The idea of "indicator" based on a cause-effect relation between vegetation and the different aspects of environment, supplies a scientific basis and rules of ecological practice to the concept that "vegetation is the mirror of environment". As a matter of fact, plants reflect the characteristics of the environment since their development and somehow their very shape are determined by the surrounding habitat. Studies on vegetal indicators are nowadays multiway-orientated, mainly toward possible practical applications: in Eastern Europe and the United States, for instance, studies have been made on indicators of hydro-geological or mineral and rock settlements of particular interest (Chikishev, 1976). Other studies have been devoted to forest ecology and to the use of indicators to determine forestal sites (Daubenmine (sic), 1976) or agrarian soils. Researches have been made on air and water pollution vegetal detectors (conifers, lichens, musks, phytoplankton, marine weed flora, periphyton, etc...). In Italy, only a few studies have been carried on and some of them are not yet completed: one of them is the CNR Finalized Project "Promotion of the quality of environment" including a research on alophytes as biological indicators and diatoms as polluted soils biological indicators. | Il concetto di "indicatore", basato su una relazione causa-effetto tra gli organismi e i diversi aspetti dell'ambiente, da una base scientifica e delle regole di prassi ecologica all'idea che la "vegetazione e specchio dell'ambiente" essendo il loro sviluppo, e in qualche grado la stessa forma di crescita, determinate dall'habitat. Gli studi sugli indicatori vegetali si sono oggi sviluppati in diverse direzioni, ricercando soprattutto la possibilita di applicazioni pratiche: nell'Europa orientale e negli Stati Uniti, ad esempio, ci si e rivolti verso l'individuazione di associazioni indicatrici di situazioni idrologiche o di giacimenti di rocce e minerali aventi particolari interesse (Chikishev 1976). Altri lavori sono stati dedicati all'ecologia delle foreste e all'uso degli indicatori per determinare i siti forestali (Daubenmire 1976) oppure alle associazioni indicatrici di suoli agrari. Ricerche sono state avviate su vegetali rilevanti l'inquinamento aereo quali conifere, licheni, muschi, e dell'acqua (fitoplancton, flora algale marina, peryphiton, briofite). In Italia, purtroppo, ancora pochi sono gli studi effettuati o in fase di svolgimento; un esempio di tali studi puo essere il programma finalizzato del CNR "Promozione della qualita dell'ambiente" che contempla una linea di ricerca sulle alofite come indicatori ambientali e le diatonee come indicatori biologici di suoli inquinati.

The idea of "indicator" based on a cause-effect relation between vegetation and the different aspects of environment, supplies a scientific basis and rules of ecological practice to the concept that "vegetation is the mirror of environment". As a matter of fact, plants reflect the characteristics of the environment since their development and somehow their very shape are determined by the surrounding habitat. Studies on vegetal indicators are nowadays multiway-orientated, mainly toward possible practical applications: in Eastern Europe and the United States, for instance, studies have been made on indicators of hydro-geological or mineral and rock settlements of particular interest (Chikishev, 1976). Other studies have been devoted to forest ecology and to the use of indicators to determine forestal sites (Daubenmine (sic), 1976) or agrarian soils. Researches have been made on air and water pollution vegetal detectors (conifers, lichens, musks, phytoplankton, marine weed flora, periphyton, etc...). In Italy, only a few studies have been carried on and some of them are not yet completed: one of them is the CNR Finalized Project "Promotion of the quality of environment" including a research on alophytes as biological indicators and diatoms as polluted soils biological indicators. | ITALIANO: Il concetto di "indicatore", basato su una relazione causa-effetto tra gli organismi e i diversi aspetti dell'ambiente, da una base scientifica e delle regole di prassi ecologica all'idea che la "vegetazione e specchio dell'ambiente" essendo il loro sviluppo, e in qualche grado la stessa forma di crescita, determinate dall'habitat. Gli studi sugli indicatori vegetali si sono oggi sviluppati in diverse direzioni, ricercando soprattutto la possibilita di applicazioni pratiche: nell'Europa orientale e negli Stati Uniti, ad esempio, ci si e rivolti verso l'individuazione di associazioni indicatrici di situazioni idrologiche o di giacimenti di rocce e minerali aventi particolari interesse (Chikishev 1976). Altri lavori sono stati dedicati all'ecologia delle foreste e all'uso degli indicatori per determinare i siti forestali (Daubenmire 1976) oppure alle associazioni indicatrici di suoli agrari. Ricerche sono state avviate su vegetali rilevanti l'inquinamento aereo quali conifere, licheni, muschi, e dell'acqua (fitoplancton, flora algale marina, peryphiton, briofite). In Italia, purtroppo, ancora pochi sono gli studi effettuati o in fase di svolgimento; un esempio di tali studi puo essere il programma finalizzato del CNR "Promozione della qualita dell'ambiente" che contempla una linea di ricerca sulle alofite come indicatori ambientali e le diatonee come indicatori biologici di suoli inquinati.

Extract: This paper presents an applicable method for projecting the capacity of developing countries to service external debt. The method is based on empirical parameters estimated from a large sample of countries employing logit analysis. These parameters correspond to a set of economic indicators such as the ratio of debt service payments to export revenues and the ratio of reserves to imports. These variables can be projected using fairly simple macro-economic consistency frameworks, thus allowing use of the model not only for short-run assessment but also for medium and long term lending operations.

Weight and stature measurements obtained on 5400 Haitian children (3-59 months old) were examined for potential indicators of nutritional status and morbidity. The children studied were representative of the national under-5 population. The data indicate that the nutrition status of a preschool child, based on weight-for-height, is associated with the presence of recent symptoms of illness, fever, and diarrhea. Children with weight-for-height values less than a minus 2.0 Z-score had almost twice the prevalence of symptoms compared to those having Z-score values between plus and minus 1.0. This association did not hold when the prevalence of symptoms was compared to low height-for-age. (wz)

Data from intervention studies clearly indicate that maternal nutritional supplementation programs have a beneficial effect on maternal and infant health, despite an incomplete understanding of the association between maternal malnutrition and pregnancy outcome. Research areas have been defined for further study: the timing of maternal supplementation; the relationship between malnutrition and infections; indicators of nutritional status; maternal weight gain during pregnancy; selection of high-risk populations; the significance of birthweight; maternal-fetal interactions; and the role of specific nutrients. Special attention should be given to implementation of appropriate intervention programs. Governments should identify populations most in need based on community surveys. An integrated approach to improving the nutritional and health status of pregnant and lactating women and young children, using resources from many diverse sectors, is needed.

Extract: The analysis of growth and development provides the researcher with a valuable tool with which to study the nutritional status of populations. Studies of the growth of children in a 1-year birth cohort from a southern Mexican village indicate that growth is an acceptable indicator of chronic protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Furthermore, analysis of the body size of the parents of the children with chronic PEM indicates that the parents themselves were most likely chronically malnourished during their development. The linear and lateral dimensions of parents, but not the measures of their body composition, may be acceptable indicators of the risk of malnutrition in their children, based on the analysis of sensitivity and specificity. (author)

A conceptual framework is needed for the complex interrelationships existing for factors that determine an individual's nutritional status, in order to compare and evaluate nutrition education studies and programs. A model is described which relates secondary (family, community, public, private, and medical sectors) and primary (nutrition knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and food needs, economics, and eating options) influences on dietary habits such as food-related behavior, dietary intake, and nutrient uptake, and nutritional status. Anthropometric and biochemical status, and general vitality are outcome indicators that measure nutrient uptake and nutritional status. The factors discussed are closely related to school activities and school-based nutrition education. Each of the component stages of the model are discussed individually, as is their interaction. (wz)

Este trabalho estuda a geoquímica da água subterrânea nas províncias hidrogeológicas do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A pesquisa é realizada com base na análise química de cada poço, levando em consideração a unidade aquífera em que está localizado o poço. A pesquisa fornece informações qualitativas das águas subterrâneas, como tipo hidroquímico da água. pH, dureza, alcalinidade, resíduo seco, sílica e os índices hidroquímicos. É feita também uma avaliação da utilização da água subterrânea no abastecimento público e na agricultura. | This is a study of the geochemistry of ground water in the hydrogeological provinces of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Research is based on the chemical analysis of each well, taking into account the aquifer unit in which it is. Research supplies qualitative information on the groundwater such as: hydrochemical type of water, pH, hardness, alkalinity, dry residue, silica, and hydrochemical indicators. An assessment of the use of groundwater in public supply and agriculture is also made.

At the end of the seventies, as fishing abundance (based on Catch Per Unit Effort) in crabs and lobster fishery steadily declined, operating expenses increased, and fishing boats changed strategy (changing metiers, covering larger distance to fishing areas, fishing seasons being extended, ...) professionals and scientists aimed to consider reinforcing management measures. To enlighten and support potential related decisions, the Comité Régional des Pêches et Cultures Marines de Bretagne (Regional Committee for fishing and farming in Brittany), together with the ISTPM (Ifremer since 1984), conducted a survey on the exploited populations and gave a review of the involved Breton fleet. This report shows the results of a survey conducted among fishermen, fishermen organisations, auction markets, shellfish traders and Administration in 1980. For each marine district of the Breton coast from Saint-Malo to Saint-Nazaire, the report introduces the distribution of the fleet, the characteristics and equipments of the boats, the fishing areas, calendar of activity, fishing efforts, catch rates and landings for lobster, edible crab and spider crab. The evolution of these indicators is drawn between 1970 and 1980. | A la fin des années 1970 la diminution des rendements de la pêche aux grands crustacés, la hausse des coûts d'exploitation et les changements de stratégie des navires (reconversions, éloignement des zones de pêche, allongement des saisons, ...) conduisent professionnels et scientifiques à envisager un renforcement des mesures de gestion. Pour éclairer d'éventuelles décisions dans ce sens, le Comité Régional des Pêches et Cultures Marines de Bretagne, en collaboration avec l'ISTPM (Ifremer depuis 1984), prend en charge une étude sur l'état des populations exploitées et un bilan sur les flottilles bretonnes concernées. Le présent rapport expose le résultat des enquêtes réalisées auprès des professionnels, de leurs organisations, des criées, des mareyeurs et des pouvoirs publics. Pour chacun des quartiers maritimes du littoral breton de Saint-Malo à Saint-Nazaire il présente la photographie, en 1980, de la répartition de la flottille, ses caractéristiques et ses équipements, des zones de pêches, des calendriers d'activité, des efforts de pêche, des rendements et des apports en homard, tourteau et araignée. L'évolution de ces paramètres entre 1970 et 1980 est retracée.