Decision tools for sustainable development

Sustainable food production and improved food security are major aim of donors and developing country governments alike. Sustaining food production whilst avoiding environmental degradation require a supportive policy framework and the delivery of appropriate information to facilitate the decision making procedure. Better decision-making provides better early warning, improved judgement of risk and better timing of intervention. Decision Tools for Sustainable Development bring together up-to-date techniques for the collection and management of environmental and socio-economic information. It describes practical decision-making tools for use at all levels from local to international, for rural communities, research services, the food industry and for institutional decision-makers. The book will be essential reading for research managers, development specialists, government policy-makers, NGO staff and all those who need to make sound and effective decisions for the sustainable development of natural resources

Mapping habitat indices across river networks using spatial statistical modelling of River Habitat Survey data

Freshwater ecosystems are declining faster than their terrestrial and marine counterparts because of physical pressures on habitats. European legislation requires member states to achieve ecological targets through the effective management of freshwater habitats. Maps of habitats across river networks would help diagnose environmental problems and plan for the delivery of improvement work. Existing habitat mapping methods are generally time consuming, require experts and are expensive to implement. Surveys based on sampling are cheaper but provide patchy representations of habitat distribution. In this study, we present a method for mapping habitat indices across networks using semi-quantitative data and a geostatistical technique called regression kriging. The method consists of the derivation of habitat indices using multivariate statistical techniques that are regressed on map-based covariates such as altitude, slope and geology. Regression kriging combines the Generalised Least Squares (GLS) regression technique with a spatial analysis of model residuals. Predictions from the GLS model are ‘corrected’ using weighted averages of model residuals following an analysis of spatial correlation. The method was applied to channel substrate data from the River Habitat Survey in Great Britain. A Channel Substrate Index (CSI) was derived using Correspondence Analysis and predicted using regression kriging. The model explained 74% of the main sample variability and 64% in a test sample. The model was applied to the English and Welsh river network and a map of CSI was produced. The proposed approach demonstrates how existing national monitoring data and geostatistical techniques can be used to produce continuous maps of habitat indices at the national scale

Land adjacent to A5, Lutterworth, Leicestershire: Archaeological evaluation (OASIS ID: headland3-366701)

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Headland Archaeology, on Land to the east of the A5, Lutterworth, Leicestershire. The evaluation identified agricultural use of the land in the form of extensive post-medieval ridge and furrow field system remains, undated field boundary and drainage ditches and a former hedge-line field boundary. Alluvial deposits and the course of a paleochannel were also identified, probably associated with a former course of the Padge Hall Brook

Land adjacent to Glebe Farm Lutterworth: Evaluation (OASIS ID: headland3-366001)

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Headland Archaeology, at Land adjacent to Glebe Farm, Coventry Road, Lutterworth. The evaluation identified a series of undated ditches representing potential phases of drainage and agricultural land use. Post-medieval ridge and furrow was indicative evidence of two separate field systems. Post-holes, of more recent date suggested former fence lines. No dateable artefactual material was recovered

The European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill Bill 160 of 2002/03

Title from cover. Also available via the InternetAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:7752. 135(03/76) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

The Northern Ireland Assembly Elections Bill Bill 74 of 2002-03

Includes bibliographical references. Title from cover. Also available via the InternetAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:7752. 135(03/21) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Parliamentary pay and allowances

Title from cover. Also available via the InternetAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:7752. 135(03/64) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) Bill Bill 104 of 2002-03

Title from cover. Also available via the InternetAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:7752. 135(03/43) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Evidence for Primal sp2 Defects at the Diamond Surface: Candidates for Electron Trapping and Noise Sources

Many advanced applications of diamond materials are now being limited by unknown surface defects, including in the fields of high power/frequency electronics and quantum computing and quantum sensing. Of acute interest to diamond researchers worldwide is the loss of quantum coherence in near-surface nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers and the generation of associated magnetic noise at the diamond surface. Here for the first time is presented the observation of a family of primal diamond surface defects, which is suggested as the leading cause of band-bending and Fermi-pinning phenomena in diamond devices. A combination of density functional theory and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used to show that these defects introduce low-lying electronic trap states. The effect of these states is modeled on band-bending into the diamond bulk and it is shown that the properties of the important NV defect centers are affected by these defects. Due to the paramount importance of near-surface NV center properties in a growing number of fields, the density of these defects is further quantified at the surface of a variety of differently-treated device surfaces, consistent with best-practice processing techniques in the literature. The identification and characterization of these defects has wide-ranging implications for diamond devices across many fields