Creatively communicating conservation complexity

Paper presented at the 11th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held May 31-June 3, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri.In Gold, M.A. and M.M. Hall, eds. Agroforestry Comes of Age: Putting Science into Practice. Proceedings, 11th North American Agroforestry Conference, Columbia, Mo., May 31-June 3, 2009.Designing agroforestry practices to achieve multiple objectives can be a challenging task; often requiring resource professionals to scour numerous and diverse resources for scientific-based design information. To simplify this task, the recently released publication Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways synthesizes over 1400 research articles into easy-to-understand rules-of-thumb for planning and designing buffers and other linear agroforestry practices. Over 80 illustrated guidelines describe specific ways that a vegetative buffer can be applied to protect soil, improve air and water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, produce economic products, provide recreational opportunities or beautify the landscape. Buffers and other agroforestry practices designed to achieve multiple objectives however, can result in complex conservation systems that can be challenging to communicate with landowners. Visual simulations offer a way to illustrate design alternatives so that landowners can easily understand this complexity. The CanVis Visual Simulation Kit provides image-editing software that can be used to create photo-realistic simulations of proposed agroforestry design and management scenarios. The communicative and non-threatening nature of simulations encourages landowners to invest time in the design process and offer feedback on alternatives, encouraging adoption and long-term support for the final action. Together, Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways and CanVis can be effectively used to design and communicate complex agroforestry systems that simultaneously satisfy multiple objectives.Gary Bentrup ; USDA National Agroforestry Center - USFS Southern Research Station N. 38th Street and East Campus Loop, Lincoln, NE 68583-0822.Includes bibliographical references

Evaluation of a Collaborative Model Using A Case Study Analysis of Watershed Planning in the Intermountain West

Planning methods that involve collaboration are gaining popularity and currently being applied in a variety of resource management issues . Based on current planning theory, researchers have proposed a conceptual collaborative model for environmental planning and management . This thesis evaluates the usefulness of the model to describe the range of factors important for the establishment and operation of collaboration in environmental planning. This iterative model suggests that collaboration emerges from a series of antecedents and then proceeds sequentially through problem setting, direction setting, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation phases. The evaluation was based on three case studies of watershed-based planning efforts in the lntermountain West. Watershed planning efforts were selected because watersheds have been identified as a suitable framework for addressing many environmental issues . In addition, watersheds frequently cross many political boundaries and therefore planning efforts in a watershed context often require collaboration between the various entities. Based on the case study analysis, the model seems to realistically describe fundamental collaborative elements in environmental planning . Factors that proved to be particularly important include the involvement of stakeholders in data collection and analysis and the establishment of measurable objectives . Informal face to face dialogue and watershed field tours were critical for identifying issues and establishing trust among stakeholders. Group organizational structure also plays a key role in facilitating collaboration . From this analysis, suggestions for refining the model are proposed. In addition , key elements that planners should consider when embarking on a collaborative effort are highlighted

Water ascent in trees and lianas: the cohesion-tension theory revisited in the wake of Otto Renner

The cohesion-tension theory of water ascent (C-T) has been challenged over the past decades by a large body of experimental evidence obtained by means of several minimum or non-invasive techniques. The evidence strongly suggests that land plants acquire water through interplay of several mechanisms covered by the multi-force theory of (U. Zimmermann et al. New Phytologist 162: 575615, 2004). The diversity of mechanisms includes, for instance, water acquisition by inverse transpiration and thermodynamically uphill transmembrane water secretion by cation-chloride cotransporters (L.H. Wegner, Progress in Botany 76:109141, 2014). This whole plant perspective was opened by Otto Renner at the beginning of the last century who supported experimentally the strictly xylem-bound C-T mechanism, yet anticipated that the water ascent involves both the xylem conduit and parenchyma tissues. The survey also illustrates the known paradigm that new techniques generate new insights, as well as a paradigm experienced by Max Planck that a new scientific idea is not welcomed by the community instantly

The Doctrine of Salvation According to the Minor Prophets

A complete and thorough study of the doctrine of salvation presented in the Old Testament is beyond the scope of a Bachelor of Divinity thesis. Several factors made it advisable to restrict the research to the Minor Prophets. Nevertheless, to complete the picture, a brief survey of what the Old Testament has to say on the subject of salvation is naturally in place in order to supply the necessary background for the thesis

Where should buffers go? Modeling riparian habitat connectivity in northeast Kansas

Through many funding programs, riparian buffers are being created on agricultural lands to address significant water quality problems. Society and landowners are demanding many other environmental and social services (e.g., wildlife habitat and income diversification) from this practice. Resource planners therefore need to design riparian buffer systems in the right places to provide multiple services. However, scientific guidance for this is lacking. We developed a geographic information system (GIS)-based assessment method for quickly identifying where buffers can be established to restore connectivity of riparian areas for the benefit of terrestrial wildlife. An area in northeastern Kansas was selected to evaluate this tool. Species with limited dispersal capabilities were used as indicators for riparian connectivity. To improve connectivity, results indicated that 22 percent of the perennial stream length in the study area would need riparian buffers. This coarse-filter approach appears to be appropriate for large area planning and can be used singly or in combination with other GIS-guided resource assessments to guide riparian buffer design and implementation

EMG of Serratus Anterior, Upper, Middle, and Lower Trapezius during Glenohumeral Abduction in a Patient with Scapular Dyskinesia: A Case Study

Introduction. The purpose of this case study was to examine the differences in muscle activation between the right and left sided upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior in a participant with scapular dyskinesis. Methods. EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxon TeleMyo2400 G2 telemetry unit with a sampling rate of 1 kHz on the aforementioned muscles. Results. In comparing UE ratios of EMG activity, it appears that the left lower trapezius exerts a significant amount more of energy than the right lower trapezius. Conclusion. This study may demonstrate the importance of bilateral lower trapezius muscular strength training in order to counteract the anterior tilt motion performed by the serratus anterior in patients with non-symptomatic scapular dyskinesis

Riparian forest buffers : building a sustainable bioenergy future

Paper presented at the 11th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held May 31-June 3, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri.In Gold, M.A. and M.M. Hall, eds. Agroforestry Comes of Age: Putting Science into Practice. Proceedings, 11th North American Agroforestry Conference, Columbia, Mo., May 31-June 3, 2009.As society transitions to bioenergy production on agricultural lands, this future must be formulated in a way that the other services from agricultural lands are not compromised. Agroforestry, and in particular riparian forest buffers (RFBs), can contribute to a sustainable, multi-functional bioenergy future. RFBs can mitigate adverse impacts from bioenergy production systems such as polluted runoff from grain-based ethanol operations as well as potentially augment feedstocks for bioenergy production. Properly designed, located and managed, RFBs can do this while providing other services the landowner and society demand from these lands, including air and water quality, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration and alternative income opportunities. Current research is contributing to our technological understanding of whether and how bioenergy objectives can be met within RFB practice design and management. Our greatest challenge, however, is building the socio-economic and political frameworks that will ultimately determine its acceptance and adoption by landowners and resource professionals. Education will be imperative, not only of potential landowners but also those involved in policy and program formulation and delivery, to develop mutually beneficial connections between bioenergy production and other ecosystem services. Shifts in farm policy, programs and markets will be necessary to make adoption of RFBs more attractive to landowners. Programs like the newly created Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) will be invaluable to help landowners transition to a diversified bioenergy system. Tools for designing and locating RFBs to optimize multiple services, including bioenergy, are needed to facilitate discussion and formulation of shared agendas among landowners, resource professionals and the energy industry. Strategies for current and future use of RFBs within bioenergy production systems requires going beyond our current business-as-usual approach. We must shift from a single issue focus to creating RFB designs, programs, and policies that satisfy multiple objectives.Gary Bentrup (1), Michele Schoeneberger (1), and Bruce Wight (2) ; 1. USDA National Agroforestry Center - USFS Southern Research Station. 2. USDA National Agroforestry Center - Natural Resources Conservation Service N. 38th Street and East Campus Loop, Lincoln, NE 68583-0822.Includes bibliographical references

Determining the location of Co2+ in zeolites by UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy : A critical view

UV-Vis spectroscopy as well as in situ FTIR spectroscopy of pyridine and CO adsorption were applied to determine the nature of Co species in microporous, mesoporous, and mixed oxide materials like Co-ZSM-5, Co/Na-ZSM-5, Co/Al-SBA-15, and Co/Al2O3-SiO2. Because all sample types show comparable UV-Vis spectra with a characteristic band triplet, the former described UV-Vis band deconvolution method for determination and quantification of individual cationic sites in the zeolite appears doubtful. This is also confirmed by results of pyridine and CO adsorption revealing that all Co-zeolite samples contain two types of Co2+ species located at exchange positions as well as in oxide-like clusters independent of the Co content, while in Co/Al-SBA-15 and Co/Al2O3-SiO2 only Co2+ species in oxide-like clusters occur. Consequently, the measured UV-Vis spectra represent not exclusively isolated Co2+ species, and the characteristic triplet band is not only related to γ-, β-, and α-type Co2+ sites in the zeolite but also to those dispersed on the surface of different oxide supports. The study demonstrates that for proper characterization of the formed Co species, the use of complementary methods is required. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Distilling Research into Actionable Knowledge: An Assessment of a Conservation Buffer Guide

Agriculture and natural resources Extension professionals face increasing challenges in delivering evidence-based information to clients. Illustrated design guidelines may offer one tool for presenting useful information, particularly when delivering assistance for multifunctional solutions. Using conservation buffers as the technical topic, the study reported here evaluated resource professionals\u27 perception and use of design guidelines to communicate technical information for planning and designing buffers for multiple goals. Overall, the results provide favorable support for design guidelines. The study offers insight into what constitutes effective guidelines, and these lessons learned may be applicable to other topics in Extension programming

Specific Increase in MDR1 Mediated Drug-Efflux in Human Brain Endothelial Cells following Co-Exposure to HIV-1 and Saquinavir

Persistence of HIV-1 reservoirs within the Central Nervous System (CNS) remains a significant challenge to the efficacy of potent anti-HIV-1 drugs. The primary human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HBMVEC) constitutes the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) which interferes with anti-HIV drug delivery into the CNS. The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters expressed on HBMVEC can efflux HIV-1 protease inhibitors (HPI), enabling the persistence of HIV-1 in CNS. Constitutive low level expression of several ABC-transporters, such as MDR1 (a.k.a. P-gp) and MRPs are documented in HBMVEC. Although it is recognized that inflammatory cytokines and exposure to xenobiotic drug substrates (e.g HPI) can augment the expression of these transporters, it is not known whether concomitant exposure to virus and anti-retroviral drugs can increase drug-efflux functions in HBMVEC. Our in vitro studies showed that exposure of HBMVEC to HIV-1 significantly up-regulates both MDR1 gene expression and protein levels; however, no significant increases in either MRP-1 or MRP-2 were observed. Furthermore, calcein-AM dye-efflux assays using HBMVEC showed that, compared to virus exposure alone, the MDR1 mediated drug-efflux function was significantly induced following concomitant exposure to both HIV-1 and saquinavir (SQV). This increase in MDR1 mediated drug-efflux was further substantiated via increased intracellular retention of radiolabeled [3H-] SQV. The crucial role of MDR1 in 3H-SQV efflux from HBMVEC was further confirmed by using both a MDR1 specific blocker (PSC-833) and MDR1 specific siRNAs. Therefore, MDR1 specific drug-efflux function increases in HBMVEC following co-exposure to HIV-1 and SQV which can reduce the penetration of HPIs into the infected brain reservoirs of HIV-1. A targeted suppression of MDR1 in the BBB may thus provide a novel strategy to suppress residual viral replication in the CNS, by augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of HAART drugs