Letter, 1955 May 18, from Kenneth Rae to Eva Jessye

2 pages, Rae is the Secretary of the British Centre of the International Theatre Institute

How Much is E-Commerce Worth to Rural Businesses?

The probability of a business paying for an e-commerce presence ultimately depends on demographic features, experiences with e-commerce, technological expertise, and knowledge of e-commerce opportunities and limitations. Results allow for the assignment of probabilities associated with various business profiles to determine the willingness to pay for an e-commerce presence.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Website Usage Information for Rural-Based E-Commerce Start-Ups

Usage patterns for start-up agricultural and non-agricultural websites, as well as product and service oriented websites, were studied to determine differences in the number of unique visitors, usage based on the day and time of the week, total time spent on the website, and how the visitor found the website.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Plant Demographic Studies of Tall Threetip Sagebrush-Grass Vegetation on the Eastern Snake River Plains, Idaho

It has commonly been assumed that grazing decreases the longevity of plants, however, very few studies address this question. Knowledge of mean age, longevity and other aspects of population dynamics would help improve estimates of productivity and nutrient cycling and aid understanding of range condition and trend. These data would also aid in developing a theory of community organization and control. As a step toward these ends, pantograph records from twelve 1 m2 plots established at the U. S. Sheep Station on the Snake River Plains of southeastern Idaho between 1923 and \u27 l935 were examined. The plots were mapped almost yearly until 1956. These records were analyzed for establishment and survival of populations of major vascular, perennial plant species of the tall threetip sagebrush-grass vegetation type. Average longevities of the grazed plants were significantly different from ungrazed populations for some species. For the pastures grazed by sheep in the fall the average longevities of the dominant grass and two subdominant grasses were increased whereas the average longevity of tall threetip sagebrush was reduced by grazing. The differences in average longevity due to grazing are thought due to alteration of competitive relationships. The photosynthetically active sagebrush is sensitive to grazing in the fall whereas the grasses are dormant. A slight reduction in the total volume of the sagebrush apparently releases resources to the grasses the following spring. The greatest mortality was observed during the first year of life for all species . Survivorship curves for the first eleven years of life of most species could be linearized by logarithmic transformations on both axes indicating that the chance for survival improved with age, up to the physiological maximum. No linear relationships of increasing size to age were found in these plants. This indicates a considerable plasticity in the growth characteristics of these plants, where in poor years negative growth can occur by the reduction of unsupportable biomass. This all ows plant size to fluctuate with fluctuating environment, and allows for stands of even sized plants with great age differences. Labeling recruitment to these plant populations as pulse phenomena becomes a matter of definition. If a log-normal distribution is expected, as indicated by some researchers, outliers are not present and pulse regeneration does not occur in this system. However, if recruitment is expected to follow a normal distribution then the years with high numbers of seedlings become pulses, by definition. From these analyses, it appears that these semi-desert communities are closed (the available resources are totally used) and replacement of individuals is somewhat random following more or less random death

The Delta E-Commerce Connection: Preliminary Findings

A USDA Fund for Rural America project is creating economic opportunities for small agricultural and rural businesses in the Lower Mississippi Delta by assisting in e-commerce business development. Select rural businesses are provided technical support in web site development, marketing strategy formulation, electronic retailing services, and space on a secure server for one year. Businesses retaining web sites after this time assume responsibility for maintaining and funding the site. Characteristics of rural businesses adopting e-commerce are compared with those not adopting. Preliminary results suggest the amount of time invested in initial web site design, satisfaction with design, economic benefits from owning a web site, and number of levels traveled in the e-commerce roadmap (a measure of technological progress) as determinants of success. These findings will assist in selecting and guiding participant involvement to maximize the likelihood of success

MORPHOMETRY OF MOOSE ANTLERS IN CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA

We analyzed the morphometry of 1,965 sets of antlers from hunter-harvested moose (Alces alces andersoni) taken in the central interior of British Columbia. We describe the variation and age-related changes in antler and brow palm form, number of points on both main and brow palms, maximum spread, height and width of palmations, distance between innermost points on the brow palms, and shaft circumference. Architecturally 25% were cervicorn pole type (PT); 75% were palmicorn with 67% split palm (SP) and 8% full palm (FP). Palmicorn antlers were most common in all age classes. Cervicorn antlers were most common in younger moose (1.5-3.5 years), and rare in moose >4.5 years. Of all antlers collected, 30% had forked brows and 12% had palmated brows. Forked brow palms increased with age; they occurred in 10% of moose 1.5 years old and 40-50% of moose >4.5 years old. The frequency of palmated brow palms increased quickly from 1.5 (2.5%) to 5.5 years (25%), peaked at 13.5 years (40%), before declining in later years. The number of points generally increased from 1.5-7.5 years, and remained stable thereafter. Maximum spread and shaft circumference generally increased from 1.5-13.5 years and decreased thereafter. Maximum antler height and width of main palms increased from 1.5-9.5 years; the first remained stable and the latter declined thereafter. Distance between the inner most points on the brow palms narrowed from 1.5-4.5 years, remained constant to 11.5 years, and then widened thereafter. Antler point counts were the most variable, whereas shaft circumference was the least variable form

YOUTUBE (TM) INSIGHTS INTO MOOSE-TRAIN INTERACTIONS

To gain a better understanding of the behavioral aspects of moose-train encounters, we reviewed videos of ungulate-train interactions available on YouTubetmand from train operators. Video footage consisted of 21 animal-train encounters including moose (Alces alces; 47.4%), cattle (Bos taurus; 15.8%), deer (Odocoileus spp.; 10.5%), elk (Cervus elaphus; 10.5%), camels (Camelus dromedarius; 10.5%), and sheep (Ovis aries; 5.3%). Footage was recorded predominantly in snow-free conditions, but most moose-train interactions were in winter when moose appeared to be trapped by deep snow banks along rail beds. Moose, elk, and deer all ran along the rail bed primarily inside of the tracks and nearer the rails than track center. Collision mortality generally occurred on straight stretches of track. Escapes occurred where a discontinuity in the habitat/setting occurred and/or when train speed was reduced. We suggest that videos can provide a valuable resource for interpreting ungulate reactions to trains and that videos gathered purposefully on railways and posted on open source databases will be useful for studying the dynamics of moose-train collisions for mitigation planning

AGE, SEX, AND SEASONAL DIFFERENCES OF CARCASS WEIGHTS OF MOOSE FROM THE CENTRAL INTERIOR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Carcass weight (4 quarters without head, hide, lower legs, or internal organs) of moose (Alces alces) harvested in 1995-2007 in the Omineca sub-region of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada were obtained from meat cutters records submitted to the Conservation Officer Service, Prince George, British Columbia. Mean carcass weight of male calves (<1 year) was 82 ± 16 (SD) kg and was not different (P = 0.629) from that of female calves that was 81 ± 13 kg. Mean carcass weight of juvenile bulls (spike/fork antlers) was 162 ± 21 kg. The mean carcass weight (249 ± 37) of adult bulls (larger than spike/fork antlers) was heavier (25%, P <0.001) than that of adult cows (199 ± 29 kg. Mean carcass weight of adult bulls was heavier (14 kg or 5.9% of carcass weight, P = 0.002) in the pre-rut (10-25 September) than post-rut period (16-31 October); a similar change did not occur in juvenile bulls (P = 0.244). The mean carcass weights of calves (P = 0.651) and adult cows (P = 0.142) were not different between the October and late November-early December hunting seasons. Carcass weights and sexual size dimorphism for moose from the Omineca were mostly similar to those from European and North American ranges. We recommend increased collection of biological data at hunter check stations to provide more accurate body weight data and associated relationships

POTENTIAL VULNERABILITY OF BULL MOOSE IN CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA TO THREE ANTLER-BASED HUNTING REGULATIONS

Antlers from bull moose (Alces alces andersoni) harvested in the Omineca sub-region of central British Columbia were submitted by hunters for inspection, measurement, and comparison by age in 1982-1989. After correcting for non-reporting bias, we examined the potential vulnerability of these moose (n = 1,886) to 3 antler-based hunting regulations currently advertised in British Columbia: spike/fork (S/F), tripalm (TP), and 10 point (10PT). The S/F regulation put 15.9% of bulls at risk, and the TP and 10PT regulations put 11.1% and 12.0% at risk, respectively. Bulls with cervicorn antlers were at higher risk (41.3%) to the S/F regulation than the TP (1.4%) or 10PT (<1%) regulations. By contrast, bulls with palmicorn antlers were at low risk (5.4%) to the S/F regulation, but were at high risk to the TP (19.0%) and 10PT (17.1%) regulations. The S/F regulation focused harvest on yearlings, potentially exposing 46% of yearlings to harvest. The TP and 10PT regulations targeted prime and senior bulls, potentially exposing 40-60% of those >4.5 years old to harvest. Maximum spread and shaft circumferences of antlers were significantly smaller for yearlings at risk to the S/F regula­tion than for their same aged counterparts not at risk. Distance between the innermost points on the brow palm was significantly larger for yearlings at risk to the S/F regulation than for yearlings not at risk. Maximum spread, shaft circumference, palm height, and width were all significantly greater for bulls at risk to the TP and 10PT regulations than for those not at risk. Distance between the innermost points on the brow palms was significantly smaller for bulls at risk to TP and 10PT regulations than for those not at risk. These findings suggest that yearling bulls with smallest antlers are most at risk to harvest by the S/F regulation, whereas largest antlered bulls are most at risk to harvest by the TP and 10 PT regulations. The consequences of this directed selection of bull moose by antler-based hunting regulations on the breeding biology, population genetics, and fitness of moose requires further study

Synthesis and Monte Carlo Structure Determination of SSZ-77: A New Zeolite Topology

A new molecular sieve topology has been determined from a multistage Monte Carlo computer simulation procedure using the program ZEFSAII. The material, SSZ-77, consists of alternating layers present in the RUT and AST topologies, and intergrowths may be possible in the way that this material grows. The product first arose from a synthesis where it appears that the degradation of the quaternary ammonium structure directing agent (SDA) produced the viable organo-guest molecule in the structure formation. The synthesis requires the use of Ge as well as Si as lattice components. In the absence of Ge, only RUT forms. An additional study was carried out to determine the suitable size of guest molecules in a series spanning trimethylamine to tetraethylammonium in the presence of benzyltrimethylammonium. It is found from NMR investigations that none of the larger molecules are occluded within the cages of the SSZ-77 structure, and that the primary occluded species is trimethylamine or tetramethylammonium