Digital Commons Network^™

Ensc 501.01: Scientific Approaches To Environmental Problems, Leonard Broberg

University of Montana Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Enst 519.01: Foundations Of Change, Neva Hassanein

University of Montana Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Demography Of A Recovery: Tracking The Rebound Of Little Brown Bat (Myotis Lucifugus) Populations, Katherine Ineson

Doctoral Dissertations

As the emergence of novel diseases in wildlife becomes more common, a better understanding of the impact of disease on populations and their demographic rates will be critical for their conservation. Populations naturally fluctuate over time as a function of the rates of birth, death, immigration, and emigration, while at the individual level the chances of mortality and reproduction may be influenced by age and physiological condition. Diseases, particularly emerging infectious diseases, can cause immediate and severe changes in demographic rates. While some populations and species may go extinct due to high mortality rates, others may persist in smaller, but …

Views That Matter: Race And Opinions On Climate Change Of Boston Area Residents, Lorena M. Estrada-Martínez, Paul Watanabe, Katsyris Rivera-Kientz

Sustainable Solutions Lab

A growing body of research finds that climate change places a disproportionate burden on communities of color in the United States. In spite of this evidence, important discussions taking place about climate change- such as how it is experienced, which policy solutions are most critical, and how we can prepare for and adapt to its impacts- often leave out the voices of the very communities most affected. In Massachusetts, for instance, numerous statewide surveys have gathered information about residents ' attitudes and beliefs about climate change, but to date, no studies have been designed to include the views of a …

A 23 M.Y. Record Of Low Atmospheric Co2, Ying Cui, Brian A. Schubert, A. Hope Jahren

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Current atmospheric CO2 concentration is known to be higher than it has been during the past ~800 k.y. of Earth history, based on direct measurement of CO2 within ice cores. A comparison to the more ancient past is complicated by a deficit of CO2 proxies that may be applied across very long spans of geologic time. Here, we present a new CO2 record across the past 23 m.y. of Earth history based on the δ¹³C value of terrestrial C3 plant remains, using a method applicable to the entire ~400 m.y. history of C3 photosynthesis on land. Across the …

Complete Genome Sequence Of Microcystis Aeruginosa Fd4, Isolated From A Subtropical River In Southwest Florida, Hidetoshi Urakawa, Taylor L. Hancock, Jacob H. Steele, Elizabeth K. Dahedl, Haruka E. Urakawa, Luka K. Ndungu, Lauren E. Krausfeldt, Barry H. Rosen, Jose V. Lopez

Biology Faculty Articles

We report the first complete genome of Microcystis aeruginosa from North America. A harmful bloom that occurred in the Caloosahatchee River in 2018 led to a state of emergency declaration in Florida. Although strain FD4 was isolated from this toxic bloom, the genome did not have a microcystin biosynthetic gene cluster.

Beyond Conflict: Exploring The Spectrum Of Human-Wildlife Interactions And Their Underlying Mechanisms, Saloni Bhatia, Stephen Mark Redpath, Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi, Charudutt Mishra

Open Access archive

Humans have lived alongside and interacted with wild animals throughout evolutionary history. Even though wild animals can damage property, or injure humans and domesticated animals, not all interactions between humans and wildlife are negative. Yet, research has tended to focus disproportionately on negative interactions leading to negative outcomes, labelling this human-wildlife conflict. Studies have identified several factors, ranging from gender, religion, socio-economics and literacy, which influence people's responses to wildlife. We used the ISI Web of Knowledge database to assess quantitatively how human-wildlife interactions are framed in the scientific literature and to understand the hypotheses that have been invoked to …

Effects Of Storms On Nitrate Removal And Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Fluvial Wetland Dominated Surface Water Flow Paths, Sarah Bower

Master's Theses and Capstones

Fluvial wetlands, wetlands connected to streams and rivers, can act as buffers in headwaters to limit nitrogen (N) from reaching downstream coastal ecosystems and causing problems, such as coastal eutrophication and loss of habitat. However, as significant hotspots for N removal, fluvial wetland dominated streams are also natural sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) to the atmosphere and contribute to global climate change. With ongoing changes to the flow regime from increased climate variability and intensification of storm events, as well as landscape development, the ability for fluvial wetland dominated streams to regulate downstream N fluxes may decline and come at …

Relationship Between Humidity And Physiology In Warm And Humid Conditions – A Literature Review, Yuliya Dzyuban

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Change in precipitation patterns caused by global warming will likely increase humidity in some areas of the world. Moreover, populations in tropical climates with already high humidity levels can experience an added stress on their health and thermal comfort due to an amplifying effect of heat and moisture. Humidity is a generic term commonly used to describe moisture in the air. However, there are numerous variables that describe different properties of humid air that can be used in scientific studies. While relative humidity remains the most used, it has several shortcomings associated with its high correlation with air temperature. Thus, …

Assessment Of Switchgrass-Based Bioenergy Supply Using Gis-Based Fuzzy Logic And Network Optimization In Missouri (U.S.A.), Gia Nguyen, Erik Lyttek, Pankaj Lal, Taylor Wieczerak, Pralhad Burli

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Bioenergy has been globally recognized as one of the sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. An assured supply of biomass feedstocks is a crucial bottleneck for the bioenergy industry emanating from uncertainties in land-use changes and future prices. Analytical approaches deriving from geographical information systems (GIS)-based analysis, mathematical modeling, optimization analyses, and empirical techniques have been widely used to evaluate the potential for bioenergy feedstock. In this study, we propose a three-phase methodology integrating fuzzy logic, network optimization, and ecosystem services assessment to estimate potential bioenergy supply. The fuzzy logic analysis uses multiple spatial criteria to identify suitable biomass cultivating regions. …

Effect Of Mixture Ratio Of Food Waste And Vetiver Grass On Biogas Production, Mayura Srikanlayanukul, Parinda Suksabye

Applied Environmental Research

The objectives of this research were to study the optimum percentage ratios of food waste and vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizaniodes(L.) Nash) for biogas production and process stability in anaerobic digestion system. The nine mixture ratios of food waste (FM) and vetiver grass (VG) were 100:0, 80:20, 75:25, 66.67:33.33, 50:50, 33.33:66.67, 25:75, 20:80 and 0:100. The biogas production was subjected to anaerobic batch with working volume of 1.8 L and had digestion time 60 d at 35 ± 2 °C. High specific methane yield of 0.30 L g-1 VS removed was obtained from the fermentation at ratio of FW:VG at 80:20 …

Assessments Of Nipa Forest Using Landsat Imagery Enhanced With Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photography, Tantus Piekkoontod, Bhumiphat Pachana, Karnjana Hrimpeng, Kitsanai Charoenjit

Applied Environmental Research

Nipa palms are exposed by the transformation of land use and land cover changes (LULCC) due to changes to aquaculture and orchards. Modern remote sensing for environmental monitoring of LULCC has been made easier by the use of high spatial resolution images, innovative image processing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The expense of high-resolution satellite imagery has resulted in investigators moving to open sources (e.g., Landsat), therefore, the interpretation of images at a medium resolution can be classified simply as LULCC classes and are constrained by the detection of small-scale disturbances. This research applied Landsat imagery with very high-resolution imagery …

Optimizing The Extraction Of Phenolic Compounds With High Antioxidant Activity From Mango Seed Kernel Wastes Using Response Surface Methodology, Francis D.C Siacor, Camila F.Y. Lobarbio, Evelyn B. Taboada

Applied Environmental Research

Mango seed kernels (MSK), which are waste streams in the mango processing industry, are good sources of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. These phenolic compounds are reported to have an increasing demand over the years in the quest for healthy ready-to-eat food and nutraceuticals. To recover these compounds from MSK, solid-liquid extraction (SLE) can simply be applied, although there is a knowledge gap in the systematic exploration of this process for mango-based phenolic compounds. In this work, phenolic compounds were extracted from MSK through SLE using ethanol-water solvent system. A statistical-based approach was used to evaluate …

Analysis And Modeling Of Physiologic Equivalent Temperature Of An Outdoor Environment, Adinife P. Azodo, Salami O. Ismaila, Femi T. Owoeye, Titus Y. Jibatswen

Applied Environmental Research

This study developed a model that depicts the relationship, strength, and direction of the causality between the predictor variables (microclimatic variables) and a response variable (ambient temperature) interpreted for the physiologic equivalent temperature of an environment. Data collected were microclimatic variables which include air circulation, relative humidity, mean radiant and ambient temperatures over land cover materials namely tarmac, grass, soil and concrete at the premises of Federal University Wukari, Taraba state of Nigeria at a guided height of 1.1 m. The data was collected using physical measurements with respect to time of the day; morning (8:00 - 9:00 am), afternoon …

Radar Quality Index For A Mosaic Of Radar Reflectivity Over Chao Phraya River Basin, Thailand, Nattapon Mahavik, Sarintip Tantanee

Applied Environmental Research

The weather radar is one of the tools that can provide spatio-temporal information for nowcast which is useful for hydro-meteorological disasters warning and mitigation system. The ground-based weather radar can provide spatial and temporal information to monitor severe storm over the risky area. However, the usage of multiple radars can provide more effective information over large study area where single radar beam may be blocked by surrounding terrain Even though, the investigation of the sever storm physical characteristics needs the information from multiple radars, the mosaicked radar product has not been available for Thai researcher yet. In this study, algorithm …

Locke’S Rebellious Progeny: Phenomenology And Ethics Of Leopardi’S A-Dialectical Materialism, Paolo Pellecchia

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

With this study I reconstruct a genealogy of the a-dialectic materialism that defines the production of 19^th-century Italian author Giacomo Leopardi and with which he criticizes canonical metaphysical stances. In this regard, I consider John Locke as the first instance of a philosophical outlook that stands as an alternative to the anthropocentrism demanded by traditional metaphysics. By focusing on An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and its significant influence on Leopardi’s philosophical and aesthetic work, I emphasize how Locke’s system finds a synthetic formulation in the hypothesis, at the time highly contested yet groundbreaking, that matter might be endowed …

The Emergence Of Ecosystems-Based Fisheries Management From The Groundfish Crisis In New England: An Actor-Network Theory Analysis, Catherine King

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This research investigates the emergence of ecosystems-based fisheries management (EBFM) for New England's marine fisheries in the context of the "crisis" that is escalating in its groundfish fishery. Close observations of the practices of fisheries scientists in coordination with managers at the New England Fisheries Management Council, with focus on how knowledge is being produced and employed, allows for understanding EBFM as an emergent construction produced by networks of associations between actants, human and non-human, material and semiotic, and not strictly as a policy prescription informed by experts on biology, ecology, and socio-economics. This analysis identifies and elucidates the multiplicity …

Data And Information As Our New Transport Infrastructure: An Exploration Into How The Modern Transport System Is Being Shaped By Information Communication Technology, Adam Davidson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation is focuses on the role that data and information has in creating and altering behavior related to transportation. To do so, it lays out a theoretical model of technological transition and then follows it up with three case studies. The theoretical model provides a structure to consider how different actors in our transportation ecosystem – users, firms, policy actors – mix with technological evolution to uphold or incrementally recreate our transportation landscape. The case studies stand on their own to highlight important findings about how data and information are impacting transportation scenarios, but collectively reinforce the theoretical models. …

Many Forms Of Black Death: Coal Extraction, Transnational Activism And The Value Of Life In Colombia, Oscar H. Pedraza Vargas

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

After the murder of the president and vice president of the coal union by paramilitaries in the department of Cesár, Colombia, the union is left adrift. Its fragility is only heightened when the person who decides to take over, is killed six months later. The union has been vocal on their critique of environmental destruction produced by coal and argues that their criticism is part of the reasons why they were targeted. Not far from there, in the department of Guajira, the conglomerate in charge of Cerrejón, the largest open-pit coal mine of South America, wants to divert a creek …

The Implementation Of The 5e Learning Cycle In Stem Freedom School Curriculum, Natasha Semanko

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The project titled “Implementation of the 5E Learning Cycle in STEM Freedom School Curriculum” was completed by Natasha Semanko in the summer of 2020. For this project, two weeks of new curriculum was created for STEM Freedom School. Each lesson followed the 5E inquiry cycle and focused on topics within the theme of Environmental Studies and Sustainability. Lesson topics included the water cycle, groundwater contamination, pollution in lakes/rivers/oceans, overfishing, and the food chain. In this curriculum, students create a presentation or poster of the material to share with families and visitors at the End of Year Showcase. The key influences …

Navigating In Numerous Video Data: User Interface Design For An On-Camera Video Analytics Engine, Sabriya Maryam Alam

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Video analytics powered by artificial intelligence shows high promise in making our society smarter. Harnessing large amounts of video data, however, requires the development of processing systems demonstrating high performance and high efficiency. To this end, this work has contributed to a video analytics system powered by artificial intelligence for object detection and recognition. Rather than streaming all the video frames to the cloud, the system analyzes images on-camera and only returns those of interest to the cloud. This edge analytics research-grade software is available, but it lacks a simple web interface for general use by scientists, engineers, and other …

Evaluation Of Sustainability Of Irish Road Transport Sector And Its Comparison With European Union Countries, Megha Jose Kandappasery, Boban Djordjevic, Bidisha Ghosh

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Transport sustainability has been the topic of discussion since the past two decades and its importance has been recognised by most countries. Therefore, strategies and policies incorporating sustainable growth and development have been initiated as a measure to steer transport growth in the right path. This notion has led researchers to develop many ways of measuring transport sustainability, especially the frequently used road transport sector. Measurement of sustainability of the transport sector has been carried out using different methodologies in the past. Considering the complexity and multi-dimensional aspects of sustainability, multi-criteria analysis decision making tools have been considered in this …

Usft Services Assessment Rpt Geoscience Impact Environmental Scan 2017.2020, Usf Libraries

All Assessment Data

No abstract provided.

African Wildlife, Eco-Tourism & Covid, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

African wildlife conservation faces increasing economic pressure as a result of the loss of tourism due to the pandemic and other looming threats.

Navigation Risk Evaluation Of The Northeast Passage Based On The Entropy Weight Topsis Model, Fengde Qu

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

The Road That Made Mountains: Highway Design And The Production Of Landscape In Vail, Colorado, James T. Lindberg

Theses - ALL

Constructed between 1972 and 1978, Vail Pass is a 16-mile section of Interstate-70 that crosses the continental divide in the Central Mountains of Colorado. It connects the ski resort communities of Copper Mountain and Vail and has played a significant role in the development of tourism in the Colorado High Country. The design and planning of Vail Pass occurred at a time of increased public concern over environmental issues, and was built following a series of significant pieces of federal environmental legislation. Within this context, highway designers and engineers sought to harmoniously integrate the highway into its natural setting.

This …

Economic Analysis Of Vessel Sox Emission Reduction Measures In The Context Of China, Peng Guan

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Long Term Air Quality Analysis In Reference To Thermal Power Plants Using Satellite Data In Singrauli Region, India, H. K. Romana, Ramesh P. Singh, D. P. Shukla

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The exponentially growing population and related anthropogenic activities have led to modifications in local environment. The change in local environment, evolving pattern of land use, concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols alter the energy balance of our climate system. This alteration in climate is leading to pre-mature deaths worldwide. This study analyses the air quality of Singrauli region, Madhya Pradesh, India for the past 15 years. Otherwise known as Urjanchal “the energy capital” of India has been declared as critically polluted by CPCB. The study provides an updated list of thermal power plants in the study area and their emission …

Fall 2020 Bsu Today Conference Program, Bemidji State University

TLC Start-Up Showcase

TLC Presents Virtual BSU Today 2020! (Aug. 19, 2020)

Foliar Application Of Low Concentrations Of Titanium Dioxide And Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles To The Common Sunflower Under Field Conditions, Marek Kolenčík, Dávid Ernst, Martin Urík, Ľuba Ďurišová, Marek Bujdoš, Martin Šebesta, Edmund Dobročka, Samuel Kšiňan, Ramakanth Illa, Qian Yu, Huan Feng, Ivan Černý, Veronika Holišová, Gabriela Kratošová

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Nano-fertilisers have only recently been introduced to intensify plant production, and there still remains inadequate scientific knowledge on their plant-related effects. This paper therefore compares the effects of two nano-fertilisers on common sunflower production under field conditions. The benefits arising from the foliar application of micronutrient-based zinc oxide fertiliser were compared with those from the titanium dioxide plant-growth enhancer. Both the zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were delivered by foliar application in nano-size at a concentration of 2.6 mg·L⁻¹. The foliar-applied nanoparticles (NPs) had good crystallinity and a mean size distribution under 30 nm. …