Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds by Bernd Brunner, Mozart\u27s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt, and Birds Art Life by Kyo Maclear

Review of Bernd Brunner\u27s Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds, Lyanda Lynn Haupt\u27s Mozart\u27s Starling, and Ky Maclear\u27s Birds Art Life

Internal Market Harmonisation and Trade Implications for Non-EU Companies

After the formation of the European Union internal market in 1992, member state specific obstacles and barriers were largely removed. This was especially the case in harmonised industries where standardisation and technical regulation have led to legal certainty. Despite this, a large range of trade regulation continues to remain distortional to trade, in addition to the ongoing tariffs and subsidies. The key trade regulations relate to a number of areas involving technical regulations such as production labelling and the protection of intellectual property rights. Whilst policy makers claim justification based around the need to correct market failure in delivering desired outcomes, the question is whether these regulations are appropriate responses to market failures or if they have simply been imposed in an attempt to protect domestic markets. These regulations become especially clear for non-EU companies exporting their products to the EU internal market. When entering the EU, a large amount of primary and secondary legislation and case law becomes applicable, further compounding the difficulties found within different cultural affinity zones. In light of recent legislative developments, this paper seeks to conduct a research study on the Australian wine industry, an industry in European favour over the last decade. Through an examination of industry developments and the underlying EU legislation, the extent to which barriers and obstacles impede the natural forces of free market trade will be determined

Evaluation of a Community Health Worker Intervention on Rates of Measles, Mumps and Rubella Immunization in a Somali Population in Lexington, Nebraska

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. There have been increasing outbreaks of measles to waning immunization. This study sought to evaluate rates of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunization in a Somali population living in Lexington, Nebraska and to evaluate a community health worker intervention to improve immunization rates. NESIIS data for Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC) was queried to assess MMR trends for all clinic patients between 15 and 72 months both before and after implementation of the community health worker intervention. During the pre-intervention LRHC had an overall initial MMR vaccination rate of 67%. There was a significant lower rate of MMR immunization in the Somali population (29%) compared to the Hispanic population (72%, p\u3c0.0001) and the Non-Somali, Non-Hispanic population (75%, p\u3c0.0001). Interestingly, this vaccine hesitancy was unique to MMR vaccination with rates of varicella vaccination significantly higher at 75% versus 29% for MMR (p\u3c0.0001). During the intervention period LRHC had an overall initial MMR vaccination rate of 37% which was significantly lower than previous. There was a significant increase in rate of MMR immunization in the Somali population (52%) compared to the pre-intervention rate of 29% (p\u3c0.0001). The rate of varicella immunization among the Somali population did not significantly change between the two time periods (p=0.2302). Rates of MMR and varicella immunization significantly decreased in the Hispanic population (MMR 37% p\u3c0.0001, Varicella 61% p\u3c0.0001) and the Other population (MMR 32%, p\u3c0.0001, Varicella 51%, p\u3c0.0001). In conclusion, there is MMR vaccine specific hesitancy within the Somali population in Lexington, Nebraska that puts the community at risk for a measles outbreak. Using a community health worker intervention can help to improve MMR immunization rates within this population

Wildlife Viewing in Montana: An Overview

Summarizes information on wildlife viewing in Montana by residents and nonresidents, drawing from three studies conducted by the ITRR as well as the 1991 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The report displays national trends in wildlife viewing, resident and nonresident viewer characteristics and participation patterns in Montana, and resident preferences for viewing area enhancements and for program funding sources

Conserving the Public Lands: Policy and Spatial Analysis of a Bureau of Land Management Conservation Leasing Mechanism

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the largest land administrator in the United States, managing about 10% of U.S. lands, primarily in the Western states. The BLM manages under a multiple-use framework, issuing commercial authorizations for grazing, mining, oil and gas, and wind and solar on public lands, while also managing for ecosystem health. In April 2024, the agency finalized a rule that would create a conservation leasing mechanism to allow private, state, and tribal parties to lease BLM lands for restoration and mitigation purposes, which I investigate here. First, I find that while the conservation leasing mechanism does not create a direct pathway to negotiate changes to other use authorizations, it could be used to cement prior authorization modifications. Second, I explore opportunities for conservation leasing on BLM lands with GIS analysis. I find that the BLM holds nearly 10% of areas of unprotected biodiversity importance in the conterminous U.S. and that BLM grazing and oil and gas authorizations are located on 85% and 16% of these areas, respectively. I also find that 57 endangered and threatened species have over 10% of critical habitat on BLM land, and 25 listed species have over 10% of critical habitat on BLM land authorized for grazing. Stressors to these species are diverse, including activities authorized on BLM lands and other factors. I also find over 40% of big game habitat in Utah is located on BLM lands and that BLM grazing is authorized on over 90% of these lands. Third, by building models for solar development in the Western U.S. using multi-criteria analysis, I find that critical habitat for endangered species occurs on less than 3% of land most suitable for solar development. Conservation leasing on BLM lands could offset 10-20% of this impact, but adding BLM lands to areas already available for other mitigation opportunities only modestly increases the total area that could be offset through compensatory mitigation. Given the large overlap between high-priority conservation areas and other uses, I conclude by recommending that the BLM strengthen property rights for authorizations across uses to facilitate voluntary negotiations between users. Stronger rights attached to grazing authorizations, for instance, would allow stakeholders to apply local knowledge to realize grazing practices aligned with ranching and conservation priorities. Paired with restoration and mitigation leasing, I suggest that markets for multiple use rights would facilitate mutually beneficial and secure outcomes for oil and gas, grazing, and conservation interests

Opinions About Tourism Development in the Bitterroot Valley: A Survey of Residents

Presents the results of a resident attitude survey administered as part of a large Community Tourism Assessment Process for the Bitterroot Valley conducted during 1995

Opinions About Tourism Development on the Fort Belknap

Presents the results of a resident attitude survey administered as part of a large Community Tourism Assessment Process for the Fort Belknap conducted during 1995