Can REDD+ reconcile local priorities and needs with global mitigation benefits? lessons from Angai Forest, Tanzania

The scope of the reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) mechanism has broadened REDD+ to accommodate different country interests such as natural forests, protected areas, as well as forests under community-based management. In Tanzania the REDD+ mechanism is still under development and pilot projects are at an early stage. In this paper, we seek to understand how local priorities and needs could be met in REDD+ implementation and how these expectations match with global mitigation benefits. We examine the local priorities and needs in the use of land and forest resources in the Angai Villages Land Forest Reserve (AVLFR) in the Liwale District of Lindi Region in Tanzania. Primary data was collected in two villages, Mihumo and Lilombe, using semistructured key informant interviews and participatory rural appraisal methods. In addition, the key informant interviews were conducted with other village, district, and national level actors, as well as international donors. Findings show that in the two communities REDD+ is seen as something new and is generating new expectations among communities. However, the Angai villagers highlight three key priorities that have yet to be integrated into the design of REDD+: water scarcity, rural development, and food security. At the local level improved forest governance and sustainable management of forest resources have been identified as one way to achieve livelihood diversification. Although the national goals of REDD+ include poverty reduction, these goals are not necessarily conducive to the goals of these communities. There exist both structural and cultural limits to the ability of the Angai villages to implement these goals and to improve forestry governance. Given the vulnerability to current and future climate variability and change it will be important to consider how the AVLFR will be managed and for whose benefit

Keck and Gemini spectral characterization of Lucy mission fly-by target (152830) Dinkinesh

Recently, the inner main belt asteroid (152830) Dinkinesh was identified as an additional fly-by target for the Lucy mission. The heliocentric orbit and approximate absolute magnitude of Dinkinesh are known, but little additional information was available prior to its selection as a target. In particular, the lack of color spectrophotometry or spectra made it impossible to assign a spectral type to Dinkinesh from which its albedo could be estimated. We set out to remedy this knowledge gap by obtaining visible wavelength spectra with the Keck telescope on 2022 November 23 and with Gemini-South on 2022 December 27. The spectra measured with the Keck I/Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS) and the Gemini South/Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph South (GMOS-S) are most similar to the average spectrum of S- and Sq-type asteroids. The most diagnostic feature is the $\approx$15$\pm$1$\%$ silicate absorption feature at $\approx$0.9-1.0~micron. Small S- and Sq-type asteroids have moderately high albedos ranging from 0.17-0.35. Using this albedo range for Dinkinesh in combination with measured absolute magnitude, it is possible to derive an effective diameter and surface brightness for this body. The albedo, size and surface brightness are important inputs required for planning a successful encounter by the Lucy spacecraft.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. Under review in Icaru

Experimental Reproduction of Severe Disease in CD/CD Pigs Coinfected with PRRSV and Type 2 Porcine Circovirus

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) has been recognized worldwide and is characterized clinically by wasting, dyspnea, and occasionally by icterus in nursery and grow-finish pigs. Type 2 porcine circovirus (PCV2) is consistently demonstrated in PMWS lesions. At the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, both porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and PCV2 are detected in tissues from most cases of PMWS. Since PRRSV-PCV2 coinfection has also been associated with “atypical PRRS” hepatitis, 3 week old cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived (CD/CD) pigs were inoculated with PRRSV, PCV2, both PRRSV and PCV2, or uninfected cell culture media in order to compare the independent and combined effects of these agents. PRRSV-inoculated pigs developed respiratory distress and interstitial pneumonia typical of that previously reported for this agent. None of the pigs in the PRRSV or control groups became moribund or developed hepatitis. PCV2-inoculated pigs developed lymphoid depletion and sporadic hepatitis associated with 40% mortality. Pigs in the PRRSV/PCV2 group developed severe and persistent pyrexia and dyspnea; mortality between 10 and 20 days was \u3e90% and was associated with severe interstitial pneumonia and/or hepatitis. We conclude that 1) PCV2 alone can induce clinical disease and lesions of PMWS in CD/CD pigs, 2) PCV2 alone does not induce significant respiratory disease in CD/CD pigs, 3) PCV2/PRRSV coinfection induces more severe clinical disease and lesions of PMWS than PCV2 alone, including severe interstitial pneumonia, and 4) PCV2 coinfection is responsible for the hepatitis associated with cases of “atypical PRRS.” Simultaneous coinfection of PRRSV and PCV2 has the potential to significantly exacerbate morbidity and mortality. The timing of exposure and decay of maternal antibody to PCV2 and other pathogens may play a critical role in determining whether PCV2 infection induces PMWS or remains subclinical

Combinatorial approach to identify electronically cloaked hollow nanoparticles

The possibility of designing core-shell nanoparticles that are “invisible” to the conduction electrons has been demonstrated recently. A total scattering cross section smaller than 0.01% of the physical cross section was demonstrated by artificially adjusting the parameters of the barrier and the well in a core-shell geometry. In this paper, we aim to extend the developed concept and find realistic material combinations that satisfy the cloaking criteria. We report designs of hollow nanoparticles that could be used to realize the cloaking concept in III–V semiconductor host matrices. Such particles could be used in advanced materials design to enhance and tune the electrical and the thermoelectric properties of a given host matrix. This paper may also contribute to defect engineering by coating defect sites with a proper cloaking layer.United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Basic Energy Sciences (Award DE-FG02-09ER46577

`Oumuamua as a messenger from the Local Association

7 pages, one table, two figures, accepted for publication by ApJL. © 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.With a hyperbolic trajectory around the Sun, 'Oumuamua is the first confirmed interstellar object. However, its origin is poorly known. By simulating the orbits of 0.23 million local stars, we find 109 encounters with periastron less than 5 pc. 'Oumuamua's low peculiar velocity is suggestive of its origin from a young stellar association with similar velocity. In particular, we find that 'Oumuamua would have had slow encounters with at least five young stars belonging to the Local Association, thus suggesting these as plausible sites for formation and ejection. In addition to an extremely elongated shape, the available observational data for 'Oumuamua indicates a red color, suggestive of a potentially organic-rich and activity-free surface. These characteristics seem consistent with formation through energetic collisions between planets and debris objects in the middle part of a young stellar system. We estimate an abundance of at least 6.0 × 10 -3 au -3 for such interstellar objects with mean diameter larger than 100 m and find that it is likely that most of them will be ejected into the Galactic halo. Our Bayesian analysis of the available light curves indicates a rotation period of 6.96 +1.45 -0.39, which is consistent with the estimation by Meech et al. and shorter than those in other literature. The codes and results are available on GitHub (https://github.com/phillippro/Oumuamua).Peer reviewe

Recalling, Sharing and Participating in a Social Media Intervention Promoting HIV Testing: A Longitudinal Analysis of HIV Testing Among MSM in China.

Social media interventions may enhance HIV services among key populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM). This longitudinal analysis examined the effect of recalling, sharing, and participating in different components of a social media intervention on HIV testing among MSM. The social media intervention included six images/texts and information about an online local community contest to promote testing. Of the 1033 men, they recalled a mean of 2.7 out of six images and shared an average of one image online. 34.5% of men recalled information on the online local community contest and engaged in a mean of 1.3 contest. Recalling images/texts (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.25) and recalling a local contest (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.13-1.24) were associated with facility-based HIV testing. This study has implications for the development and evaluation of social media interventions to promote HIV testing