The Mystery of Choromytilus chorus : Factors Affecting the Apparent Demise of a Culturally Important Mollusk Along Western South America

Distribution and structure of Conocarpus erectus L. (Combretaceae) in the northern limit of the Pacific Ocean (Gulf of California)

BackgroundThis article analyzes whether the distribution or area of use of 18 medicinal plants is influenced by ecological and cultural factors which might account for their traditional use and/or phytonymy in Navarra.This discussion may be helpful for comparative studies, touching as it does on other ethnopharmacological issues: a) which cultural and ecological factors affect the selection of medicinal plants; b) substitutions of medicinal plants in popular medicine; c) the relation between local nomenclature and uses. To analyze these questions, this paper presents an example of a species used for digestive disorders (tea and camomile: Jasonia glutinosa, J. tuberosa, Sideritis hyssopifolia, Bidens aurea, Chamaemelum nobile, Santolina chamaecyparissus...), high blood pressure (Rhamnus alaternus, Olea europaea...) or skin diseases (Hylotelephium maximum, H. telephium, Anagallis arvensis, A. foemina).MethodsFieldwork began on January 2004 and continued until December 2006. During that time we interviewed 505 informants in 218 locations in Navarra. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews, and we subsequently made maps using Arc-View 8.0 program to determine the area of use of each taxon. Each map was then compared with the bioclimatic and linguistic map of Navarra, using the soil and ethnographic data for the region, and with other ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies carried out in Europe.ResultsThe results clearly show that ecological and cultural factors influence the selection of medicinal plants in this region. Climate and substrate are the most important ecological factors that influence the distribution and abundance of plants, which are the biological factors that affect medicinal plant selection.ConclusionThe study of edaphological and climatological factors, on the one hand, and culture, on the other, can help us to understand why a plant is replaced by another one for the same purposes, either in the same or in a different area. In many cases, the cultural factor means that the use of a species is more widespread than its ecological distribution. This may also explain the presence of synonyms and polysemies which are useful for discussing ethnopharmacological data.

Accurately determining the incidence and prevalence of dermatologic disease in most large populations has been challenging for reasons ranging from the lack of easily quantifiable tests and measures to imprecision around definitions of race, ethnicity, photo skin type, pigmentation, and population groups. Compounding the problems with these categorizations is the fact that skin disease and skin health are affected not just by inherent risk factors but also by habits and environment. Thus, a fundamental question remains as we evaluate the effects of cultural and environmental factors: do genetic factors account for most of the difference that we see in skin types? Is the primary influence the way the skin mediates the environmental insult of UV radiation or how inflammation is handled? Is melanization the primary characteristic that we should measure and consider? This article will provide an introduction to current knowledge and future directions researchers are taking in differentiating both the biological differences of skin and the clinical manifestations of skin disease among the groups described above. This discussion will be followed by a brief overview of cultural practices and environmental factors that are known to have significant impact on skin disease and a summary of the most common conditions that are encountered worldwide.

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) has experienced population declines in both Canada and the United States and in 2010 was assigned a national listing of threatened in Canada. We conducted a two-year study (2004–2005) of this species at its northern range limit, the South Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. Our main objective was to determine whether the habitat features that influenced nest-site selection also predicted nest success, or whether other factors (e.g. cavity dimensions, clutch initiation date or time of season) were more important. Nest tree decay class, density of suitable cavities and total basal area of large trees were the best predictors of nest-site selection, but these factors were unrelated to nesting success. Estimates of demographic parameters (mean ± SE) included daily nest survival rate (0.988±0.003, years combined), nest success (0.52±0.08), clutch size (5.00±0.14 eggs), female fledglings per successful nest (1.31±0.11), and annual productivity (0.68±0.12 female fledglings per nest per year). Although higher nest survival was associated with both early and late initiated clutches, early-initiated clutches allowed birds to gain the highest annual productivity as early clutches were larger. Nests in deep cavities with small entrances experienced lower predation risk especially during the peak period of nest predation. We concluded that nest-site selection can be predicted by a number of easily measured habitat variables, whereas nest success depended on complicated ecological interactions among nest predators, breeding behaviors, and cavity features. Thus, habitat-based conservation strategies should also consider ecological factors that may not be well predicted by habitat.

INTRODUCTION: The efficiency and development of any organization largely depend on the proper use of human resources. In today's organizations, to reduce organizational silence, employees express their ideas and share their views to increase organizational efficiency. This study was conducted to qualitatively explain the cultural and environmental factors that reduce organizational silence in government organizations. METHODS: This applied study was conducted based on a descriptive-analytical approach and implemented through the field research method. The samples (n=18) were selected among senior managers of government organizations using purposive sampling and the sample size required amount was based on theoretical saturation criterion. The required data were collected through holding interviews and they were analyzed using the grounded theory method. FINDINGS: The results showed that the four selective codes of "progress", "appropriate cultural background", "lack of proper attribution" and "increasing culture in the field of teamwork" could explain the concept of organizational silence. CONCLUSION: According to the results, the roots of the formation of this destructive and inhibitory organizational phenomenon are lied in the context of social, cultural, and political interactions, identified under the influence of "environmental and cultural factors", and started via social learning. These environmental and cultural factors can be programmed and corrected to guide and control organizational silence and direct the constructive voice of the organization.

본 연구는 최근 수년간 서울, 대전, 창원, 순천 등을 중심으로 생태도시 또는 생태브랜드를 도시의 정체성 및 도시의 이미지로 구축하기 위하여 홍보 및 광고, 관광 개발 등의 특화를 하기 시작했지만, 이러한 지자체의 노력이 도시 및 생활환경에 대한 만족도와 도시의 매력요인에 직접적인 영향을 미치고 있는지에 대한 의문으로부터 시작되었다. 따라서 생태도시 매력요인에 대한 의식조사를 통해 생태도시 브랜드 구축을 위한 계획 기준 및 관리방안을 모색하는데 목적을 두고 순천시를 대상으로 조사를 실시하였다. 본 연구의 중요한 결과로는 거주자와 방문자는 순천시의 친환경성에 대체로 만족하는 것으로 나타났고 생태도시로 높게 인식하고 있었다. 순천을 생태도시로 인식하는 이유로 거주자는 녹지가 다양하다는 의견이 높게 나타난 반면, 방문자는 순천시의 습지보전 현황에 만족하기 때문인 것으로 조사되었다. 생태도시 매력요인 만족도에 영향을 미치는 요인분석 결과, 거주자는 4개 요인(문화요인, 도시기반요인, 생태요인, 경관요인), 방문자는 5개 요인(문화요인, 도시기반요인, 생태요인, 경관요인, 어메니티요인)이 도출되었고, 문화요인과 도시기반요인이 거주자와 방문자의 전체만족도에 가장 많은 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. 중요도-만족도(ISA) 분석 결과, 거주자와 방문자는 생태도시의 매력요인 중 자연적 매력물의 다양함, 계절과 기후의 쾌적함, 자연경치의 아름다움, 희귀동식물의 다양함, 공원 녹지 거리 등의 다양함, 넓은 생태면적, 습지의 보전을 우선순위로 생각하고 있었다. 또한 생태도시의 매력요인에 있어서는 녹색교통의 활성화 및 도보환경이 중요하다고 평가하고 있지만, 실제로 순천시의 정비현황에 대해 만족도가 낮아 집중적으로 개선이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. I the recent years, Seoul, Daejeon, Changwon, and Suncheon have started to strengthen P.R. efforts on eco-brands produced by the city and to publicize as a specialized tourist city in an attempt to change their identity and image. However, there is actually a question whether the efforts of the local governments have any direct impact on satisfaction with urban living environments and the attractions of the city. The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of residents and visitors about the attractions of Suncheon City as an eco-city and to discuss the planning criteria for the eco-city brand building and its management. The research data was collected in Suncheon City and main results of this study are as follows. The residents and the visitors investigated were satisfied with the environmental friendliness of this city and regarded it as an eco-city. As a result of asking them why they viewed the city as an eco-city, many of the residents cited diverse green tracts of land as the reason, whereas the visitors replied they were satisfied with the state of marshy areas preserved by the city. The psychological factors related to the satisfaction of the eco-city by the residents were composed of four factors, 'cultural factor', 'urban infrastructure factor', 'ecological factor' and 'scenery factor'. The visitors were composed of five factors, 'cultural factor', 'urban infrastructure factor', 'ecological factor', 'scenery factor' and 'amenity factor'. Out of the factors, the cultural factor and the urban infrastructure factor were found to exert the largest influence on the overall satisfaction of the residents and the visitors. The ISA(Importance-Satisfaction Analysis) was made, the residents and the visitors gave top priority to 'diversity of natural attractions', 'pleasant season and weather', 'beautiful scenery', 'diversity of rare animals and plants', 'diversity of parks', 'green areas and streets', 'broad ecological area' and 'the preservation of marshy areas' among the attractions of the eco-city. They placed importance on the activation of green traffic and walking environments as well, but they weren't satisfied with the state of the two in the city. Therefore there was much room for improvement in that regard.

Biological and cultural evolutionary perspectives complement each other to explain many processes in relationship initiation. The chapter shows how biological and social evolution interact to account for cultural variation in mate preferences and romantic relationship initiation. The influence of biological, ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors varies between and within types of societies. In isolated tribal, subsistence-based societies, biological and ecological factors play major roles. In traditional societies, besides these factors, socioeconomic and cultural factors play important roles. In modern societies, socioeconomic and cultural factors become dominant, with decreasing influences for biological and ecological factors. Ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural parameters, which affect practices of relationship initiation in subsistence-based, traditional, and modern societies, are propinquity, homogamy, social and relationship mobility, modernization of society, cultural values, cultural conception of individuality in interdependent versus independent societies, power distance and social equality, gender roles, and gender equality. The chapter addresses culturally evolved practices of relationship initiation, such as tribal gatherings, traditional courtship, dating, partnership, and social media and web-based communication and reviews the societal and cultural factors that affect these practices. The chapter concludes with a brief review of implications for future research on cultural variation in relationship initiation in terms of theoretical and empirical methodology.

Comprehensive analysis of West Nile Virus transmission: Environmental, ecological, and individual factors. An umbrella review.

Efforts to improve and effectively utilize various resources, such as labor, capital, and information, are the goals of all managers. This study aims to examine the impact of individual, environmental, organizational, and cultural factors on the improvement of human resource productivity in private banks. The present research is applied in terms of its purpose and, based on its approach, is quantitative and descriptive-survey in nature. Data collection methods include library and field studies. The sampling method used in this study is stratified random sampling. The data collection instrument is a researcher-made questionnaire, derived from the theoretical framework of the study. The validity of the researcher-made questionnaire was assessed through face, content, and construct validity, and its reliability was confirmed using composite reliability and Cronbach's alpha, which was greater than 0.7. The statistical population of this study includes 300 managers and deputies of state-owned banks in Mazandaran Province. Based on the Krejcie and Morgan table, 169 participants were selected as the sample. For data analysis, structural equation modeling was conducted using PLS software. The findings indicate that individual, cultural, organizational, and environmental factors, with path coefficients of 0.233, 0.260, 0.391, and 0.960, respectively, influence the improvement of human resource productivity.

Vector-borne diseases result from infections transmitted to humans by blood-feeding arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Such cold-blooded animals are influenced by environmental change. A recent IPCC report clearly showed that the emission of greenhouse gases has already changed world climates. Heat waves in Europe, rises in global mean sea level, summer droughts and wild fires, more intense precipitation, and increasing numbers of large cyclones and hurricanes may be typical example of extreme climate phenomena related to global warming. High temperatures may increase survival among arthropods, depending on their vector, behavior, ecology, and valuable factors, and temperate zone warming may accelerate the spread of mosquitoes such asAedes albopictus. The MIROK (K1) Model clearly shows a northern limit forAe.albopictus, particularly in northern Honshu in 2035 and southern and middle Hokkaido Island in 2100 in Japan. The spread of the mosquito vector through global used-tire trading in recent decades to Africa, the Mideast, Europe, and North and South America caused an outbreak of Chikungunya fever in north Italy in 2007. Global warming, extreme climate change, changing physical distribution, and an increase in oversea travel are also expected to influence the epidemiology of vector-borne infectious diseases.

The circadian clock exists in almost all life forms, and is an internal activity generated by organisms adapting to the daily periodic changes of the external environment. The circadian clock is regulated by the transcription-translation-negative feedback loop in the body, which can regulate the activities of tissues and organs. Its normal maintenance is important for the health, growth, and reproduction of organisms. In contrast, due to the season changes of the environment, organisms have also formed annual cycle physiological changes in their bodies, such as seasonal estrus, etc. The annual rhythm of living things is mainly affected by environmental factors such as photoperiod, and is related to gene expression, hormone content, morphological changes of cell and tissues in vivo. Melatonin is an important signal to recognize the changes of photoperiod, and the circadian clock plays an important role in the pituitary to interpret the signal of melatonin and regulate the changes of downstream signals, which plays an important guiding role in the recognition of annual changes in the environment and the generation of the body's annual rhythm. In this review, we summarize the progress of research on the mechanism of action of circadian clocks in influencing annual rhythms, by introducing the mechanisms of circadian and annual rhythms generation in insects and mammals, and in the context of annual rhythms in birds, with the aim of providing a broader range of ideas for future research on the mechanism of annual rhythms influence.

The purpose of this study is to extract factors through a conceptual analysis of previous research on urban amenities and to extract detailed attributes in order to reflect the needs and priorities of local communities in future urban planning and policies and improve the problems of the urban environment. Based on a search for amenity keywords 116 domestic papers and 50 foreign papers were classified focusing on studies that used environmental, convenience, aesthetics and cultural factors as analysis tools. As a result environmental convenience aesthetics and cultural factors were derived as urban amenity factors and pleasantness and ecological factors were integrated into environmental factors convenience accessibility and safety into convenience factors and beauty into aesthetic factors while historical social and discrimination factors were integrated into cultural factors. The detailed attributes were included in the factors derived based on the attributes and indicators used in previous research. Finally the attributes and concepts of each factor were summarized.

Role of genetic factors in extinction of island endemics: complementary or competing explanations?

See article in J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2010; 25: 453–468

Glacial chronology, environmental changes and implications for human occupation during the upper Pleistocene in the eastern Cantabrian Mountains