MEDEX: a general overview

The general objective of the international MEDiterranean EXperiment (MEDEX) was the better understanding and forecasting of cyclones that produce high impact weather in the Mediterranean. This paper reviews the motivation and foundation of MEDEX, the gestation, history and organisation of the project, as well as the main products and scientific achievements obtained from it. MEDEX obtained the approval of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and can be considered as framed within other WMO actions, such as the ALPine EXperiment (ALPEX), the Mediterranean Cyclones Study Project (MCP) and, to a certain extent, THe Observing System Research and Predictability EXperiment (THORPEX) and the HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment (HyMeX). Through two phases (2000 2005 and 2006 2010), MEDEX has produced a specific database, with information about cyclones and severe or high impact weather events, several main reports and a specific data targeting system field campaign (DTS-MEDEX-2009). The scientific achievements are significant in fields like climatology, dynamical understanding of the physical processes and social impact of cyclones, as well as in aspects related to the location of sensitive zones for individual cases, the climatology of sensitivity zones and the improvement of the forecasts through innovative methods like mesoscale ensemble prediction systems.

Woodland Sketches, Op. 51

Soitinnus: Piano.

Brook Trout Removal as a Conservation Tool to Restore Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout

Nonnative brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis are abundant in Pine Creek and its main tributary, Bogard Spring Creek, California. These creeks historically provided the most spawning and rearing habitat for endemic Eagle Lake rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss aquilarum. Three-pass electrofishing removal was conducted in 2007–2009 over the entire 2.8-km length of Bogard Spring Creek to determine whether brook trout removal was a feasible restoration tool and to document the life history characteristics of brook trout in a California meadow stream. After the first 2 years of removal, brook trout density and biomass were severely reduced from 15,803 to 1,192 fish/ha and from 277 to 31 kg/ha, respectively. Average removal efficiency was 92–97%, and most of the remaining fish were removed in the third year. The lack of a decrease in age-0 brook trout abundance between 2007 and 2008 after the removal of more than 4,000 adults in 2007 suggests compensatory reproduction of mature fish that survived and higher survival of age-0 fish. However, recruitment was greatly reduced after 2 years of removal and is likely to be even more depressed after the third year of removal assuming that immigration of fish from outside the creek continues to be minimal. Brook trout condition, growth, and fecundity indicated a stunted population at the start of the study, but all three features increased significantly every year, demonstrating compensatory effects. Although highly labor intensive, the use of electrofishing to eradicate brook trout may be feasible in Bogard Spring Creek and similar small streams if removal and monitoring are continued annually and if other control measures (e.g., construction of barriers) are implemented. Our evidence shows that if brook trout control measures continue and if only Eagle Lake rainbow trout are allowed access to the creek, then a self-sustaining population ofEagle Lake rainbow trout can become reestablished

Muotia, mukavuutta ja mielipiteitä. Kaakeliuuni yhteiskunnallisten muutosten ilmentäjänä keskiajan ja uuden ajan alun Suomessa

Fashion, Comf ort and Conviction is a study investigating the adoption and significance of the ceramic tile stove in medieval and early modern Finland. It presents stove tiles found in archaeological excavations, places the tiles in their cultural contexts and examines them as indicators of various social changes. The early history of the ceramic tile stove goes back to the 12th century in the German-speaking Alpine regions, from where it spread to the Baltic Sea region during the Middle Ages. On the basis of the archaeological finds presented in this study, the introduction of the tile stove in Finland dates to the early 15th century. Its adoption was connected to the increase in foreign trade links and social emulation, the demand for comfort, and innovations in building technology and interior design. Stove tiles also reflect the political and religious convictions of their time and open a fascinating window on everyday life in medieval and early modern Finland.

Arktiset alueet ja vuoristoalueet mullistumassa

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

City meadows : Vitality from a living heritage

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of a city, you may find a city meadow. A city meadow refers to a green area situated in an urban setting, the management of which aims at maintaining meadow species and facilitating outdoor recreation for city residents. Some of these green areas situated in cities are managed in a detailed and planned manner, while others have been left untended and are now wild, overgrown and in some cases impenetrable. However, all these meadows share one similarity: they play an important role in producing ecosystem services. What, then, is meant by ecosystem services? The multitude of flowers that bloom during summer, recreational opportunities, maintaining nature’s diversity, as well as filtering urban runoff are some of the everyday “services” that city meadows provide for the urban environment and its residents. This publication covers several different points of view by numerous experts on the importance of green areas in cities. The message is clear: management of city meadows improves both natural and cultural environments in a cost-effective manner. City meadows also help improve the health and enjoyment of city residents. When a green area is well-managed, the reputation and image of the surrounding properties and neighbourhood will also improve, as will their financial value!

Enteral fluid therapy through nasogastric tube in rumen cannulated goats

This paper reports the effects of fluid therapy in goats through nasogastric route with an electrolyte solution composed by concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride similar to goat plasma (140mmol/L of Na+, 4.5mmol/L of K+, 110mmol/L of Cl-). Four Alpine Chamoisee goats, two of them with evident leakage of the rumen cannulas, were used in a crossover experimental design of two periods and two groups. In one group the two goats were submitted to a treatment protocol to induce dehydration before the fluid therapy, whereas the other group was not. Fluid therapy consisted supplying 10mL/kg/h of the electrolyte solution during 8 hours. No signs of discomfort or stress were observed. The dehydration model employed caused a mild dehydration indicated by decrease in feces humidity, body weight and abdominal circumference, and increase in plasma total solids concentration. During fluid therapy globular volume and plasma total solids decreased, whereas % body weight and abdominal circumference increased. No signs of hyperhydration were observed and serum electrolytes (Na+, Cl-, K+) presented no significant alterations in both groups. Fluid therapy proposed in this study was efficient to treat dehydration, even for rumen cannulated animals with evident leakage, and can be administrated safely with no electrolyte imbalance.

GIS assessing traditional and modern agricultural land use/land cover change. A case study 1959-2005: Rekijoki, Somero, SW-Finland

Finland’s rural landscape has gone through remarkable changes from the 1950’s, due to agricultural developments. Changed farming practices have influenced especially traditional landscape management, and modifications in the arable land structure and grasslands transitions are notable. The review of the previous studies reveal the importance of the rural landscape composition and structure to species and landscape diversity, whereas including the relevance in presence of the open ditches, size of the field and meadow patches, topology of the natural and agricultural landscape. This land-change study includes applying remote sensed data from two time series and empirical geospatial analysis in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The aims of this retrospective research is to detect agricultural landscape use and land cover change (LULCC) dynamics and discuss the consequences of agricultural intensification to landscape structure covering from the aspects of landscape ecology. Measurements of LULC are derived directly from pre-processed aerial images by a variety of analytical procedures, including statistical methods and image interpretation. The methodological challenges are confronted in the process of landscape classification and combining change detection approaches with landscape indices. Particular importance is paid on detecting agricultural landscape features at a small scale, demanding comprehensive understanding of such agroecosystems. Topological properties of the classified arable land and valley are determined in order to provide insight and emphasize the aspect the field edges in the agricultural landscape as important habitat. Change detection dynamics are presented with change matrix and additional calculations of gain, loss, swap, net change, change rate and tendencies are made. Transition’s possibility is computed following Markov’s probability model and presented with matrix, as well. Thesis’s spatial aspect is revealed with illustrative maps providing knowledge of location of the classified landscape categories and location of the dynamics of the changes occurred. It was assured that in Rekijoki valley’s landscape, remarkable changes in landscape has occurred. Landscape diversity has been strongly influenced by modern agricultural landscape change, as NP of open ditches has decreased and the MPS of the arable plot has decreased. Overall change in the diversity of the landscape is determined with the decrease of SHDI. Valley landscape considered as traditional land use area has experienced major transitional changes, as meadows class has lost almost one third of the area due to afforestation. Also, remarkable transitions have occurred from forest to meadow and arable land to built area. Boundaries measurement between modern and traditional landscape has indicated noticeable proportional increase in arable land-forest edge type and decrease in arable land-meadow edge type. Probability calculations predict higher future changes for traditional landscape, but also for arable land turning into built area.

Vuoristojen katoava elämä

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

PRODUÇÃO DE LEITE DE CABRAS PURAS NO CURIMATAÚ PARAIBANO DURANTE A LACTAÇÃO

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo determinar a produção de leite de cabras puras das raças Anglo Nubiana, Parda Alemã e British Alpine, durante 195 dias de lactação, na microrregião do Curimataú paraibano. Foram utilizados 6 animais puros de cada raça, de 2a e 3a ordem de parição. O controle leiteiro teve início 30 dias após a parição, com uma periodicidade de 15 dias, durante 195 dias, nas ordenhas matutina e vespertina, perfazendo um total de 72 coletas. A produção obtida para as raças Anglo Nubiana, Parda Alemã e British Alpine, correspondeu a 873,6, 1.162,0 e 2.069,0g, respectivamente. Foi evidenciada influência significativa (P<0,05) dos parâmetros raça, período de lactação e período de ordenha sobre a produção, não sendo observado para a raça British Alpine o efeito da lactação sobre a produção.

Effect of genotype, finishing system, and sex on physiochemical characteristics of goat meat

Seventy-eight kids of both sexes and five genotypes were used: Alpine, ½ Boer + ½ Alpine (½ BA), ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpine, ½ Anglo-nubian + ½ Alpine and "tricross" (½ Anglo-nubian + ¼ Boer + ¼ Alpine) with initial average weight of 14.1 ± 2.5. The objective was to evaluate the effect of genotype, finishing system, and sex on the physiochemical characteristics of goat meat. Finishing systems were: ST1 - kid + dam in pasture and ST2 - weaned kid and feedlot. Kids in ST1 were kept in an area with Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania, and after grazing, water and mineral salt/mix were fed ad libitum to the animals. The animals in ST2 were confined in collective pens distributed according to genotypes and received diet with 16% CP and 73% TDN. The values of pH, a* (red content), Cooking Loss (CL), and Ether Extract (EE) percentage were influenced by genotype. Values for red content (a*) and L* (brightness), CL and percentages of moisture, protein, EE, and ash were influenced by the finishing system. Longissimus dorsi muscle from animals ½ BA exhibited better physiochemical characteristics. For greater tenderness and higher percentages of fat, consumers should choose female kid goat meat.

Henkilöstöjohtamisen ja työkuorman hallinnan yhteys organisaatiositoutumiseen suomalaisilla palkansaajilla

Tutkielmassani tarkastelen henkilöstöjohtamisen sekä autonomian ja stressin eli yhdessä työkuormituksen hallinnan yhteyttä organisaatiositoutumiseen. Pohdin millä tavalla palkansaajan sitoutuminen organisaatioon rakentuu; ovatko tärkeämmässä asemassa työn hallintaan liittyvät tekijät vai organisaation panostus henkilöstöönsä? Etsin optimaalista autonomia- stressi- ja henkilöstöjohtamisen onnistuneisuustasoa, jolla palkansaajan sitoutuneisuus on maksimissaan. Pohdin myös organisatorisen sitoutumisen roolia nykytyöelämässä ja niitä motiiveja, joilla palkansaajien työnkuvien painetasapainoa ja työn tuottavuutta säädellään. Olen myös kiinnostunut mahdollisista yhteisvaikutusmekanismeista, joita organisaatiositoutumisen selittäjillä saattaa olla. Tutkimusmateriaalinani käytän kansainvälisen MEADOW -konseptin mukaista poikkileikkausaineistoa Työelämän käytännöt 2012: työntekijät (N=1711). Tutkimusmenetelmänä käytän lineaarista regressiota. Tulokset osoittavat, että suomalaiset ovat suurelta osin hyvin sitoutuneita työpaikkoihinsa ja selittäjäjoukostani tärkein tekijä tässä on henkilöstöjohtaminen. Keskitasoiseen sitoutumiseen päästään jo tyydyttävälläkin henkilöstöjohtamisella, sen sijaan korkean tason sitoutuneisuus edellyttää johtamisen onnistumista – mielellään myös jonkin verran autonomiaa. Työstressiä siedetään hyvin, jos vain henkilöstöjohtaminen tai vaihtoehtoisesti autonomia-asiat ovat kunnossa. Selittäjillä on yhteisvaikutuksia, ne täydentävät ja tarvittaessa paikkaavat toisiaan. Autonomian sitoutumista nostava efekti ja stressin sitä laskeva efekti ovat suhteellisen pienehköjä verrattuna henkilöstöjohtamisen suureen merkitykseen sitoutumisen rakentumisessa. Tulosta selittää palkansaajien korkea halu sitoutua, mutta myös henkilöstöjohtamisen kokonaisvaltaisuus. Organisaatiolta tuleva tuki ja kannustus ovat työnkuvaakin tärkeämpi tekijä sitoutumisessa. Tutkimukseni vahvistaa myös oletuksen siitä, että palkansaajan sitouttaminen on mahdollista hänen väestöllisiin taustaominaisuuksiinsa katsomatta.

Grass-endophyte coevolution and ploidy levels in fescues

ABSTRACT Fescues consist of wild and cultivated grasses that have adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. They are an excellent model species for evolutionary ecology studies that investigate symbiosis and polyploidization and their effects on plant performance. First, they are frequently infected with symbiotic endophytic fungi known to affect a plant’s ability to cope with biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Second, fescue species have been reported to have substantial intraspecific variation in their ploidy level and morphology. In my thesis, I examined large-scale generalizations for frequency of polyploidy and endophyte infections and their effects on plant morphology. As a model species, I selected red (Festuca rubra) and viviparous sheep’s (F. vivipara) fescues. They are closely related, but they differ in terms of distribution and endophyte infection frequency. I investigated the biogeographic pattern and population biology of 29 red and 12 viviparous sheep’s fescue populations across ≈300 latitudes in Europe (400-690 N). To examine plant ploidy levels, I implemented time- and cost-efficient plate-based high throughput flow cytometric analysis. This efficient procedure enabled me to analyze over 1000 red fescue individuals. I found three ploidy levels among them: overall 84 %, 9 % and 7 % of the red fescue plants were hexaploid, tetraploid and octoploid, respectively. However, all viviparous sheep’s fescue plants were tetraploid. Ploidy level of red fescue appeared to some extent follow gradients in latitude and primary production as suggested by previous studies, but these results could be explained better by taking the sampling design and local adaptation into account. Three Spanish populations were mostly tetraploids and one high elevation population in northernmost Finland (Halti) was octoploid, while most other populations (25 sites) were dominated by hexaploids. Endophyte infection frequencies of wild fescue populations varied from 0 to 81 % in red fescue populations and from 0 to 30 % in viviparous sheep’s fescue populations. No gradients with latitude or primary production of the sites were detected. As taxonomy of red fescues is somewhat unclear, I also studied morphology, ploidy variation and endophyte status of proposed subspecies of European red fescues. Contrary to previous literature, different ploidy levels occurred in the same subspecies. In addition to wild fescues, I also used two agronomically important cultivars of meadow and tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix and S. pratensis). As grass-legume mixtures have an agronomic advantage over monocultures in meadows, I carried out a mixture/competition experiment with fescues and red clover to find that species composition, nutrient availability and endophyte status together determined the total biomass yield that was higher in mixtures compared to monocultures. The results of this thesis demonstrate the importance of local biotic and abiotic factors such as grazing gradients and habitat types, rather than suggested general global geographical or environmental factors on grass polyploidization or its association with symbiotic endophytic fungi. I conclude that variation in endophyte infection frequencies and ploidy levels of wild fescues support the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution. Historical incidents, e.g., glaciation and present local factors, rather than ploidy or endophyte status, determine fescue morphology.

Restoration and succession of a bee community in southern St. Catharines, Ontario, within a ten-year study period

A wild bee community in southern St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, was studied from 2003 to 2012 to analyze the effects of primary succession on abundance and diversity. At a former landfill site near Brock University, which previously contained no bees, the number of bees and bee species was expected to increase rapidly following measures to restore the site to grassy meadow habitat. The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) states that over time, succession occurs. Abundance and diversity increase initially and peak when pioneers coexist with specialized species, then decline because of competitive exclusion. Alternatively, abundance and diversity may continue to increase and stabilize without declining. Bees were sampled repeatedly among years from newer restoration sites (revegetated in 2003), older restoration sites on the periphery of the former landfill (revegetated in 2000), and nearby low disturbance grassy field (i.e. control) sites. In the newer sites, bee abundance and diversity increased then decreased while in older restoration and control sites mainly decreased. This pattern of succession matches the general predictions of the IDH, although declines were at least partially related to drought. By 2006, total bee abundance levels converged among all sites, indicating rapid colonization and succession, and by 2012 diversity levels were similar among sites as well, suggesting that the bee community was fully restored or nearly so within the ten-year study period.