Traditionally Protected Forests´ Role within Transforming Natural Resource Management Regimes in Taita Hills, Kenya

In Taita Hills, south-eastern Kenya, remnants of indigenous mountain rainforests play a crucial role as water towers and socio-cultural sites. They are pressurized due to poverty, shortage of cultivable land and the fading of traditional knowledge. This study examines the traditional ecological knowledge of Taitas and the ways it may be applied within transforming natural resource management regimes. I have analyzed some justifications for and hindrances to ethnodevelopment and participatory forest management in light of recently renewed Kenyan forest policies. Mixed methods were applied by combining an ethnographic approach with participatory GIS. I learned about traditionally protected forests and their ecological and cultural status through a seek out the expert method and with remote sensing data and tools. My informants were: 107 household interviewees, 257 focus group participants, 73 key informants and 87 common informants in participatory mapping. Religious leaders and state officials shared their knowledge for this study. I have gained a better understanding of the traditionally protected forests and sites through examining their ecological characteristics and relation to social dynamics, by evaluating their strengths and hindrances as sites for conservation of cultural and biological diversity. My results show that, these sites are important components of a complex socio-ecological system, which has symbolical status and sacred and mystical elements within it, that contributes to the connectivity of remnant forests in the agroforestry dominated landscape. Altogether, 255 plant species and 220 uses were recognized by the tradition experts, whereas 161 species with 108 beneficial uses were listed by farmers. Out of the traditionally protected forests studied 47 % were on private land and 23% on community land, leaving 9% within state forest reserves. A paradigm shift in conservation is needed; the conservation area approach is not functional for private lands or areas trusted upon communities. The role of traditionally protected forests in community-based forest management is, however, paradoxal, since communal approaches suggests equal participation of people, whereas management of these sites has traditionally been the duty of solely accredited experts in the village. As modernization has gathered pace such experts have become fewer. Sacredness clearly contributes but, it does not equal conservation. Various social, political and economic arrangements further affect the integrity of traditionally protected forests and sites, control of witchcraft being one of them. My results suggest that the Taita have a rich traditional ecological knowledge base, which should be more determinately integrated into the natural resource management planning processes.

Singlet quenching of tetraphenylporphyrin and its metal derivatives by iron(III) coordination compounds

The quenching of fluorescence of the free-base tetraphenylporphyrin, H2TPP, and its metal derivatives, MgTPP and ZnTPP by diverse iron(III) complexes, [Fe(CN)6]3−, Fe(acac)3, [Fe(mnt)2]−, Fe(Salen)Cl, [Fe4S4(SPh)4]2−·, FeTPPCl and [Fe(Cp)2]+ has been studied both in homogeneous medium (CH3CN) and micellar media, SDS., CTAB and Triton X-100. The quenching efficiencies are analysed in terms of diffusional encounters and it has been possible to separate static quenching components. The quenching constants are dependent on the nature of the ligating atoms around iron(III) and also on the extent of π-conjugation of the ligands. The quenching mechanism has been investigated using steady-state irradiation experiments. Evidence for oxidative quenching by iron(III) complexes was obtained, though the spin multiplicities of the excited electronic states of iron(III) complexes permit both energy and electron transfer mechanisms for quenching of the singlet excited state of the porphyrins.

Water Management in Cambodia Resources and Relations

In Cambodia, water has a special purpose as a source of life and livelihoods. Along with agriculture, fishing and forest use, industry, hydropower, navigation and tourism compete for the water resources. When rights and responsibilities related to essential and movable water are unclear, conflicts emerge easily. Therefore, water management is needed in order to plan and control the use of water resources. The international context is characterized by the Mekong River that flows through six countries. All of the countries by the river have very different roles and interests already depending on their geographical location. At the same time, water is also a tool for cooperation and peace. Locally, the water resources and related livelihoods create base for well-being, for economical and human resources in particular. They in turn are essential for the local people to participate and defend their rights to water use. They also help to construct the resource base of the state administration. Cambodia is highly dependent on the Mekong River. However, Cambodia has a volatile history whose effects can be seen for example in population structure, once suspended public institutions and weakened trust in the society. Relatively stable conditions came to the country as late as in the 1990s, therefore Cambodia for example has a weak status within the Mekong countries. This Master s thesis forms international, national and local interest groups of water use and analyzes their power relations and resources to affect water management. The state is seen as the salient actor as it has the formal responsibility of the water resources and of the coordination between the actions of different levels. In terms of water use this study focuses on production, in management on planning and in power relations on the resources. Water resources of Cambodia are seen consisting of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake and the time span of the study is between the years 1991 and 2006. The material consists of semi-structured interviews collected during summer 2006 in Finland and in Cambodia as well as of literature and earlier studies. The results of the study show that the central state has difficulties to coordinate the actions of different actors because of its resource deficit and internal conflicts. The lessons of history and the vested interests of the actors of the state make it difficult to plan and to strengthen legislation. It seems that the most needed resources at the central state level are intangible as at the village level instead, the tangible resources (fulfilling the basic needs) are primarily important. The local decision-making bodies, NGOs and private sector mainly require legislation and legitimacy to support their role. However, the civil society and the international supporters are active and there are possibilities for new cooperation networks. Keywords: Water management, resources, participation, Cambodia, Mekong

Dense granular flow down an inclined plane A comparison between the hard particle model and soft particle simulations

The granular flow down an inclined plane is simulated using the discrete element (DE) technique to examine the extent to which the dynamics of an unconfined dense granular flow can be well described by a hard particle model First, we examine the average coordination number for the particles in the flow down an inclined plane using the DE technique using the linear contact model with and without friction, and the Hertzian contact model with friction The simulations show that the average coordination number decreases below 1 for values of the spring stiffness corresponding to real materials, such as sand and glass, even when the angle of inclination is only 10 larger than the angle of repose Additional measures of correlations in the system, such as the fraction of particles with multibody contact, the force ratio (average ratio of the magnitudes of the largest and the second largest force on a particle), and the angle between the two largest forces on the particle, show no evidence of force chains or other correlated motions in the system An analysis of the bond-orientational order parameter indicates that the flow is in the random state, as in event-driven (ED) simulations V Kumaran, J Fluid Mech 632, 107 (2009), J Fluid Mech 632, 145 (2009)] The results of the two simulation techniques for the Bagnold coefficients (ratio of stress and square of the strain rate) and the granular temperature (mean square of the fluctuating velocity) are compared with the theory V Kumaran, J Fluid Mech 632, 107 (2009), J Fluid Mech 632, 145 (2009)] and are found to be in quantitative agreement In addition, we also conduct a comparison of the collision frequency and the distribution of the precollisional relative velocities of particles in contact The strong correlation effects exhibited by these two quantities in event-driven simulations V Kumaran, J Fluid Mech 632, 145 (2009)] are also found in the DE simulations (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics doi 10 1063/1 3504660]

Misalignment as a Therapeutic Resource

The article reports conversation analysis of a single cognitive psychotherapy session in which an interactional misalignment between the therapist and the patient emerges, culminates, and is mitigated. Through this case study, the interactional practices lead- ing to a rupture in therapeutic alliance and the practices leading to its mending are explored. In the session the therapist pursues investigative orientation in relation to the patient’s experience under discussion, whereas the patient maintains orientation to “troubles-telling.” The diverging projects of the participants amount to overt misalign- ment. Eventually, the therapist brings the relationship of the patient and herself as a topic of conversation in ways which turn the misalignment into a resource of therapeu- tic work. The microanalysis of actual interactional patterns in this single case is linked to discussions of therapeutic alliance in psychotherapeutic literature.

Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly of M3L2 Trigonal Cages from Preorganized Metalloligands Incorporating Octahedral Metal Centers and Fluorescent Detection of Nitroaromatics

The design and preparation of novel M3L2 trigonal cages via the coordination-driven self-assembly of preorganized metalloligands containing octahedral aluminum(III), gallium(III), or ruthenium(II) centers is described. When tritopic or dinuclear linear metalloligands and appropriate complementary subunits are employed, M3L2 trigonal-bipyramidal and trigonal-prismatic cages are self-assembled under mild conditions. These three-dimensional cages were characterized with multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (H-1 and P-31) and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The structure of one such trigonal-prismatic cage, self-assembled from an arene ruthenium metalloligand, was confirmed via single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The fluorescent nature of these prisms, due to the presence of their electron-rich ethynyl functionalities, prompted photophysical studies, which revealed that electron-deficient nitroaromatics are effective quenchers of the cages' emission. Excited-state charge transfer from the prisms to the nitroaromatic substrates can be used as the basis for the development of selective and discriminatory turn-off fluorescent sensors for nitroaromatics.

Lanthanide Luminescent Coordination Polymer Constructed from Unsymmetrical Dinuclear Building Blocks Based on 4-((1H-Benzod]imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzoic Acid

Lanthanide coordination polymers of the general formula Ln(2)(L)(5)(NO3)(H2O)(4)](n) (Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2), Gd (3)) supported by a novel aromatic carboxylate ligand 4-((1H-benzod]imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzoic acid (HL) have been synthesized, characterized, and their photoluminescence behavior is examined. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of complexes 1-3 showed that 1-3 are isostructural; thus, 1 has been chosen as an example to discuss in detail about the molecular structure by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a one-dimensional (1D) helical chain-like coordination polymer consisting of unique unsymmetrical dinuclear lanthanide building blocks. The 1D chains are further linked by the significant intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions to form a two-dimensional supramolecular network. The Tb3+ complex exhibits bright green luminescence efficiency in the solid state with a quantum yield of 15%. On the other hand, poor luminescence efficiency has been noted for Eu3+-benzoate complex.

Variations in the copper(I)-copper(I) distances in multinuclear clusters with identical coordination geometries. Short metal-metal contacts induced by oligomerization

Factors contributing to the variations in the Cu(I)-Cu(I) distances in two clusters with identical ligand and coordination geometries have been analyzed. While the hexamer, 4, exhibits metal-metal distances in the range 2.81-3.25 Angstrom, shorter contacts are found in the corresponding tetramer, 3 (2.60-2.77 Angstrom). EHT calculations reveal relatively little attractive interactions in the corresponding Cu-4(4+) and Cu-6(6+) cores. Introduction of the ligands lowers the reduced overlap populations between the metals further. MNDO calculations with model electrophiles have been carried out to determine the bite angle requirements of the ligands. These are satisfactorily met in the structures of both 3 and 4. The key geometric feature distinguishing 3 and 4 is the Cu-S-Cu angle involving the bridging S- unit. In 4, the corresponding angles are about 90 degrees, while the values in 3 are smaller (70-73 degrees). Wider angles are computed to be energetically favored and are characterized by an open three-center bond and a long Cu-Cu distance. The bridging angles are suggested to be primarily constrained by the mode of oligomerization. Implications of these results for the stability and reactivity of these clusters and for short metal-metal distances in d(10) systems in general are discussed.

Coordination aggregation of mesoaryl substituted porphyrins

Synthesis of the free-base tetrakis (3'-nitro/aminophenyl), (H2TNP/H(2)TAP) has been accomplished and its coordination behaviour towards Mg(II), Co(II), Zn(II) and Ag(II) ions is investigated. Optical and magnetic resonance properties of the metal derivatives MTNP and MTAP reveal that the aminoporphyrins exist as aggregates in solution. The aggregation is promoted by the coordination of the peripheral amino groups to neighbouring metalloporphyrins. Possible structures of aggregated species are proposed from the model studies.

Facial Coordination in BIS[BIS(Benzimidazol-2-Ylmethyl)Amine]Copper(II) Perchlorate Dihydrate - Synthesis, Structure, Spectra and Redox Behavior

The 1:1 and 1:2 cooper(II) complexes with the tridentate compound bis(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine (L(1)) and its benzimidazole (L(2)) and amine (L(3)) N-methyl-substituted derivatives have been prepared and their spectroscopic properties studied. While the 1:1 complexes are of the type CuLX(2) nH(2)O (X = C/O-4(-), NO3-, Cl- or Br-), the 1:2 complexes are of the type CuL(2) (ClO4)(2) nH(2)O (L = L(1) or L(3), n = 0-4). In all these complexes L acts as a tridentate ligand with the amine nitrogen and both the benzimidazole nitrogens co-ordinating to Cu-II. The complex [CuL(2)(1)][ClO4](2) 2H(2)O crystallises in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 9.828(2), b = 9.546(2) and c = 19.906(2) Angstrom and beta = 95.71(1)degrees, for Z = 2. The R value is 0.0635 for 2180 significant reflections. The copper(II) ion has an elongated octahedral geometry with four equatorial benzimidazole and two long-distance axial amine N donors. The Cu-N-bzim and Cu-N-amine distances are 2.011(4) and 2.597(6) Angstrom respectively. Factors favouring facial co-ordination to tridentate ligands are discussed. The 1:1 complexes involve meridonal co-ordination of the ligands, with square-based geometry as revealed by ligand-field and EPR spectral properties. The NMe substitution as in CuL(3)(ClO4)(2) confers low V ($) over tilde$$(max) and high E(1/2) for the cu(II)-Cu-I couple. Most of the 1:1 complexes are less reversible but exhibit E(1/2) values more positive than those of the corresponding 1:2 complexes.

Coordination driven self-assembly of metallamacrocycles using ambidentate linkers and self-selection of single linkage isomer

Nicotinate-N-oxide and isonicotinate-N-oxide have been employed to synthesize four heterometallic metallamacrocycles (dppf)(2)Pd-2(nicotinate-N-oxide)(2)](OTf)(2) (1), (dppf)(2)Pt-2(nicotinate-N-oxide)(2)](OTf)(2) (2), (dppf) 2Pd2(isonicotinate-N-oxide)(2)](OTf)(2) (3) and (dppf)(2)Pt-2(isonicotinate-N-oxide)(2)](OTf)(2) (4). The complexes represent the first examples of metallamacrocycles driven by solely Pd(II)/Pt(II)-O coordination using carboxylate-N-oxide donor. All the complexes 1-4 are characterized by IR, UV-Vis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopic and ESI-MS studies. The molecular structures of the complexes 1 and 3 are unambiguously determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Despite the possibility of formation of several linkage isomers due to ambidentate nature of the donors, exclusive formation of 2 + 2] self-assembled single isomeric metallamacrocycle in each case is interesting observation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A game theoretical multiple resource interaction approach to resource allocation in an air campaign

In this paper we propose a multiple resource interaction model in a game-theoretical framework to solve resource allocation problems in theater level military campaigns. An air raid campaign using SEAD aircraft and bombers against an enemy target defended by air defense units is considered as the basic platform. Conditions for the existence of saddle point in pure strategies is proved and explicit feedback strategies are obtained for a simplified model with linear attrition function limited by resource availability. An illustrative example demonstrates the key features.

Structural model for the Cu-B site of dopamine beta-hydroxylase: Crystal structure of a copper(II) complex showing N3OS coordination with an axial sulfur ligation

A copper(II) complex containing a NSO-donor Schiff base and NN-donor 2,2'-bipyridine has been prepared and structurally characterized. The square pyramidal complex with an axial sulfur ligation is a structural model for the CUB site of dopamine-hydroxylase in its oxidized form. The copper(II) complex is catalytically active in the oxidation of ascorbic acid by dioxygen mediated by a copper(I) species which is proposed to have a four-coordinate structure with a N3S coordination geometry.

The role of sustainable agriculture and renewable-resource management in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing sinks in China and India

This paper contains an analysis of the technical options in agriculture for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing sinks, arising from three distinct mechanisms: (i) increasing carbon sinks in soil organic matter and above-ground biomass; (ii) avoiding carbon emissions from farms by reducing direct and indirect energy use; and (iii) increasing renewable-energy production from biomass that either substitutes for consumption of fossil fuels or replaces inefficient burning of fuelwood or crop residues, and so avoids carbon emissions, together with use of biogas digesters and improved cookstoves. We then review best-practice sustainable agriculture and renewable-resource-management projects and initiatives in China and India, and analyse the annual net sinks being created by these projects, and the potential market value of the carbon sequestered. We conclude with a summary of the policy and institutional conditions and reforms required for adoption of best sustainability practice in the agricultural sector to achieve the desired reductions in emissions and increases in sinks. A review of 40 sustainable agriculture and renewable-resource-management projects in China and India under the three mechanisms estimated a carbon mitigation potential of 64.8 MtC yr(-1) from 5.5 Mha. The potential income for carbon mitigation is $324 million at $5 per tonne of carbon. The potential exists to increase this by orders of magnitude, and so contribute significantly to greenhouse-gas abatement. Most agricultural mitigation options also provide several ancillary benefits. However, there are many technical, financial, policy, legal and institutional barriers to overcome.