Investing in Biodiversity Conservation: Proceedings of a Workshop

This document presents the proceedings of a one-day Workshop on Investing in Biodiversity Conservation held at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., on October 28, 1996. The first part of the workshop was dedicated to the presentation of key topics on biodiversity financing by five leaders in the field. The second part of the workshop was dedicated to a discussion and exchange of ideas on the role of the IDB in investing in biodiversity conservation. Three main recommendations emerged: 1) The Bank should prepare a report on on its experience in biodiversity projects and development programs with biodiversity components; 2) A task force should be formed to work on a bio-diversity policy or strategy; 3) IDB staff should be trained to understand the biodiversity concept and its implications in project preparation and implementation.Environmental Policy, Biodiversity, Natural Resources Management

Comparison of Contained Rock Asphalt Mat (CRAM) with Conventional Asphaltic Concrete Pavements

A brochure proposing the use of Contained Rock Asphalt Mat (CRAM) provided a comparison of stress distributions throughout a CRAM structure (Figure 1) as compared to a conventional pavement (Figure 2). Experience has indicated that stress distributions do not always present the most sensitive or appropriate analysis of a pavement structure. Distributions of strains, and more particularly work , are better indicators of load distributions throughout a pavement structure and subsequent performance

Modifications to Chevron N-Layer Computer Program

This report documents changes made to the Chevron N-layer computer program to: Include superposition principles. Calculate strain energy density (or work) at specified locations within the pavement structure. Analyze pavement response at specified radii from one circularly loaded area to permit comparison of analyses by the program as originally written with results incorporating superposition principles. Evaluate pavement response to any combination of loads on circular areas defined by XY coordinates on the surface. Loads and contact pressures are permitted to be different from one loaded area to another, but must be constant for any one loaded area. Simulate dynamic loads as the difference between the root mean squares of the maximum and minimum dynamic loads. This analysis is appropriate for constant vibratory testers such as Road Raters and Dynaflects. Moduli of asphaltic concrete must be adjusted for frequency effects

Laboratory Evaluations of Stabilized Flue Gas Desulfurization Sludge (Scrubber Sludge) and Aggregate Mixtures

The Kentucky Transportation Research Program has completed a laboratory study involving the use of flue gas desulfurization sludge (scrubber sludge) for potential application as a highway subbase and/or embankment material. Scrubber sludge is a waste produet formed when fly ash (and other residue) is combined with a lime dust slurry filter cake and stabilized with quicklime (calcium oxide). Samples of stockpiled (field) sludge and dry sludge components were obtained from the Robert Reid Station (Big Rivers Electric Corporation) in Sebree, Kentuclty. Dry sludge components (fly ash, filter cake, and quicklime) were uaed to prepare sludge samples in the laboratory, allowing a higher degree of quality control for compariaon purposes. Mixtures for testing included scrubber sludge, scrubber sludge with pond ash (bottom ash), and scrubber sludge with dense graded limestone aggregate (DGA). One objective of laboratory analyses was the determination of optimum mixture proportions. A mixture of 20-percent scrubber sludge and 80-percent pond ash was determined to be the optimum design mix. That mixture showed significant strength gain with curing and had a static-chord modulus of elasticity approximately 118 times the compressive strength. Strength and modulus tests indicated that mixtures of scrubber sludge and pond ash were superior to mixtures of scrubber sludge and DGA. The scope of the study, however, did not permit complete explanation of these observations. An economic study showed that scrubber sludge with pond ash can be used economically as a highway subbase material, especially on low-fatigue roads, by partially replacing more expensive pavement layers. Triaxial tests and computer simulations indicated that scrubber sludge could be used as an embankment material in some applications. However, this would be economical only if suitable fill material was not available at or near the fill site

Sandstone as a Construction Material KY 80, Hazard to Watergap

KY 80 (Hazard to Watergap) was constructed using abundantly available crushed sandstone. The pavements were designed to have adequate load-carrying capibilities and stability but were considered to be experimental (see Figure 1). It was intended that performance would be monitored and that undesirable features and performance would be identified and studied. Such surveillance was discontinued before construction was completed. Recently, the need has arisen for testing and evaluation of some of the experimental sections. Some spalls, scuffs, and artesian water have been observed. Excessive water has appeared in the shoulder, median, and mainline. There has been at least one spot failure. The Kentucky Transportation Research Program was asked to submit a work plan to evaluate the performance of some experimental features. A plan was approved, and the investigations began on October 1, 1982. At this time, the investigative work includes the section of KY 80 from Milepost 9 to Milepost l8. Some data were already available for sections near the Floyd-Knott County line. Those data were obtained in l981 while conducting a study of in-place strength characteristics of sandstone rock subgrades. The investigation reported herein involved the following: condition survey and photologging; Road Rater testing and survey; coring, drilling, and sampling of pavement materials; and testing of cores and samples recovered from the pavement

Pavement Roughness In Kentucky

Over two hundred pavement sections in Kentucky have been periodically measured for pavement roughness over a period of several years. This pavement service-life historical data can be used to assess quality of construction, pavement service-life, present and anticipated pavement condition. Road users perception of ride quality can be related to these measurements. Response-type road roughness measuring systems have been used to collect roughness measurements and correlation studies have been performed to relate measurements from current systems. Several factors influence pavement roughness. An early factor is construction workmanship. Other factors are traffic loading, environment, geology, and age

Truck Design and Usage Related to Highway Pavement Performance

The function of a pavement is to serve traffic safely, comfortably, and efficiently at reasonable costs. Automobile traffic typically accounts for the major volume of traffic using high-type facilities. However, heavy truck traffic accounts for the major portion of accumulated fatigue and therefore requires greater structural designs. Truck design and usage has tended toward larger vehicles and greater payloads. The impact of elements of truck design and usage (such as suspension systems, floating axles, axle configurations, uniformity of loading, payloads, etc.) on fatigue damage are illustrated. The effects of increasing vehicle loadings and increased tire pressures are related to potential for rutting of asphaltic concrete pavements. Mechanisms for implementation of vehicle damage factors and accumulated pavement fatigue in the assessment and allocation of costs to highway users also are presented

Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines predict survival in idiopathic and familial pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and increased circulating levels of cytokines are reported in patients with PAH. However, to date, no information exists on the significance of elevated cytokines or their potential as biomarkers. We sought to determine the levels of a range of cytokines in PAH and to examine their impact on survival and relationship to hemodynamic indexes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured levels of serum cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and interleukin-1beta, -2, -4, -5, -6, -8, -10, -12p70, and -13) using ELISAs in idiopathic and heritable PAH patients (n=60). Concurrent clinical data included hemodynamics, 6-minute walk distance, and survival time from sampling to death or transplantation. Healthy volunteers served as control subjects (n=21). PAH patients had significantly higher levels of interleukin-1beta, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, and -12p70 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha compared with healthy control subjects. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that levels of interleukin-6, 8, 10, and 12p70 predicted survival in patients. For example, 5-year survival with interleukin-6 levels of >9 pg/mL was 30% compared with 63% for patients with levels < or = 9 pg/mL (P=0.008). In this PAH cohort, cytokine levels were superior to traditional markers of prognosis such as 6-minute walk distance and hemodynamics. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates dysregulation of a broad range of inflammatory mediators in idiopathic and familial PAH and demonstrates that cytokine levels have a previously unrecognized impact on patient survival. They may prove to be useful biomarkers and provide insight into the contribution of inflammation in PAH

Spatio-Temporal Variation in Growth Performance and Condition of the Winged Pearl Oyster Pteria penguin

Environmental conditions can strongly influence the growth performance of pearl oysters and affect pearl farm production schedules. Growth and condition index (CI) of two age cohorts of Pteria penguin were measured for 13 months to investigate differences in growth performance between four culture sites within the northern (Vava’u) and southern (Tongatapu) island groups of the Kingdom of Tonga. Environmental conditions were also measured at culture sites and used to explore potential effects on oyster growth and condition. Between island groups, growth performance of P. penguin was superior at northern sites and was most strongly related to higher water temperatures at these sites. Within the southern island group, growth performance varied significantly between sites and may be driven by differences in wave energy. Monthly growth rates (GM) of P. penguin also showed significant temporal variation related to age and environmental conditions. This study demonstrated significant variation in the growth performance of P. penguin at latitudinal and local scales and suggests that in oligotrophic marine environments with minimal terrestrial inputs, such as Tonga, water temperature and wave exposure may be the primary environmental conditions influencing the growth performance of P. penguin. This study therefore recommends that optimal culture sites for P. penguin in Tonga are characterized primarily by warmer water temperatures (25–30°C) and low wave exposure (2 day–1). Culture of P. penguin at sites with more suitable environmental conditions enables pearl production to begin up to 34.2 % (6.5 months) earlier than at less-suitable sites and this may greatly influence mabé pearl farm profitability and feasibility