Protection of Agrobiodiversity: Model Calculations in Rhineland-Palatia: Costs and Implications for Farmers

Biological conservation and production use the same areas of land in less favoured areas. Grassland in these areas makes an important contribution to the protection of agro-biodiversity. However, under existing market conditions and production needs, the use of low yielding grasslands is not economically efficient. The objective of this study was to analyze the economic consequences of different mowing strategies in a small region in Rhineland-Palatia (Germany) that served the protection of two butterfly species

Cost Efficiency of Agri-Environmental Schemes - Model Calculations in Central Europe For Grassland Extensification

The use of grassland in less favoured areas is important for the protection of agro-biodiversity. However, under existing market conditions the use of low yielding grasslands is not efficient economically. For this reason the European Union is paying specific support to make extensive grasslands economically more attractive. The objective of this study was to analyse whether the existing agri-environmental scheme was the cheapest way to protect extensive grasslands

A Didactic Method of Preparation for Encounter Group Participants

The utilization of group procedures has mushroomed in the past ten years. While developing in part from group psychotherapy, involvement in groups has become a movement in its own right. Encounter groups, marathons or other intensive group experiences are no longer seen as a second-best treatment but a useful technique to be added to the tools of the psychotherapist. However, the rapid development of these treatments have often exceeded a strong theoretical rationale and the negative consequences have become increasingly evident. Preparation for individual therapies has been shown to be one method for improving outcomes and avoiding undesirable consequences. However, there is little research utilizing a preparation for encounter groups. The purpose of this study was to formulate and test the effects of a pre-marathon group preparation strategy on encounter group participants. Sixteen subjects were assigned to two randomly selected experimental treatments, one receiving an encounter group experience with a pregroup preparation and one participating in a group experience without such a preparation. In addition, two control groups were utilized, one receiving a posttest only and the other a pre and posttest. Criterion instruments were the Personality Orientation Inventory and the Lieberman, Yalom and Miles (1973) Attitude Questionnaire. The pregroup preparation lasted approximately 50 minutes and was didactic in nature. The purposes, stages, history and research in the area of encounter groups were presented. Encounter groups lasted 7 hours, were Gestalt in orientation and were facilitated by an experienced group leader. The hypothesis that the pregroup preparation strategy would enhance the encounter group experience was not upheld. Results indicated that the preparation did not improve the encounter group experience as measured by the Personality Orientation Inventory and the Attitude Questionnaire. However, the data does suggest that a brief, intensive group experience is a useful behavioral change mechanism. Several methodological limitations were noted in this study. These included the small number of subjects, lack of random assignment to groups and an observed practice effect on the Attitude Questionnaire. Suggestions for future research included a pooling of data from multiple groups, experimental manipulation of the pregroup preparation and utilization of more extensive psychological instruments

A Didactic Method of Preparation for Encounter Group Participants

The utilization of group procedures has mushroomed in the past ten years. While developing in part from group psychotherapy, involvement in groups has become a movement in its own right. Encounter groups, marathons or other intensive group experiences are no longer seen as a second-best treatment but a useful technique to be added to the tools of the psychotherapist. However, the rapid development of these treatments have often exceeded a strong theoretical rationale and the negative consequences have become increasingly evident. Preparation for individual therapies has been shown to be one method for improving outcomes and avoiding undesirable consequences. However, there is little research utilizing a preparation for encounter groups. The purpose of this study was to formulate and test the effects of a pre-marathon group preparation strategy on encounter group participants. Sixteen subjects were assigned to two randomly selected experimental treatments, one receiving an encounter group experience with a pregroup preparation and one participating in a group experience without such a preparation. In addition, two control groups were utilized, one receiving a posttest only and the other a pre and posttest. Criterion instruments were the Personality Orientation Inventory and the Lieberman, Yalom and Miles (1973) Attitude Questionnaire. The pregroup preparation lasted approximately 50 minutes and was didactic in nature. The purposes, stages, history and research in the area of encounter groups were presented. Encounter groups lasted 7 hours, were Gestalt in orientation and were facilitated by an experienced group leader. The hypothesis that the pregroup preparation strategy would enhance the encounter group experience was not upheld. Results indicated that the preparation did not improve the encounter group experience as measured by the Personality Orientation Inventory and the Attitude Questionnaire. However, the data does suggest that a brief, intensive group experience is a useful behavioral change mechanism. Several methodological limitations were noted in this study. These included the small number of subjects, lack of random assignment to groups and an observed practice effect on the Attitude Questionnaire. Suggestions for future research included a pooling of data from multiple groups, experimental manipulation of the pregroup preparation and utilization of more extensive psychological instruments

Transition (LINER/HII) nuclei as evolved Composite (Seyfert 2/Starburst) nuclei

We compare the circumnuclear stellar population and environmental properies of Seyfert and Composite (Seyfert + Starburst) nuclei with those of LINERs and LINER/HII transition galaxies (TOs), and discuss evidences for evolution from Seyfert/Composite to LINER/TO nuclei.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure; to appear in the Proceedings of IAU Symp. No. 222: The Interplay among Black Holes, Stars and ISM in Galactic Nuclei, CUP, eds. T. Storchi-Bergmann, L. Ho and H. R. Schmit

New design of electrostatic mirror actuators for application in high-precision interferometry

We describe a new geometry for electrostatic actuators to be used in sensitive laser interferometers, suited for prototype and table top experiments related to gravitational wave detection with mirrors of 100 g or less. The arrangement consists of two plates at the sides of the mirror (test mass), and therefore does not reduce its clear aperture as a conventional electrostatic drive (ESD) would do. Using the sample case of the AEI-10 m prototype interferometer, we investigate the actuation range and the influence of the relative misalignment of the ESD plates with respect to the test mass. We find that in the case of the AEI-10 m prototype interferometer, this new kind of ESD could provide a range of 0.28 μm when operated at a voltage of 1 kV. In addition, the geometry presented is shown to provide a reduction factor of about 100 in the magnitude of the actuator motion coupling to the test mass displacement. We show that therefore in the specific case of the AEI-10 m interferometer, it is possible to mount the ESD actuators directly on the optical table without spoiling the seismic isolation performance of the triple stage suspension of the main test masses