Longitudinal river zonation in the tropics: examples of fish and caddisflies from endorheic Awash river, Ethiopia

Primary Research PaperSpecific concepts of fluvial ecology are well studied in riverine ecosystems of the temperate zone but poorly investigated in the Afrotropical region. Hence, we examined the longitudinal zonation of fish and adult caddisfly (Trichoptera) assemblages in the endorheic Awash River (1,250 km in length), Ethiopia. We expected that species assemblages are structured along environmental gradients, reflecting the pattern of large-scale freshwater ecoregions. We applied multivariate statistical methods to test for differences in spatial species assemblage structure and identified characteristic taxa of the observed biocoenoses by indicator species analyses. Fish and caddisfly assemblages were clustered into highland and lowland communities, following the freshwater ecoregions, but separated by an ecotone with highest biodiversity. Moreover, the caddisfly results suggest separating the heterogeneous highlands into a forested and a deforested zone. Surprisingly, the Awash drainage is rather species-poor: only 11 fish (1 endemic, 2 introduced) and 28 caddisfly species (8 new records for Ethiopia) were recorded from the mainstem and its major tributaries. Nevertheless, specialized species characterize the highland forests, whereas the lowlands primarily host geographically widely distributed species. This study showed that a combined approach of fish and caddisflies is a suitable method for assessing regional characteristics of fluvial ecosystems in the tropicsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of Gender Differences in Alcohol Use and Related Problems among University Students in Minsk, Belarus

Alcohol related problems, Gender differences. University students, Belarus.There is a variety of inconsistencies in the differences in alcohol use and related problems between male and female genders. This study was aimed at analyzing the gender differences in alcohol use and related problems among university students in Minsk, Belarus. A total of 465 male (average age of 21) and 1030 female (average age of 20.5) students from four major universities in Minsk, Belarus were administered WHO recommended standardized screening instruments - AUDIT, MAST, CAGE questionnaire, as well as other alcohol related questions. The male to female ratio for the prevalence of alcohol problems according to the AUDIT was 3.34, while the ratio for alcohol users was 0.97. There are a wide gender differences in the pattern of alcohol use and preference for different alcoholic beverages, cause for drinking, and other alcohol related problems like injuries and blackouts

Transcultural Differences in Alcohol Use among Slavic, Arabian And Nigerian Students: A Case Study in Belarus

Background: Alcohol use by university students is a major public health problem in Belarusian campuses. The patterns of alcohol use might vary among students of different cultural backgrounds. Aims & Objectives: Differences in alcohol use and related problems among undergraduates of various ethnic groups - Slavs, Arabians and Nigerians in Minsk, Belarus were examined. Methods / Study Design: The study was randomized and anonymous, involving a total of 1549 respondents: 1345 Slavic, 120 Arabian and 84 Nigerian students in Minsk, Belarus. AH respondents were administered questionnaire containing the AUDIT, CAGE, MAST and other alcohol related questions. Results / Findings: Overall, 91.08% Slavs, 63.33% Arabs and 56.82% Nigerians were alcohol users. A total of 16.28% Slavic, 32.50% Arabian and 22.73% Nigerian problem drinkers were identified using the AUDIT. Generally, the use of weak strength alcoholic beverages (beer) was higher in the students' population of all ethnicities. Conclusion: The level of alcohol use and related problems in the general Belarusian students' population is high. Differences in the pattern of alcohol use and related problems exist among students of various ethnicities (Slavs, Arabians and Nigerians) in Minsk, Belarus. Alcohol related problems were higher among the Arabs and Nigerians, compared to the Slavs. Similarities in the average AUDIT, CAGE and MAST scores amongst the Slavs and Nigerians, as well as preference for alcoholic beverages among the students of all ethnicities were noted. Higher scores were recorded only on the AUDIT and MAST for the Arabs

Trajectory of Alcohol Use and Related Problems among University Students in Belarus

Trajectory, alcohol use, alcohol problems, university students, BelarusBackground: The problem of alcohol use is a major public health problem in the general students' population in Belarus. Aims & Objectives: We therefore screen and compare the prevalence of alcohol use and related problems among juniors and seniors in Belarusian universities. Methods / Study Design: A total of 2460 university students from four different campuses in Minsk (Belarus) were explained the study aims and objectives. 1599 respondents enrolled for the study. Participants were administered questionnaire, containing the AUDIT, MAST, CAGE and other alcohol related questions. Of them, 100 students could not complete the questionnaire satisfactorily. A total of 1499 (average age = 21) students were considered for analysis. The cut-off point on the AUDIT was set at 8. Results / Findings: The screening results confirm a high level of alcohol use (87.66%) and related problems in the students' population. The level of alcohol problems increases with increase in the year of study. The use of strong strength alcoholic beverages is related to a high risk of alcohol related problems, than the use of weak alcoholic beverages in the students' population. Conclusion: The level of alcohol use and related problems in the general Belarusian students' population are high and show increase in order of increase in the year of study

The Error Monitoring and Processing System in Alcohol Use

Alcohol related disruption, error commission, error monitoring and processing systemBackground: Current data suggest that alcohol might play significant role in error commission. Error commission is related to the functions of the Error Monitoring and Processing System (EMPS) located in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, basal ganglia and cortex of the forebrain. The main components of the EMPS are the dopaminergic system and anterior cingulate cortex. Although, recent data show that alcohol disrupts the EMPS, the ways in which alcohol affects this system are poorly understood. Aims & Objectives: We reviewed recent data that suggest the indirect effect of alcohol use on error commission. Methods / Study Design: Databases were searched for relevant literatures using the following keywords combination - Alcohol AND Error Commission (OR Processing, Monitoring, Correction, Detection). Literatures were searched in scientific databases (Medline, DOAJ, Embase from 1940 to August 2010), journal website (Psychophysiology, Neuroscience and Trends in Neuroscience). Manual book search, including library information were included in the data collection process. Other additional information was searched through Google. Results / Findings: Blood and brain glucose levels play a vital role in commission, and are related to error commission, monitoring and processing through the modulation of the activity of the dopaminergic system. To summarize the results of our findings, here we suggest a hypothesis of Alcohol-Related Glucose-Dependent System of Error Monitoring and Processing (ARGD-EMPS hypothesis), which holds that the disruption of the EMPS is related to the competency of glucose homeostasis regulation, which in turn may determine the dopamine level as a major component of the EMPS. The ARGD-EMPS hypothesis explains the general processes and mechanism of alcohol related disruption of the EMPS. Conclusion: Alcohol may indirectly disrupt the EMPS by affecting dopamine level through disorders in blood glucose homeostasis regulation. The effect of alcohol use on EMPS may be realized through its action on the blood/brain glucose level

Mechanism of Alcohol Related Disruption of the Error Monitoring and Processing System

Abstract—The error monitoring and processing system, EMPS is the system located in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, basal ganglia and cortex of the forebrain, and plays a leading role in error detection and correction. The main components of EMPS are the dopaminergic system and anterior cingulate cortex. Although, recent studies show that alcohol disrupts the EMPS, the ways in which alcohol affects this system are poorly understood. Based on current literature data, here we suggest a hypothesis of alcohol-related glucose-dependent system of error monitoring and processing, which holds that the disruption of the EMPS is related to the competency of glucose homeostasis regulation, which in turn may determine the dopamine level as a major component of EMPS. Alcohol may indirectly disrupt the EMPS by affecting dopamine level through disorders in blood glucose homeostasis regulation. Keywords—Alcohol related disruption, Error monitoring and processing system, Mechanism. I