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Climate change in the Baltic Sea region: a summary /
No full textBased on the Baltic Earth Assessment Reports of this thematic issue in Earth System Dynamics and recent peer-reviewed literature, current knowledge of the effects of global warming on past and future changes in climate of the Baltic Sea region is summarised and assessed. The study is an update of the Second Assessment of Climate Change (BACC II) published in 2015 and focuses on the atmosphere, land, cryosphere, ocean, sediments, and the terrestrial and marine biosphere. Based on the summaries of the recent knowledge gained in palaeo-, historical, and future regional climate research, we find that the main conclusions from earlier assessments still remain valid. However, new long-term, homogenous observational records, for example, for Scandinavian glacier inventories, sea-level-driven saltwater inflows, so-called Major Baltic Inflows, and phytoplankton species distribution, and new scenario simulations with improved models, for example, for glaciers, lake ice, and marine food web, have become available. In many cases, uncertainties can now be better estimated than before because more models were included in the ensembles, especially for the Baltic Sea. With the help of coupled models, feedbacks between several components of the Earth system have been studied, and multiple driver studies were performed, e.g. projections of the food web that include fisheries, eutrophication, and climate change. New datasets and projections have led to a revised understanding of changes in some variables such as salinity. Furthermore, it has become evident that natural variability, in particular for the ocean on multidecadal timescales, is greater than previously estimated, challenging our ability to detect observed and projected changes in climate. In this context, the first palaeoclimate simulations regionalised for the Baltic Sea region are instructive. Hence, estimated uncertainties for the projections of many variables increased. In addition to the well-known influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation, it was found that also other low-frequency modes of internal variability, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability, have profound effects on the climate of the Baltic Sea region. Challenges were also identified, such as the systematic discrepancy between future cloudiness trends in global and regional models and the difficulty of confidently attributing large observed changes in marine ecosystems to climate change. Finally, we compare our results with other coastal sea assessments, such as the North Sea Region Climate Change Assessment (NOSCCA), and find that the effects of climate change on the Baltic Sea differ from those on the North Sea, since Baltic Sea oceanography and ecosystems are very different from other coastal seas such as the North Sea. While the North Sea dynamics are dominated by tides, the Baltic Sea is characterised by brackish water, a perennial vertical stratification in the southern subbasins, and a seasonal sea ice cover in the northern subbasins
Scaling up calcification, respiration, and photosynthesis rates of six prominent coral taxa /
No full textCoral reefs provide a range of important services to humanity, which are underpinned by community-level ecological processes such as coral calcification. Estimating these processes relies on our knowledge of individual physiological rates and species-specific abundances in the field. For colonial animals such as reef-building corals, abundance is frequently expressed as the relative surface cover of coral colonies, a metric that does not account for demographic parameters such as coral size. This may be problematic because many physiological rates are directly related to organism size, and failure to account for linear scaling patterns may skew estimates of ecosystem functioning. In the present study, we characterize the scaling of three physiological rates — calcification, respiration, and photosynthesis — considering the colony size for six prominent, reef-building coral taxa in Mo'orea, French Polynesia. After a seven-day acclimation period in the laboratory, we quantified coral physiological rates for three hours during daylight (i.e., calcification and gross photosynthesis) and one hour during night light conditions (i.e., dark respiration). Our results indicate that area-specific calcification rates are higher for smaller colonies across all taxa. However, photosynthesis and respiration rates remain constant over the colony-size gradient. Furthermore, we revealed a correlation between the demographic dynamics of coral genera and the ratio between net primary production and calcification rates. Therefore, intraspecific scaling of reef-building coral physiology not only improves our understanding of community-level coral reef functioning but it may also explain species-specific responses to disturbances
Melsvabakterės kaip bioaktyvių metabolitų šaltinis: potencialus pritaikymas biotechnologijoje ir poveikis aplinkai.
No full textThis work presents a comprehensive study on the diversity and occurrence of cyanobacteria and their secondary metabolites in the Curonian Lagoon and coastal Baltic Sea. In the study, the ecological and socioecological significance of toxic cyanobacteria blooms as well as the biotechnological potential of cyanometabolites were explored. Phytoplankton analyses of samples collected in the Curonian Lagoon showed frequent occurrence of Aphanizomenon, Dolichospermum/Anabaena, Microcystis, Planktothrix and Woronichinia genera. Of these, Dolichospermum/Anabaena, Microcystis, and Planktothrix agardhii were confirmed by genetic methods as potential MCs producers. The assessment of water quality based on cyanobacteria parameters in the recreational areas of the Lithuanian Baltic Sea coast and Curonian Lagoon indicated a low probability of adverse health effects, with a higher risk in the southernmost part of the Curonian Lagoon. As these two systems are interconnected, the dynamics and structure of cyanobacteria in the Curonian Lagoon have significant impact on diversity and concentrations of cyanotoxins in the coastal areas of the sea. During the comprehensive studies of field samples collected in the Curonian Lagoon, 119 cyanometabolites representing eight different classes of the compounds were detected. Cyanopeptolins and microcystins were found to be most structurally diverse class of cyanopeptides. The observed diversity and considerable variation in rare and potentially new microcystin variants may indicate the presence of different cyanobacteria chemotypes in the lagoon. Bioactivity screening of phytoplankton samples from the Curonian Lagoon confirmed pharmaceutical potential of aquatic microorganisms. The samples were active against antibiotic resistant clinical and environmental bacteria strains, they inhibited serine proteases and reduced the viability of the T47D human breast adenocarcinoma cells
Do physical activity, BMI, and wellbeing affect logical thinking? /
No full textWe studied 6368 people (4544 women and 1824 men; aged 18–74 years). The research goal was to determine whether the Cognitive Reflection Test score (logical thinking compared with in‐ tuitive thinking) depends—and in what way it depends—on the healthy lifestyle components and emotional health‐related components as well as age (18–74 years) and gender. We established that analytical vs. intuitive thinking depended on components of a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, sleep, eating habits, smoking and alcohol consumption, specificity of sporting activity, body mass index, and emotional health‐related components (stress, depression, impulsivity, subjective health, emotional intelligence), as well as age and gender. We found that logical thinking was not associated with sleep, moderate‐to‐vigorous PA, impulsivity, subjective health, and components of a healthy lifestyle. However, logical thinking decreases with age, gender (higher in men than in women), BMI (decreases in both genders over the second degree of obesity), depression (the more severe depres‐ sion in women, the worse their logical thinking), sedentary behavior (people who sat for longer periods had more difficulty solving problems), and in professional sportswomen (logical thinking is worse in professional sportswomen than in sedentary women, amateur sportswomen, or women who use gyms). Finally, we determined inverse correlations between logical thinking, emotional intelligence, and stress
Social work support for families in crisis situation: experiences of case managers.
No full textThe provision of social assistance to families in crisis situation has undergone major changes in recent years. Since 2018, a new child rights protection system came into force and a new method of providing assistance to children and families - the Case Management - has been introduced, with case managers in charge of its implementation. The problem is that case managers, due to the relatively new nature of their position, are currently experiencing a situation of change as the content of their professional activities is still being developed. The object of the study is the experiences of case managers while providing social assistance to families in crisis situation. The aim of the study is to analyse the experience of case managers while providing social assistance to families in crisis situation. Objectives: 1. To analyse the process of case manager's activities while providing social assistance to families in crisis situation; 2. To analyse and justify the methodological aspects of the definition of the case manager's activity in the provision of social assistance to families in crisis situation; 3. To analyse the experience of case managers while providing assistance to families in crisis situation. Methods: analysis and synthesis of scientific and legal literature, semi-structured openended interviews, content analysis, comparative analysis. Main results. Most case managers experience stress due to the existing responsibilities in coordinating the case management process, i.e. making decisions in extraordinary situations, in the absence of decision algorithms and detailed explanations on how to properly coordinate case management meetings, fill in the documents, assess the need for assistance, and provide social services. The complexity of cooperation with professionals from other institutions makes the case management process itself extremely difficult. Case managers face problems in communicating and cooperating with the education assistance system, the medical assistance system, the law and order system, the child protection system, NGOs and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour
Need for social assistance during the process of adoption: experiences of adoptive parents.
No full textAdoption is a process during which a child’s mutual personal, property rights and obligations with his or her parents and relatives are abolished and mutual personal, property rights and obligations are created with the adoptive parents and their relatives. Social assistance for adoptive parents and adopted children throughout the adoption process is essential to ensure a smooth and successful adoption process. Social services must be provided for the family intending to adopt, preparing the child to be adopted and organizing services after the announcement of the fact of adoption. The aim of the research is to reveal the need for social assistance in the adoption process based on the experiences of adoptive parents, in the context of specialist insights. The objectives of the research: to highlight the aspects of adoption (legal, scientific, psychological, social); to reveal the system of services provided by social workers to adoptive parents in Lithuania; to reveal the opinions of adoptive parents and social workers about the importance of social assistance in the adoption process. The methods of the research: scientific literature, documents analysis. In the qualitative research used the semi-structured interview method and content analysis. The sample of the study consisted of 8 adoptive parents and 8 persons certified by the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service who trains in GIMK programme. Results of the research. Based on the adoptive parents’ experiences and specialists’ insights revealed the process of social assistance adoption. Have been identified the main motives for the child adoption: the desire to experience the feeling of motherhood and fatherhood, to give meaning to one’s life, to aid the child (ren). The main reasons for the decision to adopt rather than foster was the severance of contact with the biological parents and the fact that the foster care did not give adoptive parents and children the same sense of security as the adoption institute. It was found that adoptive parents face various challenges in assisting during adoption process: collecting and submitting documents, waiting too long for a child, attending GIMK training. The aim of the training is not only to help the adopters to overcome the challenges, but also to provide the necessary information, strengthen them emotionally and psychologically, provide them with knowledge and skills on how to behave in various life situations, because the reality does not always correspond to the training material. GIMK training also has drawbacks: the long time between GIMK training and acquaintance with the child, lack of information about the child's waiting time, due to the pandemic, the training took place at a distance. Supportive services of social workers for adoptive parents after GIMK training are needed, most of the informants kept in touch with the social worker after GIMK training but did not participate in the ongoing training or only by invitation. Conclusion. To improve current adoption procedure, which no longer corresponds to the current realities, it is appropriate to shorten the adoption time, improve communication between institutions, perform a deeper analysis of adoptive motivation, to provide adopters with as complete information as possible about the proposal to adopt a child, to update the GIMK program, to prepare a child for adoption, encouraging adoptive parents to adopt older children. Methodological approach. The adoption phenomenon with social assistance analyzed based on theories of existentialism, humanism, and social constructivism
Use of polypropylene pyrolysis oil in alternative fuel production /
No full textIn this study, polypropylene (PP) was recycled in a non-stirred batch reactor by slow pyrolysis at low temperature. Virgin PP and waste PP as well as mixed material of equal amounts of virgin PP plus virgin PP pyrolysis oil (ratio 1:1 w/w) were used as raw material. The highest yields of liquid product were obtained at 350°C and 400°C (82.0 and 82.3 w/w%, respectively). The density, viscosity and calorific value of the gasoline and diesel fractions of the obtained pyrolysis oils comply with EN228 and EN590 standards, respectively. The flash point corresponded to the standard only for some of the oils, but the cold filter clogging point, the pour point and especially the oxidation stability were far above the stated reference values of the standards. The pyrolysis oils as products of thermal decomposition were determined by the methods of 1 H and 13 C and two-dimensional-heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-HSQC NMR) spectra. Spectral analysis showed that only very little aromatic compounds were present in the oils, but they contained many unsaturated compounds, which is presumably consistent with the measured oxidation stability and limits their use in the production of alternative fuels. The research octane number (RON) calculated from the NMR analyses corresponds to the lower limit of gasoline
STEAM projektų įgyvendinimo galimybės pradinėse klasėse: tarptautino bakalaureato programos mokytojų požiūriu.
No full textConsiderable changes to the Lithuanian education system are associated with higher academic achievements, the development of students’ critical thinking and research skills, and sustainable practices of integrated teaching and learning in science and mathematics. It is also acknowledged that STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) educational approaches address the objectives of integrated learning and teaching effectively. The same objectives are reflected in all the IB programmes. In the scientific discourse on the use of STEAM in science, there is a lack of research and examples of pedagogical practices with insights into different educational programmes and teachers’ experiences. The qualitative research (semi-structured interview) focuses on the points of view of teachers who implement the international baccalaureate primary years programme (IBPYP), and have a high level of project-based learning experience, of the possibilities of STEAM project implementation (6). The research findings reveal that teachers acknowledge the benefits of STEAM projects in terms of developing students’ research, critical thinking and independent learning skills, while implementing integrated teaching and learning strategies. The informants also recognise the importance of STEAM education in planning and organising integrated mathematics and science lessons
Towards an inclusive society: review of Google Trends data of user interest in the deaf comparing to the blind and the disabled /
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought great difficulties for the deaf, the blind and people with disabilities in general, in addition to the difficulties of everyday life. This study aims to examine the public interest in the social integration of the deaf and hard of hearing community during the pandemic and the pre-pandemic period in the context of an inclusive society. The empirical study is based on the analysis of statistical data provided by Google Trends, which is a big data analysis, relative measurement and information visualisation tool that allowed to get insight on gaps and inconstancy of information seekers’ interest within categories of science, people and society, law and government, and health. The study encourages researchers and social policy makers to pay extra attention to the social inclusion of the deaf, which, according to the research data, worsened during the pandemic more than other groups of the disabled
Physical activity and awareness of its benefits among pregnant women.
No full textPhysical activity during pregnancy is crucial not only for a woman's physical health but also for her emotional health and the outcome of pregnancy and childbirth. Providing sufficient and timely information to women about the importance of physical activity during pregnancy would encourage them to exercise. Aim of the study – to analyse pregnant women's awareness of the benefits of physical activity during pregnancy. Methods. Quantitative study, online questionnaire survey conducted in March 2022. The study involved 164 pregnant women with a mean age of 30.43±4.52 years. Statistical software package SPSS 21.0 for Windows was used for data analysis. Results. 79% of the participants were pregnant for the first time and 83% of the women were 33-40 weeks pregnant at the time of the survey. The results showed a significant decrease in women's physical activity during pregnancy compared to the pre-pregnancy period, with 68.9% being physically active before pregnancy and 47.0% during pregnancy. In terms of changes in physical activity, it was found that, of those who were physically active before pregnancy, more than a quarter of the women had stopped physical activity during pregnancy. When analysing the body parts affected by pain and comparing the assessment of complaints during pregnancy according to physical activity during pregnancy, it was found that posterior pelvic pain and fatigue were statistically significantly more common in the physically inactive participants than in the physically active ones. Physically active women ranked walking, exercise, swimming, yoga as the most frequent physical activities during pregnancy and rated their health higher than physically inactive women. The study found that sources of information on the benefits of physical activity during pregnancy include: the internet, scientific articles, antenatal education and medical advice. Conclusions. Women's awareness of the benefits of physical activity during pregnancy is low