Using unmanned aerial vehicles and wildlife camera trapping for the early assessment of road reclamation effects in Northern Ontario

The forest industry has been performing forest road reclamation to regenerate forests after harvest, to maintain wildlife habitat and to limit forest access by the public, all to help maintain large, contiguous wild forests. International forest certification bodies like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) use third-party accreditation to ensure that forest management best practices are followed, wood products are harvested sustainably, and sensitive habitat and wildlife species are protected. To access new resources, previously disturbed areas must be returned to similar, natural forest conditions, which includes the reclamation of access roads. Deactivating access roads inherently creates challenges for monitoring site rejuvenation by removing the very pathways needed to monitor those areas. This study attempted to develop a new method for inexpensive, repeatable, large-scale monitoring and measurement of regenerating forest areas considered inaccessible from the ground. This study was done using off-the-shelf unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Recent technological advancements has allowed for the application of random photo sampling methods to orthorectified mosaic tiles derived from drone imagery. The goal was to use automated software, and accurately classify percent vegetation cover (VC) on deactivated logging roads and correlate reclamation ‘success’ to wildlife species presence/absence. Two conventional image classification software packages (ERDAS Imagine and eCognition Developer) were tested to assess VC values on road reclamation treatments with overall orthomosaic classification accuracies reaching 97.86%. The largest influence on road regeneration VC was found to be road ecotype. Lack of significant difference in the photo sampling results suggests the previously applied reclamation efforts in this study area were unsuccessful. The wildlife monitoring efforts found a significant difference in the use of different road treatments and ecosite by species, with active/non-reclaimed roads having the lowest species presence and activity

Bringing big ideas to the ground: policy mobilities and frictions in the translation of international guidance on other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in Kenya

In the closing moments of the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in the Japanese prefecture of Aichi in 2010, the gathered delegates coined a new phrase as they debated the language of Target 11 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. Specifically, this target aimed to ensure that by 2020 at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water and 10% of coastal and marine areas would be effectively conserved through “systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.” The inclusion of this latter phrase in what became known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets sparked almost a decade of debate about its meaning and implications, leading to the establishment of a dedicated IUCN Task Force to develop an internationally agreed definition for so-called ‘OECMs’ and associated technical guidance. With a definition now agreed upon and guidance adopted by the CBD at COP 14 in 2018, countries are tasked with reconciling this new concept with their own policies and practices to identify those approaches to conservation that might align with the OECM definition and create a roadmap for implementation. This thesis examines how this process is unfolding in Kenya. As one of the first countries to test the guidance on OECMs, the Kenyan case provides important lessons for other countries preparing to engage with and apply this concept. In examining the process of translating the new international guidelines into national policy frameworks, I build on ideas from the new geographies of policy to ‘follow the policy’ and address three main questions: (1) How is the OECM concept being interpreted and framed by different conservation actors across diverse landscapes in Kenya? (2) How are international guidelines for recognising and supporting OECMs translated into conservation policy frameworks at the national and sub-national scale? (3) What might the outcomes of this translation process mean for conservation in Kenya? This thesis addresses each of these questions in turn, adopting a mixed methods approach to examine spaces of policy circulation, translation, and implementation and trace the twists and turns in the processes of policy development. I combine interviews, document analyses, and ethnographic methods to open up the ‘black box’ of policy discussions before using geographic information systems (GIS) to explore potential implications for area-based conservation in Kenya. The analyses highlight how the unique form and composition of national policy assemblages and the dominance of key actors in the policy translation process can restrict the scope of policy discussions resulting in a narrow interpretation of the OECM guidance that constrains the potential for more transformative change in conservation. This research also demonstrates the importance of sustained engagement with new policy ideas, calling attention to the vital role of ‘policy mobilisers’ in maintaining the policy assemblage across space and time. These results have important implications for the design of stakeholder engagement in policy development, emphasising how outcomes are shaped by who decides to engage with the concept and how they do so

Genetic variants within NOGGIN, COL1A1, COL5A1, and IGF2 are associated with musculoskeletal injuries in elite male Australian football league players: A preliminary study

Introduction: Australian Football is a dynamic team sport that requires many athletic traits to succeed. Due to this combination of traits, as well as technical skill and physicality, there are many types of injuries that could occur. Injuries are not only a hindrance to the individual player, but to the team as a whole. Many strength and conditioning personnel strive to minimise injuries to players to accomplish team success. Purpose: To investigate whether selected polymorphisms have an association with injury occurrence in elite male Australian Football players. Methods: Using DNA obtained from 46 elite male players, we investigated the associations of injury-related polymorphisms across multiple genes (ACTN3, CCL2, COL1A1, COL5A1, COL12A1, EMILIN1, IGF2, NOGGIN, SMAD6) with injury incidence, severity, type (contact and non-contact), and tissue (muscle, bone, tendon, ligament) over 7 years in one Australian Football League team. Results: A significant association was observed between the rs1372857 variant in NOGGIN (p = 0.023) and the number of total muscle injuries, with carriers of the GG genotype having a higher estimated number of injuries, and moderate, or combined moderate and high severity rated total muscle injuries. The COL5A1 rs12722TT genotype also had a significant association (p = 0.028) with the number of total muscle injuries. The COL5A1 variant also had a significant association with contact bone injuries (p = 0.030), with a significant association being found with moderate rated injuries. The IGF2 rs3213221-CC variant was significantly associated with a higher estimated number of contact tendon injuries per game (p = 0.028), while a higher estimated number of total ligament (p = 0.019) and non-contact ligament (p = 0.002) injuries per game were significantly associated with carriage of the COL1A1 rs1800012-TT genotype. Conclusions: Our preliminary study is the first to examine associations between genetic variants and injury in Australian Football. NOGGIN rs1372857-GG, COL5A1 rs12722-TT, IGF2 rs3213221-CC, and COL1A1 rs1800012-TT genotypes held various associations with muscle-, bone-, tendon- and ligament-related injuries of differing severities. To further increase our understanding of these, and other, genetic variant associations with injury, competition-wide AFL studies that use more players and a larger array of gene candidates is essential

Sustained Release of Amnion-Derived Cellular Cytokine Solution Facilitates Achilles Tendon Healing in Rats

Objective: In the United States, around 50% of all musculoskeletal injuries are soft tissue injuries including ligaments and tendons. The objective of this study is to assess the role of amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution (ACCS) in carboxy-methyl cellulose (CMC) gel in the healing of Achilles tendon in a rat model, and to examine its effects on mechanical properties and collagen content. Methods: Achilles tendons of Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed and transected. The distal and proximal ends were injected with either saline or ACCS in CMC, in a standardized fashion, and then sutured using a Kessler technique. Tendons from both groups were collected at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postoperatively and assessed for material properties. Collagen studies were performed, including collagen content, collagen cross-linking, tendon hydration, and immunohistochemistry. Tendons were also evaluated histologically for cross-sectional area. Results: Mechanical testing demonstrated that treatment with ACCS in CMC significantly enhances breaking strength, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and Young's modulus in the tendon repair at early time points. In context, collagen content, as well as collagen cross-linking, was also significantly affected by the treatment. Conclusion: The application of ACCS in CMC has a positive effect on healing tendons by improving mechanical properties at early time points. Previous studies on onetime application of ACCS (not in CMC) did not show significant improvement on tendon healing at any time point. Therefore, the delivery in a slow release media like CMC seems to be essential for the effects of ACCS demonstrated in this study

MSU Xtreme: Minnesota State University, Mankato\u27s Entry into the Clean Snowmobile Challenge 2001

Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Automotive Engineering Technology program formed a team to enter the Clean Snowmobile Challenge 2001. Selections for the organization’s machine included a 2001 Polaris Edge Chassis specially outfitted with a 2000 500 cc two-stroke Polaris engine. Modifications to the snowmobile were made specifically for Clean Snowmobile Challenge 2001 events. Acceleration, emissions, cold start, noise, fuel economy/range, handling/drivability, hill climb, and static display made up the list of events featured in the competition. MSU Xtreme has modified the snowmobile in every area with special emphasis on emissions and handling. Testing and analysis of the sled’s systems brought the team to its resulting design. The technical paper describes the results of those tests, explains the team design procedures, and presents all modifications made to the snowmobile

Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling and Basement Membrane Assembly Are Connected during Epithelial Morphogenesis of the Embryoid Body

Fibroblast growth factors and receptors are intimately connected to the extracellular matrix by their affinity to heparan sulfate proteoglycans. They mediate multiple processes during embryonic development and adult life. In this study, embryonic stem cell–derived embryoid bodies were used to model fibroblast growth factor signaling during early epithelial morphogenesis. To avoid redundancy caused by multiple receptors, we employed a dominant negative mutation of Fgfr2. Mutant-derived embryoid bodies failed to form endoderm, ectoderm, and basement membrane and did not cavitate. However, in mixed cultures they displayed complete differentiation induced by extracellular products of the normal cell. Evidence will be presented here that at least one of these products is the basement membrane or factors connected to it. It will be shown that in the mutant, collagen IV and laminin-1 synthesis is coordinately suppressed. We will demonstrate that the basement membrane is required for embryoid body differentiation by rescuing columnar ectoderm differentiation and cavitation in the mutant by externally added basement membrane proteins. This treatment induced transcription of Eomesodermin, an early developmental gene, suggesting that purified basement membrane proteins can activate inherent developmental programs. Our results provide a new paradigm for the role of fibroblast growth factor signaling in basement membrane formation and epithelial differentiation

Theory-driven group-based complex intervention to support self-management of osteoarthritis and low back pain in primary care physiotherapy: Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial (SOLAS)

Introduction: International clinical guidelines consistently endorse the promotion of selfmanagement (SM), including physical activity for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and osteoarthritis (OA). Patients frequently receive individual treatment and advice to self-manage from physiotherapists in primary care, but the successful implementation of a clinical and cost-effective group SM programme is a key priority for health service managers in Ireland to maximise long-term outcomes and efficient use of limited and costly resources. Methods/analysis: This protocol describes an assessor-blinded cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial of a group-based education and exercise intervention underpinned by self-determination theory designed to support an increase in SM behaviour in patients with CLBP and OA in primary care physiotherapy. The primary care clinic will be the unit of randomisation (cluster), with each clinic randomised to 1 of 2 groups providing the Self-management of Osteoarthritis and Low back pain through Activity and Skills (SOLAS) intervention or usual individual physiotherapy. Patients are followed up at 6 weeks, 2 and 6 months. The primary outcomes are the (1) acceptability and demand of the intervention to patients and physiotherapists, (2) feasibility and optimal study design/procedures and sample size for a definitive trial. Secondary outcomes include exploratory analyses of: point estimates, 95% CIs, change scores and effect sizes in physical function, pain and disability outcomes; process of change in target SM behaviours and selected mediators; and the cost of the intervention to inform a definitive trial. Ethics/dissemination: This feasibility trial protocol was approved by the UCD Human Research Ethics- Sciences Committee (LS-13-54 Currie-Hurley) and research access has been granted by the Health Services Executive Primary Care Research Committee in January 2014. The study findings will be disseminated to the research, clinical and health service communities through publication in peerreviewed journals, presentation at national and international academic and clinical conferences. Trial registration number: ISRCTN 49875385; Pre-results