AGRICULTURAL CERTIFICATIONS AND BEEKEEPING: LESSONS FROM AN APICULTURAL COOPERATIVE IN NORTHEASTERN EL SALVADOR, CENTRAL AMERICA

Beekeeping, and especially the production and sale of honey, is an on-farm diversification strategy that has significance to rural livelihoods in some of the most economically and environmentally marginalized regions of the world. Beekeeping also supports sustainable agriculture since it requires that vegetation and forest cover remain intact. However, the limited resources of beekeepers, including marketing constraints, make it difficult for them to realize the full value of their beekeeping enterprises. This professional paper focuses on the Eco-Morazán Cooperative in El Salvador as a case study to examine the costs, benefits and market potential of three types of certification schemes: 1) Fair Trade, 2) Organic, and 3) Rainforest Alliance Certification. The paper draws on information from existing literature, and extended field visits and informal interviews with representatives from the cooperative. It concludes with recommendations on how the cooperative can take advantage of the benefits of these certification schemes. These include suggestions for both the cooperative and Rainforest Alliance initiative, the only one of the three not currently certifying apicultural production

A tackle box guide to: common saltwater fishes of southwest Florida

There are well over 150 species of fish caught by hook and line in local waters. The 86 species included in this book were selected by the author and editors because they are the most frequently encountered. For eachspecies, important informationabout distinguishing features, biology/habitat, and fishing methods is provided. The often confusing common nicknames applied to each fish are noted, as well as the fish's preferred common name. (56pp.

Cellular responses in roots of bentgrass and bermudagrass to selected herbicides

Cellular responses in roots of Penncross creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) and Tifgreen bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-Davy) to selected herbicides were determined by a histological study. The most severe tissue abnormalities in Penncross bentgrass occurred following treatments of benefin (N-butyl-N-ethyl- , , -trifluoro-2 , 6-dinitro-p-toluidine) and terbutol (2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-tolyl methylcarbamate). Root cell damage in bentgrass was less severe with bandane (polychlorodicyclopentadiene isomers), bensulide [0,0-diisopropyl phosphorodithioate S-ester with N-(2-mercaptoethyl)benzenesulfonamide], DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) and siduron [1-(2-methylcyclohexyl) 3-phenylurea]. The most severe tissue malformations in Tifgreen bermudagrass resulted from DCPA, siduron and terbutol. Cellular damage in roots of bermudagrass was less severe from bandane and bensulide, and slight with benefin

Stealing the sacred: Why ‘global heritage’ discourse is perceived as a frontal attack on local heritage-making in Madagascar

This article analyses Malagasy notions of land as heritage through the concept of fomba gasy, known as ‘Malagasy customs’, within the context of foreign land acquisitions for mineral extraction. Fomba gasy is a concept intimately tied to land – as it provides a social, economic, existential, cultural, and ontological web, which ties past, present and future generations. Global or ‘western’ conceptualizations of heritage generally adopt a more static definition of land as their point of departure, wherein biodiversity or clearly demarcated ‘heritage sites’ become objects of frontier conservation. This vision directly conflicts with Malagasy conceptions and ontologies of fomba gasy – a concept inherently anchored in dynamic, material and intangible uses of land. The model of heritage as universal patrimony does not sit easily with beliefs held by local (land - based) groups within Madagascar. On the contrary, it challenges a core tenet of Malagasy power and belief: their sovereign right to define fomba gasy and heritage through land, and to harness the powers of the sacred. The contested nature of heritage claims in Madagascar is discussed using a case study concerning a mining/biodiversity protection project where international and local stakeholders are vying for the same land.RÉSUMÉCet article analyse la notion des terres malgaches en tant que patrimoine à travers le concept de fomba gasy (‘coutumes malgaches’), dans le cadre de l’acquisition de terres par des compagnies étrangères pour les extractions de minéraux. Fomba gasy est un concept étroitement lié à la terre car il fournit une toile environnementale, sociale, économique, existentielle, culturelle et ontologique, qui relie les générations passées, présentes et futures. Les conceptualisations globales ou occidentales du patrimoine tendent généralement à adopter une définition plus statique de la terre comme point de départ. Cette vision se heurte nécessairement à celle de fomba gasy : un concept fondamentalement ancré dans la dynamique matérielle et immatérielle d’exploitation des terres. Au contraire, il remet en cause un principe fondamental et sacré du pouvoir malgache : le droit souverain de définir le fomba gasy et le patrimoine à travers la terre. Cet article discute un différend foncier à Madagascar où un projet minier et de protection de la biodiversité locale met en opposition divers intervenants revendiquant tous des intérêts dans les mêmes terres

A Framework for File Format Fuzzing with Genetic Algorithms

Secure software, meaning software free from vulnerabilities, is desirable in today\u27s marketplace. Consumers are beginning to value a product\u27s security posture as well as its functionality. Software development companies are recognizing this trend, and they are factoring security into their entire software development lifecycle. Secure development practices like threat modeling, static analysis, safe programming libraries, run-time protections, and software verification are being mandated during product development. Mandating these practices improves a product\u27s security posture before customer delivery, and these practices increase the difficulty of discovering and exploiting vulnerabilities. Since the 1980\u27s, security researchers have uncovered software defects by fuzz testing an application. In fuzz testing\u27s infancy, randomly generated data could discover multiple defects quickly. However, as software matures and software development companies integrate secure development practices into their development life cycles, fuzzers must apply more sophisticated techniques in order to retain their ability to uncover defects. Fuzz testing must evolve, and fuzz testing practitioners must devise new algorithms to exercise an application in unexpected ways. This dissertation\u27s objective is to create a proof-of-concept genetic algorithm fuzz testing framework to exercise an application\u27s file format parsing routines. The framework includes multiple genetic algorithm variations, provides a configuration scheme, and correlates data gathered from static and dynamic analysis to guide negative test case evolution. Experiments conducted for this dissertation illustrate the effectiveness of a genetic algorithm fuzzer in comparison to standard fuzz testing tools. The experiments showcase a genetic algorithm fuzzer\u27s ability to discover multiple unique defects within a limited number of negative test cases. These experiments also highlight an application\u27s increased execution time when fuzzing with a genetic algorithm. To combat increased execution time, a distributed architecture is implemented and additional experiments demonstrate a decrease in execution time comparable to standard fuzz testing tools. A final set of experiments provide guidance on fitness function selection with a CHC genetic algorithm fuzzer with different population size configurations

Disaggregating Seasonal Demand of a Coastal Resort

Recent national studies document the fact that the lackluster performance in the lodging industry\u27s occupancy rates are directly attributable to the steady growth in the supply of available rooms at a rate that consistently outpaced the demand. Resort area managers who are facing this decade-long reduction in occupancy rates are especially cognizant of the need to revise current market strategies to shield their properties from additional economic fallout that are often triggered by external events. One purpose of the Hilton Head Island Study to determine if a chase demand strategy, where resort capacities are varied with changes in the level of demand, was the proper strategy for the Hilton Head Island destination resort area. Results indicated that visitors utilized timeshare, campgrounds and rental properties more often during the winter season because of their longer average stay. This study also documented the fact that winter season visitors differed significantly from peak season visitors with respect to the level of importance they placed upon many of the hospitality and travel-related amenities in the area. The Hilton Head Island resort should take a chase demand strategy as the basic strategic marketing approach for the winter-season development

The mining-conservation nexus: Rio Tinto, development ‘gifts’ and contested compensation in Madagascar

This paper traces a genealogy of land access and legitimisation strategies culminating in the recent convergence of multinational mining and conservation in southeast Madagascar. Drawing on empirical research carried out on the Rio Tinto/QMM ilmenite mine in Fort Dauphin, it focuses on how local Malagasy land users are incorporated into new forms of inclusion (into the neoliberal capitalist economy) and exclusion (from land-based, subsistence activities) resulting from private sector engagement in conservation. Various material impacts of the mine were inverted and remediated to global audiences as necessary to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. By financing, partnering with and participating in the same land access markets as international conservation NGOs, and setting aside small ‘conservation enclaves’ in each mining site, Rio Tinto/QMM legitimise mining in situ despite the negative socio-environmental consequences for the Malagasy. Mining–conservation partnerships may fail to adequately address — and ultimately exclude — the needs of people affected by the mines

FUNDAMENTALS IN CREATING EFFECTIVE FUNCTION BASED BEHAVIORAL PLANS FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

AN ABSTRACT OF THE RESEARCH OF STEFFANEY A. SEAGLE, for the MASTERS OF SCIENCE degree in BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS AND THERAPY, presented on April 13, 2012, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: FUNDAMENTALS IN CREATING EFFECTIVE FUNCTION BASED BEHAVIORAL PLANS FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Jonathan C. Baker Over the past several decades, social services that are provided to people with developmental disabilities have changed and evolved across time. Reasons for some of those changes are due to funding and legal issues, public policy, social values, and the need to provide a better quality of life to that population. One of the first set of organized services were from the institutional era where there were too little staff for too many people with disabilities. So much so that even providing nutrition and cleanliness were difficult, at best, to manage. There was no formal programming involved and the manner in which behaviors were addressed would make one shudder to think of today with the current regulations and social views. As service systems continue to change and evolve, from larger institutional settings to smaller community based settings, there is also a shift towards the expectations on quality outcomes, services, and over-all quality of life. How behaviors are evaluated and plan implementation in the day to day lives of people now include several policy and procedural changes. Some of those are person centered planning, self-directed lives, and quality training for necessary skills to live and function as independently as possible with supports in the community. The first objective of this research paper is to provide a comprehensive manual to assist in creating and developing effective function based behavioral plans for adults with developmental disabilities so that they can experience a better quality of life. This specific manual was created for a developmental training company that had no specific format in developing procedures for behavioral plans that were being implemented. They provide developmental training to several people with varying functioning levels and trying to gain skills to work, earn a paycheck, and contribute to the community in which they live. These people also have varying degrees of adaptive behaviors and mal-adaptive behaviors that needed changed to be more productive and live more fulfilled lives. This manual was created to assist in developing effective behavioral plans and guiding the type of behavioral management policies and procedures that this company wants to represent for the people they serve. Secondly, this manual provides policy which guides day to day operations as it relates to creating a positive meaningful work experience. It also provides procedures that will be adhered to through the behavioral management program. Most importantly, this manual provides a step- by step instructional format on how to develop a quality behavioral plan, focusing on assessment, data collection with interpretation procedures, plan development, and the best strategies in training staff, as well as follow up and revision strategies once the plan is in place. Lastly, this manual could certainly be adapted to any environment in which behavior change is needed. It could be used in a school setting, a community integrated living arrangement, or a smaller living environment. It provides examples, non-examples, and step-by- step instructions, based on the theories of applied behavioral analysis. It is user friendly, easy to navigate, and also provides comprehensive training techniques that could be used in any environment with slight company specific revisions regardless of whether people have developmental disabilities or not

Spatial and temporal characteristics of prescribed rangeland burning: the northern Flint Hills of Kansas

Call number: LD2668 .T4 GEOG 1988 S43Master of ArtsGeograph