Investigation of the Tribal Park Concept and Opportunities for the Blackfeet Nation

The Tribal Park model is an emerging tool being used by indigenous groups in the United States and Canada for the management of unique and sacred natural areas, in some cases setting aside existing indigenous owned land, and in others regaining control of land management decisions in traditional territory. Currently in North America there are several sites that have self-identified as Tribal Parks. There is a lack of research regarding Tribal Park development in North America, which creates challenges for indigenous groups interested in pursuing a conservation designation of this type. Using an analysis of five Tribal Park case studies this thesis identifies the key components of these Tribal Parks. Specifically focusing on the economic, cultural, and ecological aspects of each case study. This research then uses interviews with members of the Blackfeet Nation, to explore the potential interest in a Tribal Park on Blackfeet Nation lands. This study finds that though the Tribal Park concept varies across case studies based on the needs of the specific community, there are some important common aspects across cases. These aspects include: a bottom-up community driven planning process with programs in place to increase capacity of community members, exercising sovereignty over land-use decisions in traditional territory, and connectivity of landscapes and habitat protection. Some of the themes identified by Blackfeet Nation respondents were potential benefits from capturing visitor overflow from neighboring Glacier National Park, increased access to land by community members, and concerns regarding land-use conflicts between different user groups

J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets

A Review of J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets by Curt Gentr

Influence of pH change on the phosphorus cycle in aquaponics

In fish farming, large amounts of phosphorus (P) are accumulating in the discharge, which on one side poses a problem due to eutrophication potential, but on the other side opens a chance for recycling of this critically limiting nutrient. In aquaponics (AP), which is the combined cultivation of fish (aquaculture) and plants (hydroponic) in one water cycle, plants assimilate P present in aquaculture discharge. The aim of this study was to investigate the P-cycling in aquaponic in order to be able to further optimise P utilisation. For this, the effect of pH manipulation on the system was examined. Three replicates of semi-commercial size aquaponic systems, stocked with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and planted with lettuce (Salanova® Batavia) were monitored from 22th September to 8th November 2017. The pH was adjusted to 6.0±0.2 by adding acid (HCl) during weeks 1 and 2, and to 7.3±0.3 by adding bases (KOH and Ca(OH)2) during weeks 3 and 4. Ortho-P and total-P from different sampling points in the system (system water, sludge, and deposits) were analysed. In addition, biomass production of fish and lettuce, and its nutrient content was compared between the triplicates. The P balance showed that 41% and 8% of the total P inputs provided by feed and water were absorbed by fish and plants, respectively. 27% of P accumulated in the system water, and 24% in form of deposits (biofilm on sump and fish tank surface and deposits on digester heater). Furthermore, digested sludge contained more ortho-P (14-55% of total-P) than fresh sludge (5-10% of total-P). In addition, around 90% of total-P was present as ortho-P in a system water. The ortho-P concentrations after the manipulations of pH in the aquaponic system water surprisingly increased with increasing pH. This is probably due to the complex dynamics between P and Ca. The established P mass balance identified and quantified several P pools, demonstrating that aquaponics systems can maximize overall P utilization if a digester is included into the loop

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Putative High-Valent Nickel-Oxo Species

Terminal metal-oxo species are important intermediates in many biological systems such as the mononuclear non-heme iron oxygenases that utilize Fe(IV)-oxo intermediates to initiate oxidative transformations. The formation of a stable high-valent metal-oxo complex for late-transition metals is challenging synthetically and terminal metal-oxo ligands for metals in groups nine through twelve are rare. In this work, we synthesized a mononuclear Nickel complex through different oxidation states of +2, +3, and +4 supported by a dianionic, tridentate ligand. We produced a putative Ni(IV) complex by a single sequence reaction between Ni(III)OH and an oxidant, ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). The reactivity of this proposed Ni (IV) complex is still under investigation as we move to determine the structure and the characterization of the complex. Our ongoing efforts aim to determine the C-H bond functionalization of the Ni(IV) complex

Curcumin - novel therapeutic applications of an old traditional drug

Alzheimer Krankheit ist die häufigste und verheerendste neurologische Erkrankung und die Forschung konzentriert sich bei der Suche nach neuen potentiellen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten darauf, Stoffe zu finden, die nicht nur vorübergehend einige Symptome lindern, sondern auch in den pathologischen Prozesses eingreifen können. Wissend, dass das entscheidende Ereignis der Pathogenese die Amyloid-Aggregation ist, konzentriert sich die Forschung auf Moleküle mit facettenreichen Aktivitäten, die klein genug sind, um die Blut-Hirnschranke zu passieren, eine gute Bioverfügbarkeit besitzen und zusätzlich wünschenswert, fast keine Nebenwirkungen und wenig Toxizität besitzen. In den letzten Jahren wurde zunehmend deutlich, dass Farbstoffe die als Marker für Amyloidfibrillen verwendet werden auch Eigenschaften besitzen in die Amyloidaggregation einzugreifen. Curcumin avancierte in großes Interesse aufgrund seiner Verwendung als Farbstoff und die Behandlung von verschiedenen Erkrankungen einhergehend mit entzündlichen Geschehnissen in der traditionellen indischen Medizin. Auch bestärkt durch Statistiken die besagen, dass in Indien der Prozentsatz der betroffenen Personen die an AD erkrankten nur ein Viertel der in den USA Erkrankten beträgt, begann die Forschung intensive Studien zu betreiben, ob Curcumin eventuell Eigenschaften besäße um ein potentes antiaggregatives Agens darzustellen. In dieser Arbeit werden die wichtigsten biologischen Aktivitäten, die Chemie und Synthese von Curcumin und SAR ausgewählter Derivate veranschaulicht. Darüber hinaus werden die pathophysiologischen und klinischen Grundlagen von AD und die Annahmen über die Entstehung der Krankheit, und mögliche Mechanismen von denen man glaubt, sie könnten für den Krankheitsverlauf relevant sein, kurz erläutert. Weiters sind die soweit angenommenen Einflüsse von NSAIDs, Curcumin und anderer Färbemittel auf den Beginn und Verlauf der Krankheit erläutert. Fasst man die Ergebnisse der Literaturrecherche zusammen, kann stark damit gerechnet werden, dass Curcumin mit seinem breiten Wirkspektrum und dessen Derivate interessante Perspektiven als mögliche Kandidaten für eine Alzheimerbehandlung eröffnen.Alzheimer´s disease represents the most common and devasting neurological disorder and research is concentrated in finding new potential candidates that not only temporarily relieve some symptoms but address the pathological process. Knowing that the crucial event of the pathogenesis is the amyloid aggregation research was concentrated on molecules that possess multifaceted activity, are small enough to cross the blood brain barrier easily, show good bioavailability and additionally desirable have no side effects and less toxicity. During the last years of research it became increasingly clear that dyes acting as markers for amyloid fibrils also exhibit the potency to interfere in the aggregation of ß-amyloid. Curcumin promoted in great interest because of its use as a dye and for the treatment of several diseases associated with inflammation in Traditional Indian medicine. As it was noticed that in India the percentage of AD affected persons is only a quarter to that in the US Curcumin was started to be intensively examined whether it exhibits features to represent a candidate for a potent anti aggregative agent. In this work the most important biological activities as well as the chemistry and synthesis of Curcumin and the SAR of selected derivatives are exemplified. Furthermore, the pathophysiological and clinical principles of AD and the assumption of its beginnig and possible mechanisms which are thought to induce the pathogenesis of AD are briefly explained. Notabely the so far supposed influence of NSAIDs, Curcumin and other dyes on the onset and progression is explicated. Summing up the findings of the literature research it could be seriously assumpted that Curcumin with its broad range of activitiy and its derivatives opens an interesting perspective as possible AD treatment candidates in the future

Nutrient management in aquaponics : comparison of three approaches for cultivating lettuce, mint and mushroom herb

Nutrients that are contained in aquaculture effluent may not supply sufficient levels of nutrients for proper plant development and growth in hydroponics; therefore, they need to be supplemented. To determine the required level of supplementation, three identical aquaponic systems (A, B, and C) and one hydroponic system (D) were stocked with lettuce, mint, and mushroom herbs. The aquaponic systems were stocked with Nile tilapia. System A only received nutrients derived from fish feed; system B received nutrients from fish feed as well as weekly supplements of micronutrients and Fe; system C received the same nutrients as B, with weekly supplements of the macronutrients, P and K; in system D, a hydroponic inorganic solution containing N, Ca, and the same nutrients as system C was added weekly. Lettuce achieved the highest yields in system C, mint in system B, and mushroom herb in systems A and B. The present study demonstrated that the nutritional requirements of the mint and mushroom herb make them suitable for aquaponic farming because they require low levels of supplement addition, and hence little management effort, resulting in minimal cost increases. While the addition of supplements accelerated the lettuce growth (Systems B, C), and even surpassed the growth in hydroponic (System C vs. D), the nutritional quality (polyphenols, nitrate content) was better without supplementation