Academic literature on the topic 'Bisogno informativo'

L'articolo descrive le principali caratteristiche del Sistema Informativo (SIS) dei programmi di screening oncologico in Italia(PS). Il SIS č organizzato per rispondere al bisogno conoscitivo di valutare la qualitŕ dei PS e la loro effectiveness. Tale bisogno si declina differentemente a seconda dell'interlocutore che, in effetti, puň esprimere un interesse informativo con prioritŕ diverse. Sono state nel tempo studiate e selezionate diverse variabili, sulla base delle loro caratteristiche di qualitŕ informativa, che vengono raccolte annualmente in survey nazionali. La fonte dei dati sono i sistemi gestionali dei PS Il SIS permette di produrre numerosi indicatori che derivano dalle Linee Guida Europee e che rispondono alle seguenti necessitŕ di monitoraggio e valutazione: - un PS č un percorso e non l'esecuzione di un test e dunque bisogna misurare la qualitŕ del percorso oltre che la singola prestazione; - un PS č rivolto a una popolazione asintomatica e quindi deve tenere conto della sensibilitŕ (capacitŕ di individuare i portatori della lesione di interesse) ma anche della specificitŕ (capacitŕ di individuare e dunque non esaminare ulteriormente e soprattutto non trattare chi non č portatore della lesione di interesse). Per queste ragioni viene misurato (per esempio) sia il tasso di identificazione, sia la percentuale di richiamo ad approfondimento o il VPP; - descrivere la qualitŕ organizzativa del programma. La valutazione č compiuta mediante standard di riferimento, nella massima parte dei casi adottati dalle Linee guida Europee, secondo un'ottica di benchmark inter- e intraregionale. I risultati della valutazione sono utilizzati, mediante specifiche forme di reporting, in modo sistematico ai livelli: regionale/aziendale; di governancenazionale; internazionale (evidence generation); di societŕ civile. La survey non č un sistema statico di raccolta e viene revisionato sulla base dello sviluppo delle conoscenze. Sulla base del Piano Nazionale della Prevenzione 2010-12, il SIS entrerŕ a far parte del nuovo sistema sanitario nazionale basato su un datawarehouse nazionale di dati individuali. L'intera esperienza dei PS in Italia si candida ad essere un prototipo di una governance innovativa nel panorama di devoluzione del sistema sanitario, contribuendo a identificare strumenti nuovi e a costruire una conoscenza piů approfondita del modello di governance. In questo quadro il sistema informativo/di valutazione č un esempio di sistema costruito in modo partecipato da esperti ed operatori, orientato alla valutazione della distanza osservato-atteso del beneficio di salute ottenibile con la prevenzione secondaria in oncologia.

An effective realization of breeding programs in zoos is strongly determined by completeness of animal pedigree information. The knowledge of pedigree structure allows to maintain optimal genetic variability of a given population. The aim of this study was to estimate the parameters describing the pedigree structure of American bison housed in zoos in the context of further management of the population. Finally, 4269 American bison were analysed (1883 males, 2217 females, and 169 with unknown sex). The registered animals were born between years 1874 and 2013. The following pedigree parameters were estimated: number of fully traced generations, number of complete generations equivalent, index of pedigree completeness, individual inbreeding coefficients, increase of inbreeding for each individual, effective population size, and genetic diversity. The maximum number of fully traced generations was 3 (the mean value is 0.693). The mean inbreeding coefficient for the population studied was 3.26%, whereas individual increase in inbreeding ranged from 0 to 25.12%. Although the pedigree parameters (including the inbreeding level) in the American bison obtained in the present study seem to be acceptable (from the perspective of other wild animal populations), they can be over/underestimated due to incomplete pedigree.

Il valore di una “mediazione” narrativa consapevole, integrata e potenziata dall’uso di strumenti digitali, diviene sempre più elemento centrale nelle politiche di valorizzazione e riconoscimento del patrimonio culturale dal momento che esso «non parla da solo» (2010: 45) ma ha bisogno di professionalità e strumenti informativi sempre più flessibili e aggiornati che lo disvelino e ne raccontino il significato più profondo. Il contributo affronta le nuove modalità di interazione e fruizione del patrimonio culturale tra discipline tecnologiche e scientifiche e discipline umanistiche.

To augment the limited information base, muscle fibre and postmortem glycolytic data from bison longissimus lumborum were compiled. As expected, postmortem glycogen concentration and pH declined while lactate concentration increased. Bison muscle fibres had a greater area, with a greater percentage of fast oxidative glycolytic fibres, and a lesser percentage of fast glycolytic fibres as compared to literature values for beef. Key words: Bison, muscle fibre type, glycogen, lactate

Ecological interactions between ungulates and small mammals are generally not well understood. Here, we report an observation of unusually extensive small mammal (likely Meadow Vole [Microtus pennsylvanicus] or Tundra Vole [Microtus oeconomus]) tracks above the snow, exiting from trails and bed sites created by Bison (Bison bison) in northern Canada. We believe that weather and snow conditions were optimal for this observation. Although alteration of above-snow activity of small mammals in response to snow compaction by ungulates is probably not a rare event, it is not often reported. The effect on voles of exiting their subnivean tunnels as a result of Bison activity is unclear, but may be detrimental to their overwinter survival. Ungulate activity compacts snow, fragmenting small mammal tunnels resulting in loss of their insulative value for voles, and making it harder for them to dig new tunnels. Clearly, determining the effect of snow disturbance by gregarious ungulates on voles or other microtines, particularly regarding their overwinter survival, requires detailed investigation. Nevertheless, this observation provides new information on the ecological interactions between ungulates and small mammals, particularly from the boreal forest, where such information is largely lacking.

Proper management and genetic monitoring of the modern European bison (Bison bonasus) population is one of the most important responsibilities for this species’ conservation. Up-to-date, complex genetic analysis performed using a consistent molecular method is needed for population management as a tool to further validate and maintain the genetic diversity of the species. The identification of the genetic line when pedigree data are missing, as well as the identification of parentage and individuals, are crucial for this purpose. The aim of our research was to create a small but informative panel of SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) markers that can be used for routine genotyping of the European bison at low cost. In our study, we used a custom-designed microarray to genotype a large number of European bison, totaling 455 samples from two genetic lines. The results of this analysis allowed us to select highly informative markers. In this paper, we present an effective single nucleotide polymorphism set, divided into separate panels to perform genetic analyses of European bison, which is needed for population monitoring and management. We proposed a total of 20 SNPs to detect hybridization with Bos taurus and Bison bison, a panel of 50 SNPs for individuals and parentage identification, as well as a panel of 30 SNPs for assessing membership of the genetic line. These panels can be used together or independently depending on the research goal and can be applied using various methods.

Abstract L’asimmetria informativa è l’elemento caratteristico della relazione tra governo centrale e governi locali. Da un lato, l’esistenza dei governi locali si giustifica per il loro maggior grado di conoscenza circa le preferenze ed i bisogni locali. Dall’altro lato, quando si deve organizzare l’allocazione delle risorse sul piano nazionale attraverso un sistema di trasferimenti, queste informazioni dovrebbero essere conosciute a livello di governo centrale.In questo scritto si presenta la storia recente dei trasferimenti alle autorità locali in Gran Bretagna per mostrare un esempio pratico del modo in cui il governo centrale ha tentato di risolvere il problema.Dapprima il governo centrale ha ritenuto di conoscere tutti i parametri necessari per stabilire un sistema ottimale di trasferimenti. In una seconda fase, esso ha compreso la natura dei problemi derivanti dal fatto che le autorità locali disponevano di informazioni migliori. Il controllo della spesa è divenuto il principale obiettivo del governo e le riforme introdotte nel sistema dei trasferimenti riflettono quest’obiettivo.

This thesis is devoted to the analysis of the role of communication in the management of cardiovascular diseases. It is made up by two theoretical chapters and four empirical studies. The first chapter presents a brief description of cardiovascular diseases and it introduces the importance of primary and secondary prevention through optimal self-management and health behaviors. It also describes the main theoretical models of health behavior. The second chapter analyzes the concept of health communication, with the description of the history, the techniques and the practical applications of this growing field of research. In this chapter it is explained the importance of identifying patients’ information needs to enhance the quality of chronic disease management and to lead health-care systems to move toward more patient-tailored care. The concept and practice of tailoring health messages are also introduced. In the third chapter it is reported a longitudinal observational study aimed at exploring the information needs and perceived relevance of different information sources among patients affected by acute coronary syndrome and hypertension. The second study was designed to examine whether information needs and situational coping responses influence each other over time in a sample of hypertensive patients. A three-wave longitudinal design that allows for examining potential reciprocal relationships among study variables was adopted for this study, and two main hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis was that patients’ strategies to cope with their hypertension would affect their need for specific information related to their illness. The second hypothesis was that the relationships between coping and the need for information would be bi-directional. Consequently, a greater need for information at baseline would also foster a greater adoption of active coping strategies in the following months, while patients less interested in information would adopt more disengagement strategies of coping. The third study describes the development and the initial evaluation of a theory-based tailored print message intervention to improve compliance with the self-care regimen recommended for patients with hypertension. The intervention was initially evaluated by assessing patients’ exposure and reading of the material, their reaction to the appearance and the content of the health brochures and the perceived relevance and usefulness of the information provided. Finally, the aim of the fourth study was to evaluate if the theory-based tailored intervention described in study three was effective in promoting changes in behavioral habits among patients with essential hypertension. The hypothesis was that the intervention group who had received the tailored health brochure would change wrong lifestyle habits more significantly than a comparison group in a usual care condition.

Il web 2.0 è uno spazio virtuale al quale chiunque può accedere per condividere informazioni, creare nuova conoscenza, e in cui le persone sono fruitori ma allo stesso tempo produttori di informazioni. I cambiamenti avvenuti con il web 2.0 configurano una vera e propria rivoluzione nel campo della comunicazione. Esso gioca un ruolo importante nella vita quotidiana di un gran numero di persone. Di fatto Internet, offre possibilità di comunicazione diretta non implementabili con altri mezzi di comunicazione più tradizionali e ciò, fa di questo strumento il più grande mezzo di comunicazione e di collegamento per milioni di persone in tutti i Paesi. Sempre più spesso il Web viene utilizzato dalle persone anche per comunicare e/o trovare informazioni di tipo sanitario. Nei paesi in cui l’uso di Internet è molto diffuso, la percentuale di persone che cerca informazioni sanitarie sul web è pari, in alcuni paesi superiore, alla percentuale di persone che richiedono assistenza sanitaria. Lo sviluppo esponenziale e trasversale del web coinvolge inevitabilmente anche i professionisti della salute sia a livello personale, sia a livello professionale. Non utilzzarlo anche in ambito sanitario significherebbe rimanere un passo indietro rispetto alla realtà e perdere i vantaggi offerti da questi nuovi mezzi di comunicazione. Lo scopo del percorso dottorale è stato quello di analizzare il contesto italiano focalizzando l’attenzione sulle aziende sanitarie e sui professionisti infermieri. Nello specifico gli obiettivi sono stati: (1) analizzare la rispondenza dei siti delle Aziende Sanitarie Locali (ASL) e delle Aziende Ospedaliere (AO) italiane ai criteri contenuti nelle linee guida del Ministero della Salute per la valutazione dei siti web sanitari; (2) verificare quante Aziende Sanitarie Locali (ASL) e Aziende Ospedaliere (AO) pubbliche sono presenti e come, nei social media più diffusi nel nostro Paese: Facebook, Twitter, You Tube e il loro grado di diffusione tra la popolazione; (3) analizzare la comunicazione online tra professionisti infermieri e cittadino; (4) individuare e descrivere le corrette modalità di accesso e gestione dei social media da parte degli infermieri. Metodi I disegni dei primi tre studi, corrispondenti ai primi tre obiettivi del percorso dottorale sono stati osservazionali: nel primo e nel secondo studio il campione era costituito da 245 Aziende sanitarie pubbliche (149 Aziende Sanitarie Locali e 96 Aziende Ospedaliere). I dati sono stati raccolti analizzando i siti di ciascuna azienda. Per il primo studio è stata utilizzata la scheda di autovalutazione contenuta nelle linee guida elaborate dal Ministero della salute. Per il secondo studio, sono stati visitati i siti delle aziende sanitarie per ricercare il banner dei social media considerati e, successivamente, analizzati i dati pubblici disponibili accedendovi (FB: data di iscrizione, fascia di età di maggior popolarità, i “mi piace”; Twitter: numero di tweet, di follower, di following; You Tube: data di iscrizione, numero di video caricati, di visualizzazioni, video caricati, di iscritti). Nel terzo studio il focus è stata l’attività delle sezioni della pagina “Peri il cittadino” (Clik salute, ABC salute, l’infermiere risponde) del sito della Federazione Nazionale dei Collegi Infermieri (IPASVI) e i dati sono stati raccolti utilizzando i rapporti di Google Analytics (il servizio gratuito di statistiche di Google che permette di monitorare in modo dettagliato le visite di ogni sito). Nel quarto studio, relativo al quarto obiettivo del percorso dottorale, sono state condotte una revisione non sistematica della letteratura, tramite l’utilizzo delle principali banche dati biomediche e di linee guida e, una ricerca sui siti di agenzie sanitarie nazionali e governative e attraverso i motori di ricerca generici. In tutti e quattro gli studi i dati sono stati analizzati utilizzando la statistica descrittiva. Risultati Nel primo studio è emersa una rispondenza relativamente bassa dei siti delle Aziende sanitarie ai criteri analizzati (relazionalità, trasparenza amministrativa, disponibilità e qualità del servizio online, utilizzabilità e qualità tecnologica). Erano 32 (18%) le strutture che riportavano nell’area link siti di interesse professionale, 142 (58%) i siti che non offrivano informazioni di carattere sanitario, 53 (22%) i siti che offrivano un menù di servizio articolato secondo gli eventi della vita. Nel secondo studio si è evidenziata una scarsa presenza delle Aziende sanitarie sui social media: quelle con un account attivo erano 18 (7,34%) e distribuite al nord e al centro. Le ASL e AO con un account sui social media: 8 aziende avevano un account su tutti e tre i social media considerati nell’indagine: Facebook, Twitter e You Tube. Le Aziende ASL e AO con account su Twitter erano 10 (4,1%) e quelle con account su You Tube erano 8 (3,3%). Nel terzo studio è emerso che, nell’intero periodo considerato (maggio 2011 – dicembre 2012), la pagina è stata visitata complessivamente 306.674 volte (85.600 nel 2011 e 221.074 nel 2012) con 133.826 visite alla rubrica Click salute (rispettivamente 23.658 e 110.168), 125.424 alla sezione ABC salute (42.048 e 83.376) e 17.073 a L’infermiere risponde (7.244 e 9.829). Nel quarto studio la ricerca bibliografica ha prodotto 88 risultati; di questi solo nove documenti avevano raggiunto i criteri di inclusione (eleggibilità e pertinenza). Tutte le linee guida e le raccomandazioni trovate sottolineavano le grandi potenzialità dei social media, i potenziali rischi e offrono indicazioni basilari per utilizzare in maniera corretta questi nuovi strumenti. Conclusioni Il percorso dottorale ha permesso di tracciare con buona approssimazione un quadro del contesto italiano relativamente all’uso del web 2.0 da parte delle aziende sanitarie pubbliche, dei professionisti in senso lato e degli infermieri nello specifico. L’uso del web 2.0 da parte delle aziende sanitarie pubbliche italiane è limitato rispetto all’orientamento in tal senso che, invece, emerge dalla letteratura e ai numerosi studi che ne documentano l’uso più diffuso negli altri Paesi europei e non. Nel mondo, ma anche nel nostro Paese, l’utilizzo del web 2.0 da parte dei cittadini è esponenziale. Per la ricerca di informazioni sulla salute gli strumenti del web 2.0 vengono utilizzati dai cittadini in modo inversamente proporzionale rispetto all’uso che ne fanno, invece, le aziende sanitarie pubbliche italiane per offrire informazioni e favorire la partecipazione dei cittadini. La partecipazione e l’empowerment non possono prescindere dalla possibilità di accedere a informazioni che siano mirate, accurate, validate e di qualità. Gli strumenti del web 2.0 offrono l’opportunità ai professionisti e alle organizzazioni di incontrare il cittadino dove ad oggi è più probabile trovarlo, soddisfare il suo bisogno informativo e fidelizzarlo. Non usarli significherebbe perderne i vantaggi non solo in termini di relazione con il cittadino ma anche con gli altri professionisti e di diffusione di informazione, di formazione, di aggregazione, di confronto. Per sfruttare al meglio le potenzialità di questi strumenti bisogna conoscerli bene e usarli correttamente.

Dalla volontà di proporre una soluzione al tema delle disabilità fisiche in ambiente cittadino evoluto e tecnologicamente avanzato, è nata l'idea di progettare un'applicazione in grado di generare visibilità attorno ad un tema che dovrebbe progredire nella stessa maniera dello sviluppo tecnologico. Lo scopo di questa tesi è proporre un tentativo concreto per entrare in contatto con una problematica di ordine sociale che lo sviluppo tecnologico dovrebbe tenere in maggiore considerazione. Si vuole cercare di sfruttare Internet come mezzo per enfatizzare un problema concreto come la mancanza di visibilità e coinvolgimento sociale attorno la tematica delle disabilità. I nativi digitali utilizzano costantemente sia social network che piattaforme dedite allo scambio di informazioni e alla creazione di visibilità. Vivono il mondo digitale come una vetrina nella quale potersi mettere in mostra e creare una reputazione. Il mondo digitale, in particolare quello dei social network viene visto dai più come la fonte principale di costruzione dei legami sociali, ciò è sicuramente vero, ma bisogna capire che tipo e quanto profonde possano essere tali relazioni. La mia generazione è cresciuta in un periodo ibrido, coinvolta sia nel mondo analogico sia in quello digitale, molti sono stati risucchiati da un vortice di superficialità e apparenze altamente correlati con gli effetti generati da una società capitalistica perfettamente identificabile nei profili che ogni giorno andiamo a creare per metterci in mostra nei social network. In prima analisi con la collaborazione del Dipartimento disabilità dell'Università di Bologna si era cercato di porre l'attenzione su un approccio più orientativo per venire in contro a problematiche del genere. Qualcosa che permettesse a tutti nella stessa maniera di vivere la realtà accademica e cittadina stimolando l'interazione degli studenti con socialità marginale.

The Fincastle Bison Kill Site (DlOx-5), located in Southern Alberta, Canada, yielded a significant number of archaeological remains, including projectile points, lithic tools, debitage, fire broken rock (FBR) and fauna. The large 81 m2 East Block excavation area provided an opportunity to spatially analyze the remains from this part of the site using a Geographic Information System (GIS), a program that is becoming more widely employed and accepted in archaeology. This research explored the benefits of using a GIS to spatially analyze archaeological sites by using the data collected from the excavations carried out at the Fincastle Site. The process of applying spatial statistical tests and creating distribution maps within the GIS software was outlined, and the results were archaeologically interpreted. It was confirmed that a GIS can perform all of the tasks needed to spatially analyze an archaeological site and the additional benefits make a valuable component of archaeological research.
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Between 1988 and 1989, an intensive archaeological survey of a small drainage known as Roan Mare coulee in southern Saskatchewan was conducted by Dr. Ernest Walker (Walker 1990). Among the 120 archaeological sites in the area, seven bison kills and a vast array of associated drivelines were identified. This study focuses upon the spatial interaction amongst the kills, the drivelines and the local environment in relation to the bison hunting strategies used on the Northern Plains. This is done by modelling where bison are likely to move in the terrain as well as how the topography obstructs their line of sight. As this problem covers a large spatial area and multiple different data sources, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are integrated into the research design in the form of Least Cost Path and Viewshed analyses. Both archaeological data from Walker's survey and environmental data such as elevation and water sources served as the input datasets required by ArcGIS's spatial analysis tools. The results of the Least Cost Path analyses were compared visually to both the location and orientation of the driveline evidence, while the viewshed results were compared to the trap's location at the valley edge. The results of this research showed that the drivelines found at Roan Mare coulee appear to be following the general orientation of the landscape at the broadest scales, and likely served to funnel bison over large distances. There also appear to be several locations on the landscape that are amenable to moving bison to several different sites. The viewshed evidence shows the smaller scale nuances between bison vision and the terrain in a hypothetical drive event. The differences in the viewable area available to the bison at each site likely played a role in the chosen strategy employed when that site was used. It is hoped that this style of research can be continued with higher quality data and additional variables to help clarify many of the subtleties found in a Plains bison drive.

Abstract Ungulates are present worldwide with 257 recorded species, including livestock. They cover different functional gradients, be it feeding regime, digestive strategy, body size, body mass, fur characteristics or sociality. All these specificities may intervene at different stages of animal-mediated plant dispersal. Ungulates move diaspores from both native and non-native plants, through endo- and epizoochory. Initially introduced by humans, non-native plants bearing specific traits can be carried over long distances and to new environments by ungulates. These vectors can further free local resources necessary for the germination and the subsequent growth of the released diaspores. We first looked at trait-based plant community changes at different timescales in the presence of different native ungulates. We then reviewed the literature on endozoochory, regurgitation and fur-epizoochory assisted by ungulates, focusing on the dispersal of non-native plants. We made an overall assessment of ungulate-mediated non-native plant dispersal by biogeographical zone and dispersal mode, and then provided additional information on plant growth form and taxonomy, vectors and associated modes of dispersal. Results are presented for four main ungulate families: Cervidae, Bovidae, Suidae and Equidae. For each family, we highlight our findings either by ungulate if sufficiently represented (e.g. Odocoileus virginianus, Bison bison, Bos taurus) or by group of species. According to their feeding regime, grazers dispersed solely forbs and graminoids whereas omnivores also dispersed plants from other growth forms (i.e. cactus, vine, shrub and tree). Numerous non-native plants are dispersed by ungulates around the world, but this is probably the visible part of the iceberg, as only 32 ungulates (i.e. 12%) have been studied as vectors so far, suggesting their overall contribution is certainly underrated.

Ungulates are present worldwide with 257 recorded species, including livestock. They cover different functional gradients, be it feeding regime, digestive strategy, body size, body mass, fur characteristics or sociality. All these specificities may intervene at different stages of animal-mediated plant dispersal. Ungulates move diaspores from both native and non-native plants, through endo- and epizoochory. Initially introduced by humans, non-native plants bearing specific traits can be carried over long distances and to new environments by ungulates. These vectors can further free local resources necessary for the germination and the subsequent growth of the released diaspores. We first looked at trait-based plant community changes at different timescales in the presence of different native ungulates. We then reviewed the literature on endozoochory, regurgitation and fur-epizoochory assisted by ungulates, focusing on the dispersal of non-native plants. We made an overall assessment of ungulate-mediated non-native plant dispersal by biogeographical zone and dispersal mode, and then provided additional information on plant growth form and taxonomy, vectors and associated modes of dispersal. Results are presented for four main ungulate families: Cervidae, Bovidae, Suidae and Equidae. For each family, we highlight our findings either by ungulate if sufficiently represented (e.g. <i>Odocoileus virginianus, Bison bison, Bos taurus</i>) or by group of species. According to their feeding regime, grazers dispersed solely forbs and graminoids whereas omnivores also dispersed plants from other growth forms (i.e. cactus, vine, shrub and tree). Numerous non-native plants are dispersed by ungulates around the world, but this is probably the visible part of the iceberg, as only 32 ungulates (i.e. 12%) have been studied as vectors so far, suggesting their overall contribution is certainly underrated.

Studies on modern cattle populations demonstrate the relations of the two major cattle breeds, the humpless taurine cattle (B. Taurus) and the Asian humped zebu (B. indicus). Studies by Loftus et al. (1994), Bradley et al. (1996), and MacHugh et al. (1997) showed that these two groups stem from independent domestication events in different geographical regions. Concerning the taurine cattle, recent population studies show that today the genetic diversity is highest in the Near and Middle East. This is an indication of the centre of origin in this region. But modern data can be biased by recent breeding practices and introgression. Only the analysis of ancient samples can help to get at detailed information about prehistoric situations. This chapter presents ancient mitochondrial data from 40 domestic cattle and 17 aurochs samples (plus ancient bison for comparison) that date mainly to the Neolithic, but which also include some of Mesolithic and Bronze Age date.

Enough mammal specimens of Late Glacial date from the British Isles have been subjected to radiocarbon dating to provide a reliable outline of the likely large mammal fauna of the time, though the accompanying fauna of small mammals has mostly been assigned to this period on associative, rather than direct, dating. These give an adequate zoological background against which to examine the suggested identities of the large mammals depicted at Church Hole, Creswell Crags. This background information is reviewed in this chapter. While Bison priscus was certainly present earlier in the Devensian, there is no evidence that Bison returned to Britain in the Late Glacial, but aurochs (Bos primigenius) did so, and must be considered a more probable identification. The evidence that ibex (Capra ibex) ever occurred in Britain is very dubious, which cast serious doubt on the original identification of the Church Hole Panel III engraving as being of this species. In this case, discussion and reinterpretation of the engravings during the course of the conference suggested a better resolution than the zoological one suggested at the time. The ice of the Devensian glacial maximum, at about 20–18 ka BP, is believed to have covered all of northern Great Britain and Ireland, leaving smaller areas of the south of each island free of ice but occupied by tundra, permafrost, conditions. It is most unlikely that any of the present mammal fauna could have survived here then, though the possibilities that mountain hare (Lepus timidus) and stoat (Mustela erminea) did so must be conceded—both range well into the Arctic at the present day. The severity of the climate, and the likely nature of the mammal fauna, is indicated by the presence of musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) (Fisherton, Wiltshire, but undated) and the possible polar bear (Ursus maritimus) (Creag nan Uamh, Sutherland, 18.9 ka: Kitchener and Bonsall 1997) that date to this time. Barnwell Station, Cambridge, has a¹⁴ C date on peat of 19.5 ka BP, and a fauna including woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and horse (Equus ferus). Dated specimens fromsouthern Ireland are also relevant: collared lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus) at20.3 ka BP, woolly mammoth at 20.36 ka BP and Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) at 19.95 ka BP, all from Castlepook Cave, Cork (Woodman et al. 1997).

We saw in Chapters 5 and 7 that the Quaternary was a time of low extinction rates despite a succession of strong environmental changes induced ultimately by climate. This began to change from a few tens of thousands of years ago with the arrival on our planet of Homo sapiens sapiens, which can be translated from the Latin as the rather smug ‘ultrawise Man’. It is widely accepted today that the Earth is undergoing a loss of species on a scale that would certainly rank in geological terms as a catastrophe, and has indeed, been dubbed ‘the sixth mass extinction’. Although the disturbance to the biosphere being created in modern times is more or less entirely attributable to human activity, we must use the best information available from historical, archaeological, and geological records to attempt to determine just when it began. Towards the end of the last ice age, known in Europe as the Würm and in North America as the Wisconsin, the continents were much richer in large mammals than today: for example, there were mammoths, mastodonts, and giant ground sloths in the Americas; woolly mammoths, elephants, rhinos, giant deer, bison, and hippos in northern Eurasia; and giant marsupials in Australia. Outside Africa most genera of large mammals, defined as exceeding 44 kilograms adult weight, disappeared within the past 100,000 years, an increasing number becoming extinct towards the end of that period. This indicates that there was a significant extinction event near the end of the Pleistocene. This event was not simultaneous across the world, however: it took place later in the Americas than Australia, and Africa and Asia have suffered fewer extinctions than other continents. There are three reasons for citing humans as the main reason for the late Pleistocene extinctions. First, the extinctions follow the appearance of humans in various parts of the world. Very few of the megafaunal extinctions that took place in the late Pleistocene can definitely be shown to pre-date the arrival of humans. There has, on the other hand, been a sequence of extinctions following human dispersal, culminating most recently on oceanic islands. Second, it was generally only large mammals that became extinct.

The article presents the characteristic of the systematic composition and diversity of skeletal remains of mammals in the third level of human habitation of the Paleolithic site in the cave of Brânzeni I, Edinet district. The archaeological and paleontological remains discovered here are attributed to a new archaeological culture for Europe – Brânzeni. The inhabitants of this site hunted horses, reindeer, bison, deer, rhino, mammoth, hares, marmot and other mammals, that met in thesite area and were the main source of food for tribal members. The bones of small animal species (insectivores, rodents etc.) discovered in the inhabiting level of the Palaeolithic site originated from the decomposition of predatory bird pellets and of the feces of carnivores living in the cave while it was temporarily abandoned by the Paleolithic hunters. The archaeological and paleontological materials presented in this information are of interest for the knowledge of the peculiarities of geological history, fauna of paleogeography and the human society of the given area, have instructive, cognitive and ecotouristic value.

Статья представляет краткое описание открытия первого изображения на стенах палеолитической пещеры Ла-Марш (Люссак-ле-Шато, Вьенна, Франция). Этот памятник всемирно известен благодаря тому, что в нем было найдено огромное количество гравированных каменных плиток с гравировками, датируемыми более чем 14 000 л. н. Гравировки расшифровывались в течение 25 лет и были полностью опубликованы доктором Л. Палем. Всегда считалось, что на стенах этой пещеры изображений нет. Первая информация о том, что на стенах в Ла Марш есть какие-то следы, была получена автором еще в 2004 г., и вот недавно им была обнаружена первая фигура: голова бизона, сочетающая технику гравировки и использование естественной скальной формы. По стилю она напоминает знаменитый скульптурный фриз в гроте Англь-сюр-Л Англен, расположенный в том же регионе, что и Ла Марш, и датируемый тем же временем. A brief account of the discovery of the first parietal figure in the Ice Age rock-shelter of La Marche (Lussacles-Chteaux, Vienne, France). The site was already world-famous for its huge collection of engraved plaquettes of stone, dating to more than 14,000 years ago, which were deciphered and published over the course of 25 years by Dr Lon Pales. But it was always thought that the rock-shelter in which the plaquettes were found had undecorated walls. In 2004 I was given information which suggested that there might be markings, and I eventually discovered a first parietal figure, a head of a bison, comprising engraving and use of natural rock shape. The style was similar to that of the great sculpted frieze at Angles-sur-lAnglin, in the same region, which is of the same date as La Marche.

This technical report summarizes the use of US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reservoirs as spring and fall migration stopover sites for the endangered Aransas–Wood Buffalo population of whooping cranes (WHCR), which proved much greater than previously known. We assessed stopover use within the migration flyway with satellite transmitter data on 68 WHCR during 2009–2018 from a study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and collaborators, resulting in over 165,000 location records, supplemented by incidental observations from the US Fish and Wildlife Ser-vice (USFWS) and the USGS Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) databases. Significant stopover use was observed during both spring and fall migration, and one reservoir served as a wintering location in multiple years. Future efforts should include (a) continued monitoring for WHCR at USACE reservoirs within the flyway; (b) reservoir-specific management plans at all projects with significant WHCR stopover; (c) a USACE-specific and range-wide Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(1) conservation plan that specifies proactive conservation actions; (d) habitat management plans that include potential pool-level modifications during spring and fall to optimize stopover habitat conditions; and (e) continued evaluation of habitat conditions at USACE reservoirs.