Food Security in Protracted Crises: Building More Effective Policy Frameworks

This paper considers the principal elements that underpin policy frameworks for supporting food security in protracted crisis contexts. It argues that maintaining the food entitlements of crisis-affected populations must extend beyond interventions to ensure immediate human survival. A 'policy gap' exists in that capacities for formulating policy responses to tackle the different dimensions of food insecurity in complex, fluid crisis situations tend to be weak. As a result, standardised, short-term intervention designs are created that fall short of meeting the priority needs of affected populations in the short and long term and only partially exploit the range of policy options available. The paper discusses key attributes of agency frameworks that could support more effective policy processes to address longer term as well as immediate food security needs. Additionally, it points to some main challenges likely to be encountered in developing such frameworks and, with the participation of beneficiaries, translating them into effective action.     

Evolution of lead concentration in the particulate matter of Santiago,Chile, since 1978

Santiago is a city of over 4.5 million inhabitants and about 415000 motor vehicles using leaded gasoline. Twenty-four-hour samples were taken of total and fractionated particulate matter using a low-volume system and two Andersen cascade impactors, between 1978 and 1989 at different sites of the city of Santiago. Lead concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results show that Pb concentrations vary greatly depending on the site selected. Higher values are always detected near the city center. An annual variation with the highest value during the autumn-winter period (May–July) is clearly observed. Lead concentrations versus size are clearly biased to particles smaller than 2 µm. A correlation is observed between Pb concentrations and the suspended particulate matter under 3 µm at different sites of the city. The curves of Pb concentration versus size of the aerosols emitted by the gas exhaust of motor vehicles using leaded gasoline are similar to those of the atmospheric aerosols.     

Contact responses between spores and sporelings of different species,karyological phases and cystocarps of coalescing Rhodophyta

Coalescence is a well documented event in many red algal orders. However, it is as yet unknown if genetic compatibility and phylogenetic relationships could be factors limiting coalescence. Using controlled laboratory experiments complemented with cytological and ultrastructural analysis, in this study we test whether or not coalescence may occur between different seaweed species and between karyological phases of the same species. We also evaluate the effects of one species or karyological phase on the germination rates, germling survival and differentiation of erect axes of sporelings of a second species or phase and whether the uni- or polycystocarpic origin of the coalesced germling may affect the germination and growth or the morphology of the resulting sporeling. Results indicated that the process of coalescence is restricted to intraspecific partners only. A thick interphase with crushed cells and remains of cell walls developed in all the interspecific contacts studied. Results also indicated that coalescence may be expected between individuals of different karyological phases, as in the two cases tested (Mazzaella laminarioides and Sarcothalia crispata) the filaments of both phases grow intertwined in the new tissue of the coalesced crust. Germination rates, sporeling survival and differentiation of erect axes were all affected by the different types of experimental cultures tested. However, results suggest that allorecognition among seaweeds seems to play a minor role in coalescence. The process appears as less sensitive to genetic recognition than the cell fusion processes described for other red algal species or than the colonial fusion described for colonial invertebrates and fungi.     

An assessment of stream water quality of the Rio San Juan,Nuevo Leon,Mexico, 1995-1996

Good water quality of the Rio San Juan is critical for economic development of northeastern Mexico. However, water quality of the river has rapidly degraded during the last few decades. Societal concerns include indications of contamination problems and increased water diversions for agriculture, residential, and industrial water supplies. Eight sampling sites were selected along the river where water samples were collected monthly for 10 mo (October 1995-July 1996). The concentration of heavy metals and chemical constituents and measurements of bacteriological and physical parameters were determined on water samples. In addition, river discharge was recorded. Constituent concentrations in 18.7% of all samples exceeded at least one water quality standard. In particular, concentrations of fecal and total coliform bacteria, sulfate, detergent, dissolved solids, Al, Ba, Cr, Fe, and Cd, exceeded several water quality standards. Pollution showed spatial and temporal variations and trends. These variations were statistically explained by spatial and temporal changes of constituent inputs and discharge. Samples collected from the site upstream of El Cuchillo reservoir had large constituent concentrations when discharge was small; this reservoir supplies domestic and industrial water to the city of Monterrey.     

FLOODPLAIN STORAGE AND LAND USE ANALYSIS AT THE WOODLANDS,TEXAS1

ABSTRACT: The Woodlands, a totally planned community north of Houston, Texas, was studied in detail in an effort to develop a master drainage plan which minimizes adverse impact on the 100-year floodplain. A total of 40 HEC-1 and HEC-2 computer runs were made to evaluate various development, channelization, and reservoir storage options.     

Natural radionuclide content in building materials and gamma dose rate in dwellings in Cuba

An extensive research project to investigate the radioactive properties of Cuban building materials was carried out because there is a lack of information on the radioactivity of such materials in Cuba. In the framework of this project 44 samples of commonly used raw materials and building products were collected in five Cuban provinces. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides were determined by gamma ray spectrometry using a p-type coaxial high purity germanium detector and their mean values were in the ranges: 9-857Bqkg(-1) for (40)K; 6-57Bqkg(-1) for (226)Ra; and 1.2-22Bqkg(-1) for (232)Th. The radium equivalent activity in the 44 samples varied from 4Bqkg(-1) (wood) to 272Bqkg(-1) (brick). A high pressure ionisation chamber was used to measure the indoor absorbed dose rate in 543 dwellings and workplaces in five Cuban provinces. The average absorbed dose rates in air ranged from 43nGyh(-1) (Holguín) to 73nGyh(-1) (Camagüey) and the corresponding population-weighted annual effective dose due to external gamma radiation was estimated to be 145+/-40microSv. This value is 51% lower than the effective dose due to internal exposure from inhalation of decay products of (222)Rn and (220)Rn and it is 16% higher than the calculated value for the typical room geometry of a Cuban house.     

Riverine and marine ecotypes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sotalia</Emphasis> dolphins are different species

The current taxonomic status of Sotalia species is uncertain. The genus once comprised five species, but in the twentieth century they were grouped into two (riverine Sotalia fluviatilis and marine Sotalia guianensis) that later were further lumped into a single species (S. fluviatilis), with marine and riverine ecotypes. This uncertainty hampers the assessment of potential impacts on populations and the design of effective conservation measures. We used mitochondrial DNA control region and cytochrome b sequence data to investigate the specific status of S. fluviatilis ecotypes and their population structure along the Brazilian coast. Nested-clade (NCA), phylogenetic analyses and analysis of molecular variance of control region sequences showed that marine and riverine ecotypes form very divergent monophyletic groups (2.5% sequence divergence; 75% of total molecular variance found between them), which have been evolving independently since an old allopatric fragmentation event. This result is also corroborated by cytochrome b sequence data, for which marine and riverine specimens are fixed for haplotypes that differ by 28 (out of 1,140) nucleotides. According to various species definition methods, we conclude that marine and riverine Sotalia are different species. Based on priority criteria, we recommend the revalidation of Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénéden 1864) for the marine animals, while riverine dolphins should retain the species name Sotalia fluviatilis (Gervais 1853), thus becoming the first exclusively riverine delphinid. The populations of S. guianensis show a strong subdivision (Φ_ST=0.628) along the Brazilian coast, with at least three evolutionarily significant units: north, northeastern and south/southeastern.     

Ecological modelling Internet resources

Internet resources are grouped into registers and sources of ecological models (6 addresses), sources of documents (7), sources of data (5), initiatives (5), societies (4), journals (4) frequently asked questions (7), extensive list of links to Web pages (4), search engines (5) and Usenet groups (10). At present, Internet resources are not replacing classical libraries but should be considered as complementary sources of information.     

Improvement of the Bag-Mediated Filtration System for Sampling Wastewater and Wastewater-Impacted Waters

Environmental surveillance of poliovirus (PV) plays an important role in the global program for eradication of wild PV. The bag-mediated filtration system (BMFS) was first developed in 2014 and enhances PV surveillance when compared to the two-phase grab method currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this study, the BMFS design was improved and tested for its usability in wastewater and wastewater-impacted surface waters in Nairobi, Kenya. Modifications made to the BMFS included the size, color, and shape of the collection bags, the filter housing used, and the device used to elute the samples from the filters. The modified BMFS concentrated 3–10 L down to 10 mL, which resulted in an effective volume assayed (900–3000 mL) that was 6–20 times greater than the effective volume assayed for samples processed by the WHO algorithm (150 mL). The system developed allows for sampling and in-field virus concentration, followed by transportation of the filter for further analysis with simpler logistics than the current methods. This may ultimately reduce the likelihood of false-negative samples by increasing the effective volume assayed compared to samples processed by the WHO algorithm, making the BMFS a valuable sampling system for wastewater and wastewater-impacted surface waters.