Use of the Morphoedaphic Index to Predict Nutrient Status and Algal Biomass in Some Canadian Lakes

1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 1909-1918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Chow-Fraser

The underlying assumptions of the morphoedaphic index (MEI; total dissolved solids (TDS)/mean depth), which has been used to predict fish yields in lakes, and its power for predicting biomass at lower trophic levels were examined using published data. The assumptions included the relationship between mean depth of lakes and various hydrologic characteristics (flushing rate and stratification regime), water transparency characteristics (water color and turbidity), and the stoichiometric relationship among ions (expressed as a proportion between TDS and the concentration of primary nutrients, total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN)). Although these basic assumptions could be supported empirically, the predictive power of the MEI became progressively weakened with increasing trophic level. MEI accounted for up to 85% of the variation in TP and TN, less than 50% of the variation in [Chl a], and none of the variation in the biomass of herbivorous zooplankton. The functions relating TDS to both TP and TN were fundamentally different: as lakes increased in salinity, the TN:TP ratio decreased dramatically so that TP almost exceeded TN concentrations in extremely saline lakes. This necessitated the development of separate MEI–nutrient relationships for saline (TDS > 1000 mg/L) and nonsaline lakes.

The Condor ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niall H.K. Burton

Abstract The relationship between nest entrance orientation and latitude among ground-nesting passerines was reviewed using published information. Data were collated for seven North American and European species. Pooling within-species comparisons, there was a clear trend from a preference for north-facing nests at lower latitudes to eastward- or southward-facing nests farther north. Orientations differed significantly in eight of 12 cases for which statistical comparison was possible, means differing in the expected direction in six of these cases. These results highlight how the influence of solar radiation on nest microclimate typically delineates preferred nest orientation in these species, i.e., at lower latitudes, the need for shade results in a preference for northward orientations; at mid latitudes, eastward orientations predominate, reflecting a probable balance between the benefits of warmth in the early morning and shade in the afternoon; while at high latitudes, nests may be oriented southward to gain warmth throughout the day.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Hyeonji Bae ◽  
Dabin Lee ◽  
Jae Joong Kang ◽  
Jae Hyung Lee ◽  
Naeun Jo ◽  
...  

The cellular macromolecular contents and energy value of phytoplankton as primary food source determine the growth of higher trophic levels, affecting the balance and sustainability of oceanic food webs. Especially, proteins are more directly linked with basic functions of phytoplankton biosynthesis and cell division and transferred through the food chains. In recent years, the East/Japan Sea (EJS) has been changed dramatically in environmental conditions, such as physical and chemical characteristics, as well as biological properties. Therefore, developing an algorithm to estimate the protein concentration of phytoplankton and monitor their spatiotemporal variations on a broad scale would be invaluable. To derive the protein concentration of phytoplankton in EJS, the new regional algorithm was developed by using multiple linear regression analyses based on field-measured data which were obtained from 2012 to 2018 in the southwestern EJS. The major factors for the protein concentration were identified as chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea surface nitrate (SSN) in the southwestern EJS. The coefficient of determination (r2) between field-measured and algorithm-derived protein concentrations was 0.55, which is rather low but reliable. The satellite-derived estimation generally follows the 1:1 line with the field-measured data, with Pearson’s correlation coefficient, which was 0.40 (p-value < 0.01, n = 135). No remarkable trend in the long-term annual protein concentration of phytoplankton was found in the study area during our observation period. However, some seasonal difference was observed in winter protein concentration between the 2003–2005 and 2017–2019 periods. The algorithm is developed for the regional East/Japan Sea (EJS) and could contribute to long-term monitoring for climate-associated ecosystem changes. For a better understanding of spatiotemporal variation in the protein concentration of phytoplankton in the EJS, this algorithm should be further improved with continuous field surveys.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Twisha S. Patel ◽  
Peggy L. Carver ◽  
Gregory A. Eschenauer

ABSTRACT The purpose of this review is to critically analyze published data evaluating the impact of azole pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, MICs, and Candida species on clinical outcomes in patients with candidemia. Clinical breakpoints (CBPs) for fluconazole and voriconazole, which are used to determine susceptibility, have been defined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) for Candida species. Studies evaluating the relationship between treatment efficacy and in vitro susceptibility, as well as the pharmacodynamic targets, have been conducted in patients treated with fluconazole for candidemia; however, for species other than Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, and for other forms of invasive candidiasis, data remain limited and randomized trials are not available. Limited data evaluating these relationships with voriconazole are available. While pharmacodynamic targets for posaconazole and isavuconazole have been proposed based upon studies conducted in murine models, CBPs have not been established by CLSI. Fluconazole remains an important antifungal agent for the treatment of candidemia, and data supporting its use based on in vitro susceptibility are growing, particularly for C. albicans and C. glabrata. Further investigation is needed to establish the roles of voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole in the treatment of candidemia and for all agents in the treatment of other forms of invasive candidiasis.


Author(s):  
Aya Hussein ◽  
Sondoss Elsawah ◽  
Hussein A. Abbass

Objective This work aims to further test the theory that trust mediates the interdependency between automation reliability and the rate of human reliance on automation. Background Human trust in automation has been the focus of many research studies. Theoretically, trust has been proposed to impact human reliance on automation by mediating the relationship between automation reliability and the rate of human reliance. Experimentally, however, the results are contradicting as some confirm the mediating role of trust, whereas others deny it. Hence, it is important to experimentally reinvestigate this role of trust and understand how the results should be interpreted in the light of existing theory. Method Thirty-two subjects supervised a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in foraging missions in which the swarm provided recommendations on whether or not to collect potential targets, based on the information sensed by the UAVs. By manipulating the reliability of the recommendations, we observed changes in participants’ trust and their behavioral responses. Results A within-subject mediation analysis revealed a significant mediation role of trust in the relationship between swarm reliability and reliance rate. High swarm reliability increased the rate of correct acceptances, but decreased the rate of correct rejections. No significant effect of reliability was found on response time. Conclusion Trust is not a mere by-product of the interaction; it possesses a predictive power to estimate the level of reliance on automation. Application The mediation role of trust confirms the significance of trust calibration in determining the appropriate level of reliance on swarm automation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. e192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Anastasaki ◽  
Stephanie M. Morris ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
David H. Gutmann

Objective:To ascertain the relationship between the germline NF1 gene mutation and glioma development in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).Methods:The relationship between the type and location of the germline NF1 mutation and the presence of a glioma was analyzed in 37 participants with NF1 from one institution (Washington University School of Medicine [WUSM]) with a clinical diagnosis of NF1. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using both unadjusted and weighted analyses of this data set in combination with 4 previously published data sets.Results:While no statistical significance was observed between the location and type of the NF1 mutation and glioma in the WUSM cohort, power calculations revealed that a sample size of 307 participants would be required to determine the predictive value of the position or type of the NF1 gene mutation. Combining our data set with 4 previously published data sets (n = 310), children with glioma were found to be more likely to harbor 5′-end gene mutations (OR = 2; p = 0.006). Moreover, while not clinically predictive due to insufficient sensitivity and specificity, this association with glioma was stronger for participants with 5′-end truncating (OR = 2.32; p = 0.005) or 5′-end nonsense (OR = 3.93; p = 0.005) mutations relative to those without glioma.Conclusions:Individuals with NF1 and glioma are more likely to harbor nonsense mutations in the 5′ end of the NF1 gene, suggesting that the NF1 mutation may be one predictive factor for glioma in this at-risk population.


Jurnal Solum ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Hermansah Hermansah ◽  
Juniarti Juniarti ◽  
Utami Maya Pribadi

This experiment is about the evaluation of characteristic alteration of soil nutrients after ten years at tropical rain forest Bukit Gajabuih Gunung Gadut Padang. This experiment was conducted from November 2006 - April 2007.  This experiment is arranged based on anova design with three treatments which was based on three great groups of land ( oxic-dystroudept (eutriccc, aquic), oxic-dystroudept (xanthic), oxic-typic-dystroudept (xanthic)).  The purpose of this experiment was to study the alteration of soil fertility characteristics  (K, Ca, Mg, Na, P and C/N) in ten years period (1995-2005) in tropical rain forest at Bukit Gajabuih Padang, to observe vegetation variety alteration, and the relationship with the land fertility characteristics.  From the experiment was found that nutrient status of the soils altered after ten years (*1995-2005).  Available P content increased about 77%, exchangeable Na and K  increased 86,04% and 53.65%, respectively.  On the other hand, exchangeable Mg and Ca decreased 3,05% and 65,88%, respectively.  Land C/N ratio decreased about 21,39%. The experimental plot had low soil pH.Key Words: tropical rain forest, soil nutrient status


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuliana Violeta Vasquez Varas ◽  
Juliane Callegaro Borsa

Abstract This study aimed to analyze the relationships between positive (PCM), negative (NCM) childbearing motivations and psychological, sociodemographic, family of origin and partner relationship variables in a sample of 1969 Brazilians (83.6% female), aged 18 to 50 years (M = 29.27; SD = 5.97). Spearman correlations, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis U-tests, and multiple regressions were performed. The results of the correlations and multiple regressions verified the relationship between both motivations and the various variables postulated. It was also verified that religiosity was the variable with greater predictive power for PCM and having or not having children was the variable with greater predictive power for NCM. In the group difference analysis, significant differences were found for PCM according to occupation, type of relationship, and presence/absence of a partner. As for the NCM, significant differences were found according to sex.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Njabulo Samson Melusi Shongwe

This study reports on the application of decision making core technology adoption theory to empirically examine youth preferences for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) preventive actions. In order to contribute to the open discourse on whether technology adoption rate is higher for male or female, goal desire, goal intention, action desire and action intention elements of decision making core theory were tested. A mobile health information system was implemented as an HIV information disseminating tool and used for experimentation to determine adoption by youths. A dataset of 118 pupils from two high schools was used for pilot investigation. A dataset of 292 undergraduate youths aged 10-24 years from two universities in South Africa was generated to validate the research model. The Partial Least Square (PLS) analytic modelling technique was used to determine the predictive power of decision making core model from the input dataset. Results of experimentation show that regardless of the gender youth accepts to use mobile information system to access HIV information. The predictive power of the decision making core model was found to be independent of gender factor, which was also not found to moderate the relationship between Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) and action intention. In addition, gender was not found to moderate the order of importance in factors that predict youth preferences for HIV preventive action. PBC, action desire and goal desire were selected as the most important predictors of HIV preventive actions. The factor of action desire was found to mediate the relationship between PBC and action intention such that the mediation effect was stronger for male youth (68%) than for female youth (19%). Finally, the decision making core model better predicted youth preferences for HIV preventive actions as compared to two models based on Theory of Reason Action (TRA) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 3121
Author(s):  
Devendra M. Amatya ◽  
Ssegane Herbert ◽  
Carl C. Trettin ◽  
Mohammad Daud Hamidi

The objective of this study was to test pre-treatment hydrologic calibration relationships between paired headwater watersheds (WS77 (treatment) and WS80 (control)) and explain the difference in flow, compared to earlier published data, using daily rainfall, runoff, and a water table measured during 2011–2019 in the Santee Experimental Forest in coastal South Carolina, USA. Mean monthly runoff difference between WS80 and WS77 of −6.80 mm for 2011–2019, excluding October 2015 with an extreme flow event, did not differ significantly from −8.57 mm (p = 0.27) for the 1969–1978 period or from −3.89 mm for 2004–2011, the post-Hurricane Hugo (1989) recovery period. Both the mean annual runoff coefficient and monthly runoff were non-significantly higher for WS77 than for WS80. The insignificant higher runoff by chance was attributed to WS77’s three times smaller surface storage and higher hypsometrical integral than those of WS80, but not to rainfall. The 2011–2019 geometric mean regression-based monthly runoff calibration relationship, excluding the October 2015 runoff, did not differ from the relationship for the post-Hugo recovery period, indicating complete recovery of the forest stand by 2011. The 2011–2019 pre-treatment regression relationship, which was not affected by periodic prescribed burning on WS77, was significant and predictable, providing a basis for quantifying longleaf pine restoration effects on runoff later in the future. However, the relationship will have to be used cautiously when extrapolating for extremely large flow events that exceed its flow bounds.


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