Deterring Defiance: 'Don’t Give a Poacher a Reason to Poach'

Poaching threatens species biodiversity and ecological integrity, but criminologists largely overlook this form of crime. The purpose of this study is to expand criminological theory on poaching by documenting the strategies poachers andgame wardens suggest as successful deterrents. Defiance theory is used to understand how the interaction between game wardens and poachers is an important consideration for garnering voluntary compliance. Qualitative interviews with game wardens (N=16) and poachers (N=13) demonstrate that these parties ideologically agree about fish and wildlife conservation, and both parties offer similar methods for deterring poaching. However, because poachers are negatively disposed toward indiscriminant game wardens, the perception of unfair treatment/punishment may lead to future poaching. This study examines trajectories for future research on poaching and contributes to contemporary criminological theory by linking defiance theory with deterrence theory. Finally, the paper concludes with strategies for deterring poaching and garnering voluntary compliance

Residents\u27 Perceptions of Community and Environmental Impacts From Development of Natural Gas in the Marcellus Shale: A Comparison of Pennsylvania and New York Cases

Communities experiencing rapid growth due to energy development (‘boomtowns’) have reported positive and negative impacts on community and individual well-being. The perceptions of impacts vary according to stage of energy development as well as experience with extractive industries. Development of the Marcellus Shale provides an opportunity to examine these impacts over time and across geographic and historical contexts. This paper describes case study research in Pennsylvania and New York to document preliminary impacts of development occurring there. Cases vary by level of development and previous extractive history. The study finds that, in areas with low population density, higher levels of development lead to a broader awareness of natural gas impacts, both positive and negative. Participants draw from the regional history of extraction to express environmental concern despite direct, local experience. Our findings suggest the need to track these perceptions during development, and as individuals and communities react and adapt to the impacts

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe

'It's the same thing as giving them CPR training': rural first responders' perspectives on naloxone.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Harm Reduction grant program expanded access to several harm reduction strategies to mitigate opioid overdose fatalities, including expanding access to naloxone. Interviews with first responders in a frontier and remote (FAR) state were conducted to understand their job responsibilities in relation to overdose response and prevention and their perceptions of training laypersons to administer naloxone. This study includes 22 interviews with law enforcement, EMS and/or fire personnel, and members of harm reduction-focused community organizations. The study finds widespread support for increasing access to naloxone and training laypersons in naloxone administration throughout Montana, due to rural first responders' inability to meet the needs of residents and an overall lack of resources to address addiction and the effects of fentanyl. Participants from harm reduction-focused community organizations convey support for training lay persons, but also illuminate that real and perceived cultural opposition to harm reduction strategies could reduce the likelihood that laypeople enroll in naloxone training. This study adds to the literature because it focuses on first responders in a FAR area that would benefit from layperson naloxone education and administration training due to its geographic expansiveness and the area's overall lack of access to medications for opioid use disorder or other treatment services. Expanding harm reduction approaches, like increasing access and training laypersons to administer naloxone, might be FAR residents' best chance for surviving an opioid overdose

Poaching in Uganda: Perspectives of Law Enforcement Rangers

Much of prior empirical research examining poachers and poaching strategies have originated from interviews with poachers and wildlife law enforcement officers within North American settings. Few studies have empirically analyzed poacher categories and poaching strategies within an African context. Furthermore, most studies have overlooked important situational elements that influence poacher activities. Based on semi-structured interviews and informal conversations with law enforcement rangers and supervisors and, participant observations of routine day foot patrols, this study presents the findings of an exploratory analysis on poaching in a protected area in Uganda