Mickey and Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake: children playing in promotional webs

Many children in 'western' societies experience their circumstances through the ideas, stories, characters and values embodied in a narrow range of games, toys, videos, movies, etc. produced by a small group of companies - based mainly in the USA. These companies deploy their huge economic and cultural resources in integrated marketing strategies that can make it hard for children to avoid encountering brand name goods and services designed and marketed specifically to entice them. These marketing strategies can also make it hard for adults to deal with children's fascination with brand name goods. This article tracks the development of the complex organizational, legal and economic corporate relationships at the heart of integrated marketing strategies and explains how they can affect children's experiences of their world. It asks whether the current narrow range of entertainment products and services for children reflects the social and cultural diversity of contemporary societies and asks how to create equally attractive alternatives.

Terrestrial detritus supports the food webs in lowland intermittent streams of south-eastern Australia : a stable isotope study

1. Large amounts of terrestrial detritus enter many low-order forested streams, and this organic
material is often the major basal resource in the metazoan food webs of such systems. However,
despite their apparently low biomass, algae are the dominant food of organisms in a number of
aquatic communities which conventionally would have been presumed to be dependent on
allochthonous detritus, particularly those in the tropics and also in lowland intermittent streams
in arid Australia.
2. The dual stable isotope signatures (d13C and d15N) of potential primary food sources were
compared with the isotopic signatures of common aquatic animals in lowland intermittent
streams in south-eastern Australia, in both spring and summer, to determine whether
allochthonous detritus was an important nutritional resource in these systems. The isotopic
signatures of the major potential allochthonous plant food sources (Eucalyptus, Phalaris and
Juncus) overlapped, but were distinct from algae and the dominant macrophytes growing in the
study reaches. The isotopic signatures of biofilm were more spatially and temporally variable
than those of the other basal resources.
3. Despite allochthonous detritus having relatively high C : N ratios compared to other
potential basal resources, results from ISOSOURCE mixing model calculations demonstrated
that this detritus, and the associated biofilm, were the major energy sources assimilated by
macroinvertebrate primary consumers in both spring and summer. The importance of these
energy sources was also reflected in animals higher in the food web, including predatory
macroinvertebrates and fish. These resources were supplemented by autochthonous sources of
higher nutritional value (i.e. filamentous algae and macrophytes, which had relatively low
C : N ratios) when they became more prolific as the streams dried to disconnected pools in
summer.
4. The results highlight the importance of allochthonous detritus (particularly from Eucalyptus)
as a dependable energy source for benthic macroinvertebrates and fish in lowland intermittent
streams of south-eastern Australia. This contrasts with previous stable isotope studies
conducted in lowland intermittent streams in arid Australia, which have reported that the fauna
are primarily dependent on autochthonous algae.

Importance of terrestrial subsidies for estuarine food webs in contrasting east African catchments

Little is known on the degree to which terrestrial organic matter delivered to tropical estuaries contributes to estuarine consumers. Here, stable isotope analysis is used to constrain this contribution for contrasting east African estuaries whose catchments differ in relative C3/C4 vegetation cover. As these two types of vegetation differ strongly in δ13C, we anticipated that terrestrial subsidies would be reflected in a gradient in estuarine consumer δ13C values, following the relative importance of C3 (characterised by low δ13C) vs. C4 (characterised by high δ13C) cover. Five estuaries were sampled for aquatic biogeochemical parameters, primary producers and consumers of different trophic ecologies: the Zambezi (catchment with a C3/C4 cover of 61/39%) in Mozambique, the Tana in Kenya (36/64%) and the Betsiboka (42/58%), Rianila (85/15%) and Canal des Pangalanes (C3-dominated) in Madagascar. Sampling was done before and after the 2010/2011 wet season. There were positive relationships between the proportion of C4 cover in the catchment and turbidity, δ13CDIC, δ13CDOC, δ13CPOC and δ15NPN. There were also significant positive relationships between δ13CPOC and consumer δ13C and between δ15NPN and consumer δ15N for all consumer trophic guilds, confirming the incorporation of organic material transported from the catchments by estuarine consumers, and implying that this material is transported up to high trophic level fish. Bayesian mixing models confirmed that C4 material was the most important source for the highly turbid, C4-dominated estuaries, contributing up to 61–91% (95% CI) to phytodetritivorous fish in the Betsiboka, whereas for the less turbid C3-dominated estuaries terrestrial subsidies were not as important and consumers relied on a combination of terrestrial and aquatic sources. This shows that the ecology of the overall catchment affects the estuaries at the most basic, energetic level, and activities that alter the turbidity and productivity of rivers and estuaries can affect food webs well beyond the area of impact.

Robust mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion from short-distance electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) fiber webs

Electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber webs have shown great potential in making mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion devices. Previously, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers were produced either using near-field electrospinning (spinning distance < 1 cm) or conventional electrospinning (spinning distance > 8 cm). PVDF fibers produced by an electrospinning at a spinning distance between 1 and 8 cm (referred to as "short-distance" electrospinning in this paper) has received little attention. In this study, we have found that PVDF electrospun in such a distance range can still be fibers, although interfiber connection is formed throughout the web. The interconnected PVDF fibers can have a comparable β crystal phase content and mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion property to those produced by conventional electrospinning. However, the interfiber connection was found to considerably stabilize the fibrous structure during repeated compression and decompression for electrical conversion. More interestingly, the short-distance electrospun PVDF fiber webs have higher delamination resistance and tensile strength than those of PVDF nanofiber webs produced by conventional electrospinning. Short-distance electrospun PVDF nanofibers could be more suitable for the development of robust energy harvesters than conventionally electrospun PVDF nanofibers.

High-sensitivity acoustic sensors from nanofibre webs

Considerable interest has been devoted to converting mechanical energy into electricity using polymer nanofibres. In particular, piezoelectric nanofibres produced by electrospinning have shown remarkable mechanical energy-to-electricity conversion ability. However, there is little data for the acoustic-to-electric conversion of electrospun nanofibres. Here we show that electrospun piezoelectric nanofibre webs have a strong acoustic-to-electric conversion ability. Using poly(vinylidene fluoride) as a model polymer and a sensor device that transfers sound directly to the nanofibre layer, we show that the sensor devices can detect low-frequency sound with a sensitivity as high as 266 mV Pa(-1). They can precisely distinguish sound waves in low to middle frequency region. These features make them especially suitable for noise detection. Our nanofibre device has more than five times higher sensitivity than a commercial piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) film device. Electrospun piezoelectric nanofibres may be useful for developing high-performance acoustic sensors.

Taphonomy and palaeobiology of early Middle Triassic coprolites from the Luoping biota, southwest China: implications for reconstruction of fossil food webs

Abundant, exceptionally preserved coprolites are documented from the Luoping biota (Anisian, Middle Triassic) of Yunnan Province, southwest China. These coprolites can be categorized into fourmorphological types: A) bead to ribbon-shaped, B) short to long cylindrical-shaped, C) flattened, disk-like, and D) segmented faeces. Detailed multi-disciplinary studies reveal that coprolite type A was likely produced by invertebrate animals,while coprolite types B to D could be faeces generated by carnivorous fishes or marine reptiles, perhaps from different taxonomicgroups. When compared with coprolites reported from the Lower Triassic, the Luoping forms indicate more complicated predation-prey food web networks. These evidences, combined with body fossil discoveries fromLuoping, suggest the emergence of complex trophic ecosystems in the Anisian,marking the full biotic recovery following the Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction.

Ecosystems and human well-being

■ Human well-being has several key components: the basic material needs for a good life, freedom and choice, health, good social relations, and personal security. Well-being exists on a continuum with poverty, which has been defined as"pronounced deprivation in well-being."
■ How well-being and ill-being, or poverty, are expressed and experienced is context- and situation-dependent, reflecting local social and personal factors such as geography, ecology, age, gender,and culture.These concepts are complex and value-laden.
■ Ecosystems are essential for human well-being through their provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. Evidence in recent decades of escalating human impacts. on ecological systems worldwide raises concerns about the consequences of ecosystem changes for human well-being.
■ Human well-being can be enhanced through sustainable human interaction with ecosystems with the support of appropriate instruments, institutions, organizations, and technology. creation of these through participation and transparency may contribute to people's freedoms and choices and to increased economic, social,and ecological security.
■ Some believe that the problems from the depletion and degradation of ecological capital can be largely overcome by the substitution of physical and human capital. Others believe that there are more significant limits to such substitutions.The scope for substitutions varies by socioeconomic status.
■ We identify direct and indirect pathways between ecosystem change and human well-being,whether it be positive or negative.lndirect effects are characterized by more complex webs of causation, involving social, economic, and political threads. Threshold points exist beyond which rapid changes to human well-being can occur.
■ Indigent poorly resourced, and otherwise disadvantaged communities are generally the most vulnerable to adverse ecosystem change. Spirals, both positive and negative, can occur for any population, but the poor are more vulnerable.      
■ Functioning institutions are vital to enable equitable access to ecosystem services. lnstitutions sometimes fail or remain undeveloped because of powerful individuals or groups. Bodies that mediate the distribution of goods and services may also be appropriated for the benefit of powerful minorities.
■ For poor people, the greatest gains in well-being will occur through more equitable and secure access to ecosystem services. In the long run, the rich can contribute greatly to human well-being by reducing their substantial impacts on ecosystems and by facilitating greater access to ecosystem services by the poor.
■ We argue ecological security warrants recognition as a sixth freedom of equal weight with participative freedom, economic   facilities, social opportunities, transparency guarantees, and protective security.

Photodegradation, interaction with iron oxides and bioavailability of dissolved organic matter from forested floodplain sources

Photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) can influence food webs by altering the availability of carbon to microbial communities, and may be particularly important following periods of high DOM input (e.g. flooding of forested floodplains). Iron oxides can facilitate these reactions, but their influence on subsequent organic products is poorly understood. Degradation experiments with billabong (= oxbow lake) water and river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) leaf leachate were conducted to assess the importance of these reactions in floodplain systems. Photochemical degradation of DOM in sunlight-irradiated quartz tubes (with and without amorphous iron oxide) was studied using gas chromatography and UV-visible spectroscopy. Photochemical reactions generated gaseous products and small organic acids. Bioavailability of billabong DOM increased following irradiation, whereas that of leaf leachate was not significantly altered. Fluorescence excitation-emission spectra suggested that the humic component of billabong organic matter was particularly susceptible to degradation, and the source of DOM influenced the changes observed. The addition of amorphous iron oxide increased rates of photochemical degradation of leachate and billabong DOM. The importance of photochemical reactions to aquatic systems will depend on the source of the DOM and its starting bioavailability, whereas inputs of freshly formed iron oxides will accelerate the processes.

Pathways for algal recolonization in seasonally-flowing streams

1. In semi-arid climates, seasonally-flowing streams provide most of the water required for human use, but knowledge of how water extraction affects ecological processes is limited. Predicted alterations in stream flows associated with the impacts of climate change further emphasize the need to understand these processes. Benthic algae are an important base for stream food webs, but we have little knowledge of how algae survive dry periods or respond to altered flow regimes.

2. We sampled 19 streams within the Grampians National Park, south-eastern Australia and included four components: a survey of different drought refuges (e.g. permanent pools, dry biofilm on stones and dry leaf packs) and associated algal taxa; a survey of algal regrowth on stones after flows recommenced to determine which refuges contributed to regrowth; reciprocal transplant experiments to determine the relative importance of algal drift and regrowth from dry biofilm in recolonization; direct measurement of algal drift to determine taxonomic composition in relation to benthic assemblage composition.

3. Algae showed little specificity for drought refuges but did depend on them; no species were found that were not present in at least one of the perennial pool, dry biofilm or leaf pack refuges. Perennial pools were most closely correlated with the composition of algal assemblages once flows resumed, but the loss or gain of perennial pools that might arise from stream regulation is unlikely to affect the composition of algal regrowth. However, regulated streams were associated with strong increases in algal density in dry biofilm, including increased densities of Cyanobacteria.

4. A model for algal recolonization in seasonally-flowing streams identified three pathways for algal recolonization (drift-dependent, dry biofilm-dependent and contributions from both), depending on whether streams are diatom-dominated or dominated by filamentous algae. The model predicted the effects of changes to stream flow regimes on benthic algal recolonization and provides a basis for hypotheses testable in streams elsewhere.

Local ontologies and epistemologies of leadership in the Rosebank business precinct of Auckland, New Zealand

The Rosebank Business Precinct is one of Auckland s most highly developed Business Improvement Districts. This descriptive study, undertaken for Auckland City Council, examines the gaps between what Rosebank businesses actually want and what the workforce presently provides. A further aim was to investigate the potential for employee training, education and development in Rosebank. We conducted face-to-face interviews with about one-fifth of Rosebank companies using a 36-question questionnaire and employing random stratified cluster sampling. Fifteen of these firms also had in-depth interviews. From the present analysis, it is apparent that many firms lack leadership, leadership styles, managerial, computing and technology skills, which in turn leads to lower survival rates. Local authorities have a role to play in ontologies and epistemologies of leadership in the local organisations surveyed in Rosebank. Many owner/managers, regarded as leaders, held unsupportive attitudes toward training and education. The paper makes recommendations in the fields of labour force training, education and development; recruitment; and where leaders can recruit the right people.

The health consequences of migration : meeting the health needs of displaced populations

The present scale of migration raises a number of public health challenges. In this paper, the health consequences of migration are examined among forced migrants (internally displaced people and refugees) and voluntary migrants. Alongside we also focus on the health needs of migrants in developed and developing nations. Theory and evidence are linked to document existing needs and access to health services. We argue that public health has a role to play in building social inclusiveness and equity, and make recommendations about how this process of inclusion can be facilitated.

Web-building spiders attract prey by storing decaying matter

The orb-weaving spider Nephila edulis incorporates into its web a band of decaying animal and plant matter. While earlier studies demonstrate that larger spiders utilise these debris bands as caches of food, the presence of plant matter suggests additional functions. When organic and plastic items were placed in the webs of N. edulis, some of the former but none of the latter were incorporated into the debris band. Using an Y-maze olfactometer, we show that sheep blowflies Lucilia cuprina are attracted to recently collected debris bands, but that this attraction does not persist over time. These data reveal an entirely novel foraging strategy, in which a sit-and-wait predator attracts insect prey by utilising the odours of decaying organic material. The spider's habit of replenishing the debris band may be necessary to maintain its efficacy for attracting prey.

Properties of series feature aggregation schemes

Feature aggregation is a critical technique in content-based image retrieval (CBIR) that combines multiple feature distances to obtain image dissimilarity. Conventional parallel feature aggregation (PFA) schemes failed to effectively filter out the irrelevant images using individual visual features before ranking images in collection. Series feature aggregation (SFA) is a new scheme that aims to address this problem. This paper investigates three important properties of SFA that are significant for design of systems. They reveal the irrelevance of feature order and the convertibility of SFA and PFA as well as the superior performance of SFA. Furthermore, based on Gaussian kernel density estimator, the authors propose a new method to estimate the visual threshold, which is the key parameter of SFA. Experiments, conducted with IAPR TC-12 benchmark image collection (ImageCLEF2006) that contains over 20,000 photographic images and defined queries, have shown that SFA can outperform conventional PFA schemes.

Trophic effects of fishing southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii shown by combined fatty acid and stable isotope analyses

The southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii is a commercial species that has benefited from the complete protection offered by no-take reserves, with higher abundances and larger animals recorded in reserves than in adjacent fished areas. What remains unclear is whether there is any change in the diet of lobsters in reserves, for example, as a result of increased intraspecific competition for food. We used combined chemical tracers to examine the diet of lobsters in fished and reserve areas in 2 bioregions in eastern Tasmania. δ15N values of lobsters were richer in fished than in reserve areas, indicating that lobsters eat a greater proportion of food items from higher trophic levels in fished areas. Mixing models suggest that ascidians, sea urchins and the turbinid gastropod were all important food sources for lobsters, but the importance of these food items differed between bioregions. This spatial variability may suggest that the small size of the reserve in one bioregion is inadequate at ensuring the diet of lobsters is protected from fishing pressure. Fatty acid profiles of lobsters supported the importance of these food sources to lobsters. Differences between bioregions, or inside and outside of reserves, were not apparent using fatty acids. The present study highlights that lobster fishing has the capacity to alter the trophic status of prey for generalist predators and suggests that fatty acid analyses may be limited in detecting changes in the dietary composition of such generalist feeders.