Effects of circadian rhythm phase alteration on physiological and psychological variables: Implications to pilot performance (including a partially annotated bibliography)

The effects of environmental synchronizers upon circadian rhythmic stability in man and the deleterious alterations in performance and which result from changes in this stability are points of interest in a review of selected literature published between 1972 and 1980. A total of 2,084 references relevant to pilot performance and circadian phase alteration are cited and arranged in the following categories: (1) human performance, with focus on the effects of sleep loss or disturbance and fatigue; (2) phase shift in which ground based light/dark alteration and transmeridian flight studies are discussed; (3) shiftwork; (4)internal desynchronization which includes the effect of evironmental factors on rhythmic stability, and of rhythm disturbances on sleep and psychopathology; (5) chronotherapy, the application of methods to ameliorate desynchronization symptomatology; and (6) biorythm theory, in which the birthdate based biorythm method for predicting aircraft accident susceptability is critically analyzed. Annotations are provided for most citations

Oceanography

How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean (Arthur C. Clarke). Life has been originated in the oceans, human health and activities depend from the oceans and the world life is modulated by marine and oceanic processes. From the micro-scale, like coastal processes, to macro-scale, the oceans, the seas and the marine life, play the main role to maintain the earth equilibrium, both from a physical and a chemical point of view. Since ancient times, the world's oceans discovery has brought to humanity development and wealth of knowledge, the metaphors of Ulysses and Jason, represent the cultural growth gained through the explorations and discoveries. The modern oceanographic research represents one of the last frontier of the knowledge of our planet, it depends on the oceans exploration and so it is strictly connected to the development of new technologies. Furthermore, other scientific and social disciplines can provide many fundamental inputs to complete the description of the entire ocean ecosystem. Such multidisciplinary approach will lead us to understand the better way to preserve our "Blue Planet": the Earth

Perception of, and adjustment to, drought hazard by farmers in southern SRI Lanka

In Sri Lanka, two thirds of the land mass lies within the Dry Zone where agriculture is the most important economic activity. In this climatic zone, rainfall is highly uncertain, seasonal, and limited to a few months. Consequently, the farmers in the area have to face drought as a natural hazard. This study focusses on how the farmers in the southern Dry Zone of Sri Lanka perceive drought as a hazard, the adjustments they make to reduce their vulnerability to droughts and how human behaviour affects the growing hazardousness of the study area. The results of this study show that the farmers in the study area have perceived drought as one of their major problems, and that the vulnerability to this natural phenomenon is growing as a result of the power abuse and environmental mismanagement of those high ranking people responsible. However, the farmers’ deeper understanding regarding their living environment (natural and man-made) has enhanced their power to combat the hazardous effects of droughts by way of a variety of adjustments. Considering and studying the above problems and issues the researcher has come to some conclusions and has put forward some suggestions, the most important of which, lie with changing the self-centered attitudes and activities of the powerful people in the direction of a socially and environmentally more sustainable and wholesome path

Africa Agriculture Status Report 2014

As the second in the series of the African Agriculture Status Report, this volume seeks to provide an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of emerging issues and challenges faced by African smallholder farmers, and allow scholars and professionals to contribute practical and evidence-based solutions. The Report documents the effects of climate change on smallholders in Africa, the ongoing adaptation by farmers and livestock keepers, constraints to adoption of climate-smart technologies, and highlights areas where investments in African agriculture have the potential to be most productive. It seeks to help African agricultural policy makers and stakeholders identify climate change issues and challenges, as well as appropriate climatesmart agriculture practices and policies that can help smallholder farmers sustain and improve their livelihoods -- that can increase productivity and incomes, enhance adaptation and build resilience to climate change, and reduce GHG emissions by Africa's agricultural producers and processors