The Tongass Futures Roundtable: Distrust, Inequity, and Collaboration in Southeast Alaska

Collaborative processes are increasingly being used to address complex natural resource management challenges, and trust between participants has been highlighted as a key component of successful collaboration. However, little research has focused on why collaboratives fail and the role of distrust in collaboration. This study examined trust and distrust in the Tongass Futures Roundtable, a collaborative group in Southeast Alaska that attempted to address timber, conservation, and Alaska Native land management issues, but was widely perceived to have failed. The history of conflict between timber and conservation interests as well as between Alaska Natives and other stakeholder groups meant that many people joined the Roundtable with preexisting distrust towards one another. This study employed semi-structured interviews with Roundtable participants to gain insight into participant experience and relationships as well as the process and outcomes of the collaboration. Several procedural components of the Roundtable were problematic--despite organizers using best practices--indicating that there may be tradeoffs between components like inclusivity and consensus-based decision-making. Historic and continuing inequity between stakeholder groups was also a significant problem. Along with failure to sufficiently acknowledge and address historical trauma, inequity was a barrier to building consensus and trust. While previous research suggests that trust may lay the groundwork for building agreement amongst diverse stakeholders in a collaborative process, for Roundtable participants, building trust was not enough to overcome barriers to collaboration. Further, some dimensions of distrust undermined certain types of trust that were built. Therefore, conceptualizing trust and distrust as multidimensional helps to illuminate that it is possible to have one type of trust and not have another, and that different types of trust are not fungible. While trust is very important in collaboration, it does not ensure that participants can bridge fundamental disagreements or that they will necessarily invest in collaboration over other venues for accomplishing their goals if they have better alternatives. For practitioners, it will be important to consider which types of trust are most important in collaboration and the trade-offs involved in different kinds of collaborative process designs

Evaluation of Balance and a Timed Walk on Ankle Brachial Pressure Index and Potential Blood Measures of Cardiovascular Health

Clinicians are focused on ways to preserve function, independence, and quality of life in the aging adult population. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.[1]. Thus, assessing the extent of this disease is a high priority in preserving health throughout the lifespan. When determining risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, functional assessments are recognized as a way to embed function-focused care into assessing disease risk [2]. Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) is a non-invasive reliable predictor for identifying cardiovascular disease risk and mortality [3]. Thus, the purpose was to evaluate the association between functional assessments and ankle brachial pressure index in an aged population. Data was collected from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 1696 adults (age 40-70 years). Measurements evaluated were functional assessments of a vestibular balance test and a timed 20ft walking test, and laboratory measurements of right and left leg ABPI score. Results found poor balance associated with higher odds of being in a high-risk ABPI category when looking at both left ABPI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.70; 95%CI: 0.58, 5.0) and right ABPI (OR = 2.37; 95%CI: 0.76, 7.33). Slower timed walk scores were associated with increased odds of being in the high-risk ABPI category for the left (OR = 3.21; 95%CI: 1.73, 5.98) and right (OR = 3.44; 95%CI: 2.13, 5.58). When combined, those with poor balance and slower walking speed are at higher odds for being in the high-risk ABPI category for the left (OR = 1.97; 95% 0.80, 4.85) and right (OR = 2.55; 95% 1.23, 5.79). We conclude, functional assessments are associated with a commonly used measure of CV disease risk, ABPI. Specifically, functional assessments of balance and walking speed are suggestive of risk category of ABPI, which indicates risk category for CV disease [4].https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/gradposters2020_education/1003/thumbnail.jp

Nutrient Digestibility of Condensed Algal Residue Solubles in Beef Cattle Fishing Diets

Condensed algal residue solubles (CARS) were evaluated in finishing cattle diets. Six treatments were evaluated (2 × 3 factorial arrangement), CARS inclusion in the diet at 0, 5, or 10% of diet dry matter with 0 or 20% wet distillers grains. Th e remainder of the diets consisted of 57.5– 87.5% dry rolled corn, 7.5% sorghum silage and 5% supplement. Increasing wet distillers grains in the diet had no effect on dry matter and organic matter intake but decreased dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Increasing CARS inclusion in the diet resulted in lower dry matter and organic matter intake with no effect on dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Replacing up to 10% dry rolled corn with CARS in diets with or without wet distillers grains had little effect on digestibility of finishing beef cattle diets

A Single Bout of Breast Milk Expression Does Not Increase Resting Metabolic Rate

Introduction: Breastfeeding women have elevated resting metabolic rate (RMR); however, whether a single bout of lactation increases RMR is unknown. This study aimed to determine if a single bout of lactation acutely increased RMR. Methods: Twenty-two lactating women (age: 31 ± 0.9 year, body mass index: 27.3 ± 1.2 kg/m2) were recruited. RMR was assessed at baseline and at 1- and 2-h following breast milk expression. Results: RMR was unchanged in lactating women following a single bout of lactation (baseline: 1437 ± 39; 1 h: 1425 ± 37 2 h: 1440 ± 31 kcal/day) (p \u3e .05). RMR was not correlated to daily milk produced (r = 0.05, p \u3e .05), but was correlated to body mass (r = 0.74, p \u3c .001), fat-free mass (kg) (r = 0.61, p \u3c .01), and fat mass (kg) (r = 0.71, p \u3c .01). Conclusion: RMR in lactating women appears to be more related to body mass or composition in the postpartum period rather than lactation

Macroinvertebrate community response to inter-annual and regional river flow regime dynamics

Spatio-temporal variability in river flow is a fundamental control on instream habitat structure and riverine ecosystem biodiversity and integrity. However, long-term riverine ecological time-series to test hypotheses about hydrology–ecology interactions in a broader temporal context are rare, and studies spanning multiple rivers are often limited in their temporal coverage to less than five years. To address this research gap, a unique spatio-temporal hydroecological analysis was conducted of long-term instream ecological responses (1990–2000) to river flow regime variability at 83 sites across England and Wales. The results demonstrate clear hydroecological associations at the national scale (all data). In addition, significant differences in ecological response are recorded between three ‘regions’ identified (RM1–3*) associated with characteristics of the flow regime. The effect of two major supra-seasonal droughts (1990–1992 and 1996–1997) on inter-annual (IA) variability of the LIFE scores is evident with both events showing a gradual decline before and recovery of LIFE scores after the low flow period. The instream community response to high magnitude flow regimes (1994 and 1995) is also apparent, although these associations are less striking. The results demonstrate classification of rivers into flow regime regions offers a way to help unravel complex hydroecological associations. The approach adopted herein could easily be adapted for other geographical locations, where datasets are available. Such work is imperative to understand flow regime–ecology interactions in a longer term, wider spatial context and so assess future hydroecological responses to climate change and anthropogenic modification of riverine ecosystems

Effect of Conventional or High Protein Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles in Either Dry- Rolled or Steam- Flaked Corn Based Diets on Amount and Site of Nutrient Digestion

A 2 × 3 factorial metabolism study using 6 ruminally and duodenally cannulated heifers evaluated the site and amount of nutrient digestion when feeding high protein dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) or conventionally produced DDGS at 30% inclusion compared to feeding no distillers in either dry- rolled or steam- flaked corn diets. Apparent total tract starch digestibility was unaffected by distillers treatment in SFCbased diets, but decreased from 95.1% to 92.0% when DDGS was added to DRC diets, and further decreased to 88.7% for HiPro diets. Dry matter and OM digestibilities were lower types of when either DDGS diets were fed, but no differences were observed between conventional or high protein DDGS. Feeding high protein DDGS did not change digestion compared to conventional DDGS, despite higher CP content. Digestion is greater when cattle are fed steam- flaked corn compared to dry- rolled corn

Selection of river flow indices for the assessment of hydroecological change

A wide range of ‘ecologically relevant’ hydrological indices (variables) have been identified as potential drivers of riverine communities. Recently, concerns have been expressed regarding index redundancy (i.e. similar patterns of variance) across the host of hydrological descriptors on offer to researchers and water resource managers. Some guiding principles are required to aid selection of the most statistically defensible and meaningful river flow indices for hydroecological analysis. In this short communication, we investigate the utility of a principal components analysis (PCA)-based method that identifies 25 hydrological variables to characterise the major modes of statistical variation in 201 hydrological indices for 83 rivers across England and Wales. The emergent variables, and all 201 hydrological variables, are used to develop regression models [for the whole data set and three river flow regime shape (i.e. annual hydrograph form) classes] for an 11-year macroinvertebrate community dataset (i.e. LIFE scores). The same ‘best’ models are produced using the PCA-based method and all 201 hydrological variables for two of the three river flow regime groups. However, weaker models are yielded by the PCA-based method for the remaining (flashy) river flow regime class and the whole data set (all 83 rivers). Thus, it is important to exercise caution when employing data reduction/ index redundancy approaches, as they may reject variables of ecological significance due to the assumption that the statistically dominant sources of hydrological variability are the principal drivers of, perhaps more subtle (sensitive), hydroecological associations

Depolarization of sperm membrane potential is a common feature of men with subfertility and is associated with low fertilization rate at IVF

STUDY QUESTION. Are significant abnormalities in outward (K+) conductance and resting membrane potential (Vm) present in the spermatozoa of patients undertaking IVF and ICSI and if so, what is their functional effect on fertilization success? SUMMARY ANSWER. Negligible outward conductance (≈5% of patients) or an enhanced inward conductance (≈4% of patients), both of which caused depolarization of Vm, were associated with a low rate of fertilization following IVF. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY. Sperm-specific potassium channel knockout mice are infertile with defects in sperm function, suggesting that these channels are essential for fertility. These observations suggest that malfunction of K+ channels in human spermatozoa might contribute significantly to the occurrence of subfertility in men. However, remarkably little is known of the nature of K+ channels in human spermatozoa or the incidence and functional consequences of K+ channel defects. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION. Spermatozoa were obtained from healthy volunteer research donors and subfertile IVF and ICSI patients attending a hospital assisted reproductive techniques clinic between May 2013 and December 2015. In total, 40 IVF patients, 41 ICSI patients and 26 normozoospermic donors took part in the study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS. Samples were examined using electrophysiology (whole-cell patch clamping). Where abnormal electrophysiological characteristics were identified, spermatozoa were further examined for Ca2+ influx induced by progesterone and penetration into viscous media if sufficient sample was available. Full exome sequencing was performed to specifically evaluate potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M α 1 (KCNMA1), potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily U member 1 (KCNU1) and leucine-rich repeat containing 52 (LRRC52) genes and others associated with K+ signalling. In IVF patients, comparison with fertilization rates was done to assess the functional significance of the electrophysiological abnormalities. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE. Patch clamp electrophysiology was used to assess outward (K+) conductance and resting membrane potential (Vm) and signalling/motility assays were used to assess functional characteristics of sperm from IVF and ICSI patient samples. The mean Vm and outward membrane conductance in sperm from IVF and ICSI patients were not significantly different from those of control (donor) sperm prepared under the same conditions, but variation between individuals was significantly greater (P< 0.02) with a large number of outliers (>25%). In particular, in ≈10% of patients (7/81), we observed either a negligible outward conductance (4 patients) or an enhanced inward current (3 patients), both of which caused depolarization of Vm. Analysis of clinical data from the IVF patients showed significant association of depolarized Vm (≥0 mV) with low fertilization rate (P= 0.012). Spermatozoa with electrophysiological abnormities (conductance and Vm) responded normally to progesterone with elevation of [Ca2+]i and penetration of viscous medium, indicating retention of cation channel of sperm (CatSper) channel function. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION. For practical, technical, ethical and logistical reasons, we could not obtain sufficient additional semen samples from men with conductance abnormalities to establish the cause of the conductance defects. Full exome sequencing was only available in two men with conductance defects. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS. These data add significantly to the understanding of the role of ion channels in human sperm function and its impact on male fertility. Impaired potassium channel conductance (Gm) and/or Vm regulation is both common and complex in human spermatozoa and importantly is associated with impaired fertilization capacity when the Vm of cells is completely depolarized

Impact of Feeding Syngenta Enogen® Feed Corn Compared to Control Corn in Different Diet Scenarios to Finishing Beef Cattle

The objective of this pooled statistical analysis was to evaluate Syngenta Enogen® Feed Corn (EFC) versus conventional corn (CON) when fed as either dry-rolled corn (DRC) or highmoisture corn (HMC) for effects on finishing beef cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Corns were evaluated in diets with byproduct inclusion rates of 0, 15, 18, 20, and 30% distiller grains or 25 and 35% Sweet Bran® (a commercial corn gluten feed product). Seven trials (n = 1856) consisting of 200 pen means comparing 26 diet treatments were analyzed using regression in a pooled analysis. When EFC was processed as DRC, the gain efficiency (G:F) improved compared with CON, but the response to feeding EFC decreased from a 4.8% improvement to no improvement compared to CON as distiller grains increased from 0 to 30%, but was significantly improved due to feeding EFC in diets with 0 to 18% distiller grains. Feeding cattle EFC as DRC increased the average daily gain (ADG) and G:F by 4.5% compared with CON corn in diets containing Sweet Bran®. No improvements in animal performance were observed when cattle were fed EFC compared to CON when processed as HMC in any situation. Feeding Enogen® corn improved the gain efficiency of finishing cattle compared with conventional corn when processed as dry-rolled corn and fed in diets with less than 20% distillers or diets that include Sweet Bran®

Effect of Supplemental Protein and Glucogenic Precursors on Digestibility and Energy Metabolism

A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate the impact of increasing levels of glucogenic precursors on diet digestibility and acetate clearance. Four supplementation strategies containing 0, 30, 40, and 70 g of supplemental glucogenic potential were supplied to a basal diet of bromegrass hay. Addition of glucogenic potential in the form of rumen undegradable protein improved dry matter, organic matter, and acid detergent fiber digestibility efficiency of acetate utilization in growing lambs fed moderate- quality hay. However, no additive effect of supplementing propionate salts and rumen undegradable protein were observed in this study. Th is would suggest that rumen undegradable protein requirements must be met to observe effects from increasing levels of glucogenic potential