No abstract

The term “urban heat island” (UHI) describes increased surface and atmospheric temperatures in an urban core relative to surrounding non-urbanized areas. Although the phenomenon has been studied to a great extent throughout the world, it is less understood for Kathmandu, Nepal. This study used the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) 8-day product (MOD11A2) to evaluate land surface temperatures (LSTs), the MODIS-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 16-day product (MOD13Q1) to quantify land surface characteristics, and the MODIS annual land cover classification product (MCD12Q1) to identify major land cover classes. We evaluated the spatial correlation between significant changes in LSTs and NDVI between 2000–2018. Overall, urban (permanently developed areas) LSTs were consistently greater than non-urban (forests and dynamic agriculture lands) LSTs; however, the rate of increase in temperature was higher outside the central Kathmandu developed urban area. Furthermore, significant changes in NDVI values over time were more widespread and not always spatially coincident with significant changes in LST values, particularly for forested land areas. These results provide insight into systematic planning of open and green areas, construction of new infrastructure in peripheral areas, and highlight the challenges in applying traditional UHI conceptual models to rapidly developing urban areas such as Kathmandu, Nepal.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

This paper revisits the issue of income convergence by examining the question of whether poorer Census Block Groups have been catching up with wealthier Census Block Groups over the 1980-2000 period. The dataset consists of 161 Census Block Groups in Alabama's west-central Black Belt region. Estimates of a spatial lag model provide support for the conditional convergence hypothesis and explain roughly 60 percent of the variation in income growth. Income growth was positively and significantly correlated with education and employment, and negatively and significantly correlated with majority African-American population.

Many investigators have focused on the impact of fertilizers on crop yield and ignored fertilizers impact on the plants composition. The impact of seven types of soil treatments (sewage sludge, horse manure, chicken manure, vermicompost, elemental organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, and native soil) and similar seven treatments amended with biochar on the concentrations of NH3 and NO3 in the roots and shoots of three commercial varieties of turnips, Brassica rapa was investigated. The three varieties (Purple Top White Globe PTWG, Scarlet Queen Red SQR, and Tokyo Cross TC) varied in concentrations of NH3 and NO3 levels. High levels of NO3 in edible plants is associated with harmful effects on human health, due to the risk of creation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. NO3 in SQR roots and shoots (edible greens) was greater than varieties PTWG and TC. The concentration of NH3 averaged 20.2, 12.8, and 8.9 µg g−1 fresh turnip roots, whereas NO3 values averaged 107.6, 64.1, and 62.9 µg g−1 fresh turnip roots in varieties SQR, PTWG, and TC, respectively. Regardless of soil amendment type, the concentration of NH3 in the shoots (44.0 µg g−1) was greater than the roots (15 µg g−1). On the contrary, NO3 was higher in the roots (89.4 µg g−1) compared to the shoots (67.6 µg g−1 fresh tissue). Overall, biochar added to vermicompost amended soil increased NH3 by 73% compared to vermicompost not amended with biochar. Regarding acceptable daily intake (ADI) for NO3, none of the three varieties analyzed constitute any NO3 adverse effects on normal human intake. Similarly, consuming turnips grown in any of the animal manures tested do not represent any hazardous issues.

Growing demand for National Forests (NFs) recreational activities makes it crucial to understand the attitudes towards valuing public recreational resources and the potential conflicts with other functions of the forests. The study was conducted to identify the primary drivers influencing individual participation in outdoor recreation on NF lands in the southeastern region of the US among participants of various socioeconomic backgrounds. The study was based on the 2010–2014 dataset of fourteen NFs across thirteen states in the Southeastern USA—retrieved from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Different statistical models and statistical analyses were utilized for the study. The statistical results revealed that individual needs for relaxation were the main driver for participation in forest recreation for the whole sample and pulled data (approximately 52% of the participants). It has been noted that the drivers varied depending on the forest. The personal need for mental development was the least valued driver with only 2%. Some significant differences were observed by gender, age category, and income level. The study results have practical importance for different stakeholders such as tourism operators, the USDA Forest Service, and local authorities.