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This paper examines the zooplankton abundance and composition along with various environmental factors in Lake Arekit – a shallow freshwater habitat in Ethiopia's rift valley system. Zooplankton samples and specific environmental data were collected by a seasonal campaign (rainy season: June to August) and dry season: March to May 2023) from three sites: inlet area (IA), pelagic area (PA), and macrophyte area (MA). In total, 11 zooplankton taxa from four different groups – rotifera (7 taxa), cladocera (2 taxa), copepod (1 taxa), and ostracoda (1 taxa) – were identified in Lake Arekit. Large-bodied copepoda and cladocera comprised 90% of the zooplankton density in the lake, but small-bodied rotifers dominated the zooplankton diversity. The most noticeable zooplankton in the lake were Mesocyclops aequatorialis, Daphnia barbata, and Cypridopsis vidua. Seasonal difference in the total zooplankton abundance was evident (p < 0.01): being high during the rainy season which was accompanied by an increase in the lake's water temperature and nutrient levels. At MA, where D. barbata predominated, chlorophyll a was relatively low. Chlorophyll a had a strong negative correlation with the abundance of grazing zooplankton, especially with D. barbata (r = −0.563) and C. vidua (r = −0.518). The zooplankton composition and abundance of Lake Arekit reveal a low Shannon diversity index (H') (1.03) and a predominance of a few species, indicating heavy contamination of the lake's water. Moreover, Lake Arekit was determined to be hypertrophic (TSI > 70) using Carlson's trophic index (TSI), which took into account the lake's water transparency, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a. Our results indicated that high densities of Daphnia should be the goal of biomanipulation since they can achieve filtration potentials high enough to enhance the water's clarity in hypereutrophic lake. Even though high D. barbata concentrations cannot address the underlying cause of eutrophication, grazing can assist by lengthening the clear-water stages in a hypertrophic lake – Lake Arekit. The sources of pollution for the lake are the discharge of wastewater from nearby water bottling companies and possibly high nutrient levels from the lake's geological history. Stopping the discharge of wastewater from the nearby commercial industries (the major source of contaminant) into heavily washed open areas and establishing a buffer zone may help manage the water quality of Lake Arekit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi occupy inner plant tissues, which results in various interactions between the fungus and host. Studies on endophytic fungi have been conducted in Korea for over 30 years. This paper summarizes the published results of those studies. The endophytic fungi of approximately 132 plant species in Korea have been studied since the 1990s, resulting in over 118 publications. The host plants featured in these studies comprised 3 species of mosses, 34 species of woody plants, and 95 species of herbaceous plants. At the family level, the most studied plants were members of the Poaceae family, covering 18 species. Regionally, these studies were conducted throughout Korea, but over half of the studies were conducted in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gangwon-do, and Chungcheongnam-do. Relatively few studies have been conducted in a metropolis such as Seoul. We confirmed 5 phyla, 16 classes, 49 orders, 135 families, 305 genera, and 855 taxa of endophytic fungi, excluding Incertae sedis, whose relationship with others are unknown. Most of the endophytic fungi belonged to Ascomycota (93.2%), and a few belonged to Basidiomycota (3.6%). Since the diversity of endophytic fungi differs depending on the host plant, plant tissue, and distribution region, future studies should be conducted on multiple host plants and in various regions. Future studies on endophytic fungi are expected to broaden, including genomics and taxonomic and ecological studies of secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research productivity is expected of academic faculty, and mentoring can facilitate it. This paper presents a framework for using mentoring to develop researchers in health disciplines. We utilized recent literature reviews, and experience developing researchers at an emerging research institution within the Research Centers for Minority Institutions (RCMI) program, to propose a precision mentoring (PM) framework for research development. Although we cannot precisely determine how much improvement was due to the PM framework, over the 4 years of our program, the quality and quantity of pilot project proposals (PPP) has increased, the number of external proposals submitted and funded by PPP investigators has increased, and the number of faculty participating in our program has increased. Surveys distributed to our 2021–22 PPP applicants who did not receive funding (n = 5/6 or 86.7%) revealed that new investigators most frequently sought mentoring related to career guidance (e.g., institutional culture, pre-tenure survival strategies), grant proposal basics (e.g., working with funding agencies, reviewing aims, balancing priorities, and enhancing scientific rigor), and identifying funding opportunities. We recommend shifting the mentoring paradigm such that: (a) mentees are pre-screened and re-screened for their current skill set and desired areas of growth; (b) mentoring occurs in teams vs. by individuals; (c) mentors are trained and rewarded, and (d) attention is paid to enhancing institutional culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vast parts of the Baltic Sea have been mycologically neglected and are still awaiting exploration. Here we summarise earlier records of marine fungi from the Baltic, supplementing them with discoveries from fieldwork in Sweden in 2019. Although marine fungal diversity is clearly attenuated in the brackish water of the Baltic Sea, a substantial number has still been discovered. Here we list 77 species from the Baltic Sea, whereas after a critical assessment a further 18 species have been excluded as records of marine fungi. The species have mainly been identified by their morphological features, supplemented by DNA-based diagnostics. Most of the species have their main distributions in temperate areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the Baltic species discovered here represent far disjunctions to tropical waters while only a very few are until now only recorded for the Baltic Sea. In this paper two species belong in Basidiomycota, while the most ascomyceteous speciose classes are Sordariomycetes (with 42 species) and Dothideomycetes (24). Halosphaeriaceae is the most speciose family in marine habitats, as also in the Baltic Sea, represented here by 29 species. Three species are new to Europe, and in addition 13 to the Baltic Sea and 13 to Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melbourne's population is diverse and predicted to grow rapidly; its infrastructure must reflect these changes. Engineers have a responsibility to create solutions to this phenomenon that cater to the diverse needs of their users. The current political appetite for infrastructure development presents an opportunity to improve Melbourne's ability to accommodate everyone by applying inclusive solutions to infrastructure design, improving the overall sustainability and liveability of Melbourne. In the engineering industry, infrastructure often reflects those designing it, and not the society it intends to serve. This must change if the benefits of infrastructure and associated economic investments are to be fully realised. From a strategic standpoint, social, legislative, economic and political consequences will impact the city long into the future. This paper discusses the extent to which Melbourne is an 'inclusive city' and aims to explore how the city can apply inclusive solutions in the context of diversity and in future infrastructure investment. It considers how opportunities for inclusiveness in infrastructure may be restricted by the homogeneity of the engineering industry, and the importance of fostering diversity in engineering to combat this phenomenon. It suggests practical solutions to achieve a holistic approach to inclusivity, supplementing Melbourne's existing strategic frameworks and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gap between educational outcomes and labour market demand is one of the most important issues concerning researchers and specialists in the field of educational planning and policy-making. Innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and creativity characterize the globalized, high-tech labour markets. Whilst striving for a sustainable future, Oman is still grappling with entrenched, traditional methods of education. These educational methods are incapable of meeting diverse learning needs or producing young people, equipped to readily take their places in the workforce. Structured interviews with key figures in Oman were conducted to gauge the prospect of a vision of education which encompasses alternative schools, programmes and pathways to enhance opportunities for all students and facilitate outcomes that better match demands created by an increasingly sophisticated working environment. This paper is produced at a time when planning is underway for Vision 2040 and provides insight into the challenges and opportunities for alternative education in Oman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:This paper is the product of a two year investigation into the contribution of post-16 education to community cohesion. The investigation took place between 2010 and 2012 and was funded by the University Centre at Blackburn College in England. Fieldwork was undertaken in three East Lancashire colleges and focused on students aged between 16 and 19 years. Purpose: The aims of the paper are to identify the nature of community cohesion initiatives in East Lancashire’s post-16 sector and to establish the extent to which these initiatives are successful in uniting students from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. The paper discusses student attitudes towards community cohesion and the role of further education colleges in shaping these attitudes. Sample: The data were collected from nine in-depth interviews with college lecturers and managers and from a questionnaire survey of 355 students. The research was conducted in two further education colleges and a Roman Catholic sixth form college. All three colleges were overwhelmingly dual-ethnic, with white and Asian students making up the majority of the college populations. Design and methods: The methods used throughout the investigation were threefold: (1) a review of the literature on the role of further education colleges as agents of community cohesion, (2) nine semi-structured interviews with college lecturers and managers, and (3) a closed-response questionnaire distributed to 355 further education students. Results: (1) While all three colleges referred to community cohesion in their policy documents, there was an absence of explicit community cohesion strategies. (2) Although there was clear evidence of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity in the three colleges, there was significant variation in cohesion initiatives. Most students, however, recognised the importance of cohesion and felt that, at the macro level, their colleges operated in an inclusive and cohesive manner. (3) At the more micro level, divisions between students were pronounced, evidenced by very little cross-cultural mixing either in or outside classrooms. (4) While over 50% of the survey respondents were unable to offer examples of cohesion initiatives in which they had been involved, around 45% stated that they had learnt about issues such as equality, diversity and integration during their time at college and that this had had a positive effect on their attitudes. Conclusions: The findings both support and refute the contention that further education colleges can make a worthy contribution to community cohesion. For the most part, levels of cohesion are contingent on recruitment of students from different backgrounds and on the ability of teachers and lecturers to impart positive messages about integration and social unity. At the same time, the investigation exposes a dissonance between the value that students claim to place on community cohesion and their ability and/or desire to bring this cohesion about. These conclusions have important implications for pedagogy and for the professional development of those employed in the post-16 sector. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Responding to violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people worldwide, in the light of the universality of human rights, this paper demonstrates the need, benefits and opportunities for including sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in human rights impact assessment (HRIA) and related impact assessments. The United Nations legal framework (including the 2011 Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) and supporting international legal documents such as the Yogyakarta Principles provide the mandate and basis for this paper. The paper develops a typology of documents related to SOGI aspects in HRIA and provides examples of SOGI-centred HRIA approaches, specifically the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill and post-earthquake disaster relief in Haiti. Our findings identify research-practice gaps in modes and technicalities of the pioneer SOGI-centred HRIA cases, and attest to an absence of methodologies, tools and indicators. We call upon impact assessment practitioners to develop and use tools that are inclusive of gays, lesbians and bisexuals as well as transgender and intersex people. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper explores the complex and shifting dimensions of the social, cultural and bodily differences that impact on learners and their learning. Our theoretical argument proceeds in five stages. First, we build a typology of terms used to classify demographic differences for the purposes of designing, implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of educational institutions and programs: material conditions (social class, locale and family); corporeal attributes (age, race, sex and sexuality, physical and mental abilities); and symbolic representations (language, ethnos, communities of commitment and gendre). Second, we address the paradigms of civic association that modern nation-states have used to negotiate these differences: exclusion, assimilation and an aspirational regime that we call 'civic pluralism'. Third, we explore complications that render the demographic categorizations problematic. Fourth, we propose an alternative and supplementary frame for social and learner differences based on 'lifeworld differences'. Finally, we explore the ways in which civic pluralism might be translated into educational practice. We interleave these theoretical explorations with an analysis developed for an evaluation of an inclusive education program in Roma communities in Northern Greece. The Roma serve as a case study of the complex ways in which categories of difference play out in social and educational reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating a diverse diet is an internationally accepted recommendation for a healthy diet. The food-based dietary guideline (FBDG) “Enjoy a variety of foods” aims to encourage people to consume mixed meals, to increase variety by eating different foods from various food groups, and to alter food preparation methods. This position paper suggests ways of measuring dietary variety, addresses the consequences of poor dietary variety in South Africa, and provides results pertaining to dietary variety in South African children and adults. The literature reveals that dietary diversity is best calculated by means of different food groups, which are based on the traditional eating patterns of the population under investigation. Ideally, the recall period should be three days. Two national surveys in South Africa have provided data on dietary diversity scores (DDS) in adults and children, of 4.02 and 3.6 respectively. It was shown that in children, DDS positively relates to weight-for- height z-scores, with a z-score above zero being achieved when DDS is > 4. However, an energy-dense diet is cheaper and lower in micronutrients and also positively associated with increased body mass index in women. Hence, dietary variety is essential in improving the micronutrient intake of the diet, and is also important in preventing obesity. Household food insecurity in South Africa remains a constraint on the implementation of this guideline. This FBDG should be used in conjunction with the other South African FBDGs, to ensure the sufficient intake of food that contains protective factors and the limited intake of food that is known to increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper considers how textbooks resolve the tension between contradictory goals of promoting a cohesive national identity while teaching respect and equality among diverse social groups in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada. Purpose: The article presents preliminary results of a larger study examining the content of required civic education textbooks in Canada to examine whether and how notions of national identity incorporate the principles of human rights and multiculturalism. Sample: The study draws on curricular material for required high school social science courses in B.C. The sample includes textbooks starting the first year of high school (Grade 8) and covers each year through high school graduation (Grade 12). The central analyses examine the content of 17 core textbooks approved by the provincial government for these courses. Design and methods: This research systematically examines the content of currently approved textbooks for high school social science courses in B.C. Aquestionnaire designed using the principles of content analysis measures textbook emphases on content relevant to human rights, multiculturalism and national identity. Results: This study finds that traditional notions of national identity are reshaped in response to the rise of emphases on human rights and multiculturalism. Rather than depicting national identity as stemming from a common race, ethnicity, language or history, the government pursues four main strategies to simultaneously promote human rights, multiculturalism and a shared national identity: (1) framing human rights and multiculturalism as part of national identity; (2) using pedagogical approaches that promote multiple perspectives; (3)celebrating social and scientific figures and accomplishments as a main source of national pride; and (4) drawing on exogenous sources to affirm state legitimacy. Conclusion: In a context that values diversity and human rights, contemporary sources of national identity can stem from facets of society that can transcend many cultures and emphasise organisational aspects of the nation-state. A main implication is that the inclusion of principles of human rights and multiculturalism into civic education is changing traditional conceptions of national identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livelihood strategies used by households and individuals in rural communities are shaped by human, natural, financial, social and physical capital resources that can be accessed. The ability to diversify livelihoods depends on asset portfolios and the economic shocks that rural households face. The main objective of this paper is to improve understanding of rural livelihood challenges in south-east Zimbabwe and how households in this area diversify livelihoods to cope with these challenges. A cluster analysis of 200 households surveyed in 2008 in the Chiredzi district identified five distinct livelihood strategies: (1) subsistence smallholders/ unskilled workers; (2) subsistence smallholders/nontimber forestry products (NTFPs) harvesters; (3) crop production and NTFPs extraction integrators; (4) commercial smallholders with regular off-farm employment; and (5) specialised commercial livestock producers. Multinomial logit model results showed that the level of education of the household head, value of physical assets, cattle numbers and income, remittances, NTFP income and economic shocks were the main determinants of these livelihood choices. There is also some evidence that those households that were statistically significantly affected by HIV/AIDS shock practised distresspush diversification by harvesting NTFPs. These results suggest that policymakers need to advise rural households on how to improve their risk management capacities, and move from geographically untargeted investments in livelihood assets to a more integrated approach adapted to the asset bases of individual households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The student population across world is increasingly reflective of diverse cultures, religions and ethnicities. This rich diversity may become a challenge for educational leaders, teachers, and policy-makers in the absence of an understanding of diverse sources of knowledge people draw on for directing their beliefs and daily practices. This paper explores the multi-ethnic context in Britain with a focus on Muslim students in English secondary schools, and argues for drawing on diverse ethnic knowledge sources to inform and enrich approaches towards managing diversity. It discusses the concept of Adab derived from Muslim ethics and philosophy, and debates possible contributions of such conceptual adaptations towards improving educational engagement and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species, varieties and area of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) transgenic crops have increased rapidly worldwide in the past 11 years (1996-2006) for economic, environmental and health benefits. However, the ecological risks of Bt transgenic crops were critically highlighted for potential adverse effects on agroecosystems, in particular, non-target effects on soil microorganisms. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important soil microorganisms providing a range of benefits to the majority of crop plants in the agroecosystem, worthy of monitoring for non-target effects of Bt transgenic crops. Bt transgenic crops may affect AMF in many ways during their life with regard to the temporal-spatial relevance between the occurrence of Bt proteins and fungal symbiotic development of AMF. This may lead to an unwelcome surprise with regard to specific abundance and diversity of AMF when Bt transgenic crops are planted continuously. It is concluded that interactions between AMF and Bt transgenic crops at individual and community level are a new urgent soil ecological issue. Some evidence about Bt transgenic crop effects on AMF revealed by recent articles are summarized, and research prospects are highlighted in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper combines published and new collection records to provide a comprehensive list of ant species collected on Tokelau, a Pacific island nation with the world's smallest land area. Twenty-eight ant species have been recorded since the late 1950s, 10 in recent surveys, and the majority of which are tramp species. Known invasive species such as Anoplolepis gracilipes, Monomorium pharaonis, Pheidole megacephala, and Tapinoma melanocephalum are present but currently appear to have a limited distribution on two of the three atolls. There are no ant species endemic to Tokelau, but two Pacific endemics, and 11 Pacific natives; 26 listed ant species are present in Samoa, which is the likely point of origin for most of Tokelau's ant fauna. Pitfall trap collections from three visits between 2002 and 2005 highlight how different sampling intensities and locations alter the species accumulation rate and species richness and diversity estimates. The relationship between total ant species and land area of Pacific islands is linear, but combined with earlier records, this study reports more ant species from Tokelau than the analysis predicts. This study indicates the remote and small nation of Tokelau is as susceptible to invasive species as other larger, more populated, land masses in the Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educators are becoming increasingly sensitive to accommodating the needs of students from diverse backgrounds in their classes while ensuring that learning occurs. Group work often is the vehicle chosen to stimulate participation and positively affect learning. In this paper, we describe the development of parallel case studies related to diversity issues and motivational strategies for use in educational psychology and introductory human resource management courses, the reactions engendered, and issues related to classroom discussion groups. Overall, the cases were effective in stimulating higher-level thinking about real world, diversity-related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]