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Adaptability
Kinds of Adaptability Selected AbstractsADAPTABILITY TO CHANGING TASK CONTEXTS: EFFECTS OF GENERAL COGNITIVE ABILITY, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, AND OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCEPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2000JEFFREY A. LEPINE We examined the extent to which cognitive ability, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience predict decision-making performance prior to and after unforeseen changes in the task context. Seventy-three undergraduates made decisions on a series of 75 problems during a 3-hour computerized simulation. Unbeknownst to participants, the rules used in determining correct decisions changed after problems 25 and 50. Effects of the individual differences on decision-making performance became significantly stronger after the changes. Only cognitive ability explained variance in prechange performance. Individuals with higher cognitive ability made better decisions. After the change, the cognitive ability effect increased and the effects of Conscientiousness and Openness became statistically significant. As expected, those with high Openness made better decisions. Unexpectedly, those with low Conscientiousness made better decisions. Subsequent analyses revealed that this surprising effect for Conscientiousness was due to the traits reflecting dependability (i.e., order, dutiful-ness, deliberation) rather than volition (i.e., competence, achievement striving, self-discipline). [source] What can dropouts teach us about retention in eating disorder treatment studies?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 7 2007Renee Rienecke Hoste PhD Abstract Objective: To describe strategies used to retain adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN) in a randomized clinical trial, and to compare treatment completers and dropouts on baseline demographic and symptom severity information. Method: Adolescents with BN (N = 80) completed a demographic questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Examination, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, and Beck Depression Inventory prior to beginning treatment. Results: Several strategies were used to promote treatment retention (e.g., encouraging parental involvement in treatment, prompt rescheduling of cancelled appointments). Six participants (7.50%) voluntarily dropped out of treatment and three additional participants (3.75%) were asked to terminate treatment for medical/psychiatric reasons. Compared with treatment completers, noncompleters reported significantly longer duration of illness (p < .01). Sixty-two percent of treatment completers and only 22% of dropouts were from intact families. Conclusion: Examining factors related to retention in adolescent treatment trials is important, and could be utilized to improve retention in adult studies where drop out rates are higher. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Stability and Adaptability of Cultivars in Non-balanced Yield Trials.JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 4 2002Comparison of Methods for Selecting, High Oleic' Sunflower hybrids for Grain Yield, Quality Abstract The best-yielding and most stable cultivars are identified by growing cultivars in different environments. The stability of grain-quality traits has been less thoroughly investigated than the stability of grain yield. High-oleic hybrids of sunflower have been available on the Argentinian seed market for several years. Research on the stability of these genotypes is scarce. The objectives of this work were (i) to compare, using three different methods, the stability and adaptability of high-oleic hybrids for grain yield and oil and oleic acid contents, and (ii) to explore the advantages and disadvantages of each method in selecting stable or adapted genotypes with high grain yield and high quality. Stability and adaptability analyses were performed on results for grain yields and oil and oleic acid contents of 35 high-oleic sunflower hybrids from 17 comparative yield trials conducted over 2 years in Argentina. Stability was estimated using two methods: Fisher's protected least significant difference (LSD) test, which compared hybrids with the best-yielding hybrid in each environment, and the test of relative yield (RY), which uses standard deviation as the measure of stability. Adaptability was estimated using Piepho's method of ,multiple comparisons with the best'. These three methods can be applied to unbalanced data. Piepho's method made little discrimination amongst the hybrids. The LSD and RY tests coincided in classifying the hybrids as stable and unstable in 85 % of cases for grain yield and 76 % for oil content. It is concluded that the most convenient method depends on characteristics of the experimental design and of variability of the evaluated trait. Results from the LSD test depend on the number of environments in which the cultivar is tested. The RY method is valuable for classifying some cultivars as high-yielding and stable, avoiding the problem of high-yielding environments biasing the general average. Use of both methods together could be effective for classifying hybrids when the number of environments is adequate. Zusammenfassung Stabilität und Adaptabilität von Kultivaren in nicht balancierten Ertragsversuchen. Methodenvergleich für Kornertrag und Qualität in ölsäurereichen-Sonnenblumen Höchste Erträge und Stabilität von Kultivaren werden durch Teste in verschiedenen Umwelten ermittelt. Stabilität der Qualitätseigenschaften des Korns sind bisher weniger untersucht worden als Stabilität des Kornertrages. Ölsäurereiche Hybriden von Sonnenblumen sind auf dem argentinischen Saatgutmarkt während der letzten Jahre angeboten worden. Untersuchungen zur Stabilität dieser Genotypen sind selten. Ziele dieser Arbeit waren es (i) drei unterschiedliche Methoden im Hinblick auf ihre Eignung für die Messung von Stabilität und Adaptabilität von ölsäurereichen Hybriden hinsichtlich Kornertrag, Öl- sowie Ölsäuregehalte zu vergleichen, und (ii) die Vorteile und Nachteile dieser Methoden zu analysieren, die eine Selektion stabiler und angepasster Genotypen mit hohem Kornertrag und hoher Qualität erlauben. Eine Analyse für Stabilität und Adaptabilität wurden aufgrund der Ergebnisse für Kornertrag, Öl- sowie Ölsäuregehalte von 35 Sonnenblumen, als Hybriden mit hohem Ölgehalt, auf der Grundlage von 17 vergleichenden Ertragsversuchen, die während zwei Jahren in Argentinien durchgeführt wurden, vorgenommen. Die Stabilität wurde unter Verwendung von zwei Methoden bestimmt: Der ,protected-LSD-Test' von Fisher, mit dem die Hybriden mit ertragshöchsten in jeder Umwelt verglichen werden; ferner der Test mit einem Vergleich des relativen Ertrags (RY), bei dem die Standardabweichung als Maß für die Stabilität verwendet wird; schließlich wurde die Adatabilität mit Piephos Methode eines multiplen Vergleichs mit der Besten durchgeführt. Die drei Methoden können nicht bancierten Daten angewendet werden. Piephos Methode ergab eine geringe Diskrimination für die Hybriden. LSD und RY stimmten bei einer Klassifizierung der Hybriden als stabile und nicht stabile in 85 % der Fälle hinsichtlich Kornertrag und 76 % für Ölgehalt überein. Es wird angenommen, dass geeignetere Methoden von den Eigenschaften der Experimentstruktur und der Variabilität der bewerteten Eigenschaften abhängen. Die Ergebnisse des LSD-Tests sind von der Anzahl der Umwelten abhängig, in denen die Kultivare getestet wurden. Die RY-Methode ist wertvoll, um einige Kultivare als hochertragreich und stabil zu klassifizieren, wobei der Einfluss hochertragreicher Umwelten zum Gesamtmittelwirt vermieden wird. Eine gemeinsame Anwendung der beiden Methoden könnte nützlich sein, um Hybriden zu klassifizieren, wenn eine geeignete Anzahl von Umwelten gegeben ist. [source] Educating Adaptable Minds: How Diversified Are the Thinking Preferences of Interior Design Students?JOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 3 2010Jason Meneely M.S. This study profiled the thinking style preferences of undergraduate interior design students to assess their propensity for employing a wide range of thinking processes. Do interior design students comfortably adapt their thinking across styles or do more entrenched patterns exist within the population? The Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument was administered to 81 undergraduate interior design students from two programs accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Findings indicated that interior design students prefer conceptual, integrative, and expressive modes of thinking but may overlook or avoid analytical, critical, and logical modes. Adaptability between modes of thinking was consistent with normative populations. Educational implications and curricular strategies are discussed. [source] Factors associated with resilience of school age children with cancerJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 7-8 2010Dong H Kim Aim: To identify factors associated with resilience of school age children with cancer. Methods: The participants were 74 children, 10,15 years old who were diagnosed with cancer at least 6 months prior to data collection. The instruments used were; a self-reported questionnaire on resilience, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III, measurements of relationship with friends and teachers. Descriptive, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to analyse the data. Results: The average score for resilience was 98.49 (range: 32,128). There was no statistically significant relationship with resilience for age, gender, religion, existence of siblings, mother's age, academic performance, duration of illness or type of cancer. In bivariate analysis, family adaptability and cohesion (r= 0.535, P < 0.001), relationship with friends (r= 0.520, P < 0.001) and teachers (r= 0.318, P < 0.01) were significantly related to resilience. However, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that only family function (,= 0.257, P < 0.05) and relationship with friends (,= 0.581, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with resilience. Conclusions: School age children with cancer who reported higher family function and positive relationships with friends showed higher resiliency than their counterparts. Thus, it is important to help the families of children with cancer to enhance family function and help children to adjust to school re-entry by maintaining ties with school friends and teachers during treatment. Development of counselling programmes for parents to promote family adaptation and cohesion and educational programmes for classmates and teachers are recommended. [source] Book review: Evolution of Communicative Flexibility: Complexity, Creativity, and Adaptability in Human and Animal CommunicationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Klaus Zuberbühler No abstract is available for this article. [source] Psychopathology in female juvenile offendersTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 6 2004Angela Dixon Background:, The aim was to document the spectrum of present and lifetime psychological disorders in female juvenile offenders, and to examine the relations between mental health status and socio-demographic, family and trauma variables. Method:, One hundred juvenile offenders were matched with a comparison group of 100 females on age and socioeconomic status (SES). Psychological profiles and trauma histories of both groups were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children , Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) and family functioning was assessed with the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale II (FACES II) self-report measure. Results:, Rates of psychopathology were higher for offenders than non-offenders (p < .001), with particularly high levels of conduct disorder (91% v.1%, p < .001), substance abuse disorders (85% v. 5%, p < .001), depression (55% v. 25%, p < .001) and posttraumatic stress disorder (37% v. 4%, p < .001). In the offenders, 78% met the criteria for three or more diagnoses. The number of psychiatric diagnoses was the most significant factor associated with offender status (OR = 21.26, p < .001). Conclusions:, There is a high prevalence of psychological disorder in females in juvenile justice custody and this has a very strong association with offender status. Because these co-morbid disorders are treatable, there is a clear opportunity to intervene to decrease psychological distress. [source] Helical Bis(N-Confused Porphyrins) with Subunits Fused by Double Orthometalation with Platinum: Adaptability of an Apparently Rigid System,ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE, Issue 46 2009Piotr Starr und doch flexibel: Wegen der Flexibilität der Porphyrinringe gelingen Racemisierung oder chirale Induktion auch noch bei helicalen metallierten N-invertierten Biporphyrinen, obwohl das Bipyrrolfragment starr ist. Die Porphyrine sind peripher doppelt mit Platin(II) orthometalliert, und einige Produkte ihrer oxidativen Addition wurden ebenfalls erhalten (siehe die Strukturen des Iodmethyladdukts: grau und braun C; blau N; orange Pt; violett I). [source] Adaptability and selectivity of human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan agonists revealed from crystal structuresACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 8 2009Takuji Oyama Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the nuclear hormone receptor family, which is defined as transcriptional factors that are activated by the binding of ligands to their ligand-binding domains (LBDs). Although the three PPAR subtypes display different tissue distribution patterns and distinct pharmacological profiles, they all are essentially related to fatty-acid and glucose metabolism. Since the PPARs share similar three-dimensional structures within the LBDs, synthetic ligands which simultaneously activate two or all of the PPARs could be potent candidates in terms of drugs for the treatment of abnormal metabolic homeostasis. The structures of several PPAR LBDs were determined in complex with synthetic ligands, derivatives of 3-(4-alkoxyphenyl)propanoic acid, which exhibit unique agonistic activities. The PPAR, and PPAR, LBDs were complexed with the same pan agonist, TIPP-703, which activates all three PPARs and their crystal structures were determined. The two LBD,ligand complex structures revealed how the pan agonist is adapted to the similar, but significantly different, ligand-binding pockets of the PPARs. The structures of the PPAR, LBD in complex with an ,/,-selective ligand, TIPP-401, and with a related ,-specific ligand, TIPP-204, were also determined. The comparison between the two PPAR, complexes revealed how each ligand exhibits either a `dual selective' or `single specific' binding mode. [source] Mobile Agent Computing Paradigm for Building a Flexible Structural Health Monitoring Sensor NetworkCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2010Bo Chen While sensor network approach is a feasible solution for structural health monitoring, the design of wireless sensor networks presents a number of challenges, such as adaptability and the limited communication bandwidth. To address these challenges, we explore the mobile agent approach to enhance the flexibility and reduce raw data transmission in wireless structural health monitoring sensor networks. An integrated wireless sensor network consisting of a mobile agent-based network middleware and distributed high computational power sensor nodes is developed. These embedded computer-based high computational power sensor nodes include Linux operating system, integrate with open source numerical libraries, and connect to multimodality sensors to support both active and passive sensing. The mobile agent middleware is built on a mobile agent system called Mobile-C. The mobile agent middleware allows a sensor network moving computational programs to the data source. With mobile agent middleware, a sensor network is able to adopt newly developed diagnosis algorithms and make adjustment in response to operational or task changes. The presented mobile agent approach has been validated for structural damage diagnosis using a scaled steel bridge. [source] Rapid humanitarian assessments and rationality: a value-of-information study from Iraq, 2003-04DISASTERS, Issue 1 2007Aldo Benini Rapid assessments are one of the standard informational tools in humanitarian response and are supposed to contribute to rational decision-making.1 The extent to which the assessment organisation itself behaves rationally, however, is an open question. This can be evaluated against multiple criteria, such as the cost and value of the information it collects and its ability to adapt flexibly design or samples when the survey environment changes unforeseeably. An unusual data constellation from two concurrent recent (2003,04) rapid assessments in northern Iraq permits us to model part of the actual assessment behaviour in terms of geographical, community and prior substantive information attributes. The model correctly predicts the decisions, in 79 per cent of the 2,425 local communities in focus, that data collector teams in the Emergency Mine Action Survey made to visit or not to visit. The analysis demonstrates variably rational behaviour under conditions of insecurity, repeated regrouping and incomplete sampling frames. A pronounced bias towards very small rural settlements is irrational for the overall results, but may be a rational strategy of individual survey workers seeking to prolong their employment. Implications for future assessments are sketched in the areas of tools for urban surveys, greater adaptability, including early feedback from users, and sensibility to value-of-information concepts. [source] Strategies of family farms to strengthen their resilienceENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2010Ika Darnhofer Abstract Resilience thinking offers a framework to emphasize dynamics and interdependencies across time, space and domains. It is based on understanding social,ecological systems as complex, and future developments as unpredictable, thus emphasizing adaptive approaches to management. In this paper the four clusters of factors that have been identified as building resilience in large-scale social,ecological systems are applied at the farm level. Suggestions on how these factors could be operationalized at the farm level are derived from workshops held with family farmers in Austria. The results show that farmers understand change as unpredictable and unfolding, have a number of strategies to ensure the flexibility and adaptability of their farm and build extensive networks to diversify information and income sources. However, these strategies, while ensuring adaptability and transformability, compete for scarce resources. The farmers thus face trade-offs between strategies that ensure the adaptive capacity of their farm over the long term and those ensuring profitability over the short term. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] The need for adaptability in EU environmental policy design and implementationENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 5 2001Matthieu Glachant Is the application of the EU environmentally policy satisfying in the field? In particular, are the environmental objectives set in the directives met? This paper explores the issue of the effectiveness of the European environmental policy. It is based on the results of a recent study, which has consisted in evaluating the implementation of three pieces of EU environmental legislation in France, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom. The legislation studied was Directive 89/429 regulating atmospheric emissions from domestic waste incinerators, Directive 88/609 dealing with SO2 and NOx emissions from large combustion plants (LCPs) and Council Regulation 1836/93 concerning the voluntary participation of industrial companies in an EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The result of the study suggests that simply posing the problem in terms of ,implementation deficit' is not sufficient. In fact, over-compliance with directive goals is even observed in certain cases. By contrast, the evaluation suggests the prevalence of interactions between the considered implementation process and other parallel policy processes at the implementation stage. The study shows that this interplay between policies has a huge impact on implementation environmental results, which can be either positive or negative. Based on this statement, an important question for EU policy is how implementation can efficiently cope with such interactions, which means finding ways to maximize potential synergies, or alternatively to reduce inconsistencies, with the other policy components. Given that policy interactions are difficult to predict at the policy formulation stage of the policy, adjustments necessarily occur at the implementation stage. In this context, implementing EU environmental policy requires policy systems able to adjust at low costs. In this paper, this property is called adaptability and is given a precise content. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment [source] Functional Adhesive Surfaces with "Gecko" Effect: The Concept of Contact Splitting,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Marleen Kamperman Abstract Nature has developed reversibly adhesive surfaces whose stickiness has attracted much research attention over the last decade. The central lesson from nature is that "patterned" or "fibrillar" surfaces can produce higher adhesion forces to flat and rough substrates than smooth surfaces. This paper critically examines the principles behind fibrillar adhesion from a contact mechanics perspective, where much progress has been made in recent years. The benefits derived from "contact splitting" into fibrils are separated into extrinsic/intrinsic contributions from fibril deformation, adaptability to rough surfaces, size effects due to surface-to-volume ratio, uniformity of stress distribution, and defect-controlled adhesion. Another section covers essential considerations for reliable and reproducible adhesion testing, where better standardization is still required. It is argued that, in view of the large number of parameters, a thorough understanding of adhesion effects is required to enable the fabrication of reliable adhesive surfaces based on biological examples. [source] QUANTITATIVE GENETIC VARIATION IN POPULATIONS OF AMSINCKIA SPECTABILIS THAT DIFFER IN RATE OF SELF-FERTILIZATIONEVOLUTION, Issue 5 2009Magdalena P. Bartkowska Self-fertilization is expected to reduce genetic diversity within populations and consequently to limit adaptability to changing environments. Little is known, however, about the way the evolution of self-fertilization changes the amount or pattern of the components of genetic variation in natural populations. In this study, a reciprocal North Carolina II design and maximum-likelihood methods were implemented to investigate the genetic basis of variation for 15 floral and vegetative traits in four populations of the annual plant Amsinckia spectabilis (Boraginaceae) differing in mating system. Six variance components were estimated according to Cockerham and Weir's "bio" model c. Compared to the three partially selfing populations, we found significantly lower levels of nuclear variance for several traits in the nearly completely self-fertilizing population. Furthermore, for 11 of 15 traits we did not detect nuclear variation to be significantly greater than zero. We also found high maternal variance in one of the partially selfing populations for several traits, and little dominance variance in any population. These results are in agreement with the evolutionary dead-end hypothesis for highly self-fertilizing taxa. [source] Integrating E-Business XML Business Forms and Rule-Based Agent TechnologiesEXPERT SYSTEMS, Issue 5 2001Tod Sedbrook This study investigates the role of extensible mark-up language (XML) business forms and agent-based computing to support negotiation, management and implementation of inter-organization business processes. We explore recently proposed standards for representing artificial agent exchanges through rule-based inference. An XML representational syntax for standard business forms is developed and applied to augment rule-based agents. A prototype investigates ways to combine knowledge-based agents and business forms to assist business and customers in Web-based conference registration. The implementation helps guide customer decisions and the combination of business forms and rules promotes understandability, testability and adaptability of the registration system. [source] Acculturation and Latino Family Processes: How Cultural Involvement, Biculturalism, and Acculturation Gaps Influence Family Dynamics,FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 3 2008Paul R. Smokowski Abstract: This study investigated how adolescent and parent acculturation (culture-of-origin and U.S. cultural involvement, biculturalism, acculturation conflicts, and parent-adolescent acculturation gaps) influenced family dynamics (family cohesion, adaptability, familism, and parent-adolescent conflict) in a sample of 402 Latino families from North Carolina and Arizona. Multiple regression and hierarchical linear models suggested that culture-of-origin involvement and biculturalism were cultural assets related to positive outcomes, whereas acculturation conflict was inversely related to positive family dynamics and positively related to parent-adolescent conflict. Parent-adolescent acculturation gaps were inversely associated with family cohesion, adaptability, and familism but were unrelated to parent-adolescent conflict. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed. [source] Global constraints on rural fishing communities: whose resilience is it anyway?FISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 1 2007Martin D Robards Abstract Sustaining natural resources is regarded as an important component of ecological resilience and commonly assumed to be of similar importance to social and economic vitality for resource-dependent communities. However, communities may be prevented from benefiting from healthy local resources due to constrained economic or political opportunities. In the case of Alaskan wild salmon, the fisheries are in crisis due to declining economic revenues driven by the proliferation of reliable and increasingly high-quality products from fish farms around the world. This stands in contrast with many of the world's wild-capture fisheries where diminished biological abundance has led to fishery collapse. Furthermore, increasing efficiency of salmon farm production, globalization, and dynamic consumer preferences, suggests that the wild salmon industry will continue to be challenged by the adaptability, price and quality of farmed salmon. Conventional responses to reduced revenues by the wild-capture industry have been to increase economic efficiency through implementing a range of entry entitlement and quota allocation schemes. However, while these mechanisms may improve economic efficiency at a broad scale, they may not benefit local community interests, and in Alaska have precipitated declines in local ownership of the fishery. To be viable, economic efficiency remains a relevant consideration, but in a directionally changing environment (biological, social or economic), communities unable to procure livelihoods from their local resources (through access or value) are likely to seek alternative economic opportunities. The adopted strategies, although logical for communities seeking viability through transformation in a changing world, may not be conducive to resilience of a ,fishing community' or the sustainability of their wild fish resources. We use a theoretically grounded systems approach and data from Alaska's Bristol Bay salmon fishery to demonstrate feedbacks between global preferences towards salmon and the trade-offs inherent when managing for the resilience of wild salmon populations and human communities at different scales. [source] Comprehensive geriatric assessment of elderly highlanders in Qinghai, China I: Activities of daily living, quality of life and metabolic syndromeGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2009Kozo Matsubayashi Aim: To reveal the comparison of comprehensive geriatric functions of elderly highlanders in Qinghai Plateau in China among three different ethnic groups. Methods: Activities of daily living (ADL), screening-based depression, quality of life (QOL) and checking-up of metabolic syndrome including community-based oral glucose tolerance test were assessed in 393 community-dwelling elderly subjects aged 60 years or more (247 Han elderly subjects, 49 Mongolian ones and 97 Tibetan ones). Results: Tibetan elderly highlanders were more disabled in ADL, but had higher QOL than Han elderly ones in Qinghai Plateau. Blood pressure measurements, rate of hypertension and hemoglobin concentrations in Tibetan elderly highlanders were lower than Han ones. Rates of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in elderly highlanders were relatively lower than other Asian elderly lowlanders. Conclusion: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in elderly highlanders in Qinghai was still not high, however, we should pay attention to its tendency related with socialglobalism in the near future. Further investigation on physiological adaptability to hypoxic environment and human ageing phenomena in a global context may open a new research frontier for ageing science. [source] Penguin responses to climate change in the Southern OceanGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2009JAUME FORCADA Abstract Penguins are adapted to live in extreme environments, but they can be highly sensitive to climate change, which disrupts penguin life history strategies when it alters the weather, oceanography and critical habitats. For example, in the southwest Atlantic, the distributional range of the ice-obligate emperor and Adélie penguins has shifted poleward and contracted, while the ice-intolerant gentoo and chinstrap penguins have expanded their range southward. In the Southern Ocean, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the Southern Annular Mode are the main modes of climate variability that drive changes in the marine ecosystem, ultimately affecting penguins. The interaction between these modes is complex and changes over time, so that penguin responses to climate change are expected to vary accordingly, complicating our understanding of their future population processes. Penguins have long life spans, which slow microevolution, and which is unlikely to increase their tolerance to rapid warming. Therefore, in order that penguins may continue to exploit their transformed ecological niche and maintain their current distributional ranges, they must possess adequate phenotypic plasticity. However, past species-specific adaptations also constrain potential changes in phenology, and are unlikely to be adaptive for altered climatic conditions. Thus, the paleoecological record suggests that penguins are more likely to respond by dispersal rather than adaptation. Ecosystem changes are potentially most important at the borders of current geographic distributions, where penguins operate at the limits of their tolerance; species with low adaptability, particularly the ice-obligates, may therefore be more affected by their need to disperse in response to climate and may struggle to colonize new habitats. While future sea-ice contraction around Antarctica is likely to continue affecting the ice-obligate penguins, understanding the responses of the ice-intolerant penguins also depends on changes in climate mode periodicities and interactions, which to date remain difficult to reproduce in general circulation models. [source] Environmental warming increases invasion potential of alpine lake communities by imported speciesGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2005Angela M. Holzapfel Abstract Global warming increasingly pressures species to show adaptive migratory responses. We hypothesized that warming increases invasion of alpine lakes by low-elevation montane zooplankton by suppressing native competitors and predators. This hypothesis was tested by conducting a two-factor experiment, consisting of a warming treatment (13 vs. 20°C) crossed with three invasion levels (alpine only, alpine+montane, montane only), in growth chambers over a 28-day period. Warming significantly reduced total consumer biomass owing to the decline of large alpine species, resulting in greater autotrophic abundance. Significant temperature-invasion interactions occurred as warming suppressed alpine zooplankton, while stimulating certain imported species. Herbivorous invaders suppressed functionally similar alpine species while larger native omnivores reduced invasion by smaller taxa. Warming did not affect total invader biomass because imported species thrived under ambient and warmed alpine conditions. Our findings suggest that the adaptability of remote alpine lake communities to global warming is limited by species dispersal from lower valleys, or possibly nearby warmer alpine ponds. [source] Cadmium phytoextraction capacity in eight C3 herbage grass speciesGRASSLAND SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008Shamima Sabreen Abstract Grasses are excellent candidates for phytoremediation because of their high biomass production, high adaptability and low management cost. This study assesses interspecific variation of cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction capabilities in eight C3 grass species. Populations of 30-day-old C3 grass species , namely, Agrostis alba, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca pratensis, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis, were grown hydroponically for 15 days with different concentrations of Cd (0, 5, 10 and 50 µM). For each species, shoot biomass, the proportion of growth inhibition (GI, %), shoot Cd concentration and accumulation, shoot nutrient uptake, and the proportion of uptake inhibition (UI, %) of nutrient minerals were evaluated. Effects of Cd application included stunted growth. The GI increased from 5% to 70% with an increase in Cd concentrations. For all Cd treatments, L. multiflorum showed the highest shoot dry biomass. Shoot Cd concentrations negatively affected mineral nutrient uptake. The highest Cd treatment caused UI of various elements of 37,95%. Under 50-µM Cd treatment, Cd accumulation varied by 20 times among species, and L. multiflorum showed the highest Cd accumulation (116.46 µg plant,1). Our results indicate that L. multiflorum exhibited high degrees of both Cd tolerance and Cd phytoextraction capacity among grass species. [source] Seasonal differences in the adaptability of herbage species to environmental variations in a long-term grazing experimentGRASSLAND SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007Yiruhan Abstract Mixtures of orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, redtop, Kentucky bluegrass, and white clover were sown in autumn 1973. Two 8-year grazing experiments were conducted at the National Grassland Research Institute (Nasushiobara, Japan) to determine the effects of grazing intensity and nitrogen levels on pasture ecosystems. These experiments involved two different grazing intensities (1974,1981) and two different nitrogen levels (1982,1989). Large spatiotemporal variations in phytomass due to environmental variations were observed in both experiments. Finlay,Wilkinson analysis was applied to clarify seasonal (monthly) differences in the adaptability of the herbage species, as measured by phytomass, to environmental variations by year and treatments in the two experiments. Seasonality in the adaptability to environments differed greatly among species. In this paper, we examined from livestock farmers' standpoint whether seasonality in adaptability of herbage species in the grazing pasture could be satisfied. A significantly high adaptability was shown for: orchardgrass from May to July and November; tall fescue in April, June and July, and November; redtop and Kentucky bluegrass in April; and Zoysia japonica in September and October. In contrast, perennial ryegrass and white clover exhibited very low adaptability in any season. Z. japonica and weeds such as Pennisetum alopecuroides, Eragrostis ferruginea and Digitaria adscendens, which had invaded from surrounding areas, showed low adaptability, except in autumn, when they showed moderate adaptability. [source] Evaluating the adaptability of herbage species to environmental variation through a long-term grazing experimentGRASSLAND SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005Yiruhan Abstract Mixtures of orchard grass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, redtop, Kentucky bluegrass and white clover were sown in the autumn of 1973. Two 8-year grazing experiments were carried out at the National Grassland Research Institute (Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan) to determine the effects of grazing intensity and nitrogen levels on the pasture ecosystem: two different grazing intensities (1974,1981) and two different nitrogen levels (1982,1989). Large temporal and spatial variations in phytomass were observed in both experiments. To clarify the adaptability of the phytomass of the herbage species to environmental variations in year, season and treatments, we re-examined the data obtained in these two experiments using a Finlay-Wilkinson analysis. Orchard grass and tall fescue achieved significantly higher phytomass in a more fertile environment in that they showed a high adaptability to environmental variation. Redtop and Kentucky bluegrass showed an increase in phytomass proportional to environmental improvement. The phytomass performances of perennial ryegrass and white clover were almost independent of environmental variation in that their adaptability was low. Finally, Zoysia japonica and weeds such as Pennisetum alopecuroides and Digitaria adscendens, which were invaders from the surrounding areas to the experimental site, were not observed in the pasture during the first 8-year period; during the second 8-year period, they showed moderate adaptability. [source] Toward a More Embedded Production System?GROWTH AND CHANGE, Issue 3 2009Automotive Supply Networks, Localized Capabilities in Poland ABSTRACT The article addresses the embeddedness of automotive production in Poland in terms of supply networks. A comprehensive analysis of more than 550 suppliers, supported by company interviews, shows that foreign-owned producers become embedded in Poland in the automotive supplier networks they have largely created themselves. Numerous local suppliers gain access to export markets and become integrated in a Europe-wide production system. This trend has been accompanied by significant upgrading of foreign affiliates and domestic firms in terms of product quality, cost efficiency, adaptability, and fast response, but far less in nonproduction competences such as R&D. It is argued that the competences of automotive suppliers in Poland are built upon the localized capabilities, which are a product of the dynamic interplay between the activity of foreign firms and the changing local environment comprising various stakeholders. The localized capabilities constitute elements of a company's sunk costs and are embedding automotive producers in Poland. At the same time, the dependence on decisions and innovations from abroad and the limited development of local design and brands may constrain the future role of suppliers from the semiperipheral economy of Poland. [source] Simulation of coherent structures in turbulent boundary layer using Gao,Yong equations of turbulenceHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 5 2004Bo Liu Abstract The equations of incompressible turbulent flow developed by the Gao,Yong turbulence model have two important features. First, they do not contain any empirical coefficients or wall functions. Second, the series representation of turbulence energy equation reflects multi-scale structures of the nonlinearity of turbulence, and, therefore, is capable of describing both statistical mean flows and the coherent structures. This paper presents some simulation results of a two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer with zero pressure gradient based on Gao,Yong equations of turbulence. With a staggered grid arrangement, an incompressible SIMPLE code was used in the simulations. The simulated coherent structures have verified the adaptability of the newly derived equations to real intermittent turbulent flows. The effect of the orders of the energy equation and computational grid scales on the detection of coherent structures is also investigated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 33(5): 287,298, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20019 [source] Adaptation and communicative design.HUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Issue 1 2001Patterns of interaction in truthful, deceptive conversations Two theoretical frameworks that examine the nature of adaptability and mutual influence in interaction, interpersonal deception theory and interaction adaptation theory, were used to derive hypotheses concerning patterns of interaction that occur across time in truthful and deceptive conversations. Two studies were conducted in which senders were either truthful or deceptive in their interactions with a partner who increased or decreased involvement during the latter half of the conversation. Results revealed that deceivers felt more anxious and were more concerned about self-presentation than truthtellers prior to the interaction and displayed less initial involvement than truthtellers. Patterns of interaction were also moderated by deception. Deceivers increased involvement over time but also reciprocated increases or decreases in receiver involvement. However, deceivers were less responsive than truthtellers to changes in receiver behavior. Finally, partner involvement served as feedback to senders regarding their own performance. [source] Evaluation of best system performance: Human, automated, and hybrid inspection systemsHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 2 2003Xiaochun Jiang Recently, 100% inspection with automated systems has seen more frequent application than traditional sampling inspection with human inspectors. Nevertheless, humans still outperform machines in most attribute inspection tasks. Because neither humans nor automation can achieve superior inspection system performance, hybrid inspection systems where humans work cooperatively with machines merit study. In response to this situation, this research was conducted to evaluate three of the following different inspection systems: (1) a human inspection system, (2) a computer search/human decision-making inspection system, and (3) a human/computer share search/decision-making inspection system. Results from this study showed that the human/computer share search/decision-making system achieve the best system performance, suggesting that both should be used in the inspection tasks rather than either alone. Furthermore, this study looked at the interaction between human inspectors and computers, specifically the effect of system response bias on inspection quality performance. These results revealed that the risky system was the best in terms of accuracy measures. Although this study demonstrated how recent advances in computer technology have modified previously prescribed notions about function allocation alternatives in a hybrid inspection environment, the adaptability of humans was again demonstrated, indicating that they will continue to play a vital role in future hybrid systems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 13: 137,152, 2003. [source] Hold the Line: An Examination of Line vs.HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2001Staff Differences Despite common perceptions about the differences between line and staff personnel, few studies have provided answers as to which group is more effective. This study explores in detail key differences in managerial strengths between 46 line managers and 52 staff professionals in one of the fastest growing, highly service-oriented retail organizations in the United States. Using behavioral data from a developmental multirater feedback effort, results suggest that staff personnel were more modest and accurate in their self-assessments, while line managers were more service-oriented but significantly weaker at relationships, openness to new ideas, demonstrating respect, and adaptability to change. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] An observational measure of children's behavioural style: Evidence supporting a multi-method approach to studying temperamentINFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2004Jennifer Karp Abstract This study demonstrates the potential utility of the Behavioural Style Observational System (BSOS) as a new observational measure of children's behavioural style. The BSOS is an objective, short and easy to use measure that can be readily adapted to a variety of home and laboratory situations. In the present study, 160 mother,child dyads from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project (CLRP) were observed during an 11-min behavioural sample. Videotaped interactions were coded using the BSOS for children's mood, activity level, vocal reactivity, approach to toys, mood consistency and adaptability. Comparisons between the BSOS observational ratings and mothers' ratings of the child on the EAS Temperament Survey (EAS) provided support for modest congruence between these two measurement systems, and revealed a differential predictive pattern of children's functioning. Specifically, the observation-based BSOS predicted children's cognitive performance and adaptive behaviour during testing, whereas the mother-rated EAS predicted maternal ratings of children's internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems. Both measures were found to independently predict mothers' ratings of parenting stress. Overall, the findings imply that neither observational measures nor maternal ratings alone are sufficient to understand children's behavioural style, and that comprehensive evaluations of children's temperament should optimally include both types of measures. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||