Zustandsanalyse und Zielkonzept zur Erhaltung und Entwicklung von Streuobstwiesen : dargestellt am Beispiel einer Gemeinde des Biosphärenreservats Rhön

Die Aktivitäten der Rhöner Apfelinitiative e.V., die wichtigster Akteur zur Erhaltung des Streuobsts in der Rhön ist, haben in der Region bereits sowohl ideell als auch finanziell eine große Wertschätzung des Rhöner Streuobsts erreicht. Wird in diesem Maße der Streuobstbau weiterhin unterstützt, kann eine positive Entwicklung prognostiziert werden. Durch den Einsatz und den Erfolg der Rhöner Apfelinitiative sowie anderer sich für den Streuobstbau einsetzender Einrichtungen und Personen kann das Interesse der Streuobstbesitzer an ihren Beständen und der Obstverwertung wieder geweckt werden. Es gilt deshalb, die Besitzer mit gezielten Maßnahmen zu überzeugen, so dass sie wieder anfangen, ihre Bestände zu pflegen und zu nutzen. Schließlich lässt sich das schützenswerte und wertvolle „Kulturprodukt“ Streuobstwiese nur erhalten und sichern, wenn es wieder in den Mittelpunkt des Interesses der Besitzer und Verbraucher rückt. Der Fokus bei der Erhaltung und Entwicklung von Streuobst liegt daher in hohem Maße bei der Entwicklung von Produkten aus dem Streuobstbau. Abschließend lässt sich festhalten, dass die Natur-, Landschafts- und Erholungsfunktionen sowie die Sortenerhaltung nicht getrennt betrachtet werden dürfen, es besteht sonst die Gefahr einer einseitigen Entwicklung

Decoding Nonverbal Ability: A Theoretical Model for the Acquisition of Nonverbal Decoding Skill

Nonverbal communication adds multiple layers of meaning to social interaction above that conveyed by words. The comprehension of these nonverbal messages depends on individual ability which varies greatly between individuals. Variation in nonverbal communication ability and the variables of influence that have been associated with it over decades of research are the topic of this research project. Variables that have been correlated to nonverbal communication skill were used to develop a theory for the development of this skill and construct an evidence-based theoretical model that provides an explanation for nonverbal skill acquisition and variability. This model was also analyzed for further implications about related theory and research

Divine Polity: The Baha'i International Community and the United Nations

This thesis argues that in order to understand more fully the engagement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the United Nations-specifically NGOs that express a religious or faith-based commitment-we must consider both their actions and the rationale behind them, the what as well as the why. To study the underlying rationale, the thesis introduces the concept of the organizational substrate, which offers a new analytical tool to draw out this undertheorized dimension of religious NGOs (Chapter 2). The substrate complements the analytical tools currently deployed by social scientists and goes beyond descriptions of organizational behavior to examine the internal rationale underpinning the behavior. The internal rationale is explored through a focused analysis of the Bahá'í International Community's United Nations Office (BIC). This organization is selected because of its reputation as a valued and effective contributor in UN fora; its seventy-year history of engagement (1945-2015); and its scriptural engagement with questions of politics and world order. The thesis also contributes to the nascent scholarship about UN-accredited religious NGOs outside of the Christian tradition. Having identified the constitutive elements of the BIC's organizational substrate, using a hermeneutic and historical approach, the thesis develops a distinct periodization of the BIC's engagement from 1945-2015. The periodization provides a historical framework (though not a historical analysis) for examining the manner in which the substrate shapes action across different historical circumstances. Each of the four historical periods offers evidence of the salience of the organizational substrate for understanding the operation of the NGO. The first period, 1945-1970 (Chapter 3) enables us to see the manner in which the substrate frames the BIC's rationale for engagement with the UN and its understanding of the UN in the context of the broader processes of civilizational, social and political evolution. In the second period, 1970-1986 (Chapter 4), the thesis demonstrates the pivotal role of Bahá'í authoritative structures in articulating, elucidating, and socializing the substrate of the organization. Between 1986 and 2008 (Chapter 5), the substrate-based analysis reveals a distinct epistemology and methodology-associated with the conception and pursuit of peace. During the final period, 2008-2015 (Chapter 6), the substrate undergirds the shift to an explicitly discursive, organic approach to engagement in UN processes, and a reconceptualization of the terms of engagement with the UN. This thesis goes beyond social scientific approaches to the study of religious actors at the UN, to demonstrate that knowledge and action require understanding of the distinct rationality of each NGO. It is by identifying and observing the operation of the organizational substrate that this pivotal and foundational element of NGO engagement at the UN comes to light

Archeota, Spring 2018

https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/saasc_archeota/1007/thumbnail.jp

Autism as the Early Closure of a Neuroplastic Critical Period Normally Seen in Adolescence

The most severe cases of autism are diagnosed by extreme social dysfunction and other behavioral abnormalities. A number of genetic studies have been conducted to correlate behavioral phenotypes to genetic dysfunctions, but no “autism gene” has yet been discovered. In addition, environmental factors have been found to influence the development of autistic traits with high probability. This review will examine the role of a shortened period of neuroplasticity as a unifying feature of the autistic phenotype. The neuroplastic period of interest normally extends into adolescence, allowing for neural integration and the development of language and social skills. Early closure of this period may result in a shortened period of development, forcing the brain to rely on underdeveloped structures

Towards an improved rapid assessment tool for rockfall protection forests using field-mapped deposited rocks

In steep, mountainous terrain, protection forests play a key role in rockfall risk prevention, because trees reduce the energy of falling blocks or even stop them. The simple but robust tool RockForNET (RFN) models the protective effect of forests in order to assess the residual rockfall hazard. It uses the energy line principle with a fixed energy line angle (ELA) to derive the rockfall energy that has to be dissipated by the forest. The objective of this study was firstly to empirically reconstruct the ELA and initial fall heights of field-mapped rockfall deposits on 16 forested slopes in Switzerland. The second objective was to assess to what extent RFN can be improved by estimating trajectory-specific ELAs as well as better representative initial fall height values for rock faces. The analysis showed that the prediction of the protective capacity of a forest could substantially be improved by using transect-specific ELAs and more specific initial fall height values, especially for block volumes between 0.2 and 1 m3. Furthermore, we found a strong relationship between the retro-calculated ELAs and the normalized area below the rockfall trajectories, indicating that the normalized area is a promising method for deriving trajectory specific ELAs

Public memory, digital media, and prison narratives at Robben Island

In this article, the authors analyze face-to-face and interactive tours of Robben Island, South Africa. Using ethnographic and rhetorical research methods, they consider the ways in which the Island employs themes of triumph over oppression as a form of nation building. In addition, they consider the ways in which museum narratives may limit how visitors think about social justice in contemporary South Africa