The physico-chemistry of the northern waters of Lake Victoria

In this paper, we try to briefly review the current physico-chemical data pertaining to Northern Lake Victoria which could eventually be used to explain the following:- (a) whether there bas been a change of the dissolved organic nutrient cencentrations when compared with the pre-perch period, (b) the specific point sources of the influent nutrients and other chemicals and how they correlate with changes in algal productivity, and (c) whether the data can contribute to the validation of the Lake Victoria ecological model developed by Jorgensen at al. (1982).

Formação e supervisão das práticas clínicas : uma abordagem ecológica

Nos últimos anos, um conjunto de mudanças de natureza tecnológica institucional, legal e cultural alteraram as funções, a responsabilidade social e a estrutura das organizações de saúde. Estas transformações estão na base do debate actual sobre supervisão clínica em enfermagem enquanto estratégia de promoção da satisfação profissional, segurança e qualidade dos cuidados. A emergência da supervisão clínica em enfermagem permitiu interrogar e dar visibilidade a novas modalidades de formação no contexto de trabalho. A supervisão clínica é um processo multidimensional que inclui encontros regulares entre supervisores e supervisados, com o objectivo de analisar experiências de trabalho e de formação. Dedica-se especial atenção às dimensões emocionais, qualidade de cuidados, relação terapêutica e desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional. A presente pesquisa assume a forma de um estudo de caso realizado num hospital psiquiátrico (Hospital Magalhães Lemos). O objectivo principal do estudo consistiu em compreender o processo amplo e complexo de aprendizagens desenvolvidas em contexto clínico e a forma como estas condicionam as estratégias supervisivas. Recorrendo ao modelo bioecológico de Bronfenbrenner, o estudo interroga de forma sistemática a origem e as relações entre formação e supervisão. Os participantes do estudo foram 18 enfermeiros do referido hospital. Contamos, igualmente, com a colaboração de três peritos com profundo conhecimento da cultura e realidade hospitalar. A informação foi colhida com base em questionários e entrevistas semiestruturadas. O questionário (Clinical Supervision Nursing Inventory – CSNI - V1) inclui três partes. A parte I e II foram relevantes para caracterizar os participantes e o contexto clínico. A parte III do instrumento inclui um inventário com 24 itens. O Alfa de Cronbach calculado pelo autor foi de 0,93 para os 24 itens da escala, indicando excelentes resultados psicométricos. A entrevista semi-estruturada foi usada para a recolha de dados junto dos três peritos. Os enfermeiros possuem uma atitude positiva perante a supervisão clínica. O desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional dos enfermeiros estava relacionado com as oportunidades de formação emergentes no contexto das práticas. Embora a expressão “supervisão clínica” seja por vezes utilizada de forma incorrecta nas organizações, concluímos que existiam no hospital boas práticas a nível da supervisão dos cuidados, relacionando desenvolvimento pessoal, qualidade de cuidados e competências profissionais. Tentámos problematizar as experiências supervisivas partindo de teorias sócio-culturais e bio-ecológicas. Os participantes do estudo referiram que há necessidade de formalizar o sistema de supervisão clínica em enfermagem, evitando relacionálo com o sistema de supervisão de gestão. São apresentados e discutidos diversos subsídios para o desenvolvimento do sistema de supervisão clínica em enfermagem, no hospital.

Modelling the biogeochemical cycles of elements limiting primary production in the English channel .1. Role of thermohaline stratification

This paper presents the general framework of an ecological model of the English Channel. The model is a result of combining a physical sub-model with a biological one. in the physical submodel, the Channel is divided into 71 boxes and water fluxes between them are calculated automatically. A 2-layer, vertical thermohaline model was then linked with the horizontal circulation scheme. This physical sub-model exhibits thermal stratification in the western Channel during spring and summer and haline stratification in the Bay of Seine due to high flow rates from the river. The biological sub-model takes 2 elements, nitrogen and silicon, into account and divides phytoplankton into diatoms and dinoflagellates. Results from this ecological model emphasize the influence of stratification on chlorophyll a concentrations as well as on primary production. Stratified waters appear to be much less productive than well-mixed ones. Nevertheless, when simulated production values are compared with literature data, calculated production is shown to be underestimated. This could be attributed to a lack of refinement of the 2-layer box-model or processes omitted from the biological model, such as production by nanoplankton.

Modelling the biogeochemical cycles of elements limiting primary production in the English channel .2. Sensitivity analyses

A general framework for an ecological model of the English Channel was described in the first of this pair of papers. In this study, it was used to investigate the sensitivity of the model to various factors: model structure, parameter values, boundary conditions and forcing variables. These sensitivity analyses show how important quota formulation for phytoplankton growth is, particularly for growth of dinoflagellates. They also stress the major influence of variables and parameters related to nitrogen. The role played by rivers and particularly the river Seine was investigated. Their influence on global English Channel phytoplanktonic production seems to be relatively low, even though nutrient inputs determine the intensity of blooms in the Bay of Seine. The geographical position of the river Seine's estuary makes it important in fluxes through the Straits of Dover. Finally, the multi-annual study highlights the general stability of the English Channel ecosystem. These global considerations are discussed and further improvements to the model are proposed.

Feasibility of An Online Survey Examining the Physical Activity Patterns Among South Asian Adults Residing In the United States

Background: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes among South Asians (SAs) - Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Maldivian, Nepali, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan. Methods: An online survey was used to determine the feasibility of examining physical activity (PA) levels of SAs living in the US. The Social Ecological Model was the theoretical basis for identifying individual-level, social environmental, and physical environmental factors that impact PA. Results: Ethnicity, intention, self-efficacy, and perceived health benefits of PA were significantly associated with being physically active. Facilitators to PA included achieving improved health; while barriers were lack of time to exercise, unfamiliarity with PA, and nonexistent gender-specific PA facilities. Conclusions: This study showed that online surveys can be a promising tool for data collection among SAs. Health promotion programs should include education on the benefits of PA, and provide culturally sensitive facilities that support PA, especially for SA women.

Chebanov law and Vakar formula in mathematical models of complex systems

Ecological models written in a mathematical language L(M) or model language, with a given style or methodology can be considered as a text. It is possible to apply statistical linguistic laws and the experimental results demonstrate that the behaviour of a mathematical model is the same of any literary text of any natural language. A text has the following characteristics: (a) the variables, its transformed functions and parameters are the lexic units or LUN of ecological models; (b) the syllables are constituted by a LUN, or a chain of them, separated by operating or ordering LUNs; (c) the flow equations are words; and (d) the distribution of words (LUM and CLUN) according to their lengths is based on a Poisson distribution, the Chebanov's law. It is founded on Vakar's formula, that is calculated likewise the linguistic entropy for L(M). We will apply these ideas over practical examples using MARIOLA model. In this paper it will be studied the problem of the lengths of the simple lexic units composed lexic units and words of text models, expressing these lengths in number of the primitive symbols, and syllables. The use of these linguistic laws renders it possible to indicate the degree of information given by an ecological model.

Extending Alexander’s ecological dominance-social competition (EDSC) evolutional model

Alexander’s Ecological Dominance and Social Competition (EDSC) model currently provides the most comprehensive overview of human traits in the development of a theory of human evolution and sociality (Alexander, 1990; Finn, Geary & Ward, 2005; Irons, 2005). His model provides a basis for explaining the evolution of human socio-cognitive abilities. Our paper examines the extension of Alexander’s model to incorporate the human trait of information behavior in synergy with ecological dominance and social competition as a human socio-cognitive competence. This paper discusses the various interdisciplinary perspectives exploring how evolution has shaped information behavior and why information behavior is emerging as an important human socio-cognitive competence. This paper outlines these issues, including the extension of Spink and Currier’s (2006a,b) evolution of information behavior model towards a more integrated understanding of how information behaviors have evolved (Spink & Cole, 2006).

Extending Alexander’s ecological dominance-social competition model : information behavior adaptation

Alexander’s Ecological Dominance and Social Competition (EDSC) model currently provides the most comprehensive overview of human traits in the development of a theory of human evolution and sociality (Alexander, 1990; Finn, Geary & Ward, 2005; Irons, 2005). His model provides a basis for explaining the evolution of human socio-cognitive abilities. Our paper examines the extension of Alexander’s model to incorporate the human trait of information behavior in synergy with ecological dominance and social competition as a human socio-cognitive competence. This paper discusses the various interdisciplinary perspectives exploring how evolution has shaped information behavior and why information behavior is emerging as an important human socio-cognitive competence. This paper outlines these issues, including the extension of Spink and Currier’s (2006a,b) evolution of information behavior model towards a more integrated understanding of how information behaviors have evolved (Spink & Cole, 2006).

Application of an ecological simulation model to Lake Päijänne

Tiivistelmä: Simulointimallin soveltaminen Pohjois-Päijänteellä

Ten Years of the Relative Risk Model and Regional Scale Ecological Risk Assessment

It has been 10 years since the publication of the relative risk model (RRM) for regional scale ecological risk assessment. The approach has since been used successfully for a variety of freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments in North America, South America, and Australia. During this period the types of stressors have been expanded to include more than contaminants. Invasive species, habitat loss, stream alteration and blockage, temperature, change in land use, and climate have been incorporated into the assessments. Major developments in the RRM have included the extensive use of geographical information systems, uncertainty analysis using Monte Carlo techniques, and its application to retrospective assessments to determine causation. The future uses of the RRM include assessments for forestry and conservation management, an increasing use in invasive species evaluation, and in sustainability. Developments in risk communication, the use of Bayesian approaches, and in uncertainty analyses are on the horizon.

Appreciating ecological complexity: Habitat contours as a conceptual landscape model

Joern Fischer, David B. Lindermayer, and Ioan Fazey (2004). Appreciating Ecological Complexity: Habitat Contours as a Conceptual Landscape Model. Conservation Biology, 18 (5)pp.1245-1253 RAE2008

Ecological controls on biogeochemical fluxes in the western Antarctic Peninsula studied with an inverse foodweb model

Sea ice in the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) region is both highly variable and rapidly changing. In the Palmer Station region, the ice season duration has decreased by 92 d since 1978. The sea-ice changes affect ocean stratification and freshwater balance and in turn impact every component of the polar marine ecosystem. Long-term observations from the WAP nearshore and offshore regions show a pattern of chlorophyll (Chl) variability with three to five years of negative Chl anomalies interrupted by one or two years of positive anomalies (high and low Chl regimes). Both field observations and results from an inverse food-web model show that these high and low Chl regimes differed significantly from each other, with high primary productivity and net community production (NCP) and other rates associated with the high Chl years and low rates with low Chl years. Gross primary production rates (GPP) averaged 30 mmolC.m-2.d-1 in the low Chl years and 100 mmolC.m-2.d-1 in the high Chl years. Both large and small phytoplankton were more abundant and more productive in high Chl years than in low Chl years. Similarly, krill were more important as grazers in high Chl years, but did not differ from microzooplankton in high or low Chl years. Microzooplankton did not differ between high and low Chl years. Net community production differed significantly between high and low Chl years, but mobilized a similar proportion of GPP in both high and low Chl years. The composition of the NCP was uniform in high and low Chl years. These results mphasize the importance of microbial components in the WAP plankton system and suggest that food webs dominated by small phytoplankton can have pathways that funnel production into NCP, and likely, export.