This manuscript reports on an exploration of whether shade provision is valued by urban users of cycling infrastructure. A description of the elicitation process has been outlined in order to build a general but detailed analysis of the different stages included in the exercise of attribute elicitation. As a departure point, a thorough literature review was conducted in order to establish a state of the art’s scenario. Different kinds of attributes that have been evaluated previously within discrete choice experiments and other relatable methods linked to bicycle commuting and bike route choices were compiled, however, shade appeared as an overlooked attribute. From this, a theoretical and methodological approach based on welfare economics and, the concept of willingness to pay as an indicator of shade provision’s value is proposed for the context of Neiva, Colombia, a medium size city in a developing country. Preliminary focus groups were conducted to build a surveying tool for eliciting the proposed attribute and gathered more contextual information. Finally, a pilot survey was launched in order to test the perceived value of shade and its importance for commuters. Special attention is devoted to the description of how the tools and methods were used in order to help future efforts. Several sets of data and information were reviewed and contrasted in order to build an accurate image of the current status of shade within the local commuters’ minds, what barriers were found while executing the research plan, and what can be some important implications for future urban planning studies and sustainable mobility research. Several different commuting conditions and individual realities were found, nonetheless, the existence of valuing shade provision was pervasive across all the surveyed university students and graduated staff. Furthermore, the benefits were perceived as socially broad, even by motorized, non-walking, and cycling commuters. Other valuable insights were found, like the effect of corruption when asking for policy implementation, further research needs to be conducted due to sampling limitations, the scarcity of previous research aimed at the subject, and for gathering more information about how acknowledging the attribute might be potentially critical for the future.

Desired forest conditions, or DFCs, are recently created parameters which strive to create diverse stands of hardwoods of various species and age classes, along with varying densities and canopy gaps, through the use of uneven-aged silvicultural methods and repeated stand entries. Little research has been conducted to examine residual stand composition and hardwood regeneration after DFC installment. The objectives of this study were to characterize forest overstory and midstory conditions after DFC treatments, assess the natural regeneration, and to characterize available light in the treatment and control areas. Residual stand conditions after application of DFC harvest guidelines indicate that shade tolerant species will be the future occupants of the sites and oaks will diminish or disappear over time. This documented initial forest response to DFC treatments can be used by forest and wildlife habitat managers when assessing the potential outcomes of DFC management.

The urban heat island, UHI, is a phenomenon that occurs in all cities. This phenomenon is an effect of us humans and the environments we have built. What happens in cities are that they re-emit the suns heat and other energies trapping them in this heat island.  The re-emitting happens through the pavement of the city, lack of greenery, roads and how the city is built and its geometry. Cities with skycrapers and of high density see a greater impact of the urban heat island where the wind flow is reduced and more heat is trapped and stored. The UHI is worst experienced in places with a very hot climate, such as the arid desert climate with extreme temperatures year round, like in the UAE and Dubai.  It is vital to tackle the UHI effect problem, because it puts people at danger. Many lives are shed each year due to heat strokes, that can be reduced if we take this problem into consideration when we design our cities. The UHI effect can be reduced by simple yet effective steps.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This study evaluated the color stability of bleach shade composites when activated by a high-intensity quartz tungsten-halogen (QTH) light source after 1 day, 7 days, and 30 days of exposure to different conditions. The color stability of bleach shade composites depends on various factors, namely, the resin material, the shade of the resin material, the storage method, and the storage time.

Question: Has the basal area of pine and spruce in a protected forest changed between 1937 and 2022? And has there been a change in size distribution?Location: Säby Västerksog, a pine-dominated coniferous forest protected for 100 years.Method: A part of the reserve was mapped, and diameter at breast height, using the same methods as used in 1937.Results: Basal area had increased for both pine and spruce but mostly for pine. More pine than spruce had survived from 1937. On the other hand, more spruce than pine had become established after 1937. The size distribution of pine had shifted towards larger trees, with few smaller ones. The corresponding distribution among spruce showed a decline towards larger trees (except the largest ones).Conclusion: The reason for the poor regeneration of pine is probably due to a combination of shade intolerance and a lack disturbances needed for this species (e.g. forest fires). Due to these hindrances pine is expected to decrease within a longer time frame, while spruce is expected to increase.

Global climate change is already contributing to the extirpation of numerous species worldwide, and sensitive species will continue to face challenges associated with rising temperatures throughout this century and beyond. It is especially important to evaluate the thermal ecology of endangered ectotherm species now so that mitigation measures can be taken as early as possible. A recent study of the thermal ecology of the federally endangered Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila) suggested that they face major activity restrictions due to thermal constraints in their desert habitat, but that large shade-providing shrubs act as thermal buffers to allow them to maintain surface activity without overheating. We replicated this study but added a population of G. sila with no access to large shrubs to facilitate comparison of the thermal ecology of G. sila in shrubless and shrubbed populations. We found that G. sila without access to shrubs spent more time sheltering inside rodent burrows than lizards with access to shrubs, especially during the hot summer months. Lizards from a shrubbed population had higher midday body temperatures and therefore poorer thermoregulatory accuracy than G. sila from a shrubless population, suggesting that greater surface activity may represent a thermoregulatory tradeoff for G. sila. Lizards at both sites are currently constrained from using open, sunny microhabitats for much of the day during their short active seasons, and our projections suggest that climate change will exacerbate these restrictions and force G. sila to use rodent burrows for shelter even more than they do now, especially at sites without access to shrubs. The continued management of shrubs and of burrowing rodents at G. sila sites is therefore essential to the survival of this endangered species.

Animal welfare, reproduction, and milk production can be negatively affected when dairy cattle experience heat stress. Dairy cows in southern latitudes spend nearly 4 to 6 months in a state of heat stress. Animal health professionals and dairy producers use changes in physiological responses and behavioral patterns of cows as a tool for identifying poor health and welfare in periods of heat stress. The objectives of this study were to monitor the effects of heat stress on grazing dairy cows provided with shade or sprinklers by comparing various physiological indices of heat stress, and to, design and utilize a heat stress scoring system to evaluate heat stress severity on grazing dairy cows with access to shade and sprinklers. Finally, the results were used to predict the accuracy of the scoring system with machine learning methods. The findings from this study provide a new tool to assess heat stress in dairy cows.

Woody ornamental plants are considered the key for well- designed landscapes; Callistemon citrinus is one of those plants. In arid and semiarid areas, Callistemon has been used in gardens and landscapes for its unique characteristics. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Callistemon in landscapes under different environmental stress conditions including water, and heat. Further, the potential of using 3D software SketchUp in landscape design was also investigated. Callistemon plants were grown under 100, 50 or 30% of field capacity with or without shredded hardwood mulch. When field capacity decreased, root: shoot ratio and water use efficiency were improved, but canopy temperature increased. The decreased water caused decreases in leaf greenness, chlorophyll a, shoot volume, root volume, leaf water potential, and transpiration rate. Mulch increased root volume and leaf water potential. Callistemon growth under shade structure angle and orientation was examined. Shade structures were installed at 90° and 70° to the ground and three orientations, south, east, and west. Transpiration rate was reduced under the shade. The plant’s response to heat was also examined. Plant were exposed to 45/35, 35/25, or 25/15 °C, d/n. The plant’s physiological response was tested after two weeks. Highest temperatures decreased Chl b content and SOD activity compared to control. In contrast, carotenoid content and H2O2 level increased under the highest temperature treatment. Catalase activity was increased at moderate but decreased under the highest temperatures. Designing a 3D model using SketchUp software was examined. The program function was evaluated, and the designed experiment was tested. Planning a site with shadows predicted was achieved. The work was done with greater precision and less effort. The program was effective in reducing time and cost. SketchUp can be successfully used in landscape work.

Esta investigación se realizó en el Valle Inferior de Río Negro, ubicado en el SE de la provincia del mismo nombre, durante el período 2004 2009. El trabajo de campo fue posible gracias a la colaboración de productores locales que accedieron a la realización de parcelas experimentales, así como merced al apoyo de varias instituciones del medio y tuvo como propósito explorar las bases ecológicas que sustentan la capacidad invasora de la maleza perenne invasora Acroptilon repens L. y estudiar diferentes estrategias de control basadas en el efecto de cultivos supresores. Para esto se describieron los cambios en la producción y asignación de biomasa en pobla-ciones locales de la especie, se analizó la variabilidad espacio-temporal de ramets bajo diferentes condiciones de sitio, se estudió la producción de biomasa y propagación vegetativa de Acroptilon repens y la respuesta productiva de la cebolla (Allium cepa L.) para un rango de densidad creciente de maleza, se midió la producción, partición de biomasa y otros atributos fenotípicos de Acroptilon repens en respuesta al estrés por sombreado y finalmente se estudió la respuesta que las poblaciones de Acroptilon repens establecidas en lotes de agricultura intensiva tienen en el contexto de cultivos supresores mediante la combinación de laboreo, cultivo de especies competidoras y aplicación de un herbicida sistémico. Esta investigación se justifica en la necesidad de disponer de bases científicas y criterios que permitan elaborar un programa para el manejo del problema de la invasión de yuyo moro en el Valle Inferior de Río Negro y, analizándose desde el enfoque de las invasiones biológicas, se sustenta en la teoría dominante que adjudica a los atributos del hábitat y de la especie invasora la explicación del proceso de invasión. Se aplicó una metodología de trabajo basada en observaciones a campo y comparación de poblaciones ubicadas en sitios representativos de ambientes contrastantes, así como en experimentos realizados a campo y en macetas bajo condicio-nes semi-controladas. En todos los casos se midió la producción, partición de biomasa y densidad de ramets en las poblaciones estudiadas. Se encontró que la brotación de la maleza responde al tiempo térmico por encima de los 10C y ocurre inicialmente como evento inundativo, donde la densi-dad alcanzada (~ 100-300 ramets m-2) se mantiene constan-te hasta fin de la temporada, aunque merced a pequeños eventos simultáneos de reclutamiento y mortalidad que ocurren durante todo el período de crecimiento. Como dos tercios de la biomasa de la población clonal corresponden a componentes subterráneos, que a su vez representan el banco de yemas, es el componente que explica la capacidad competitiva de esta maleza en coexistencia con otras espe-cies y su cambio es el criterio más adecuado para medir el grado de control. La maleza posee plasticidad fenotípica de la biomasa aérea en respuesta a la sombra y un grado impor-tante de tolerancia a la falta de luz, observándose que solo con niveles de sombreado mayores al 80 % podría alcanzarse algún efecto sobre la acumulación de biomasa aérea, aunque sin cambios en la parte subterránea. El control mediante cultivos supresores solo adjudicó efecto al herbicida glifosato, que aplicado en dosis entre 1,92 3,84 kg ia ha-1 condujo a un control de la biomasa subterránea mayor al 95 % luego de dos años de empleo. Aunque el laboreo propio de los sistemas agrícolas intensivos posibilita el fraccionamiento de raíces gemíferas y explicaría la mayor densidad en sitios de cultivo, el control de yuyo moro con glifosato es muy efectivo en el contexto de cultivos supresores. / This research was performed to explore the ecological basis underlying the invasive ability of the perennial weed Acrop-tilon repens L. and also to explore different control strategies based on the effect of suppressing crops. It was conducted in the Lower Valley of Río Negro, at the SE of the Río Negro province, during the period 2004-2009. The field work was made possible through the collaboration of local producers, who agreed to carry out experimental plots in their own fields, as well as through the support of several institutions. In this thesis I described the changes in biomass production and allocation pattern for local populations of A. repens, I analyzed the space and time variability of ramets under different site conditions, and also I studied the biomass production, vegetative propagation and the response of an experimental population of A. repens in coexistence with onion plants (Allium cepa L.) in a range of increasing weed density. I measured the production, biomass partitioning and other phenotypic attributes of A. repens in response to shade stress. Finally, I studied the response of local populations of A. repens in the context of suppressing crops by combining tillage, competitive crops and a systemic herbicide. The justification of this research is to achieve a scientific basis and criteria to develop a weed management program focused on A. repens invasion in the Lower Valley of Río Negro. The work was conducted from the perspective of biological invasions and is based on the prevailing theory that assigned to both the habitat and plant attributes an explicative power for the invasion process. I applied a methodology based on field observations and comparison of populations placed in representative sites from contrasting environments and also in experiments conducted in pots under both field and semi-controlled conditions. In all cases I measured the biomass production and partitioning, and the density of ramets in the populations studied. I found that the weed sprouting responds to thermal time above 10 C and occurs in one inundative event where the weed density (~ 100-300 ramets m-2) remains constant until the end of the season, although based on small simultaneous recruitment and mortality events that occur during the entire growing season. As two thirds of the clonal population biomass correspond to underground components, which in turn represent the bud bank, this component explains the weed competitiveness in coexistence with other species. The change in the bud bank is the most appropriate criterion ir order to measure the level of control. The weed has phenotypic plasticity for the aboveground biomass in response to shade and also a high degree of tolerance to low irradiance. Only with shading levels higher than 80% a significant effect on aboveground biomass accumulation could be achieved, without changes in the belowground accumulation. Control by suppresive crops showed only the effect of the herbicide. Glyphosate applied in doses ranging from 1.92 to 3.84 kg ai ha-1 provided a below-ground biomass control higher than 95% after two years of treatment. Although tillage, typical of intensive agricultural systems, enables fractionation of sprouting roots and might explain the high densities founded in agricultural sites. A. repens control with glyphosate was highly effective in the presence of suppresing crops.

No / This paper gives an economic analysis of the judicial decisions in the disputes over authorship of Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade of Pale'. The first legal contest took place in 2006, 39 years after the song was written and was found in favour of the plaintiff (Fisher), in the first case he has brought against Brooker-Reid, in terms of his right to authorship. He was deemed to merit 40% of the musical composition rights but only from the date of his application onwards. However the case went to appeal with the result that in April 2008, it was found that although Fisher was still entitled to the authorship status he had been granted that he was not now entitled to any share whatsoever of the composing royalties. This case is partly unusual in that the judge, in the initial case, had formal musical training and saw fit to interpolate this human capital into the proceedings. The defendants made a number of remarks about the nature of the precedent set and its implications which can be usefully discussed in terms of economic models of production. In the appeal hearing one of the reasons given for the decision reached was the argument that the previous cases set an unfortunate precedent detrimental to composers of pop/rock music. The 'rock and pop' music production mode is discussed here with reference to this and other pertinent cases.