Public involvement processes, conflict, and challenges for rural residents near intensive hog farms

Large-scale hog operations have generated intense conflict in rural communities in North America, and more recently in Alberta, Canada. The structure and process of public involvement processes for intensive hog operations influences how well the core issues of concern are addressed by public officials and pork producer proponents. This study reports interview findings from 43 key players in intensive hog operation controversies across four cases in Alberta, and summarizes four inter-related areas of the public participation processes that affect levels of trust among stakeholders, thereby altering the perceived fairness and the balance of power: (1) the timing of the public participation process; (2) information sharing; (3) accessibility of the process; and (4) accountability of public institutions and policies. Recent changes to the regulations of intensive livestock operations will unlikely address core issues of conflict without incorporating the above elements of democratic public involvement processes.     

The Effect of Hydroxyl Radical Generation on Free-Radical Activation of TMP Fibers

The purpose of this work was to study the mechanisms involved in free radical activation of thermal mechanical pulp (TMP) fibers with the ultimate goal of developing methods for bonding wood fiber without the use of traditional adhesives. The generation of hydroxyl radicals in a mediated Fenton system was studied using electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping techniques and indirectly through chemiluminescence measurement. The activation of TMP fibers was also evaluated by ESR measurement of free phenoxy radical generation on solid fibers. The results indicate that low molecular weight chelators can improve Fenton reactions, thus in turn stimulating the free radical activation of TMP fibers. However, it was also shown that excessive and prolonged free radical treatment may cause the destruction of fiber phenoxy radicals. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential for application, but also the complexity of free radical chemistry in biological materials, especially with regard to the chelation of transition metals and the interaction between free radicals.     

Recent Invasions of the Gulf of Maine: Three Contrasting Ecological Histories

Introduced species are common members of estuarine communities where their role as competitors and predators is of concern, This paper examines the invasion of Gulf of Maine benthic habitats by the ecologically similar alien invertebrates Styela clava, Botrylloides diegensis , and Membranipora membranacea .
Styela clava increased slowly in abundance at study sites in Beverly, Massachusetts and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We found no evidence of competitive dominance by S. clava , even though it is the competitive dominant in similar habitats elsewhere. Botrylloides diegensis rapidly became a dominant species after its arrival in the Great Bay Estuary, but this dominance was short-lived. B. diegensis persists in the estuary as an early colonist of primary space and as an epibiont on secondary substrates in established communities. Membranipora membranacea became the dominant epiphyte on laminarian kelps within two years. Although M. membranacea overgrew the native epiphytes Obelia geniculata and Electra pilosa in the overwhelming majority of encounters these native species are more common on other algal hosts. Therefore, competitive dominance is not likely a factor in the successful invasion of the Gulf of Maine by M. membranacea .
These species provide evidence for opposing views of the role of competition in mediating community invasion. We show that ecological similarity among species is not an accurate criterion to predict either the mechanism of invasion or the means of persistence. In addition, these data indicate that biological invasions must be examined on broad spatial and temporal scales; short-term or narrowly focused studies can lead to incorrect conclusions.     

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Editorial

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Advanced REACH Tool (ART): calibration of the mechanistic model

The mechanistic model of the Advanced Reach Tool (ART) provides a relative ranking of exposure levels from different scenarios. The objectives of the calibration described in this paper are threefold: to study whether the mechanistic model scores are accurately ranked in relation to exposure measurements; to enable the mechanistic model to estimate actual exposure levels rather than relative scores; and to provide a method of quantifying model uncertainty. Stringent data quality guidelines were applied to the collated data. Linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate the association between relative ART model scores and measurements. A random scenario and company component of variance were introduced to reflect the model uncertainty. Stratified analyses were conducted for different forms of exposure (abrasive dust, dust, vapours and mists). In total more than 2000 good quality measurements were available for the calibration of the mechanistic model. The calibration showed that after calibration the mechanistic model of ART was able to estimate geometric mean (GM) exposure levels with 90% confidence for a given scenario to lie within a factor between two and six of the measured GM depending upon the form of exposure.     

Growth and survival differences among native,introduced and hybrid blue mussels (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus</Emphasis> spp.): genotype,environment and interaction effects

The Mytilus species complex consists of three closely related mussel species: Mytilus trossulus, Mytilus edulis, and Mytilus galloprovincialis, which are found globally in temperate intertidal waters. Introduction of one or more of these species have occurred world-wide via shipping and aquaculture. Stable hybrid zones have developed in areas where these species have come into contact, making the invasion process complex. On the east coast of Vancouver Island (VI), British Columbia (BC), Canada, the native (M. trossulus) and introduced species (M. edulis and M. galloprovincialis), as well as their hybrid offspring, occur sympatrically. This study used a common environment experiment to quantify growth and survival differences among native, introduced, and introgressed mussels on VI. Mussels were collected from an area of known hybridization and reared in cages from May to August 2006. The cages were deployed at a local site as well as a remote site (approximately 150 km apart), and the mussels were genotyped at two species-specific loci. Growth and survival, as fitness measures, were monitored: native, introduced, and introgressed individuals were compared between and within sites to determine whether growth and survival were independent of site and genotype. Overall, mussels reared at Quadra Island performed better than locally-reared mussels at Ladysmith. Specifically, introgressed mussels reared at Quadra Island performed better than all genotypes reared at Ladysmith, as well as better than native mussels reared at Quadra Island. Differences in survival and growth among the native, introduced and introgressed mussels may serve to explain the complex hybridization patterns and dynamics characteristic of the VI introgression zone.     

Handedness, Hand Roles, and Hand Injuries at Work

Hand injuries form a significant proportion of all workplace injuries. They are costly to treat, and lead to significant loss of time at work. This paper has two parts. First, there is a review of the literature that discusses prevalence of hand injury, and the significance of hand roles and handedness in industrial injuries. The second part represents an initial attempt to document the roles of the two hands in a particular industry, the metal manufacturing industry. The purpose of this survey of 30 different work stations in seven different industrial plants was to see whether there is a significant bias in terms of movement requirements for one or the other hand, leading to a possible differential risk of injury for the left and right hands. Overall, there was no clear bias favoring the right hand in activities assigned to the hands in seven different movement categories (MTM). However, the location of emergency controls favored the right hand unequivocally. The implications of biases favoring the left/right hand for safety of machine operation are discussed in the light of current findings on left/right hand performance in right- and lefthanders.     

The national biological impact assessment program∗

The need to safely field test genetically modified organisms is a critical step in the sequence of research leading to the commercialization of biotechnology in agriculture. To address this need the United States Department of Agriculture has established the National Biological Impact Assessment Program (NBIAP) to facilitate the safe field testing of genetically modified organisms. NBIAP fosters safe field testing of genetically modified organisms through a computerized network for information exchange, facilitation of biological monitoring techniques and by providing support for research in biosafety to develop new field testing methods and better predictive models.     

Industry,incidents and casualties in South West England: what is their relationship and are there social inequalities in their distribution?

This ecological study aimed, through the analysis of 1,146 wards in the South West of England (1998–2002), firstly, to examine whether chemical incidents and public casualties are more likely near complex industry (emissions to land, air or water: Integrated Pollution Control industry, IPC) or industry with emissions to air only (Local Air Pollution Control industry, LAPC). Secondly, the study examined whether industry, incidents and casualties are found close to deprivation. Social inequalities were examined across quintiles of wards. Fifty-two wards (4.5%) contained an IPC industry and 712 (62.1%) an LAPC. Incidents occurred in 132 wards (11.5%), with casualties in 59 (5.1%). Chemical incidents occurred more frequently in wards with LAPC (152, IPC 20); the same was true of casualties (211, 12). With each additional LAPC site in a ward, the risk of an incident rose by 22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8–38%), suggesting a dose–response relationship. No clear social inequalities were found. In the South West of England, the public are more likely to be affected by an incident occurring at a simple LAPC site rather than a complex IPC site. This has implications for emergency planning which, at present, focusses most attention on the larger, more complex IPC sites.