Media Framing of Zoos and Aquaria: From Conservation to Animal Rights

Zoos and aquaria are controversial institutions, vilified by animal rights activists and championed by those who value their entertainment and educational resources. Examining media frames of these institutions can identify public perspectives. A qualitative content analysis was conducted for print and online magazine articles that discussed zoos and aquaria in North America. Sixty-five articles were analysed, and eight different frames were identified. The diverse frames highlight the differing roles of zoos and aquaria. Most of the articles were positive and supportive of zoos; 11% were negative. Animal welfare was the most common frame, from both positive and negative perspectives. Other frames, such as conservation and education, were less prevalent in the sample than expected, since zoos and aquaria portray themselves to be leaders in these fields. The unbalanced media discourse and small publication rate over the four years sampled suggest opportunities for increased media engagement on zoos and aquaria.     

A Simplified Method of Estimating Atmospheric Diffusion Parameters

Studies at Brookhaven National Laboratory have revealed reliable relationships among the statistical properties of the three-dimensional wind components. Combining these results with functions relating these wind statistics to atmospheric diffusion has produced a simplified system for estimating diffusion parameters from a variety of instrument arrangements. The system is described; examples of its application are given.     

Field Testing and Computer Modeling of an Oxygen Combustion System at the EPA Mobile Incinerator

The LINDE® Oxygen Combustion System has been demonstrated successfully at the EPA Denney Farm site as part of the modified EPA mobile incinerator. This paper describes the field testing results and computer modeling of the LINDE system. The oxygen system enables the EPA unit to incinerate dioxin and PCB contaminated soil at a consistent rate of 4000 lb/h—200 percent of the original maximum capacity. The pure oxygen combustion system improved the thermal efficiency of the incinerator by over 60 percent and reduced the flue gas volume dramatically. Therefore, the dust carryover problem was mitigated. The destruction and removal efficiencies of hazardous wastes exceeded EPA requirements.

The design of the proprietary burner allows the use of up to 100 percent oxygen in place of air for incineration with improvements over conventional oxy-fuel burners. As a result, the temperature distributions in the rotary kiln are uniform and NO_x emissions are low.

The oxygen combustion system, controlled by a programmable controller, provided much better response and flexibility than conventional air based systems. The system generated a stable flame and responsed well to the transient conditions of the rotary kiln. Kiln puff occurrence was virtually eliminated in the operation of the mobile incinerator.

A computer model of the incinerator was developed and used for the process design of the LINDE system. The model predicted the test results reasonably well. This model can be a useful tool in the design and operation of rotary kiln incineration systems.     

WATERSHED CLASSIFICATION USING CANONICAL CORRESPONDENCE ANALYSIS AND CLUSTERING TECHNIQUES: A CAUTIONARY NOTE1

ABSTRACT: Watershed classification using multivariate techniques requires the incorporation of continuous datasets representing controlling environmental variables. Often, out of convenience and availability rather than importance to the structure of the system being modeled, the environmental data used originate from a variety of sources and scales. To demonstrate the importance of appropriate environmental data selection, classifications of six‐digit hydrologic units (1:24,000) across selected geographic areas within the Interior Columbia River Basin were produced. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to select and test environmental variables important in predicting Rosgen stream types and valley bottom classes. Then, hierarchical agglomerative clustering was used to group (classify) watersheds based on these variables. Statistically significant results were derived from the use of organized classification data with presumed predictive relationships to watershed properties, and a random distribution of environmental variables from the same datasets provided similar results. The results contained herein demonstrate that these analysis techniques do not necessarily select meaningful variables from a broad spectrum of data and that significant results are easily generated from randomly associated data. It is suggested that classifications produced using these multivariate techniques, especially when using multi‐scale data or data of unknown significance, are subject to invalid inferences and should be used with caution.     

The Prediction of the Rise of a Hot Cloud from Field Experiments

The rise of a hot cloud resulting from combustion of a solid propellant rocket fuel at ground level has been determined from lapse-time movies and visual aircraft observations. The field tests were conducted near the 420 foot meteorological tower under various atmospheric conditions. A method of predicting the maximum thermal rise of a cloud, based on source and meteorological parameters, is described. Comparisons with other theoretical formulations are presented.     

The potential of financial incentives to enhance householders' kerbside recycling behaviour

Although the successful enhancement of householders' participation in kerbside recycling schemes is essential for household waste recycling schemes to reach their desired levels of achievement, our understanding of householders' responses to the various incentives available to waste managers is incomplete. In particular, whether and how the recycling behaviour of householders may be favourably altered through imposition of financial penalties or rewards is not fully understood. Surveys of householders' attitudes in the London Borough of Havering, served by a kerbside co-mingled survival bag recycling scheme, showed they might be better encouraged to recycle more through improvements to structural and promotional aspects of the recycling scheme than through imposition of financial incentives. If financial incentives were to be imposed to enhance kerbside recycling, householders preferred: (1) rewards to penalties, and (2) community-based rewards and local taxation rebates to other or individual rewards. Given the attitudes of householders and the resources that would be needed to monitor their recycling behaviour as a basis for delivering financial incentives, it is suggested that the priority for enhancing recycling should be to make appropriate improvements in the infrastructure and support of the kerbside scheme and service.     

Groundwater models and wellfield management: a case study

The highly permeable sand and gravel of the Little Miami River Valley Aquifer System near Milford, Ohio provide the community with a high-yielding source of drinking water. While this hydrogeologic setting is ideal from a water quantity standpoint, it is greatly vulnerable to contamination. The future viability of the well-field came into question when it was discovered that the wellfield was contaminated with volatile organic contaminants, leaving the City with the costly cleanup. Milford’s perseverance is also challenged by having to deal with a deteriorating treatment plant. Furthermore, larger water suppliers in the area have threatened the community’s independence. The question facing this community, and many other smaller communities, was whether to surrender its independence or invest in their future. The city has decided to keep their wellfield and to conduct a groundwater study. The objectives of the study were to: (a) collect and evaluate hydrogeological data; (b) develop a conceptual model of the groundwater system; (c) construct groundwater flow and geochemical models; (d) delineate wellhead protection area; and (e) develop a comprehensive management program. Collected hydro-geologic data served as a basis for the conceptual model. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) three-dimensional groundwater flow model MODFLOW was used in conjunction with MODPATH, a particle-tracking program, to identify travel times and paths of contaminants. This approach ultimately lead to the delineation of the wellhead protection area (WHPA). Geochemical mixing models were constructed using the USGS PHREEQC to verify the flow model results. The use of both flow and geochemical models to delineate the WHPA and to manage groundwater resources is a unique approach. The modeling results provide the City of Milford a management tool in making difficult policy decisions regarding future land use, siting for new monitoring and production wells, and identification of potential pollution sources.     

A Strategic Framework for Responding to Coral Bleaching Events in a Changing Climate

The frequency and severity of mass coral bleaching events are predicted to increase as sea temperatures continue to warm under a global regime of rising ocean temperatures. Bleaching events can be disastrous for coral reef ecosystems and, given the number of other stressors to reefs that result from human activities, there is widespread concern about their future. This article provides a strategic framework from the Great Barrier Reef to prepare for and respond to mass bleaching events. The framework presented has two main inter-related components: an early warning system and assessment and monitoring. Both include the need to proactively and consistently communicate information on environmental conditions and the level of bleaching severity to senior decision-makers, stakeholders, and the public. Managers, being the most timely and credible source of information on bleaching events, can facilitate the implementation of strategies that can give reefs the best chance to recover from bleaching and to withstand future disturbances. The proposed framework is readily transferable to other coral reef regions, and can easily be adapted by managers to local financial, technical, and human resources.     

Comparison of two estimation methods for surface area concentration using number concentration and mass concentration of combustion-related ultrafine particles

Recent research has suggested that the adverse health effects caused by nanoparticles are associated with their surface area (SA) concentrations. In this study, SA was estimated in two ways using number and mass concentrations and compared with SA (SA_meas) measured using a diffusion charger (DC). Aerosol measurements were made twice: once starting in October 2002 and again starting in December 2002 in Mysore, India in residences that used kerosene or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking. Mass, number, and SA concentrations and size distributions by number were measured in each residence. The first estimation method (SA_PSD) used the size distribution by number to estimate SA. The second method (SA_INV) used a simple inversion scheme that incorporated number and mass concentrations while assuming a lognormal size distribution with a known geometrical standard deviation. SA_PSD was, on average, 2.4 times greater (range = 1.6–3.4) than SA_meas while SA_INV was, on average, 6.0 times greater (range = 4.6–7.7) than SA_meas. The logarithms of SA_PSD and SA_INV were found to be statistically significant predictors of the logarithm of SA_meas. The study showed that particle number and mass concentration measurements can be used to estimate SA with a correction factor that ranges between 2 and 6.