Spares Packages for Today\u27s Warfighting Units

As the Air Force transforms from a garrisoned force into a light expeditionary force, one area for restructuring is the manner in which mobility readiness spares packages (MRSPs) are managed and stocked. For a war tasking, thirty days supply is typically deployed in a MRSP as it is assumed that there will be no re-supply for thirty days. Studies of combat operations from the past decade suggest that thirty days without re-supply is an outdated assumption. The objective of this thesis is to economically build a robust MRSP that is flexible enough to provide adequate support for a variety of squadron sizes at least through day 20 of a war. Faster establishment of a reliable re-supply pipeline is the key to successfully implementing such a MRSP. This research focused on three different weapon-systems; the A-10, F-15E, and F-16C. Through use of the Aircraft Sustainability Model, smaller MRSPs are constructed which have the ability to adequately support squadron sizes of 12, 18, and 24 aircraft based on their ability to maintain aircraft availability goals without generating excessive amounts of expected backorders

Public Engagement, Planning, and Politics in the Forest Sector in New Brunswick, 1997–2014

This article documents developments and debates in policy formation for Crown land in New Brunswick from the period 1997 to 2014. Particular focus is given to how the public was engaged in those policy deliberations. The Department of Natural Resources experimented with several public engagement exercises from 1997 to 2007. From 2005– 2007 the government sponsored, but then backed away from, a public opinion study that demonstrated the public’s preference for a conservation-first timber-second strategy for Crown land management. Since 2008, successive governments of both major parties have adopted a more closed and less consultative approach to natural resource policy development.Cet article décrit les développements et les débats liés à l’élaboration de politiques visant les terres de la Couronne du Nouveau-Brunswick, et ce, de 1997 à 2014. Une attention particulière est accordée à l’engagement du public à l’égard des délibérations relatives à ces politiques. Le ministère des Ressources naturelles a mis à l’essai plusieurs activités d’engagement du public de 1997 à 2007. De 2005 à 2007, le gouvernement a parrainé une étude d’opinion publique qui montrait la préférence du public pour une stratégie privilégiant la conservation plutôt que l’exploitation quant à la gestion des terres de la Couronne. Or, par la suite, il a pris ses distances par rapport à cela. Depuis 2008, les gouvernements successifs des deux grands partis ont adopté une démarche plus fermée et moins consultative quant à l’élaboration de politiques sur les ressources naturelles

Theater Facility Impact Study, Volume 1: Theater Facilities: Guidelines and Strategies

This report formulates guidelines and strategies for the creation of regional theater facilities. This study creates a typology for a new building type based on the programmatic desires of regional theater as it has evolved through several generations. Received a research citation from Progressive Architecture and a research excellence award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Funded by the NEA and published jointly with Beckley/Myers Architects. Reprinted in 1985.https://dc.uwm.edu/caupr_mono/1019/thumbnail.jp

Physical and chemical signatures of a developing anticyclonic eddy in the Leeuwin Current, eastern Indian Ocean

A multidisciplinary cruise aboard the R/V Southern Surveyor was conducted in May 2006 to sample a developing anticyclonic eddy of the Leeuwin Current off Western Australia. The eddy formed from a meander of the Leeuwin Current in mid-April 2006 and remained attached to the current until mid-August. In this study, a combination of satellite data (altimeter, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll a) and shipboard measurements (acoustic Doppler current profiler and conductivity-temperature-depth) were used to characterize the physical and chemical signatures of the eddy. The temperature-salinity properties of the mixed layer waters within the anticyclonic eddy and on the shelf were both connected to that of the Leeuwin Current, indicating the water mass in the eddy is mainly derived from the Leeuwin Current and the modified Leeuwin Current water on the shelf. Above the salinity maximum near the eddy center, there was a regionally significant concentration of nitrate (>0.9 μmol L-1), and the maximum (2 μmol L-1) was at 150 in depth, below the photic zone. Nitrification within the eddy and/or local upwelling due to the forming eddy could be responsible for this high concentration of nitrate near the eddy center which potentially makes the eddy a relatively productive feature in the Leeuwin Current

Cyclonic storm-surge risk: a hedonic case study of residential property in Exmouth, Western Australia

Australia is particularly vulnerable to coastal hazards as 85% of the population lives along the coast and there is growing demand for coastal development. The town of Exmouth in north-western Australia was used as a case study to investigate economic strategies for coastal disaster risk reduction as it typifies expanding coastal development in areas prone to extreme weather events, such as cyclones. The extent to which perceptions of risk of cyclonic storm-surge inundation and flooding influenced the price buyers paid for residential property from 1988-2013 were examined using a Hedonic Price model. This incorporated dwelling variables, proximity to the coast, Cyclone Vance storm-surge levels {4m} and 1-in-100 year flood levels. The analysis indicated that prices did not reflect the real societal cost of risk and the influence of greater coastal amenity over-rode any sensitivity to potential risk by buyers. This study is highly relevant in view of the expansion of residential settlement and industry along the coast of northern Australia and the predicted effects of extreme weather events under climate change scenarios

Evidence of displacement of lanternfish larvae associated with surface water movement: Case studies from Southern Africa

The paper is based on larval distribution data from five lanternfish species outside the spawning grounds of the adult populations. Using hydrographic information collected with the larvae, the effect of surface currentson the observed patterns of distribution is discussed. In the South-East Atlantic, adjacent to the Benguela upwelling system, larvae of the pseudoceanic Lampanyctodes hectoris were found farther offshore (250 – 450 km) than usual. The general flow of the current is parallel to the coast, but upwelling filaments extend offshore. The size distributions of the L. hectoris larvae found, together with the rather low temperature at two of the oceanic stations sampled, indicate that they had been displaced by a filament. In the South-West Indian Ocean, the distribution of larvae of highly oceanic species of lanternfish over the shelf is related to onshore intrusions of the Agulhas Current. The size distributions of Hygophum hygomii and Scopelopsis multipunctatus indicate southward transport of larvae. The presence of larvae of Myctophum selenops and Benthosema pterotum, which have not been documented as adults in the region, indicates not only transport to the area, but also that spawning could be taking place closer to the area than previously reported

Effectiveness of sitagliptin compared to sulfonylureas for type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on metformin: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of sitagliptin compared to sulfonylureas as add-on to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus from both randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 'real-world' non-randomised studies. METHODS AND ANALYSES: We conducted a systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL and grey literature for RCTs and non-randomised studies. We reported outcomes relating to change in HbA1c, fasting glucose, weight, blood pressure and lipids from baseline and need for treatment change. No study investigating macrovascular and microvascular diabetes complications was found. Meta-analysis was used where studies were sufficiently homogenous. RESULTS: Seven RCTs and five non-randomised studies were eligible for inclusion from 1335 articles retrieved. Meta-analysis of three homogenous RCTs revealed a statistically significant decrease in weight with sitagliptin when compared to sulfonylureas (weighted mean difference (WMD) -2.05 kg; 95% CI -2.38 to -1.71); however, a similar change from baseline in HbA1c (WMD 0.05; 95% CI -0.03 to 0.12), fasting glucose (WMD 0.11; 95% CI -0.08 to -0.29), blood pressure, lipids and the proportion achieving HbA1c <7% by study end (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.85 to 1.13) was observed.Non-randomised studies identified consisted of four prospective and one retrospective cohort study. Three of these five studies were of moderate/high quality, and results though less precise suggested similar real-world comparative glycaemic and weight effectiveness for both treatments. Data from two cohort studies suggested that treatment change (HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.73) and insulin initiation (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.90) were less likely among those prescribed sitagliptin; however, inadequate reporting of HbA1c at time of treatment change made interpreting results challenging. CONCLUSION: Sitagliptin users experienced modest weight loss compared to gain with sulfonylureas; however, this difference was around 2 kg, which may not be of major clinical significance for most individuals. Similar change was observed across most other effectiveness outcomes reported. Further studies are needed to address longer-term effectiveness outcomes for sitagliptin compared to sulfonylureas as add-on to metformin. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016033983

The place attachment of visitors to Ningaloo Marine Park, north-western Australia

Place attachment has been the subject of a rich, growing body of research in natural resource management, with a particular emphasis on visitors to national parks and forests. Understanding how such attachments are formed as well as their strength has been of central interest. Most of this work has been terrestrially based, with little attention to marine settings. The question of whether the same predominant elements of place attachment – physical environment, activities, social ties and emotional connection – apply to marine national parks remains to be answered. Ningaloo Marine Park in north-western Australia provided the focus for this study. Place attachment is of great interest in this Marine Park because the results of a recent visitor survey showed that 55% of respondents had visited previously and of this, 44% stayed at the same location, suggesting strong place attachment. Photo-elicitation, where photographs are taken by visitors and provide the basis for a subsequent interview, was used to explore this phenomenon. A total of 30 visitors agreed to participate, with up to eight photographs taken by each. Fieldwork was undertaken in July 2009 with preliminary results suggesting that place attachment at the Marine Park has the same four elements as those found in terrestrial-based studies. There were, however, distinct marine components for each element. For the physical environment, coastal vistas were enjoyed because of the feelings of remoteness and isolation they promoted as well as their majestic beauty. Activities centred on those that were uniquely marine, such as snorkelling, diving and fishing. Social ties were evidenced in the bonding of visitors with others who shared similar marine-based past-times such as boating. Regarding emotional connection, families enjoyed being able to visit a location where everybody was happy because all members were able to do their own activities and have a pleasurable experience. Participants were also asked about place-specific behaviours. Place-protective behaviours were obvious from the responses provided and included picking up rubbish and telling others if they were doing the ‘wrong’ thing. Place protection was also evident in the responses regarding perceptions of management. The dominant response related to increasing the presence of management to enforce rules and regulations, particularly for fishing