Managing private forests for wildfire resilience is challenging due to conflicting social, economic, and ecological decisions that may result in an increase of surface fuel loads leading to greater ...fire risk. Due to fire suppression and a changing climate, land managers in fire-prone regions face an increasing threat of high severity fires. Thus, land managers need fuel treatment options that match their forest types and management objectives. One potential option for producers that graze livestock is silvopasture management, where livestock, forages, and overstory vegetation are carefully managed for co-benefits on the same unit of land. This study compared forest composition and structure, fuel types, and vegetative biomass between silvopasture and non-grazed managed forests in Washington, U.S. We show that silvopasture management results in reductions in grass biomass, litter, and duff depth when compared to non-grazed managed forest. These findings point to the integrated nature of silvopasture, where management of overstory composition and structure, understory vegetation, and grazing can reduce fuel loads and potential wildfire risk.
Silvopasture in Washington State is not well studied and thus little is known about this practice in this region. The first objective of this research project was to understand farm composition and ...farmer goals for silvopasture. To accomplish this, I conducted a statewide survey administered via interviews of practitioners to determine the social, economic, and ecological drivers and demographics of farmers utilizing silvopasture. To identify landowners using silvopasture and gain insights into its perceived usage and impacts, I contacted and interviewed multiple state and federal agency representatives. This research provided evidence that silvopasture is being used and that further research is needed to determine the economic viability and ecological effects of this practice.A second objective was to determine the effects of silvopasture and other types of forest grazing on forest structure, composition, and edaphic properties. Due to the combined effects of fire suppression and historic logging and grazing practices; dry pine forests of the Interior Columbia Basin are susceptible to high severity fires, soil compaction, and erosion. Limited research suggests that silvopasture may reduce fuel loads while maintaining ecosystem services. Through field data collection and statistical analyses, I determined that the prescribed grazing density associated with silvopasture and continuous grazing reduced litter, duff, and surface vegetation without significant alteration of vascular plant evenness and abundance. Analysis of physical and chemical soil properties determined that silvopasture resulted in significantly lower bulk density and soil compaction than continuous grazing but both measures were higher than in ungrazed sites. Similarly electrical conductivity was highest in continuously grazed sites when compared to silvopasture sites. This suggests that silvopasture is a more suitable land management practice when compared to more traditional forest grazing methods.
Few studies have been conducted on the extent and nature of silvopasture usage in Washington state. The goal of this research was to investigate the livestock, forages, and tree composition of the ...silvopasture systems currently being utilized and landowner goals for these systems. To accomplish this, we conducted a statewide survey administered via interviews of practitioners to determine the social, economic, and ecological drivers and demographics of farmers utilizing silvopasture. To identify landowners using silvopasture and gain insights into its perceived usage and impacts, we contacted and interviewed multiple state and federal agency representatives. The farms identified for the study ranged from 2 to 1100 acres in size and found on both sides of the Cascades. Of the 19 landowners utilizing silvopasture, 100% had goals of diversifying revenue streams and incorporating ecosystem services into their management systems. Benefits cited by practitioners included regular revenue streams from forest products and livestock sales. The challenges identified included limited regionally specific literature and a lack of trained professionals familiar with silvopasture and associated best management practices. This research provided evidence that landowners are utilizing and adapting silvopasture systems to a broad array of bioregions within Washington state to meet their objectives. The ecological adaptability of silvopasture is demonstrated by the variety of trees, forage, and livestock combinations found throughout the study sites. For silvopasture to advance as a land management practice in this region, our research showed the need for further studies to occur to determine the best practices, economic viability, and ecological effects of silvopasture.
Network algorithms for detection of radiation sources Rao, Nageswara S.V.; Sen, Satyabrata; Prins, Nicholas J. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
06/2015, Letnik:
784
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Networks of radiation counters have been recently developed for detecting low-level, hazardous radiation sources, and they have been utilized in indoor and outdoor characterization tests. ...Subsequently, the test measurements have been “replayed” using multiple sub-networks, which enabled the analysis of various scenarios beyond the tests. We present a particle filter algorithm that combines measurements from gamma counters across the network to detect radiation sources. Using replays from an outdoor test, we construct a border monitoring scenario that consists of twelve 2in.×2in. NaI detectors or counters deployed on the periphery to monitor a 42×42 m2 region. A 137Cs source is moved across this region, starting several meters outside and finally moving away from it. The measurements from individual, pairs and boundary detectors are replayed using the particle filter algorithm. The algorithm outputs demonstrate, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the benefits of networking all boundary counters: the source is detected meters before it enters the region, while being inside, and until moving several meters away. On the other hand, when counters are used individually or in pairs, the source is detected for much shorter durations, and sometimes not detected at all while inside the region.
Documents counts of spotted shags at Matiu/Somes and Mokopuna islands quarterly during the period from 2002-05 and sporadically at these sites and at Makaro/Ward Island during 2007-12. Source: ...National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.
The training improved interoperability and refined tactics through live-fire events, bilateral air assaults and airfield seizures, joint forward arming and refueling, and other aviation support ...operations. Alongside INÍEF (Fwd) operations in the region, other I MEF Nlarines participated in Task Force Koa Nloana and the 12th iteration of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D), further enhancing I MEF's presence in the region. Dispersed across the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Republic of Palau, the Marines of Task Force Koa Moana strengthened relationships and enhanced interoperability with Oceania partners through training and community engagements involving engineering, medical, maritime law enforcement, and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities.
Objective: To conduct a pilot survey about clinician views on defensive practice when working with adults with borderline personality disorder.
Method: All mental health clinicians from adult ...community, crisis and inpatient services of a district public mental health service who attended a routine team meeting completed a survey questionnaire (n = 29).
Results: Defensive practice was common, with 85% of clinicians having practised in the previous year in a manner that they believed was not in the best interests of their patients.
Conclusions: The findings support clinical impressions of a significant gap between clinician views on best practice and actual practice. The potential importance of the findings warrants a comprehensive multicentred study.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective: To conduct a pilot survey about clinician views on defensive practice when working with adults with borderline personality disorder.
Method: All mental health clinicians from adult ...community, crisis and inpatient services of a district public mental health service who attended a routine team meeting completed a survey questionnaire (n = 29).
Results: Defensive practice was common, with 85% of clinicians having practised in the previous year in a manner that they believed was not in the best interests of their patients.
Conclusions: The findings support clinical impressions of a significant gap between clinician views on best practice and actual practice. The potential importance of the findings warrants a comprehensive multicentred study.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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