Corruption in emergency procurement

Corruption in emergency procurement reduces the resources available for life‐saving operations, lowers the quality of products and services provided, and diverts aid from those who need it most. ¹ 1 The paper is based on a study for a project of the Chr Michelsen Institute (CMI)'s U4 Anti‐Corruption Resource Centre entitled ‘Corruption in Emergencies’ (see http://www.u4.no ).
It also negatively influences public support for humanitarian relief, both in the affected country and abroad. This paper aims to unpack and analyse the following question in order to mitigate risk: how and where does corruption typically occur, and what can be done? Suggested strategies reflect a multi‐layered approach that stresses internal agency control mechanisms, conflict‐sensitive management, and the need for common systems among operators.     

Fetus in fetu—from prenatal ultrasound and MRI diagnosis to postnatal confirmation

We report a case of fetus in fetu presented as a complex intra-abdominal heterogeneous cystic lesion during ultrasound examination of the fetus at 25 weeks of gestation. Progressive growth of this mass was noted in the prenatal period. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging provided additional information to aid in the prenatal diagnosis. This allows proper counselling for the parents and helps to plan the postnatal management. Surgical excision was carried out in the early neonatal period and the diagnosis of fetus in fetu was confirmed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

参与式管理解决冲突:遥感和GIS用作瑞典北部驯鹿业土地利用需求信息交流的工具

在解决复杂的土地管理问题时,对短缺或者有争执的资源进行地理评估有助于不同利益相关者之间沟通认识和增进理解.本文中,我们说明如何使用遥感和GIS收集和汇总瑞典北部驯鹿放牧者和其他土地使用者(林业、采矿业、旅游业等等)的土地使用活动及使用模式的信息.该项目主要基于最终的土地使用者,即驯鹿放牧者们所做的工作,体现了面向土地使用者的新的努力.发展驯鹿业的土地利用规划的基础有以下几个方面:收集并数字化传统的驯鹿栖息地生态学和景观信息将这些信息与来自野外调查及基于人造卫星观测的植被分类结果整合;绘制其他土地使用者的活动情况图.最终的土地利用规划提供的信息有利于驯鹿放牧者与其他利益相关者之间的磋商,并有助于驯鹿管理实施.该项目可作为一种大众参与和计划编制的模式,从而使本土信息和先进的遥感技术融入一个交互式的过程中.     

In search of human-associated bacterial pathogens in Antarctic wildlife: report from six penguin colonies regularly visited by tourists

We investigated the potential role of Antarctic tourism in the introduction of human-associated pathogens into Antarctic wildlife. We collected and analyzed 233 fecal samples from eight bird species. The samples were collected at six localities on the Antarctic Peninsula, which often is visited by tourists. Every sample was investigated for pathogens of potential human origin: Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Yersina spp. None of these bacteria was found. Our data suggest that the tourism industry so far has achieved its goal of not introducing pathogens into the Antarctic region. There is, however, an urgent need to further investigate the situation in areas closer to permanent Antarctic settlements.     

Stability of eelgrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera marina</Emphasis> L.) depth limits: influence of habitat type

Seagrass meadows are generally considered stable although few studies have specified and tested this statement. On the basis of a large monitoring dataset from Danish coastal waters, we aimed to test whether the stability of deep eelgrass populations changes along a eutrophication gradient extending from inner bays over outer bays to open coastal waters. We defined stability in terms of the stability properties of constancy, resilience, and/or persistence. Our data allowed us to investigate the stability property constancy expressed as temporal variability in eelgrass depth limits over a time scale of 10 years. We hypothesised that colonisation depths were large and relatively constant along open coasts because of low and relatively constant levels of nutrients and turbidity. Conversely, colonisation depths were hypothesised to be low and variable in protected bays due to higher and more variable levels of nutrients and turbidity. We found that depth limits increased from inner bays towards open coastal waters, matching declines in nutrient concentration and increases in water clarity and oxygen concentration. Stability expressed as constancy of depth limits did not differ significantly between habitat types, and neither did stability of physicochemical variables. However, when data from all habitat types were analysed together, they showed that eelgrass populations at the depth limit were significantly more constant and thus, in this respect, more stable when occurring in deep waters as compared to shallow waters. Areas of good water quality may thus obtain the double benefit of deeper-growing and more stable eelgrass populations. The most likely reason why this pattern did not appear at habitat-type level is that the habitat types studied represented wide spatial variation in water quality and depth limit. We conclude that the question of whether eelgrass populations are stable depends on the stability property and the ecological situation in question. Populations may be considered unstable in terms of inter-annual variation but stable in terms of long-term persistence. Therefore, the common statement that eelgrass populations are stable is not universally true.Communicated by M. Kühl, Helsingør     

An Optimised Direct Lysis Method for Viral RNA Extraction and Detection of Foodborne Viruses on Fruits and Vegetables

Detection of norovirus (NoV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) on fruits and vegetables using current standard methodologies can be inefficient. Method optimisat     

Veränderungen des NO/NO2-Verhältnisses in Nordrhein-Westfalen (1984–2004) und mögliche Ursachen

Objective and Background

The nitrogen oxides NO and NO₂ and, in particular, their ratio (NO/NO₂), play important roles in the radical-system of the atmospheric boundary layer. There were various indications upon a dropping NO/NO₂-ratio in citiex over the last years, however, no proof has been given yet Especially in densely populated areas such as the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), such a change can have significant influences upon various atmospheric reactions. The objective of this investigation was to prove the existence of a systematic change of the NO/NO₂-ratio, to describe the development of NO_x over the past 2 decades at different locations and to determine the causes for this development.

Methods

To detect changes of the NO/NO₂-ratio we processed the data of 11 continuously operating air quality stations of the State Environment Agency (LUA NRW) with time series reaching back up to 20 years. We investigated rural stations, stations in the urban background and heavily traffic influenced locations. It was possible to calculate and assess the NO/NO₂-ratio under consideration of the fast reaction of ozone with NO. There were clear indications towards existing trends and they could be determined as statistically significant using the nonparametric Mann-Kendall Test. The analysis of possible causes for the change of the NO/NO₂-ratio focused upon the change of the global radiation, the change of the patterns of the atmosphetic circulation, and the frequency of cyclones and anticyclones meteorological conditions in Central Europe, the introduction of automotive catalytic converters, and the development of the atmospheric oxidation-capacity.

Results and conclusions

The results are indicating a decline of the ratio at traffic-influenced stations with a statistical significance over 95%. The negative trend can also be detected at most urban background stations. It was problematic to perform the trend-analysis of the rural background station in the Egge-Mountains because of the fragmentary character of the dataset. Regional differences in the development of the NO/NO₂-ratio indicate towards various causes. Crucial for the situation at the rural areas are the changed trajectories of cyclones and anticyclones as well as the decline of the atmospheric oxidation-capacity, while the traffic plays another important role at urban stations. The negative trend at the traffic-stations was intensified by the introduction of catalytic converters, which lead to a reduction in emissions of NO_x

Recommendations and prospects

The significance of the NO/NO₂-ratio for the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere shows the necessity to further monitor this development. Previous investigations detected a decline in total NO_x without examining the relative development of the two nitrogen oxides towards each other. Gaining insight into the local differences of this ratio helps to allocate sources and to develop understanding of the atmospheric processes.     

Assessment of the Applicability of Capsid-Integrity Assays for Detecting Infectious Norovirus Inactivated by Heat or UV Irradiation

Food and Environmental Virology - Human noroviruses are the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis. In the absence of a practical culture technique for routine analysis of infectious noroviruses,...