Pragmatic discourses and alternative resistance: responses to climate change in the Pacific

This paper explores the portrayals of climate change by United Nations diplomats, ambassadors and representatives from intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Counter discourses are also revealed through interviews conducted with ambassadors representing small Pacific states at the United Nations. Among the literatures that posit climate change is occurring, there has been a broad consensus that the impacts of climate change threaten the long‐term capacity for people to continue living in small island states such as Tuvalu or Kiribati.1 Pacific island states are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as their fresh water reserves are limited to a shallow subsurface lens which is susceptible to depletion in drought and contamination from salt water. Further, the height of these atoll states above sea‐level rarely exceeds two metres, which makes them highly susceptible to wave damage. The ecological balance of these systems is in threat even due to minor alterations to global climate. Even by the most conservative estimates of climate change, major alterations in the response of the hydrologic behaviour of these islands will ensue.

Chandra Observation of the Radio Source / X-ray Gas Interaction in the Cooling Flow Cluster Abell 2052

We present a Chandra observation of Abell 2052, a cooling flow cluster with a central cD that hosts the complex radio source 3C 317. The data reveal ``holes'' in the X-ray emission that are coincident with the radio lobes. The holes are surrounded by bright ``shells'' of X-ray emission. The data are consistent with the radio source displacing and compressing, and at the same time being confined by, the X-ray gas. The compression of the X-ray shells appears to have been relatively gentle and, at most, slightly transonic. The pressure in the X-ray gas (the shells and surrounding cooler gas) is approximately an order of magnitude higher than the minimum pressure derived for the radio source, suggesting that an additional source of pressure is needed to support the radio plasma. The compression of the X-ray shells has speeded up the cooling of the shells, and optical emission line filaments are found coincident with the brightest regions of the shells.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ Letters; for high-resolution color figures, see http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~elb6n/abell2052.htm

Viable sí, pero Protegido para las Generaciones Futuras? Un Estudio sobre el Amplio Mercado del Turismo Basado en las Florestas

Este artículo enfoca el turismo en florestas, sobretodo en florestas tropicales y, explora supotencial a la hora de contribuir dentro de la industria turística global. Los objetivos específicos de este estudio fueron: desarrollar un perfil, incluyendo las motivaciones, de losturistas que visitan la Wet Tropics, la floresta tropical de Australia e identificar patrones anteriores de visita de florestas tanto en Australia como en otros destinos globales. Unestudio con 1.408 visitantes llevado a cabo en varios lugares con florestas tropicales Wet Tropics en la región tropical norte de Australia concluyó que más del 37% de la muestra yahabía visitado antes las florestas durante sus vacaciones indicando que el turismo basado enflorestas es un componente esencial en el mercado basado en la naturaleza. Países y lugares con florestas en el sudeste de Asia eran las atracciones más populares en las vacaciones yaque más del 13% de los entrevistados había visitado estos lugares. Este porcentaje se mantuvo similar en países del Pacífico sur, América del norte, América del sur, Américacentral, África, el sur de Asia y China, Caribe y Europa. Mientras que, en general este es unresultado prometedor, el turismo basado en florestas enfrenta un gran número de presiones, como el asentamiento urbano, las industrias de extracción y en un futuro próximo, el cambio climático.Este artigo enfoca o turismo de florestas e florestas tropicais em particular e explora seupotencial em contribuir para a indústria de turismo global. Os objetivos específicos desteestudo foram: desenvolver um perfil, incluindo as motivações, dos turistas que visitam a Wet Tropics, floresta tropical da Austrália e identificar padrões anteriores de visitação de florestastanto na Austrália quanto em outros destinos globais. Uma pesquisa com 1.408 visitantes conduzida em vários locais com florestas tropicais Wet Tropics na região tropical norte da Austrália concluiu que mais de 37% da amostra já tinham visitado previamente as florestas quando estavam em férias indicando que o turismo baseado em florestas é um componenteessencial ao mercado baseado na natureza. Países e locais com florestas no sudeste da Ásiaeram as atrações mais populares nas férias com mais de 13% de pesquisados tendo visitadoestes locais. Isto foi seguido por países do Pacífico sul, América do norte, América do Sul, América Central, África, sul da Ásia e China, Caribe e Europa. Enquanto, de maneira geral, este é um resultado promissor, o turismo baseado em florestas enfrenta um número de pressões, como assentamento urbano, indústrias de extração e em um futuro próximo: mudanças climáticas.This article focuses on forest tourism and rainforests in particular, and explores their potentialto contribute to the global tourism industry. The specific objectives of the study were todevelop a profile, including motivations, of tourists visiting the Wet Tropics rainforest of Australia and to identify previous patterns of forest visitation in both Australia and other global destinations. A survey of 1,408 visitors conducted at a number of Wet Tropicsrainforest sites in the tropical north region of Australia found that over 37% of the sample hadpreviously visited forests while on holidays indicating that forest-based tourism is a major component to the nature-based market. Countries and forested sites in South-East Asia werethe most popular as holiday attractions with over 13% of respondents having visited thesesites. This was followed by countries of the South Pacific, North America, South America, Central America, Africa, South Asia and China, the Caribbean and Europe. While overall thisis a promising result, forest-based tourism faces a number of pressures including urbansettlement, extractive industries and in the near future climate change

A Genetic Model of Common, Complex Disease Hints at Genomic Architecture: Brindle Coat Color in Canines

Background: One of the greatest challenges facing scientists today is an understanding of genetic factors associated with the development of common, complex diseases such as diabetes, depression, and cancer. In addition to symptom burden (effecting quality of life), premature death, and disability caused by such diseases, the economic burden to society is vastly overwhelming. Last year, Major Depression alone cost nearly $211 Billion [USD] to US taxpayers. Yet, these diseases have been incredibly arduous to study due to the hundreds of genes that contribute very small effects that lead to disease development. We suggest that an alternative model of complex diseases is needed to elucidate the causative genetic mechanisms. We exploit a naturally occurring clear phenotype (brindle color) present on a simplified genetic background (pet dogs) and analyze large-scale genomic variation (CNVs) effecting gene expression (epigenetics – DNA methylation). Significance: Common, complex disease is a tremendous burden for patients, families, and clinicians alike. Elucidation of the genetic mechanisms leading to disease development would result in personalized therapies and improved patient outcomes. Purpose: To identify large-scale genomic variations present in Brindle color dogs and determine if epigenetic regulation is leading to phenotype development. Conceptual Framework: We used the genetic single gene-two hit model (Hussian, 2015) to guide this work. This framework combines rare and common variant theories with the addition of mutator/anti-mutator modulation to lead to disease development. Methods: Using a custom-designed aCGH to interrogate genomic structural variation, we analyzed 12 dogs of 3 different coat colors (Black, yellow, and brindle). Then, we performed genome-wide DNA methylation analysis on a subset of 8 dogs to determine the effect genomic variation has on epigenetic silencing of gene expression. Results: We identified a 67 Kb complex genetic variation (10 probes, p=0.001) that disrupts gene expression and is epigenetically silenced in certain skin cells producing pigment differences (p=0.04). Conclusion: Brindle coat color in canines is a complex genetic mechanism involving structural changes leading to epigenetic effects. Identifying this mechanism provides the first tractability for understanding complex diseases and is particularly exciting as a model for identifying such features in human diseases.A three-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Nursin