Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Dependence of indicators'

Following the 1973 rise in the price of oil, the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations of the Middle East became hosts to hundreds of thousands of foreign workers taking part in the economic development of the region. From the beginning, the employment of migrant workers was seen as a temporary measure, necessary to compensate for the small indigenous populations in the Gulf. The numbers of foreign workers has become so great, that the migrants now constitute a majority of the population in several of the GCC countries. The relative permanence with which foreign workers have now established themselves is of great concern to the host governments. It appears that the insufficient skill-levels and sizes of the national workforces, together with the position the extensive and growing migrant communities hold in the growing Gulf economies point to the continued presence of large foreign populations for some time to come.

The purposes of this study were to examine the prevalence of current substance use and early risk indicators for substance abuse and dependence, and to investigate the relationships among religiousness, current substance use, and early risk indicators among nursing students at seven Seventh-day Adventist colleges. Data for this descriptive study were collected through Efinger's Alcohol Risk Survey (EARS) (Efinger, 1984), the CAGE Questionnaire ( Ewing , 1984), and the Intrinsic/Extrinsic-Revised Scale (Gorsuch & McPherson, 1989). Participants were 241 nursing students enrolled in their first year of nursing courses at seven colleges and universities located across the United States . Findings indicated that 42% of students scored higher than the EARS mean; 24% reported current substance use; and 15% scored in the probable abuse/dependence category of CAGE. Students who reported current substance use and those scoring in the probable substance abuse/dependence category were significantly more likely to score above the EARS median. Intrinsic religiousness demonstrated a significant inverse relationship with current substance use. Significantly lower rates of current substance use were associated with higher rates of attendance at religious services. Respondents who indicated that their religion prohibited alcohol consumption reported significantly lower rates of current substance use than those who answered "No" or "I don't know" to their religion's prohibition of alcohol consumption. A substantial number of nursing students were found to have high numbers of early risk indicators for substance abuse and dependence that warrant intervention. The majority of students who scored in the probable substance abuse/dependence category also had higher EARS scores, thereby increasing their risk for substance impairment. Religious variables appear to have had a mediating influence on current substance use with this sample. Prevention programs should be aimed at risks that are modifiable, thus enabling students to make healthy decisions about using substances.

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ItÂs the aim of this work to shed light on the mayors administration in Ceara concentrating on what they do e.g for social areas and/or building environments but also it analyzes the financial autonomy of the city and the town hall accounts concerning the period from 2006 to 2010. Four signs are sketched in order to combine statics exercises trough panel data to make sure the following: tax increasing contributes to improve the financial autonomy of the cities especially afterwards but also to reduce their dependence to the Federal Union and the States; the search for the tax increasing badly affects the future investments mainly in social areas (education and health), on the other hand it becomes the futures investments more realizable.
O trabalho avalia a gestÃo dos prefeitos cearenses a partir de seus investimentos em Ãreas sociais e de infraestrutura bem como no processo de autonomia financeira municipal considerando os balanÃos das prefeituras entre 2006 e 2010. Quatro indicadores sÃo elaborados e exercÃcios de estatÃstica descritiva combinados a estimaÃÃes em painel permitem constatar que: i) o superÃvit fiscal contribui com o aumento da autonomia financeira municipal nos perÃodos subseqÃentes e ainda com a reduÃÃo da dependÃncia municipal em relaÃÃo à transferÃncia de recursos da UniÃo e dos estados; ii) a busca pelo superÃvit fiscal afeta negativamente os investimentos futuros em Ãreas sociais como educaÃÃo e saÃde mas, por outro lado; iii) o superÃvit fiscal viabiliza os investimentos futuros em infraestrutura das prefeituras.

Resource dependencies have increased substantially at colleges and universities over the years due to economic declines, recessionary periods, and decreased funding from state allocations. The purpose of this study was to advance an understanding of private support for higher education as a source of supplementary funding. As the environment continues to become more competitive for outside resources, institutions of higher education can benefit from more substantive and objective research on private voluntary support to better meet their growing needs for additional resources. Effective financial management requires a greater understanding of the expected size of financial contributions to assist with strategic planning and managing expenditure demands. This is especially true during periods of broad economic downturn when many institutions' revenue sources simultaneously suffer economic shocks through reduced endowment earnings; reductions in state appropriations; and external pressures by students, parents, and other stakeholders to keep tuition rates low. The same economic pressures that affect institutional revenue sources also affect the receipt of charitable contributions. Thus, the relationship between charitable donations and the economy is central to understanding whether these contributions help to stabilize the volatility of institutional revenues. This study examined private giving data reported to the Council for Aid to Education's annual Voluntary Support of Education survey from 1987 to 2012. Only gifts contributed by alumni, foundations, corporations, other individuals, and parents to public and private baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral institutions were considered. Giving data were adjusted through the Consumer Price Index, standardized by enrollment, and correlated with three economic indicators: Average Duration of Unemployment, Employees on Nonagricultural Payrolls, and the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index. The statistical analysis selected to examine each of the four research questions was multiple linear regression used to discover to what relationships exist between economic indicators and private giving to higher education by institutional type, institutional classification, and giving source. This study revealed that differences in private giving exist when correlated to economic indicators. Based on these results, it appears that charitable funding directed to support higher education institutions are based to some extent on resource providers' ability to expend support at particular times in the economic environment. As observed throughout all four research questions, the Average Duration of Unemployment indicator had a larger impact on charitable giving to higher education than did the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index indicator. The results of the Fisher's r to z transformations indicated that the regression model for alumni giving to public higher education institutions was determined to be the statistically strongest prediction model, followed by the regression model for foundation giving to public institutions. While fundraising continues to be only one source of additional funding, it cannot be ignored that the generosity of private donors since the earliest days of this country has helped to create, support and sustain the vital functions of colleges and universities. While the pursuit of private support may have been left primarily to the private institutions over the years, more recent developments in state and government funding patterns to higher education make the constant search for additional support sources a reality for today's public higher education institutions as well. Academic leadership must be cognizant that fiscal flexibility in times of economic prosperity as well as in times of economic downturns can be supplemented by the philanthropic intent of those interested in not only an institution's presence or prestige but also by its impact on students, families, communities, customers, and the economy. Institutions of higher education and their institutional advancement programs can greatly benefit from research studies that provide additional substantive and objective research.

Background: HIV drug resistance is presumed to be inevitable due to the error-prone nature of the virus. However, poor adherence to the antiretroviral drugs is proven to be an impending factor for HIV drug resistance development. Of these two explanations, which is the most common reason for HIV drug resistance?Method: A total of 40 published studies about HIV drug resistance, were retrospectively collected in Pubmed (May 2017), from 36 different countries for this paper. From each study was participants, percentage of HIV drug resistance and HIV-1 subtype extracted for analysis. All studies were than classified by either high-income, middle-income or low-income, based on a country income status, defined by the World Bank. HIV drug resistance was tested against: continents, HIV-1 subtypes, number of study participants, income levels, GDP per capita and EWI’s. All statistical analysis was performed in R: The R project for statistical computing.Result: This paper show, that HIV drug resistance primarily is caused by poor adherence which is closely associated with drug stock out. Highest HIV drug resistance levels was found in middle-income countries. However, number of participants enrolled per study was important for the outcome and this indicates that HIV drug resistance would be higher in low-income countries if larger studied had been carried out in these settings. This means that there is a large unrecorded prevalence of HIV drug resistance in low-income countries.

The diploma thesis deals with the application of statistical methods in assessing selected indicators of the company ABC, Ltd. This work is divided into three parts. The first part explains the terms related to financial indicators, macroeconomic indicators, regression and correlation analysis and also, this part of the work explains the matters of time series. The second part contains an analysis of the current state. Individual analyses of indicators and their predictions are performed in it. Also, there is a research concerning the influence of macroeconomic indicators on the financial performance of ABC, Ltd. In The last part of this diploma thesis, changes are proposed that should lead to the improvement of the current situation of the company.

This paper investigates the relationship between tourism and well being, or quality-of-life, within eighteen counties in Utah. To evaluate the relationship, comparisons of the counties' differing l evel s of tourism versus their levels of welfare are necessary. To make these comparisons, three basic steps were followed. First, a social ordering model was derived. The proposed social ordering model was based upon Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of human needs. By utilizing his theory, both economic and noneconomic indicators were identified, and a basis was provided upon which to judge the differing positions of well-being. Factor analysis was applied to this model in order to aggregate the indicators and derive a single quality-of-life index. Second, measurement of tourism was developed. A direct measurement of the level of tourist activity was not available. An indirect indicator of tourism was estimated by taking the proportion of total gross taxable revenue earned by eating and drinking establishments and taxable room sales. The derived indirect variable was more reflective of comparative tourism dependency levels than of the actual level of tourism. Therefore, the variable was renamed touri sm dependency. Third, the correlation between quality-of-life and tourism dependency was calculated. A Pearson correlation coefficient test was performed from which initial results sugge sted a potentially strong negative relationship between the particular qualifiers of well-being used here and tourism. It was apparent that thE two variables that could be defined by certain available indicators were not perfect measurements of the proposed variables, but aspects or components of the desired variables . Each reflected certain attributes of the proposed variables, but not the total concept. A possible explanation for the strong inverse relationship between the qualifiers of quality of life and tourism in this study may be each county's potential for economic diversification. Other studies have shown that areas that are dependent upon a single resource may experience higher levels of economic, demographic, and social instability as compared to those areas with a more diverse economic base. These factors, which in this model would lead to lower values for the calculated quality -of- life indicator in those counties, were estimated to be more tourist dependent .

On the way towards a more biobased economy, the sustainable use of global wood resources remains a challenge as several trade-offs arise, e.g., from an increased energetic use of wood, an increased use of innovative but probably less recyclable wood composites, or from the need to conserve other forest ecosystem services. The aim of this study is to identify existing environmental indicators and methods for an evaluation of the sustainability of wood products in consideration of all life cycle stages, site-dependent aspects and later use in corporate decision-making. We chose a systematic literature review to answer the research questions explicitly and comprehensively. Qualitative content analysis was used to code indicators and scientific methods according to the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework. The sample (N = 118) is characterized by a high number of life cycle assessment (LCA) case studies. In 51% of all studies, the study authors use a combination of different methods. A total of 78 indicators and 20 site-dependent aspects could be identified in the sample. The study findings represent a first step towards a holistic environmental assessment of wood products.

On the way towards a more biobased economy, the sustainable use of global wood resources remains a challenge as several trade-offs arise, e.g., from an increased energetic use of wood, an increased use of innovative but probably less recyclable wood composites, or from the need to conserve other forest ecosystem services. The aim of this study is to identify existing environmental indicators and methods for an evaluation of the sustainability of wood products in consideration of all life cycle stages, site-dependent aspects and later use in corporate decision-making. We chose a systematic literature review to answer the research questions explicitly and comprehensively. Qualitative content analysis was used to code indicators and scientific methods according to the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework. The sample (N = 118) is characterized by a high number of life cycle assessment (LCA) case studies. In 51% of all studies, the study authors use a combination of different methods. A total of 78 indicators and 20 site-dependent aspects could be identified in the sample. The study findings represent a first step towards a holistic environmental assessment of wood products.

Thesis (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The relationship between various land management practices, soil properties and the soil microbial communities are complex and little is known about the effect of these interactions on plant productivity in agricultural systems. Although it would be advantageous to have a single organism or property that can be used as a measure of soil health, it may not be possible. Soil organisms which include both the microorganisms as well as soil fauna are subjected to the effect of their immediate environment. This microenvironment in turn is determined by the soil properties as well as above ground flora and their interactions. Most soil indicators interact with each other, and these interactions can modify or influence the soil properties. The complexities of the interactions between critical soil indicator values often preclude its practical use by land managers and policy makers. However, soil microbial communities (e.g. diversity and structural stability) may serve as a relative indicator of soil quality. These communities are sensitive to land management practices and changes in the microenvironment. The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the complex relationships by investigating the effect of conventional, integrated and organic apple production systems on the physical, chemical and biological (particularly soil microbial diversity) properties of the soil. Automated Ribosomal Intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) was used to characterise fungal (F-ARISA) and bacterial (B-ARISA) communities from soil samples obtained from an experimental apple orchard in Elgin, Grabouw. The intergenic spacer (ITS) region from the fungal rRNA operon was amplified using ITS4 and fluorescently FAM (6- carboxylfluorescein) labelled ITS5 primers. Similarly, the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region from the bacterial rRNA operon was amplified using ITSR and FAM-labelled ITSF primers. The sensitivity of the technique allowed us to discriminate between the soil microbial communities of the different treatments. From our results we observed significant increase (p < 0.05) in the fungal community diversity between the February and April samples, while the bacterial community diversity was consistent (p > 0.05). Also, treatments with mulch showed a significantly higher microbial diversity than the other treatments at a 5 % significance level. Fungal communities showed significant correlation with the potassium concentration in the soil, while bacterial communities depicted a significant correlation with the soil phosphorous concentration. Based on the results we concluded that different management practices have a significant effect on the soil microbial communities and that these communities are particularly sensitive to small changes in the environment. However, there is still a need to determine what the composition of the soil microbial communities are to be able to correlate our observations with soil health.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verhouding tussen verskillende landboubestuurspraktyke, grondeienskappe en die mikrobiese gemeenskappe in grond is kompleks en weinig is bekend oor die uitwerking van hierdie interaksies op die produktiwiteit van landboustelsels. Alhoewel dit voordelig sou wees om ‘n enkele organisme of eienskap te kan hê wat die gesondheid van grond kan meet, sal dit dalk nie moontlik wees nie. Grondorganismes wat die mikroörganismes sowel as die grondfauna insluit, is onderworpe aan die invloed van hulle onmiddelike omgewings. Hierdie mikro-omgewings op hulle beurt word weer beïnvloed deur die grondeienskappe sowel as die die oppervlak flora en hulle wisselwerkinge. Meeste van die grondaanwysers toon ook wisselwerkinge met mekaar, en hierdie wisselwerkinge kan die grondeienskappe beïnvloed or selfs verander. Die kompleksiteit van die wisselwerkinge tussen kritiese grond aanwysers is meestal die rede waarom dit nie deur grondbestuurders en beleidsmakers gebruik word nie. Dit is ongeag die feit dat grond mikrobiese gemeenskappe (bv. diversiteit en stukturele stabiliteit) mag dien as ‘n relatiewe aanwyser van grondkwaliteit. Hierdie gemeenskappe is sensitief vir bestuurspraktyke en veranderinge in die mikro-omgewing. Die doel van die studie was om die ingewikkelde verhoudings in die grondgemeenskappe te bestudeer en die uitwerking van konventionele, geïntegreerde en organiese appel produksie sisteme op die fisiese, chemiese en biologiese eienskappe (veral die grond mikrobiologiese diversiteit) te bepaal. Geoutomatiseerde Ribosomale Intergeniese Spasie Analise (ARISA) is gebruik om die fungus (F-ARISA) en bakteriese (B-ARISA) gemeenskappe van grondmonsters wat vanaf ‘n proef appelboord in Elgin (Grabouw) verkry is, te bepaal. Die intergeenspasie (ITS) area van die fungus rDNA operon is vermeerder deur die ITS4 en fluoresserende FAM (6-karboxylfluorescein) gemerkte ITS5 inleiers te gebruik. Soortgelyk is die 16S-23S intergeenspasie area van die bakteriese rDNA operon vermeerder deur ITSR en FAM-gemerkte ITSF inleiers te gebruik. Die sensitiwiteit van die tegniek laat ons toe om te onderskei tussen die grond mikrobiese gemeenskappe vanaf verskillende grondbehandelings. Vanuit die resultate kon ons aflei dat daar ‘n toename (p < 0.05) in die fungus gemeenskap diversiteit vanaf Februarie to April was terwyl die bakteriese gemeenskap ‘n konstante diversteit getoon het (p > 0.05). Behandelings met grondbedekking het ook ‘n beduidend hoër mikrobiese diversiteit getoon as ander behandelings. Fungus gemeenskappe het beduidende korrelasies getoon met kalium konsentrasies in die grond, terwyl bakteriese gemeenskappe ‘n beduidende korrelasie getoon het met grond fosfor konsentrasies. Gebaseer op die resultate kon ons aflei dat verskillende bestuurspraktyke ‘n uitwerking kan hê op die grond mikrobiese gemeenskappe en dat hierdie gemeenskappe sensitief is vir klein veranderinge in die omgewing. Dit sal egter nog nodig wees om die spesifieke samestelling van die grond mikrobiese gemeenskappe te bepaal voor ons hierdie waarnemings kan korreleer met grondgesondheid.

Fluctuations in temperature and precipitation amounts due to climate change influence recharge rate of groundwater. Any variations in the amount of precipitation recharge and artificial discharge directly affect groundwater level and so the salt water intrusion rate in the aquifers, which are in contact with sea water. The purpose of this study is to determine the overall historical precipitation recharge trend in Selç
uk sub-basin and to detect whether there is a decrease or increase in recharge amounts due to climate change since 1100 BC. Besides, it covers assessing the future position of the salt water-fresh groundwater interface as a result of possible fluctuations in climate and artificial discharge. For this purpose, numerical density dependent cross sectional groundwater flow with solute transport model was conducted using finite element approach. At first, current salt water-fresh water interface and artificial discharge related head changes in the aquifer were determined. Backward modeling was utilized to obtain concentration distribution in the year 1976 representing the last stage of the undisturbed period. Then, progradation of salt water-fresh water interface since 1100 BC to 1976 was modeled using calibrated parameters and current recharge value. As a result of sea-regression model simulations (1100 BC-1976) less degree of salt water intrusion than that of currently detected in the area was obtained. The result suggests that overall recharge amount in the last 3076 years must have been less than that of 1976. Moreover, future (2010-2099) position of the interface and head changes under the influence of both climate change and increasing water demand were determined. Future model simulations indicate that salt water-fresh water interface moves farther landward. However this movement is mostly due to increasing discharge amount rather than that of climatic changes.

Seasonality influences life history through its effect on the availability of essential resources, with birds timing breeding to occur during peak food availability. Due to density-dependence, investment in breeding is determined largely by the seasonality of food availability, with an increased investment being traded-off against adult survival. A bird's mass acts as an index of a species' foraging environment, because a bird bases its foraging decisions on a trade-off between the risk of predation and the risk of starvation. Under constant predation risk a bird increases its mass as insurance against increased foraging unpredictability. In tropical savannahs day length and temperature remains relatively constant, and there is not a season of increased density-dependent mortality which acts across all species. Thus species have evolved a broad range of life history traits under the same environmental conditions, although how a species experiences seasonality depends largely on its foraging niche. This thesis shows that most savannah species varied their mass across the year, having a reduced mass in the non-breeding season which suggests that foraging remained predictable. Independent of gonad or egg growth they then increased their mass as they started to breed, with the timing of breeding coinciding with peak food availability. Across species in the same foraging niche mass acts as an index of breeding investment, with females increasing their mass more than males. While across species in different foraging niches an increased mass response was associated with higher adult survival, probably because breeding strategy and subsequently adult survival are governed by food limitation. This thesis shows that birds adaptively manage their mass during breeding and that mass is not a result of energetic stress, thus under constant predation risk a bird's mass is a result of foraging predictability as a function of competition for available food and investment in breeding.

La thèse est consacrée à l'étude de modèles bivariés en Fabilité, qui tiennent compte de différents types de dépendance entre composants. Dans un premier temps, nous nous intéressons au cas d'un système formé de deux composants, dont la dégradation est modélisée par un processus de Lévy croissant bivarié (subordinateur bivarié). Sous cette hypothèse, eux études sont faites : l'une sous l'hypothèse de surveillance continue et de réparation parfaite du système, l'autre sous une hypothèse d'inspections périodiques et de réparation imparfaite. Dans un deuxième temps, la thèse est consacrée à un autre modèle de survie bivarié, sous influence d'un environnement stochastique stressant ponctuel. La dépendance entre composants est ici induite par un environnement stressant commun, qui induit des détériorations différentes sur chacun des composants (augmentation du taux de panne pour l'un, du niveau de détérioration pour l'autre). Pour chacun des modèles étudiés, nos résultats montrent l'importance de la prise en compte de la dépendance entre les composants d'un système
The thesis is devoted to the study of bivariate models in reliability, which take into account several types of dependence between components. As a first step, we are interested in a two-component system with accumulating deterioration modeled by a bivariate increasing Lévy process (bivariate subordinator). Under this hypothesis, two different studies are made : one under the assumption of continuous monitoring and perfect repair, the other one under the assumption of periodic inspections and imperfect repair. In a second step, the thesis is devoted to the study of another bivariate survivalmodel, under the influence of a stochastic and stressful environment. The dependence between components is here induced by the common stressful environment, with different incidence on the two components (increment of failure rate for one, of deterioration level for the other). For each of the studied models, our results show the importance of taking into account the dependence between the components of a system

碩士
輔仁大學
應用統計學研究所
97
In former researches of indicator weight, there were the most part of researches about the importance between indicators which were weighted by different algorithmic analyses. Most algorithmic analyses were depended on the importance of indicator itself, not of the people’s mind. Therefore, the main aim of the research is to analyze the difference between the equal weight of respondents and the unequal weight depended on e-dependence of respondents. The research will sift nine influential e-services by analyzing the influence of using e-services on two-dimensional quality model. After ascending ranking the respondents according to their e-dependence of e-services, we will compute their weight of e-dependence which converts the quality of life satisfaction into e-life satisfaction. The findings indicate that the quality of e-life satisfaction (weighted) perform the effects of e-service on the quality of life satisfaction (unweighted) without distorting the original satisfaction. In addition, the quality of e-life satisfaction (weighted) also makes the difference of quality of life satisfaction of different respondents’ characters more obvious.

To better study frequency related effects such as attenuation and tuning, we developed a frequency dependent seismic reflection analysis. Comprehensive tests on full waveform synthetics and observations from the Teal South ocean bottom seismic (OBS) data set confirmed that normal moveout (NMO) stretch could distort both frequency and amplitude information severely in shallow events and far offset traces. In synthetic tests, our algorithm recovered amplitude and frequency information ac-curately. This simple but robust target oriented NMO stretch correction scheme can be used on top of an existing seismic processing flow for further analyses. By combining the NMO stretch correction, spectral decomposition, and crossplots of am-plitude versus offset (AVO) attributes, we tested the frequency dependent workflow over Teal south and Ursa field data sets for improved reservoir characterization. As expected from NMO stretch characteristics, low frequencies have been less affected while mid and high frequency ranges were affected considerably. In seismic attribute analysis, the AVO crossplots from spectrally decomposed prestack data confirmed the improved accuracy and effectiveness of our workflow in mid and high frequency regions. To overcome poor spectral decomposition results due to low signal to noise ratio (S/N) in the Teal South application, we also implemented a substack scheme that stacks adjacent traces to increase S/N ratio while reducing the amount of data to process and increasing the accuracy of the spectral decomposition step. Synthetic tests verified the effectiveness of this additional step. An application to the Ursa, Gulf of Mexico, deep water data set showed significant improvement in high frequency data while correcting biased low frequency information.

碩士
高雄醫學大學
公共衛生學研究所
100
Background：Composition of betel quid is different by region and population. But areca nut is still the main ingredients. Arecoline is the most alkaloids in areca nut, and followed by arecaidine. Although distribution of salivary and urinary areca nut alkaloids is studied, metabolic distribution of alkaloids in the blood after areca nut chewing is unknown. Epidemiological studies pointed out that betel nut chewing may be related to obesity, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney diseases. Study objective：The purpose of this study is the analysis of distributions of blood metabolites of areca nut in different time points after areca nut chewing, and to explore the correlation between the alkaloids (arecoline and arecaidine) concentrations and individual real-time clinical biochemical indicators levels. Methods：Thirty-two healthy volunteers who never chewed areca nut were recruited. Blood samples were collected immediately before and at different time points (30 minutes, 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours) after chewing five areca nut without any other additives. of time course of arecoline and arecaidine in blood was quantified by on-line SPE LC-MS/MS chromatogram. Furthermore, clinical biochemical indicators (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglyceride, GOT, GPT, uric acid and creatinine) levels was detectded at 30 minutes, 1, 2 and 4 hours after areca nut chewing. Box plot were used to describe the distributions of blood metabolites. Multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the alkaloids (arecoline and arecaidine) and individual real-time clinical biochemical indicators. Results：Arecoline with a half-life of 1.31 hours, and the major metabolite was arecaidine with a half-life of 1.86 hours. The highest concentration of both are in the first hour after areca nut chewing. The individual blood arecoline levels exceeded biological threshold (100 ng/ml) stimulating cultured cells at 30 minutes, 1, 2 and 4 hours after areca nut chewing were 56.3 %, 62.5 % and 46.9 %. This study also found that the higher arecoline levels was significantly related to lower HDL (β = - 6.1 mg / dL), and higher LDL (β = 20.5 mg / dL), total cholesterol (beta = 18.8 mg / dL for), GOT (β = 7.2 IU / L) and uric acid (β = 0.7 mg / dL). In addition, the higher ratio of arecoline to arecaidine was significantly related to higher GPT (β = 5.1 IU/L) levels. Conclusion：This study indicates that, high percentage of individual with blood arecoline levels exceeded biological threshold (100 ng/ml) at 30 minutes to 2 hours after areca nut chewing. Arecoline may be associated with the immediate effect of blood lipids, liver function indicators and kidney function indicators. The higher residual rate of arecoline was significantly related to the higher GPT levels.

To maintain the groundwater quality represents a critical concern because of the increasing levels of groundwater contamination globally. This goal is particularly important in arid zones, where due to the scarce rainfall the groundwater is a significant source of freshwater supply to society and ecosystems. Here we follow an ecohydrological approach to derive effortless indicators of the aquifers condition, based on the monitoring of phreatohytic vegetation, a particular case of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs). This is the case of Z.lotus a deciduous arid shrub from North of Africa and Southeast Spain. This study aims to relate the biological condition of Z. lotus with the groundwater condition to explore the feasibility for using vegetation indicators to inform about the salinization levels of groundwater in coastal aquifers. With this goal we: 1) evaluate the salinization levels of an aquifer from the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, by wells sampling; 2) determine the brackish water distance gradient based on the use of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES),the physiological condition of Z. lotus through leaf chemical analysis and spectral vegetation indices (NDVI and NDWI) along a salinity gradient. The results showed that the phreatic level, distance from the sea and therefore the salinity and freshwater available to GDE, are reflected in the leaf chemical composition of Z. lotus. However, salinity levels did not reflected clearly in vegetation greenness (NDVI) and vegetation water content (NDWI), probably because of Z. lotus showed salt tolerance within the range of salinity found in the aquifer. As a conclusion, we propose leaf ion concentration as a good indicator of groundwater salinization, while the spectral indices are good indicators of vegetation health but not for the groundwater salinization. Z.lotus is probably the only terrestrial GDE in the arid zones of Europe and its study is essential for the management and conservation of this ecosystem.
Manter a qualidade das águas subterrâneas constitui uma preocupação crucial devido aos crescentes níveis de contaminação dos lençois freáticos a nível mundial. Este tópico é particularmente importante nas zonas áridas, uma vez que as precipitações, que representam uma fonte importante de abastecimento de água doce subterrânea para a sociedade e para os ecosistemas, são escassas nas zonas áridas. Neste estudo utilizamos uma abordagem ecohidrológica para obter indicadores de esforço da condição dos aquíferos, com base na monitorização da vegetação freatófita, um caso particular de Ecossistemas Dependentes de Águas Subterrâneas (GDEs: Groundwater dependent ecosystems). Como exemplo de vegetação freatófita das zonas áridas analisou-se o Z.lotus que é um arbusto de folha caduca do Norte de África e Sudeste de Espanha. Este estudo teve como objetivo relacionar a estado biológico do Z. lotus com o estado das águas subterrâneas para explorar a viabilidade de utilização de indicadores de vegetação para informar sobre os níveis de salinização das águas subterrâneas dos aquíferos costeiros. Para isso: 1) avaliaram-se os níveis de salinização do aquífero do Parque do Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural, através de amostragem de poços; 2) determinou-se o gradiente de distância de água salobra com recurso a uma sondagem elétrica vertical (SEV), a condição fisiológica do Z. lotus através da análise química foliar e os índices espectrais de vegetação (NDVI e NDWI) ao longo de um gradiente de salinidade. Os resultados mostraram que através da análise química das folhas de Z. lotus foi possivel determinar o nível freático, a distância ao mar, a salinidade e a água doce disponíveis para os GDEs. No entanto, os níveis de salinidade não se refletiram claramente no verdor da vegetação (NDVI) e no teor de água da vegetação (NDWI), provavelmente por Z. lotus apresentar tolerância ao sal dentro da gama de salinidade presente no aquífero. Em conclusão, recomendamos como bom indicador da salinização das águas subterrâneas a concentração de íons nas folhas. Em contrapartida, sugerimos que os índices espectrais de vegetação são bons indicadores da saúde da vegetação, mas não são bons para a quantificação da salinização das águas subterráneas. Z. lotus é provavelmente o único EDAS terrestre nas zonas áridas da Europa e o seu estudo é fundamental para a gestão e conservação deste ecossistema.
Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

This cumulative dissertation is based on the hypothesis that environmental impacts arising from human activities, i.e. exploitation of natural resources, production of goods, use, and disposal, can affect different ecosystems of varying sensitivities due to global production and trade flows. In a holistic environmental assessment it would therefore be ideal to consider the whole life cycle of a product together with the ecosystems affected. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the dominant method for assessing the environmental impacts of a product or service in relation to its functional unit and designed to cover the entire life cycle. However, an LCA model is usually a simplified and abstract picture of the reality applying steady‐state, linear modeling, and respecting spatial and temporal variabilities in natural processes only to a limited extent. This dissertation therefore applies methodologies that go beyond traditional LCA by extending or combining LCA with other interdisciplinary approaches. This cumulative dissertation consists of five research articles that explore the life cycle of three future technologies while taking site‐dependent aspects into account. Since the introduction of future technologies does not depend solely on a positive environmental assessment, the economic dimension of sustainability was also examined where feasible. Articles I and II address the environmental evaluation of wood as a regional resource: first in a conceptual approach based on a systematic literature review and, second, in a case study applying life cycle assessment, comparison of ecosystems, and eco‐design principles. In article III, the benefits of avoiding food waste were investigated for a regional black currant juice production in Germany by applying material flow cost accounting and carbon footprinting. Findings were translated into monetary and ecological metrics to raise awareness and support decision making among juice producers. Articles IV and V set out the challenges of implementing electromobility in public urban transport systems. Due to high investment costs for electric busses and the lack of adequate charging infrastructure available in public spaces, it is imperative to improve the knowledge base for planning and investment decisions. Life cycle assessment and life cycle costing were used in an integrative way to evaluate mobility alternatives for a transport provider in Dresden, while an environmental impact assessment and GIS analysis of existing bus lines revealed routes with a high environmental relief potential if electromobility were to be introduced there.
Die kumulative Dissertation basiert auf der Annahme, dass Umweltauswirkungen durch menschliche Aktivitäten aufgrund globaler Produktion und Handelsströme verschiedene Ökosysteme mit unterschiedlicher Empfindlichkeit beeinflussen können, sei es durch den Abbau natürlicher Ressourcen oder durch die Produktion, Nutzung und Entsorgung von Gütern. Bei einer ganzheitlichen Umweltbewertung wäre es daher ideal, den gesamten Lebenszyklus eines Produkts zusammen mit den betroffenen Ökosystemen zu betrachten. Die Ökobilanz ist die dominierende Methode zur Bewertung der Umweltauswirkungen eines Produkts oder einer Dienstleistung in Bezug auf die funktionelle Einheit und über den gesamten Lebenszyklus. Ein Ökobilanz‐Modell ist in der Regel jedoch nur ein vereinfachtes und abstraktes Bild der Realität, das eine stationäre, lineare Modellierung anwendet und räumliche und zeitliche Variabilität in natürlichen Prozessen nur begrenzt berücksichtigt. Diese Dissertation wendet daher Methoden an, die über die traditionelle Ökobilanz hinausgehen, indem sie diese mit anderen interdisziplinären Ansätzen erweitert oder kombiniert. Die kumulative Dissertation besteht aus fünf Forschungsarbeiten, die den Lebenszyklus von drei Zukunftstechnologien unter Berücksichtigung standortabhängiger Aspekte untersuchen. Da die Einführung von Zukunftstechnologien nicht nur von einer positive Umweltbewertung abhängt, wurde auch die wirtschaftliche Dimension der Nachhaltigkeit untersucht, wo dies sinnvoll und möglich war. Artikel I und II befassen sich mit der Umweltbewertung von Holz als regionaler Ressource, zum einen in einem konzeptionellen Ansatz, der auf einer systematischen Literaturrecherche basiert, und zum anderen in einer Fallstudie, in der die Ökobilanzierung, ein Vergleich von Waldökosystemen und Ökodesign‐Prinzipien parallel angewendet wurden. In Artikel III wurden die Vorteile der Vermeidung von Lebensmittelabfällen für eine regionale Produktion von Johannisbeersaft in Deutschland unter Anwendung der Materialflusskostenanalyse und des Kohlendioxid(CO2)‐Fußabdrucks untersucht. Die Ergebnisse wurden in monetäre und ökologische Kennzahlen umgesetzt, um das Bewusstsein zu schärfen und die Entscheidungsfindung bei den Fruchtsaftherstellern zu unterstützen. In Artikel IV und V werden die Herausforderungen bei der Umsetzung der Elektromobilität in öffentlichen Nahverkehrssystemen dargestellt. Aufgrund der hohen Investitionskosten für Elektrobusse und fehlender Ladeinfrastruktur im öffentlichen Raum ist es unerlässlich, die Wissensbasis für Planungs‐ und Investitionsentscheidungen zu verbessern. Die Ökobilanz und die Lebenszykluskostenrechnung wurden zur Bewertung von Mobilitätsalternativen für einen Verkehrsdienstleister in Dresden eingesetzt. Eine zusätzlich durchgeführte lokale Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung bestehender Buslinien ergab ein hohes Umweltentlastungspotenzial, wenn Elektromobilität eingeführt würde.

The relationship between spawning stock biomass (SSB) and 3 spatial distribution metrics (SDMs), measuring range, concentration, and density, using fisheries independent survey data for 10 demersal Northwest Atlantic fish populations (9 species), show metrics of density offer the best correlate of SSB. The concave, positive relationship between high density area (HDA) and SSB indicates that a decline in HDAs beyond a spatial threshold is associated with disproportionately large SSB declines in 6 populations. HDAs might indicate highly productive areas and/or positive fitness consequences, enhancing the ability of individuals to successfully spawn, locate prey, and evade predators. HDAs can help to assess the status of a population’s spatial structure and serve as a spatial reference point. By comparing spatial reference point locations relative to existing biomass reference points (based on MSY), scenarios are described wherein spatial reference points contribute to biomass reference points and to a precautionary approach to fisheries management.