Implementation obstacles of the ICZM protocol and mitigation efforts

After the signing of the ICZM Protocol in the Mediterranean (Madrid, 21 January 2008) its implementation became the main focus of interest for the future. Several obstacles on the way to implementation are briefly analysed, starting with the ratification process, the competence for the implementation and the availability of financial resources to put the Protocol requirements in place. A list of mitigation actions is proposed in order to overcome these obstacles. The ways in which the Centre responsible for assisting the countries can implement this legal instrument (i.e. PAP/RAC) is elaborated in the second part of the paper. This includes the preparation of a stocktaking report to allow for defining the starting point for ICZM in the Mediterranean, elaboration of an explanatory guide of the text of the Protocol, as well as guidelines for the definition of a coastal setback. Equally important is awareness-raising and training for the implementation of the Protocol.     

Electromagnetic field dosimetry for clinical application

The 21st century medicine is characterized with increasing variety of diagnostic and therapeutic devices that implement magnetic and electromagnetic fields most of which utilize time varying signals. In many cases, however, these devices are used without proper knowledge of the physical parameters of the applied signals. In an attempt to facilitate the use of magnetotherapeutic devices, the basic principles of physical and biophysical dosimetry in clinical settings are discussed in this article.     

Towards the ecotourism: A decision support model for the assessment of sustainability of mountain huts in the Alps

This paper studies mountain hut infrastructure in the Alps as an important element of ecotourism in the Alpine region. To improve the decision-making process regarding the implementation of future infrastructure and improvement of existing infrastructure in the vulnerable natural environment of mountain ecosystems, a new decision support model has been developed. The methodology is based on qualitative multi-attribute modelling supported by the DEXi software. The integrated rule-based model is hierarchical and consists of two submodels that cover the infrastructure of the mountain huts and that of the huts’ surroundings. The final goal for the designed tool is to help minimize the ecological footprint of tourists in environmentally sensitive and undeveloped mountain areas and contribute to mountain ecotourism. The model has been tested in the case study of four mountain huts in Triglav National Park in Slovenia. Study findings provide a new empirical approach to evaluating existing mountain infrastructure and predicting improvements for the future. The assessment results are of particular interest for decision makers in protected areas, such as Alpine national parks managers and administrators. In a way, this model proposes an approach to the management assessment of mountain huts with the main aim of increasing the quality of life of mountain environment visitors as well as the satisfaction of tourists who may eventually become ecotourists.     

Systemic Effect: A New Approach to Magnetic Field Therapy

Summary Despite of decades of successful worldwide use of magnetic/electromagnetic field therapy, the answer to the question of possible mechanisms of action is still lacking. Scientific reports of successful therapeutic use of magnetic/electromagnetic fields are worldwide; however, our understanding of the underlying mechanism is limited. This paper presents a new hypothesis that therapeutic benefit of magnetic fields might result from effects that originated on the level of important systems in human body. It is known now that the life is an electromagnetic event in aqueous medium. Therefore, an appropriate choice of magnetic and/or electromagnetic field may be expected to initiate systemic changes that result in efficacious effects distant from the point of application. Observations of this phenomenon have been reported in at least two forms: (1) neutralization of the pain experience distant to the point of magnetic field exposure; and, (2) various alterations of T-lymphocytes in response to pain and to magnetic fields. Extrapolating these observations to the level of blood-vessel system, one might hypothesize that a “healthy” cell does not respond as readily to the applied fields as do abnormal cells (which are in a disease or injury state).     

MtDNA population structure and gene flow in lingcod (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophiodon elongatus</Emphasis>): limited connectivity despite long-lived pelagic larvae

Lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus Girard, have a 3-month pelagic larval stage and are an important recreational and commercial species on the west coast of North America. Cytochrome-c oxidase I sequences from tissue samples were used to characterize population structure and infer patterns of gene flow from California to Alaska. No significant genetic structure was found when estimates of Wright’s F _ST (i.e., Φ_ST) were generated among all populations sampled. Nesting populations within regions, however, indicated that the inner coast of Washington State is distinct, a result corroborating previous allozyme work. Coalescent-based estimates of gene flow indicate that although migration can be high from an evolutionary perspective, nearly half of all comparisons among populations showed no gene flow in at least one direction. From an ecological perspective, moderate migration rates (Nm < 10) among most populations provide surprisingly limited connectivity at large (∼ 1,000 km) and small (∼100 km) spatial scales. Coalescent-based estimates also show that gene flow between the inner and the outer coasts is asymmetric, a result consistent with prevailing surface currents. Because the expected inter-locus variances for coalescent-based estimates of gene flow are likely large, future work will benefit from analyses of nuclear DNA markers. However, limited demographic connectivity on large spatial scales may help explain why stock recovery has been uneven, with greater recovery in the northern (87% rebuilt) than in the southern (24% rebuilt) fishery region, supporting a regional management strategy. These results suggest that despite a 3-month pelagic larval stage, some areas may be effectively closed with respect to both population dynamics and fishery management issues.     

Relationship between different size classes of particulate matter and meteorology in three European cities

Evidence on the correlation between particle mass and (ultrafine) particle number concentrations is limited. Winter- and spring-time measurements of urban background air pollution were performed in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Erfurt (Germany) and Helsinki (Finland), within the framework of the EU funded ULTRA study. Daily average concentrations of ambient particulate matter with a 50% cut off of 2.5 microm (PM2.5), total particle number concentrations and particle number concentrations in different size classes were collected at fixed monitoring sites. The aim of this paper is to assess differences in particle concentrations in several size classes across cities, the correlation between different particle fractions and to assess the differential impact of meteorological factors on their concentrations. The medians of ultrafine particle number concentrations were similar across the three cities (range 15.1 x 10(3)-18.3 x 10(3) counts cm(-3)). Within the ultrafine particle fraction, the sub fraction (10-30 nm) made a higher contribution to particle number concentrations in Erfurt than in Helsinki and Amsterdam. Larger differences across the cities were found for PM2.5(range 11-17 microg m(-3)). PM2.5 and ultrafine particle concentrations were weakly (Amsterdam, Helsinki) to moderately (Erfurt) correlated. The inconsistent correlation for PM2.5 and ultrafine particle concentrations between the three cities was partly explained by the larger impact of more local sources from the city on ultrafine particle concentrations than on PM2.5, suggesting that the upwind or downwind location of the measuring site in regard to potential particle sources has to be considered. Also, relationship with wind direction and meteorological data differed, suggesting that particle number and particle mass are two separate indicators of airborne particulate matter. Both decreased with increasing wind speed, but ultrafine particle number counts consistently decreased with increasing relative humidity, whereas PM2.5 increased with increasing barometric pressure. Within the ultrafine particle mode, nucleation mode (10-30 nm) and Aitken mode (30-100 nm) had distinctly different relationships with accumulation mode particles and weather conditions. Since the composition of these particle fractions also differs, it is of interest to test in future epidemiological studies whether they have different health effects.     

Chemometric characterization of soil and plant pollution: Part 1: Multivariate data analysis and geostatistical determination of relationship and spatial structure of inorganic contaminants in soil

Geostatistical and multivariate methods of data analysis are used to describe patterns of soil pollution with inorganic contaminants in Celje County, Slovenia. Groups of contaminants and polluted sites were identified using cluster analysis and confirmed with multidimensional variance and discriminant analysis. Factor analysis yields an identification of not directly observable relationships between the contaminants. The spatial structure and distribution of contaminants were assessed by applying semivariogram analysis and kriging interpolation method. Zinc, Cd and Cu were identified as a pollutant emitted from the zinc smelter, Pb also from other sources, and Cr and Ni mostly from geological parent material.