GOG Preservation Program

M. Moravek, L. Appiah, A. Anazodo, K. Burns, V. Gomez-Lobo, Holly R Hoefgen, Olivia Jaworek Frias, M. Laronda, Jennifer M. Levine, L. Meacham, M. Pavone, G. Quinn, E. Rowell, A. Strine, T. Woodruff, L. Nahata

Infertility is known to decrease quality of life among adults. In some cases, infertility is caused by medical conditions and/or treatments prescribed in childhood, and using methods to protect or preserve fertility may expand future reproductive possibilities. Structured programs to offer counseling about infertility risk and fertility preservation options are essential in the care of pediatric patients facing fertility-threatening conditions or treatments, yet multiple barriers to program development exist. This report was developed from the institutional experiences of members of the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium, with the intent of providing guidance for health care providers aiming to establish programs at institutions lacking pediatric fertility preservation services. The mechanics of building a fertility preservation program are discussed, including essential team members, target populations, fertility preservation options (both established and experimental), survivorship issues, research opportunities, and ethical considerations. Common barriers to program development and utilization, including low referral rates and financial concerns, are also discussed, and recommendations made for overcoming such barriers.

R. Hauer, Andrew K. Koeser, Stephani Parbs, Jim Kringer, R. Krouse, Ken Ottman, Robert W. Miller, D. Sivyer, N. Timilsina, L. Werner

Abstract A long-term research study in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA investigated how construction (i.e., repairs to streets, curbs, and sidewalks) affected tree condition, survival, and growth compared to control trees outside construction zones and effects of a tree preservation program on reducing construction impacts. This study is divided into three periods: (1) a limited implementation period (1979–1989) prior to a formal tree preservation program, (2) an intermediate implementation period (1989–2005) during the development and refinement of a tree preservation program, and (3) a full implementation period (2005–2018) after comprehensive execution of the tree preservation program. During the initial limited preservation period, baseline measurements from 1989 showed trees in construction zones died at a higher annual rate (4.1% actual) and had a lower tree condition rating (5.7% actual) in the limited implementation period (1979–1989) as compared to the other two periods. During the intermediate implementation period (i.e. program under development), construction activities resulted in a reduced effect on tree condition (2.4% actual) as measured in 2005. Tree survival and condition in the full implementation period were similar between trees associated with construction zones and non-impacted control trees measured in 2018. Results demonstrate the effect of a tree preservation program on promoting healthy trees in construction zones. Significant findings also show the importance of growing space with trees farther away from curbs and sidewalks having a higher tree condition and survival rate in all three periods. Findings from this study can encourage city-wide-preservation programs elsewhere to protect public street trees from construction.

V. Vignieri

Purpose This study aims to illustrate how collaborative platforms may leverage active community for climate change adaptation to implement biodiversity preservation policies. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts the Dynamic Performance Governance methodological framework to analyze the causal relationships affecting biodiversity preservation policy outcomes. Findings Active community reduces harmful factors for biodiversity (i.e. biological threats and anthropogenic pressure), limiting the risk of extinction of perennial plants. Stakeholders’ prior knowledge is an enabling condition of climate adaptation processes as it triggers the adoption of prescriptions and cultural changes in a community. Practical implications The study provides methodological guidance to define measures to deliver material information to support environmental performance governance. It elaborates an inventory of short- and long-term performance indicators integrating natural-science targets into accounting measures that can support policymakers operating in other contexts to implement climate change adaptation policies. Social implications As a response to the study findings, social implications provide insights into how active community in collaborative platforms for climate change may support stakeholders to address natural resources imbalances, define strategies to share the burden among them and intervene on multiple policy domains (e.g. financial, environmental and social). Originality/value Climate change adaptation challenges are conceptualized as “super wicked problems,” and the collaborative platforms designed to address them are rendered as complex adaptive systems. This makes the paper go beyond traditional environmental governance, demonstrating that stakeholders’ interactions within collaborative platforms harness active community specialized knowledge.

Supriya Behl, Vidhu B. Joshi, Reda s. Hussein, D. Walker, Kari L. Lampat, Anthony Krenik, K. Barud, J. Fredrickson, Terri M. Galanits, Katherine J. Rian, A. Delgado, Julia Byrne, D. Potter, S. Pittock, C. Arndt, Yulian Zhao, P. Gargollo, C. Granberg, Z. Khan, A. Chattha

Arash Fereydooni, Farishta Yawary, Subhro K. Sen, Loretta B. Chou, R. Dalman, Melissa S. Murphy, J. Stern, V. Chandra