Factors Affecting Distribution and Abundance of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Autumnal Wetlands in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA

Despite a recent surge of interest in temporary lentic systems, a strong theory linking the biota to its environment has not emerged. Data were collected from ten autumnal wetlands at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, U.S.A., in an effort to elucidate the environmental variables (EV\u27s) that affected both between- and within-pond macroinvertebrate distribution and abundance. Canonical correspondence analyses performed with between-pond data failed to find strong relationships between the macroinvertebrates and EV\u27s. Additionally, the theory that hydroperiod would effect richness did not apply to these ponds. Within-pond canonical correspondence analyses, however, yielded strong relationships. Further testing using regression analysis and Mann-Whitney U-tests demonstrated that macroinvertebrates were responding to a depth gradient. The presence of within-pond gradients, coupled with random dispersal, tolerant taxa, and ecological differences between vernal and autumnal wetlands, makes formulating a broad ecological theory difficult

The effects of riparian tree harvest intensity and woody debris addition on biotic and abiotic stream characteristics

Forested headwater streams rely on riparian zones for many critical products and services. Riparian areas shade streams, stabilize stream banks, filter sediment, and provide allochthonous materials like leaves, large woody debris (LWD), and terrestrial invertebrates (TI\u27s). Logging can affect the products and services of riparian zones. Best management practices (BMP\u27s) have been developed to minimize the impacts of riparian timber harvest on streams. The main component of these guidelines is the establishment of a road-free riparian buffer called a streamside management zone (SMZ). The West Virginia Division of Forestry\u27s BMP\u27s require a SMZ that is at least 30 m wide for perennial and intermittent streams. There is no harvest limit within the SMZ, although heavy equipment cannot be operated within the area. This study quantified the effect of LWD additions and riparian tree harvest intensity at 50% and 90% basal area harvest (BAH) on various biotic and abiotic characteristics of eight Appalachian headwater streams.;Stream temperatures and pool formation rates were affected by the treatments. Stream temperature increased as canopy cover decreased. During the warmest days in summer, water temperature within 90% BAH sections reached levels that could be stressful or lethal to salmonids. The combination of 50% BAH sections and unharvested sections appeared to maintain natural thermal regimes. Neither the BAH nor the LWD treatments had an effect on stream turbidity or sedimentation rates within the experimental sections. The haphazard LWD additions resulted in no net increase in pool area. However, a greater number of pools were created and destroyed in the LWD addition sections. LWD additions also increased habitat complexity and most likely decreased the long-term LWD deficit that often occurs following logging operations.;Periphyton biomass increased with decreasing canopy coverage. Temperature and alkalinity did not significantly affect periphyton biomass, although the temperature gradient was small. Trends of increasing periphyton biomass were observed with canopy reductions as small as 6.4%. TI inputs, a critical food source for trout, were affected by the BAH treatments. TI input biomass was significantly higher in the 90% BAH sections.;TI input composition varied significantly between years (natural variation) and between the reference and 90% BAH sections. At greater harvest intensities, increases of Acrididae and Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera), wood-associated coleopterans, Formicidae (ants) and pollinating hymenopterans were observed.;Aquatic invertebrates (AI\u27s) were, for the most part, unaffected by the treatments. AI abundance, richness, and biomass were not affected by the BAH or LWD treatments. AI abundance and biomass was significantly affected by natural annual variation. AI communities were not affected by the treatments, although a significant and more-direct relationship was observed between decreasing canopy coverage and increasing grazing taxa biomass.;The results of this study suggest that riparian tree harvesting affects stream temperature, periphyton biomass, TI inputs, and to a lesser degree, AI\u27s. Following riparian harvesting, AI and fish production may increase via increases in periphyton biomass and TI input biomass. However, observed increases in stream temperature created conditions that would have been metabolically and physiologically stressful for salmonids. Riparian zones with 50% BAH and alternating unharvested sections appears to minimize the thermal impacts of riparian tree harvesting

Faunal response to benthic and hyporheic sedimentation varies with direction of vertical hydrological exchange

1. Sedimentation and clogging of benthic and hyporheic zone substrates is increasingly being recognised as one of the greatest threats to the ecological integrity of riverine ecosystems globally. This ex-situ study examined the influence of sedimentation (benthic and hyporheic) and pattern of hydrological exchange on the vertical distribution of the freshwater shrimp Gammarus pulex within the experimental substrates of running water mesocosms. 2. Six sediment treatments representing a continuum from a clean gravel substratum through to heavy sediment loading of both benthic and hyporheic substrates were used to examine the distribution of G. pulex in relation to the direction of hydrological exchange (downwelling, upwelling and no exchange). 3. The vertical distribution of fauna varied significantly for both sediment treatment and pattern of hydrological exchange. There was a significant interaction between the two effects indicating that the effect of sedimentation varied depending on the pattern of vertical hydrological exchange

A heterogeneidade do Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo (TOC): uma revisão seletiva da literatura

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the most prevalent mental disorders. In spite of this, the lack of recognition of its characteristic symptoms can lead to delay in the diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, the variability of clinical manifestations and the diversity of symptoms are confusing factors by the time of diagnosis. Currently, it is made based on the manuals of diagnostic classification DSM-IV and CID-10 that describes the disorder as one single entity. However, OCD is underdiagnosed due to its heterogeneity from a clinical viewpoint and considering etiological factors and response to treatment. Comorbidities also make the diagnosis even more complex. Therefore, the accurate differential diagnosis is extremely important. This paper intends to review the available scientific literature regarding the diversity of clinical expression, the comorbidities that complicate the diagnosis, and the uncommon symptoms of OCD. Key words: obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychopathology, diagnosis.O Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo (TOC) é um dos transtornos mentais mais prevalentes. No entanto, há ainda a falta de reconhecimento dos sintomas característicos, e isso pode levar ao atraso no diagnóstico e no tratamento. Não obstante, a variabilidade na expressão clínica e a diversidade dos sintomas são fatores complicadores no momento do diagnóstico. Atualmente, este é feito com base nos manuais de classificação diagnóstica DSM-IV e CID-10 que descrevem o transtorno como uma entidade única. Contudo, o TOC é muitas vezes subdiagnosticado por ser um transtorno heterogêneo do ponto de vista clínico e pelos fatores etiológicos e de resposta ao tratamento. As comorbidades tornam o diagnóstico ainda mais complexo. Assim, o diagnóstico diferencial acurado é de suma importância. Desse modo, este artigo revisa a literatura científica sobre as diversas manifestações clínicas do transtorno, as comorbidades que dificultam o diagnóstico e os sintomas incomuns do TOC. Palavras-chave: Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo, psicopatologia, diagnóstico

The Healthy Steps Study: A randomized controlled trial of a pedometer-based Green Prescription for older adults. Trial protocol

Background: Graded health benefits of physical activity have been demonstrated for the reduction of coronary heart disease, some cancers, and type-2 diabetes, and for injury reduction and improvements in mental health. Older adults are particularly at risk of physical inactivity, and would greatly benefit from successful targeted physical activity interventions. Methods/Design: The Healthy Steps study is a 12-month randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of a pedometer-based Green Prescription with the conventional time-based Green Prescription in increasing and maintaining physical activity levels in low-active adults over 65 years of age. The Green Prescription interventions involve a primary care physical activity prescription with 3 follow-up telephone counselling sessions delivered by trained physical activity counsellors over 3 months. Those in the pedometer group received a pedometer and counselling based around increasing steps that can be monitored on the pedometer, while those in the standard Green Prescription group received counselling using time-based goals. Baseline, 3 month (end of intervention), and 12 month measures were assessed in face-to-face home visits with outcomes measures being physical activity (Auckland Heart Study Physical Activity Questionnaire), quality of life (SF-36 and EQ-5D), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), blood pressure, weight status, functional status (gait speed, chair stands, and tandem balance test) and falls and adverse events (self-report). Utilisation of health services was assessed for the economic evaluation carried out alongside this trial. As well, a process evaluation of the interventions and an examination of barriers and motives for physical activity in the sample were conducted. The perceptions of primary care physicians in relation to delivering physical activity counselling were also assessed. Discussion: The findings from the Healthy Steps trial are due in late 2009. If successful in improving physical activity in older adults, the pedometer-based Green Prescription could assist in reducing utilisation of health services and improve cardiovascular health and reduction of risk for a range of non-communicable lifestyles diseases

Effects of riparian zone buffer widths on vegetation diversity in southern Appalachian headwater catchments

In mountainous areas such as the southern Appalachians USA, riparian zones are difficult to define. Vegetation is a commonly used riparian indicator and plays a key role in protecting water resources, but adequate knowledge of floristic responses to riparian disturbances is lacking. Our objective was to quantify changes in stand-level floristic diversity of riparian plant communities before (2004) and two, three, and seven years after shelterwood harvest using highlead cable-yarding and with differing no cut buffer widths of 0 m, 10 m, and 30 m distance from the stream edge. An unharvested reference stand was also studied for comparison. We examined: (1) differences among treatment sites using a mixed linear model with repeated measures; (2) multivariate relationships between ground-layer species composition and environmental variables (soil water content, light transmittance, tree basal area, shrub density, and distance from stream) using nonmetric multidimensional scaling; and (3) changes in species composition over time using a multi-response permutation procedure. We hypothesized that vegetation responses (i.e., changes in density, species composition, and diversity across the hillslope) will be greatest on harvest sites with an intermediate buffer width (10-m buffer) compared to more extreme (0-m buffer) and less extreme (30-m buffer and no-harvest reference) disturbance intensities. Harvesting initially reduced overstory density and basal area by 83% and 65%, respectively, in the 0-m buffer site; reduced by 50% and 74% in the 10-m buffer site; and reduced by 45% and 29% in the 30-m buffer site. Both the 0-m and 10-m buffer sites showed increased incident light variability across the hillslope after harvesting; whereas, there was no change in the 30-m and reference sites over time. We found significant changes in midstory and ground-layer vegetation in response to harvesting with the greatest responses on the 10-m buffer site, supporting our hypotheses that responses will be greatest on sites with intermediate disturbance. Ground-layer species composition differed significantly over time in the 0-m buffer and 10-m buffer sites (both P \u3c 0.0001), but did not change in the 30-m buffer and reference sites (both P \u3e 0.100). Average compositional dissimilarity increased after seven years, indicating greater within stand heterogeneity (species diversity) after harvesting. These vegetation recovery patterns provide useful information for evaluating management options in riparian zones in the southern Appalachians

Presentation of actual economic issues of educational sphere in scientific works of T.M. Bogolib

In the articles considered pressing questions economies of education, that in the researches was studied by known Ukrainian scientific is an economist of Т.М. Bogolib. In particular, it touches the financial aspects of functioning of modern educational sphere, integration of Ukrainian education in global educational space, forming of modern home universities, that are competitive at the international market of educational services. Education is examined as priority industry in the economic system of society, that called to satisfy actually an economy not only highly skilled by shots but also front-rank knowledge and technologies. It in turn, provides the ompetitiveness of national economy in the world market