Seed rain and soil seed banks limit native regeneration within urban forest restoration plantings in Hamilton City, New Zealand

Restoration of native forest vegetation in urban environments may be limited due to isolation from native seed sources and to the prevalence of exotic plant species. To investigate urban seed availability we recorded the composition of seed rain, soil seed banks and vegetation at native forest restoration plantings up to 36 years old in Hamilton City and compared these with naturally regenerating forest within the city and in a nearby rural native forest remnant. Seed rain, soil seed banks (fern spores inclusive) and understorey vegetation in urban forest were found to have higher exotic species richness and lower native species density and richness than rural forest. Both understorey vegetation and soil seed banks of urban sites >20 years old had lower exotic species richness than younger (10–20 years) sites, indicating a developmental threshold that provided some resistance to exotic species establishment. However, the prevalence of exotic species in urban seed rain will allow reinvasion through edge habitat and following disturbance to canopy vegetation. Persistent soil seed banks from both urban and rural sites were dominated by exotic herbaceous species and native fern species, while few other native forest species were found to persist for >1 year in the seed bank. Enrichment planting will be required for those native species with limited dispersal or short-lived seeds, thus improving native seed availability in urban forests as more planted species mature reproductively. Further research into species seed traits and seedling establishment is needed to refine effective management strategies for successful restoration of urban native forests

EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS OF THE WORKING POOR IN RURAL AND URBAN LABOR MARKETS

We use a unique administrative database to analyze the impact of labor market conditions on the employment outcomes of working poor adults in Oregon. Stronger labor demand conditions are associated with better employment outcomes. Lower earnings and less steady employment in rural areas are largely explained by higher unemployment rates.Labor and Human Capital,

Key ecological sites of Hamilton City: Volume 1

Ecological sites of significance previously identified in 2000 were reviewed in 2011. Natural vegetation in areas acquired by the city since 2000 was also surveyed to identify any new key sites. In total seventy key sites that met the Waikato Regional Council Regional Policy Statement criteria for ecological significance were identified across Hamilton City. Of the original key sites, the total area covered by sites, average site size and overall quality of sites had increased between the 2000 and 2011 surveys. This was due to restoration efforts across the city by Hamilton City Council and the community. Vegetation restoration efforts have had other biodiversity and ecological benefits such as providing additional habitat for the city’s increasing tui population. Key sites are not spread evenly across the city or across landform types. Most key sites are either in gullies or adjoining the Waikato River. Less than 1% of urban alluvial plains and peat bogs are key sites. Two sites on private land have degraded and no longer meet the ecological significance criteria in 2011. The current survey utilised a standard methodology focused on vegetation types. There will be other significant sites not identified including sites with significant fauna values but a detailed and costly survey would be required to identify all such sites. The 1.5% of the city area covered by key sites is well below the 10% minimum recommended to prevent biodiversity decline in urban areas. Areas where vegetation restoration has begun in the city have the potential to expand existing key sites or develop new sites if council and community efforts continue in the future. The Council and its restoration partners should continue to seek ways of increasing native vegetation cover in Hamilton City and restoration of the distinctive gully landform remains the best option

Culture, Actors, and Resources Surrounding Undergraduate Bioethics Education in Sub-Saharan Africa

Scientisationisagrowingtrendasindividualsworldwideharnessscientific tools and knowledge to solve problems. This phenomenon is evident in biomedical research, which has increased across sub-Saharan Africa, and when encountering bioethical issues arising during the course of such research. This research synthesis considers how the constructs of culture, actors, and resources in the region shape undergraduate bioethics education. Using a lens of sociological neo-institutionalism, taken-for-granted bioethical scripts, like informed consent and medical confidentiality, are evident in this education; however, actual implementation demonstrates the way they are often adapted and contextualised, with implications for students and instructors, and ultimately patients and research participants. The education considered is that for undergraduates in health sciences and medicine because they are prominent actors in research and clinical practice across the region. In considering insights from this literature, the aim is to positively impact health across sub-Saharan Africa

Applying implementation science to improve adherence to clinical guidelines in asthma care: a public health practice dissertation to improve the utilization of asthma action plans in Tennessee

Thesis (Dr.P.H.)--Boston UniversityBackground: Tennessee made a commitment to improve the quality of care provided to children with asthma, which affects approximately 10% Tennessee's public school population. Asthma is chronic respiratory condition that can be managed with medications and behavioral and environmental interventions. Asthma action plans (AAP), which document an individual's asthma management plan, are a proven strategy associated with improved asthma outcomes. To improve the utilization of AAPs among children with asthma enrolled in public schools, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH) established the Tennessee Asthma Learning Collaborative (TALC), a multidisciplinary, multiagency stakeholder group that engaged in quality improvement activities at selected local sites across the state. This dissertation is an evaluation of TALC and its activities. Methods: TALC members and their community partners from local sites were interviewed about their experience participating in the learning collaborative. The Consolidated Framework for Research (CFIR) guided this qualitative data collection and analysis. AAPs were reviewed at local sites. A run chart tool was used to analyze quantitative data obtained from the review of AAPs to determine if a change in the number of forms collected occurred. Results: Participant interviews yielded information about barriers and facilitators to AAP collection in selected schools. Barriers included school nurse availability, inconsistent AAP forms across school systems, and lack of school nurse leadership at the state level. Facilitators included purposeful communication and collaboration between community healthcare providers and local school nurses. Analysis also revealed strengths and weaknesses in implementing the learning collaborative. Translation: This project informed two public health practice products. A manuscript was prepared for submission to the Journal of School Health that addresses the original state objective to reach 100% AAP compliance in schools and describes challenges related to implementing improvement strategies. A state report was produced for use by the TDOH which included recommendations for continued quality improvement efforts. Conclusion: CFIR framework provided a useful tool for evaluating the complex challenges and opportunities associated with implementing a state level multidisciplinary quality improvement effort and generated information that will inform future public health efforts to improve school-based management of chronic health conditions

The Textures of Controversy: Values and Interests in Disputes Around Genomics

This thesis examines values-based and interests-based arguments around potentially disputed developments in genomics and the relevant policy and regulatory responses. Developments in genomics may result in disputes about the prospects and problems around them, with different stakeholders bringing a range of values and interests to bear on the many actions and decisions concerning this subject. This thesis contends that the relationship between values-based and interests-based arguments and the technical and social contexts reveal unique alignments or textures to different applications of genomics, an understanding of which will contribute to development of appropriate policy responses. Three case studies are examined: genetically modified and cloned animals, population biobanks and stem cell research. For each, a detailed examination is made of the values-based and interests-based arguments advanced and the relevant policy and regulatory responses. From these analyses, it is argued that the superficially simple categorisation into values-based and interests-based arguments conceals a great deal of complexity but also reveals important features about each case studied. The dynamics of each case varies with predominantly interests-based arguments in biobanks, values-based arguments in stem cell research and values-based arguments conflicting with interests-based arguments in the case of cloned animals. These data imply that each application of genomics should be examined in its specific context. This thesis contributes to a theoretical understanding of disputes by applying a values-interests approach to a range of different contexts, demonstrating that the approach has merit in terms of conceptualising the main features of potentially contested situations. This thesis provides evidence that further examination of arguments identifies three different categories of values-based arguments and threeaspects of interests-based arguments. This conclusion points to an increased role for careful examination of arguments with a view to clarifying assumptions about the nature of the issues at stake to enable more discriminating policy responses

Local Labor Market Conditions and the Jobless Poor: How Much Does Local Job Growth Help in Rural Areas?

The employment outcomes of a group of jobless poor Oregonians are tracked in order to analyze the relative importance of local labor market conditions on their employment outcomes. Local job growth increases the probability that a jobless poor adult will get a job and shortens the length of time until she finds a job. After accounting for both the effects of personal demographic characteristics and local job growth, there is little evidence that the probability of employment or the duration of joblessness differs in rural compared with urban areas.employment, local labor markets, rural labor markets, rural poverty, unemployment, welfare reform, Labor and Human Capital,