title: Agrobiodiversity Enhancement for the sustainability of the tropical uplands:  An evaluation of agricultural land use  in Liliw, Laguna, Philippines

authors: Wagan, Amparo M.

subjects: Agrobiodiversity Enhancement ABDE

abstract: Agrobiodiversity Enhancement (ABDE) is a strategy that has been advanced for preventing environmental degradation without losing agricultural productivity. However, there is not yet sufficient evidence to support the important role that ABDE might have for managing agricultural land use in the tropical uplands. This research is an attempt to help fill this knowledge gap. The general aim of the thesis was to explore the potential of ABDE as a management alternative for agricultural land use in the uplands in terms of environmental protection, productivity and farmer acceptability. To achieve the aim, a methodological framework for evaluating agricultural land use in the uplands was developed. The methodology aimed at allowing one to understand the influence of agricultural land use on natural resources and farm productivity and the social factors that will most likely influence land users to enhance agrobiodiversity of their production. The methodological framework provided a minimum set of criteria and indicators that can be used for assessing agricultural land uses in the uplands. Main criteria for the evaluation included protection, productivity, viability security and acceptability. The following indicators were included: Shannon Diversity Index, Depth of Topsoil, Soil Organic Matter, Soil Nitrate, Crop Yields, Net Income, Trend in Income and Harvest Loss, Farmer Traits, Farm Characteristics and Farmer perceptions on the influence of farming on the health of natural resources and of the farm workers. The methodological framework also includes a range of methods and techniques for gathering environmental, economic and social data in the uplands and indicates circumstances under which each might best be utilized. 

Using the methodological framework, agricultural land use in an upland area in Liliw, Laguna Philippines was evaluated for protection of natural resources, specifically of the soil quality and for farm productivity and for the social factors that influence the way agricultural lands are managed. Results showed integration of horticultural trees and crops have potential for protecting thickness of the topsoil, reducing nutrient wastage and is more economically profitable than monocropping systems. Specifically, coconut exhibited importance in maintaining thickness of topsoil while lanzones played major role in augmenting farm income and as buffer to income losses from annual crops. Older farmers and women were found associated with agricultural land use with diversified production in the case study area. The Logit model analysis further showed that leadership quality and land ownership are the social factors that will likely influence integration of horticultural trees and crops in the uplands. Other personal characteristics like years of experience in farming, access to other sources of livelihood, land size, awareness of land degradation and effect of agrochemicals on heath of the farm workers have no likely influence on agricultural lands with integration of horticultural trees and crops. SWOT analysis of agricultural land use in the case study site showed that despite the environmental and economic advantages of agricultural lands with diversified production, there are weaknesses and barriers to its further development and implementation. From this assessment, implications for developing and implementing an ABDE intervention program for the tropical uplands were drawn.

text: Agrobiodiversity Enhancement for the sustainability of the tropical uplands:  An evaluation of agricultural land use  in Liliw, Laguna, Philippines Agrobiodiversity Enhancement (ABDE) is a strategy that has been advanced for preventing environmental degradation without losing agricultural productivity. However, there is not yet sufficient evidence to support the important role that ABDE might have for managing agricultural land use in the tropical uplands. This research is an attempt to help fill this knowledge gap. The general aim of the thesis was to explore the potential of ABDE as a management alternative for agricultural land use in the uplands in terms of environmental protection, productivity and farmer acceptability. To achieve the aim, a methodological framework for evaluating agricultural land use in the uplands was developed. The methodology aimed at allowing one to understand the influence of agricultural land use on natural resources and farm productivity and the social factors that will most likely influence land users to enhance agrobiodiversity of their production. The methodological framework provided a minimum set of criteria and indicators that can be used for assessing agricultural land uses in the uplands. Main criteria for the evaluation included protection, productivity, viability security and acceptability. The following indicators were included: Shannon Diversity Index, Depth of Topsoil, Soil Organic Matter, Soil Nitrate, Crop Yields, Net Income, Trend in Income and Harvest Loss, Farmer Traits, Farm Characteristics and Farmer perceptions on the influence of farming on the health of natural resources and of the farm workers. The methodological framework also includes a range of methods and techniques for gathering environmental, economic and social data in the uplands and indicates circumstances under which each might best be utilized. 

Using the methodological framework, agricultural land use in an upland area in Liliw, Laguna Philippines was evaluated for protection of natural resources, specifically of the soil quality and for farm productivity and for the social factors that influence the way agricultural lands are managed. Results showed integration of horticultural trees and crops have potential for protecting thickness of the topsoil, reducing nutrient wastage and is more economically profitable than monocropping systems. Specifically, coconut exhibited importance in maintaining thickness of topsoil while lanzones played major role in augmenting farm income and as buffer to income losses from annual crops. Older farmers and women were found associated with agricultural land use with diversified production in the case study area. The Logit model analysis further showed that leadership quality and land ownership are the social factors that will likely influence integration of horticultural trees and crops in the uplands. Other personal characteristics like years of experience in farming, access to other sources of livelihood, land size, awareness of land degradation and effect of agrochemicals on heath of the farm workers have no likely influence on agricultural lands with integration of horticultural trees and crops. SWOT analysis of agricultural land use in the case study site showed that despite the environmental and economic advantages of agricultural lands with diversified production, there are weaknesses and barriers to its further development and implementation. From this assessment, implications for developing and implementing an ABDE intervention program for the tropical uplands were drawn.

year: 2008

title: Several new methods for the development of latent and blood fingerprints

authors: Caldwell, Jonathan Paul

abstract: Several new methods for the development of latent and blood fingerprints have been investigated as well as a preliminary appraisal of a technique for the estimation of post-mortem interval and age of blood stains.

The utilisation of coordinatively-unsaturated (six-coordinate) europium and terbium complexes as reactive reagents for the direct visualisation of latent fingerprints on porous and non-porous surfaces has been investigated. The main complex investigated in this study was tris(6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionato) europium(III) [Eu(fod)₃] and was the only one which proved to be effective in the fluorescent visualisation of latent fingerprints using a one step process. Eu(fod)₃ was found to work for fingerprints on porous paper and to a limited extent on aluminium drink cans and galvanized iron.

The use of the two and three ringed analogues of ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) for the fluorescent enhancement of latent fingerprints was also investigated. Solution trials proved that the reaction products of 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (NDA) and 2,3- anthracenedicarboxaldehyde (ADA) with analine produce favourable “red-shifts” in emission wavelengths which would make them stand out from the blue background emissions commonly obtained from paper. However, poor results were obtained when NDA and ADA were trailed on latent fingerprints on paper.

2,2’-azino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonate(6)] diammonium salt (ABTS), ortho-phenylenediamime (OPD), and para-phenylenediamine (PPD) have been found to be
successful reagents in the visual enhancement of blood fingerprints. Colours obtained from the oxidised products are green, orange, and purple respectively. A comparison with the commonly-used and hazardous 3,3’-diaminobenzidine (DAB) has proved all three reagents to be effective, safer alternatives with the added bonus of ABTS being (as far as is known) non-toxic. 

A preliminary appraisal has indicated that fluorescein diacetate (FDA) may be useful in estimating the post-mortem interval or age of blood stains and blood prints.

Of the range of techniques and processes investigated with the aim of improving fingerprint visualisation, some proved unsuccessful, yet provided some useful information. These included attempts to improve the colloidal gold technique of latent fingerprint visualisation, increase the chemiluminescence from luminol-treated blood fingerprints in the presence of bromide ions, increase the colour development of ABTS-treated blood fingerprints using an albumin antibody conjugated to peroxidase, an attempt to force fluorescein into the lipid component of a latent fingerprint by acidification of an alkaline solution of fluorescein, and an attempt to stain blood fingerprints with a fluorescent protein stain called SYPROᵀᴹ Orange.

text: Several new methods for the development of latent and blood fingerprints Several new methods for the development of latent and blood fingerprints have been investigated as well as a preliminary appraisal of a technique for the estimation of post-mortem interval and age of blood stains.

The utilisation of coordinatively-unsaturated (six-coordinate) europium and terbium complexes as reactive reagents for the direct visualisation of latent fingerprints on porous and non-porous surfaces has been investigated. The main complex investigated in this study was tris(6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionato) europium(III) [Eu(fod)₃] and was the only one which proved to be effective in the fluorescent visualisation of latent fingerprints using a one step process. Eu(fod)₃ was found to work for fingerprints on porous paper and to a limited extent on aluminium drink cans and galvanized iron.

The use of the two and three ringed analogues of ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) for the fluorescent enhancement of latent fingerprints was also investigated. Solution trials proved that the reaction products of 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (NDA) and 2,3- anthracenedicarboxaldehyde (ADA) with analine produce favourable “red-shifts” in emission wavelengths which would make them stand out from the blue background emissions commonly obtained from paper. However, poor results were obtained when NDA and ADA were trailed on latent fingerprints on paper.

2,2’-azino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonate(6)] diammonium salt (ABTS), ortho-phenylenediamime (OPD), and para-phenylenediamine (PPD) have been found to be
successful reagents in the visual enhancement of blood fingerprints. Colours obtained from the oxidised products are green, orange, and purple respectively. A comparison with the commonly-used and hazardous 3,3’-diaminobenzidine (DAB) has proved all three reagents to be effective, safer alternatives with the added bonus of ABTS being (as far as is known) non-toxic. 

A preliminary appraisal has indicated that fluorescein diacetate (FDA) may be useful in estimating the post-mortem interval or age of blood stains and blood prints.

Of the range of techniques and processes investigated with the aim of improving fingerprint visualisation, some proved unsuccessful, yet provided some useful information. These included attempts to improve the colloidal gold technique of latent fingerprint visualisation, increase the chemiluminescence from luminol-treated blood fingerprints in the presence of bromide ions, increase the colour development of ABTS-treated blood fingerprints using an albumin antibody conjugated to peroxidase, an attempt to force fluorescein into the lipid component of a latent fingerprint by acidification of an alkaline solution of fluorescein, and an attempt to stain blood fingerprints with a fluorescent protein stain called SYPROᵀᴹ Orange.

year: 1999

title: "Kia Mauri Tau!" Narratives of recovery from disabling mental health problems

authors: Lapsley, Hilary

subjects: Maori

abstract: A bicultural research team at the University of Waikato successfully applied for funding from the Health Research Council to do a qualitative research project in the area of ‘pathways to wellness’. The Mental Health Narratives Project set out to gather forty narratives of mental ill health, recovery and life after recovery by interviewing Maori and non-Maori women and men who once had a disabling mental health problem. We aimed to describe journeys to mental health, identify key themes in accounts of the recovery process and describe the impact of the experience of mental ill health on life after recovery.

text: "Kia Mauri Tau!" Narratives of recovery from disabling mental health problems A bicultural research team at the University of Waikato successfully applied for funding from the Health Research Council to do a qualitative research project in the area of ‘pathways to wellness’. The Mental Health Narratives Project set out to gather forty narratives of mental ill health, recovery and life after recovery by interviewing Maori and non-Maori women and men who once had a disabling mental health problem. We aimed to describe journeys to mental health, identify key themes in accounts of the recovery process and describe the impact of the experience of mental ill health on life after recovery.

year: 2002