Thermal Camouflage Clothing in Diurnal and Nocturnal Environments

This paper shows the possibility to thermally camouflage a human body in a beach environment, during the day and at night, through the use of two knitted fabric clothing prototypes. The conceptual design process applied was initially developed based on the need to firstly understand the behaviour of an individual dressed under the focus of a thermal imaging camera in the light of the infrared spectrum. The thermal tests undertaken to observe the model's thermal camouflage in certain positions/perspectives in both environments, enable simultaneously running of different solutions while introducing changes to the clothing. Printing with copper pigments and the patchwork using stitched structures in polyester knitted fabric played a decisive role to capture the thermal colours of the thermal image intended for the camouflage effect.

Quantified Activity Patterns for Young Children in Beach Environments Relevant for Exposure to Contaminants

In a study to evaluate beach play activities, 120 children were videotaped to observe and quantify factors that could influence their exposure to contaminants in the beach environment. Children aged 1 to 6 years were followed by researchers with video cameras at beaches (two in Miami, Florida and two in Galveston, Texas) for approximately one hour each. Factors evaluated included time spent in various beach locations, various activities engaged in, and various surfaces contacted (including contacts by hand and mouth). Activities recorded in the videos were transcribed to text files to allow for quantitative analyses. Across all sexes, age groups, and beaches, Wading was the most common activity and Seawater was the most common location where children played. The left hand was found to not be in contact with objects most of the time, while the right hand, considered the most dominant hand in most cases, contacted Plastic-Toys the most. Although activity patterns collection through videotaping and videotranslation can be labor-intensive, once collected, they can be widely useful for estimates of exposures to all contaminants in the beach environment (e.g., microorganisms and chemicals) as well as UV exposure, with considerations for whether the contaminants are found in water, sand or both. These activity patterns were collected to potentially look at exposures following the Deepwater Horizon 2010 Spill.

Railroad Vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae): Identification and Uses

Railroad vine is one of the most widely distributed beach plants in the world. The moving sand and salt spray make the beach environment a harsh one, and the plants that live there are specialized to colonize this environment. This new 7-page document, published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, describes railroad vine's leaves, flowers, fruit, planting and maintenance, and insect and disease problems. Written by Stephen H. Brown and Marc S. Frank.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep587

PUTTING USER IN CONTEXT: A PARTICIPATORY DESIGN APPROACH USING A SIMULATED BEACH ENVIRONMENT

The research outlined in this paper investigated the sun protection behaviour in young men age 18 to 24. Firstly, field observations were conducted on the beach where the sun protection behaviour occurs. The findings highlighted the importance of gender linked with low levels of sun protection behaviour in young men. This informed the next study through participatory design sessions using a simulated beach environment. The results showed design opportunities with taking an account of gender in sun protection behaviour which opens new avenues where design has a key role in health promotion.

ARE WE MISSING THE BIGGER PICTURE? AN ANALYSIS OF HOW SCIENCE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AN ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACH FOR BEACH MANAGEMENT ON THE SÃO PAULO MACROMETROPOLIS

The complexity of human-environment interactions in coastal areas represent management challenges, especially in the beach environment, important for its ecosystem services and contribution to human well-being. To overcome these challenges, ecosystem-based management proposes a more holistic and integrated approach, with a great contribution from scientific knowledge. We present here a review of Brazilian scientific production related to beach management, focusing on the Macrometrópole Paulista. The review showed that research on beach management is in an embryonic stage, being focused on biophysical information and without presenting indications for the application of the knowledge generated in decision-making processes. We conclude that it is imperative to invest in studies with an interdisciplinary, integrated and applied approach in order to promote the ecosystem approach. This is a worldwide challenge, and has been tackled by international initiatives such as the promotion of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Bacterial Diversity of a Microbial Mat from Hot Spring at Wartawan Beach, Lampung and Its Potential as a Source of Hydrogenases

Biohydrogen produced from thermophilic hydrogenases is an ideal and clean energy sources. As the biggest tectonic area in the world, Indonesia is potential for thermophile isolation. The aims of this study were to analyze the bacterial diversity of a microbial mat from hot spring at Wartawan beach, Lampung and to analyze the potency of microbial mat for hydrogenases, using clone library method. The diversity of 16S rRNA showed that the microbial mat sample contained 9 phyla of bacteria, and dominated by Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria. These phyla indicate that the bacterial community of the microbial mat consisted of phototrophic and heterotrophic groups. In addition, a microbial mat of Wartawan beach environment might be influenced by marine environment and hydrothermal vent which was indicated by detection of both associated bacteria. The diversity of hydrogenase genes using NiFe hydrogenase (NiFe) and FeFe hydrogenase (FeFe) genes showed that Cyanobacteria was specifically related to NiFe, while Firmicutes was associated with FeFe. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, however, were detected for both genes. The detected hydrogenase genes indicate that the microbial mat from hot spring at Wartawan beach is a promising source for hydrogenases isolation and further applications for biohydrogen production as a renewable energy.