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The North Sea Benthos Project 2000 was initiated as a follow-up to the 1986 ICES North Sea Benthos Survey with the major aim to identify changes in the macrofauna species distribution and community structure in the North Sea and their likely causes. The results showed that the large-scale spatial distribution of macrofauna communities in the North Sea hardly changed between 1986 and 2000, with the main divisions at the 50 m and 100 m depth contours. Water temperature and salinity as well as wave exposure, tidal stress and primary production were influential environmental factors on a large (North Sea-wide) spatial scale. The increase in abundance and regional changes in distribution of various species with a southern distribution in the North Sea in 2000 were largely associated with an increase in sea surface temperature, primary production and, thus, food supply. This can be most likely related to the North Sea hydro-climate change in the late 1980s influenced by the variability in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Only one cold-temperate species decreased in abundance in 2000 at most of the stations. Indications for newly established populations of offshore non-native species were not found. Differences in macrofauna community structure on localised spatial scales were predominantly found north of the 50 m depth contour off the British coast along the Flamborough Head Front towards the Dogger Bank, off the coast of Jutland and at the Frisian Front. These changes were most likely attributed to stronger frontal systems in 2000 caused by the increased inflow of Atlantic water masses in relation to the hydro-climate change in the late 1980s. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An essential milestone in the development of lidar for biological aerosol detection is accurate characterization of agent, simulant, and interferent scattering signatures. MIT Lincoln Laboratory has developed the Standoff Aerosol Active Signature Testbed (SAAST) to further this task, with particular emphasis on the near- and mid-wave infrared. Spectrally versatile and polarimetrically comprehensive, the SAAST can measure an aerosol sample's full Mueller Matrix across multiple elastic scattering angles for comparison to model predictions. A single tunable source covers the 1.35-5 µm spectral range, and waveband-specific optics and photoreceivers can generate and analyze all six classic polarization states. The SAAST is highly automated for efficient and consistent measurements, and can accommodate a wide angular scatter range, including oblique angles for sample characterization and very near backscatter for lidar performance evaluation. This paper presents design details and selected results from recent measurements., United States Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (Air Force Contract FA8721-05-C-0002)

The ICES Study Group on the North Sea Benthos Project 2000 undertook to integrate recent (1999–2002) macrobenthic infaunal and environmental data from various national sources. The main aim was to compare the outcome with that of the ICES North Sea Benthos Survey conducted in 1986, to identify any significant changes and their likely causes. In the process, the exercise yielded valuable lessons for the conduct of international collaborative programmes, as well as insights into the utility of a range of interpretational tools. These are timely in view of increasing requirements for periodic sea-wide assessments of quality status to meet international obligations, such as those under OSPAR, ICES, HELCOM, and EU auspices for European waters. This paper provides an overview of the work which, in contrast to the 1986 survey, was more reliant on the opportunistic gathering of existing data from various sources. This presented special challenges for locating willing contributors, and then for combining and managing the sources effectively, a task which was greatly facilitated by dedicated data management support. The range of interpretational approaches aimed at evaluating spatial patterns and changes over time are summarised and the overall conclusions are presented. North Sea benthic communities appear to exhibit traits both of resilience and adaptability over different scales but continue to be structured by predominantly natural forces. Finally, lessons learnt from the ICES NSBP 2000 initiative are reviewed, and recommendations are made for the conduct of future surveys on comparable scales in the North Sea and elsewhere.

This book, the companion volume to "Person-centred Practices: A Therapeutic Approach", focuses on how conceptual models for learning disability nursing can also provide a holistic and person-centred approach to assessment and planning with the person, cares and family. These models for practice are described and illustrated through a variety of case-study examples. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 contains a variety of models ranging from the well known and established Roper et al model to more innovative models such as The Interactive, and Ecology of Mental Health models. Part 2 reviews from an integrated perspective how health services specific to learning disability have been configured within the UK, and where the focus of learning disability practices and services are applied. Part 3 focuses on leadership, management of change and dimensions of safety planning which are vital concepts for any practitioner to consider if frameworks for practice are to be holistically applied and which, at their heart, have a person-centred focus and engagement with people who have a learning disability