Improving the Tools for Wheat Strength Measurement

My research is focused on increasing wheat yield. Wheat yield has been steadily increased with selective breeding and genetic engineering, but the increased weight of the kernel has led to more strain on the stalk itself. As we make biological advances in this field, mechanical advances need to be met to keep the overall yield of wheat increasing. Wheat lodging; wheat stalks becoming over-strained and falling over, is caused by factors like weather, climate, and the weight of the kernel. Researching the strength of wheat stalk will help grow our understanding about what causes it and how to minimize it in the future. This research will be conducted with a push trailer with force sensors on the front. As the trailer is pushed through the field, it will gather data on how much force it took to displace the wheat while correlating how far it’s been pushed. Advancing this field of study may also help the local economy around the University of Idaho, considering that wheat is a staple crop of Northern Idaho. It is imperative to maximize sustainable food production if we are to support our growing population

Assessing the impact of forest management on aboriginal hunters : evidence from stated and revealed preference data; plenary paper

Meeting: EEPSEA Biannual Workshop, 19th, Nov. 2002, Singapore, S

Experimental Determination of Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Viscosity of Triticale

Version Number : 1.0Low viscosity in cereals is important for monogastric livestock feeding. With respect to triticale, knowledge on the variability of its viscosity and its environmental dependence is deplorably low. Six winter varieties with similar earliness at maturity were chosen that covered a large range of potential applied viscosity (PAV) (individual values ranging from 1.8 to 4.9 ml/g). These were cultivated in four locations in Switzerland, at altitudes ranging between 430 and 700 m a.s.l., in 2008 and 2009. The effect of genotype on the PAV was significant and clearly influenced by the location factor. Although variety x location and variety x year interactions were rather low, they were still very important for the PAV compared with other variables such as grain yield and specific grain weight. The PAV expression of one variety seemed not to be susceptible to environmental conditions. The varietal range in viscosity demonstrates a high potential for breeding to raise quality, especially as the viscosity and the grain yield were not correlated. The favourable relationship between the PAV and protein content found in the present study may provide a further incentive to improve this trait to yield high-quality triticale. Existing variability might be used to guide the choice of favourable varieties

Modeling Recreation Site Choice: Do Hypothetical Choices Reflect Actual Behavior?

We examine the ability of revealed preference (RP), site-specific stated preference (SP), transferred SP, and joint RP-SP models to predict aggregate and individual recreation site choice in a holdout sample. For two statistical comparisons, the RP model provided the most accurate predictions of individual choices. However, the transferred SP model, applied directly or estimated jointly with the RP data, performed best in three aggregate and one individual prediction test. These findings suggest that data from well-designed and conducted SP surveys from one site can be combined with site-specific RP data from another site to generate improved models of recreation site choice. Copyright 2001, Oxford University Press.

Aggregation Bias in Recreation Site Choice Models: Resolving the Resolution Problem

This paper examines the effect of differing levels of spatial resolution on recreation site choice models and welfare resulting from changes in site attributes. These issues are important where the spatial scale at which recreationists make choices is unknown, but information exists on choice attributes at larger spatial scales. We estimate choice models at various scales of spatial resolution and incorporate the size of the aggregate sites and heterogeneity parameters in the model. Accounting for the size of the aggregates in estimation improved model fit and alleviated aggregate parameter bias. We provide advice for applied modeling based on these results.

The development of fire-induced damage functions for forest recreation activity in Alberta, Canada

This study develops an intertemporal fire damage function for forest recreation activity in the eastern slopes region of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The methodology employed combined revealed-stated preference data in which the behavioral response variable was annual camping trip frequencies. Photographs were used to portray changes in stand ages and related changes in trip frequencies. The data were analysed using negative binomial count data models. Unlike previous studies employing similar methods, a random effects specification was used to develop trip demand parameters. The results suggest that fires initially decrease annual trips from ~2.56 to 1.0 after the burn. As the stand ages, the effect of the fire decreases until ~12 years after the fire when the trip frequencies recover to about their previous ‘old-growth’ levels. This function is different from others described in the literature for similar mountain ecosystems in North America.Michael Rausch, Peter C. Boxall, and Arunas P. Verbyl

Co-designing person-centred quality indicator implementation for primary care in Alberta: a consensus study

Abstract Background We aimed to contribute to developing practical guidance for implementing person-centred quality indicators (PC-QIs) for primary care in Alberta, Canada. As a first step in this process, we conducted stakeholder-guided prioritization of PC-QIs and implementation strategies. Stakeholder engagement is necessary to ensure PC-QI implementation is adapted to the context and local needs. Methods We used an adapted nominal group technique (NGT) consensus process. Panelists were presented with 26 PC-QIs, and implementation strategies. Both PC-QIs and strategies were identified from our extensive previous engagement of patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and quality improvement leaders. The NGT objectives were to: 1. Prioritize PC-QIs and implementation strategies; and 2. Facilitate the participation of diverse primary care stakeholders in Alberta, including patients, healthcare providers, and quality improvement staff. Panelists participated in three rounds of activities. In the first, panelists individually ranked and commented on the PC-QIs and strategies. The summarized results were discussed in the second-round face-to-face group meeting. For the last round, panelists provided their final individual rankings, informed by the group discussion. Finally, we conducted an evaluation of the consensus process from the panelists’ perspectives. Results Eleven primary care providers, patient partners, and quality improvement staff from across Alberta participated. The panelists prioritized the following PC-QIs: ‘Patient and caregiver involvement in decisions about their care and treatment’; ‘Trusting relationship with healthcare provider’; ‘Health information technology to support person-centred care’; ‘Co-designing care in partnership with communities’; and ‘Overall experience’. Implementation strategies prioritized included: ‘Develop partnerships’; ‘Obtain quality improvement resources’; ‘Needs assessment (stakeholders are engaged about their needs/priorities for person-centred measurement)’; ‘Align measurement efforts’; and ‘Engage champions’. Our evaluation suggests that panelists felt that the process was valuable for planning the implementation and obtaining feedback, that their input was valued, and that most would continue to collaborate with other stakeholders to implement the PC-QIs. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the value of co-design and participatory approaches for engaging stakeholders in adapting PC-QI implementation for the primary care context in Alberta, Canada. Collaboration with stakeholders can promote buy-in for ongoing engagement and ensure implementation will lead to meaningful improvements that matter to patients and providers.Plain English summary Person-centred care (PCC) is a model of care where patient needs and preferences are included in decisions about care and treatment. To improve PCC in primary care in Alberta, Canada, we plan to use person-centred quality indicators (PC-QIs). Using PC-QIs involves surveying patients about their care experiences and using this information to make improvements. For example, if 20% of patients do not feel they are getting enough information, the clinic may create a checklist for the providers so information is not missed. We engaged a panel of 11 people, including patients, family doctors, and staff who support quality improvement in clinics across the province to decide together which PC-QIs primary care clinics in Alberta should use. We also asked the panel to decide the most important strategies that would make using the PC-QIs more successful. The panel chose PC-QIs related to: patient and caregiver involvement in decisions about care and treatment, a trusting relationship with the healthcare provider, having health information technology to support PCC, partnering with communities in healthcare, and the patient’s overall experience. The most important strategies were: developing partnerships among people working in primary care in Alberta, discussing their needs and common efforts for improving PCC, engaging “champions,” and securing funding that would be needed. Finally, we asked the panelists to share their experiences with participating in this process. Panelists found the process useful and that their input was valued. Most panelists would also like to continue to work together to put the PC-QIs into practice