Problems with the reconciliation of good ecological status and public participation in the Water Framework Directive.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is an ambitious piece of legislation focused on achieving good ecological status as defined by deviations from reference conditions. Achieving good ecological status depends on collaboration between stakeholders, scientists and the public. However, public participation is restricted to consultations about implementing measures to achieve good ecological status, not in the goal setting. There are multiple, competing interpretations of good ecological status. This study addresses two of the pillars of the WFD, good ecological status and public participation. We argue that these two pillars are currently at odds when defining reference conditions for surface waters, and it is unclear how they can work together in practice. We also contend that there is an intention in the WFD to integrate these two pillars, but there is no legal support for their connection. In a case study of a small boreal lake in Sweden, we show that local people possess a great deal of historical knowledge, which they use to conceptualize reference conditions. Their conceptualizations are compared with fish and water chemistry monitoring by the regulatory authority as well as paleolimnological reconstructions of water quality dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. The knowledge that the local people have corresponds to the historical data available for the lake, particularly with water clarity. We highlight the subjective nature of the concept of 'undisturbed state' to show that it varies depending on values, knowledge and perceptions of lay-people, scientists and relevant authorities. The subjectivity of the concept of undisturbed state promises to be a way of linking the two pillars of the WFD.

Vitamin supplementation and nutritional status in homeless men.

Homeless men and women are both physically and socially disadvantaged. Their nutritional status is also often compromised. In this sample of 107 homeless men in Sydney, about half reported taking vitamin supplements (with varying duration and regularity), usually a regimen consisting of thiamin, vitamin C, folic acid and a multivitamin-B-complex capsule. In this cross-sectional study, little effect could be seen on clinical health between those reporting taking vitamin supplementation and those not doing so. However, biochemical measurements showed significant differences. The numbers of men classified as deficient were higher by about 20 per cent for those reporting not taking vitamins. The mean biochemical levels were significantly better for the supplemented group for thiamin, as assessed by TPP per cent effect (P = 0.04), vitamin B6, as assessed by P5'P per cent effect (P = 0.002), vitamin C (P < 0.001) and blood folate (P < 0.02). Consequently, on the basis of mean biochemical levels of vitamin status, the supplemented group were better off and it is reasonable to presume that in the long term this would be reflected in improved clinical status.

Effects of alkali treatment of wheat straw on intake and microbial protein synthesis in cattle.

Effects of sodium hydroxide treatment on intake and digestion of straw organic matter (OM), and microbial protein synthesis were examined in comparison with untreated and treated straws. Intakes (kg dry matter (DM)/d) of untreated, NaOH- and sodium carbonate-treated straws were 5.21, 7.04 and 6.48 respectively and intakes (kg/d) of digestible organic matter (DOM) for the respective diets were 2.57, 3.73 and 2.98 respectively. NaOH-treated straw ranked higher than untreated straw in intakes of DM and DOM (P less than 0.01). The proportion of DOM intake that was apparently digested in the rumen was 0.74, 0.77 and 0.66 on untreated, NaOH- and Na2CO3-treated straws respectively. Although the amount of bacterial N leaving the abomasum was higher with NaOH-treated than with untreated straw (74.6 v. 56.8 g/d, P less than 0.01), efficiencies of bacterial N synthesis were not different between these treatments (28.6 v. 31.5 g bacterial N/kg OM apparently digested, P greater than 0.05). The live-weight gain which the NaOH-treated straw could support was predicted to be 350 g/d and it was concluded that a protein supplement would have provided further increase in production in diets based on NaOH-treated straw.