Radford University

Dendrochronology offers valuable insights into global environmental change, yet the field remains geographically biased toward northern latitudes, leaving tropical Africa relatively underrepresented. The African Dendrochronological Fieldschool (ADF) addresses this gap through training and research to expand knowledge of ring formation and environmental variation, and to build research capacity. We present case studies from the first three ADFs (2021–2023), spanning wood anatomy, dendroecology, dendroclimatology, and dendrochemistry studies from Miombo woodlands near Kitwe, Zambia. Wood anatomical characterization for 13 species, many of which have not been assessed before, indicated two are semi-ring-porous, but most (11 of 13) are diffuse-porous, and five show indicators of annual ring formation. Dendroecological studies characterized stand diversity and establishment history and produced a mixed-species chronology (series intercorrelation = 0.42). Dendroclimatological research yielded chronologies of Brachystegia longifolia and B. boehmii (series intercorrelations of 0.38 and 0.44, respectively) and found significant relationships (p < 0.05) between wet-season precipitation and growth for B. boehmii (r = 0.19–0.37) and the mixed-species chronology (r = 0.23–0.26). Dendrochemical analysis of B. longifolia revealed bioaccumulation of pollutants linked to local soil contamination, including As, Pb, and Sc. These findings demonstrate the applicability of several African tree species for dendrochronological research and underscore the importance of continued capacity building.

Many cemeteries include large amounts of greenspace and so have substantial potential to support urban plant and wildlife communities. However, the physical structure and design of these human-focused greenspaces may ultimately determine which species successfully inhabit these areas. Here, I studied the relationship between grave markers, a unique and ubiquitous feature of cemeteries that vary widely in shape and structure within and between burial areas, and the behavior of cemetery avian communities. I hypothesized that areas with greater structural heterogeneity of markers would be used by a larger diversity of species and that species would alter their behavior and interactions with markers based on marker structure. I assessed avian abundance and species richness in areas with varied upright and homogenously flat grave markers and observed behaviors exhibited by four common species in relation to grave markers and other structural features. While I found no relationship between grave marker heterogeneity and avian species richness or abundance, there is evidence for species-specific behavior and interactions with grave markers, suggesting that marker design is an important and relevant landscape feature for birds. These results have practical applications for cemetery design at a time when there is both increased public interest in environmentally friendly burials and growing competition for land in increasingly heavily developed urban areas.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that Virginia withdraws about 29.2 billion liters of water daily. However, detailed data on water availability and demand at finer scales remain limited, hindering accurate assessments of blue water footprint and scarcity. This study analyzes agricultural water demand and blue water scarcity in Virginia from 1985 to 2015, focusing on county-level crop water footprints and watershed-scale scarcity. Using data from the USGS and the United States Department of Agriculture, we estimated blue, green, and grey water footprints for 18 major crops. Blue water scarcity was defined as the ratio of total water demand (irrigation, industrial, domestic, and environmental) to available water (surface runoff plus groundwater recharge). Environmental demand was estimated using a hydrology-based method. Hotspots of agricultural water use were identified in counties such as Augusta, Rockingham, Southampton, and Suffolk. Groundwater use peaked in the mid-1990s, then declined as surface water became more dominant. A strong spatial overlap was observed between high-scarcity watersheds and high-withdrawal counties. These findings provide critical insights for targeting sustainable water management strategies and addressing emerging water stress in Virginia’s agricultural regions. This study estimates the water footprint for 18 major crops for each county in Virginia. Hotspot analysis revealed significant water footprint estimates in Northern and Eastern Virginia. Higher blue water footprint counties overlap with high water-scarce watersheds, indicating high irrigation water withdrawal.

Falls are a major cause of injury, loss of independence, and fear among individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Community-based Recreational therapy (CBRT) balance programs aim to mitigate fall risk by improving balance and enhancing confidence in balance-related activities alongside peers. This study examines the relationship between postural sway, postural stability, and perceived balance confidence in people with PD. For six months, three older adults with PD (72±12) engaged in a structured balance training program emphasizing strength, stability, and proprioception. Monthly assessments of postural sway, stability, and self-reported perceived balance confidence scores were analyzed for statistical and clinical relevance. Findings indicate a moderate correlation between improved balance measures and higher perceived balance confidence scores, suggesting that better balance performance leads to increased confidence in functional movement. These results highlight the significance of structured balance training in fall prevention strategies and underscore the role of recreational therapy in promoting balance and confidence. The practical implications and potential directions for future research are examined.

Analyzing how spinners are represented in art is a way to understand the role of women’s work in the medieval and premodern periods. What do spinners signify? How is this work depicted? Who are spinners? Using a selection of imagery from northern European medieval manuscripts and premodern prints from the 14th to the 17th centuries allows us to see how pervasive the spinner was as a symbolic device. Characters such as Eve, Mary, Sardanapalus, and Hercules are unified by their spinning. As they work with the spindle and distaff, they are makers in addition to being religious or mythological figures. Though spinning does not always (if at all) appear in their textual narratives, it is part of the established iconography for each and persisted as a way to communicate or demean the value of women’s domestic enterprises.

The Changemaker Challenge is a transformative two-part exercise aiming to prepare students for real-world challenges in business and society. During the activities, which are applied during a sophomore and junior-level social entrepreneurship course, students are introduced to entrepreneurial strategies designed to address wicked problems. The two-part exercise involves (a) creating a Value Proposition and (b) mapping a Business Model Canvas. The Value Proposition component encourages students to articulate the value of a proposed solution to a wicked problem. The Business Model Canvas component represents nine building blocks of a business, starting with the Value Proposition, followed by customer segments, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structures. The exercise provides a conceptual framework for students to ideate and hypothesize actionable steps to addressing wicked problems.