An enhanced Pfafstetter catchment reference system

The Pfafstetter system delineates and codes hierarchically nested catchments. Its simple coding scheme denotes stream network position, enabling systematic analysis of the impacts of any activity on a river section without need for a GIS. However, widespread application has identified significant limitations. Issues raised include an inability to code complex drainage systems or large numbers of endorheic basins, the variability in both the levels of basin decomposition and sub‐basin sizes and main stem identification criteria not conforming to local understanding. To address these issues, the Pfafstetter system was modified to use an independent regionalization for the initial sub‐division of the continent. New procedures were developed to code distributary drainage networks and endorheic basins and alternate criteria devised to identify the main stem and to produce a more even decomposition of a catchment. These modifications were successfully applied to the task of delineating and coding hierarchically nested catchments for the Australian continent including its complex distributary and anabranching drainage networks and large numbers of endorheic basins. The independent basin grouping produced initially smaller and more evenly sized sub‐basins and modelled estimates of flow identified the main stem correctly slightly more often than the original contributing area criterion. Enabling further sub‐division of catchments with fewer than four tributaries produced the largest change in catchment delineations, doubling the number of sub‐basins and halving their size. Achieving the vision for a comprehensive basin reference system will require further development to include anthropogenic and other hydrological features not controlled by topography

The effect of carbacyclin, a prostaglandin analogue, on adenylate cyclase activity in platelet membranes

AbstractThe effect of carbacyclin, a chemically stable analogue of prostacyclin, on the activity of adenylate cyclase in platelet membrane was measured, and compared with the effect of PGE1. When GTP was added in concentrations up to 10 μM the activation of adenylate cyclase by carbacyclin was increased, whereas higher concentrations of GTP were inhibitory. The addition of a non-hydrolysable analogue of GDP, guanosine 5′-[β-thio]diphosphate (GDP[βS]) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase activation by carbacyclin; this inhibition was relieved by adding increased amounts of GTP

Digital Media Promoting Community Work and Learning

The purpose of our study is to develop digital media, specifically short videos, in order to improve students’ service learning experience. We began by analyzing our primary audience to develop an effective visual rhetoric and style. We interviewed students, faculty, and community partners and captured video of community engagement experiences, such as service learning. This footage was edited into themed productions that were subjected to a series of formal critiques, focus groups discussions, and surveys to analyze effectiveness. The final videos highlight the value of service learning as an integration of classroom learning and what students give to the community, thereby creating mutually beneficial relationships with community partners. We then conducted focus groups to understand how students both familiar and unfamiliar with service learning perceived the videos and how these videos helped witb students’ understanding of service learning. The results of these focus groups concluded that students responded positively to the videos.. After watching the videos, students were able to more clearly articulate a definition of service learning. Students also said they had a stronger understanding of the purpose of service learning and that the videos were an enjoyable means to learn about service learning. Importantly, the majority of students also said that they would watch videos like this if were assigned to watch them outside of class. In the future, we hope that digital media projects such as this will further support students’ understanding and involvement in community engagement, while promoting the value of community involvement beyond the classroom

Monitoring the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Innovations, Lost Opportunities, and Future Potential

As the first human rights treaty of the twenty-first century, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) protects some 650 million persons with disabilities. The CRPD also has an opportunity to progressively reconfigure the structure and process of human rights oversight. While the overall framework for monitoring and implementing the CRPD resembles existing core human rights instruments, it has some notable features. The CPRD Committee is endowed with several innovations of significant potential, especially in the breadth of reporting and investigative procedures, thereby offering prospects for other treaty bodies and the human rights system more generally. Accordingly, this article examines the development of the CRPD Committee and assesses its potential for invigorating future United Nations monitoring reforms

The Domestic Incorporation of Human Rights Law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

This Article reviews the processes by which domestic-level transposition of international human rights norms may occur as a consequence of human rights treaty ratification, or other means of incorporation. Specifically, we consider the transformative vision of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD or Convention) as a vehicle for fostering national-level disability law and policy changes. In doing so, we outline the challenges and opportunities presented by this new phase in disability rights advocacy, and we draw conclusions that bear generally upon human rights practice and scholarship. We contend that the role of human rights in domestic law and process reflect important dimensions of international law and practice. At the same time, human rights advocates and scholars often fail to account for the potentially mutually constitutive nature of domestication processes and the transformative role that human rights treaties perform within societies. Accordingly, we argue that effective Convention implementation must result in a human rights practice that includes law reform or court-based advocacy, but also moves beyond it to include strategies that support deeper domestic internalization of human rights norms

The Domestic Incorporation of Human Rights Law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

This Article reviews the processes by which domestic-level transposition of international human rights norms may occur as a consequence of human rights treaty ratification, or other means of incorporation. Specifically, we consider the transformative vision of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD or Convention) as a vehicle for fostering national-level disability law and policy changes. In doing so, we outline the challenges and opportunities presented by this new phase in disability rights advocacy, and we draw conclusions that bear generally upon human rights practice and scholarship. We contend that the role of human rights in domestic law and process reflect important dimensions of international law and practice. At the same time, human rights advocates and scholars often fail to account for the potentially mutually constitutive nature of domestication processes and the transformative role that human rights treaties perform within societies. Accordingly, we argue that effective Convention implementation must result in a human rights practice that includes law reform or court-based advocacy, but also moves beyond it to include strategies that support deeper domestic internalization of human rights norms

A continental landscape framework for systematic conservation planning for Australian rivers and streams

Conservation of Australia’s distinctive river ecosystems has lagged behind that of terrestrial and marine environments despite mounting evidence of the destructive effects of human activities. There has been little nationally coordinated conservation activity. A systematic, continent-wide conservation planning approach would ensure limited conservation resources are allocated efficiently and decisions are accountable. This thesis addresses critical gaps in the spatial data required for systematic conservation planning. It describes the development of a stream network and nested catchment reference system to provide the spatial framework. This framework, at a map scale of approximately 1:250,000, supplies planning units for application of reserve design algorithms and determination of priorities for protective management as well as units for reporting conservation evaluation and assessment. The Pfafstetter coding of the catchment units identifies drainage network connectivities allowing them to be readily incorporated into conservation planning procedures. This thesis presents for the first time a comprehensive picture of continent-wide variation in the landscape factors that ultimately control riverine ecosystem patterns and processes. Stream segments, the section of the stream between tributary confluences and the smallest unit in the spatial framework, have been individually characterized and classified at multiple scales using attributes that describe the catchment (and/or sub-catchment) climate, water balance, geology, terrain and vegetation. Segments were clustered according to their similarity in environmental data space so that, unlike ecoregion classifications, groups may be geographically dispersed. The resulting River Environment Types have been found to differentiate significant variation in stream biota (macroinvertebrates and fish) and habitat characteristics. However, classification strength varies widely among types. It is hypothesised that this is due to both classification uncertainty and limitations of the test data. The spatial framework and classifications are the central elements of a continental landscape framework that could be used to support systematic conservation planning and assist the development of a national conservation plan for Australia’s rivers and streams. The framework could also provide the basis for an online information system to serve a broader range of NRM planning and management objectives. The utility of the continental framework has been demonstrated in a review of the National Reserve System (NRS). The review acknowledges some uncertainty in the results due to inaccuracies and limitations of the framework, but nevertheless, concludes that the NRS must be expanded if it is to achieve a comprehensive and adequate protected area system for river ecosystems. This study makes major contributions to spatial analysis methodology. It has developed and applied a new method of drainage analysis applicable to diverse drainage structures at continental scale and recommends enhancements to the internationally adopted Pfafstetter scheme. It also advances understanding of the role for landscape classification and the influence of classification choice on conservation planning outcomes. The development of the continental landscape framework for Australia presents a model and the necessary tools for conservation planning for the rivers and streams of other continents