stem Malaysia Airlines deploys Viasat's Aerodocs document management system By www.kmworld.com Published On :: Fri, 22 Nov 2019 09:00:00 EST Enhances the airline's digital transformation strategy and streamlines compliance reporting Full Article
stem Is a Fire Alarm System Too Loud? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 16:29:11 +0000 Is a Fire Alarm System Too Loud? aconstanza Mon, 05/04/2020 - 12:29 Apr 2020 Is a Fire Alarm System Too Loud? Is the fire alarm too loud? If you’ve ever been asked this question, you may have wondered whether the questioner had a point or not. First I reviewed the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed horn available on the market today. Currently, the standard commercial horn sounds at a measured decibel output (by UL) in the ranges of 87 dBA to 95 dBA measured at 10 feet from the sound source in the UL anechoic chamber (no reverberation). All of these appliances sound at a frequency of approximately 3,000 Hertz (Hz). Based on research over the last 10 years, the very young and the very old have difficulty hearing that frequency level. That research also showed that hearing a fire alarm signal at 520 Hz was equally heard by the very young, the very old and those who needed awakening at night. Based on that research, the code changed the requirements for audible alarm appliances in all sleeping rooms to be at that frequency. Keep in mind the requirement for audibility in these areas remains at 75 dBA measured at the pillow level in the bedroom. To awaken occupants the audible appliances must produce a low frequency alarm signal that complies with the 520 Hz requirement. The Annex A information also provides guidance for areas “intended for sleeping and in areas that might reasonably be used for sleeping. For example, this section requires a low frequency audible signal in a bedroom of an apartment and also in the living room area of an apartment as it might have sleeping occupants.” The annex does advise us that it is not required to use the low frequency signal in the hallways, lobby and other tenantless spaces. For example, in hotels, the guestrooms would require use of the low-frequency signals, but other spaces that might require audible signals could use any listed audible appliances regardless of the frequency content of the signal. The code requires a minimum of 15 dBA above the ambient sound levels present in the space. The bottom line is the audible signals are not too loud but must be loud enough to move the occupants to take action. Still you may come across customers who are concerned that the volume of an alarm could negatively affect their hearing. For example, I have been asked by a principal of a K-12 school what her response should be to parents who are worried the alarm signal is so loud it will injure children’s hearing. To answer the principal’s questions, first I turned to the information provided in the annex of NFPA 72-2019, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Annex A for Section 18.4.1.2 discusses the maximum sound pressure level of 110 decibels (dBA) permitted in a space. In the 2007 edition, this was reduced from 120 dBA in previous editions. According to NFPA 72, “the change from 120 dBA to 110 dBA was made to coordinate with other laws, codes, and standards. In addition to the danger of exposure to a high sound level, long-term exposure to lower levels could also be a problem.” For example, when occupants must traverse long egress paths to exit or technicians test large systems over extended time, the exposure to loud alarm signals could cause damage to their hearing. The issue is the code is silent on how long a person can or should be exposed to an audible notification system. The limit of 110 dBA has been set as a reasonable upper limit by the code for the optimal performance of a system. The annex goes on to say, “For workers who could be exposed to high sound levels over the course of a 40-year employment history, OSHA has established a maximum permitted dose before a hearing conservation program must be implemented. A worker exposed to 120 dBA for 7.5 minutes a day for 40 years might be in danger of suffering a hearing impairment. The OSHA regulation includes a formula to calculate a dose for situations where a person is exposed to different sound levels for different periods of time. The maximum permitted by the regulation is an 8-hour equivalent dose of 90 dBA. It is possible to calculate the dose a person experiences when traversing an egress path where the sound pressure level varies as he/she passes close to, then away from, audible appliances. Table A.18.4.1.2 depicts OSHA permissible noise exposures.” I used the above information to assure the principal that the short duration of the students’ exposure to the alarm signal was not going to cause hearing damage. In addition, the sound pressure levels in the hallways of her school did not come close the maximum of 110 dBA allowed by the code. All in all, you can tell your customers that alarm systems are loud by design. The uncomfortable volume during egress should be short-lived and well worth it to help as many occupants as possible be spared more serious injury or harm. Author Wayne D. Moore Is Featured Article? No Editor's Pick No Web Exclusive Yes Magazine Volume April 2020 Category Integrated Systems Tags Web Exclusive 2019 NFPA 72 Alarm/Signal Systems Article Image Fire alarm. Date of Publications Mon, 05/04/2020 - 12:00 Is Sponsored? Off Disqus Comments Safety Leader Off Full Article
stem Coronavirus impacts: No crisis within the banking system, says SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar By economictimes.indiatimes.com Published On :: 2020-05-02T23:39:59+05:30 Coronavirus impacts: No crisis within the banking system, says SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar Full Article
stem Priti Patel launches UK's ‘historic' points-based visa system By economictimes.indiatimes.com Published On :: 2020-02-19T17:39:35+05:30 The new system will come into force from January 1, 2021 at the end of the transition period after the UK's exit from the European Union (EU) on January 31, which will formally end free movement of people within the economic bloc for the UK as a non-member. The new post-Brexit system, which will apply equally to the EU and non-EU countries like India. Full Article
stem SCCM Pod-199 PCCM: Stem Cell Transplant Outcomes By sccm-audio.s3.amazonaws.com Published On :: Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:50:00 -0500 Margaret Parker, MD, FCCM, speaks with Ranjit S. Chima, MD, lead author of an article published in the November Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Full Article Medicine
stem SCCM Pod-208 PCCM: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in Children By sccm-audio.s3.amazonaws.com Published On :: Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:00:00 -0500 Margaret Parker, MD, FCCM, speaks with Christine N. Duncan, MD Full Article Medicine
stem POKE ME: Government, get out of skilling. Motivate the bureaucracy to create the right ecosystem instead By economictimes.indiatimes.com Published On :: 2017-03-02T16:47:05+05:30 What we need before Skill India is perhaps a Skill Government mission. And what’s more, in this Budget season, a visionary leader can do this without much fund allocation. Full Article
stem RBI to infuse Rs 3.74 lakh cr liquidity into financial system By economictimes.indiatimes.com Published On :: 2020-03-27T12:17:38+05:30 RBI to infuse Rs 3.74 lakh cr liquidity into financial system Full Article
stem Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Bill Baer Delivers Remarks at Second International Conference on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0500 Full Article
stem Cogen System Thermodynamic Analysis By www.sankey-diagrams.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:27:36 +0000 An analysis of energy efficiency and exergy effciency of a cogeneration system in a sugar refinery in São Paulo state in Brazil is presented in the ‘Análisis energético, exergético y económico de un sistema de cogeneración: caso para una planta azucarera de San Pablo’ by Omar R. Llerena of Universidade de São Paulo (Published in: Ingenius no.19 Jan/Feb 2018 under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) [See image gallery at www.sankey-diagrams.com] Flows are in kW, and even though this diagram appears to be ‘casero’ made from blocks, triangles and curve shapes, the flow widths seem pretty much to scale. Acronym ‘CC’ is for the combustion chamber and ‘CR’ stands for a heat recovery boiler (caldera de recuperación). The article also features a Grassman diagram for the exergy analysis. So, if you are interested, please visit the article here. Full Article Samples Brazil cogeneration energy efficiency exergy
stem Disqusing a New Commenting System By www.paulickreport.com Published On :: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:20:57 +0000 Wherever we go in the industry whether it's tea with the Queen of England or croquet with the Sheikh of Dubai, one subject is always brought up in conversation. “What's with those commenters on your site? Do they have jobs?” After we assure them that at least 30% of our readers are gainfully employed, they […] The post Disqusing a New Commenting System appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report. Full Article Inside The Paulick Report Horse Racing Paulick Report thoroughbred
stem Dedication of New Photovoltaic System Planned at Grand Canyon By www.nps.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 May 2009 20:00:00 EST The National Park Service and Arizona Public Service will be hosting a public event on Monday, May 18, at 11:00 a.m., to celebrate the installation of eighty-four photovoltaic solar panels at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-05-12-aps.htm Full Article
stem National Park Service Announces Award of Contract to Operate Grand Canyon Visitor Transportation System By www.nps.gov Published On :: Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/national-park-service-announces-award-of-contract-to-operate-grand-canyon-visitor-transportation-system.htm Full Article
stem Water Conservation Implemented at Grand Canyon National Park Due to Water-System Issues By www.nps.gov Published On :: Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:33:00 EST Grand Canyon National Park is requesting that all visitors and residents on the South Rim of Grand Canyon begin instituting water conservation measures. A break in the Transcanyon Pipeline was identified today; in addition to the breakdown of one of the Indian Garden pipeline water pumps that provide water to the South Rim storage tanks. The combination of these situations has resulted in immediate water conservation guidelines for all consumers on the South Rim. The North Rim is unaffected by these issues. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/water-conservation-june-21.htm Full Article
stem UPDATED: Mandatory Water Conservation Implemented at Grand Canyon National Park Due to Water-System Issues By www.nps.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Jun 2016 14:33:00 EST Beginning at 8 am on Thursday, June 23rd Grand Canyon National Park will implement mandatory Level 2 water conservation measures due to diminished water resources. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/mandatory-water-conservation.htm Full Article
stem UPDATE: Continued Mandatory Water Conservation at Grand Canyon National Park Due to Water-System Issues By www.nps.gov Published On :: Sat, 25 Jun 2016 07:15:00 EST Grand Canyon National Park remains at mandatory Level 2 water conservation measures due to diminished water resources. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/continued-mandatory.htm Full Article
stem Roads In Landscape Modeling: A Case Study of A Road Data Layer and Use In The Interior Northwest Landscape Analysis System By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Thu, 05 Sep 2006 12:00:36 PST Roads are important ecological features of forest landscapes, but their cause-andeffect relationships with other ecosystem components are only recently becoming included in integrated landscape analyses. Simulation models can help us to understand how forested landscapes respond over time to disturbance and socioeconomic factors, and potentially to address the important role roads play in these processes. Full Article
stem A Review of the role of fungi in wood decay of forest ecosystems By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Wed, 01 Aug 2017 08:00:00 PST Fungi are key players in the health, diversity, and productivity of forest ecosystems in Pacific Northwest forests, as mycorrhizal associations, pathogens, decomposers, nontimber resources, and food resources for wildlife. A number of invertebrate species are associated with wood decay fungi, serve as vectors for fungal pathogens, or are fungivorous (consume fungi) and influence rates of wood decay and nutrient mineralization. In Washington and Oregon, 31 wildlife species among 8 families are fungivores, and at least 14 wildlife species disperse fungi. Down wood can provide nurse substrates for seedlings and beneficial mycorrhizal fungi, refuges from pathogenic soil fungi, sources of nutrients for decay fungi, and substrates supporting overall fungal diversity. Presence, density, distribution, and diversity of fungi are influenced by forest stand management practices, forest age class, and effects of fire. Old forests provide for a suite of rare fungi species. Old legacy trees retained during forest harvest can provide some degree of conservation of beneficial and rare fungi. Fungi can be difficult to detect and monitor; surveying for fungi at various times of the year, for multiple (at least 5) years, and by including hypogeous (belowground) samples, can improve detection rates. Studies are needed in the Pacific Northwest to quantify the amount of down wood—number of pieces, sizes, total biomass, percentage of forest floor cover, and other attributes—necessary for maintaining or restoring fungal biodiversity and viable levels of individual fungi species, especially rare species. Full Article
stem Ecosystem processes related to wood decay By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Wed, 01 Sep 2017 08:00:00 PST Wood decay elements include snags, down wood, root wads, tree stumps, litter, duff, broomed or diseased branches, and partially dead trees, all of which contribute to ecological processes and biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. Down wood can serve as reservoirs for moisture and mycorrhizal fungi beneficial to the health and growth of commercial tree species. Decaying wood, leaf litter, small twigs, and roots contribute nutrients and structure to humus and soil organic matter, and host microbes that play beneficial roles in nitrogen cycles and other processes. Snags and down wood provide nurse functions for tree and shrub species, and can aid in restoration of degraded forest environments. Various elements of wood decay provide habitat for many species of wildlife including invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Fire can influence the amounts and distributions of wood decay elements and enhance or detract desired ecosystem processes, depending on severity, charring, soil temperature, and other factors. Managing wood decay elements for ecosystem processes entails better understanding decay dynamics, the role of coarse wood in soil, the role of wood decay in carbon cycling and sequestration, and other considerations. Full Article
stem What people value: an ecosystem services approach to managing public lands By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Wed., 19 Oct 2016 12:00:00 PST Since 1960, the Forest Service has been guided by the multiple-use concept, which recognizes five major uses for public lands-timber, water, range, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat-and mandates that all five should be equally considered in management plans. Full Article
stem Forage resource evaluation system for habitat—deer: an interactive deer habitat model By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Wed., 14 Mar 2012 14:50:00 PST We describe a food-based system for quantitatively evaluating habitat quality for deer called the Forage Resource Evaluation System for Habitat and provide its rationale and suggestions for use. The system was developed as a tool for wildlife biologists and other natural resource managers and planners interested in evaluating habitat quality and, especially, comparing two or more patches of habitat or the same patch at different seasons or under different conditions. It is based on the quantity (of biomass) and quality (digestible energy and digestible protein) of the habitat's food resources in relation to user-specified metabolic requirements of deer (which differ with species, age, sex, season, and reproductive status). It uses a linear programming algorithm to determine the suitable forage that can sustain deer at the specified requirements. Full Article
stem Totally NEW 'Push-Pull' sub line menu system By www.cssplay.co.uk Published On :: 2010-01-14 A dropline menu using a totally NEW method that requires NO hacks and works in all browsers. Also allows tabbing. Full Article
stem NEW! Inline/Dropdown menu system By www.cssplay.co.uk Published On :: 2010-07-21 A totally new method of producing a dropdown menu with variable width and NO hacks of any kind, just html and css. Full Article
stem La forma dell’organizzazione. Strumenti visuali e modelli data-driven per sistemi organizzativi adattivi By densitydesign.org Published On :: Thu, 20 Jun 2019 19:17:17 +0000 The idea of the organization and companies as phenomena to... more Full Article
stem A U.S. Forest Service special forest products appraisal system: background, methods, and assessment. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:45:00 PST Increasing concern over the management and harvest of special forest products (SFP) from national forest lands has led to the development of new Forest Service policy directives. Full Article
stem EPISODE 2—BEYOND THE CONCRETE JUNGLE: CITIES AS SOURCES OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: 2012-10-01 October 2012—When you hear the word “ecosystem,” what comes to mind? A forest? A river, maybe? Well, how about a city? It turns out, the green spaces in our urban areas can offer a range of ecosystem services, just like forests and rivers. Station scientists are working to better understand cities as ecosystems and demonstrate how nearby nature provides important benefits and services. (4:19) Full Article
stem Rocky To Bullwinkle: Understanding Flying Squirrels Helps Us Restore Dry Forest Ecosystems By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 12:00:00 PST A century of effective fire suppression has radically transformed many forested landscapes on the east side of the Cascades. Managers of dry forests critically need information to help plan for and implement forest restoration. Management priorities include the stabilization of fire regimes and the maintenance of habitat for the northern spotted owl and other old-forest associates. Full Article
stem Community Socioeconomic Information System Making Socioeconomic Data Available At The Community Level By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Fri, 19 May 2006 12:00:00 PST The Community Socioeconomic Information System (CSIS) is a tool that allows users to retrieve 1990 and 2000 U.S. census data to examine conditions and trends for communities in western Washington, western Oregon, and northern California. The tool includes socioeconomic data for 1,314 communities in the entire region, including incorporated and unincorporated places. The tool delivers socioeconomic data using mapping and database features. In addition to providing data for one community, the tool produces community-level data at a variety of scales, including communities in areas surrounding Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, all communities in the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) region, and communities within planning provinces within the NWFP region. One feature allows users to customize community data by creating boundaries and socioeconomic data for group of selected communities. The CSIS tool was designated to increase the usefulness of socioeconomic information at the small scale. Typically community socioeconomic assessments use U.S. census designations called census places. However, census places only represent a portion of the rural population. The CSIS uses a smaller unit of analysis (block groups) that we have aggregated to represent contiguous communities across the landscape, thereby representing the entire population. Community data can be printed as reports with graphs and tables, queried within an Access database, mapped and queried as geographic information system (GIS) data within ArcExplorer (a free GIS software included), exported as a table for use in Excel, or exported as GIS data for use in ArcGIS. The tool has features that allow users to locate communities by county or state and become familiar with local geography. The CSIS includes GIS data, such as major land ownerships, political boundaries, and physical landscape features. Applications produce maps that can be printed for specific communities showing community boundaries, water features, roads, metropolitan areas, community population centers, public land ownership, census places, planning provinces, counties, and state boundaries. Or, using the spatial data provided on the CD and ArcExplorer, users can produce custom maps. Full Article
stem Community Socioeconomic Information System, [CD-ROM] By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:25:36 PST The Community Socioeconomic Information System (CSIS) is a tool that allows users to retrieve 1990 and 2000 U.S. census data to examine conditions and trends for communities in western Washington, western Oregon, and northern California. The tool includes socioeconomic data for 1,314 communities in the entire region, including incorporated and unincorporated places. Full Article
stem Learning To Manage A Complex Ecosystem: Adaptive Management and The Northwest Forest Plan By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:25:36 PST The Northwest Forest Plan (the Plan) identifies adaptive management as a central strategy for effective implementation. Despite this, there has been a lack of any systematic evaluation of its performance. Full Article
stem Integrated restoration of forested ecosystems to achieve multiresource benefits: proceedings of the 2007 national silviculture workshop By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Tue, 27 Feb 2008 08:40:00 PST A primary mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is multiple resource management, and one of the emerging themes is forest restoration. The National Silviculture Workshop, a biennial event co-sponsored by the Forest Service, was held May 7-10, 2007, in Ketchikan, Alaska, with the theme of "Integrated Restoration of Forested Ecosystems to Achieve Multiresource Benefits." This proceedings presents a compilation of state-of-the-art silvicultural research and forestry management papers that demonstrates integrated restoration to yield multiple resource benefits. These papers highlight national perspectives on ecosystem services, forest restoration and climate change, and regional perspectives on forest restoration and silvicultural practices to achieve multiple resource benefits from researchers and forest practitioners working in a broad array of forest types in the United States. Full Article
stem Cordwood energy systems for community heating in Alaska--an overview. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:50:00 PST Wood has become an important energy alternative in Alaska, particularly in rural areas where liquid fuel costs can be substantial. In some cases, wood fuel is readily available to communities, increasing the attractiveness of wood energy. Wood energy systems in rural Alaska can also lead to employment gains as well as benefits to local cash economies. Many Alaska villages are now considering wood as a fuel source for community heating, several have completed feasibility studies, and others are moving forward with design and construction activities. Cordwood is readily available in many regions of Alaska, although not always in commercial quantities. However, for many small-scale applications, efficient cordwood systems could be a viable energy option. In this paper, we provide a qualitative review of factors such as wood fuel availability, cordwood system size, wood fuel cost, wood quality, labor, fuel drying, and underground piping. Other general observations are noted, based on case studies of operating cordwood systems in Alaska. Full Article
stem Ecological foundations for fire management in North American forest and shrubland ecosystems By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:45:00 PST This synthesis provides an ecological foundation for management of the diverse ecosystems and fire regimes of North America, based on scientific principles of fire interactions with vegetation, fuels, and biophysical processes. Although a large amount of scientific data on fire exists, most of those data have been collected at small spatial and temporal scales. Thus, it is challenging to develop consistent science-based plans for large spatial and temporal scales where most fire management and planning occur. Understanding the regional geographic context of fire regimes is critical for developing appropriate and sustainable management strategies and policy. The degree to which human intervention has modified fire frequency, intensity, and severity varies greatly among different ecosystems, and must be considered when planning to alter fuel loads or implement restorative treatments. Detailed discussion of six ecosystems--ponderosa pine forest (western North America), chaparral (California), boreal forest (Alaska and Canada), Great Basin sagebrush (intermountain West), pine and pine-hardwood forests (Southern Appalachian Mountains), and longleaf pine (Southeastern United States)--illustrates the complexity of fire regimes and that fire management requires a clear regional focus that recognizes where conflicts might exist between fire hazard reduction and resource needs. In some systems, such as ponderosa pine, treatments are usually compatible with both fuel reduction and resource needs, whereas in others, such as chaparral, the potential exists for conflicts that need to be closely evaluated. Managing fire regimes in a changing climate and social environment requires a strong scientific basis for developing fire management and policy. Full Article
stem Giving credit where credit is due: increasing landowner compensation for ecosystem services. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:04:00 PST Conservation of biodiversity serves a number of human needs, including maintenance of ecosystem services that are critical to the sustainability of all life. Effective biodiversity conservation will require better landowner incentives for restoration and protection of ecosystems. Many services produced from healthy, functioning landscapes are not well recognized in current conservation incentive structures, including sequestering or storing carbon in trees and soil, providing fish and wildlife habitat, filtering water, and reducing damages from natural disasters. Most existing incentive programs pay landowners to protect and restore a specific service rather than the suite of services produced from well-functioning ecosystems. Full Article
stem Ecosystem services as a framework for forest stewardship: Deschutes National Forest overview. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:10:00 PST The concept of ecosystem services has emerged as a way of framing and describing the comprehensive set of benefits that people receive from nature. These include commonly recognized goods like timber and fresh water, as well as processes like climate regulation and water purification, and aesthetic, spiritual, and cultural benefits. The USDA Forest Service has been exploring use of the framework of ecosystem services as a way to describe goods and services provided by federal lands and attract and build partnerships with stakeholders and nongovernmental organizations. More recently, the agency has sought place-based example applications of the ecosystem service framework to explore its possible use as a tool to guide forest management, and better illustrate the concept for policymakers, managers, and potential national forest partners. Full Article
stem Gathering in the city: an annotated bibliography and review of the literature about human-plant interactions in urban ecosystems By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 PST The past decade has seen resurgence in interest in gathering wild plants and fungi in cities. In addition to gathering by individuals, dozens of groups have emerged in U.S., Canadian, and European cities to facilitate access to nontimber forest products (NTFPs), particularly fruits and nuts, in public and private spaces. Recent efforts within cities to encourage public orchards and food forests, and to incorporate more fruit and nut trees into street tree planting programs indicate a growing recognition among planners that gathering is an important urban activity. Full Article
stem Evaluating tradeoffs among ecosystem services in the management of public lands By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:37:00 PST The U.S. Forest Service has adopted the concept and language of ecosystem services to describe the beneficial outcomes of national forest management. We review the economic theory of ecosystem services as it applies to public lands management, and consider what it implies about the types of biophysical and other data that are needed for characterizing management outcomes as changes in ecosystem services. Our intent is to provide a guide to policymakers, managers, researchers, and others for evaluating and describing the tradeoffs involved in the management of public lands. Characterizing ecosystem services fundamentally is about explaining the benefits of national forests to the American public, with an emphasis on addressing their interests and concerns about how public lands are managed. Our hope is that this report will foster dialog about what people value about national forests and how public land management agencies might best go about securing those benefits. Full Article
stem ArcFuels10 system overview By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:30:36 PST Fire behavior modeling and geospatial analyses can provide tremendous insight for land managers as they grapple with the complex problems frequently encountered in wildfire risk assessments and fire and fuels management planning. Fuel management often is a particularly complicated process in which the benefits and potential impacts of fuel treatments need to be demonstrated in the context of land management goals and public expectations. The fuel treatment planning process is complicated by the lack of data assimilation among fire behavior models and weak linkages to geographic information systems (GIS), corporate data, and desktop office software. ArcFuels10 is a streamlined fuel management planning and wildfire risk assessment system that creates a trans-scale (stand to large landscape) interface to apply various forest growth and fire behavior models within an ArcGIS platform to design and test fuel treatment alternatives. The new version of ArcFuels has been implemented on Citrix at the Forest Service Enterprise Production Data Center, eliminating the need for desktop GIS, improving connectivity to the corporate geospatial databases housed at the data centers, and enabling sharing of information among Forest Service employees. This overview introduces ArcFuels10 and the tools available within the system. Full Article
stem Using forest knowledge: how silviculture can benefit from ecological knowledge systems about beargrass harvesting sites. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of national forests and grasslands is the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Full Article
stem Fire in upper Midwestern oak forest ecosystems: an oak forest restoration and management handbook. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST We reviewed the literature to synthesize what is known about the use of fire to maintain and restore oak forests, woodlands, and savannas of the upper Midwestern United States, with emphasis on Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Full Article
stem Integrating ecosystem services into national Forest Service policy and operations. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Wed, 04 Jan 2017 14:38:00 PST The ecosystem services concept describes the many benefits people receive from nature. It highlights the importance of managing public and private lands sustainably to ensure these benefits continue into the future, and it closely aligns with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) mission to "sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.". Full Article
stem Recreation economic values for estimating outdoor recreation economic benefits from the National Forest System. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Tue, 01 Aug 2017 08:00:00 PST Natural resource professionals are often tasked with weighing the benefits and costs of changes in ecosystem services associated with land management alternatives and decisions. In many cases, federal regulations even require land managers and planners to account for these values explicitly. Outdoor recreation is a key ecosystem service provided by national forests and grasslands, and one of significant interest to the public. This report presents the most recent update of the Recreation Use Values Database, based on an exhaustive review of economic studies spanning 1958 to 2015 conducted in the United States and Canada, and provides the most up-to-date recreation economic values available. When combined with data pertaining to recreation activities and the quantity of recreation use, the recreation economic values can be used for estimating the economic benefits of outdoor recreation. The recreation economic value estimates provided in this report, whether from past research literature or from values constructed using our meta-analysis benefit function, are average consumer surplus per person per activity day. Full Article
stem OpCost: an Open-Source System for Estimating Costs of Stand-Level Forest Operations. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Fri, 20 Oct 2017 08:00:00 PST This report describes and documents the OpCost forest operations cost model, a key component of the BioSum analysis framework. OpCost is available in two editions: as a callable module for use with BioSum, and in a stand-alone edition that can be run directly from R. OpCost model logic and assumptions for this open-source tool are explained, references to the literature used in all of the submodels included in OpCost are provided, and guidance is offered on how to change the default hourly machine rates associated with overall logging cost calculations. OpCost enhancements such as cost component breakout, and identifying the least-cost harvest system, are also described and explained. Full Article
stem Economic Sensitivity and Risk Analysis for Small-Scale Wood Pellet Systems—an Example From Southeast Alaska. By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Tue, 08 Aug 2017 08:00:00 PST This research models a wood pellet heating system at the Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority in Juneau, Alaska, used to provide thermal energy to a 929-m2 warehouse, as an alternative to a heating system that burns more costly fossil fuels. Research objectives were to evaluate project economics of the pellet system and to conduct cost:benefit analysis on key variables (initial capital cost, fuel oil cost, and wood pellet cost). Economic results of interest included net present value, payback, internal rate of return, and cost:benefit ratio. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted using RETScreen software with the parameters of heating oil cost, wood pellet cost, fuel price escalation, and heating load. Cost:benefit analysis was conducted for capital cost versus wood fuel cost and also versus alternative fuel cost. This research found that economic performance was favorable over a wide range of normal operating conditions, even when paying a relatively high price for wood fuel. A pellet production facility in southeast Alaska could lead to lower wood fuel costs and even more favorable regional economics. Full Article
stem Meeting the challenge: invasive plants in Pacific Northwest ecosystems By www.fs.fed.us Published On :: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:00:00 PST During September 19-20, 2006, a conference was held at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Seattle, WA, with the title "Meeting the challenge: invasive plants in Pacific Northwest Ecosystems." The mission of the conference was to create strategies and partnerships to understand and manage invasions of non-native plants in the Pacific Northwest. The audience included over 180 professionals, students, and citizens from public and private organizations responsible for monitoring, studying, or managing non-native invasive plants. This proceedings includes twenty-seven papers based on oral presentations at the conference plus a synthesis paper that summarizes workshop themes, discussions, and related information. Topics include early detection and rapid response; control techniques, biology, and impacts; management approaches; distribution and mapping of invasive plants; and partnerships, education, and outreach. Full Article
stem Spanish Broadcasting System Helps Deliver Meals For Healthcare Workers At Miami's Jackson Hospital By www.allaccess.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 05:40:03 -0700 SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM joined with the SOUTH FLORIDA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HOLIDAY BAKERY, and ART DECO SUPERMARKET AND CAFETERIA to deliver 100 hot meals and treats for … more Full Article
stem New recommendations for stroke systems of care to improve patient outcomes By newsroom.heart.org Published On :: Mon, 20 May 2019 09:00:00 GMT Statement Highlights: To translate advances in scientific knowledge and innovations in stroke care into improvements in patient outcomes, comprehensive stroke systems of care must be in place to facilitate optimal stroke care delivery. New recommendations support policies that standardize the delivery of stroke care, lower barriers to emergency care for stroke, ensure stroke patients receive care at appropriate hospitals in a timely manner and improve access to secondary prevention and rehabilitation and recovery resources after stroke. Full Article
stem Alternatives to NOAH AMS (Association Management System) By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 03 Jun 2019 19:33:59 +0000 Some might tell you the only way to manage your association is through a “one size fits all” Association Management System like NOAH. While these tools have their place, they are not the best solution in all situations. In this article, we’ll discuss benefits towards assembling a custom Association Management System using open source tools […] The post Alternatives to NOAH AMS (Association Management System) appeared first on Psychology of Web Design | 3.7 Blog. Full Article Business Strategy and Planning Web Design
stem Traumatic brain injury in homeless and marginally housed individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2020 10:46:41 EST Homelessness is a global public health concern, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) could represent an underappreciated factor in the health trajectories of homeless and marginally housed individuals. We aimed to evaluate the lifetime prevalence of TBI in this population, and to summarise findings on TBI incidence and the association between TBI and health-related or functioning-related outcomes. Full Article
stem Iowa’s health care system is not overwhelmed. Why is our economy still closed? By www.thegazette.com Published On :: Tue, 5 May 2020 14:42:29 -0400 In response to the coronavirus, Americans were told by their federal and state governments to shut down their businesses, stop going to church, work, school or out to eat, travel only when necessary and hunker down at home. Originally, Americans were led to believe this was for a two- or three-week period, in order to flatten the curve and not overwhelm our health care system.At seven weeks and counting, with staggering economic loss that will leave families and thousands of small businesses and farmers with profound devastation, the question must be asked, are we trying to flatten the curve or flatten our country?The initial models that pointed to staggering loss of life from the coronavirus have proved wildly inaccurate. As of May 2, the CDC placed the number of deaths in the U.S. from the virus at 66,746. While all loss of life is deeply regrettable, these numbers cannot be considered in a vacuum. For perspective, deaths from pneumonia in the U.S. during the same period were 64,382, with average yearly deaths from influenza in the same range.The original goal of closing much of the U.S. economy and staying at home was to flatten the curve of new coronavirus cases so that our hospital systems would not be overwhelmed. Hospitals built by the Army Corps of Engineers to handle the increased volume have mostly been taken down. Except for a few spots in the U.S. the health care system was not overwhelmed. As the medical models of casualties from the coronavirus continue to be adjusted down, it is clear the curve has been flattened, so why do we continue to stay closed and worsen the economic devastation that tunnel vision has thus far kept many of our leaders from acknowledging?Many health experts say 80 percent of Americans will get the coronavirus and experience only mild symptoms. The curve has been flattened. Our health care system is not overwhelmed. Why is our economy, for the most part, still closed?A University of Washington study recently revised the projected number of deaths from the coronavirus in Iowa from 1,367 to a much lower estimate of 365. While all loss of life is horrific, we must also consider the devastation being done to our economy, our families and our way of life by actions taken to combat the coronavirus.It must be noted that 578 Iowans died from the flu and pneumonia in 2017, a greater number than are likely to pass away from the coronavirus. We also know that many who die from the virus are elderly with underlying health conditions, increasing the likelihood that any serious illness could result in their death. Are draconian government restrictions in response to the coronavirus still needed and economically sustainable? The data shows that the answers to both questions is no. We are no longer flattening the curve; we are flattening our state and nation.We have seen the medical data. What has been less visible in news conferences and in the overall reporting of the coronavirus and our response to it, are the economic and human costs of what we are doing:• 30 million Americans are out of work and the number grows daily.• Dairy farmers are pouring out milk they have no market for.• Pork producers are euthanizing hogs they have no market for.• According to a study by Iowa State University, the losses to Iowa Agriculture are at a staggering $6.7 billion and growing, with the largest losses in pork production and ethanol.• In Iowa, the economic loss for corn is estimated to be $788 million, $213 million for soybean and $34 million for cattle.• The Iowa Restaurant Association estimates that between 10 & 25% of Iowa’s restaurants will not reopen.• Iowa’s public universities are predicting a $187 million loss.• Iowa is spending $200 million or more per month on unemployment claims, with over 171,000 Iowans unemployed.• 29 percent of the U.S. economy is frozen as a result of government action, with U.S. economic output down 29 percent.• U.S. unemployment could soon hit 47 million.• Losses to U.S. tourism are predicted to top $910 billion.• Retirement plans for millions of Americans are being decimated, with recent reports projecting the average 401(k) loss at 19 percent.• Drug and alcohol addiction and relapse are increasing.• Testing for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease are being delayed, which could lead to increasing health problems and life-threatening illnesses in the future.• Economic damage to rural hospitals could lead to hospital closures and less access to health care in some areas.• Warnings of a possible meat shortage in the U.S. have been issued by executives of Farmland and Tyson, with reports that the food supply chain is under stress. Several grocery store chains are now limiting meat purchases and some national restaurant chains are no longer offering certain meat products on their menus. Higher meat prices are almost certain in the months to come.• Huge U.S. debt increases unlike anything seen since World War II, to the tune of over $3 trillion and counting, are adding to the already monstrous $22 trillion in U.S. debt. This does not bode well for our children or future economic stability.The list of consequences goes on and on, and behind each of the statistics is a family struggling to survive, a father and mother fearful of how they will care for their children, a small-business owner seeing their dreams and hard work destroyed overnight by draconian government mandates, a restaurant owner deciding never to reopen, a dairy farmer throwing in the towel and a business owner postponing indefinitely plans for expanding.Behind these numbers is an economy greatly impacted by the government response to the coronavirus, with implications for our economic well-being profound and long lasting. Expansion projects delayed, business closures, layoffs and contraction for many businesses will likely keep unemployment numbers high and depress economic expansion for an unknown amount of time.Let us be clear, it grows worse every day we remain closed.Steve Holt represents District 18 in the Iowa House. Full Article Guest Columnist