Use Of Buffer Zones Research Articles

The Need for a New Approach to MCI Readiness in the Era of Emergency Department and Hospital Crowding.

Emergency department (ED) visit volumes have increased since 2007, with crowding in the United States reaching its highest levels in 2022. During this same period, mass casualty incidents (MCIs) have increased dramatically, both in frequency and severity, across the United States. Resuscitation of trauma patients is a time-sensitive process that requires immediate patient assessment by coordinated clinical teams in order to successfully diagnose and manage life-threatening injuries. To make resuscitation spaces immediately available for incoming patients, typical MCI plans call for rapidly relocating ED patients from their rooms into hallways or transferring them to open inpatient areas. With current levels of crowding, however, such alternate care spaces are often already in use and traditional MCI plans are increasingly unrealistic. With ED crowding worsening and the frequency of MCIs rising, there is a worrisome risk that EDs could fail in their efforts to save patients due to insufficient resources and spaces to meet the demands of critically injured patients. Hospitals must use innovative, novel response strategies to ensure sufficient patient care spaces in a short timeframe to save the most lives possible. In this commentary, we describe the use of buffer zones to help EDs mobilize an effective response to MCIs in the current context of severe hospital crowding.

Occurrence of common frog (Rana temporaria) and common toad (Bufo bufo) adults and metamorphs in agricultural fields in Germany: Potential for exposure to plant protection products.

To characterize the potential for exposure of amphibian terrestrial life stages to plant protection products (PPP), we studied the occurrence and habitat use of adult and metamorph common frogs (Rana temporaria) and common toads (Bufo bufo) in an agricultural landscape in Germany. The four selected study sites were breeding ponds with approximately 80% agricultural land within a 1-km radius. Adults were monitored by radio tracking for two years, and metamorph numbers were assessed for one summer using pitfall traps alongside drift fences. The results demonstrate that adults were rarely present in arable fields at any of the sites (overall 0.5% and 4% of total observations for frogs and toads, respectively). Metamorph captures in arable fields were more variable, ranging from 1.2% to 38.8% (frogs) and from 0.0% to 26.1% (toads) across study sites. Unsurprisingly, most captures in arable fields for both toad and frog metamorphs occurred at the site where the pond was completely surrounded by arable fields. Overall, the presence of adult amphibians in arable fields was limited and, for the metamorphs, occurred primarily when crops were denser and PPP spray interception higher. Diurnal hiding behavior was observed with the highest activity recorded at night, further reducing the risk of dermal exposure from direct PPP overspraying. In addition, it appeared that alternative habitats, such as woody structures or water bodies in the broader surrounding area, were preferred by the animals over the arable areas. The use of buffer zones around water bodies in agricultural areas would be an effective risk mitigation measure to protect terrestrial adults and metamorphs residing there and would reduce spray drift entry into water bodies during PPP application. It is hoped that these results will contribute to the discussion of risk assessment and mitigation options for amphibians. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2218-2230. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

The effect of measurement error on the positive predictive value of PSW methods for SLD identification: How buffer zones dispel the illusion of inaccuracy

Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) methods are widely used for identifying specific learning disabilities (SLDs). Several researchers, however, have reported that the diagnostic accuracy of PSW methods is unacceptably low when strict thresholds were used to identify students with SLDs. We believe these findings give a misleading impression of the magnitude of the diagnostic errors that are likely to arise in PSW assessments. In a simulation study of 10 million cases using a simplified PSW method for demonstration, most of what have been called diagnostic errors were cases in which observed scores and true scores fell on opposite sides of a strict threshold but were still within a buffer zone the size of a typical measurement error. Because small score differences do not result in meaningfully different case conceptualizations, the use of buffer zones reveals that previous estimates of the diagnostic accuracy of PSW methods are misleadingly low. We also demonstrate that diagnostic decisions become increasingly reliable when observed scores are comfortably distant from diagnostic thresholds. For practitioners, we present a flowchart and practical guidelines to improve the accuracy and stability of SLD identification decisions.

Technology Focus: Intelligent Operations (May 2022)

The trend of increasing automation and integration of digital work flows continues in all disciplines within the industry. An obvious driver is the increasing digital nature of our world; today’s phones and tablets connected to the cloud perhaps have more computing capabilities than supercomputers from 5 or 10 years ago. Another key driver, arguably the reason why intelligent operations came on the radar of most companies, is being able to improve safety and efficiency in the complex operations that are routinely performed in the oil patch. The last couple of years, I have highlighted efforts around remote operations of fields, smart wells, and the acquisition and integration of real-time data. This year, I have focused on recent drilling-related papers that highlight how safety and performance can be improved with more intelligent operations. Paper SPE 208711 discusses a key requirement I see for successful intelligent operations, especially when the operations span disciplines and companies. Having a standard, consistent, and unambiguous lexicon is critical for automation and digital work flows. This paper highlights an effort to spur the standardization of codes across companies to describe drilling, completions, and other well activities. Anybody who has gone through old well files will recognize immediately the value and the need for such standardization of well activity codes. The other two papers (SPE 208764 and SPE 208784) highlight how automation can lead to increased safety on rigs during operations. Companies are using a combination of cameras, wearables, and other technology to monitor personnel in safety zones on rigs to ensure no one is unknowingly in the wrong spot at the wrong time. A familiar analog to this would be the safety improvements in driving because of collision-avoidance systems in cars (where a combination of technologies including cameras, radar, and lidar are used). Standardization of Well Activity Codes. - Paper SPE 208711 describes the efforts of one operator to standardize well activity reporting codes. A key highlighted improvement is a new coding system that captures both what was done (the typical focus of historical well activity codes) and the broader context on why the activity was performed. The new codes have enabled more granular tracking of performance metrics and a simplification of reporting. Significantly, the operator has recognized the need for a standardized set of codes across the industry and has donated the codes they have developed to an industrywide open-source environment. I hope this spurs wider adoption and refinement of reporting standards across the industry. Using Computer Vision To Monitor Safety Zones and Automate Drillpipe Tallies. - Paper SPE 208764 highlights how digitalization can result in safer operations and improved accuracy through the automation of manual tasks. The paper discusses a computer vision system coupled with a neural network model that detects if any personnel are within a restricted pipe-delivery red zone at an unsafe time and sets off an audible warning alarm. The paper also describes how the use of multiple cameras on different levels of the mast automates the measurement and tallying of the drillpipe being run into the hole. Both these aspects have enhanced existing processes (such as the use of buffer zones and barricades and the manual counting of drill pipe) to further improve safety and accuracy. This article in JPT might also be of interest. Automatic Kick Detection and Dynamic Well Monitoring. - Paper SPE 208784 discusses how to reduce the time gap between when drilling operators detect a kick and when they activate the blowout preventers (BOPs). The paper identifies accurate positioning of the drillstring before activating BOPs as a critical step that affects the time gap. The paper describes an architecture that allows automation of the space-out operation and achieves quick and accurate positioning of the tool joint with minimum movement of the drillstring. A critical enabler that the authors describe is being aware in real time of the depth of each tool joint in the wellbore.

PM 5/10 (1) Guidelines on the design and implementation of a buffer zone

ScopeThis Standard provides general guidance on the use of buffer zones to minimize the probability of spread of a pest into or out of delimited areas. It is intended to be used by risk assessors and risk managers when they are conducting pest risk analysis or designing phytosanitary measures, including for contingency plans.Specific approvalThis Standard was first approved on 2021–09.

Two for One: Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems With Buffers Protects Terrestrial Ecosystems

Abstract We evaluated how three widths of buffer zones on greater than or equal to 100-ha wetlands (240, 300, and 390 m) and rivers (10, 20, and 30 m) would help meet watershed conservation goals in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA, and whether doing so also would protect each of the predominant types of terrestrial natural communities across the landscape. The use of buffer zones (even the narrowest widths assessed) around wetlands and riparian zones met or exceeded conservation targets in 75% of watersheds and greater than or equal to 85% of subwatersheds evaluated. Wetlands and riparian zones with buffers captured each of the predominant types of terrestrial natural community in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but not proportionately to their availability across the entire landscape. Our work demonstrates that a landscape-conservation approach focused on wetlands and riparian zones with buffers can conserve terrestrial, wetland, and riparian ecosystems across Michigan's Upper Peninsula and may also be applicable in other areas where mapping of wetlands and rivers occurs.

Simulating land use changes, sediment yields, and pesticide use in the Upper Paraguay River Basin: Implications for conservation of the Pantanal wetland

As a consequence of accelerated and excessive use of pesticides in tropical regions, wilderness areas are under threat; this includes the Pantanal wetlands in the Upper Paraguay River Basin (UPRB). Using a Land Cover Land Use Change (LCLUC) modelling approach, we estimated the expected pesticide load in the Pantanal and the surrounding highlands region for 2050 under three potential scenarios: i) business as usual (BAU), ii) acceleration of anthropogenic changes (ACC), and iii) use of buffer zones around protected areas (BPA). The quantity of pesticides used in the UPRB is predicted to vary depending on the scenario, from an overall increase by as much as 7.4% in the UPRB in the BAU scenario (increasing by 38.5% in the floodplain and 6.6% in the highlands), to an increase of 11.2% in the UPRB (over current use) under the AAC scenario (increasing by 53.8% in the floodplain and 7.5% in the highlands). Much higher usage of pesticides is predicted in sub-basins with greater agricultural areas within major hydrographic basins. Changing the current trajectory of land management in the UPRB is a complex challenge. It will require a substantial shift from current practices, and will involve the implementation of a number of strategies, ranging from the development of new technologies to achieve changes in land use policies, to increasing dialogue between farmers, ranchers, the scientific community, and local or traditional communities through participatory learning processes and outreach.

Performance of GPS units for deployment on semiaquatic animals.

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is widely used in wildlife research to study animal movement and habitat use. In order to evaluate the quality and reliability of GPS data, the factors influencing the performance of these devices must be known, especially for semiaquatic species, because terrestrial and aquatic habitat might affect GPS performance differently. We evaluated the location error and fix success rate of three GPS receiver models in stationary tests and on a semi-aquatic mammal, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). The location error during stationary tests was on average 15.7 m, and increased with increasing canopy closure, slope, and horizontal dilution of precision, potentially leading to the erroneous classification of GPS positions when studying habitat use in animals. In addition, the position of the GPS antenna (flat versus 90° tilted) affected the location error, suggesting that animal behavior affects GPS performance. The fix success rate was significantly higher during stationary tests compared to when GPS units were deployed on beavers (94% versus 86%). Further, GPS receivers did not obtain any positions underwater and underground, the latter potentially allowing the estimation of activity periods in animals that use lodges or burrows as shelter. We discuss the possibilities for data screening, the use of buffer zones along the shoreline, and combination with other data loggers to avoid the erroneous classification of GPS positions when studying habitat use.

Introduction

Introduction

Regulation of diffuse pesticide pollution: Combining point source reduction and mitigation in stormwater wetland (Rouffach, France)

The economic crisis and increasingly stringent water quality requirements demand integrative approaches to reduce pesticide pollution in aquatic ecosystems and limit water treatment. In this study, environmental economists and wetland scientists joined forces to analyze the combination of different abatement measures to reduce pollution with more efficiency.Pesticide reduction directly at source (i.e., reduction of pesticide use), and combining pesticide source reduction with mitigation using a stormwater wetland to treat pesticide runoff are compared. The capacity of the buffer zone to reduce additional diffuse pollution with a given total abatement cost is evaluated, by placing emphasis on how the contribution of a buffer zone evolves according to the total cost. Fungicides were used as a representative class of synthetic pesticides widely used in vine growing, and more largely in conventional agriculture.Our results show that coupling reduction of pesticide source with the use of buffer zones collecting pesticide runoff can be economically advantageous. For a given total cost, the reduction of fungicide runoff is 90% greater when pesticide reduction at source is combined with pesticide mitigation by a stormwater wetland compared to the case of pesticide reduction at source only. However, the higher the total cost is, the more it is necessary to reduce pesticides at source and thus reduce pesticide mass transfer into aquatic systems.The results of this study is anticipated to be a starting point for considering cost and efficiency when combining different measures targeting pesticide mitigation in surface water, and in particular when using stormwater wetlands as a management practice.

A legal and ecological perspective of ‘site integrity’ to inform policy development and management of Special Areas of Conservation in Europe

The European Union Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) provides for the designation and management of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and requires that impacting activities are subject to ‘an appropriate assessment’ of their implications for the ‘integrity’ of the site. We define the term ‘site integrity’ from a legal and an ecological perspective. We demonstrate that ‘site integrity’ is the maintenance of ecological processes and functions that support the wider delivery of ecosystem services. ‘Site integrity’ can be influenced by SAC management. Management that seeks to support ‘site integrity’ may include the use of buffer zones or connecting areas that extend beyond the SAC site’s designated features. We conclude that ‘site integrity’ and ‘favourable conservation status’ are powerful legal terms that if fully transposed into the law and policy of Member States can enable the achievement of broader European and International goals for marine conservation.

Beehive fences as effective deterrents for crop-raiding elephants: field trials in northern Kenya

Increasing elephant populations in Kenya since 1989 have been widely praised as a conservation success story. However, where elephants and agricultural land overlap, incidents of human‐elephant conflict are on the increase. Wildlife managers and farmers are now trying different farm-based deterrents to keep elephants out of crops. Here, we present data on the effectiveness of a novel beehive fence deployed in a Turkana community of 62 communally run farms in Kenya. Specifically, 1700 m of beehive fences semi-surrounded the outer boundaries of seventeen farms, and we compared elephant farm invasion events with these and to seventeen neighbouring farms whose boundaries were ‘protected’ only by thorn bush barriers. We present data from 45 farm invasions, or attempted invasions, recorded over 2 years. Thirteen groups of elephants approached the beehive fences and turned away. Of the 32 successful farm invasions, only one bull elephant broke through the beehive fences. These results demonstrate that beehive fences are more effective than thorn bush barriers at deterring elephants and may have a role to play in alleviating farmer‐elephant conflict. Additionally, the harvesting of 106 kg of honey during the trial period suggests that beehive fences may also improve crop production and enhance rural livelihoods through honey sales.

Pollen-mediated gene flow in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.): can genetically engineered and organic flax coexist?

Coexistence allows growers and consumers the choice of producing or purchasing conventional or organic crops with known standards for adventitious presence of genetically engineered (GE) seed. Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is multipurpose oilseed crop in which product diversity and utility could be enhanced for industrial, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets through genetic engineering. If GE flax were released commercially, pollen-mediated gene flow will determine in part whether GE flax could coexist without compromising other markets. As a part of pre-commercialization risk assessment, we quantified pollen-mediated gene flow between two cultivars of flax. Field experiments were conducted at four locations during 2006 and 2007 in western Canada using a concentric donor (20 × 20 m) receptor (120 × 120 m) design. Gene flow was detected through the xenia effect of dominant alleles of high α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3(cisΔ9,12,15)) to the low ALA trait. Seeds were harvested from the pollen recipient plots up to a distance of 50 m in eight directions from the pollen donor. High ALA seeds were identified using a thiobarbituric acid test and served as a marker for gene flow. Binomial distribution and power analysis were used to predict the minimum number of seeds statistically required to detect the frequency of gene flow at specific α (confidence interval) and power (1-β) values. As a result of the low frequency of gene flow, approximately 4 million seeds were screened to derive accurate quantification. Frequency of gene flow was highest near the source: averaging 0.0185 at 0.1 m but declined rapidly with distance, 0.0013 and 0.00003 at 3 and 35 m, respectively. Gene flow was reduced to 50% (O₅₀) and 90% (O₉₀) between 0.85 to 2.64 m, and 5.68 to 17.56 m, respectively. No gene flow was detected at any site or year > 35 m distance from the pollen source, suggesting that frequency of gene flow was ≤ 0.00003 (P = 0.95). Although it is not possible to eliminate all adventitious presence caused by pollen-mediated gene flow, through harvest blending and the use of buffer zones between GE and conventional flax fields, it could be minimized. Managing other sources of adventitious presence including seed mixing and volunteer populations may be more problematic.

Wildlife and human use of buffer-zone areas in a wildlife sanctuary

Context. Buffer zones are supposed to serve the dual purpose of ‘extension buffering’, or an extension of core habitat areas, and ‘socio buffering’ to provide goods and services to humans; however, few studies have evaluated both human use of buffer zones and the occurrence of wildlife. Aims. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects of human disturbance on wildlife by recording the use of the 4-km-wide buffer zone of Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKKWS), Thailand, by humans and domestic animals. Methods. Occurrence of signs of large mammals were recorded along 37 transects and relationships among distance to settlements, human activities, occurrence of domestic animals and different wildlife species were analysed. Key results. In total, 210 interviewed respondents from adjacent villages all used the buffer zone, and the transect survey revealed that a large proportion of the plots (71%) were used by humans and/or domestic animals. The frequency of human use decreased linearly with distance from the buffers-zone edge, whereas the use by cattle decreased rapidly at a distance of 2000 m from the buffer-zone edge. In general, the HKKWS buffer zone was a suitable habitat for several wildlife species. Sambar deer and banteng occurred in >25% of the plots. The proportion of plots with signs of sambar deer, banteng and elephant was negatively associated with the proportion of plots with signs of domestic animals, whereas the proportion of plots with signs of common muntjac was negatively associated with the proportion of plots with signs of human activities. Conclusions. The results from the present study suggest that the 4-km buffer zone in HKKWS reduces the impact of both humans and domestic animals. Implications. The size of human populations, restrictions for grazing domestic animals and habitat quality are suggested to be factors of importance for establishment of well designed buffer zones.

Capacity of riparian buffer zones to reduce sediment concentrations in discharge from peatlands drained for forestry

In 1995–2001, the efficiency of riparian buffer zone areas to reduce the concentrations of suspended solids in discharge from peatlands drained for forestry purposes was studied at 7 locations in south-central Finland. The two largest buffer zones reduced the concentrations of suspended solids by > 70%. The efficiency of the three medium-sized buffer zones to reduce through-flow sediment concentrations was 50–60%, but no reduction occurred at the smallest two buffer areas. Thus, the capacity of buffer zones to reduce sediment concentrations was strongly related to their size. However, significant correlations were also found between reduction capacity and inflow water sediment concentrations, although the correlations at the two smallest buffer zones were low. The use of buffer zones in reducing sediment load from peatlands drained for forestry purposes is recommended, but relatively large areas for efficient removal capacity are needed.

The use of conventionally and alternatively located buffer zones for the removal of nitrate from diffuse agricultural run-off

Interest in the use of buffer zones for the protection of surface water bodies from diffuse agricultural pollution is increasing in the UK. Current protocol for buffer zone location recommends they are established adjacent to the water body, typically in the riparian zones of rivers and streams. In many situations this may be the most efficient location to deliver benefits such as habitat provision and river bank stability, though this may not necessarily be the case for effective reduction of diffuse pollution. In the UK many of these riparian locations are by-passed by drains and ditches, rendering them ineffective as buffer zones for reducing pollutant concentrations in ground water and surface water. Alternative wetland buffer zone locations have often been found to be more effective for nitrate removal. These include areas of both footslope seepage and overland flow often associated with small ditch systems, which traditionally would not be considered as buffer zones. Examples are presented of two alternative wetland buffer zones in south-west England, one situated in an area of footslope discharge, and the other on an overland flow zone associated with a ditch system. The potential efficiency of both buffer zones is examined with regard to nitrate removal.

The use of conventionally and alternatively located buffer zones for the removal of nitrate from diffuse agricultural run-off

Interest in the use of buffer zones for the protection of surface water bodies from diffuse agricultural pollution is increasing in the UK. Current protocol for buffer zone location recommends they are established adjacent to the water body, typically in the riparian zones of rivers and streams. In many situations this may be the most efficient location to deliver benefits such as habitat provision and river bank stability, though this may not necessarily be the case for effective reduction of diffuse pollution. In the UK many of these riparian locations are by-passed by drains and ditches, rendering them ineffective as buffer zones for reducing pollutant concentrations in ground water and surface water. Alternative wetland buffer zone locations have often been found to be more effective for nitrate removal. These include areas of both footslope seepage and overland flow often associated with small ditch systems, which traditionally would not be considered as buffer zones. Examples are presented of two alternative wetland buffer zones in south-west England, one situated in an area of footslope discharge, and the other on an overland flow zone associated with a ditch system. The potential efficiency of both buffer zones is examined with regard to nitrate removal.

Developments in aerial pesticide application methods for forestry

Appropriate application methods play an important role in the success of pesticide use, both in relation to ensuring good efficacy and also minimising environmental impact. Scientific and technological developments pertaining to aerial pesticide application in forestry are reviewed, including developments in the design and characterization of hydraulic and rotary pesticide dispersal systems, application parameter research, use of spray dispersal modelling, and mitigation of pesticide environmental impact, including the use of buffer zones.

Landscape management strategies for the control of diffuse pollution

The control of diffuse pollution is one of the major issues affecting the agricultural landscape. Policies of land use management are now being implemented as a means of improving water quality. The potential success of such policies is difficult to determine owing to the complex nature of the processes controlling the transport of diffuse pollutants such as nitrate, phosphorus and sediment. The use of buffer zones alongside water bodies in the agricultural landscape may offer a greater opportunity both for protecting the water and for increasing the habitat and amenity value of the landscape. The potential value of buffer zones in terms of water quality is dependent on landscape type and suitable design. The design of these features needs to consider the hydrology of both the buffer zone and of the landscape as a whole. In landscapes where the hydrology has been altered, additional measures may be required to establish suitable hydrological conditions. The implementation of a strategy of diffuse pollution control therefore needs to be approached on a landscape basis taking into account the nature of pollutant pathways and areas of high pollution risk.

Buffer zones to improve water quality: a review of their potential use in UK agriculture

A number of possible measures are being considered by the UK government to control the pollution of surface waters. One possible approach to the problem of reducing pollution from diffuse sources is the establishment of buffer zones between the pollutant source areas and the receiving waters. This review assesses the effect of buffer zones, defined as a permanently vegetated area of land which is separately managed from the rest of a field or catchment, on the runoff of various agricultural pollutants. The effectiveness of buffer zones for the retention of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and pesticides varies according to the mechanisms by which these pollutants are transported. A number of research studies have reported positive effects of buffer zones, particularly on loads of sediment and P in surface runoff and on the nitrate content of diffuse subsurface flow. The data suggest that benefits could be obtained from the wider use of buffer zones. However, especially in clay soils where subsurface drains may provide the major flow pathway through riparian areas, it is suggested that the effect on pollution will be minimal unless some additional measures are undertaken. The review has also identified that knowledge on the potential effects of buffer zones appears to be limited in a number of critical areas and that further research would be required in order to maximise the potential improvements in water quality that buffers could introduce.