Digital Commons Network^™

To Who Or What Do We Owe Sustainable Development? A Search For An Ethical Framework For Sustainable Development, Mia Soderlund

Theses

This thesis focuses on the ethical dimension of sustainable development as described in the Bruntland report. According to this report, we do have certain moral obligations to future generations. This thesis asks whether traditional moral philosophy, such as utilitarian and contractarian theories, can justify moral obligations to future generations, and if they can serve as ethical frameworks for sustainable development.

The basic idea with sustainable development is to create a balance between society, the environment and the economy. If the environment is ascribed instrumental value, which is the case with traditional moral philosophy then there is no balance, because its …

A Visualization System For Information Retrieval And Mining In High Dimensional Databases, Xinhuan Zheng

Theses

In this thesis, we present a search engine capable of giving good heuristic answers to the queries on a structural database. A structural database holds structural objects, e.g., protein secondary and tertiary structures, 3D molecules, phylogenetic trees, neuroanatomical networks, parse trees, CAD/CAM parts, and XML documents. Answering queries on such databases often requires solving variants of the graph isomorphism or subisomorphism problems. We also describe a graphic user interface which interacts with users to facilitate visualizing query results. We use 3D molecules (graphs) as illustrating examples, though our prototype is able to handle many other different types of structural data.

Integration Of Multi Lifecycle Assessment And Design For Environment Database Using Relational Moddel Concepts, Bhagyashree Suratran

Theses

Multi-lifecycle Assessment (MLCA) systematically considers and quantifies the consumption of resources and the environmental impact associated with a product or process. Design challenges posed by a multi-lifecycle strategy are significantly more complex than traditional product design. The designer must look forward in time to maximize the product's end-of-life yield of assemblies, parts and materials while looking backward to the world of existing products for feedstock sources for the current design. As MLCA and DEE share some common data items, such as, part geometry, material and manufacturing process, it is advantageous to integrate the database for MLCA and DEE. The integration …

A Comparison Of Field-Delineated Wetlands To The New Jersey Freshwater Wetland Maps, David P. Moskowitz

Theses

A comparison of the New Jersey Freshwater Wetland maps to field-delineated wetlands was undertaken to assess the accuracy of the Freshwater Wetland maps. The evaluation revealed substantial differences in the amount of wetland acreage on the Freshwater Wetland maps compared to field-verified wetlands. Forty study sites comprising 21,877 acres (8,854h) were evaluated. Of these, twenty-seven were overmapped (more wetland acreage than was field-verified), and thirteen were undermapped. Forty-three percent had mapping discrepancies at or above fifty percent; when modified land designations were included as wetlands, the number of sites at this threshold increased to fifty percent.

Paper copies of the …

Comparison Of Tovs-Derived Land Surface Variables With Ground Observations, Venkataraman Lakshmi, Joel Susskind

Faculty Publications

The Tiros Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) Pathfinder Path A retrieved surface skin temperature, surface air temperatures, and surface specific humidity are compared with data obtained from three large-scale field campaigns: the First ISLSCP (International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project) Field Experiment (FIFE), the Hydrologic Atmospheric Pilot Experiment (HAPEX) in the Sahel, and the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS). The long-term estimates of surface skin temperatures, surface air temperatures, and surface vapor pressure were unbiased, and the standard deviations of the errors were about 4°C, 3.5°C, and 3.5 mbar, respectively. The monthly mean variables obtained from the TOVS data at four times …

Integrated Management Tactics For Predicting And Alleviating Pocket Gopher (Thomomys Spp.) Damage To Conifer Reforestation Plantings, Richard M. Engeman, Gary W. Witmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Pocket gophers cause extensive damage to reforestation plantings in the western United States, and pose acute and chronic problems for forest managers. We examine the components of an integrated pest management strategy for reducing pocket gopher damage to conifers: the predictive factors for assessing the risk for damage, techniques for monitoring gopher populations and assessing efficacy of control methods, and damage control strategies and methods. The information in each component is reviewed and presented so that an optimal damage reduction plan can be developed in a logical, cost-effective, environmentally responsible fashion.

Overview Of A Passive Tracking Index For Monitoring Wild Canids And Associated Species, Richard M. Engeman, Lee Allen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Population density estimates for many animal species are often difficult or expensive to obtain, and they rely on assumptions that, if violated, result in unmeasurable estimation errors. Density estimates also may be unnecessary for research or management purposes, because an index that tracks changes in a population within appropriate time and geographic constraints could provide the information necessary to make management decisions or to evaluate the impact of a control program. We review research on a passive tracking index where observations are made on a series of tracking plots placed on lightly used dirt roads. The number of sets of …

Standardizing The Evaluation Of Brown Tree Snake Trap Designs, Richard M. Engeman, Daniel S. Vice

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The introduced brown tree snake has had devastating impacts on the native vertebrate fauna of Guam. Trapping is the primary means by which brown tree snakes are removed, either in support of reintroduction of endangered species or to deter their movement from Guam in cargo. Traps used to control brown tree snake populations have been continually evolving since the 1980s. Before general operational implementation of a new design, the efficacy of new trap developments must be demonstrated. In this paper we combine the current knowledge about brown tree snake control objectives and practicalities, the information gained from a variety of …

Inhibition Of The Aminopeptidase From Aeromonas Proteolytica By L-Leucinethiol: Kinetic And Spectroscopic Characterization Of A Slow, Tight-Binding Inhibitor–Enzyme Complex, David L. Bienvenue, Brian Bennett, Richard C. Holz

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

The peptide inhibitor l-leucinethiol (LeuSH) was found to be a potent, slow-binding inhibitor of the aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (AAP). The overall potency (K_I^*) of LeuSH was 7 nM while the corresponding alcohol l-leucinol (LeuOH) was a simple competitive inhibitor of much lower potency (K_I=17 μM). These data suggest that the free thiol is likely involved in the formation of the E·I and E·I^* complexes, presumably providing a metal ligand. In order to probe the nature of the interaction of LeuSH and LeuOH with the dinuclear active site of AAP, we have …

P-Selectin Or Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (Icam)-1 Deficiency Substantially Protects Against Atherosclerosis In Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice, Robert G. Collins, Rizwan Velji, Natalia V. Guevara, M. John Hicks, Lawrence Chan, Arthur L. Beaudet

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The expression of leukocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) is essential for the emigration of leukocytes during an inflammatory response. The importance of the inflammatory response in the development of atherosclerosis is indicated by the increased expression of adhesion molecules, proinflammatory cytokines, and growth factors in lesions and lesion-prone areas and by protection in mice deficient in various aspects of the inflammatory response. We have quantitated the effect of deficiency for intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, P-selectin, or E-selectin on atherosclerotic lesion formation at 20 wk of age in apolipoprotein (apo) E(- /-) (deficient) mice fed a normal chow diet. …

Brown Tree Snake Discoveries During Detector Dog Inspections Following Supertyphoon Paka, Daniel S. Vice, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Detector dog inspection of outbound cargo is one of several control methods applied to deter brown tree snake dispersal from Guam. In the two and a half months following the passage of Supertyphoon Paka over Guam, an increase in brown tree snake discoveries during detector dog inspections was observed. We report here on the circumstances of those discoveries and their management implications.

Land Use Patterns In Relation To Lake Water Quality In The Lake Wesserunsett Watershed, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Other Area Studies

The Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) engaged in an extensive data collection and analysis effort from September to December of 2000 to produce a comprehensive evaluation of the ecological health of the Lake Wesserunsett ecosystem. CEAT examined several factors related to lake water quality, including land use within the watershed, the impacts of residential and commercial development, and physical and chemical measurements of the lake itself. Lake water quality was the primary focus of the study due to its predictive value regarding overall watershed function and viability. The accumulation of nutrients in a lake due to surface runoff and erosion …

Oxygen Budget For Lake Ogallala, Kyle D. Hoagland, John C. Holz, Tadd M. Barrow, Richard J. Ruane

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Lake Ogallala, located below Kingsley Dam which impounds Lake McConaughy in Keith County, Nebraska, is a 260-surface hectare lake with an average depth of approximately eight meters. The lake provides mUltiple uses including a sport fishery and a hydropower and irrigation regulation basin. Since the installation of the hydroelectric generating plant in 1984 (Kingsley Dam was constructed in 1942) and the continued eutrophication of Lake McConaughy, dissolved oxygen concentrations have generally declined in Lake Ogallala. Hypolimnetic withdrawal from Lake McConaughy results in depressed oxygen levels in Lake Ogallala during the mid to latter part of the summer, particularly in certain …

The Spectral Contribution Of Carotenoids To Light Absorption And Reflectance In Green Leaves, Y. Zur, A. A. Gitelson, O. B. Chivkunova, M. N. Merzlyak

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Absorbance and reflectance spectra in the visible and near infrared range of the spectrum, acquired for maple (Acer platanoides L.) leaves were studied. Standard deviation of absorbance spectra showed that in yellow to green leaves, with chlorophyll content at least up to 30 nmol/cm2, there is a spectral feature at 520 nm attributable to carotenoids. Reflectance around 520 nm also correlates closely with carotenoids content in yellow to green leaves. Thus, this spectral feature at 520 nm could be used as a measure of carotenoids content in green leaves and plants.

Breeding Season Demography And Movements Of Eastern Towhees At The Savannah River Site, South Carolina, David G. Krementz, Larkin A. Powell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) has undergone population declines across much of its range, especially in New England. Despite being a widespread and, at one time, a common species, relatively little is known about its natural history, ecology, or demographics. We conducted baseline research on Eastern Towhees at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, in 1995 and 1996 to estimate breeding season survival rates, nest success rates, breeding densities, and daily movements. We also were interested in whether towhees had differences in survival and movement rates between young and mature managed pine stands. We found that survival rates during the …

Remote Monitoring Of Selected Ground-Water Dominated Lakes In The Nebraska Sand Hills, David C. Gosselin, Donald C. Rundquist, Stuart K. Mcfeeters

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The Landsat-Multispectral Scanner (MSS) data were used to measure lake area fluctuations (1972-1989) for 130 groundwater dominated lakes in the Western Lakes Region of the Nebraska Sand Hills. In general, the pattern shown in lake area hydrographs was similar to that for in-situ lake elevations. In-situ lake-elevation data verify that remote monitoring of surface- area fluctuations, even at relatively coarse spatial resolution, is not only practical and useful, but also it elucidates the hydrologic characteristics of groundwater-dominated lakes of the Sand Hills. The apparent differences in behavior between lakes in the northern and southern portions of the study area may …

Process-Oriented Environmental Change Curriculum-Development Workshops, David C. Gosselin, Sherri Lowrey, Steven John Meyer

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

To improve scientific literacy, K-12 educators need to: develop the ability to use and analyze data, incorporate data into their curriculum, and interact with teachers from other disciplines to create interdisciplinary units. A Process-Oriented Environmental Change Education workshop was conducted for eleven interdisciplinary teams, consisting of 21 teachers, in 1997 and 1998. The National Science Standards provided the criteria for the organization of the workshop. Inquiry and interpretation exercises helped to expand scientific knowledge and skills as well as the teachers’ use of technology. We explicitly discussed the uncertainty of science through group discussions and problem-solving activities. More than 85% …

Sea Turtle Conservation Program, Broward County, Fl 2000 Report, Curtis M. Burney, William E. Margolis

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

No abstract provided.

Developing Sustainable Management Policy For The National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, Tim W. Clark, Denise Casey, Anders Halverson

Yale School of the Environment Bulletin Series

No abstract provided.

Abstracts Of Student-Faculty Publications

The Corinthian

Abstracts of Student-Faculty Publications

Feature Extraction In Geobiophysical Modeling Of Mining Activity Impacting Dewey Lake, Kentucky, Sean K. Litteral

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Surface coal mining activity has effects on watershed and lake morphology within the Appalachian Mountains that continue to be problematic. A watershed’s natural dynamic balance has been subject to the influence of various natural and anthropogenic parameters such as mining sediment transport, wind, wave effects and currents. Many techniques have been developed to improve image processing in geobiophysical modeling, which can assist scientists, government officials, and industry personal with decisions affecting environmental concerns. One of the more advanced techniques involves 3D visualization and geobiophysical modeling. This process was used in combining remotely sensed digital aerial imagery with Digital Elevation Models …

Distribution And Habitat Of The Southern Two-Lined Salamander, Eurycea Cirrigera, In Will County, Illinois: Implications For Population Management And Monitoring, David Mauger, Timothy Bell, Eric L. Peters

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The southern two-lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) was found to occur at numerous localities within the Kankakee River State Park in Will County, Illinois. The species is restricted to small drainages within the Kankakee River valley that have flow consisting of groundwater that discharges at seeps or springs at or within the valley bluff. Cooler water temperatures and possibly other conditions that are associated with water derived from seep or spring sources may be important factors in determining salamander abundance. This is particularly relevant to larval habitat. These observations suggest that the spring or seep-fed larval habitat may be the primary …

Book Review: Wildflowers And Other Plants Of Iowa Wetlands, Paul Christiansen

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Wildflowers and Other Plants of Iowa Wetlands. Sylvan T. Runkeland Dean M. Roosa. 1999. Iowa State University Press. 372 pages. ISBN 0-8138-2174-6 pbk.

Runkel and Roosa have scored again with an impressive book on the plants of Iowa wetlands. The format is similar to their very successful Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie (ISU Press, 1989) with full-page color illustrations of each species with the facing page giving nomenclatural data, range and habitat, leaf, flower and fruit characteristics. Information and interesting facts about the plant, including uses by aborigines and early settlers, follows.

Symposia

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Abstracts from the Symposia Papers given at the 68^th Annual Meeting for the Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.

Winchell Papers

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Abstracts from the Winchell Papers given at the 68^th Annual Meeting for the Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.

Winchell Posters

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Abstracts from the Winchell Posters given at the 68^th Annual Meeting for the Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.

Study Abroad M.S. Degree In Marine Biology, Nova Southeastern University

Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Wheat Book : Principles And Practice, W K. Anderson, J R. Garlinge

Bulletins 4000 -

Contents : Environment / revised by J. Cramb, J. Courtney and P. Tille - The structure and development of the cereal plant / revised by T.L. Setter and G. Carlton - Germination, vegetative and reproductive growth / revised by T.L. Setter and G. Carlton - Crop water use / D. Tennant - Nutrition / revised by M.D.A. Bolland, R.F. Brennan, J.W. Bowden, M.G. Mason, N.K. Edwards, M.M. Riley and S.W. Gartrell - Wheat in farming systems / revised by B. Bowden, P. Blackwell, P. Carmody, M. Ewing, R. Kingwell, R. L ghman, I. McFarlane, P. Michael, P. Nelson, I. Pritchard, …

Effect Of Daily Fluctuations From Flaming Gorge Dam On Ice Processes In The Green River, John W. Hayse, Steven F. Daly, Andrew Tuthill, Richard A. Valdez, Bryan Cowdell, Gary Burton

Elusive Documents

No abstract provided.

Wetland Mitigation And Amphibians: Preliminary Observations At A Southwestern Illinois Bottomland Hardwood Forest Restoration Site, Kenneth S. Mierzwa

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Much has been written on amphibian declines attributed to habitat loss or fragmentation. Much less is known about the response of amphibians to restoration of wetland habitat. Amphibians were monitored at a series of southwestern Illinois wetland mitigation sites from 1995-1998. By the end of the study period, all seven species of amphibians previously known from the site had been found within restored wetlands, and an eighth species had apparently colonized the site. Amphibian species associated with open sunlit wetlands were the first to enter the mitigation sites and were the most abundant. As trees mature and mitigation sites become …