The Murray – Darling Basin Agreement: an illustration of the benefits of transboundary water management strategies

Through this cooperation, states are no longer working with their individual ends in mind, but instead work collectively with other states on extensive projects which will benefit the population on a much larger scale, and will sustain itself for a longer period of time

The Effect of Chronic Stress on Generalization of Conditioned Fear

Prior lifetime experience of stress is a significant risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders. The mechanisms by which stress conveys these effects are unknown and likely involve complicated neurobiological alterations. In order to begin to characterize this relationship, we examined the effect of two weeks of chronic stress on fear learning and discrimination. Contrary to our hypothesis, we failed to observe exaggerated fear or poor discrimination in stressed mice. Although the lack of difference in fear learning between stressed and control mice may be attributed to complications in experimental design, these results suggest that the relationship between prior stress and vulnerability to PTSD is more complex than originally conceived

In the mood to innovate : a multilevel study on the interaction of entrepreneurs' innovative work behaviour and affect : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Management, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Affect is a hot topic in entrepreneurial research. However, extant literature is lagging behind in its use of affective theory and methodology, and furthermore, attention resides in isolated topics of inquiry, rendering the field stunted and disjointed. The purpose of this research is to adopt burgeoning affective theoretical perspectives to anticipate daily fluctuation in entrepreneurs’ innovative behaviour. The circumplex model of affect is utilised in this research to challenge the rhetoric that all spectrum of pleasant moods lead to beneficial work behaviour. Though multilevel modelling based on 3360 data points nested within 160 entrepreneurs (21 surveys per participant, completed over two weeks), support is found for the proposition that pleasant moods do not necessarily result in productive behaviour. Specifically, activation (the energising dimension of affect) has greater influence on propelling entrepreneurs’ innovative behaviour than valence (affect’s pleasant or unpleasant nature), such that high activation unpleasant and pleasant affect (worried, anxious, inspired, enthusiastic) predicts innovative work behaviour, while low activation pleasant affect (calm, relaxed) does not. The affect-behaviour relationship is examined from several perspectives resulting in a feedback model between high activation moods and innovative work behaviour engagement. Engagement in innovative work behaviour positively correlated to entrepreneurs’ experience of high activation unpleasant affect, and negatively related to high and low activation pleasant affect. Thus although innovative work behaviour benefits from high activation pleasant moods, engagement essentially decreases them. Affective dispositions correlated with daily affective experiences also, as such entrepreneurs with low levels of trait negative affect experienced more pleasant moods during the day and visa versa. Findings confirmed the hypothesis that the quality of previous night’s sleep both moderates the link between affect and innovative work behaviour, plus predisposes entrepreneurs to pleasant or conversely unpleasant affective daily experiences – illustrating the importance of sleep in affective research. Additionally innovative work behaviour was predicted via “the affective shift model”, which was adapted to include the influence of activation. The results further attest to the relevance of temporal dynamics of affect perspectives in entrepreneurial research. Specifically, the model demonstrated that innovative work behaviour ensued when high activation unpleasant affect was followed by high activation pleasant affect, or simply with an increase in the level of high activation affect, of either valence between morning and afternoon. Empirical, theoretical, and practical implications of the findings are discussed

Global climate change – a crucial aspect of development planning

Author Amanda J. Harvey examines the effect of global warming on the world. Citing concerns over rising sea levels and storm activity, she requests leaders and planners to work together to develop architecture that will take into account continuous climate change

Temperature effects on Florida applesnail activity: implications for snail kite foraging success and distribution

The endangered Florida snail kite (Rostrhamlls sociaiJilis) feeds exclusively on applesnails (Pomacea pailiclosa), yet we lack direct observations that link applesnail behavior to snail kite foraging success. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the temperature-activity profile of applesnails in the context of restricted foraging opportunities for snail kites. Applesnail activity was monitored in water temperatures ranging from 2-2

The UN millennium development goals with respect to water: prospects for achieving them

In September of 2000, the United Nations Millennium Summit produced a set of global goals known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These goals were set to aide the world in ending poverty and hunger as well as take steps to provide worldwide education and healthcare. This paper specifically examines the affect of Goal 7 / Target 10, improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities – its connection to environmental sustainability, the difficulties of measuring success in each country, as well as the results (as of Spring 2006) of their efforts

Stewardship in Distance Education: A Comparative Analysis of Technologies that Support Student Learning

Effectively facilitating the growth of learners demonstrates prudent stewardship (Galatians 6:10; Genesis 2:15). As wise stewards of what God has entrusted to them, Christian educators are challenged to identify factors critical for supporting students’ learning in whatever environment they are teaching. When teaching in the online environment, this includes adopting technological applications to support learning. This study compared the use of two technological applications and their affect on student learning. Findings provided evidence that online graduate learners who used the combination of a content management system and e-conferencing system reported significantly higher perceptions of learning than learners who used only the content management system. Additional findings were not significant

Towards a geographical information system for European economic community regional data

The study proposes the development of a geographical information system for European Economic Community (EEC) regional data. The features of geographical information systems and some related issues are discussed. An outline is given of likely user requirements and attempts by various European organisations to make provision for these. The practical work involves the application of three selected data analysis, manipulation and mapping packages, and operating system facilities to tasks which users of the data might wish to undertake. For this purpose, EEC "Level II" region boundaries were digitised, and selected socio-economic attributes for 1977 organised in disc files. Ten choropleth maps of the Level II regions (eight original variabels and two composite variables) are displayed. Although there is a lack of certain, more specialised features in the software system used, it is considered that there exists the imprtant basic requirements of data analysis, manipulation and mapping in package form, upon which to build the proposed geographical information system