Digital Commons Network^™

23. Archeology And Civic Engagement, Barbara J. Little, Nathaniel Amdur-Clark

United States National Park Service: Publications

In the United States and elsewhere, efforts to strengthen communities and democratic processes, as well as promote public dialogue, rely upon active citizen engagement in community and civic life through the creation of social capital. Archeology can play a role in these efforts, particularly as archeological projects increasingly involve the communities in which they occur and as archeologists recognize their ethical responsibilities to involve multiple stakeholders. This technical brief provides explanations of civic engagement and social capital as well as case studies and suggestions for ways that archeologists can participate and contribute to the creation of social capital.

What is …

Mountain-Prairie Region Fisheries Program Strategic Plan

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

This Mountain-Prairie Regional Fisheries Strategic Plan outlines where, within our Federal role, we will focus our efforts. It provides guidance to partners and the public about our priorities, mandates, and opportunities and to Congress and the Administration on future budgeting decisions.

Endeavors 2007-08

Endeavors: Highlights of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research Division Research

CONTENTS:

New approach delays soybean irrigation, maintains yields
New group focuses on bioenergy crops in the Midwest
Sandhills dunes more stable than once thought
Take ‘may contain food allergen’ labels seriously
Advanced infrared camera expands hydrology research
UNL-based Drought Mitigation Center has new leadership
Carbohydrates in milk can help block bacteria
Tending human tendons using ultrasound
Research studies effect of one-time tillage on no-till
IANR, cattle feeders partners in cattle research
Medical, animal researchers to collaborate
Rural Nebraskans not the retiring type, poll shows
IANR returns 15 to 1 benefit for each tax dollar
New components of plant immunity being …

Conflicts Between Local Villagers And Tibetan Brown Bears Threaten Conservation Of Bears In A Remote Region Of The Tibetan Plateau, Fiona R. Worthy, J. Marc Foggin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Tibetan brown bears (Ursus arctos pruinosus) are rare across most of the Tibetan Plateau (Schaller 1998, Harris 2008). Yet, contacts between bears and local herders are increasing. Unlike other countries where nuisance bears may be shot or relocated (Peine 2001, Gunther et al. 2004), China forbids these practices, and most hunting is forbidden. In addition, all firearms were confiscated from local herders in 2000. Thus, despite their increasing threats to Tibetan communities, Tibetan brown bears generally are safe from retaliatory killings by local villagers.

Can The Path Be Altered?: Salvaging And Renewing Communities Of The Rural Plains, Larry Swanson

Rural Initiative Program: Publications and Reports

Dr. Larry Swanson, Director of the Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana, delivered the second-annual lecture on "Grassland Conservation and Sustainable Communities" on Thursday, April 12, 2007. Dr. Swanson's message that there is hope for rural communities if we act aggressively and immediately was heard by a crowd of 140 at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln, NE. You can learn more about the lecture in the articles below or by visiting www.grasslandfoundation.org. We would like to thank everyone who attended the lecture and those who made the event possible. A special thanks to …

Nebraska’S Micropolitan Statistical Areas: A Growing Piece Of A Shrinking Pie, Randolph L. Cantrell

Rural Initiative Program: Publications and Reports

They have been called “urban islands in a shortgrass sea” (Popper and Popper, 1986) and “middle places” (Swanson, 2007). They are the small urban centers that dot the Great Plains and are home to an important share of the region’s non-metropolitan population and economic activity. Compared to the much larger metropolitan centers such as Omaha and Lincoln, they may appear to be minor players in the state’s social and economic landscape—but that would underestimate their role. Individually they anchor the regional “pillars of growth” identified by Thompson (Thompson et al., 2007), and collectively they play a determining role in the …

Nebraska’S Micropolitan Statistical Areas: A Growing Piece Of A Shrinking Pie, Randolph Cantrell

Business in Nebraska

They have been called “urban islands in a shortgrass sea” (Popper and Popper, 1986) and “middle places” (Swanson, 2007). They are the small urban centers that dot the Great Plains and are home to an important share of the region’s non-metropolitan population and economic activity. Compared to the much larger metropolitan centers such as Omaha and Lincoln, they may appear to be minor players in the state’s social and economic landscape—but that would underestimate their role. Individually they anchor the regional “pillars of growth” identified by Thompson (Thompson et al., 2007), and collectively they play a determining role in the …

Perceptions Of Quality Of Life, Sense Of Community, And Life Satisfaction Among Elderly Residents In Schuyler And Crete, Nebraska, Rodrigo Cantarero, James J. Potter, Christina K. Leach

Architecture Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

The purpose of this study is to identify key indicators affecting the elderly population's perception of Quality of Life (QoL) in two rural Nebraska communities--Crete and Schuyler. It also explores QoL indicators affecting their sense of satisfaction with living in the community and their perception of the town's sense of community. The current analysis is based on data obtained in two prior studies conducted by the authors. The results indicate that a majority of the elderly were satisfied. We also corroborated other studies' findings in which stress is negatively related to QoL. Finally, we confirmed a positive relation between strong …

Accelerating Adoption Of Fire Science And Related Research, Jamie Barbour

Joint Fire Science Program Research Project Reports

Since its inception in 1998, the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) has funded over 350 projects. The Joint Fire Science Program has long recognized that the investments made in wildland fire science need to be accompanied by an emphasis on science interpretation and delivery. Program success is ultimately measured by how well information from research efforts is being conveyed to resource managers and end users, and whether this information is improving management decisions. This project introduced a conceptual model for an adaptive process to improve the delivery of scientific information. We developed this process through these steps: 1. Creating a …

Business In Nebraska, April 2007

Bureau of Business Research Publications

Business in Nebraska, April 2007

Business In Nebraska, April 2007

Business in Nebraska

Business in Nebraska, April 2007

Nebraska Forest Service Annual Report 2007, Scott J. Josiah, Becky Erdkamp

Nebraska Forest Service: Publications

Welcome From The Nebraska State Forester; Nebraska’s Forest Resources; Innovative Partnership Increases Available Assistance To Rural Landowners; Retree Nebraska—A Million Tree Challenge; NAA Honors NFS Forest Health Program Leader as 2007 Educator of the Year; Multi-State Great Plains Tree and Forest Invasives Initiative Prepares for EAB; After The Storm; NFS Fire Resource Manager Receives Silver Smokey Bear Award; Jump Starting Rural Economies and Energy Independence Through Wood Energy; FEMA Grant Enables NFS to Spread Fire Prevention Message; Nebraska's Partners in Prevention; Promoting Forest Health and Safety with Targeted Fuels Reduction ; Grants/Cost-Share Awarded To NFS Partners In 2007

Multifunctional Rural Landscapes: Economic, Environmental, Policy, And Social Impacts Of Land Use Changes In Nebraska, Twyla M. Hansen, Charles A. Francis, J. Dixon Esseks, J. Allen Williams Jr.

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The conversion of farmland near cities to other human uses is a global trend that challenges our long-term capacity to provide food, fiber, and ecosystem services to a growing world population. If current trends continue in the United States, the population will reach 450 million by the year 2050. At the same time, an accelerating change in land use will reduce today’s two acres per person of farmland to less than one acre per person. This is scarcely enough to produce food for our domestic population, without any food available for export – even assuming advances in technology. We need …

With One Stroke Of The Pen: How Can Wildlife Extension Specialists Involve Developers And Policy-Makers In Wildlife Conservation?, Mark Hostetler

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Residential developments have a huge impact on natural resources and wildlife, and sustainable or “green” communities are beginning to be built throughout the United States with goals to conserve wildlife habitat, to create healthy lifestyles, and to promote a sense of community. Buzzwords can be heard in the media and in town meetings: sustainability, smart growth, new urbanism, low impact development, and conservation subdivisions. Ultimately, with one stroke of a pen, developers and policymakers can determine how a community will look and feel for many years to come. Plus, citizens make day-to-day decisions that determine whether a community operates as …

First-Stop Planning And Communication For Landhelp, Delwin E. Benson

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

I developed an Internet-based, planning and communication system for professional and private users to make plans for their lands, which is branded as LandHelp (www.LandHelp.info). The project was funded by grants from the Renewable Resources Extension Act, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wildlife Habitat Management Institute, Colorado State Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (USDA SARE) from the Western Region, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agro-forestry program with the NRCS. Currently, LandHelp contains links to 31 broad categories of information that then link to 2,613 more resources. Major topics include, but …

Great Plains Research, Volume 16, Number 2: Editorial Matter

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

No abstract provided.

Leveraging The Skills Of The Corporate Special Librarian To Enhance The Perceived Value Of Information And Sustain Communities Of Practice, Patricia Margulies

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

An assessment is made of a fairly recent commitment by many business and governmental organizations to take a strategic look at ‘organizational knowledge,’ its origins and its management. Based on their activities and findings to identify, capture, and disseminate organizational knowledge, the paper describes how the Information Resource Center (IRC) and its special librarians can ensure the enterprise’s knowledge and information goals are met while heightening the IRC’s own intrinsic organizational value and profile.

This paper argues for major participation by the IRC and its special librarians in communities of practice (COPs). Such IRC participation is viewed as a …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 22, Number 1 (April 2006), Michael J. Yabsley

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

Avian Influenza Update - May 2006: 207 human cases, 115 fatalities. HPAI H5N1 virus has been detected in wild birds in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and other European countries.
SCWDS remains actively involved in several field and laboratory studies investigating the ecology of avian influenza virus (AIV), including both high pathogenicity viruses (HPAI) and low pathogenicity viruses (LPAI).
A plan to conduct a survey of avian influenza (AI) viruses in wild birds in Canada was developed late in 2004 by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) in consultation with a wide range of federal and provincial …

Science-Based Organic Farming 2006: Toward Local And Secure Food Systems, Charles A. Francis, Katja Koehler-Cole, Twyla Hansen, Peter Skelton

Publications from the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Organic farming includes growing food and fiber—animals, agronomic crops, horticultural fruits and vegetables, related products—as one dynamic and rapidly evolving component of our complex U.S. food system. Even as more farmers are moving toward organic certification and participation in an environmentally sound and economically lucrative market, questions arise about the long-term social impacts and sustainability of a set of practices that has gone from a movement to an industry. Consolidations in the organic trade have brought multinational corporations to the table, as they have observed a grassroots activity that has grown by 20% per year for the past two decades, …

Five Year Issue Based Review, September 18 – 21, 2006, University Of Nebraska–Lincoln Southeast Research & Extension Center

Southeast Research and Extension Center: Reports and Administration

This Five Year District Program Review is issue based and follows the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources guidelines for Research and Extension Centers revised in 2000 (see Section 7a). As the guidelines indicate, the review focuses on the current and evolving issues that effect this District and to some extent contiguous regions. The identification of external issues was program independent and heavily dependent on clientele input. The IANR Strategic Plan and the Extension Action Team Plans are considered a broad perspective of the issues facing Nebraskans. The District review considers unique regional challenges. The program plans are aligned with …

Nebline, November/December 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Community Food Programs Help Limited-Resource Families Eat Healthy
NEP Teaches People How to Stretch Their Food Dollar
Get Involved in the Fight Against Hunger
Free Soybean Cyst Nematode Sample Kits Available
Don’t Forget to Winterize Your Underground Sprinkler System
Agricultural Tax Planning for 2005
Nebraska Arboretum Speakers Bureau
Setting Goals for Your Small Farm
Prepare Horses For Winter
Improve Nebraska Woodlands in Late Fall and Winter
“Woody Florals” Acreage Insights Clinic, Nov. 10
Prevent Soil Erosion
Thanksgiving — the Tradition Continues
Ginger Citrus Rice Recipe
FREE Healthy Desserts Presentation, Nov. 15
$tretch Your Food Dollar with Leftover Turkey
President’s Notes …

Synthesis Of Design Guidelines And Experimental Data For Water Quality Function In Agricultural Landscapes In The Intermountain West, Susan Buffler, Craig Johnson, John Nicholson, Nancy Mesner

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Currently, there is no scientific literature examining appropriate riparian buffer widths for water quality for streams on private agriculturally dominated lands in arid regions of the Intermountain West. The initial step in this research effort was a review of buffer research as documented in the literature in other physiographic regions of the United States. Research findings on appropriate buffer widths for water quality parameters were synthesized using a matrix format. Differences between arid and non-arid landscape characteristics, soil, topography, vegetation, climate and hydrology and their effect on buffers for water quality were also researched. The combined research findings in this …

Architecture Of The Wilderness: Understanding Culture And Ecology In The Sandhills Of Nebraska Through Design, Patrick J. Moore

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

How might one—in creating a built environment—educate others about the natural environment, restore commerce to a dying community, and touch the earth as lightly as possible in the process? The intent of this project is to create an interpretive center for a proposed regional tourism network in a rural Nebraska County. The design will be based on issues of sustainability, including resource conservation, socio-economic improvement, and environmental protection. Specific issues addressed include: Green Buildings, Biomimicry, Mechanical Systems, Construction Methods, Biology and Geology Research and Education, Regional Planning, and Vernacular Buildings. This project, explores how architecture can be used in a …

State [Fair] Park: Nebraska Vernacular, Andrew Charles Peterson

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Each year the Nebraska State Fair comes and goes; however, the abandoned fairgrounds remain causing a void in Lincoln’s urban fabric. This project proposes a remedy to the fairground’s wavering between programmatic solidity and impermanence by redeveloping and renaming the site. The new State [Fair] Park will function as a park for 51 weeks out of the year and a fair for one. The result is a recreational nucleus for the city of Lincoln showcasing Nebraska’s historically agricultural economy and character. State [Fair] Park is designed according to “a single, unifying ideal”—to showcase Nebraska’s farmland vernacular.1 Utilizing this principle during …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 21, Number 1 (April 2005)

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) recently was found in captive and free-ranging white-tailed deer in New York.
Exotic Bluetongue Virus inLouisiana Deer
The United States Poultry and Egg Association (USPEA) recently funded a SCWDS research project to investigate the epidemiology of the Southeast Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 serotype.
West Nile virus (WNV) continues to cause morbidity and mortality in humans, horses, and wildlife.
Wild Pigeons as Hosts for WNV
Vesicular Stomatitis Outbreak Continues
SCWDS diagnosticians recently diagnosed an unusual case of canine adenovirus (CAV) infection in an adult, male gray fox from Baker County, Georgia. …

A Community Conversation: Future Of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Public Policy Center

University of Nebraska Public Policy Center: Publications

On Thursday, February 24th, 62 randomly selected residents of Lincoln/Lancaster County, Nebraska participated in a discussion about economic growth and quality of life in the City of Lincoln. The event was termed “A Community Conversation: Future of Lincoln.” The participants were surveyed both before and after the event to measure their opinions and knowledge of topics related to Lincoln’s economic growth and quality of life.

The effort – from the briefing materials sent to participants beforehand to the group discussions to the opportunity to present questions to a panel of experts – was modeled after the Deliberative Polling® format developed …

Water Current, Volume 37, No. 1. Winter 2005

Water Current Newsletter

Contents

• Gleick Headlines April Water Management and Policy Conference by Steve Ress

• From the Director

• Meet the Faculty

• Planning for June Water and Natural Resources Tour Taking Shape by Steve Ress

• UNL Water and Natural Resources Research Lectures Continue Through April by Steve Ress

• UNL Water Center Passes USGS Five-Year Review Process

• Report Emphasizes Areas for Water Research in Coming Years

• Missouri Water Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia

• Water News Briefs

• 2004 Gains in Water Science Lab Capabilities and Methods by Daniel D. Snow, Ph.D.

Science-Based Organic Farming 2005: Toward Local And Secure Food Systems, Charles A. Francis, Twyla Hansen, Peter Skelton

Publications from the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Organic farming includes growing food and fiber — animals, agronomic crops, horticultural fruits and vegetables, related products — as one dynamic and rapidly evolving component of our complex U.S. food system. Even as more farmers are moving toward organic certification and participation in an environmentally sound and economically lucrative market, questions arise about the long-term social impacts and sustainability of a set of practices that has gone from a movement to an industry. Consolidations in the organic trade have brought multinational corporations to the table, as they have observed a grassroots activity that has grown by 20% per year for …

At The Edge Of The Circle: Willa Cather And American Arts Communities, Andrew W. Jewell

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

During the pivotal years of Willa Cather's artistic development, she regularly engaged a variety of American arts communities that encouraged, challenged, and influenced her work and professional growth. Her interactions with these communities were an effort to locate a sustainable, meaningful relationship to her fellow artists. This dissertation explores her efforts by analyzing the character of the communities, chronicling Cather’s involvement within them, and interpreting the impact on Cather’s life and work.

After the Introduction, the chapters are organized to follow Cather as she experimented with various communal forms and developed her own relationship to the literary scene. Chapter one …

Water Current, Volume 36, No. 3. Summer 2004

Water Current Newsletter

Contents

• Summer Tour Looks at Platte River Wildlife and Urbanization Issues by Steve Ress

• Second Annual Water Law, Policy and Science Conference

• From the Director

• Meet the Faculty

• State, University Help Restore and Improve Sutton’s Clarks Pond

• Instrumentation and Research Allow Lower Detection of Tetracycline Antibiotics by Steve Ress

• Water Center Completes Five-Year USGS Review by Steve Ress

• U.S. Water Use Virtually Unchanged Since 1985, USGS Says

• Drought Persisting at Nebraska’s Largest Reservoir

• What’s a “Dead Zone?”

• Nebraska Water Conference Council’s

Annual Water & Natural Resources Tour Focusing Upon …