Fire-created patchiness in Australian savannas

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 323 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Malcolm Gill ◽  
Grant Allan ◽  
Cameron Yates
Keyword(s):  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
First Year ◽  
Patch Area ◽  
Patch Type ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Fire Area ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Negative Exponential ◽  
Log Linear ◽  
Landsat Tm Imagery

Models of ecosystem disturbances have been based on either points or patches. In this study, three types of fire-created patch were distinguished: the unburned 'islands' within a fire area; the patches with individual times-since-fire, those of the first year being the individual fire areas; and, patches with individual intervals between fires. Frequency distributions of patch areas were simulated using two randomly filled square grids (with a probability of 0.5, corresponding to 50% burnt each year) with two levels of aggregation—'none' and 'clumped'. Fires were represented by clusters of filled cells on each single grid; years were represented by a set of similar, independent, grids. Results from the simulations were compared to those from Bradshaw Station in the savanna region of the northern part of the Northern Territory using a decade of Landsat MSS and Landsat TM imagery. Maps of times since fire (years) and intervals between fires (years) were constructed. Proportions of the maps with different times since fire and intervals between fires followed negative exponential curves. All frequency distributions of patch area, irrespective of patch type, were found to be log–log linear when data were logged and 'binned' (i.e. placed in categories). In both the simulations and at Bradshaw Station, the numbers of single cell patches first rose then declined as times since fire increased while the largest fire patches rapidly decreased in size. Between-fire interval patches decreased in size with increasing intervals but small-patch number did not increase as it did for times since fire. Errors in accuracy of Landsat imagery could heighten the apparent conformity between interpreted imagery and the simulations.

scholarly journals Nutritional Status as an Important Factor in the Health Status of the Adult

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
J.H.P. Jonxis
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Fat Metabolism ◽  
Western World ◽  
First Year ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Permanent Damage ◽  
The Individual ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
Breast Fed

Malnutrition in the first year of life may cause permanent damage to the individual. There may be a permanent retardation in growth if the malnutrition is a serious one and the food intake is severely insufficient over a longer, period. Specially when malnutrition occurs in the first months after birth, it may cause damage to the central nervous system.As long as the breast-fed child gets enough breastmilk, it is unlikely that serious problems  arise. The declinein feeding in many developing countries is a serious problem, especially because the alternatives for human milk are not always available, owing to economic factors. In the, countries of the Western world there exists just, the opposite problem owing to partial over-nutrition abnormalities in fat metabolism may occur, which may influence the health of the individual later on in life.

scholarly journals Sourcebook update: intestinal smooth muscle contractility and autonomic control

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip D. Langton
Keyword(s):  
First Year ◽  
Smooth Muscle Contractility ◽  
Gut Motility ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Authentic Inquiry ◽  
Student Teams ◽  
Functional Antagonism ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Design Experiments

This laboratory practical requires first-year students to anticipate the effects of drugs active at cholinergic and adrenergic receptors on gut motility in order to design experiments during an authentic inquiry exercise. Rather than specifying a strict sequence of drug additions that aim to provide ideal demonstrations of pharmacological and physiological antagonism, I have instead designed switches into the drugs provided and set students, working in small teams, the task of identifying the switched drugs, an inquiry activity. To extend the teamwork aspect, laboratory reports were submitted by the student teams rather than individual students. Staff observed that discussions within the teams were stimulated by the inquiry-led nature of the practical. The quality of the laboratory reports submitted by teams were substantially improved over the individual reports submitted in previous years. (Students previously worked in teams, but simply followed a list of prescribed experiments and wrote individual reports.) Although, in conversation, teams of students had an improved understanding of the regulation of gut motility by the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system and could readily distinguish between pharmacological and functional antagonism, no attempt was made to evaluate learning because the revision was triggered by the observed effect of a technical error and was not otherwise planned. It is likely that laboratory practicals, in general, would benefit from inclusion of inquiry.

Age, stucture, growth rates and movements of sea mullet, Mugil cephalus L., and Yellow-eye Mullet, Aldrichetta forsteri (Valenciennes), in the Swan-Avon river system, Western Australia

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
CF Chubb ◽  
IC Potter ◽  
CJ Grant ◽  
RCJ Lenanton ◽  
J Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
River System ◽  
First Year ◽  
Length Frequency ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Times ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
System 1

The age structure, growth rates and movements of M. cephalus and A forsteri in the Swan-Avon river system have been investigated using data obtained from beach seining and gill netting carried out between February 1977 and June 1980. Length-frequency data and scale readings show that the populations of both species consist predominantly of 0+ and 1 + fish. From the times when the smallest fry (20-30 mm) were present in the lower part of the river system, and from the condition of the gonads of older fish, the breeding seasons of the sea and yellow-eye mullets have been estimated as extending from March to September and from March to August respectively. The bimodality or polymodality exhibited by the length-frequency distributions for the 0 + year classes suggest that in both species groups of individuals spawn at slightly different times. The range of mean total lengths and weights of animals caught in May near the end of the first year of life was 178-222 mm and 64-119 gin M. cephalus and 136-154 mm and 19-30 g in A. forsteri, which shows that the growth of each of these two species of mullet is relatively very rapid in the Swan-Avon river system. 1 + and 2 + fish tend to leave the estuary for varying periods. Although 0+ fish of both species utilized the shallow banks of the estuary throughout the year. the sea mullet moved further upstream and were not as consistently abundant in the lower estuary. Since 0+ yellow-eye mullet 40-100 mm long were also abundant in marine coastal waters between January and May. and sea mullet of comparable age were rarely observed in these regions, it would appear that M. cephalus is the more estuarine-dependent of the two species. Commercial catches of M. cephalus were greater than those of A. forsteri. This feature can be related in part to the much faster growth rate of M. cephalus, which results in a larger proportion of its youngest year classes reaching the minimum legal size for capture prior to the time when they leave the estuary in large numbers.

The individual and health sector costs of asthma: the first year of a longitudinal study in New South Wales

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 429-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Kenny ◽  
Emily Lancsar ◽  
Jane Hall ◽  
Madeleine King ◽  
Meredyth Chaplin
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
First Year ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Individual

scholarly journals A Critical Analysis of Risk Factors for Selected Tropical Diseases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faith-Michael Uzoka ◽  
Christie Akwaowo ◽  
Chinyere Nwafor Okoli ◽  
Victory Ekpin ◽  
Chukwudi Nwokoro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Typhoid Fever ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the impacts of different (non-clinical) risk factors on the populations’ predisposition to tropical diseases specifically Malaria, yellow fever, typhoid fever, chicken pox, measles, hepatitis B and UTI.Subject and Methods: Data for this study was obtained through patient diagnosis forms, distributed to physicians in Nigeria. A total of 2199 patient consultation forms were returned by 102 (out of 125) physicians, and considered useful for analysis. Demographic data of patients, physicians, and diagnosis outcomes were analysed descriptively through frequency distributions, aggregate analysis, and graphs, while the influence of risk factors on the disease manifestations (diagnosis outcomes) were determined using regression analysis.Results: Findings from our study demonstrated that the difficulty in diagnosing tropical disease was associated with significant increase in morbidity and mortality especially in patients with malaria, UTI and typhoid fever. Factors such as contact with an infected person and poor personal hygiene posed significant risk, while urbanization and homelessness, posed very low risks across all the diseases. Conclusion: The risk factors identified in our study exert differential and discriminating influences in the causation, predisposition, and transmission of these conditions, understanding the individual risk factors for each condition have significant socio-economic implications for people living in tropical and endemic regions, especially with respect to management and prevention of these conditions.

scholarly journals First-Year Antibiotics Exposure in Relation to Childhood Asthma, Allergies, and Airway Illnesses

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5700
Author(s):  
Zhijun Zou ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Chen Huang ◽  
Chanjuan Sun ◽  
Jialing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Health ◽  
History Of ◽  
Household Environment ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Individual

Background: Associations of early antibiotics exposures with childhood asthma, allergies, and airway illnesses are debated. Objectives: We aimed to investigate associations of first-year antibiotics exposure with childhood asthma, allergies, and airway illnesses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among preschoolers in Shanghai, China during 2011–2012. A questionnaire regarding household environment and lifestyles and childhood health outcomes was reported by the child’s parents. Results: In total, 13,335 questionnaires (response rate: 85.3%) were analyzed and 3049 (24.1%) children had first-year antibiotics exposure. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, first-year antibiotics exposure had significant associations with the higher odds of lifetime-ever pneumonia (adjusted OR, 95% CI: 2.15, 1.95–2.37), croup (1.46, 1.24–1.73), wheeze (1.44, 1.30–1.60), asthma (1.38, 1.19–1.61), food allergy (1.29, 1.13–1.46), and allergic rhinitis (1.23, 1.07–1.41), and as well as current (one year before the survey) common cold (≥3 times) (1.38, 1.25–1.52), dry cough (1.27, 1.13–1.42), atopic dermatitis (1.25, 1.09–1.43), wheeze (1.23, 1.10–1.38), and rhinitis symptoms (1.15, 1.04–1.26). These associations were different in children with different individual characteristics (age, sex, family history of atopy, and district) and other early exposures (breastfeeding, home decoration, pet-keeping, and environmental tobacco smoke). Conclusions: Our results indicate that first-year antibiotics exposure could be a strong risk factor for childhood pneumonia, asthma, allergies, and their related symptoms. The individual characteristics and other early exposures may modify effects of early antibiotic exposure on childhood allergies and airway illnesses.

Words or Images: Insights on How Engineering Students and Engineers Communicate in Practice

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Bairaktarova ◽  
Mary Pilotte
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Communication Mode ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Work Settings ◽  
Mechanical Object ◽  
Data Investigation ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Industry Professionals

This paper examines the use of language (text and verbal communication) across school and work settings. The participants of the study are from two distinct pools — 380 first-year engineering students and 355 industry professionals. To test the study predictions and interpret the results the individual data sets from both studies were reviewed and analyzed. Data suggests that for the professional engineering population, face to face communication was the preferred communication mode for sharing engineering evaluation, communicating difficult concepts, and describing their work product. Email and file sharing were also utilized communication options, but to a lesser extent. Data from students facing a simulated professional assignment (produce a fabrication instruction for assembling a mechanical object) indicated that 94% of the students’ chose to use language to produce fabrication instructions, compared to only 6% of students who used another tool of engineering representation in the form of sketches. Data investigation and outcomes are discussed in terms of prevalence and importance of language in engineering education.

Evaluation of patient involvement strategies in health technology assessment in Spain: the viewpoint of HTA researchers

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Toledo-Chávarri ◽  
Yolanda Triñanes Pego ◽  
Eva Reviriego Rodrigo ◽  
Nora Ibargoyen Roteta ◽  
Blanca Novella-Arribas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Patient Involvement ◽  
National Health System ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
First Year ◽  
Important Health ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Individual

Objective The Spanish Network of Agencies for Assessing National Health System Technologies and Performance (RedETS) defined a patient involvement (PI) framework for health technology assessment (HTA) activities in 2016. The aim of this study is to evaluate the process and impact of those PI initiatives that were implemented in the first year following the publication of this new framework. Methods A survey was sent to those HTA researchers who implemented PI in RedETS projects. Responses were reviewed by two authors. An adapted thematic analysis was performed and the results were later discussed by all authors. Results Six responses from six agencies/units were analyzed. The objectives of PI initiatives were the following: inclusion of patient perspectives, preferences and values; elicitation of important health outcomes measures; and barriers, facilitators, or suggestions for implementation. Different methods were used for PI: surveys, focus groups, in depth interviews, and participation in an expert panel. Five main themes emerged: (i) challenges with the recruitment process, (ii) needs identified, (iii) impact of PI, (iv) lessons learned, and (v) suggestions for the future. Conclusions PI initiatives within the RedETS framework were tailored to each HTA project, its specific goals and the individual needs and resources of each HTA agency. The results also pointed out how PI has a relevant impact that has enriched RedETS products providing key information on experiences, values, and preferences of patients, contributions that benefit the HTA and the process of drawing up recommendations. The main challenges were related to recruitment processes and capacity building.

Studies on southern Australian abalone (Genus Haliotis). IV. Growth of H. laevigata and H. ruber

1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA Shepherd ◽  
WS Hearn
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Annual Growth ◽  
First Year ◽  
Growth Equation ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Data ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
Frequency Distributions

The growth of H. laevigata Donovan and H. ruber Leach was studied at several sites in South Australia by fitting the von Bertalanffy growth equation to growth data, supplemented by analysis of length- frequency distributions. Juvenile individuals of H. laevigata grow at an average rate of 0.9 mm per week, reaching a length of about 40 mm in 1 year at West Island; at Waterloo Bay H. laevigata can reach a length of 50 mm in the first year. After the first year, the annual growth coefficient (K) and the asymptotic length (L∞) for the two species at three sites are, respectively: H. laevigata-0.48 year-1 and 138 mm (West I.); 0.41 year-1 and 131 mm (Tipara Reef); 0.59 year-1 and 148 mm (Waterloo Bay); H, ruber-0 34 year-1 and 139 mm (West I.); 0.32 year-1 and 143 mm (Tipara Reef); 0 41 year-1 and 144 mm (Waterloo Bay). There are also seasonal differences in growth rate between species and between sites. These differences as well as differences in the annual growth rate within a species between sites are associated predominantly with differences in the food supply. There is differential growth between the sexes of H. laevigata at Waterloo Bay, where females grow 25% faster than males and reach a larger size.

Financial Performance of Health Insurers: State-Run Versus Federal-Run Exchanges

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Hall ◽  
Michael J. McCue ◽  
Jennifer R. Palazzolo
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Affordable Care Act ◽  
First Year ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Administrative Costs ◽  
Individual Market ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Financial Losses ◽  
Health Insurers

Many insurers incurred financial losses in individual markets for health insurance during 2014, the first year of Affordable Care Act mandated changes. This analysis looks at key financial ratios of insurers to compare profitability in 2014 and 2013, identify factors driving financial performance, and contrast the financial performance of health insurers operating in state-run exchanges versus the federal exchange. Overall, the median loss of sampled insurers was −3.9%, no greater than their loss in 2013. Reduced administrative costs offset increases in medical losses. Insurers performed better in states with state-run exchanges than insurers in states using the federal exchange in 2014. Medical loss ratios are the underlying driver more than administrative costs in the difference in performance between states with federal versus state-run exchanges. Policy makers looking to improve the financial performance of the individual market should focus on features that differentiate the markets associated with state-run versus federal exchanges.

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