Indirect Assessment Research Articles

Alternative approaches to practical work in a biology classroom – meeting the needs of our students

Most science teachers regard practical work as an essential requirement for science teaching. There is, however, research-based evidence suggesting that how practical work might best be assessed and carried out in high school science was still ineffective and controversial. Here, the conceptual and procedural knowledge of 110 secondary students as they carried out the practical work in science courses are explored. Regardless of the amount and details of prior instruction that the students get, the descriptive analysis method was used to investigate the extent to which students at the secondary level can both explain biological concepts and perform practical procedures after participating in practical work. A total of 30 open-ended questions were given to students after completing four practical works on the topics of cells, food testing, photosynthesis, and urine testing. Students performed slightly better in procedural knowledge (65) compared to conceptual knowledge (64), with both scores out of 100. The results thus far are consistent with findings from previous studies, which indicate that practical work lacks emphasis on the minds-on aspects. It also shows that procedural knowledge, which is not currently, summatively assessed in Indonesian school science, has not been fully mastered by students even after carrying out practical work. To address this issue, the alternative to a practical test as an indirect assessment of practical skills (IAPS) from England has been adapted to the assessment of practical work in an Indonesian classroom setting. The considerations and limitations are discussed.

Electronic Structure of Three-Coordinate FeII and CoII β-Diketiminate Complexes.

The β-diketiminate supporting group, [ArNCRCHCRNAr]-, stabilizes low coordination number complexes. Four such complexes, where R = tert-butyl, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, are studied: (nacnactBu)ML, where M = FeII, CoII and L = Cl, CH3. These are denoted FeCl, FeCH3, CoCl, and CoCH3 and have been previously reported and structurally characterized. The two FeII complexes (S = 2) have also been previously characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy, but only indirect assessment of the ligand-field splitting and zero-field splitting (zfs) parameters was available. Here, EPR spectroscopy is used, both conventional field-domain for the CoII complexes (with S = 3/2) and frequency-domain, far-infrared magnetic resonance spectroscopy (FIRMS) for all four complexes. The CoII complexes were also studied by magnetometry. These studies allow accurate determination of the zfs parameters. The two FeII complexes are similar with nearly axial zfs and large magnitude zfs given by D = -37 ± 1 cm-1 for both. The two CoII complexes likewise exhibit large and nearly axial zfs, but surprisingly, CoCl has positive D = +55 cm-1 while CoCH3 has negative D = -49 cm-1. Theoretical methods were used to probe the electronic structures of the four complexes, which explain the experimental spectra and the zfs parameters.

Gastrointestinal Tonometry in the Perioperative Period of Liver Transplantation: An Integrative Review

Introduction: Gastric tonometry is a useful tool for examining regional splanchnic perfusion as it provides an indirect assessment of the state of the liver graft. This is because splanchnic hypoperfusion is a critical parameter in the context of liver transplantation, being associated with the development of problems such as acute liver failure and multiple organ failure. Objective: To analyze the effects of gastrointestinal tonometry in the perioperative period of patients undergoing liver transplantation. Methodology: This is an Integrative Review using the PubMed and VHL databases. The following descriptors were used: “Tonometry”, “Splanchnic circulation” and “Liver transplantation” with the Boolean operator “AND”, and articles of relevance to the topic were selected. Initially, 24 articles were selected, all published in the last 20 years, in Portuguese and/or English. After analysis, 6 articles matched the proposed objective. Results:It was observed that the difference between PraCO2 at the end of surgery and in the anepathic phase was greater in patients without liver graft dysfunction. A positive correlation was found between ǻpraCO2 and peak ALT after liver transplantation. In another study, it was found that the relationship between poor graft function was the presence of elevated liver enzymes, worsening synthetic liver function, coagulopathy and encephalopathy. It has also been shown that intramucosal gastric pH can predict early graft function. In a group with liver dysfunction, patients had an intramucosal gastric pH of less than 7.3 in the perioperative period, which remained low until the 24th hour postoperatively, while the group without dysfunction had an intramucosal gastric pH of more than 7.3, except in the anepathic phase when it was below this value. Conclusion: The usefulness of gastrointestinal tonometry to monitor splanchnic circulation and liver graft function during liver transplantation has been described and although support for this statement was found in some studies, this review had limitations due to the small number of articles available, which prevents it from covering a wide range of scientific evidence

Primary production and microbial heterotrophy in the Siberian arctic seas, Bering Strait, and Gulf of Anadyr, Bering Sea

The data obtained during the recent decades indicate large-scale climatic changes in the Arctic Ocean, especially in the Siberian shelf seas. The impact of shrinking of the Arctic ice cover on marine net primary production (PP) was mostly studied using satellite-derived estimates of chlorophyll-a (Chl a), sea surface temperature, and sea ice concentrations, as well as various modeling approaches. However, no data are available on the quantitative relations between phytoplankton production and heterotrophic bacterioplankton activity in the broadest and shallowest shelf of the World Ocean - the East Siberian Arctic seas (ESAS). In this paper we present a full set of in situ measurements of main PP and microbial heterotrophy characteristics required for better understanding and further validation of the satellite and modeling approaches. In September–October 2011, during the 57th cruise of RV Akademik M.A. Lavrent'ev, PP, bacterioplankton abundance (BA) and bacterioplankton production (BP), as well the rates of dark CO2 assimilation (DCA) were determined in the Chukchi, East Siberian, and Laptev seas and in the Gulf of Anadyr of the Bering Sea (a total of 26 stations) by in situ measurements using radiolabeled bicarbonate. All three important production indicators exhibited significant variance within the studied water areas of the Arctic (РР from 0.98 to 54.7 μg C L−1 day−1), (ВР from 1.1 to 17.1 μg C L−1 day−1), and (DCA from 0.23 to 8.7 μg C L−1 day−1). The state of phyto- and bacterioplankton was determined by analysis of the BP/PP and DCA/PP ratios. Active photosynthesis with efficient incorporation of inorganic carbon into the biomass was observed in the Chukchi Sea coastal eastern waters and in the Gulf of Anadyr. On the contrary, the phytoplankton primary production was extremely low in oligotrophic basins of the East Siberian and Laptev seas, while the activity of heterotrophic bacterioplankton consuming organic matter of phytoplankton origin was relatively high. The data of direct measurements can be used for further adjustment of the indirect assessments of production obtained by satellite observations. Glossary East Siberian Arctic seas (ESAS), net primary production (PP), bacterioplankton abundance (BA), bacterial biomass (BB), bacterial production (BP), Arctic Ocean PP (AO-PP), organic matter (OM), dissolved organic matter (DOM), colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), light CO2 assimilation (LCA), dark (heterotrophic + chemotrophic) CO2 assimilation (DCA), production indicators of the surface water layer (PPsurf, DCAsurf, BPsurf), estimated production indicators for the entire depth of the sea (PPint, DCAint, BPint; mg C m−2 day−1).

Clinical Endocrinology-Time for a Reset?

Measurement of blood levels of circulating hormones has always been the cornerstone of the biochemical diagnosis of endocrine diseases, with the objective of detecting hormone excess or insufficiency. Unfortunately, the dynamic nature of hormone secretion means single-point measurements of many hormones often lack diagnostic validity. Endocrinologists have devised complex dynamic tests as indirect assessments of the functioning of the hormone system under investigation. Recent advances in the measurement of dynamic hormone changes across the day now offer an opportunity to reconsider whether there might be better ways both to diagnose and to monitor the therapy of endocrine conditions.

Same name, different representational levels? Misalignment of indirect parent-reported and direct alternative forced choice measures of emotion word comprehension in preschool children.

This study assessed the relationship between preschoolers' directly and indirectly assessed emotion word comprehension. Forty-nine two-to-five-year-old Norwegian children were assessed in a tablet-based 4-alternative forced choice (AFC) task on their comprehension of six basic and six complex emotions using facial expression photographs. Parents reported emotion word comprehension and production of the same words. Parent-reported emotion word production interacted with age to predict preschoolers' performance, with a parent-child alignment only observed for older children. Parent-reported word comprehension did not significantly predict accuracy. The results suggest that, in preschoolers, direct and indirect assessments might address distinct representational levels of emotion word comprehension.

Assessing occupational pesticide exposure in Latin America and the Caribbean: Methods review for agricultural vulnerability reduction

B A rapid review was conducted to describe pesticide exposure assessment methodologies in Agricultural Work Contexts (AWC)s in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), in order to provide elements to reduce vulnerabilities within the agricultural population. A final number of 79 articles were selected from Medline via Pubmed, LILACS, and SciELO. In the region, family agriculture is the predominant form of agricultural production (72%) in informal agricultural work contexts (AWCs), which are characterized by small-scale diversified agricultural production, lower educational attainment, limited income, and a lack of social and healthcare security for the families. Indirect exposure assessment methods were the most commonly reported (58%), and its use was associated with informal AWCs (p = 0.011). Understanding AWCs and employing appropriate assessment methods can contribute to addressing vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector.

Flood risk assessments—Exploring maturity and challenges in Sweden

AbstractFloods are destructive to society. Hence, to assess and manage flood risk is imperative. Flood risk assessments require several layers of analysis, from flood hazard to societal impact. This paper explores the maturity level and challenges related to three components of a comprehensive risk assessment: flood hazard, direct consequences, and indirect consequences. This is achieved by introducing and applying a maturity framework on flood hazard reports and flood risk management plans in Sweden, as required by the EU Floods Directive (FD). A longitudinal analysis is conducted over two FD cycles (2009–2015 and 2016–2021). Complementary interviews with county administrative boards and responsible authorities provide deeper insights into processes and practical challenges. The results reveal that the maturity level of flood hazard assessment is high, while direct and, in particular, indirect consequences assessments need increased attention and substantial improvements. Further, there is no significant increase in maturity between the FD cycles, indicating fundamental challenges towards achieving this. Critical steps forward include developing applicable methods for analysing both direct and indirect consequences of floods, improving data availability on functionality and interdependency of critical infrastructure and society at large, and creating incentives for a broader range of societal actors to participate in flood risk management.

(004) Correlations Between Immunohistochemical Staining and Pain-Related Assessments in Patients with Neuroproliferative Vestibulodynia

Abstract Introduction A clinically suspected diagnosis of neuroproliferative vestibulodynia (NPV) can be confirmed by examining immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of excised vestibular specimens. Compared to controls, specimens from NPV patients have been found to contain >8 mast cells per high-power field (HPF) and increased density of nerves. Objective To assess for correlations between patient reported pain-related measures and computer-assisted histometry of excised vestibulectomy specimen IHC staining with CD117 (marker for mast cells) and PGP9.5 (marker for nerves) in a cohort of histopathologically confirmed NPV patients. Methods Patients (n=65) with lifelong or acquired NPV undergoing vestibulectomy had IHC-staining of the vestibular tissue. Tissue sections from the 1:00-11:00 and/or 12:00 regions of the vestibule were examined and high-resolution images were captured using a microscope at 100x and 200x magnification. A minimum of 2 photomicrographs per magnification were taken for each tissue section that included epithelial basement membrane and adjacent subepithelium representative of the majority of immunostained tissue. Fractional area of positive immunostaining of all photomicrographs was determined using computer-assisted histometry by ImageJ. Mean fractional area was determined from 3 separate measurements of each photomicrograph. Correlations were made between density of IHC staining and the following assessments: pain domain of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and cotton-tipped swab testing. We also examined correlations with the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), a treatment response index and indirect assessment of pain. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlations and the Mann-Whitney test. Results While all patients reported high levels of pain, there were no correlations between CD117- or PGP9.5-immunopositive mean fractional area and FSFI pain domain or SF-MPQ scores. There was no difference in immunopositive mean fractional area between lifelong and acquired NPV. A positive correlation between fractional area of CD117 immunostaining in the 1:00-11:00 region of the vestibule and cotton-tipped swab test pain score approached but did not reach statistical significance (r = 0.24, p = 0.063). Fractional area of PGP9.5 immunostaining was negatively correlated with PGI-I scores (r = -0.50, p = 0.006) in the 1:00-11:00 region of the vestibule. Lower PGI-I scores are indicative of greater improvement after surgical intervention. No other correlations were observed between immunostaining and PGI-I or cotton-tipped swab testing scores. Likewise, SF-MPQ domain scores had no correlation to PGI-I or cotton-tipped swab testing. Median cotton-tipped swab testing pain scores were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with lifelong NPV (7.6) compared to those with acquired NPV (5.7). Conclusions The lack of correlations between immunopositive staining and multiple pain-related assessment scores suggests a non-linear threshold for mast cell accumulation and nerve proliferation that produces pain symptoms for all NPV patients. Cotton-tipped swab pain scores were more closely associated with density of CD117 immunostaining, while clinical improvement in pain symptoms was significantly correlated with density of PGP9.5 immunostaining. The fact that patients with lifelong NPV had significantly more pain on cotton-tipped swab testing than the acquired NPV subgroup may be related to duration of the condition. Disclosure No.

Collaborative Public Administration—A Dimension of Sustainable Development: Exploratory Study on Local Authorities in Romania

The contribution of sustainable public administration to the promotion of sustainable development is increasingly emphasized in the literature, including through an emerging and facilitating concept: collaborative administration. The sustainability of public organizations and of the public interventions carried out by these organizations is a central pillar of a modern administrative model, the desideratum of any government agenda. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to contribute to a more nuanced view on the relationship of sustainable development–institutional sustainability–collaborative dimension, covering some gaps that prevail in the literature by contextualizing the theoretical hypotheses in a case study. The novelty and added value of the research lies in establishing links between these three concepts by referring to a fourth concept: organizational intelligence. The study uses theoretical instruments, such as a questionnaire based on the design model proposed by Lefter et al., for the indirect assessment of the collaborative dimension. The outcomes demonstrate that the collaborative dimension of a public organization can be quantified using the proposed model. Moreover, organizational plans that promote the sustainability of public administration and sustainable development are identified. However, additional complementary studies are required to further investigate the cause-and-effect relationship between sustainable development, institutional sustainability, and collaborative dimensions.

Estimation of river discharge using Monte Carlo simulations and a 1D hydraulic model based on the artificial multi-segmented rating curves at the confluence of two rivers

During extreme floods caused by climate change, reliable flow discharge data are essential for successful reservoir operation to mitigate downstream flood damage. Generally, the flow discharge is computed using the rating curve (RC) established from the relationship between the flow rate and water stage level. Determining the parameters of rating curves is subject to uncertainties related to the difficulties and limitations of flow monitoring in covering a wide range of flow variations. Especially at river confluences, the uncertainties are pronounced when floods occur owing to several factors such as roughness change, backwaters, and levee overflow. The Seomjin River Basin in Korea suffered from flood inundation that occurred at the tributary confluence during an extreme flood in 2020. To identify a reliable flow rate of the main stream and tributary, this study proposes an indirect flow assessment scheme using a 1D hydrodynamic simulation model to find the best simulated water level in an iterative manner based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. With a large amount of discharge data generated from random-number combinations, it is possible to obtain the best results automatically by specifying the reliability limitation considering the uncertainty of the predetermined RC parameters associated with the roughness coefficient. Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) was incorporated to evaluate the reproduced water level to meet the threshold specified for NSE ≥ 0.75. The simulated flowrates computed from the revised RC and roughness coefficients revealed an error range of 8%–36.6% compared with the design flood. The approach proposed in this study is applicable for determining the valid parameters necessary to create a revised RC at an existing water level gauge station, where the uncertainties of the RC are pronounced, particularly in the vicinity of the channel confluence.

Updates on the measurement of the speed of gravity using LDVs and MEMS resonators

Five years ago, at the XIII AIVELA conference, a project was presented by the author for the laboratory determination of the speed of propagation of the gravitational interaction using a vibrating tungsten disc as source of a local gravitational perturbation and a high-Q silicon resonator as gravitational antenna. Using laser Doppler vibrometers to track the vibrations of the transmitter and of the receivers, the speed of propagation of gravity would have been calculated from their measured phase difference. Numerous developments happened in the project since then, from the construction and acquirement of important components of the generator of dynamic Newtonian fields, to the experimental measurement of the speed of VHF radio waves in the near-field region as a preparatory technical test for handling and elaboration of the corresponding gravitational data. This latter experiment produced unexpected superluminal results, making it worthy of further study. The results of the test also broadened the scope of expectations and possible interpretations of the results of the gravitational experiment, including the additional role of an indirect assessment of the existence of gravitons.

Innovative Quality Assessment of Pavement Subgrades Using the Glegg Impact Soil Tester

This article presents the case study of our research in the field of innovative methods of pavement subgrade quality control using the CIST (Clegg Impact Soil Tester) device. The CIST device developed by Dr Clegg from the University of Western Australia measures soil compaction indirectly using the CBR value. The value is evaluated based on the deceleration rate of a falling 4.5 kg weight moving in a vertical guide roller. In Europe, for the assessment of the mechanical efficiency (bearing capacity) of cohesive soils in the pavement subgrade, priority is given to indirect assessment methods especially using the laboratory determination of CBR (Californian Bearing Ratio) and directly through the implementation of a static plate load test (SPLT). This article reports the long-term results of our research in the field of verification and validation of an innovative CIST device, which minimizes the time, space, and economic disadvantages of SPLT. This article presents the results of determining the field of applicability of the CIST device for cohesive soils, the correlation dependencies (CD) of the CBR values determined by the CIST device, and, according to STN 72 1016, the CD of the impact dynamic deformation modulus Evd from the CIV (Clegg Impact Value). We consider the most important results of our long-term research to be a recognition of the ability of CIST to assess the quality of cohesive soils up to a compression value of 40 mm, corresponding to a CBR of 2.2% and a modulus of subgrade deformation of 20 MPa. A very strong correlation dependence of CBRClegg [%] on the moisture content of clayey soils in the interval from 5 to 19% was also observed. The presented knowledge led to the creation of relevant documents for the credible implementation of the CIST device in the system approach for assessing the quality of the pavement subgrade.

Informal payments in health facilities in Peru in 2018: Analysis of a cross-sectional survey.

The Latin American region demonstrates the lowest levels of trust in health systems globally. Institutional corruption is a major factor in eroding trust. Corruption in health services, including extracting bribes and informal payments from patients, directly harms health outcomes and weakens services intended as public goods. In this study, we aim to characterize the frequency and distribution of informal payments within public health services in Peru. We conducted a secondary analysis of a nationally representative cross-sectional survey, the 2018 National Household Survey of Living Conditions and Poverty, and identified all individuals reporting health insurance from the Ministry of Health (SIS-MINSA) or Social Security (ESSALUD). We defined self-reported informal payments in 2 ways: 1) being asked to pay a bribe at a health establishment in the past year (direct method), and 2) creating an overall indicator for non-zero cost of care for services that should be free (indirect method). We used descriptive statistics to quantify informal payments and bivariate analysis to identify sociodemographic characteristics of those most frequently reporting such payments. 132,355 people were surveyed, including 69,839 (52.8%) with coverage from SIS-MINSA and 30,461 (23.03%) from ESSALUD. Less than 1% of participants directly reported informal payments, either at SIS-MINSA services (0.22%); or at ESSALUD (0.42%). Indirect reporting was more prevalent, including up to 10% of surgery patients and 17% of those hospitalized in SIS-MINSA facilities. Wealthier patients (19%) were more likely to report such payments. While direct reporting of bribery was uncommon, we found moderate prevalence of informal payments in public health services in Peru using an indirect assessment method. Indirect reporting may exceed direct reporting due to difficulty in distinguishing appropriate and inappropriate payments, fear of reporting health care workers' behavior, or social tolerance of informal payments. Informal payments were more common among those with greater financial capital, indicating they may obtain enhanced services. Further research on patients' perception and reporting of informal payments is a key step towards accurate measurement and evidence-based intervention.

Investigating the role of refining urban flood direct loss in enhancing the accuracy of indirect economic loss assessment

Indirect Economic Loss (IEL) constitutes a significant component of urban flood loss, particularly in disasters affecting densely populated cities with a substantial concentration of assets and industrial supply chains. Information on the scope of disaster-induced damage is vital for assessing IEL, and its accuracy largely depends on the precision of information regarding direct loss. However, existing studies usually rely solely on administrative statistical data such as sectoral GDP or employed population. Few studies have focused on the impact of differences in the accuracy of direct information on IEL. Here, we improve the AMIL model and conduct a comparative study on the “7.6 Wuhan flood disaster” in 2016, measuring the role of refining the following three dimensions in enhancing the accuracy of IEL assessment results - direct loss data, industry subdivision number, and ripple region number -. The results indicate that (1) Using multiple sources of data, such as geographic and spatial data, to refine Direct Economic Loss (DEL) and the affected labor population can increase IEL by up to 10.49 %; (2) Subdividing industries with more severe loss to detailed sectors can improve IEL accuracy by up to 12.50 % compared to non-subdivision; (3) Refining direct loss statistics for sectors with higher proportions of intermediate input and output can balance statistical costs and precision requirements. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of IEL assessments resulting from disasters by proposing a more efficient system for direct loss statistics and providing theoretical and empirical support for such improvement.

Functional analysis screening for inappropriate mealtime behavior

AbstractInappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) is a class of food refusal behavior that is commonly observed in children with neurodevelopmental disorders or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. An abundance of research has demonstrated that IMB is commonly maintained by negative reinforcement in the form of escape from food or drink presentation. Given the common association between IMB and escape as a reinforcer, more efficient methods of conducting functional analyses have been called for. The present study examined the extent to which indirect assessments and a functional analysis screening process reliably predicted an escape function in three children with autism spectrum disorder who engaged in IMB. The results of the two assessments were then compared to a standard functional analysis. For all participants, the functional analysis identified an escape function, which corresponded with both the indirect assessment and screening. Additionally, within‐session analyses of screening sessions further validated the screening process. The functional analysis screening of IMB is discussed in terms of its efficiency, practicality, and experimental design. The results of this study offer a framework for efficiently assessing the function of IMB, while providing recommendations for future research.

Examining the Classroom Impact of the Bounce Back Trauma Intervention: Implications for Selecting Progress Monitoring Tools

Limited research has examined the impact of Bounce Back (BB), a trauma-focused intervention for elementary-age students, on student academic engagement and daily classroom behavior. This study utilized both ongoing direct and indirect measures of student functioning to evaluate student progress and inform the implementation of BB. Participants were six U.S. students (four male and two female). We employed an AB single-subject design across cases with follow-up, and we collected data via the Direct Behavior Rating–Single Item Scale (DBR-SIS). We also employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS), and mySAEBRS across raters before/after intervention implementation. We found either direct or indirect assessment could be used to monitor intervention effectiveness for youth who presented with some internalizing and externalizing problems, whereas indirect measures (i.e., rating scales) showed the primary effect for youth with solely internalizing problems, and direct assessment (i.e., DBR-SIS) showed the primary effect for youth with predominantly externalizing behaviors. Selecting progress-monitoring tools based on presenting concerns is important to adequately monitor the effectiveness of school-based mental health interventions. Implications for practice are discussed.

Methodology for Assessing Lung Volumes Based on Recording the Biomechanics of Respiratory Movements

The method for studying the biomechanics of breathing has been developed to determine the volume of inhaled and exhaled air. The technique is based on recording the movements of the walls of the chest and abdomen of a person during breathing. A video camera was used to record movements of the chest and abdominal walls, with a spirometer used as the reference method for measuring lung volumes. According to the proposed technique, studies were conducted among 63 people (age – 18–26 years, body mass index ranged from 18.1–32.6 kg/m2, height – 160–192 cm). Statistical processing of the results showed a strong relationship between the measured volu mes and the relative deviations of the walls of the human chest and abdomen. The developed technique for studying the biomechanics of breathing can be used for indirect assessment of lung volumes.

Pairing remote sensing and clustering in landscape hydrology for large-scale change identification: an application to the subarctic watershed of the George River (Nunavik, Canada)

Abstract. For remote and vast northern watersheds, hydrological data are often sparse and incomplete. Landscape hydrology provides useful approaches for the indirect assessment of the hydrological characteristics of watersheds through analysis of landscape properties. In this study, we used unsupervised geographic object-based image analysis (GeOBIA) paired with the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm to produce seven high-resolution territorial classifications of key remotely sensed hydro-geomorphic metrics for the 1985–2019 time period, each with a frequency of 5 years. Our study site is the George River watershed (GRW), a 42 000 km2 watershed located in Nunavik, northern Quebec (Canada). The subwatersheds within the GRW, used as the objects of the GeOBIA, were classified as a function of their hydrological similarities. Classification results for the period 2015–2019 showed that the GRW is composed of two main types of subwatersheds distributed along a latitudinal gradient, which indicates broad-scale differences in hydrological regimes and water balances across the GRW. Six classifications were computed for the period 1985–2014 to investigate past changes in hydrological regime. The time series of seven classifications showed a homogenization of subwatershed types associated with increases in vegetation productivity and in water contents in soil and vegetation, mostly concentrated in the northern half of the GRW, which were the major changes occurring in the land cover metrics of the GRW. An increase in vegetation productivity likely contributed to an augmentation in evaporation and may be a primary driver of fundamental shifts in the GRW water balance, potentially explaining a measured decline of about 1 % (∼ 0.16 km3 yr−1) in the George River’s discharge since the mid-1970s. Permafrost degradation over the study period also likely affected the hydrological regime and water balance of the GRW. However, the shifts in permafrost extent and active layer thickness remain difficult to detect using remote-sensing-based approaches, particularly in areas of discontinuous and sporadic permafrost.

Метазойный микрозоопланктон Севастопольской бухты в весенний период: видовое разнообразие и структура сообщества

The original results of studies of metazoan microzooplankton (MM) in different locations of the Sevastopol Bay and the nearest open seashore at the end of the spring hydrological season are presented. Using the Primer 5 software package, changes in the abundance, species composition and structure of the MM community were analyzed. Samples were taken in 3 areas of Sevastopol Bay, differing in the degree of pollution and trophicity of the water. MM sampling, temperature and salinity measurements were carried out in three layers of the water column: from the surface to a 10-meter depth. The abundance of organisms, species diversity indices (Margalef, Pielou, Simpson, Shannon), the degree of similarity and difference of communities were calculated for successive layers: surface, middle (0-5 m) and bottom (5-10 m), as well as on average for the whole column of water. The species diversity of the MM community during the study period was generally moderately high. The middle layer of water at all stations was characterized by the highest species richness. In spatial terms, a decrease in species diversity was observed in the direction from the open seashore into the bay. Against the backdrop of an increase in water temperature from the end of May to the first ten days of June, a significant increase in the abundance of MM was recorded. In May, the average abundance in the 10-meter layer in different water areas ranged from 10 to 40 thousand ind./m3, and at the end of the first ten days of June it increased by 1.5-3.6 times. In both periods there was a trend of increasing abundance from open waters deeper into the bay, coinciding with the temperature trend of local water areas. The absolute maximum of abundance was noted in June in the surface layer in the inner part of the bay – more than 720×103 ind./m3. Quantitative changes in abundance were accompanied and largely determined by changes in the qualitative composition of MM. At the beginning of the period, the main role in the abundance and determination of similarities/differences in the community structure was played by native species of copepods, rotifers, and mollusk veligers. When the water warmed above 18-19 ºС, the role of the heat-loving invader, the copepod Oithona davisae Ferari and Orsi, 1984, sharply increased. The maximum abundance of the non-native species in the local water areas from open waters to the internal waters of the bay increased by more than an order of magnitude: from 23 to 550 ×103 ind./m3. The direction of changes in the abundance of O. davisae in the local water areas studied coincided with an increase in the level of their pollution and trophicity: from the open seashore towards the depths of the bay, both the absolute and relative abundance of the invader and its role in the community structure increased. This testifies to the indicator properties of this species. In general, the changes in abundance, species diversity and community structure of MM in local water areas reflect both seasonal and spatial changes in their trophic status in the natural gradient of the open seaside – the internal space of the Sevastopol Bay and can be used for its indirect assessment.