Proximate and elemental composition and energy content of mesopelagic crustaceans from the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

The proximate and elemental chemical compositions of 25 species of pelagic decapod and mysid crustaceans collected from the eastern Gulf of Mexico (27°N; 86°W, 1984 to 1989) was examined. Water level ranged from 63 to 95% and increased slightly with species' increased depth of occurrence. Protein levels were generally high (1.5 to 18.3% wet wt, WW; 27.6 to 62.4% ash-free dry wt, AFDW) and comprised the primary organic component in the majority of species. Protein, both as % WW and % AFDW, decreased with increased depth of occurrence. In contrast to protein, lipid levels were low (0.5 to 8.9% WW; 5.7 to 60.9% AFDW), and increased with increased depth of occurrence. Carbon and nitrogen best mirrored measured lipid and protein levels when considered as non-protein carbon and non-chitin nitrogen, respectively. C:N ratios increased with increased depth, consistent with changes in protein and lipid with depth. Because of their compositional attributes, resident Gulf of Mexico species have a low total wet weight energy content relative to species from more productive regions. Energy content showed no significant trend with depth. Vertical migration patterns were distinctly different between shallow-and deep-living gulf species and these differences were largely responsible for the relationships observed between composition and depth. In migrating species, the protein and nitrogen content were higher, the lipid and carbon contents and C:N ratio lower, than in non-migrating species. Three deep-living species of the genus Acanthephyra were found to be compositionally atypical, resembling shallow, migrating types rather than other deep-living, non-migratory species.     

Emergency centers in Israel: A small community organizes to cope with war related crises*

This paper focuses on community-wide emergencies caused by war-related events in Lebanon at the beginning of June 1982. Mobilization for the "Peace for Galilee" campaign began on Friday, 4th June. Overnight, families were disrupted, husbands and sons were in danger, and within 24 hours there were notifications of casualities and deaths. Families in crisis became a widespread phenomenon. In Herzlia, as in many other communities, a new service - the Emergency Center - emerged under the auspices of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Municipality. The authors describe this process of getting organized, the populations served, how the Center was staffed, the role of citizen volunteers, and the types of interventions used to help vulnerable families as well as soldiers home on leave. Stress is placed on the unique type of short-term co-operation achieved between social workers of the local Department of Social Welfare, the staff of the Department of Community Services (especially its Volunteer Bureau), the local liason officer of the Israel Defence Force, the municipal government, and public-spirited volunteers. Mention is made of conditions which made possible the activation of such a service within hours, of the Center's capacity to serve all segments of the population, and of how it was deactivated within a few weeks when the emergency ended. On the basis of lessons learned from this experience, the paper ends with a number of specific recommendations. The authors hope that such innovative forms of crisis-intervention will become part of the helping technology widely available at the community level in future years.     

Community response to hazard information

The impact of flood hazard information on public acceptance of a selected flood mitigation strategy was assessed by an analysis of the content of newspaper reports of community reaction and letters to the editor. The impact of personal delivery of a flood hazard map on individual perception of risk and attitude to such information was assessed using personal interviews. The results indicated that media coverage of the flood hazard information reduced public criticism of the works. This result must be partially attributable to the dramatic style of media coverage and the fact that the media only emphasized the positive value of the works. The interview demonstrated that personal delivery of the information raised perception of risk, improved comprehension of flood risk, had no impact on acceptability of risk but discouraged some respondents from seeking such information in the future. Factors to explain the last negative change were identified to be the format of the map sheet and low salience of flood hazard. On the basis of all results, methods to improve community response to hazard information are provided.     

Population dynamics of Mytilicola intestinalis in Mytilus edulis in south west England

The population dynamics of Mytilicola intestinalis Steuer in mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) from the River Lynher, Cornwall, England, have been studied over 3 years. By transplanting uninfested mussels from the River Erme, South Devon, into the Lynher mussel bed, the study was extended to the growth and development of new infestations under natural conditions. Female Mytilicola intestinalis are shown to breed twice, and two generations of parasites coexist for most of the year, with recruitment taking place in summer and autumn. One generation contributes its first brood to the autumn recruits before overwintering and contributing its second brood to the following summer's recruits. The other generation overwinters as juvenile and immature stages to contribute its two broods successively to the summer and autumn recruits. Environmental temperatures are believed to control the rates of development at all stages rather than acting as triggers in the onset or cessation of breeding at specific times. There is no evidence to support the contention that heavily infested mussels are killed, and parasite mortality is shown to be density-independent.     

Some epidemiologic features of disasters in guatemala

Epidemiological procedures can be organised under disaster conditions by means of a simple surveillance system and with few personnel.
In the aftermath of the 4 February 1976 earthquake in Guatemala, an information system was organized by which the requisite information for decision-making was obtained with adequate speed and promptness.
The initial epidemiologic informution was based on reports collected during the early days on symptoms observed at hospitals and health centers and in localities and villages in the stricken area.
At a second, post-emergency stage a more elaborate surveillance system was instituted to provide guidance in the investigntwn of outbreaks, evaluate the health activities and establish basic criteria for preventive and control measures.     

Traceability,quality assurance,and standards

The development of traceability in low-level radioactivity measurements is discussed. The role that the development of large quantities of natural matrix standards can play is also discussed.     

Who cleans up the oil? A microeconomic study

Although oil spill cleanup requirements have existed in the United States for years, recent increases in oil imports and marine transportation of petroleum products as well as growing environmental concern have exposed a new industry, the Oil Spill Cleanup Industry. This paper explores some of the microeconomic aspects of this industry which has come under increased scrutiny by the general public, big business, and the federal government.In addition to a brief history and definition, several basic questions about the economic viability of the oil spill cleanup industry are raised and explored, and the impact on the industry of cleanup from government sources is examined, both from the perspective of present operations and from apparent future increases in federal participation. The primary dilemma facing the industry, that of providing continued and immediate supply while confronted with stochastic demand, is discussed. The effects of the large spill on the industry both in terms of revenue and ability to meet cleanup requirements is also considered.Information for the paper is drawn from past and continuing involvement in the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Environmental Protection Program by both authors. The statistical evidence presented here was compiled through personal interviews and from two computerized Coast Guard information systems; PIRS (the Pollution Incident Reporting System), and SKIM (the Spill Cleanup Equipment Inventory System).     

Threshold and dose response estimation using the “filter model”

The “filter model” has been developed to explain the biologic effects of radiation and chemicals. We have examined nearly 300 sets of dose response data, of which 50 are presented here. Responses (induced by radiation and chemicals) which have been examined include in vitro survival studies on animal and plant tissues, induction of cellular aberrations and time to tumor or death. Similar data from in vivo studies has also been examined. All of the data appear to fit the model R = a lnD + b(lnD)² + c, where R is the response, a and b are parameters fitted by regression to a particular set of data, and c is the response at zero (or lowest) dose. By writing this model in exponential form, it can be seen that the response R results from multistage filtering (by net amounts a and b) of the initial dose, D. The threshold is obtained from this model as the point, $\text{D}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{T}}$, at which the second derivative becomes zero. This is given by $\text{D}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{T}}\text{=}\text{exp}\text{(1 ?}\text{a}\text{2b}\text{)}$ when a and b are oppositelt signed.