Interacting effects of growing season and winter climate change on nitrogen and carbon cycling in northern hardwood forests

Human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation have increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, reactive nitrogen, and other greenhouse gases. As a result, Earth's surface has warmed by 0.85 °C since the pre-industrial era and will continue to warm. Many northern latitude temperate forest ecosystems mitigate the effects of both elevated carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition through retention of carbon and nitrogen in plants and soils. However, the continued ability of these ecosystems to store carbon and nitrogen will be altered with continued climate change. Warmer winters will lead to reduced depth and duration of snowpack, which insulates soils from cold winter air. Climate change over the next century will therefore affect soil temperatures in northern temperate forests in opposing directions across seasons, with warmer soils in the growing season and colder, more variable soil temperatures in winter. Warmer growing seasons generally increase ecosystem uptake and storage of carbon and nitrogen, whereas a smaller snowpack and colder soils in winter reduce rates of ecosystem nutrient cycling and plant growth. My dissertation aims to understand how climate change in the growing season and winter interact to affect function and nitrogen cycling in northern hardwood forest ecosystems. I accomplished this goal through formal literature review and two climate change manipulation experiments at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH. I found that although 67% of climate change experiments were conducted in seasonally snow covered ecosystems, only 14% take into account the effects of distinct climate changes in winter. By simulating climate change across seasons, I demonstrated that changes in nitrogen cycling caused by increased soil freezing in winter are not offset by warming in the growing season. Moreover, shifts in plant function due to winter climate change are mediated through a combination of changes in snow depth, soil temperature, and plant-herbivore interactions that differentially affect above- and belowground plant components. These results would not be evident from examining climate change in either the growing season or winter alone and demonstrate the need for considering seasonally distinct climate change to determine how nitrogen and carbon cycling will change in the future

Characterization of crystalline and amorphous phases in poly(N-methylethylenimine) polymer electrolytes and model systems.

LPEI is analogous to PEO, except LPEI has a heteroatom that is synthetically versatile because different side groups can be readily attached. LPEI:salt systems are not well understood as polymer electrolytes. Therefore, N, N '-dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) complexed with NaCF3 SO3 (NaTf) was investigated in this dissertation as a model compound for LPEI, in order to gain further insight into hydrogen bonding in amine systems. While studying DMEDA:NaTf, single crystals were discovered and characterized with infrared and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In DMEDA:NaTf solutions, there is evidence of local structures similar to that in crystalline DMEDA:NaTf based on infrared and Raman spectroscopy data.Polymer electrolytes have been investigated as ionic conductors in rechargeable lithium batteries. Poly(ethylene oxide):salt systems are the most widely investigated polymer electrolytes. However, the conductivity values for these system are not sufficiently high to be useful for practical lithium batteries. Therefore, other polymer electrolytes are being explored such as linear poly(ethylenimine), LPEI, and linear poly(N-methylethylenimine), LPMEI.LPMEI is a derivative of LPEI. LPMEI is amorphous at room temperature unlike LPEI, which melts at 58° C. Because there is a limited amount of information reported about LPMEI as polymer electrolytes, this dissertation characterizes LPMEI complexed with LiTf and NaTf utilizing IR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction, and complex impedance. To gain further insight into LPMEI systems, model systems were investigated such as N, N, N', N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) and N, N, N', N', N' -pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) complexed with LiTf and NaTf. When studying these model systems, crystalline compounds were discovered and characterized utilizing X-ray diffraction, DSC, IR, and Raman spectroscopy. The local structures in crystalline TMEDA:LiTf, TMEDA:NaTf, and PMDETA:NaTf can be correlated to these samples in solution, which provides greater insight into the local environment of the LPMEI:salt systems

An Evaluation of Purebred Bull Pricing: Implications for Beef Herd Management

The selection of herd bulls is important in determining profitability of commercial ranchers and cow-calf operators as well as purebred producers. In this research, the key attributes of bulls – based on visual, performance, and ultrasound data – are valued using a traditional hedonic pricing model. The data are collected from the annual bull test trial and sale at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The results suggest that buyers at the SIUC Beef Evaluation Station are willing to pay more for bull characteristics associated with calving ease and weaning weights. For instance bulls with a combination of both lower birth weight Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and high yearling weight EPDs than average can command premiums of over $1,150 per head or 67 percent above the average sale price. Farm managers can use this information in the selection of herd bulls while purebred operators can attempt to select for the most valuable traits.Livestock Production/Industries,

Evolving ‘self’-management: exploring the role of social network typologies on individual long-term condition management

BackgroundWhilst there has been a focus on the importance of social support for managing long‐term conditions, there has been little specific focus on the characteristics of social networks that shape self‐management. Policy emphasis is placed on individual responsibility for self‐care, and this influences commissioning of health‐care services. Assumptions are often made by policymakers about accessibility and preference for support and the influence of the social context on chronic illness management. ObjectiveTo examine the social networks of individuals with long‐term conditions and identify how the characteristics of their composition influences support needs. Design, setting and participantsThirty participants completed initial face‐to‐face in‐depth interviews, telephone follow‐ups and final face‐to‐face interviews in the north‐west of England. A longitudinal qualitative design was used to elicit the subtle changes in relationships over a year. FindingsThe findings suggest that the relationships which constitute a social network influence perceived support needs and attitudes to self‐management. The amalgamation of relationships was characterized into three network typologies (family focused, friend focused or health‐care professional focused) according to which types of relationships were dominant. In the absence of support, accounts highlighted a small number of substitutes who could provide support at times of critical need. DiscussionThis study challenges the notion of ‘self’‐management as an individual construct as many of the practices of illness management involved the support and/or negotiation of roles with others. By examining the nuances of relationships, this study has highlighted the tacit boundaries of practical and emotional support provision.<br/

Oral Histories of a Layered Landscape: The Rushworth Oral History Project

This article reflects the authors’ experience of undertaking an oral history project in the regional Victorian town of Rushworth. The authors of the article contend that to conduct an investigation of the natural and cultural heritage of the town and surrounding forests is also to engage in an archaeology of historical landscapes. The authors, after articulating the theoretical and methodological issues of oral history, name and trace the various historical layers of the landscape of Rushworth and the forest that surrounds the town. They argue that the use of oral history in conjunction with cultural landscape analysis enables a deeper understanding of the cultural complexity of the history of Rushworth and the surrounding region. Broader issues concerning regional identity and the role of historians in providing a greater understanding of the community in the present day are also evaluated

Shaking Up Traditional Training With Lynda.com

Supporting the diverse technology training needs on campus while resources continue to dwindle is a challenge many of us continue to tackle. Institutions from small liberal arts campuses to large research universities are providing individualized training and application support 24/7 by subscribing to the lynda.com Online Training Library(r) and marketing the service to various combinations of faculty, staff and students. As a supplemental service on most of our campuses, lynda.com has allowed us to extend support to those unable to attend live lab-based training, those who want advanced level training, those who want training on specialized applications, and those who want to learn applications that are not in high demand. The service also provides cost effective professional development opportunities for everyone on campus, from our own trainers and technology staff who are developing new workshops, learning new software versions or picking up new areas of expertise from project management to programming, to administrative and support staff who are trying to improve their skills in an ever-tighter economic environment. On this panel discussion, you will hear about different licensing approaches, ways of raising awareness about lynda.com on our campuses, lessons learned through implementation, reporting capabilities, and advice we would give for other campuses looking to offer this service