Evaluation of suspended mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) culture and integrated experimental mariculture with salmon in Scottish sea lochs.

Growth. mortality. production. physiology and seasonal cycles of condition index and proximate biochemical composition of experimental populations of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) were studied at different sites in Loch Etive and Loch Leven on the West coast of Scotland between May 1990 and September 1992. The main objective of the study was to evaluate current suspended mussel culture practices and to establish the basis for their possible integrated cultivation with salmon cage fanning. In addition. a preliminary investigation on employment of the . Charm IT' system as a rapid method for detecting residues of drugs used for treating cultured salmon in the tissues of mussels was carried out. There were some differences between sites in salinity, seston and particulate organic matter, but not in chlorophyll-a. Food availability (as particulate organic matter and chlorophyll-a) showed a clear seasonal cycle and in consequence growth of mussels were relatively rapid from late-spring until mid-autumn (g 6 months) and very slow or absent during the rest of the year. This period of rapid length and tissue growth coincided with relatively optimum environmental conditions and there were apparent positive relationships between monthly growth rates and temperature and chlorophyll-a values, indicating the limiting effect of these two primary factors on growth during autumn-winter and even in early spring. Almost all growth parameters examined were showed significant differences between the lochs. Growth performance of both native and transplanted mussels in Loch Leven was quite poor. Overall annual length increments were 25.1-25.9 mm at sites in Loch Etive and Dunstaffnage Bay, but 20.1-22.8 mm in Loch Leven. A crosstransplantation experiment showed that site rather than stock is the main reason for differences in growth parameters between Lochs Etive and Leven. These observed growth differences between sites and stocks were also confirmed by physiological measurements and estimated growth potential or scope for growth. Growth of mussels at salmon farms was faster than at neighbouring mussel farms during two annual experiments, but only meat weight at one salmon farm during experiment I, and length and live weight at the salmon farm in Loch Etive as well as all growth parameters at the salmon fann in Loch Leven during experiment II were significantly greater (}>sO.05). These differences were most likely a result of high particulate organic matter levels at salmon fanns. Similar to growth, biomass and production, the condition index and biochemical composition of mussels showed a clear seasonal cycle. Meat content, condition index and glycogen values were high during summer, started to decline in late autumn and reached minimum values in April before showing maximum increases in May. This reflects the typical storage and reproductive cycle of mussels in Northern Europe: accumulation of reserves during summer and their utilization during winter and early spring as energy resources for metabolism and reproduction. This cycle clearly showed that the main spawning of mussels on the West coast of Scotland occurred during March-May, and primary spat settlement from June to August. Heavy losses occurred from French socks, causing substantial amounts of eliminated biomass during experiment I, but when these fall outs were eliminated during experiment II by using lantern nets, it was clear that natural mortality rates were quite low and similar at all sites. Apart from growth characteristics and physiological responses, there were persistent morphological differences between the Loch Etive and Loch Leven populations. Cross-transplantation and physiological measurements after various acclimatization periods showed that, while morphological differences might be related to genetic origin, all other differences between the two popUlations are governed by environmental factors. The practical implications of these findings for developing suspended mussel culture on the West coast of Scotland and the possibility of a simple integrated salmon-mussel fanning system, which could be effective in controlling potential eutrophication from intensive salmon cage fanning and the removing large amounts of organic matter by mussels leading alterations in ecosystem, are discussed. A preliminary study with the Chann II Test has showed that the system is not so appropriate method as expected for screening mussel tissue sampled straight from the field, since mussel tissues require purification due to interference from bacteria or microbial detritus, before screening

HISTORY EDUCATION FOR DISADVANTAGED GROUPS IN THEORY AND IN PRACTICE

Many individuals have been considered in disadvantaged group status due to their specific qualities. These individuals’ participation in educational processes requires a special effort. This study is to evaluate history curriculum in theory in terms of disadvantaged groups and to learn history teachers’ opinions about their approaches and experiences towards the disadvantaged groups in practice. The study adopted qualitative research method to meet its purpose and it was designed as case study. Firstly, history curriculum was examined and the statements about disadvantaged groups in the curriculum were explained via descriptive analysis. Then, 11 history teachers were interviewed throughout 2019 with the semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher and the data obtained were analysed via content analysis. It was viewed that indirect emphases about the disadvantaged groups were included in history curriculum and history teachers were given the responsibility for the inclusion of students with different qualities in learning processes. It was determined in the interviews carried out with teachers that teachers had limited knowledge about the disadvantaged group and the individuals included in the group, they understood multi-cultural individuals and disabled individuals from the concept, communication was the biggest problem experienced with the disadvantaged students, and teachers carried out mostly student-centred activities in order to overcome such obstacles

Motivating Employees through Servant Leadership

Meeting customer expectations is critical for success within the hospitality industry and frontline employees play a key role in delivering customer satisfaction. Leaders who display a servant leadership style put the interests of employees and the organization above their own. To investigate how this leadership style influences employee motivation and behavior, Dr. Fevzi Okumus, UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and his collaborators have put forward and evaluated a model of the interrelationships between servant leadership and employee engagement, job satisfaction, and absenteeism. They found that leaders evidencing this style positively impacted work engagement and absenteeism. Their findings offer important insights for hospitality management practices

Managers from Hell in the Hospitality Industry

The majority of employees are disaffected with their work and not engaged in their place of employment. This is a surprising but statistically validated fact revealed in a Gallup poll, and it has prompted Rosen College researchers to investigate how far it applies to hospitality. In what is thought to be the first study to look at the problem in the industry, research by Dr. Fevzi Okumus and his two former Ph.D. students reveal what hospitality employees have to say about managers from Hell, and what this means for the sector

Birth experiences of primiparous Turkish women: public and private hospitals

Introduction: We wished to better understand primiparous women’s childbirth experiences in private and public hospitals. Within the context of high caesarean section rates, in both private and public hospitals in Turkey, the experiences of women who delivered vaginally needs to be considered if we aim to decrease the number of caesarean births. We, therefore, conducted a descriptive study of women’s vaginal birth experiences in two hospitals in Istanbul.Methods: Two hundred and forty primiparous women, from two hospitals (one public, one private), who had vaginal births, were included in this descriptive study. Information was obtained from medical records and through personal interviews with women in the early post-partum period. Birth perceptions, interventions, and supportive practices were investigated.Results: Women in both the private and public hospitals had high rates of obstetric interventions. Interventions, such as enemas, amniotomies, fundal pressure and episiotomies commonly occurred in both hospitals. Oxytocin induction was twice as common in the private hospital. The most common supportive practice was position and mobility during the first stage. Women seldom received oral nourishment or had skin-to-skin contact with the baby. The women in the private hospital, significantly, more often reported that protection of privacy and encouragement from the midwife and from the gynecologist were greater than expected. Conversely, these women, significantly, more often indicated that their levels of fear and anxiety were greater than expected.Conclusions: Primiparous women in both hospitals, who delivered vaginally, experienced multiple interventions during the course of labour and birth. The overall context of high caesarean section rates and high interventions in labour in women at full term illustrate the over-medicalisation of birth. These findings point to the need for greater understanding by women, maternity care providers and policy makers about the potential harm of such practices. Midwives are an essential part of the healthcare system, who can improve the quality of care for mothers and babies by providing education, counseling, and support to women and families and through implementing known best practices that promote normal childbearing

Impacts of US LNG exports on the supply security of the EU natural gas market

textAdvances in drilling technology and production strategies such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have made shale gas more accessible and have boosted US natural gas production. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects that indigenous production will exceed consumption and that the US could become a liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter by 2016. While US natural gas production has boomed, the EU has been increasingly dependent on natural gas imports mainly from Russia. In addition to rising dependency on Russian natural gas, the dispute between Russia and Ukraine has disrupted delivery of Russian gas and has threatened the security of natural gas supply to the EU. This situation has compelled the EU to seek different suppliers to reduce Russian dominance of Russia. Considering 30 percent of EU natural gas imports come from Russia an increase in EU concerns about disruption of the Russian supply has fueled a discussion of US LNG exports. As an alternative to Russian supply, US LNG exports are considered as a solution to mitigate the effects of supply interruptions and overdependence on Russia. Currently the most important question is whether US LNG exports will or will not be a panacea for the EU natural gas market. This study uses US LNG export scenarios to investigate the effects of US LNG exports on the EU natural gas market. Although I primarily expected that US LNG exports would not impact the EU natural gas market, the main findings are surprisingly different from the anticipation. The consequences are: 1.Although US LNG exports are not an elixir for the EU natural gas market to improve its security supply, they will reduce the dominance of certain exporting countries. 2.US LNG exports will not decrease the EU's dependence on its suppliers due to the EU's preference to import US LNG. This situation prevents any improvement of the security of natural gas supply in the EU. 3.US LNG exports will result in a slump in natural gas prices and a rise in natural gas demand in the EU.Energy and Earth Resource

Hospitality and Tourism: Delving Deeper into Diversity Management

‘We’re in the people business.’ Long established as the mantra of hospitality and tourism, the sector has substantial expertise in sharpening customer care skills to gain a marketing edge. But customers are only half the equation. Less studied is the expertise of companies in managing their workforce – the employees who, more than in any other industry, are customer-facing. New research led by Dr. Fevzi Okumus, UCF Rosen College’s Professor of Hospitality Services, and his collaborator, a former Ph.D. student from Rosen College, looks at an increasingly important aspect of the sector’s employment practice: diversity management

Cleaning Invisible Matter in Open-Kitchen Restaurants to Reduce the Impact of COVID-19

Commercial cooking in indoor settings is known to produce particulate matter, a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets which can cause acute or chronic respiratory problems. Recent studies suggest that these invisible particles also make people more susceptible to adverse health effects of the COVID-19 virus. Dr. Bendegul Okumus was joined by a team and conducted an experimental scientific study in an open-kitchen chain restaurant to determine whether the levels of particulate matter (PM) pollution were potentially harmful for both kitchen staff and customers dining at the restaurant

Centralised or De-centralised Gender Policies ? Measuring Regional Gender Disparities in Turkey

This study provides the most comprehensive mapping of gender inequality in Turkey, and thus helping to establish a baseline to untangle locality-specific factors stimulating gender inequality. By measuring the distance from gender parity, the findings reveal that all cities have gender inequality. However, the issue is more severe for the cities in eastern Turkey than for those in the west. We compared the socioeconomic inequality of the cities and their level of closeness to parity, to determine which indicators must be prioritised as “impact zones” for each city to act upon. But the cities do not have relatively consistent parity figures, suggesting they are not similar to one another. Therefore, the intervention policies adopted in one may not necessarily be effective in others. All in all, the Turkish case explored in this study offers insights for other developing countries to review their policies to overcome their “gender inequality trap”