Digital Commons Network^™

United In The Struggle: The Role Of Land Titles For Communities Of Internally Displaced Persons In El Salvador, Corie Welch

Sustainability and Social Justice

Multiple episodes of dispossession and displacement characterize the lives of landless rural and semi-rural families across El Salvador. The residents of 30 de Abril, a semi-rural community in El Salvador formed from displaced families, engaged in a five-year struggle to force the government to make good on its promise of land to the rural poor. Now, with legal titles in hand, residents continue to work together to seek additional services and resources for their community, proving their resilience in the face of displacement. Based upon the experience of 30 de Abril, this paper explores the trajectory of one community‟s struggle …

Degrowth Lessons From Cuba, Claire S. Bayler

Sustainability and Social Justice

Cuba is the global leader in practicing agroecology, but agroecology is just one component of a larger climate-ready socio-economic system. Degrowth economics address the need to constrain our total global metabolism to within biophysical limits, while allowing opportunity and resources for "underdeveloped" countries to rebuild themselves under new terms. Degrowth recognizes the role of overdeveloped countries in surpassing the ecological limits of our planet at the cost of wellbeing for billions of dispossessed people within and between countries. Cuba's circumstances during and following the Special Period exemplify both sides of the degrowth scenario, as well as demonstrating policy and grassroots …

Home On The Market Range: An Evaluation Of Cultural And Economic Barriers To Large-Scale Bison Farming, Skylar Peyton

All College Thesis Program, 2016-2019

Give me a home where the buffalo roam maybe a catchy tune from the 1800s, but it no longer represents the landscape of the American Midwest. As large-scale corporate farms invade the prairie with row crops and cattle yards, they are chasing away family practices as well as the antelope. Could bison, the original red meat, be a successful meat alternative? The argument that bison would be preferable to beef is based upon four premises: bison are better for the environment, healthier for human consumption, easier to manage, and similar in land needs. Based on these four premises, bison appears …

Ua45/6 Commencement Program, Wku Registrar

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program listing graduates with order of exercises for all WKU campuses.

Impacts Of Geotechnical Aspects In Tunneling Design And Construction, Mohammad Haadi Sadaghiani

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

In tunneling project, different type of methods is conducted to do the project. Knowing geotechnical aspects of tunnel project is unavoidable and crucial in early stage of project especially before contract to have efficient and more accurate design and prevent cost overruns, reduce bid price and reduce project risks. However, all that geotechnical information should be based on standard guidelines such as Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR) to help owner how to provide those geotechnical data in bid contract and use it as a guideline in contract to prevent future claim or disputes. The main objective of this thesis is about …

University Of Minnesota, Morris 2018 Commencement, Communications And Marketing

UMM Commencement

The University of Minnesota, Morris's Fifty-Fifth Commencement Saturday, May 12, 2018, 1:30 PM.

Speaking In Code, Mental Time Travel And Mind Reading: An Exploration Of The Study Of Animal Intelligence, Drew S. Perlmutter

Standard Theses

Many humans believe they are separate from nature based on “unique” characteristics. For many centuries, our advanced tool use was believed to separate us from other animals. However, discoveries made by Jane Goodall in the 1960’s demonstrated that humans are not unique for this capacity.1 In light of these discoveries, the definition of human was altered to suggest that our intelligence sets us apart from other animals. This definition has been used in order to justify our exploitation of other animals by suggesting that we are unique, and therefore, superior due to this “unique” intelligence. However, humans are not alone …

Distinguishing Harms To Derive Commitments: Karen Warren And Aldo Leopold On Ecofeminism And Domination, Eileen A. O'Shea

Standard Theses

This paper explores Karen Warren's formulation of an Ecofeminist argument, and aims to restructure it in a way that does not equate the impacts of domination on women with the impacts of domination on the natural world. With supplemental elements of Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic" arguments, I hope to provide a reformulation of Warren's argument in which the dominator is still committed to dismantling these twin dominations. I posit that this commitment may be derived from the harm the process of dominating inflicts on the dominator's perfectionist value and prudential value, an element which remains consistent in both dominations and …

Colorful Gardens And Empowerment: Black Resistance And Self-Determination Through Urban Farming, Joakim Ethan Cohen

Standard Theses

This thesis explores Black food justice organizations in Oakland and Detroit that tackle issues of food security in low income communities of color. I discuss how food deserts are a product of constant discrimination and marginalization perpetuated by racist laws and policies and explain how urban gardening helps Black people regain control of the food system and promotes empowerment and self-determination.

The Relationship Between Substrate Characteristics And Japanese Knotweed Invasion Along The Saco River, Maine And New Hampshire, Dacota F. Griffin

Standard Theses

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an aggressive invasive plant that spreads via several mechanisms making it hard to control. Currently, little is known about Japanese knotweed invasion in riparian habitats. A total of 46 soil samples from both invaded and uninvaded sites (32 total locations) along the Saco River in Maine and New Hampshire were examined to see whether physical and chemical characteristics were similar among knotweed-invaded sites and what may lead to successful establishment by knotweed. The majority of sites were dominated by medium-grained sand, but there were no differences in the soil texture at invaded and uninvaded sites. …

Modeling Impacts Of Light Absorbing Particles On Glacial Melt And Albedo: Construction, Quantified Impacts, And Simulations From The Cordillera Blanca, Peru, Bria Riggs

Standard Theses

Glaciers act as important water storage units that supply both human and ecological communities. However, glacial systems are threatened by rising global temperatures as well as light absorbing particles (LAPs) on the surface and within the snowpack that increase energy absorption and decrease albedo. The majority of hydrological models used to examine glacial melt at the watershed level assume a constant albedo of 0.75 for all snow surfaces. This assumption neglects the impact that LAPs have on albedo, energy processes, and melt rates. Additionally, current models used to simulate changes in albedo due to LAPs do not separate the impacts …

Une Library Services Quarterly Report May 2018, Une Library Services

Quarterly Reports

Highlights of accomplishments of the University of New England's Library Services department.

Applying Place-Based Social-Ecological Research To Address Water Scarcity: Insights For Future Research, Jodi Brandt

Human-Environment Systems Research Center Faculty Publications and Presentations

Globally, environmental and social change in water-scarce regions challenge the sustainability of social-ecological systems. WaterSES, a sponsored working group within the Program for Ecosystem Change and Society, explores and compares the social-ecological dynamics related to water scarcity across placed-based international research sites with contrasting local and regional water needs and governance, including research sites in Spain and Sweden in Europe, South Africa, China, and Alabama, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Texas in the USA. This paper aims to provide a commentary on insights into conducting future solutions-oriented research on water scarcity based on the understanding of the social-ecological dynamics of water scarce …

Winter Bat Activity In A Landscape Without Traditional Hibernacula, Amy M. Hammesfahr, Rene E. Ohms

United States National Park Service: Publications

Abstract

Prior to 2014, bat research at Devils Tower National Monument (DETO) focused on bats present during the summer months. Biologists at DETO assumed local bats were strictly summer residents due to the presumed lack of typical habitat features associated with bat hibernation, such as caves and mines. This lack of traditional hibernacula features at DETO discouraged staff and research cooperators from studying winter bat populations. Despite the earlier assumption that bats were unlikely to hibernate on the monument, DETO documented significant winter bat activity through passive winter acoustic monitoring. This study is the first study at DETO that documents …

The Effect Of Steam And Glycerol Pretreatment On Chemical Contents Of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (Efb), Ornjira Choopakar, Chongchin Polprasert, Panagiotis Elefsiniotis, Supawadee Polprasert

Applied Environmental Research

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the type of solvent, pH, substrate loading, and reaction time on the chemical components of palm empty fruit bunches (EFB). Steam pretreatment was set up at a temperature of 121 °C and pressure of 1.18 bar, using an autoclave with substrate loading of 5, 10, 15 and 20 % w/v at reaction times of 15 and 60 min. Distilled water, waste glycerol, alkaline glycerol and acidic glycerol were compared as solvents during steam pretreatment. The results showed that with distilled water, better pretreatment was achieved at 5 % and 10 % loading …

Understanding The Weathering Process Of Antimony Minerals: Case Study Sb-Mine Sulzburg, Black Forest, Germany, Sakonvan Chawchai, Raphael Bissen

Applied Environmental Research

Concerns about heavy metal and metalloid contamination from mine dumps is one of the most intensively discussed issues in society, politics, and academia, because of the levels of pollution, and its toxic properties. During the Middle Ages the Black Forest was one of the most successful mining areas in Southwestern Germany. Historical records show that Sulzburg was a mining town in the Black Forest since the 10th century, but was abandoned in the 19th century. Nowadays this town is considered as an important recreation area in the country. Therefore, soil and water quality and any contamination are of great concern. …

Effect Of Acid-Alkaline And Thermal Pre-Treatment To Cassava Pulp Feed For Batch Reactors In Optimization Of Bio-Methane Yield, Htay A. Pyae, Nittaya Boontian, Usa Yingchon, Chatlada Piasai

Applied Environmental Research

Cassava starch mills in Nakhon Ratchasimaprovince operate biogas plants to generate renewable energy from surplus cassava pulp using anaerobic digestion (AD) technologies. However, the biogas yields fluctuate and digestion failure occurs due to suboptimal digester configuration and lack of understanding of the specific properties of cassava pulp substrate. This study used acid-alkaline and thermal pre-treatment to modify the cassava pulp substrate to enhance biogas yields. Concentrated 36N sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and 20M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was chosen as an acid-alkaline pre-treatment to adjust to the required pH for the substrates, and 45 minat 200 °C for the thermal pre-treatment. Extreme …

Risk Management Of Lead And Arsenic Poisoning In Children Through Public Participation In Communities Near Abandoned Tin Mine, Southern Thailand, Anchalee Pongkaset, Banchong Witthayawirasak

Applied Environmental Research

Tamtalu Subdistrict, Bannangsta District in Yala Province, southern Thailand was the site of an abandoned tin mine, and was contaminated by lead and arsenic from the mine tailings. As children are a high risk group from these highly toxic contaminants, this study aimed to identify approaches to reduce children's exposure in the area. The study was conducted through participatory action research (PAR) to empower the community strengthen sustainable risk management. The participants were local public health officials, public health volunteers, parents of local children and local community leaders. The participants were engaged in activities relating to risk communication, training on …

Quantification Of Environmental Flow Requirement Of The Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam Using Hydrological-Hydraulic-Habitat Simulation Methods, Penpicha Nakvachara, Areeya Rittima, Yutthana Talaluxmana

Applied Environmental Research

With increased water demand, reservoir operation has become more complex with the need to quantify the exact amount of water needed for each demand sector. The environmental flow requirement, also known as instream flow is regarded as the first-prioritized objective of the multipurpose water resources projects in Thailand. The capability of reservoirs in Thailand to allocate water for environmental needs depends on available supply, strategies and operating policy. Therefore, this study aims to assess the environmental flow requirements of Khun Dan PrakanChon Dam using three methods; 1) the hydrological method (Tennant, Tessmann, 7Q10, FDC, and VMF), 2) hydraulic method (R2CROSS …

Soil Organic Carbon And Mineralization Rates At The Woolsey Wet Prairie Mitigation Site In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Zachary Tipton

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are higher than ever recorded, surpassing 400 ppm in 2013, from a pre-industrial revolution level of around 280 ppm. Researchers have been looking at methods to mitigate high CO2 levels in the atmosphere, including promoting carbon sequestration in soils. Carbon sequestration is the process where CO2 is naturally or artificially transferred out of the atmosphere and stored in the ocean, plant biomass, soils, and geologic formations. Seemingly contradictory to the notion of carbon sequestration, is the use of fire as a management treatment for the restoration of native prairie grass ecosystems. Fire combusts plant biomass …

An Analysis Of Litter Management Strategies In Olmos Basin Park: Evaluating Problems And Solutions, Willa M. Rubin

Environmental Studies

Olmos Basin Park is historically significant, biologically diverse and centrally located, yet it is decimated by trash. The park is predisposed to trash accumulation because of its geography and municipal setting. There are currently a few different litter management strategies active in the park. They include a contracted clean-up, the potential installation of a Bandalong Litter Trap^TM Device, various Volunteer-Led clean-up projects, education focused strategies, and legal strategies. None of these strategies have been effective in significantly reducing the trash problem in Olmos Basin Park. A plastic bag ban, especially on that works within the frame work of existing …

No Farms No Food? A Response To Baylen Linnekin, Joshua Ulan Galperin

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

You have likely seen the bumper sticker, bold white text on a green background, reading “No Farms No Food.” The sticker is a product of, and in fact a tagline for, the American Farmland Trust. On the one hand, the point is obvious: As American Farmland Trust puts it, “[e]very meal on our plates [c]ontains ingredients grown on a farm. We all need farms to survive.” On the other hand, what seems like a plain statement on its face, “no farms no food,” is not so simple. Farms produce affordable food, they produce vast quantities of food, they produce healthy …

Impact Of Disinfectant Type, Concentration, And Contact Time On Bactericidal Efficacy Against Healthcare-Associated Pathogens, Alyssa M. West

Open Access Theses

Transmission of healthcare-associated infections caused by antibiotic- and multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens, (e.g. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are a major concern in patient care facilities. Disinfectant usage is critical to control and prevent pathogen transmission, yet the relationships among strain, disinfectant type, contact time, and concentration are not well-characterized. Furthermore, many healthcare facilities use pre-wetted disinfectant towelettes for surface disinfection, as they are an easy-to-use solution. Yet, there is a limited consensus as to whether a surface needs to remain wet for the full label contact time after the disinfectant towelette has been used, in order for complete …

Spatial Dynamics And Mixing Of Bluefin Tuna In The Atlantic Ocean And Mediterranean Sea Revealed Using Next-Generation Sequencing, Gregory N. Puncher, Alessia Cariani, Gregory E. Maes, Jeroen Van Houdt, Koen Herten, Rita Cannas, Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta, Aitor Albania, Andone Estonba, Molly Lutcavage, Alex Hanke, Jay Rooker, James S. Franks, Joseph M. Quattro, Gualtiero Basilone, Igaratza Fraile, Urtzi Laconcha, Nicolas Goñi, Ai Kimoto, David Macías, Francisco Alemany, Simeon Deguara, Salem W. Zgozi, Fulvio Garibaldi, Isik K. Oray, Firdes Saadet Karakulak, Noureddine Abid, Miguel N. Santos, Piero Addis, Haritz Arrizabalaga, Fausto Tinti

Faculty Publications

The Atlantic bluefin tuna is a highly migratory species emblematic of the challenges associated with shared fisheries management. In an effort to resolve the species’ stock dynamics, a genomewide search for spatially informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was undertaken, by way of sequencing reduced representation libraries. An allele frequency approach to SNP discovery was used, combining the data of 555 larvae and young‐of‐the‐year (LYOY) into pools representing major geographical areas and mapping against a newly assembled genomic reference. From a set of 184,895 candidate loci, 384 were selected for validation using 167 LYOY. A highly discriminatory genotyping panel of 95 …

Environmental Deterioration In Contemporary Appalachian Literature: A Biblical Ecocritical Analysis Of Serena And Strange As This Weather Has Been, Alexandria C. Craft

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ron Rash’s Serena and Ann Pancake’s Strange as This Weather Has Been are two contemporary Appalachian novels that have yet to be analyzed from a biblical ecocritical perspective. While some literary scholars acknowledge the environmental aspects of the novels, little of their research goes beyond examining the land and its resources as commodities or metaphorical extensions for the characters. In this thesis, I elaborate on those interpretations by scrutinizing the natural descriptions in both novels and comparing those findings to some of the landscapes and environmental verses located within the Bible. Unlike the pastoral ideal found in a portion of …

Plant Community Composition And Structure Monitoring At Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 2017 Data Summary Report, Stephanie L. Rockwood

United States National Park Service: Publications

Abstract

This report presents the results of vegetation monitoring efforts in 2017 at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (AGFO) by the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN) and the Northern Great Plains Fire Effects Program (NGPFire). This was the seventh year of field work conducted by NGPN at AGFO.

In 2017, crew members from NGPN visited six long-term plant community monitoring (PCM) plots and NGPFire visited eight additional PCM and fire plant community monitoring (FPCM) plots to collect data on the plant communities at AGFO. This collaborative effort is part of a long-term monitoring program established to better …

Food Localization: Empowering Community Food Systems Through The Farm Bill, Brian Albert Fink, Alexandra Oakley Schluntz, Joshua Ulan Galperin

Journal of Food Law & Policy

More diverse and value-driven public engagement has transformed the American food system. This engagement has changed the behavior of industries, consumers, policymakers, and communities. At the heart of this change is the drive among countless individuals and organizations to promote a wider variety of food choices and shape the food system in harmony with their values. Despite the local and sovereign nature of this engagement, federal food and agricultural policies have contributed substantially to this transformation of the American food system. In isolation, many of these policies support discrete programs and individuals. In the aggregate, these policies strengthen different facets …

Shipworms And The Making Of The American Coastline, Derek Lee Nelson

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation tells the forgotten history of the American teredo epidemic. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, an assortment of native and invasive wood-boring marine organisms, known collectively as “teredo,” swept through the ports and harbors of the United States. Teredo’s penchant for wood, both for shelter and sustenance, made wharves and wooden ships easy targets. Because teredo enters timber as tiny juveniles, and grows to maturity beyond view, it was often detectable only after a wharf had collapsed or a ship had sunk. Teredo’s unpredictability grated on people so much so that the borer was rarely mentioned …

Impacts And Management Of Foliar Pathogens Of Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobus) In The Northeastern United States, Cameron Ducayet Mcintire

Doctoral Dissertations

White Pine Needle Damage (WPND) is a complex of foliar fungal pathogens currently impacting forests in the Northeastern US. Since ca. 2009, chlorosis and defoliation caused by WPND has been observed in stands of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L) throughout the region. A changing climate, notably warmer temperatures and higher than average spring precipitation in the region are thought to be exacerbating the establishment and spread of these native pathogens. The goals of this research are to enhance the understanding of the timing and magnitude of WPND-induced defoliations across infected stands, assess the physiological response of trees affected by …

Executive Summary_Feasibility Of Harbor-Wide Barrier Systems: Preliminary Analysis For Boston Harbor, Paul Kirshen

Sustainable Solutions Lab

This report presents a preliminary feasibility assessment of harbor-wide barrier systems designed to protect Boston Harbor from coastal flooding caused by sea level rise (SLR) and storm surges. Conducted by the Sustainable Solutions Lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston and supported by the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, the study evaluates two primary configurations: an Outer Harbor Barrier (OHB) and an Inner Harbor Barrier (IHB). Using hydrodynamic modeling, economic cost-benefit analysis, and social vulnerability assessments, the study finds that while both barrier systems may reduce risk from extreme storm events, they do not mitigate regular tidal flooding without frequent gate …