Compensation for Environmental Services and Rural Communities: Lessons from the Americas

In principle, payments for environmental services – such as watershed management, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration – can advance the goals of both environmental protection and poverty reduction. A review of recent initiatives in the Americas suggests, however, that this desirable combination is not automatic. If payments for environmental services (PES) schemes are to be an effective vehicle for strengthening livelihoods in poor rural communities, they must be designed with that objective firmly in mind. This paper draws key lessons from diverse experiences in Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, and New York.

Compensation for Environmental Services and Rural Communities: Lessons from the Americas

In principle, payments for environmental services – such as watershed management, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration – can advance the goals of both environmental protection and poverty reduction. A review of recent initiatives in the Americas suggests, however, that this desirable combination is not automatic. If payments for environmental services (PES) schemes are to be an effective vehicle for strengthening livelihoods in poor rural communities, they must be designed with that objective firmly in mind. This paper draws key lessons from diverse experiences in Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, and New York

Mechanical stimulation of skeletal muscle increases prostaglandin F2(alpha) synthesis and cyclooxygenase activity by a pertussis toxin sensitive mechanism

Repetitive mechanical stimulation of differentiated skeletal muscle in tissue culture increases the production of prostaglandin F(sub 2(alpha)), an anabolic stimulator of myofiber growth. Within 4 h of initiating mechanical activity, the activity of cyclooxygenase, a regulatory enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis, was increased 82% (P is less than .005), and this increase was maintained for at least 24 h. Kinetic analysis of the stretch-activated cyclooxygenase indicated a two to three-fold decrease in the enzyme's K(sub m) with no change in V(sub max). The stretch-induced increase in enzymatic activity was not inhibited by cycloheximide, was independent of cellular electrical activity (tetrodotoxin-insensitive), but was prevented by the G protein inhibitor pertussis toxin. Pertussis toxin also inhibited the stretch-induced increases in PGF(sub 2(alpha)) production, and cell growth. It is concluded that stretch of skeletal muscle increases the synthesis of the anabolic modulator PGF(sub 2(alpha)) by a G protein-dependent process which involves activation of cyclooxygenase by a posttranslational mechanism

Conflicts Over Extractivist Policy and the Forest Frontier in Central America

Central America is characterized by an asymmetric forest transition in which net deforestation is a product of both forest loss and patches of forest resurgence. Forest loss is also associated with rights violations. We explore the extent to which extractive industry and infrastructure investments create pressure on forest resources, community rights and livelihoods. Drivers of this investment are identified, in particular: constitutional, legislative and regulatory reforms; energy policies; new financial flows; and ideas of development emphasizing the centrality of infrastructure in combining geographical integration and economic growth. We discuss forms of contentious action that have emerged in response to these pressures, asking how far and in what ways this contention has elicited changes in the policies that govern investment and extractive industry, and how far such changes might reduce pressure on Central America\u27s remaining forest cover. The paper develops a conceptual framework for analysing relationships among contention, policy change and the resilience of policy changes

Dam removal Europe: refuting myths and supporting professionals

The removal of dams and weirs has been happening for decades. Since the 90’s a few countries have increased this tendency. USA has already removed at least 1,300 dams. What very few people know is that in Europe there have been over 3,500 barriers demolished already. In some European countries, like France, Sweden, Spain, Finland and UK dams are mainly being removed due to existing legislation, safety and security, the need to reach a good ecological status of their rivers for the Water Frame Directive and/or economical reasons. However, the lack of awareness, knowledge, support by decision makers and funding for dam removal are generally bottlenecks and most of the times is the cause of many dam removal failures. In addition, the Renewable Energy Directive requires the EU countries to fulfil at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020, and amongst these renewables is hydropower. All this makes dam removal projects tremendously difficult to those who are willing to start removing old and useless dams, and automatically makes dam removal an uncomfortable subject to bring up for politicians. Europe requires a shift towards adaptive management of stream barriers, one that maximizes benefits and minimizes impacts, one that keeps efficient dams and removes obsolete and abandoned dams. The goals of Dam Removal Europe (www.damremoval.eu) are to improve citizens’ awareness about removing dams and refute myths, create a reference community of professionals, experts and starters, who generates and shares knowledge about dam removal and putting dam removal on the agenda of policy makers, directors and managers

Dam removal Europe: refuting myths and supporting professionals

The removal of dams and weirs has been happening for decades. Since the 90’s a few countries have increased this tendency. USA has already removed at least 1,300 dams. What very few people know is that in Europe there have been over 3,500 barriers demolished already. In some European countries, like France, Sweden, Spain, Finland and UK dams are mainly being removed due to existing legislation, safety and security, the need to reach a good ecological status of their rivers for the Water Frame Directive and/or economical reasons. However, the lack of awareness, knowledge, support by decision makers and funding for dam removal are generally bottlenecks and most of the times is the cause of many dam removal failures. In addition, the Renewable Energy Directive requires the EU countries to fulfil at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020, and amongst these renewables is hydropower. All this makes dam removal projects tremendously difficult to those who are willing to start removing old and useless dams, and automatically makes dam removal an uncomfortable subject to bring up for politicians. Europe requires a shift towards adaptive management of stream barriers, one that maximizes benefits and minimizes impacts, one that keeps efficient dams and removes obsolete and abandoned dams. The goals of Dam Removal Europe (www.damremoval.eu) are to improve citizens’ awareness about removing dams and refute myths, create a reference community of professionals, experts and starters, who generates and shares knowledge about dam removal and putting dam removal on the agenda of policy makers, directors and managers

The Effect Of Hydrofluoric Acid Concentration And Heat On The Bonding To Lithium Disilicate Glass Ceramic

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydrofluoric acid (HF) concentration and previous heat treatment (PHT) on the surface morphology and micro-shear bond strength (mSBS) of a lithium disilicate glass ceramic (EMX) to resin cement. One hundred four EMX specimens were randomly assigned to two groups (n=52) according to the HF concentration: 5% and 10%. A new random distribution was made according to the PHTs (n=13): control (no PHT); previously heated HF (70 °C); previously heated EMX surface (85 °C); the combination of heated HF + heated EMX surface. The etching time was set at 20 s. All EMX blocks were silanated and received a thin layer of an unfilled resin. Five resin cement cylinders were made on each EMX surface using Tygon tubes as matrices, and then stored for 24 h at 37 °C. One random etched EMX sample from each group was analyzed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The data were subjected to two-way ANOVA and multiple comparisons were performed using the Tukey post hoc test (a=0.05). For the control groups, 5% HF showed statistically lower mSBS values when compared to 10% HF (p<0.05). PHT increased the mSBS values for 5% HF, yielding statistically similar results to non-PHT 10% HF (p<0.05). FE-SEM images showed increased glassy matrix removal when PHT was applied to HF 5%, but not to the same degree as for 10% HF. PHT has the potential to improve the bond strength of 5% HF concentration on lithium disilicate glass ceramic.27672773

KAJI EKSPERIMENTAL PERPINDAHAN PANAS KONTAK LANGSUNG PADA PENCAIRAN BAHAN BEKU (Experimental Study on Direct Contact Melting Heat Transfer of Frozen Product)

Asbstrak : Pencairan bahan beku perpindahan panas kontak langsung telah dipelajari secara eksperimental dalam penelitian ini. Daging merupakan salah satu bahan makanan yang biasanya diawetkan dengan pembekuan dan ketika akan dikonsumsi harus dicairkan terlebih dahulu sebelum dimasak. Kontak daging dengan permukaan tempat pencairan adalah fokus permasalahan yang diteliti disini. Berbagai konfigurasi permukaan dengan bentuk permukaan beralur telah diuji dengan menvariasikan variabel kedalaman alur, lebar alur, lebar permukaan kontak dengan bahan beku dan bentuk geometris alur. Pencairan bahan beku dilakukan di udara terbuka, di mana permukaan pelat pencairan dibiarkan berkontak langsung dengan udara. Hasil percobaan menunjukkan bahwa konfigurasi geometris C123 (alur sepusat, kedalaman alur 6 mm, lebar alur 5 mm dan lebar permukaan kontak 10 mm) menghasilkan peningkatan laju pencairan bahan dibanding pelat datar yaitu sekitar 45 % atau berkorelasi sebesar 1,44 untuk 100 menit awal pencairan, serta dengan penambahan kemiringan saluran alur akan memperbaiki laju pencairan. Hasil pengamatan daging beku yang dicairkan dengan pelat beralur menunjukan laju pencairan lebih cepat dari pelat datar pada daging berukuran 100x100 mm2 dengan berat 150 gram yang menbutuhkan waktu 15 menit. Pada geometri A (alur searah) diperoleh persamaan: . yang menyatakan korelasi laju pencairan terhadap variasi variabel kedalaman alur (a), lebar alur (b) dan lebar permukaan kontak (c) dibanding permukaan datar Keywords: heat transfer, direct contact melting, frozen produc

Main morphological and ecological evidences characterizing the sympatric species Liolaemus Zullyae and Liolaemus Scolaroi (Reptilia, Sauria, Liolaemidae)

Liolaemus scolaroi ha sido propuesto recientemente como sinonimia de Liolaemus zullyae sobre la base de análisis genéticos y morfológicos. Hemos analizado morfológicamente las series tipo y otros especímenes de ambas especies y las hemos comparado mediante pruebas estadísticas paramétricas y no paramétricas. Nuestra conclusión es que las muestras de ambas especies son diferentes en las dimensiones corporales tamaño y escamación lo que nos permite, razonablemente, validar a ambas especies como entidades taxonómicas plenas.Liolaemus scolaroi has been recently proposed as synonymy of the Liolaemus zullyae based on genetic and morphological analyzes. We have morphologically reviewed the type series of both species and other specimens of both so-called species and compared them with parametric and non-parametric statistics using meristic and continuous dimensions. Our conclusion is that both samples are different in size and scaling, which allows us to reasonably validate both species as full taxonomic entities.Fil: Scolaro, José Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; ArgentinaFil: Núñez, Herman. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago; ChileFil: Obregon Streitenberger, Rosa Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentin