Status index of optimal water variables for biodiversity conservation in the Lagoon of Sonso in Colombia

In order to determine an index of the status of optimal water variables for biodiversity conservation in the Sonso Lagoon, the data obtained from 2004 to 2018 were used. To determine the index, a methodology based on a multivariate analysis of the physical-chemical water variables was used, as well as a correlation analysis for their delimitation. Subsequently, the definition of weights and the parameterization of the variables for the final construction of the index were made. As a result, it was found that the lagoon is in an adequate state with a value index of 0.65, with a highly vulnerable tendency to be in an acceptable state and go to a critical state, depending on the anthropic pressure it has. As a conclusion, it was obtained that variables such as dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus and electrical conductivity are determining factors in establishing the index.

Assessment of Aquatic Reed Stands from Airborne Photogrammetric 3K Data

Aquatic reed beds provide important ecological functions, yet their monitoring by remote sensing methods remains challenging. In this study, we propose an approach of assessing aquatic reed stand status indicators based on data from the airborne photogrammetric 3K-system of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). By a Structure from Motion (SfM) approach, we computed stand surface models of aquatic reeds for each of the 14 areas of interest (AOI) investigated at Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria, Germany. Based on reed heights, we subsequently calculated the reed area, surface structure homogeneity and shape of the frontline. For verification, we compared 3K aquatic reed heights against reed stem metrics obtained from ground-based infield data collected at each AOI. The root mean square error (RMSE) for 1358 reference points from the 3K digital surface model and the field-measured data ranged between 39 cm and 104 cm depending on the AOI. Considering strong object movements due to wind and waves, superimposed by water surface effects such as sun glint altering 3K data, the results of the aquatic reed surface reconstruction were promising. Combining the parameter height, area, density and frontline shape, we finally calculated an indicator for status determination: the aquatic reed status index (aRSI), which is based on metrics, and thus is repeatable and transferable in space and time. The findings of our study illustrate that, even under the adverse conditions given by the environment of the aquatic reed, aerial photogrammetry can deliver appropriate results for deriving objective and reconstructable parameters for aquatic reed status (Phragmites australis) assessment.

Clustering Treatment Outcomes in Women with Gambling Disorder

The rising prevalence of gambling disorder (GD) among women has awakened considerable interest in the study of therapeutic outcomes in females. This study aimed to explore profiles of women seeking treatment for GD based on a set of indicators including sociodemographic features, personality traits, clinical state at baseline, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) outcomes. Two-step clustering, an agglomerative hierarchical classification system, was applied to a sample of n = 163 women of ages ranging from 20 to 73 years-old, consecutively attended to by a clinical unit specialized in the treatment of G. Three mutually exclusive clusters were identified. Cluster C1 (n = 67, 41.1%) included the highest proportion of married, occupationally active patients within the highest social status index. This cluster was characterized by medium GD severity levels, the best psychopathological functioning, and the highest mean in the self-directedness trait. C1 registered 0% dropouts and only 14.9% relapse. Cluster C2 (n = 63; 38.7%) was characterized by the lowest GD severity, medium scores for psychopathological measures and a high risk of dropout during CBT. Cluster C3 (n = 33; 20.2%) registered the highest GD severity, the worst psychopathological state, the lowest self-directedness level and the highest harm-avoidance level, as well as the highest risk of relapse. These results provide new evidence regarding the heterogeneity of women diagnosed with GD and treated with CBT, based on the profile at pre- and post-treatment. Person-centered treatments should include specific strategies aimed at increasing self-esteem, emotional regulation capacities and self-control of GD women.

Assessment of Food Security and Livelihood Status of Rural Households Adopting Improved Rice Varieties in Kwara and Niger States of Nigeria

The study assessed the food security and livelihood status of rural households adopting improved rice varieties in Kwara and Niger States of Nigeria. Sample sizes of three hundred and ninety four rice farmers were selected using multi-stage sampling method. Structured questionnaire complimented with interview were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food security index, livelihood status index and Simpson index of diversity. The findings revealed 83.3% and 82.7% of rice farmers adopted FARO 44 and FARO 54 respectively. Also, 92.1% were food secured while 65.5% were of moderate livelihood status. The Simpson Diversification Index of rice farmers in the study area was 0.219, indicating low degree. Thus, it is recommended that rice farmers should diversify into other income generating activities in order to enhance their livelihood status and food security status. Also, research institutes should ensure farmers' access improved rice varieties with affordable prices and right time in order to enhance their livelihood and food security status.

Analysis of public service performance through strengthening employee motivation in the organization and society sub-sector in the national and political unity agency of Maluku Province

Analysis of Public Service Performance through Strengthening Motivation of Employees of the Organization and Society Sub-Sector at the National Unity and Political Agency of Maluku Province is the core of this project. With a sample of 30 people and the technique of percentage analysis and conversion through the sociometric choice status index (ISP) in determining improvement priorities by paying attention to the relationship between strengthening employee motivation and public service performance. Strengthening employee motivation has a "strong" relationship and contribution to the performance of public services in percentage and sociometry based on the preferred status index (ISP. 0.740) or 74% with other intervention factors 26%. There is a follow-up to strengthening employee motivation and public service performance in the form of normalization of improvement, which is realized through a sociogram as the final result. The findings of this study prioritize the normalization of strengthening employee motivation and public service performance as a follow-up process that tends to lead to maximization and has implications for the development and progress of public services in the organizational and community subsectors.

V L Reciprocal Status Index and Co-Index of Graphs

For the vertex set V G of a graph G , the sum of reciprocals of the breadth (distances) between the vertex v ∈ V G and whole other remaining vertices of G is called reciprocal status of v . In this study, first of all, we introduced the V L reciprocal status index and V L reciprocal status co-index of a graph G . Later, we exposed some sharp bounds for these indices. Furthermore, we determined the V L reciprocal status (co-)index over some standard graphs. Finally, we presented correlations between V L reciprocal status index and some properties of Butane derivatives via a table and illustrated with a figure.

Coordination Study on Ecological and Economic Coupling of the Yellow River Basin

The coupling and coordination relationship between ecology and the economy in the Yellow River Basin is a hot topic in sustainable development research. Said research has important guiding significance for the ecological security and comprehensive development of the Yellow River Basin. Taking the Yellow River Basin as the object of our study, based on the data of the economy, energy consumption data, ecology data and water resources data, we construct an indicator system of the economic development and ecological status of the Yellow River Basin and use the principal component analysis method to calculate the economic development and ecological status index. Then, we use the evaluation method, the coupling degree model and the coupling coordination degree model to analyze the time and space evolution trends of economic development and ecological state, coupling degree and coupling coordination degree. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2018, the economic development index of the Yellow River Basin rose steadily; the ecological status index showed a slow rise and then a downward trend. (2) The degree of coupling between economic development and ecological state has been considered as intensity coupling after 2005. The coupling trend slowly increased and then decreased, indicating that the interaction effect between the economy and ecology was first significantly enhanced and then slowly weakened. (3) The degree of coupling coordination increased from 0.2994 to 0.6266 and then decreased to 0.5917, reflecting the continuous improvement of the relationship between the regional economy and the ecological environment and the trend toward coordination. From 2015 to 2018, due to the gradual increase in the difference between economic development and ecological conditions, the coupling and coordination between the two decreased. Studies have shown that ecological construction and protection should be strengthened to ease the contradiction between the economy and ecology and achieve coordinated development.

SP1.2.7Developing a fast- track pre-assessment pathway for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Aims To develop a safe and reliable assessment process for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and negate the need for formal pre- assessment. Methods A system consisting of a health screening questionnaire completed by patients (previous general anaesthesia, cardiac and respiratory history, bleeding disorders and medications) along with a functional capacity assessment (Duke Activity Status Index), allied with screening blood tests was developed. Only patients who passed all 3 components were fast-tracked to surgery while the remainder proceeded to formal pre-assessment. Results Data was collected and analyzed on 90 consecutive patients. An interim analysis identified the format of some questions needed to be altered to facilitate patient completion, resulting in 59% (rather than 36%) of patients successfully fulfilling the fast-track criteria and not excluded by incomplete entries. Overall, 40 of the 90 patients (44%) successfully completed the fast-track assessment of whom 38 underwent surgery (2 waiting). Six patients incorrectly passed the assessments due to misinterpretation of the Duke Activity Status Index but proceeded to surgery. All 38 patients had an uneventful peri-operative course. 45 of the 50 patients who failed fast-track assessments subsequently passed formal nurse-led pre-assessment, as did 4 of the remaining 5 patients after anaesthetic review – all had an uneventful peri-operative course. Conclusion Pre-assessment driven by a health screening questionnaire, activity index and simple blood tests is safe, reduced formal pre-assessment by 44% and avoids delays. Such tools may have a significant resource impact in appropriate patient populations. The health screening questionnaire needs further revision.