The Use of the Concept of Ecological Networks in Nature Conservation Policies and Planning Practices

The concept of Ecological Networks is popular in nature conservation policies. This paper reflects on advantages and disadvantages of using this concept in planning and realizing ecological ambitions. It focuses on how the concept is variously interpreted and used by different people. A case study on the Ecological Network and its users in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands shows that concepts can be useful for promoting ideas and uniting people. However, the use of a concept can also lead to misleading consensus and hidden responsibilities, which can frustrate the implementation of the Ecological Networks.     

Trans isomeric octadecenoic acids are related inversely to arachidonic acid and DHA and positively related to mead acid in umbilical vessel wall lipids

Long-chain PUFA play an important role in early human neurodevelopment. Significant inverse correlations were reported between values of trans isomeric and long-chain PUFA in plasma lipids of preterm infants and children aged 1–15 yr as well as in venous cord blood lipids of full-term infants. Here we report FA compositional data of cord blood vessel wall lipids in 308 healthy, full-term infants (gestational age: 39.7±1.2 wk, birth weight: 3528±429 g, mean±SD). The median (interquartile range) of the sum of 18-carbon trans FA was 0.22 (0.13)% w/w in umbilical artery and 0.16 (0.10)% w/w in umbilical vein lipids. Nonparametric correlation analysis showed significant inverse correlations between the sum of 18-carbon trans FA and both arachidonic acid and DHA in artery (r=−0.38, P<0.01, and r=−0.20, P<0.01) and vein (r=−0.36, P<0.01, and −0.17, P<0.01) wall lipids. In addition, the sum of 18-carbon trans FA was significantly positively correlated to Mead acid, a general indicator of EFA deficiency, in both artery (r=+0.35, P<0.01) and vein (r=+0.31, P<0.01) wall lipids. The present results obtained in a large group of full-term infants suggest that maternal trans FA intake is inversely associated with long-chain PUFA status of the infant at birth.     

Consumer confidence in the safety of food in Canada and the Netherlands: The validation of a generic framework

A thorough understanding of consumer confidence in the safety of food and the factors by which this is influenced is necessary for the development of adequate and effective risk management and communication regarding food safety issues. As food chains become globalized, risk management and communication are increasingly applied at international levels. As a consequence, cross-culturally valid theoretical models are needed to investigate consumer confidence in the safety of food. In this study, consumer confidence in the safety of food in Canada and the Netherlands was systematically compared. On the basis of two nationally representative samples, it was examined to what extent differences in consumer confidence between the two countries resulted from differences in the relative importance of the determinants of confidence, and differences in the means of the constructs. No differences between Canada and the Netherlands were found regarding the relative importance of the determinants, which provides support for the generalizability of the framework. However, results indicated that Dutch consumers had a higher level of optimism and a lower level of pessimism regarding the safety of food, which appeared to be mainly related to Dutch consumers’ lower level of concern about factors related to production. The results also indicated cross-national differences in consumer recall of food safety issues in the media.     

Microbial detection and monitoring in advanced life support systems like the international space station

Potentially pathogenic microbes and so-called technophiles may form a serious threat in advanced life support systems, such as the International Space Station (ISS). They not only pose a threat to the health of the crew, but also to the technical equipment and materials of the space station. The development of fast and easy to use molecular detection and quantification methods for application in manned spacecraft is therefore desirable and may also be valuable for applications on Earth. In this paper we present the preliminary results of the SAMPLE experiment in which we performed molecular microbial analysis on environmental samples of the ISS as part of an ESA-MAP project.     

Substituting snacks with strawberries and Sudokus: Does restraint matter?

Objective: Prior research demonstrates that fruit/vegetables and sedentary activities can serve as substitutes for high-calorie snack foods, when the behavioral costs for obtaining snack food increase. The current study investigated if fruit/vegetables are better substitutes for snacks than sedentary activities are and whether individual differences in dietary restraint play a role in how snacks are being substituted. Design: Participants (n = 59) performed a concurrent schedules task, in which fruit/vegetables, sedentary activities, and snacks were simultaneously available. The response requirement for earning snacks increased per trial. Afterward, dietary restraint was measured. Main Outcome Measures: The amount of responses for snacks per trial and the amount of points earned for fruit/vegetables and sedentary activity per trial. Results: When snacks are harder to obtain, participants increased working for both fruit/vegetables and sedentary activities. No differences were found for dietary restraint in the way snacks were substituted. However, high-restrained participants worked harder for snack foods than low-restrained participants. Conclusion: Fruit/vegetables and sedentary activities are both equally viable substitutes for high-calorie snacks. High-calorie snacks have a higher reinforcing value for highly restrained eaters. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prolonged enteroviral infection in a patient who developed pericarditis and heart failure after bone marrow transplantation

We described a patient who developed heart failure and pericarditis after bone marrow transplantation for a hematologic malignancy. The patient died of heart failure complicated by pneumonia. Despite extensive surveillance, an infectious cause for the heart failure was not found while he was alive. In addition, cultures of specimens obtained at autopsy did not reveal a cause for the heart failure. Enterovirus was detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in two samples of pleural fluid that were obtained 21 days apart while he was alive. After the patient died, enteroviral RNA was also detected in his lungs, liver, and spleen, indicating a generalized infection. Analysis of the PCR products revealed sequences sharing close homology with the coxsackie B-like group of enteroviruses. In addition to reporting this case, we review the literature regarding enteroviral infections after transplantation.     

New technology in personnel selection: How recruiter characteristics affect the adoption of new selection technology

The aim of the present field study is to expand the understanding of how characteristics of recruiters relate to their adoption of new selection technology. In two studies, among 198 recruiters, we used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), together with two measures of personality (i.e., openness to experience and neuroticism), two information technology specific individual differences (i.e., personal innovativeness in information technology and computer self-efficacy), and reactions to and actual usage of new technology. Both studies showed that all recruiter characteristics (except openness to experience) relate to perceptions of usefulness and ease of use, and that these perceptions relate to intentions to use new selection technologies. Study 2 showed that recruiter characteristics predict perceptions of usefulness and ease of use over and above established predictors of the TAM. Perceptions of usefulness and ease of use were better predictors of intentions to use new technology than perceptions of face validity, predictive validity, and fairness. Thus, when it comes to the adoption of new selection technology, recruiter characteristics, and perceptions of usefulness and ease of use play an important role.