Interrelated Environmental Factors Research Articles

Color, light, and birth space design: An integrative review

AbstractThis integrative review sought knowledge across a broad spectrum of literature concerning the role of color and light in maternity environments. Today it is acknowledged that the clinical nature of birth spaces is detrimental to maintaining normal physiological birth rates. Significantly, “clinical” spaces are often described as white, pale, monochromatic, and/or overlit. Attempts to make maternity settings more “home‐like” have promoted use of “warm” or “soft” colors. Ambience or spatial atmosphere is known to impact birth hormones, affecting labor commencement and progress. Today, efforts to improve birth spaces include “sensory rooms” (offering pain distraction via dark spaces and illuminated color elements); programmable colored light installations; and immersive image projections. Yet, as this paper shows, there is little specific study of the physical and psychological impact of color and light within birth settings. However, there are significant findings on colored light's impact upon birth processes, including the contraindication of bright blue light. And there is valuable knowledge embedded in old and new literature from diverse disciplines. This review thus exposes the strong need for further research and literature focused directly on how color and light in birth environment design impact birth experience for all involved. It is clear that environmental color and light need to be taken seriously as potent interrelated environmental factors that are directly implicated in the health and wellness of mothers and their infants during labor and birth. Thus, it is crucial to bring deeper awareness and comprehensive knowledge into use by designers, developers and managers of birth spaces.

Spatial Analysis and Biogeochemical Cycles: A Comparative Study of Kashin-Beck Disease Villages and Non-Disease Villages in Linzhou County, Tibet

This study investigated Linzhou County in Tibet, which currently hosts the most serious outbreak of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in China. This study uses the geographical detector (GeoDetector) algorithm to measure the influences that several risk factors have on KBD prevalence and validates the spatial analysis results with environmental chemistry. Based on a comprehensive examination of 10 potentially related spatial factors and an environmental chemistry analysis of the soil-water-grain-human biogeochemical cycle in the local KBD and non-KBD villages, four main conclusions are drawn. (1) KBD in Linzhou County is a consequence of multiple interrelated environmental factors, of which the most important controlling factor is the stratum factor. (2) The concentrations of selenium (Se) in all environmental media (soil, water, and food) and human tissue in the KBD villages in Linzhou County are lower than those of the non-KBD villages. (3) The intake of Se and chromium (Cr) by local residents is seriously insufficient, especially the average daily dose by ingestion (ADD) for Se in the KBD village, which is only about 4% of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended lower limit for adult elemental intake. (4) We speculate that the main cause for the local KBD outbreak is a lack of Se in the stratum. This absence leads to a serious Se deficiency in the local population through ecosystem migration and transformation, which will eventually lead to an endemic biogeochemical Se deficiency.

Dismissing De-Escalation Techniques as an Intervention to Manage Verbal Aggression Within Mental Health Care Settings: Attitudes of Psychiatric Hospital-Based Nigerian Mental Health Nurses

The risk of violence within mental health care settings is high. Although literature does indicate certain mental illness symptoms, and or labels, as associated with increased risk for violence there is no definitive causative factor. Interrelated environmental factors directly influence verbal aggression and risk of violence. Specifically, lack of, or inadequate, mental health care legislation and policy, and practitioner attitudes, knowledge and skills are noted as core influential factors. The purpose of this study was to present de-escalation techniques, as an intervention, and describe the response of psychiatric hospital-based Nigerian mental health nurses. A qualitative approach using content analysis of audio recorded pre- and post-intervention focus group discussions was adopted. The intervention – one oral and visual presentation of de-escalation techniques – bisected focus group discussions. The objective for the pre-intervention focus group was to facilitate participants’ descriptions of current experiences and practices towards verbal aggression and violence management in order to inform and contextualise the intervention, specifically the relevant application of information within the intervention. The objective of the post-intervention focus group discussion was to describe participants’ responses to the intervention. Purposive sampling of nurses at unit or ward manager level yielded eight participants who attended both focus groups and the intervention. Results indicate that participants felt betrayed by all role players within the mental health care service system, were disappointed that de-escalation techniques were considered evidence-based practice, and hopeless about their introduction. Participants’ fears for their safety are suggested to have informed a more militant approach to the management of aggression, an approach perceived by participants to strengthen nurses’ control over their own and patients’ physical and emotional welfare. A review of Nigerian mental health legislation to set the context for human rights of both nurses and mental health care patients is recommended. In addition, a need exists for further research utilising a participatory action research approach. Such an approach will allow the participants to reflect, develop self-awareness, understand and respond to a specific context.

Psychopathy and the Shooters of Garrison Communities

Objective: The shooters are the backbone of the security structure in garrison communities in Jamaica. The shooters beat or kill residents for community infractions on behalf of the dons in the informal justice system. These criminals also defend the dons with guns when there are internal challenges to the dons’ authority and power. High-powered assault rifles are also used to defend the community from rival criminal gangs as well as the army and the police. This study seeks to understand the shooters psychologically based on their roles and functions in the garrisons. Method: The hypothesis of the study states that there is a positive relationship between psychopathy and being a shooter. The Psychopathic Personality Trait Scale was administered to a convenience sample of 201 residents (103 shooters and 98 non-shooters) in two garrison communities. Community residents with university education were trained to administer the instrument. Results: An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the shooters and non-shooters on psychopathy to determine if the two groups were statistically different. The results show that there is a statistically significant difference in the psychopathy scores for shooters (M=61.16, SD=10.242) and non-shooters (M=58.4, SD=8.506); t (199) = 2.071, p < 0.04) so the shooters are psychopaths. Conclusion: The shooters’ psychopathic personality interacts with their environmental experiences leading to their deadly actions. Some possible interrelated environmental factors are adverse childhood experiences, development of a war zone mentality, social toxicity and the benefits of joining a gang.

Interactive effects of light, nitrogen source, and carbon dioxide on energy metabolism in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana

AbstractDue to the ongoing effects of climate change, phytoplankton are likely to experience enhanced irradiance, more reduced nitrogen, and increased water acidity in the future ocean. Here, we used Thalassiosira pseudonana as a model organism to examine how phytoplankton adjust energy production and expenditure to cope with these multiple, interrelated environmental factors. Following acclimation to a matrix of irradiance, nitrogen source, and CO2 levels, the diatom's energy production and expenditures were quantified and incorporated into an energetic budget to predict how photosynthesis was affected by growth conditions. Increased light intensity and a shift from to led to increased energy generation, through higher rates of light capture at high light and greater investment in photosynthetic proteins when grown on . Secondary energetic expenditures were adjusted modestly at different culture conditions, except that utilization was systematically reduced by increasing pCO2. The subsequent changes in element stoichiometry, biochemical composition, and release of dissolved organic compounds may have important implications for marine biogeochemical cycles. The predicted effects of changing environmental conditions on photosynthesis, made using an energetic budget, were in good agreement with observations at low light, when energy is clearly limiting, but the energetic budget over‐predicts the response to at high light, which might be due to relief of energetic limitations and/or increased percentage of inactive photosystem II at high light. Taken together, our study demonstrates that energetic budgets offered significant insight into the response of phytoplankton energy metabolism to the changing environment and did a reasonable job predicting them.

One-year monitoring of the airborne fungal community in a suburb of Turin (Italy) and assessment of its functional relations with the environment

The composition and concentration of airborne fungal propagules are probably determined by many interrelated environmental factors, such as temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, rainfall and gas pollutants. The importance of these variables was assessed in an outdoor sampling survey conducted at regular intervals for 12 months at a single site in Turin. Samples were collected with a single-stage volumetric sieve sampler on potato dextrose agar supplemented with 15 mg l-1 streptomycin and 50 mg l-1 chloramphenicol. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that the four ordination axes accounted for 93.5% of the variance in relationships between fungal entities present in more than 20% of samples and the environmental variables. The Monte Carlo permutation test demonstrated that the ordination was highly significant ( P = 0.01). The community's qualitative and quantitative composition mainly depended on the factors that have the greatest influence on Turin's climate, i.e., in descending order, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. The relative importance of these environmental variables on different groups of fungi was assessed. Wind speed positively correlated with the fungi producing conidia of larger sizes.

Yield and Income Response to Planting Dates and Harvest Aid Chemicals in Texas Cotton Production

The production of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., within the Texas Rolling Plains can be affected by many interrelated environmental factors, including moisture, temperature, insects, and length of the growing season. The use of new varieties, insecticidal and harvest aid chemicals, and alternative planting dates to attain maximum yields must be achieved within their level of cost-effectiveness. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of planting dates and harvest aid chemicals on yield and net income per hectare under 3 cotton production systems. The 3 production systems were dry land, short-season irrigated, and medium-season irrigated. Planting cotton in May in each of the 3 systems did not result in significantly reduced yields or net income. Harvest aid chemicals did not significantly increase yields or net incomes over the test period.

Ecology of heath communities dominated by Cassiope tetragona at Alexandra Fiord, Ellesmere Island, Canada

At a high arctic lowland on Ellesmere Island, heath communities dominated by Cassiope tetragona were widespread, and occurred in a variety of habitats that differred in time of snowmelt, relative site moisture, soil thaw depth, and air and soil temperature. Cover, standing crop, and production were dominated by woody plants, notably Cassiope tetragona and Dryas integrifolia. The Cassiope‐dominated heaths were similar in composition to those at other Canadian high arctic localities, but were less similar to localities in Greenland and Spitzbergen. Compositional relationships among Cassiope‐dominated heaths in different habitats at the study site may be largely determined by two interrelated environmental factors, time of snowmelt and site moisture.Aboveground vascular plant biomass was concentrated near the ground surface, resulting in simple vertical structure that takes advantage of relatively warm soil and air temperatures in summer, and a protective snow cover in winter. Aboveground vascular plant standing crop was largely comprised of attached dead tissue, and there were equal proportions of above‐ and belowground biomass. Low community production was due to dominance by long‐lived, slow‐growing species, and to short growing seasons and cold temperatures. Overall character of Cassiope‐dominated heaths reflects the conservative, stress tolerant growth strategy of the dominant species, Cassiope tetragona.

Incidence of Legionella organisms in selected ontario (Canada) cities

The distribution of Legionella pneumophila in water inside buildings was examined by means of culture methods. Cooling tower sumps and condenser valves harboured the organism at the highest frequency and in the highest concentrations. The bacterium was also frequently isolated from potable water systems, including hot and cold mixed taps, drinking water fountains and showers. When water quality parameters were examined, only elevated pH, total particulate nitrogen and alkalinity were correlated with the occurrence of L. pneumophila. Survival of the organism in water was increased at slightly basic pH and lower temperatures. The proliferation of the organism in water within buildings is probably due to a number of interrelated environmental factors that influence its survival and growth.

Changes in Submerged Aquatic Macrophyte Populations at the Head of Chesapeake Bay, 1958-1975

Submerged aquatic plant populations in the Susquehanna Flats of the Chesapeake Bay were followed for 18 years. An exotic species, eurasian water milfoil,Myriophyllum spicatum, increased dramatically from 1958 to 1962; at the same time the dominant native species declined. After 1962, milfoil populations declined and the native rooted aquatics gradually began to return to their former levels. In the late 1960's all species declined and in 1972 almost disappeared from the Susquehanna Flats. These fluctuations may have been related to several interrelated environmental factors in the Chesapeake Bay, including tropical storms, turbidity, salinity and disease. The utilization of the Susquehanna Flats by waterfowl appears to be related to the abundance and species composition of the submerged macrophytes present.

System Considerations in Freeway Planning, Design, and Construction

There are a number of interrelated environmental factors to be considered when dealing with a freeway system. Planning, design and construction of a freeway must take into account noise, air, water quality, resource conservation, ecological factors, transportation design, economics, social factors, and legal and political considerations. A means of measuring the impact of these various environmental elements must be developed along with determining the effect the freeway system has on them. In essence all future ground transportation will consist of a linear pathway traversing the countryside, the same as a freeway which reserves the transportation corridor for whatever the future has in store.

THE INHERITANCE AND PHYSIOLOGY OF BORON RESPONSE IN THE TOMATO

Wall, J. R., and C. F. Andrus. (U.S.D.A., U. S. Vegetable Breeding Laboratory, Charleston, S. C.) The inheritance and physiology of boron response in the tomato. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49(7): 758–762. Illus. 1962.—Brittle stem (btl), an abnormal sublethal phenotype in the tomato caused by boron deficiency, was found to be controlled by a single recessive gene. The threshold of boron concentration for brittle‐stem expression is not constant but fluctuates and is intimately associated with a number of interrelated environmental factors. Light duration and intensity are especially significant, while temperature and nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium availability probably contribute to btl expression. It is suggested that when boron supply is limiting, brittle‐stem (boron deficiency) symptoms are intensified by any environmental factor or factors which enhance plant growth. Plants of btl/btl genotype contain much less boron in their leaves than do those of the control variety ‘Rutgers’; conversely, these plants contain more boron in their roots when grown in nutrient cultures of high boron content. This finding is discussed in relation to possible modes of gene action.

The Inheritance and Physiology of Boron Response in the Tomato

Wall, J. R., and C. F. Andrus. (U.S.D.A., U. S. Vegetable Breeding Laboratory, Charleston, S. C.) The inheritance and physiology of boron response in the tomato. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49(7): 758–762. Illus. 1962.—Brittle stem (btl), an abnormal sublethal phenotype in the tomato caused by boron deficiency, was found to be controlled by a single recessive gene. The threshold of boron concentration for brittle-stem expression is not constant but fluctuates and is intimately associated with a number of interrelated environmental factors. Light duration and intensity are especially significant, while temperature and nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium availability probably contribute to btl expression. It is suggested that when boron supply is limiting, brittle-stem (boron deficiency) symptoms are intensified by any environmental factor or factors which enhance plant growth. Plants of btl/btl genotype contain much less boron in their leaves than do those of the control variety ‘Rutgers’; conversely, these plants contain more boron in their roots when grown in nutrient cultures of high boron content. This finding is discussed in relation to possible modes of gene action.