An interdisciplinary online certificate and masters program in agroforestry

Paper presented at the 12th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 4-9, 2011 in Athens, Georgia.In Ashton, S. F., S.W. Workman, W.G. Hubbard and D.J. Moorhead, eds. Agroforestry: A Profitable Land Use. Proceedings, 12th North American Agroforestry Conference, Athens, GA, June 4-9, 2011.Within a context of rapid technological change and shifting market conditions, the American education system is challenged with providing increased educational opportunities for students and non-traditional clients often at lower cost than in campus-based degree programs. Many educational institutions are answering this challenge by developing distance education graduate programs. These programs can provide working professionals with a chance at a graduate education, reach those disadvantaged by limited time or distance, and update the knowledge base of workers at their places of employment. Agroforestry, as a farming system that integrates crops and/or livestock with trees and shrubs, is gaining recognition as an integral component of a multifunctional working landscape. While agroforestry has been gradually gaining attention, the need for a cadre of well trained professionals in agroforestry is essential to support its continued growth. Short courses and workshops are helpful, but professionals and landowners alike across the U.S., Canada and overseas are seeking more comprehensive graduate degree or certificate programs. A web-based, asynchronous M.S. degree and/or a graduate Certificate will help to fill this void. Presently, there are no comparable comprehensive graduate programs in agroforestry elsewhere in the U.S. To meet the current and future needs of the agroforestry profession, The Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri is creating an online graduate certificate and masters degree program in agroforestry. The Center for Agroforestry will begin admitting students and offering online courses beginning Spring semester 2011. The certificate and masters will be fully implemented by the summer of 2013.Michael A. Gold and Shibu Jose ; The Center for Agroforestry and Dept. of Forestry University of Missouri.Includes bibliographical references

Creating the knowledge infrastructure to enhance landowner adoption of agroforestry through an agroforestry academy

Paper presented at the 13th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 19-21, 2013 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.In Poppy, L., Kort, J., Schroeder, B., Pollock, T., and Soolanayakanahally, R., eds. Agroforestry: Innovations in Agriculture. Proceedings, 13th North American Agroforestry Conference, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, June 19-21, 2013.Agroforestry offers a novel approach to land management that provides opportunities to combine productivity and profitability with environmental stewardship, resulting in healthy and sustainable agricultural systems that can be passed on to future generations. In spite of significant advances in both the science and practice of US agroforestry over the past 20 years, adoption has been limited. In the US, natural resource professionals and other educators are currently not equipped to help landowners adopt agroforestry. To advance adoption of agroforestry as a cornerstone of productive land use, a week-long agroforestry academy is being developed by a regional consortium of experts from Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The academy is designed to train natural resource professionals, extension agents, and other agricultural educators who work with landowners. Advanced training will be provided on the five recognized temperate zone agroforestry practices integrated with options for bioenergy, marketing, economic, social dimensions, and environmental services. The cornerstone of the academy will be an applied planning and design exercise. Academy trainees will work in small groups to gain hands on practice in agroforestry design based on the needs of a working farm. Academy trainers and graduates will form the core of the knowledge infrastructure needed to enhance landowner adoption of agroforestry, resulting in increased sustainability of rural communities and the food and agricultural system.Michael A. Gold (1), Mihaela M. Cernusca (1) and Shibu Jose (1) ; 1. University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, 203 ABNR Bldg., Columbia, MO 65211.Includes bibliographical references

Therapist-Guided Practical Skills in the Treatment of Complex Dissociation

The Contextual Trauma Therapy (CTT) model includes a collaborative relationship, client-guided conceptualization, and therapist-guided practical skills. This workshop will discuss the application of therapist-guided skills for complex dissociation: 1) promoting a safe and stabile therapeutic setting, 2) improving emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and experiential presence, 3) therapist modeling of skills in session, and 4) collaborating with clients to foster utilization of skills beyond sessions. Presenters will provide examples of applications of this CTT component, benefits when clients incorporate consistent practice of these skills, and challenges associated with encouraging clients to extend the use of these skills in their personal lives

U.S. consumers' preferences for chestnuts : post purchase evaluation

Paper presented at the 12th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 4-9, 2011 in Athens, Georgia.In Ashton, S. F., S.W. Workman, W.G. Hubbard and D.J. Moorhead, eds. Agroforestry: A Profitable Land Use. Proceedings, 12th North American Agroforestry Conference, Athens, GA, June 4-9, 2011.A regional study of consumer satisfaction and preferences for various chestnut attributes was conducted in 2009. Surveys were distributed to five chestnut growers/sellers in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and Illinois to accompany chestnut sales to their individual customers. Returned surveys represented consumers from 18 states, mainly the U.S. Midwest but also from the East and West coasts. The survey measured consumer satisfaction with the chestnuts purchased (by using affective, cognitive and behavioral constructs), assessed consumer's general knowledge about chestnuts, frequency of consumption and familiarity with cooking. The survey also included a choice-based conjoint analysis to evaluate the effects of origin, production process and price on consumer preferences for chestnuts. Statistical results indicate that high satisfaction with chestnuts purchased increases the likelihood of future purchase. Most consumers who are buying chestnuts know that chestnuts need to be refrigerated but more educational effort is needed regarding the low fat content of chestnuts as compared to other nuts and the gluten free attribute of chestnut flour. Conjoint analysis of chestnut attributes (i.e., origin, production process and price) confirmed results of past studies conducted in Missouri. Holding other attributes constant, chestnut origin is the most important attribute influencing purchases, consumers strongly preferring locally grown chestnuts over U.S. grown or imported. Chestnuts grown organically or pesticide free were preferred over conventionally produced. Price has also a significant influence on the purchase decision but when used as part of the decision process together with the other attributes the relative influence of price on consumer choice is reduced.Mihaela M. Cernusca, Francisco X. Aguilar and Michael A. Gold ; The Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri Columbia, MO.Includes bibliographical references

Using the Porter Model to analyze the U.S. elderberry industry

Paper presented at the 12th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 4-9, 2011 in Athens, Georgia.In Ashton, S. F., S.W. Workman, W.G. Hubbard and D.J. Moorhead, eds. Agroforestry: A Profitable Land Use. Proceedings, 12th North American Agroforestry Conference, Athens, GA, June 4-9, 2011.Elderberry, a perennial shrub native to North America with a variety of uses and benefits, is neither well known nor widely utilized as a specialty crop in the U.S. Up-to-date information is lacking with regard to the elderberry market or market potential. This research identifies the market participants along the value chain, the current status of the industry, direction, and future trends, elderberry market limitations as well as risks and potential opportunities for elderberry producers and processors. A combination of quantitative (mail survey) and qualitative (phone interview) methods have been used. The theoretical model used for the survey and interview development and analysis is based on the Porter Five Forces Model (PFFM) which describes the competitive forces that coordinate and control the market. The PFFM has been used previously to shed light on the chestnut and shiitake mushroom specialty crop markets. Seventy-four mail survey responses and 20 follow up phone interviews provided information on the market participants, challenges, opportunities and competitive forces in the elderberry industry. Results show a nascent industry with mostly small scale participants poised for growth. Demand trends are favorable and prices are good across the value chain. Challenges include a limited domestic supply of fruit, few regionally adapted varieties suitable for commercial production, and high labor costs. Additionally, the absence of existing mechanical harvesting equipment limits future production potential and industry growth. Respondents identified low levels of competition within the industry at the present time. Based on identified market size and demand, opportunities exist to increase the domestic elderberry industry across the value chain.Mihaela M. Cernusca, Michael A. Gold and Larry D. Godsey ; The Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri.Includes bibliographical references

A study of 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine–2′-deoxycytidine base pairing in DNA

The incorporation of 7-deazaguanine modifications into DNA is frequently used to probe protein recognition of H-bonding information in the major groove of DNA. While it is generally assumed that 7-deazaguanine forms a normal Watson–Crick base pair with cytosine, detailed thermodynamic and structural analyses of this modification have not been reported. The replacement of the 7-N atom on guanine with a C–H, alters the electronic properties of the heterocycle and eliminates a major groove cation-binding site that could affect the organization of salts and water in the major groove. We report herein the characterization of synthetic DNA oligomers containing 7-deazaguanine using a variety of complementary approaches: UV thermal melting, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), circular dichroism (CD), chemical probing and NMR. The results indicate that the incorporation of a 7-deazaguanine modification has a significant effect on the dynamic structure of the DNA at the flanking residue. This appears to be mediated by changes in hydration and cation organization

Tuning the bandgap of Cs2AgBiBr6 through dilute tin alloying.

The promise of lead halide hybrid perovskites for optoelectronic applications makes finding less-toxic alternatives a priority. The double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 (1) represents one such alternative, offering long carrier lifetimes and greater stability under ambient conditions. However, the large and indirect 1.95 eV bandgap hinders its potential as a solar absorber. Here we report that alloying crystals of 1 with up to 1 atom% Sn results in a bandgap reduction of up to ca. 0.5 eV while maintaining low toxicity. Crystals can be alloyed with up to 1 atom% Sn and the predominant substitution pathway appears to be a ∼2 : 1 substitution of Sn2+ and Sn4+ for Ag+ and Bi3+, respectively, with Ag+ vacancies providing charge compensation. Spincoated films of 1 accommodate a higher Sn loading, up to 4 atom% Sn, where we see mostly Sn2+ substitution for both Ag+ and Bi3+. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations ascribe the bandgap redshift to the introduction of Sn impurity bands below the conduction band minimum of the host lattice. Using optical absorption spectroscopy, photothermal deflection spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, 119Sn NMR, redox titration, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, multiple elemental analysis and imaging techniques, and DFT calculations, we provide a detailed analysis of the Sn content and oxidation state, dominant substitution sites, and charge-compensating defects in Sn-alloyed Cs2AgBiBr6 (1:Sn) crystals and films. An understanding of heterovalent alloying in halide double perovskites opens the door to a wider breadth of potential alloying agents for manipulating their band structures in a predictable manner

Growing and Marketing Elderberries in Missouri (2012)

The American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis, also known as Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) is native to much of eastern and midwestern North America. The plant is a medium to large multiple-stemmed shrub, bush or small tree. Elderberry is commonly found growing in a range of habitats throughout Missouri, but it prefers moist, well-drained, sunny sites and is often found along roadside ditches and streams.By Patrick L. Byers, Andrew L. Thomas, Mihaela M. Cernusca, Larry D. Godsey and Michael A. Gold (University of Missouri)Includes bibliographical reference