The impact of forest clear-cutting on soil temperature: a comparison between before and after cutting, and between clear-cut and control sites

A study was conducted on the impact of forest clearance on discharge from newly established Hopea odorata plantations catchment (14.4 ha). The stands were two years old when this study commenced in year 2006 and the data collection was carried out for two years. The forested catchment (C3) was clear-cut during the preparation of the forest plantation and catchment C1 was left undisturbed. Discharge and rainfall were measured continuously for two years. The discharge measured from years 1997 to 2003 was used also to determine the water yield before and after forest clear-cut. This study showed that the plantation catchment is more responsive to storm with higher total water yield than in the forested catchment. The effect of forest clear cutting to discharge was clearly shown by the increment in the amount following the clear-cut activities and time taken for the recovery of the discharge back to its original state was almost three years. The peak discharge in C3 also was affected in which the biggest change was obtained during the forest clear-cutting period compared with during calibration and after clearing periods. This study is useful as basis for improving the existing guidelines on forest plantation establishment.

Download Full-text

The impact of a ‘milking the COW’ campaign in a regional hospital in Singapore

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control ◽

10.1186/s13756-021-00948-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Surinder Kaur M. S. Pada ◽

Poh Lishi ◽

Kim Sim Ng ◽

Sarathamani Rethenam ◽

Lilibeth Silagan Alenton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hand Hygiene ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Mixed Model Analysis ◽

Colony Forming Units ◽

Skin Flora ◽

Before And After ◽

The Difference ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Computerisation of various processes in hospitals and reliance on electronic devices raises the concern of contamination of these devices from the patient environment. We undertook this study to determine if an attached hand hygiene device that unlocks the screen of a computer on wheels (COW) on usage can be effective in decreasing the microbiological burden on computer keyboards. Methods An electronic hand sanitizer was integrated onto the COW. A prospective cohort study with a crossover design involving 2 control and 2 intervention wards was used. The study end point was the number of colony forming units found on the keyboards. Bacteria were classified into 4 main groups; pathogenic, skin flora, from the environment or those thought to be commensals in healthy individuals. We then used a mixed effects model for the statistical analysis to determine if there were any differences before and after the intervention. Results Thirty-nine keyboards were swabbed at baseline, day 7 and 14, with 234 keyboards cultured, colony forming units (CFUs) counted and organisms isolated. By mixed model analysis, the difference of mean bacteria count between intervention and control for week 1 was 32.74 (− 32.74, CI − 94.29 to 28.75, p = 0.29), for week 2 by 155.86 (− 155.86, CI − 227.45 to − 83.53, p < 0.0001), and after the 2-week period by 157.04 (− 157.04, CI − 231.53 to − 82.67, p < 0.0001). In the sub-analysis, there were significant differences of pathogenic bacteria counts for the Intervention as compared to the Control in contrast with commensal counts. Conclusion A hand hygiene device attached to a COW may be effective in decreasing the microbiological burden on computer keyboards.

Download Full-text

Analysis of Linkages between Environmental Policy Instruments and Innovation: A Case Study of End-of-Life Vehicles Technologies in Japan

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v9n2p181 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 181 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rajeev Kumar Singh ◽

Helmut Yabar ◽

Rie Murakami-Suzuki ◽

Noriko Nozaki ◽

Randeep Rakwal

Keyword(s):

Environmental Policy ◽

End Of Life ◽

Environmental Regulations ◽

Policy Instruments ◽

Control Policy ◽

Before And After ◽

Exogenous Factors ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

<p>Environmental policies are designed to deal with externalities either by internalizing environmental costs or imposing specific standards for environmental pollution. This study aims to examine the impact of environmental regulations related to End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) on innovation in Japan. We determined whether there is any statistical difference in patent activity comparing the periods before and after the regulations were enacted. In order to control for exogenous factors such as business cycles, we also analyzed the ratios of ELV and total environmental patents during the same periods. Results showed that environmental regulations drive innovations and the number of ELV-related patents were larger even after controlling for such exogenous factors. We concluded that environmental policy for ELV in Japan was effective in inducing innovation. However, we also found that the weakness in these types of command and control policy is the lack of incentives for further innovation.</p>

Download Full-text

How is Satiety Affected When Consuming Food While Working on A Computer?

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11071545 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1545 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lily Ding ◽

Nazimah Hamid ◽

Daniel Shepherd ◽

Kevin Kantono

Keyword(s):

Energy Intake ◽

Eating Behavior ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Restrained Eating ◽

Computer Work ◽

Meal Intake ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

More people working at offices are choosing to eat meals at their desks, making “desktop dining” an increasingly common phenomenon. Previous studies have reported that environmental distractors, such as television viewing, can influence meal intake and subsequent snack intake. However, the impact of stressful mental tasks on eating behavior has received relatively less attention, focusing only on subsequent meal intake or concurrent snack intake. This study sets out to determine whether eating while working influenced current meal energy intake. This research also examined the relationship between dietary restraint status and energy intake. A crossover experimental design was employed requiring participants (14 males and 29 females) to eat pizza quietly and at rest (control), and while working on a computer (work). Measurements included BMI, energy intake, state anxiety, restrained eating behavior, stress levels (pre- and post-eating), and appetite (before and after both work and control sessions). The findings showed that consuming food while working on a computer significantly increased stress but had no influence on energy intake compared to the control condition. However, post-eating hunger levels were significantly higher in the work condition compared to the control condition. As expected, satiety levels decreased significantly from pre- to post-eating for both work and control conditions. In addition, no significant relationship was observed between restrained eating behavior and energy intake in both work and control conditions. These results suggest that eating while working affected satiety of normal weight participants, as indicated by the significant difference in post-meal satiety levels between work and control conditions.

Download Full-text

Influence of pesticides, soil temperature and moisture on entomopathogenic nematodes from southern Benin and control of underground termite nest populations

Nematology ◽

10.1163/15685411-00002923 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (9) ◽

pp. 1057-1069 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hugues Baimey ◽

Lionel Zadji ◽

Leonard Afouda ◽

Maurice Moens ◽

Wilfrida Decraemer

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽

Galleria Mellonella ◽

Macrotermes Bellicosus ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact ◽

Termite Nest ◽

Southern Benin ◽

Soil Temperature And Moisture

The influence of three pesticides on the viability and infectivity of four Beninese isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), Heterorhabditis indica Ayogbe1, H. sonorensis Azohoue2, H. sonorensis Ze3, and Steinernema sp. Bembereke, was determined. The impact of both soil temperature and soil moisture on the virulence of these EPN to Trinervitermes occidentalis was investigated in laboratory assays. The effect of EPN-infected Galleria mellonella larvae on underground populations of Macrotermes bellicosus was also examined. All tested Heterorhabditis species were more tolerant to glyphosate and fipronil than the Steinernema species. Heterorhabditis sonorensis Azohoue2, showed the best results with 63.2% termite mortality at a soil temperature of 35°C. The increase of soil moisture to 20% (w/w) did not negatively influence the virulence of tested EPN. The underground populations of 71% or 60% treated nests were controlled by H. sonorensis Azohoue2- or H. indica Ayogbe1-infected G. mellonella larvae, respectively.

Download Full-text

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IN COASTAL HABITATS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM EXXON VALDEZ

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1993-1-695 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 1993 (1) ◽

pp. 695-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thomas A. Dean ◽

Lyman McDonald ◽

Michael S. Stekoll ◽

Richard R. Rosenthal

Keyword(s):

Optimal Design ◽

Oil Spill ◽

Damage Assessment ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Before And After ◽

And Control ◽

Alternative Designs ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT This paper examines alternative designs for the monitoring and assessment of damages of environmental impacts such as oil spills. The optimal design requires sampling at pairs of impacted (oiled) and control (unoiled) sites both before and after the event. However, this design proved impractical in evaluating impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on nearshore subtidal communities, and may be impractical for future monitoring. An alternative design is discussed in which sampling is conducted at pairs of control and impact sites only after the impact.

Download Full-text

Women and Chocolate Advertising: Exposure to Thin Models Exacerbates Ambivalence

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(09)70976-9 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (S1) ◽

pp. 1-1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. Durkin ◽

K. Rae

Keyword(s):

Three Dimensions ◽

Exposure Condition ◽

Approach And Avoidance ◽

Different Types ◽

Before And After ◽

Advertising Exposure ◽

And Control ◽

Disordered Eating Patterns ◽

The Impact ◽

General Community

Chocolate craving is very common among women. It is known to be associated with ambivalent attitudes and with eating disorders.Aims:The present study investigated the impact of different types of media images (associating the product with thin versus overweight models) on females’ attitudes to chocolate.Method:Eighty-four female participants were recruited from the general community. Age ranged from 17 to 63 years (mean=35). Mean BMI was 23.4. Participants were allocated randomly to one of three conditions: Chocolate with thin models, Chocolate with overweight models, and Control (non-chocolate related products). Groups did not differ on age and BMI. They were assessed before and after exposure using the Orientation to Chocolate Questionnaire, which measures three dimensions of chocolate craving: guilt, approach and avoidance.Results:Participants in the thin exposure condition experienced more guilt and were more likely to report both heightened approach and avoidance of chocolate after exposure. In contrast, participants in the overweight exposure condition had lower guilt and lower approach to chocolate, with no change in avoidance, after exposure. No changes were obtained for the females in the control condition.Conclusion:These findings suggest that viewing thin images in association with chocolate intensifies women's ambivalence towards the product. It is argued that ambivalence is stressful and fosters disordered eating patterns.

Download Full-text

Transit-oriented economic development: The impact of light rail on new business starts in the Phoenix, AZ Region, USA

Urban Studies ◽

10.1177/0042098017724119 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (13) ◽

pp. 2838-2862 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kevin Credit

Keyword(s):

Service Sector ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Light Rail ◽

Initial Increase ◽

New Business Formation ◽

Before And After ◽

New Business ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

This article examines the impact of Phoenix’s light rail system, which opened in 2008, on new firm formation in specific industries. Individual business data from 1990–2014 are used in a quasi-experimental adjusted-interrupted time series (AITS) regression to compare the impact of the transit system’s construction on new business starts in ‘treatment’ and ‘control’ areas before and after the opening of the line. Findings show that the transit adjacency is worth an 88% increase in knowledge sector new starts, a 40% increase in service sector new starts and a 28% increase in retail new starts at the time the system opened, when compared with automobile-accessible control areas. However, the light rail also appears to suffer from a ‘novelty factor’– after the initial increase in new establishment activity in adjacent block groups, the effect diminishes at the rate of 8%, 6% and 7% per year, respectively. The results also provide insight into the spatial extent of light rail impacts to new business formation, with areas 1 mile from stations observing 21% fewer retail new business starts and 12% fewer knowledge sector new starts than areas within a quarter of a mile of stations.

Download Full-text

Digit Ratio (2D:4D), Aggression, and Testosterone in Men Exposed to an Aggressive Video Stimulus

Evolutionary Psychology ◽

10.1177/147470491301100502 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 147470491301100 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Liam P. Kilduff ◽

Renato N. Hopp ◽

Christian J. Cook ◽

Blair T. Crewther ◽

John T. Manning

Keyword(s):

Negative Correlation ◽

Free Testosterone ◽

Digit Ratio ◽

Testosterone Levels ◽

Prenatal Testosterone ◽

Before And After ◽

Video Stimulus ◽

The Difference ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

The relative lengths of the 2nd and 4th digits (2D:4D) is a negative biomarker for prenatal testosterone, and low 2D:4D may be associated with aggression. However, the evidence for a 2D:4D-aggression association is mixed. Here we test the hypothesis that 2D:4D is robustly linked to aggression in “challenge” situations in which testosterone is increased. Participants were exposed to an aggressive video and a control video. Aggression was measured after each video and salivary free testosterone levels before and after each video. Compared to the control video, the aggressive video was associated with raised aggression responses and a marginally significant increase in testosterone. Left 2D:4D was negatively correlated with aggression after the aggressive video and the strength of the correlation was higher in those participants who showed the greatest increases in testosterone. Left 2D:4D was also negatively correlated to the difference between aggression scores in the aggressive and control conditions. The control video did not influence testosterone concentrations and there were no associations between 2D:4D and aggression. We conclude that 2D:4D moderates the impact of an aggressive stimulus on aggression, such that an increase in testosterone resulting from a “challenge” is associated with a negative correlation between 2D:4D and aggression.

Download Full-text

Water and nitrogen processes along a typical water flowpath and streamwater exports from a forested catchment and changes after clear-cutting: a modelling study

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-9-657-2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 657-674 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

A. Laurén ◽

L. Finér ◽

H. Koivusalo ◽

T. Kokkonen ◽

T. Karvonen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Buffer Zone ◽

Organic N ◽

Ground Vegetation ◽

Spring Flood ◽

Total N ◽

Clear Cut ◽

Clear Cutting ◽

N Fluxes ◽

Before And After ◽

Eastern Finland

Abstract. A two dimensional model, FEMMA, to describe water and nitrogen (N) fluxes within and from a forested first-order catchment (Kangasvaara in Eastern Finland) was constructed by linking the most significant processes affecting the fluxes of water, ammonium, nitrate and dissolved organic nitrogen along a hillslope from the water divide to the stream. The hillslope represents the average flowpath of water in the catchment and the model was used to estimate the N fluxes for a catchment in eastern Finland before and after clear-cutting. The simulated results were in reasonable agreement with the nitrate, dissolved organic N and dissolved total N measurements from the study catchment and with other results in the literature. According to the simulations, the major sinks of N after clear-cutting were immobilisation by soil microbes, uptake by ground vegetation and sorption to soil. These sinks increased downslope from the clear-cut area, indicating the importance of an uncut buffer zone between the stream and the clear-cut area in reducing N exports. The buffer zone retained 76% of the N flux coming from the clear-cut area. Nitrification was a key process in controlling the N export after clear-cutting and N increases were mainly as nitrate. Most of the annual N export took place during the spring flood, when uptake of N by plants was minimal.

Download Full-text