Ecology of northern bobwhite quail in Missouri (2005)

New 12/05/3M

Racial Disparities in Drug Court Graduation Rates: The Role of Recovery Support Groups and Environments

There are more than 3,000 drug courts in the United States, and research has demonstrated that, in some drug courts, African American participants are less likely to graduate than their White counterparts. Quantitative studies have documented the problem, but qualitative studies are needed to develop an in-depth understanding of this phenomenon through participants’ experiences. This qualitative study asked African American participants (n = 31) about their lived experiences in drug court to develop insight into the factors that might contribute to racial disparities in drug court outcomes. African Americans had favorable views toward both mandated and natural recovery support groups, and they felt that participating in these support groups increased their likelihood of graduating drug court. Conversely, African Americans felt that a barrier to graduating drug court was their environments, mainly risk factors posed by family, neighborhoods, and peers. Implications for drug court practice are discussed

Autonomous Field-Deployable Wildland Fire Sensors

An Autonomous Fire Detector (AFD) is a miniature electronic package combining position location capability [using the Global Positioning System (GPS)], communications (packet or voice-synthesized radio), and fire detection capability (thermal, gas, smoke detector) into an inexpensive, deployable package. The AFD can report fire-related parameters, like temperature, carbon monoxide concentration, or smoke levels via a radio link to firefighters located on the ground. These systems are designed to be inserted into the fire by spotter planes at a fire site or positioned by firefighters already on the ground. AFDs can also be used as early warning devices near critical assets in the urban–wildland interface. AFDs can now be made with commercial off-the-shelf components. Using modern micro-electronics, an AFD can operate for the duration of even the longest fire (weeks) using a simple dry battery pack, and can be designed to have a transmitting range of up to several kilometers with current low power radio communication technology. A receiver to capture the data stream from the AFD can be made as light, inexpensive and portable as the AFD itself. Inexpensive portable repeaters can be used to extend the range of the AFD and to coordinate many probes into an autonomous fire monitoring network

Effectiveness of a Perceived Solid Barrier as an Exclusion Fence to Prevent White-Tailed Deer Damage

We hypothesized that a visually solid barrier of cloth would provide an effective exclusion fence for free ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Three plots consisting of 2, 10 m x 10 m squares were established in pastures. Data were collected daily for consumption of com provided (2.27 kg) and events recorded by infrared game monitors. Following construction of the burlap fence at 1.7 m height, corn consumption decreased (0.07 ± 0.01 kg/day, P \u3c .001). The number of Infrared monitor events recorded also decreased within the enclosures (2.13 ± 0.04 events/day, P \u3c .001) compared to controls (46.0 ± 2.2 events/day). During the second stage of the experiment, two of the three plots were reestablished 45 days later. Fence heights began at 65 cm and were raised 15 cm each 5 days, until reaching 1.7 m. At 1.7 m, corn consumption decreased by 30% (1.56 ± 0.23 kg/day, P \u3c .01). The number of infrared monitor-recorded events was also lower at fence heights \u3e65 cm (P \u3c .03). Results indicate that a visually solid barrier has potential to be an effective exclusion fence

Effectiveness of a White-Tailed Deer Exclusion Fence Based on Traction Limitations of the Hoof: The Slipper Fence

We hypothesized that an exclusion fence could be devised to capitalize on traction limitations of the hooves of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Hexagonal plots (9.8 m wide) enclosed by a 2.4 m field fence with two openings (4.9 m) were established. Data were collected daily on consumption of corn provided (2.27 kg) and events recorded by infrared monitors (IR) for treatment and control sites. Five-day treatment periods consisted of test panels (4.9 m x 2.4 m) placed in plot openings at 0°, 5° and 10° slopes, and lubricant applied at the 10° slope. Deer consumed all corn provided at control sites. At the 10 ° slope, daily corn consumption decreased (1.50 kg ± 0 .26, p \u3c .0 l ), and IR events were lower (p \u3c .01) at treatment sites (23.6 ± 3.2) compared to controls (50.3 ± 9.6). With the addition of a lubricant, corn consumption decreased further (p \u3c .001) to 0. 17 kg ± 0.03, and IR recorded events were lower (p \u3c .001) at treatment sites (6.58 ± 0 .89) compared to controls (44.8 ± 3.1). Results of this study indicate that traction limitation of the hoof can be exploited