Landowner Consideration of Conservation Easement Utilization in the Adirondack Park of New York

Abstract A survey regarding the granting of conservation easements was administered to private, non-commercial Adirondack Park landowners with a residence on their property. The theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) and a conceptual model for easement adoption proposed by Kabii and Horwitz (2006) served as a framework for the study. Analyzed constructs included attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, nature conservation equity, nature conservation ethic, economic dependence on property, private property rights, confidence in permanent easement mechanisms, and demographic variables: gender, age, and years owned property. Significant relationships between constructs were identified and policy implications addressed

An Exploratory Factor Analysis of Lake Ontario Resident Bass Angler Motivations, Constraints, and Facilitators

Abstract In 2009, SUNY ESF completed a survey of 7,000 property owners in the seven New York counties bordering Lake Ontario in order to examine the motivations, constraints, and facilitators related to resident bass fishing participation. The questionnaire included five-point scale questions on motivations and constraints/facilitators to fishing. Resident anglers returned 681 completed surveys. A short follow-up survey was distributed to all non-respondents and 264 additional responses were received from anglers. After data entry, bass anglers were identified based on respondents\u27 preferences for either largemouth or smallmouth bass fishing. Two exploratory factor analyses were conducted: one for variables related to motivations and one for constraints/facilitators. The factor analyses yielded 10 motivation-related factors and 11 constraints/facilitators. Motivations for fishing were affiliation and nature appreciation/enjoyment. Factors identified by respondents as constraining fishing participation were lack of time and bad weather; factors found to facilitate fishing participation were good weather, current/past experience, and access

Beliefs and Attitudes toward Boating of Four Stakeholder Groups in the Saranac Lake Area

Public natural resource management agencies work with diverse stakeholder groups such as business owners, visitors, and landowners as they implement visitor management policies. This study focuses on the attitudes and beliefs of four stakeholder groups in relation to the use of non-motorized boats, motorized boats, and personal watercraft (e.g., jet Skis) on water bodies in the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest of New York State\u27s Adirondack Park. A mixed-methods approach including land manager interviews and stakeholder surveys was used. Interview results were the basis for the questionnaire used in mail surveys of shoreline and inland landowners, business owners, and campers. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among the four stakeholder groups concerning beliefs and attitudes toward non-motorized and motorized boat use, but no significant differences in beliefs and attitudes toward personal watercraft use

Consensus Recommendation for Mouse Models of Ocular Hypertension to Study Aqueous Humor Outflow and Its Mechanisms.

Due to their similarities in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology to humans, mice are a valuable model system to study the generation and mechanisms modulating conventional outflow resistance and thus intraocular pressure. In addition, mouse models are critical for understanding the complex nature of conventional outflow homeostasis and dysfunction that results in ocular hypertension. In this review, we describe a set of minimum acceptable standards for developing, characterizing, and utilizing mouse models of open-angle ocular hypertension. We expect that this set of standard practices will increase scientific rigor when using mouse models and will better enable researchers to replicate and build upon previous findings

Effectiveness of a national quality improvement programme to improve survival after emergency abdominal surgery (EPOCH): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial

Background: Emergency abdominal surgery is associated with poor patient outcomes. We studied the effectiveness of a national quality improvement (QI) programme to implement a care pathway to improve survival for these patients. Methods: We did a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial of patients aged 40 years or older undergoing emergency open major abdominal surgery. Eligible UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals (those that had an emergency general surgical service, a substantial volume of emergency abdominal surgery cases, and contributed data to the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit) were organised into 15 geographical clusters and commenced the QI programme in a random order, based on a computer-generated random sequence, over an 85-week period with one geographical cluster commencing the intervention every 5 weeks from the second to the 16th time period. Patients were masked to the study group, but it was not possible to mask hospital staff or investigators. The primary outcome measure was mortality within 90 days of surgery. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN80682973. Findings: Treatment took place between March 3, 2014, and Oct 19, 2015. 22 754 patients were assessed for elegibility. Of 15 873 eligible patients from 93 NHS hospitals, primary outcome data were analysed for 8482 patients in the usual care group and 7374 in the QI group. Eight patients in the usual care group and nine patients in the QI group were not included in the analysis because of missing primary outcome data. The primary outcome of 90-day mortality occurred in 1210 (16%) patients in the QI group compared with 1393 (16%) patients in the usual care group (HR 1·11, 0·96–1·28). Interpretation: No survival benefit was observed from this QI programme to implement a care pathway for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Future QI programmes should ensure that teams have both the time and resources needed to improve patient care. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research Programme

Effectiveness of a national quality improvement programme to improve survival after emergency abdominal surgery (EPOCH): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial

BACKGROUND: Emergency abdominal surgery is associated with poor patient outcomes. We studied the effectiveness of a national quality improvement (QI) programme to implement a care pathway to improve survival for these patients. METHODS: We did a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial of patients aged 40 years or older undergoing emergency open major abdominal surgery. Eligible UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals (those that had an emergency general surgical service, a substantial volume of emergency abdominal surgery cases, and contributed data to the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit) were organised into 15 geographical clusters and commenced the QI programme in a random order, based on a computer-generated random sequence, over an 85-week period with one geographical cluster commencing the intervention every 5 weeks from the second to the 16th time period. Patients were masked to the study group, but it was not possible to mask hospital staff or investigators. The primary outcome measure was mortality within 90 days of surgery. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN80682973. FINDINGS: Treatment took place between March 3, 2014, and Oct 19, 2015. 22 754 patients were assessed for elegibility. Of 15 873 eligible patients from 93 NHS hospitals, primary outcome data were analysed for 8482 patients in the usual care group and 7374 in the QI group. Eight patients in the usual care group and nine patients in the QI group were not included in the analysis because of missing primary outcome data. The primary outcome of 90-day mortality occurred in 1210 (16%) patients in the QI group compared with 1393 (16%) patients in the usual care group (HR 1·11, 0·96-1·28). INTERPRETATION: No survival benefit was observed from this QI programme to implement a care pathway for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Future QI programmes should ensure that teams have both the time and resources needed to improve patient care. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research Programme