A framework for identifying and selecting long term adaptation policy directions for deltas

Deltas are precarious environments experiencing significant biophysical, and socio-economic changes with the ebb and flow of seasons (including with floods and drought), with infrastructural developments (such as dikes and polders), with the movement of people, and as a result of climate and environmental variability and change. Decisions are being taken about the future of deltas and about the provision of adaptation investment to enable people and the environment to respond to the changing climate and related changes. The paper presents a framework to identify options for, and trade-offs between, long term adaptation strategies in deltas. Using a three step process, we: (1) identify current policy-led adaptations actions in deltas by conducting literature searches on current observable adaptations, potential transformational adaptations and government policy; (2) develop narratives of future adaptation policy directions that take into account investment cost of adaptation and the extent to which significant policy change/political effort is required; and (3) explore trade-offs that occur within each policy direction using a subjective weighting process developed during a collaborative expert workshop. We conclude that the process of developing policy directions for adaptation can assist policy makers in scoping the spectrum of options that exist, while enabling them to consider their own willingness to make significant policy changes within the delta and to initiate transformative change.</p

A Training Needs Analysis Case Study at Legal Aid Queensland

Objective – Legal Aid Queensland Library Services plan, design and deliver a training program comprising seven individual components including induction training, individual instruction, group training, and regional office training. The program is guided by a formal, detailed training plan developed by experienced library trainers. Training needs assessment however has been informal and infrequent. Library Services commenced a formal training needs analysis (TNA) in 2014. It was designed to gather evidence for decision making around future training activities. Methods – The TNA was comprised of five quantitative and qualitative components: analysis of catalogue and knowledge management database usage statistics; analysis of paid subscription usage statistics; analysis of library reference and research request data; work shadowing library clients; and interviews with selected team managers. Results – Each component revealed different aspects of our clients’ training needs. The results of the TNA revealed gaps in current training and education services, and opportunities for maximizing the effectiveness of our training program. The TNA also provided infrmation about our products and services beyond implications for training. Conclusion – As a result of the TNA the LAQ library has made changes to it training activities, which we believe are now more closely aligned with client needs and organizational objectives than they were in the past

Hevamine, a chitinase from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, cleaves peptidoglycan between the C-1 of N-acetylglucosamine and C-4 of N-acetylmuramic acid and therefore is not a lysozyme

AbstractHevamine is a chitinase from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis and belongs to the family 18 glycosyl hydrolases. In this paper the cleavage specificity of hevamine for peptidoglycan was studied by HPLC and mass-spectrometry analysis of enzymatic digests. The results clearly showed that the enzyme cleaves between the C-1 of a N-acetylglucosamine and the C-4 of a N-acetylmuramate residue. This means that hevamine, and very likely also other family 18 glycosyl hydrolases which cleave peptidoglycan, cannot be classified as lysozymes

A global empirical typology of anthropogenic drivers of environmental change in deltas

It is broadly recognized that river delta systems around the world are under threat from a range of anthropogenic activities. These activities occur at the local delta scale, at the regional river and watershed scale, and at the global scale. Tools are needed to support generalization of results from case studies in specific deltas. Here, we present a methodology for quantitatively constructing an empirical typology of anthropogenic change in global deltas. Utilizing a database of environmental change indicators, each associated with increased relative sea-level rise and coastal wetland loss, a clustering analysis of 48 global deltas provides a quantitative assessment of systems experiencing similar or dissimilar sources and degrees of anthropogenic stress. By identifying quantitatively similar systems, we hope to improve the transferability of scientific results across systems, and increase the effectiveness of delta management best practices. Both K-Means and Affinity Propagation clustering algorithms find similar clusters, with relative stability across small changes in KMeans cluster number. High-latitude deltas appear similar, in terms of anthropogenic environmental stress, to several low-population, low-latitude systems, including the Amazon delta, despite substantially different climatic regimes. Highly urbanized deltas in Southeast Asia form a distinct cluster. By providing a quantitative boundary between groups of delta systems, this approach may also be useful for assessing future delta change and sustainability given projected population growth, urbanization, and economic development trends