bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Book Review: Positive Impact Forestery: A Sustainable Approach to Managing Woodlands, Thom J. McEvoy
Authors: Steele Jesse ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Book Review: Positive Impact Forestery: A Sustainable Approach to Managing Woodlands, Thom J. McEvoy. Minnesota Historical Society Press, St. Paul, MN (2004).
A Visual Obstruction Technique for Photo Monitoring of Willow Clumps
Authors: Boyd Chad S. , Svejcar Tony J. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Quantifying woody plant biomass has often proven difficult in the field for reasons that include irregular plant morphology, between-observer variability, and lack of standardized techniques. One potential solution to these challenges is the use of ground-based photographic technology. Our objective was to develop a photo-based technique that could be used to monitor changes in willow (Salix spp.) biomass over time and estimate changes in biomass associated with herbivory. We focused on young willows (2 m in height) because this size class represents a critical life history stage for establishment of willow clumps. In August 2000 and 2001, we harvested 25 willow (Salix boothii Dorn.) clumps and clamped them in front of a fluorescent orange photoboard (150 X 200 cm). Clumps were defoliated of leaves and tips of current annual stem growth (referred to as ‘‘biomass’’) by hand in 4 to 7 increments and photographed before and after each removal. Images were scanned to digital format and the degree of photoboard obstruction was determined with Adobe® Photoshop® 4.0 software. Regression analysis indicated that visual obstruction of the photoboard was a good predictor of total clump biomass (r2 = 0.89, P < 0.01) as well as biomass remaining following sequential defoliations (r2 = 0.92, P < 0.01). These results suggest our technique provides a reliable index of both willow biomass and utilization within the size class of willow tested. Results might differ with larger willows and increased woody biomass. The technique minimizes observer bias and provides a permanent photo record that can be reanalyzed at a later date if necessary.
Creating Weed-Resistant Plant Communities Using Niche-Differentiated Nonnative Species
Authors: Carpinelli M. F. , Sheley R. L. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Enhancing desired species establishment and persistence is central to rehabilitating invasive plant-infested rangeland. We hypothesized that nonnative desired species (alfalfa [Medicago sativa L., var. Arrow], intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium fHostg Barkworth D.R. Dewey], and crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum fL.g Gaertn., var. Hycrest]) increase as desired species richness within seeding mixture increases, and spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) decrease as desirable species richness increases. We simultaneously tested the degree of niche differentiation among desired species. Experiments consisted of 7 seeding monocultures and combinations. Treatments were monocultures of each desired species (3 plots), all combinations of 2 desirable species (2 250 seeds m-2 per species; 3 plots), and 1 plot containing all 3 desirable species (1 500 seeds m-2 per species). Monocultures or mixtures were replicated 4 times by seeding each treatment with four background densities of spotted knapweed (1 250, 2 500, 3 750, and 7 500 seeds m-2; 7 treatments X 4 background densities = 28 plots). Analysis included regression with the 7 desired species monocultures or mixtures as a fixed effect and spotted knapweed sowing density as a continuous effect. All desired species established had either low or no negative influence on their neighbor, and differed in niche after 7 years of growing in association. Increasing richness of desired species led to increased productivity. Spotted knapweed density and biomass were low across all monocultures and mixtures at the productive site because shade and litter of desired species reduced light availability to the rosette-forming invasive weed. Combining crested wheatgrass and alfalfa provided lower spotted knapweed density and biomass more than did monocultures or grass mixtures because these 2 species appeared to occupy complementary niches. Increased niche occupation by nonnative desirable species may increase resource use and productivity, thus minimizing establishment and dominance of unwanted invasive plants during rehabilitation on arid, marginally productive rangeland sites.
Poplar Afforestation Effects on Grassland Structure and Composition in the Flooding Pampas
Authors: del Pilar Clavijo M. , Nordenstahl Marisa , Gundel Pedro E. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Tree establishment can have multiple effects on the production and biodiversity of rangelands. In mixed (C3-C4) grasslands, winter deciduous trees could favor cold-season species in the understory, improving forage availability in the most critical time of the year. Yet, they could also promote local extinctions and invasions, risking native biodiversity. We evaluate the effect of poplar planting on the structure, composition, and diversity of native grasslands in the Flooding Pampas of Argentina using a network of 9 pairs of adjacent nonafforested and afforested stands (age: 23-25 years, density: 625-1 111 plants ha-1) located in different topographic positions. Phytosociological surveys, basal cover measurements, and tree volume were performed at all stands. Live plant cover was 42% lower under poplars (P < 0.05). Litter cover followed an opposite trend leaving bare soil proportions unchanged with afforestation. Afforested stands had a higher proportion of C3 species compared with nonafforested ones. Little evidence of local extinctions or invasions with afforestation was found. Poplar understories had significantly higher nonnative species cover but similar numbers and lower species diversity (Shannon-Weaver index) yet similar species richness when compared with their nonafforested counterparts. Beyond the diversification of ranch outputs, deciduous tree plantations in the Flooding Pampas can offer a good forage source in their understory that complements nonafforested natural grasslands in quality and seasonality.
Heifer Performance Under Two Stocking Rates on Fourwing Saltbush-Dominated Rangeland
Authors: Derner Justin D. , Hart Richard H. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The efficiency of livestock production in shortgrass steppe may be increased by grazing fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens [Pursh] Nutt)-dominated rangeland in late fall and/or early spring, but there is a paucity of information concerning stocking rates and animal gains. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of light and moderate stocking rates on weight gains of heifers grazing twice-replicated 16-ha pastures in late fall (November to mid-January) from 1996 to 1998, and in early spring (April to mid-May) from 1996 to 1999. Stocking rates for late fall (light: 1.3-1.5 ha animal unit month-1 [AUM-1] vs. moderate: 0.8-1.0 ha AUM-1) and early spring (light: 3.7-4.0 ha AUM-1 vs. moderate: 2.3-2.5 ha AUM-1) were achieved using 5 (for light grazing) and 8 (for moderate grazing) Hereford heifers, with initial average weights of 405 +/- 5.7 (mean +/- 1 SE) kg for the late fall grazing period and 267 +/- 3.8 kg for the early spring grazing period across the study years. Average daily gain was 58% greater for light (0.65 +/- 0.06 kg head-1 d-1) compared to moderate (0.41 +/- 0.05 kg head-1 d-1) stocking rates in the late fall grazing period, and 115% greater with light (0.59 +/- 0.06 kg head-1 d-1) than with moderate (0.27 +/- 0.07 kg head-1 d-1) stocking rates in the early spring grazing period. Beef production did not differ between stocking rates for either the late fall (16.4 +/- 3.9 vs. 17.4 +/- 4.5 kg gain ha-1, light vs. moderate stocking rates) or early spring (9.6 +/- 2.7 vs. 7.6 +/- 4.8 kg gain ha-1) grazing periods. We suggest that land managers employ light stocking rates during both grazing periods to obtain adequate individual animal gains without sacrificing gains per unit land area. Lengthening the grazing season in the shortgrass steppe should be economically desirable to land managers because feed costs could be lowered and animal gains obtained through minimal input.
Evaluation of California’s Rangeland Water Quality Education Program
Authors: Larson Stephanie , Smith Kelly , Lewis David ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The University of California Cooperative Extension surveyed rangeland owners and managers who attended California’s Ranch Water Quality Planning (RWQP) Short Course in 1995-2002. The survey evaluated the effectiveness of this industry-supported voluntary program by evaluating indicators for short course impacts, including 1) rancher participation in the short courses, 2) completion of nonpoint source self-assessments, 3) completion of ranch water quality plans, and 4) implementation of best management practices (BMPs). This report describes the RWQP short course and ranch water quality plan content including the nonpoint source pollution self-assessment and monitoring. Questionnaires were mailed to 777 short course participants on 5 August 2002 (Round 1). A second survey (Round 2) was mailed to nonrespondents on 7 April 2003. Round 1 and 2 surveys resulted in a 52.9% total adjusted response rate. Citing privacy issues, 28 respondents refused to complete the survey. Round 1 respondents had a significantly higher rate of BMP implementation, but Round 2 respondents invested more personal funds in BMPs. There was a significant relationship (P < 0.001) between plan completion and implementation of BMPs. While the majority of the respondents completed ranch water quality plans and self-assessments, and implemented BMPs, less than 50% of the respondents implemented a monitoring program. Fifty percent of the respondents raised beef cattle, and the majority managed ranches less than 5 000 acres in size. The results of this survey suggest that industry-initiated, voluntary programs supported by education are effective in helping rangeland owners and managers address nonpoint source pollution on their properties. In addition, social surveys are a viable method for landowners to confidentially self-document identified pollution sources and BMP implementation, and to avoid formal reporting to regulatory agencies.
Timing of Vegetation Sampling at Greater Sage-Grouse Nests
Authors: Hausleitner Doris , Reese Kerry P. , Apa Anthony D. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Habitat management guidelines for greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, have been formulated, in part, based on studies of nest site selection. However, these guidelines may not represent conditions when the female initiates nesting because sampling occurs posthatch (> 30 days after nest initiation) to avoid disturbing incubating females. In 2002, we investigated differences in 22 habitat variables at initiation and hatch. Sampling was at 30 randomly selected active nests marked in 2001. There was no significant difference in structural or cover data (P > 0.05). Grass height and percent grass cover differed (P < 0.05) based on timing of sampling. Grass heights at the nest bowl and at 1 m from the edge of the nest bowl were 10 and 9 cm at initiation and 16 and 13 cm at hatch, respectively. Percent grass cover increased from 4% to 6% cover from initiation to hatch. Sampling occurred in a dry year; differences in grass heights and percent cover may be more pronounced in years of normal precipitation. Preliminary results indicated current habitat sampling techniques conducted posthatching adequately described selection of structural components of shrub height, visual obstruction, and percent cover of shrubs, bare ground, litter, and forbs at the nest site at initiation. Data need to be verified for other study areas and under different climatic conditions.
Economics of Western Juniper Control in Central Oregon
Authors: Aldrich Gwendolyn A. , Tanaka John A. , Adams Richard M. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The economic and ecological benefits and control costs of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook) management on rangelands are evaluated using a discrete-time, dynamic economic model developed to depict 4 representative ranches in the John Day region of north-central Oregon. The model’s optimization criterion is to maximize the net present value of profits through decisions regarding herd size and composition, cattle sales, and the manipulation of forage production through juniper management practices. Projections are made regarding the impacts of economically optimal juniper management on wildlife populations, stream flows, and erosion levels. Results consistently showed that juniper management options resulted in larger equilibrium herd sizes and greater economic returns. Erosion levels were substantially lower in scenarios that contained juniper management options. Economically optimal juniper management decisions led to increased quail and elk populations, but generally resulted in decreased deer populations. The results indicate there are both economic and ecological benefits from controlling western juniper on Oregon rangelands.
Quantifying Declines in Livestock Due to Land Subdivision
Authors: Boone Randall B. , BurnSilver Shauna B. , Thornton Philip K. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

In Kajiado District, Kenya, ranches held communally by Maasai are being subdivided into individually owned parcels. Livestock owners know that herds on parcels that are too small cannot be viable, but the decline in the capacity of parcels to support livestock has not been quantified. We used ecosystem modeling to represent the effects of subdivision as Maasai group ranches were divided into 196, 10, 5, 3, and 1 km2 parcels. Within the spatially explicit, process-based SAVANNA ecosystem model, we used maps that constrained the movements of livestock to be within parcels. We also modeled cooperative grazing associations, giving groups of herders access to parcels composed of dispersed or contiguous 1 km2 parcels. Vegetatively productive areas had higher carrying capacities when isolated because resident animals did not compete with animals moving in seasonally from other areas. In a ranch of low but heterogeneous productivity, we saw a steady decline in capacity under subdivision, until 25% fewer livestock could be supported on the ranch of 1 km2 parcels relative to the intact ranch. On a ranch with both low productivity and heterogeneity, 20% fewer livestock were supported when parcels were still 10 km2. The most productive ranch studied saw small population changes with subdivision. Participation in grazing associations was helpful in the ranch intermediate in productivity and heterogeneity, but not other ranches. Subdivision of Kajiado lands might be inevitable, but our results show the relative benefits to stakeholders if land owners and policy makers act to maintain open or flexible access to individually held parcels.
Book Review: Against the Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Our Civilization, Richard Manning
Authors: Thrasher Devon ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Book Review: Against the Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Our Civilization, Richard Manning. North Point Press, New York (2004).
A Laser Point Frame to Measure Cover
Authors: VanAmburg L. K. , Booth D. T. , Weltz M. A. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The point sample method has been a standard plotless method for measurement of ground cover on ragelands since it was introduced by Levy in 1927. The instrument most commonly used to do point sampling is the point frame. Since its introduction, the point frame has undergone numberous modifications to improve efficiency and ease of use. This article introduces a laser point frame (LPF) that was designed by the Agricultural Research Service for measurement of ground cover and utilizes lasers in place of conventional metal pins. A comparative pilot study was conducted on a shortgrass prairie in northern Colorado to compare data collected using a magnetic point frame (MPF) with data collected using the LPF. Cover by species was measured from identical plots using 100 points per plot for each point frame, and sampling times were recorded for each plot. Correlations between cover data collected using the MPF and the LPF were relatively high (r2 = 0.62-0.81). Total average vegetative cover measured with the MPF was 35%, compared with 40%, using the LPF. Cover of total grasses, C4 grasses, C3 grasses, and litter, were significantly greater with the LPF method. Total sampling time per 100 points was almost half using the LPF compared with the MPF. The LPF was easy to use, efficient for measurement of cover, and is a potential replacement for conventional point frames.
Hydrologic Response of a Central Nevada Pinyon-Juniper Woodland to Prescribed Fire
Authors: Rau Benjamin M. , Chambers Jeanne C. , Blank Robert R. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

This study was conducted to determine the effect of prescribed fire on surface hydrology in Great Basin pinyon-juniper (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frém.—Juniperus osteosperma Torr.) woodlands. Infiltration rates were measured using a single ring infiltrometer over an elevation gradient (2 103, 2 225, and 2 347 m) at 3 microsites (tree canopy, shrub canopy, and interspace) and 2 tree cover types (intermediate and high) in August 2001, before a spring prescribed burn conducted in May 2002, and then following the prescribed burn in August 2002. Infiltration experiments were used to calculate saturated hydraulic conductivity (K[ϴs]) rates, and water drop penetration times were determined to evaluate the development of water-repellent soils. Infiltration rates before the burn were greater at the low elevation than at the mid and high-elevation study sites because of differences in measured soil texture. Before burning, the infiltration and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K[ϴs]) rates measured on interspace and shrub canopy microsites were less than on tree canopy microsites at the midelevation study site (2 225 m). Following burning, the intermediate tree cover tree canopy microsites had greater infiltration rates than interspace microsites; all other microsites were similar to each other. No significant differences in K(hs) rates existed among the microsites after burning. However, on the higher elevation study site before the burn, the interspace microsites had final infiltration rates less than the tree canopy microsites, and burning caused no deviation from this trend. Saturated hydraulic conductivity rates at the high elevation did not differ by microsite before the burn, but after burning interspace microsites had K(ϴs) rates less than tree canopy microsites. Burning increased water repellency of surface soils (0-3 cm) for all cover types. Spring burning in Pinyon-juniper woodlands may produce a hydrologic response depending on surface soil texture and vegetation cover.
Water Quality at Wildlife Water Sources in the Sonoran Desert, United States
Authors: Rosenstock Steven S. , Bleich Vernon C. , Rabe Michael J. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Surface water is an important limiting factor for wildlife populations in desert environments where water sources are uncommon or have been lost or degraded due to human activities. To address this need, wildlife water developments have been constructed in many areas of the southwestern United States, particularly in the Sonoran Desert. Previous studies of wildlife water developments are limited and critics have asserted that water quality at these facilities may be deleterious to animal health. Water quality was evaluated at natural, modified natural, and constructed water sources in the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona and southeastern California. Samples were taken from primary sources of surface water available to wildlife, including natural tinajas (rock basins), modified tinajas, springs, rainwater catchments (‘‘guzzlers’’), and wells. Water samples were tested for 21 chemical constituents known to affect animal health, blue-green algal toxins, and a presumed waterborne pathogen, the protozoan avian parasite Trichomonas gallinae. Seven chemical constituents were absent or below detection limits. The majority of constituents detected (10/13, 77%) occurred at levels below recommended guidelines for domestic animals. Elevated pH, alkalinity, and fluoride were found in rainwater catchments, springs, and wells, respectively, but at relatively low levels unlikely to affect animal health. Blue-green algal toxins were not detected and there was no evidence of Trichomonas. Although specific water quality guidelines for wildlife are lacking, these results do not support hypothesized negative impacts to wildlife populations from developed water sources.
Use of Felled Junipers to Protect Streamside Willows From Browsing
Authors: Matney Casey A. , Boyd Chad S. , Stringham Tamzen K. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Willow (Salix) communities are important components of riparian ecosystems. However, browsing by livestock and wildlife species can negatively impact willow size and abundance, and make restoration efforts difficult. A common solution has been fencing of affected willows to exclude ungulates, but fencing is expensive and may not complement desirable land management strategies. An alternative to fencing is the use of structures that limit access to streamside willows, without excluding ungulate access to the entire riparian zone. We examined the use of felled western juniper trees (Juniperus occidentalis Hook) placed over streamside willow shrubs. Four replicates of felled western juniper treatments (covered) and noncovered treatments were applied to a 1.2-km length of stream in southeastern Oregon. Willows (< 2 m) within treatment areas were censused, tagged, examined for evidence of browse-use, and measured for maximum height during August 2002, before treatment. Posttreatment measurements were made in August and October 2003. Results indicate that by August 2003 (posttreatment) the average growth of willows in covered treatments was 25 cm (480%) greater than in noncovered treatments. By October 2003 (posttreatment), more shrubs were browsed in noncovered (84%) than covered (39%) treatments. Our data suggest that covering small willow shrubs (< 2 m tall) with felled western juniper is an effective deterrent to browsing.
Resilience of Willow Stems After Release From Intense Elk Browsing
Authors: Baker Bruce W. , Peinetti H. Raul , Coughenour Michael B. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The resilience of willow (Salix monticola Bebb, Salix geyeriana Anderss., Salix planifolia Pursh) stems released from intense elk (Cervus elaphus) browsing in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, was quantified in 1998 with a retrospective study that compared biomass, number, and length of segments on willow stems located inside (protected) and outside (browsed) elk exclosures. Segment biomass increased each year after protection by about 3-12 g year-1 on browsed stems and 10-27 g year-1 on protected stems. The number of segments on stems was similar for browsed and protected stems in the first 2 years after exclusion but differed in the next 3 years, when they increased exponentially on protected stems. Nearly 80% of segments on browsed stems were < 5 cm in length in 1994-1997, which caused stems to develop a short-hedged morphology. Protected stems had more long segments and fewer short segments than browsed stems for the first 3 years, but then increased their number of short segments as stems became tall and bushy. Thus, evidence suggests short-hedged willow stems are highly resilient and can rapidly recover height and vigor after protection from intense elk browsing.
Infiltration and Sediment Rates Following Creosotebush Control With Tebuthiuron
Authors: Perkins Steven R. , McDaniel Kirk C. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The effects of chemical creosotebush (Larrea tridentata [D.C.] Cov.) control on infiltration rates, wetting-front depth, and sediment production were examined in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico. Study sites were treated with aerial applications of tebuthiuron (N-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-N,N’-dimethylurea) as part of a brush control program administered by the US Bureau of Land Management. Study sites were equally distributed among 3 geographic regions and included 6 sites treated 5-9 years ago, 6 sites treated 15-18 years ago, and 12 contiguous nontreated sites. Paired 1-m2 rainfall simulation plots encompassed the creosotebush canopy zone and adjacent interspace area with runs made using simulated rainfall at 9.1 cm hr-1 for 30 minutes. Runoff and sediment were collected every 5 minutes, and wetting-front depths were measured at the end of rainfall simulations. Infiltration rates were significantly higher in the canopy zone than in interspace areas and were highest in 5-9-year-old sites, intermediate in nontreated sites, and lowest in 15-18-year-old sites. Regression equations showed that infiltration rates within the canopy zone were positively correlated with litter mass, and cover of litter, shrubs, and grasses. Within interspace areas, infiltration rates were most correlated with aggregate stability and cover of litter, rocks, and grasses. Wetting-front depths were significantly deeper in the canopy zone than in interspace areas for all treatments. Sediment concentration (kg L-1) was higher in the canopy zone than interspace, but total sediment yield was not significantly different between these areas or affected by any treatments.
Conditioning Sheep to Graze Duncecap Larkspur (Delphinium occidentale)
Authors: Ralphs Michael H. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Sheep are more resistant than cattle to larkspur poisoning and thus may be used as a biological tool to graze larkspur to reduce cattle poisoning. Sheep readily graze larkspur in its mature stages, but if they are to be an effective management tool, they must graze it in the early growth stages before cattle enter the allotment. The objective of this study was to determine if sheep could be positively conditioned to graze duncecap larkspur (Delphinium occidentale (S.Wats) S. Wats) early in its growth stages. Eighteen ewes were divided into 3 groups of 6 ewes each. During conditioning, group 1 was offered potted larkspur plants then were gavaged with glucose, the second group was exposed to larkspur plants together as a group (social facilitation), and the third group was an untreated control. In the preference test, the glucose group ate more duncecap larkspur than the social facilitation and control groups. The glucose and control groups were taken to duncecap larkspur-infested mountain rangeland to test the conditioning. In the field grazing trial, the glucose group consumed more larkspur than the control group, but it occurred later in the grazing trial when larkspur was in flower and after desirable forages had been consumed. High levels of diterpenoid alkaloids in larkspur and other alternative palatable forages may have caused ewes to reject larkspur at the beginning of the trial. The sheep were positively conditioned to graze larkspur, but the amount consumed and the timing of consumption was not sufficient to prevent potential cattle poisoning.
Classification of Willow Species Using Large-Scale Aerial Photography
Authors: Petersen Steven L. , Stringham Tamzen K. , Laliberte Andrea S. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

The distribution characteristics of willow (genus Salix) can be evaluated with the use of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) technologies, and spatial analysis. This information can be used to better understand willow ecology, such as willow community composition, species relationships, and associations with other landscape attributes (i.e., soils, elevation gradients, water sources, and landscape position). Aerial photographs of a willow-dominated riparian area located in southeastern Oregon were taken in November 1999 at a 1:2 400 scale. Four basic techniques were used to separate willow species from each other in both color and infrared images using ERDAS Imagine® GIS. Willow species included Geyers willow (Salix geyeriana Anderson), Booth willow (Salix boothii Dorn), and Lemmon’s willow (Salix lemmonii Bebb). The techniques used to analyze aerial photographs included image resampling (degrade), image filtering (smoothing), unsupervised classification, and supervised classification. Highest accuracy was obtained using a supervised classification of the color images smoothed with a low-pass convolution filter (84.6% accuracy). Spectral samples were collected using a polygon digitizing method, which had superior results compared to the seed or region growing method. The infrared image was least effective in separating the plants into species classes (58.6% accuracy). This may be due to the lack of the blue band in the infrared image.
Long-Term Grazing Effects on Genetic Variability in Mountain Rough Fescue
Authors: Fu Yong-Bi , Thompson Don , Willms Walter ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Festuca campestris Rydb. (mountain rough fescue) is a dominant grass species in the montane grasslands of western Canada. Little is known about the genetic diversity of this plant and the effects of long-term grazing on the genetics of populations. The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was applied to compare the genetic diversity of fescue plants at adjacent grazed and protected areas for 3 populations spread across a longitudinal range: Stavely in the foothills, Milroy in the Rocky Mountain trench, and Goose Lake on the interior plateau. Five AFLP primer pairs were used to screen the tiller samples of about 39 plants in each grazed (or ungrazed) area, and 139 polymorphic AFLP bands were scored for each individual sample. These scored bands had frequencies ranging from 0.03 to 0.98 with an average of 0.56. About 81% of the total AFLP variation resided within the populations. The Goose Lake population had the lowest level of AFLP variation, but genetically was the most distinct. Four AFLP bands were possibly associated with chromosomal segments significant for grazing resistance. Comparisons of AFLP variation between grazing and nongrazing samples revealed variable and relatively small impacts of the long-term grazing on the genetic diversity of the grazed populations. The AFLP variation of grazed samples was 1.5% lower at Goose Lake, 2.2% higher at Milroy, and not different at Stavely. If developing diverse germplasm for rangeland seedings is desired, one should sample across geographic space rather than combining materials with and without historical grazing pressure.
Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on an Arid Grassland in the Colorado Plateau Cold Desert
Authors: Schwinning Susanne , Starr Benjamin I. , Wojcik Nathan J. ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Historically, ecosystems in the southwestern United States derived much of their nitrogen (N) from N-fixation in biological soil crusts. Today, these regions have highly reduced crust cover, and atmospheric deposition may be the dominant source of N. This study investigates the effects of increased nitrogen deposition on nitrogen uptake, photosynthesis, and growth of the two main forage grasses on the Colorado Plateau, galleta (Hilaria jamesii [Torr.] Benth.) and Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides, [Roemer J.S. Schultes] Ricker ex Piper). Plots were fertilized for 2 years with 0, 10, 20, and 40 kg nitrogen ha-1 annually, up to 43 the estimated current annual deposition rate, in 2 applications per year (spring and summer). Half-plots were fertilized with either (NH4)2SO4 in KCl solution or with KNO3 solution to determine possible differences in the effects of NH4+ and NO3 in this system. Neither grass increased leaf photosynthesis or tiller size due to supplemental N. Galleta also did not increase tiller density, while estimated live tiller density in Indian ricegrass increased up to 50% in the second year. Nitrogen applications accelerated the onset of water stress in both species presumably through stimulating ecosystem transpiration. Nitrogen form did not significantly affect any aspect of grass physiological performance or growth. However, leaf nitrogen in NH4+/-fertilized plants was significantly more isotopically enriched than in NO3-fertilized plants, suggesting that both species incorporated NH4-N only after it had been enriched by soil turnover. Seedlings of Russian Thistle (Salsola iberica, Sennen Pau), a noxious annual invasive weed on western rangelands, grew rapidly in the first summer on plots with 40 kg nitrogen ha-1 per annum, and more so on plots fertilized with NO3 than with NH4+. The study suggests that changes in the timing and amount of nitrogen input may alter community composition through facilitating the invasions of summer-active noxious weeds.
Book Review: The River Runs Black. The Environmental Challenge to China’s Future, Elizabeth C. Economy
Authors: Zhao Shan ,   Society for Range Management
Published: June 2016

Book Review: The River Runs Black. The Environmental Challenge to China’s Future, Elizabeth C. Economy. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York (2004).
The Angelic and Didactic Roles of the Virgin Mary in Lyric vii of the Old English Advent Lyrics
Authors: Jacobs Philip
Published: June 2016

This article explores a literary record, the Old English Advent Lyrics, in the reception history of the literary portrayals of the Virgin Mary in order to determine if there are distinctive features in its portrayal of this subject. In the process a review is made of the five poems within this text where Mary is a subject. This examination reveals that the poet relied more upon words, phrases, and ideas about Mary found in earlier liturgical and literary portraits of the Virgin Mary from the Roman Latin liturgy and period theological writings to construct these portrayals of Mary than upon related portrayals of her found in Latin texts of the canonical Scripture. Further, it also leads to the conclusion that, building upon these prior portraits, the poet has expanded Mary's role in order to offer her more veneration. While evidence is manifest in the second, fourth, ninth, and twelfth poems in the Advent Lyrics, it is especially apparent in the seventh poem, where Mary appears as an angelic messenger and spiritual teacher in her relationship with Joseph.
Decision Tree Approach to Accident Prediction for Highway–Rail Grade Crossings: Empirical Analysis
Authors: Zheng Zijian , Lu Pan , Tolliver Denver
Published: June 2016

Highway–rail grade crossings (HRGCs) are critical spatial locations that are of utmost importance for transportation safety because traffic crashes at these locations are often catastrophic. Compared with traditional regression models, the decision tree is more advanced in its ability to handle large data sets, deal with missing values, and not require predefined underlying relationships between target variables and predictors. Thus the decision tree approach is explored in this study, which evaluates HRGC crashes. Because crashes at HRGCs are rare, the majority of data will have a zero-crash classification. A traditional decision tree method will have a bias toward the majority classification, which will result in a good prediction for the majority class but a relatively poor prediction for rare events. To improve model accuracy with the decision tree model, especially for forecasting rare events, previous probability and decision profit values are adjusted. Historical crash data of North Dakota State from 1996 to 2014 are analyzed, and factors relevant to HRGC crashes are investigated. Results reveal that 23 variables are considered as contributors to crashes at highway–rail crossings. Results indicate that railway traffic, highway traffic, and train speed are main influential factors and have a positive impact on crash likelihood. Presence of train detecting and advance warning systems is helpful in reducing crash risk. Predicting accuracies of the model are 84.1% and 77.2% for event class and nonevent class, respectively.
System Requirements for Electrically Conductive Concrete Heated Pavements
Authors: Abdualla Hesham , Ceylan Halil , Kim Sunghwan , Gopalakrishnan Kasthurirangan , Taylor Peter C. , Turkan Yelda
Published: June 2016

Ice and snow on airport pavements can contribute to flight cancellations and delays. Traditional deicing methods that involve chemical or salt application can cause environmental or structural damage to airport infrastructure. Electric heated pavements, in which electric heating energy is transferred to the pavement via embedded insulated conductors or conductive materials to maintain surface temperatures above freezing, have gained attention as a promising technology for mitigating snow and ice accumulation. The objective of the study was to identify the requirements of an electrically conductive concrete (ECON) heated pavement system to achieve cost-effective performance. A small-scale prototype ECON heated slab was designed and constructed with the optimized ECON mixture recently developed at Iowa State University and then tested to determine its performance and efficiency. The energy consumption and energy cost of the prototype ECON slab were found to be the lowest of the electric heated pavement systems developed to date. The cost-effective two-layer design also can be implemented for large-scale ECON-based heated pavements by using a precast concrete technique, concrete overlay, and two-lift paving. From the prototype ECON slab results, a design flow chart and three-dimensional visualizations were developed to discuss the design and construction procedures for real, large-scale applications.
Extensive–form games with heterogeneous populations: solution concepts, equilibria characterization, learning dynamics
Authors: Gatti Nicola , Panozzo Fabio , Restelli Marcello
Published: June 2016

The adoption of Nash equilibrium (NE) in real–world settings is often impractical due to its too restrictive assumptions. Game theory and artificial intelligence provide alternative (relaxed) solution concepts. When knowledge about opponents’ utilities and types are not available, the appropriate solution concept for extensive–form games is the self–confirming equilibrium (SCE), which relaxes NE allowing agents to have wrong beliefs off the equilibrium path. In this paper, we provide the first computational and learning study of the situations in which a two–agent extensive–form game is played by heterogeneous populations of individuals that repeatedly match (e.g., eBay): we extend the SCE concept, we study the equilibrium computation problem, and we study how these equilibria affect learning dynamics. We show that SCEs are crucial for characterizing both stable states of learning dynamics and the dynamics themselves.
Path relinking based intensification strategies for a simulation-optimization scheduling problem arising in hydroinformatics
Authors: Nonato Maddalena , Peano Andrea
Published: June 2016

Water contamination events in a urban hydraulic network can be handled by operating two types of network devices: valves, to divert flow, and hydrants, to dispel flow. No remote control can activate these devices, which must be operated on site, therefore teams of technicians have to move from device to device on the city streets. The response to the contamination corresponds to a feasible schedule of the devices’ activation times, which can be modelled as a multiple Travelling Salesman Problem; the quality of the schedule is the volume of contaminated water consumed by the users until water quality returns to safety levels. This quantity is highly sensitive to the schedule and is computed by way of a computational demanding hydraulic simulation, which takes about 5 seconds for the Ferrara’s hydraulic network serving around 130’000 citizens. Previous studies proved that minimizing the makespan, as it would be intuitive in case of emergency, yields worse solutions than random approaches. Genetic Algorithms were proposed to optimize the schedules, however they converge to local optima, depending on the initial population. We propose to apply Path Relinking to explore the space between pairs of local optima; the experiments showed that this technique improves the local best. This work is a follow up of what presented at AIxIA 2015, enpowered with a light introduction to Path Relinking and its applications. Moreover, the experimental campaign has been extended on a larger set of scenarios, i.e. 42 contamination scenarios, to gain more insight into the performance of the proposed methodology.
Does therapeutic electrical stimulation improve function in children with disabilities? A comprehensive literature review
Authors: Bosques Glendaliz , Martin Rebecca , McGee Leah , Sadowsky Cristina
Published: June 2016

The use of therapeutic electrical stimulation for medical purposes is not new; it has been described in medical textbooks since the 18th century, but its use has been limited due to concerns for tolerance and lack of research showing efficacy. The purpose of this review is to discuss the potential clinical applicability, while clarifying the differences in electrical stimulation (ES) treatments and the theory behind potential benefits to remediate functional impairments in youth. The literature review was performed as follows: A total of 37 articles were reviewed and the evidence for use in pediatric diagnoses is reported. The synthesis of the literature suggests that improvements in various impairments may be possible with the integration of ES. Most studies were completed on children with cerebral palsy (CP). Electrical stimulation may improve muscle mass and strength, spasticity, passive range of motion (PROM), upper extremity function, walking speed, and positioning of the foot and ankle kinematics during walking. Sitting posture and static/dynamic sitting balance may be improved with ES to trunk musculature. Bone mineral density may be positively affected with the use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) ergometry. ES may also be useful in the management of urinary tract dysfunction and chronic constipation. Among all reviewed studies, reports of direct adverse reactions to electrical stimulation were rare. In conclusion, NMES and FES appear to be safe and well tolerated in children with various disabilities. It is suggested that physiatrists and other healthcare providers better understand the indications and parameters in order to utilize these tools effectively in the pediatric population. MeSH terms: Electrical stimulation; child; review.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Clinical Laboratories
Authors: Rehnuma Behterin , Ibrahim Mohammad , Nasir Tareak Al
Published: June 2016

Health care delivery is no longer a simple process of examining the patient and giving him a prescription. Over the years there has been rapid expansion in the various branches of health care services. As part of this expansion process and explosion of scientific medical knowledge, laboratory diagnosis has gained tremendous importance in todays practice. Especially in our country since the beginning of 80s we have been witnessing significant growth in laboratory services. Through quality management process the laboratory can ensure that the result being issued by the laboratory is reliable to allow decisions to be taken with confidence. Quality control and quality assurance are parts of quality management. Quality control is focused on fulfilling quality requirements, whereas quality assurance is focused on providing confidence that quality requirements are fulfilled. By utilizing quality control practices, a laboratory is able to find and correct flaws in the analytical processes of a lab before potentially incorrect patient results are released.Pulse Vol.8 January-December 2015 p.62-65
The job analysis of Korean nurses as a strategy to improve the Korean Nursing Licensing Examination
Authors: Park In Sook , Suh Yeon Ok , Park Hae Sook , Ahn Soo Yeon , Kang Ahn , Ko Il Sun
Published: June 2016

Purpose: This study aimed at characterizing Korean nurses’ occupational responsibilities to apply the results for improvement of the Korean Nursing Licensing Examination. Methods: First, the contents of nursing job were defined based on a focus group interview of 15 nurses. Developing a Curriculum (DACOM) method was used to examine those results and produce the questionnaire by 13 experts. After that, the questionnaire survey to 5,065 hospital nurses was done. Results: The occupational responsibilities of nurses were characterized as involving 8 duties, 49 tasks, and 303 task elements. Those 8 duties are nursing management and professional development, safety and infection control, the management of potential risk factors, basic nursing and caring, the maintenance of physiological integrity, medication and parenteral treatments, socio-psychological integrity, and the maintenance and improvement of health. Conclusion: The content of Korean Nursing Licensing Examination should be improved based on 8 duties and 49 tasks of the occupational responsibilities of Korean nurses.
On the Difficulties of Translating Haiku into English
Authors: Record Alison Kirby , Abdulla Adnan K.
Published: June 2016

The haiku is among the most concrete of poetic experiences, focusing on objects and sensations encountered in the natural world, including human nature. This is one reason why, while all literary texts, and especially poetry, can pose enormous difficulties to translators, haiku has unique ones. This essay is a pragmatic investigation into how issues of language, prosody, and cultural expectation can be resolved to recreate in English a living poem that retains the source text's content, emotional nuance, and aesthetic atmosphere. It proposes the idea of ‘aesthetic equivalence’ and applies it to a number of renowned haiku considered notoriously resistant to English rendition. A number of previous English translations of them are also critiqued.
On the Mutual Definability of the Notions of Entailment, Rejection, and Inconsistency
Authors: Wybraniec-Skardowska Urszula
Published: June 2016

In this paper, two axiomatic theories T− and T′ are constructed, which are dual to Tarski’s theory T+ (1930) of deductive systems based on classical propositional calculus. While in Tarski’s theory T+ the primitive notion is the classical consequence function (entailment) Cn+, in the dual theory T− it is replaced by the notion of Słupecki’s rejection consequence Cn− and in the dual theory T′ it is replaced by the notion of the family Incons of inconsistent sets. The author has proved that the theories T+, T−, and T′ are equivalent.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Evaluation of Carbon Supported Pt-Co Bimetallic Catalysts Prepared by Electroless Deposition and Modified Charge Enhanced Dry Impregnation
Authors: Tengco John , Tavakoli Mehrabadi Bahareh , Zhang Yunya , Wongkaew Akkarat , Regalbuto John , Weidner John , Monnier John
Published: June 2016

Carbon-supported bimetallic Pt-Co cathode catalysts have been previously identified as higher activity alternatives to conventional Pt/C catalysts for fuel cells. In this work, a series of Pt-Co/C catalysts were synthesized using electroless deposition (ED) of Pt on a Co/C catalyst prepared by modified charge enhanced dry impregnation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) characterization of the base catalyst showed highly dispersed particles. A basic ED bath containing PtCl62− as the Pt precursor, dimethylamine borane as reducing agent, and ethylenediamine as stabilizing agent successfully targeted deposition of Pt on Co particles. Simultaneous action of galvanic displacement and ED resulted in Pt-Co alloy formation observed in XRD and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XEDS) mapping. In addition, fast deposition kinetics resulted in hollow shell Pt-Co alloy particles while particles with Pt-rich shell and Co-rich cores formed with controlled Pt deposition. Electrochemical evaluation of the Pt-Co/C catalysts showed lower active surface but much higher mass and surface activities for oxygen reduction reaction compared to a commercial Pt/C fuel cell catalyst.