Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impacts of suspended mariculture on coastal zones in China and the scope for Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture

ABSTRACT Introduction: China is responsible for more than 60% of global aquaculture production. As the frontiers of food production have expanded, the cultivation of marine organisms in coastal zones and the open ocean has grown rapidly. The dominant mariculture industry in China is suspended mariculture, which uses net cages, ropes, or other structures suspended in the water column to cultivate aquatic organisms. This systematic, quantitative review provides a clear and comprehensive account of research that has investigated the adverse impacts of suspended mariculture in China and reviews research that has applied Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems for mitigating impacts. This work builds on 218 peer reviewed papers that have been published in English-language journals. Outcomes: Eighteen impacts were identified, including chemical, ecological, physical, and socioeconomic impacts. Eighteen measures for improving suspended mariculture were recommended consisting of government department, farm management, and ecological engineering measures. IMTA was the most frequently recommended measure. The capabilities of IMTA for bioremediation and increased farm production were the most frequently studied advantages. Seven other benefits have been explored but remain understudied. The current challenges facing the expansion of commercial IMTA include limited use of new technology, limited skills development, decreasing production of low trophic-level species, biogeographic and temporal barriers, and negative system feedbacks. Conclusion: Despite challenges, implementing commercial IMTA is a promising measure for reducing the impacts of suspended mariculture because it presents a range of secondary benefits that can improve the overall sustainability of aquaculture in the coastal zone.
Life-history constraints in inaccurate Batesian myrmecomorphic spiders (Araneae: Corinnidae, Gnaphosidae)

Accurate Batesian mimicry is known to impose constraints on some traits of the mimic, such as foraging or reproductive behaviour. It is not known whether life-history traits of inaccurate Batesian mimics are constrained as well. We studied selected life- history traits of three spider species, Liophrurillus flavitarsis, Phrurolithus festivus (both Corinnidae), and Micaria sociabilis (Gna- phosidae), that are inaccurate mimics of ants. Namely, we were interested in how myrmecomorphy (ant-like resemblance) constrains their circadian activity, trophic niche and reproductive behaviour. The spiders were found to have diurnal activity like their models, whereas their close relatives have nocturnal activity. The three mimics do not catch ants, nor do they use food resources of ants, but catch various tiny invertebrates that occur in the vicinity of their models. Their trophic niche seems to be constrained by occurrence among ants. Absence of courtship and long lasting copulation, in a position that does not provide protective resemblance, do not seem to be constrained by mimicry in the three species. Comparative analysis of fecundity in mimetic and non-mimetic spiders showed that clutch size is also not constrained. Unlike in accurate mimics, life-history traits of inaccurate myrmecomorphs appear not to be constrained.
Influence of streamside vegetation on inputs of terrestrial invertebrates to salmonid food webs

Salmonid food webs receive important energy subsidies via terrestrial in-fall, downstream transport, and spawning migrations. We examined the contribution of terrestrially derived invertebrates (TI) to juvenile coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in streams of southeastern Alaska by diet analysis and sampling of TI inputs in 12 streams of contrasting riparian vegetation. Juvenile coho ingested 12.1 mg·fish -1 of invertebrate mass averaged across all sites; no significant differences associated with location (plant or forest type) were detected, possibly because prey are well mixed by wind and water dispersal. Terrestrial and aquatic prey composed approximately equal fractions of prey ingested. Surface inputs were estimated at 80 mg·m -2 ·day -1 , primarily TI. Direct sampling of invertebrates from the stems of six plant species demonstrated differences in invertebrate taxa occupying different plant species and much lower TI biomass per stem for conifers compared with overstory and understory deciduous plants. Traps placed under red alder (Alnus rubra) and conifer (mix of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)) canopies consistently captured higher biomass of TI under the former. Management of riparian vegetation is likely to influence the food supply of juvenile coho and the productivity of stream food webs. Resume : Les reseaux alimentaires des salmonides recoivent d'importants apports des chutes depuis le milieu terrestre, du transport vers l'aval et des migrations de reproduction. Nous avons evalue la contribution des invertebres d'origine terrestre (TI) au saumon coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) dans des cours d'eau du sud-est de l'Alaska par l'analyse du regime alimentaire et un echantillonnage des apports de TI dans 12 cours d'eau a vegetation riparienne differente. Les jeunes saumons ingerent 12,1 mg d'invertebres par poisson (moyenne de tous les sites); il n'y a pas de differences significatives entre les sites (type de foret ou de plantes) probablement parce que les proies sont bien dispersees par le vent ou le courant. Les proies terrestres et aquatiques representent des fractions a peu pres egales des proies ingerees.
Variability of grain weight per spike in wheat grown in different ecological conditions

Variability of grain weight spike-1 was studied in 10 wheat genotypes: 'Ana Morava', 'Julija Mono', 'Gruža', 'Kuna', 'Lasta', 'Balkan', 'Rodna', 'NS Rana 2', 'Partizanka', 'Pobeda', grown over three experimental years under different environmental factors. The experiment was set up as a randomized block design in three replications. Differences in the average values of grain weight spike-1 among tested cultivars were determined in all three years. On average, for all genotypes, grain weight spike-1 was highest (2.32g) in the first experimental year (2005/06), and lowest (1.95g) in the second year (2006/07). For all investigated wheat cultivars, in the third experimental year, the average value of grain weight spike-1 was 2.24g, while the total average value for all cultivars and three experimental years was 2.17g. 'Ana Morava' had the highest average values for grain weight spike-1 in all three experimental years, while the lowest grain weight spike-1 was obtained in 'Balkan' (1.81g) in the second year 'Lasta' (1.40g) and in the third experimental year 'Partizanka' ( 1.91 g). On average, 'Ana Morava' had the highest value (2.67g) of grain weight spike-1, while the lowest average value (1.94g) was recorded in 'Balkan'.
Upper mantle attenuation and velocity structure from measurements of differential S phases

SUMMARY Although much progress has been made in determining the 3-D distribution of seismic wave velocities in the Earth, substantially less is known about the 3-D distribution of intrinsic attenuation. In this study variations in attenuation and shear velocity of the Earth’s mantle are constrained using measurements of differential traveltime and attenuation. The data are broad-band displacement SH seismograms filtered to have energy in the period range 8–20 s. The seismograms are obtained from over 600 globally distributed earthquakes of magnitude, Mw, 5.5 or greater. Differential traveltimes and differential t* values from multiple S phases are estimated by a waveform-fitting method, resulting in approximately 4300 measurements for SS–S in the distance range 50u–105u and 1000 measurements for SSS–SS in the distance range 90u–179u. Each measurement consists of a differential traveltime and a corresponding differential t*. The differential traveltimes and t* values are inverted to obtain models of the lateral variation of shear velocity and lateral variation of qm, where qm=1/Qm. The models explain the data well but have limited depth resolution. The velocity models show good correlation with previous studies; in particular, low velocities are observed underlying mid-oceanic ridges and convergent margins and high velocities are found for continental regions. The qm models show shield regions to be less attenuating than PREM, with ridges appearing as highly attenuating features. The models have limited depth resolution and to address this problem we also present a shear velocity model obtained from the combination of body wave and surface wave data sets.
Approximating coupled coincidence points by α-dense curves

We present a new iterative procedure converging, under suitable conditions, to a coupled coincidence point of two given mappings. Our main tool will be the so called α-dense curves, which allow us to construct such procedure in a stable way, in the specified sense, and with controlled approximation error. To justify our result, we will analyze certain integral equations systems of Volterra type.
Eucalyptus urophylla STANDS WOOD UTILIZATION AT TWO DIFFERENT AGES FOR PRODUCTION OF PARTICLEBOARD PANELS

This work aimed to assess the quality of wood particle panels manufactured with wood from Eucalyptus urophylla stands at age 7 and at age 12 years. To that end, particleboard, oriented strand board (OSB) and cement-bonded panels were produced in a laboratory and then analyzed for the following physical and mechanical properties: water absorption and thickness swell 2 and 24 hours after immersion, internal bond, compression parallel, as well as MOE and MOR from static bending. The obtained results demonstrate that tree age had little influence on the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard, OSB and cement-bonded panels. After evaluating the physical and mechanical properties of these three panel types, all manufactured with wood from Eucalyptus urophylla stands at age 7 and at age 12, we can argue that our results are satisfactory in comparison to existing literature results.
Protein Kinases and Regulation of Mitochondrial Function in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Ischemic heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide. Nonetheless, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating cardiac and cerebral ischemic injury is very modest and our ability to develop therapies arresting and/or reversing detrimental events that spread from the ischemic core to the surrounding tissue is limited. Ischemia occurs when oxygen is unavailable to tissues due to occlusion of an artery (myocardial infarction, stroke, and pulmonary embolism), hemorrhage, organ transplantation, or hypotension in septic shock. The mitochondrion is a key target of ischemia. Alterations in mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, and functions result in energy deficits and contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemic injury. Phosphorylations of mitochondrial proteins and protein kinases that mediate them are important regulators of mitochondrial functions and tissue ATP levels. Thus, mitochondrial protein kinases could serve as targets for therapeutic interventions to mitigate the effects of ischemic injury. This will review the mitochondrial proteins regulated by phosphorylation, protein kinases mediating these reactions, and their implications in mitochondrial functions in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury.
Discussion of "application of the Universal soil loss equation to rangelands on a per-storm basis," by Trieste and Gifford in Journal of range management 33:66-70, 1980.

Trieste and Gifford (1980) attempted to assess the applicability of the Universal Soil-Loss Equation (USLE) (Wischmeier and Smith 1965, 1978) to rangelands on a per-storm basis and concluded that the USLE may give misleading rather than useful results where soil loss from rangeland is dominated by single storm events. We question their conclusion and suggest that the research approach they used to reach that conclusion was inappropriate. Their limited analysis of the USLE does not reflect how the rather extensive literature on the USLE, basic erosion mechanics, rainfall simulators, or the “state-of-the-art” of erosion prediction techniques relates to application of the USLE to rangeland. While most USLE literature is for cropland, basic USLE principles developed in that literature should have been given greater consideration by Trieste and Gifford. The principles from this literature should not be rejected simply because they were not developed from data collected on rangelands. The USLE was originally derived from over 10,000 plot-years of data from natural rainfall on field plots longer than 11 m; most plots were 22 m long, but some were as long as 192 m (Wischmeier and Smith 1965). More recently, these data have been supplemented by the equivalent of, perhaps, 1,000 plot-years of data from 11 m and 23-m-long field plots under simulated rainfall with energy near that of natural rainfall (Wischmeier and Smith 1978). The USLE was originally developed for cropland and has been extended to construction sites, strip mines, disturbed forests, and rangelands (Wischmeier and Smith 1978; Dissmeyer and Foster 1981; Osborn et al. 1977). The USLE is perhaps the most thoroughly validated procedure in widespread practical use for estimating a hydrologic variable (erosion) over a wide range of conditions. Trieste and Gifford’s statement that “validation studies are badly needed to verify annual predictions by the USLE” is not the case in general, especially for cropland (Wischmeier 1972). The USDA-Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has been using the USLE since the early 1960’s to estimate erosion on cropland and, more recently, on rangeland, surface mines, construction sites, and
A neuroimaging study of preference for strategic uncertainty

We study the preference for strategic uncertainty when subjects play matching pennies and coordination games. The scanned subject has the option to ‘play’, in which case both receive outcomes according to their moves, or ‘opt-out’ and receive the same sure amount along with the ‘opponent’ outside the scanner for whom half the trials are relegated to a die. Having an ‘opt-out’ option enables us to estimate subjects’ certainty equivalent under four types of uncertainties—game (matching pennies versus coordination) × play (strategic versus random). Our observation of subjects valuing playing coordination more than matching pennies supports a preference for shared plight in the income inequality literature. This preference is modulated by whether subjects face conscious or random play. Specifically, in matching pennies, subjects require a premium to play when the opponent makes a conscious move compared with a random move. Yet, they are willing to accept a discount to play coordination strategically rather than randomly. In accounting for the observed differential risk preferences, our brain imaging results distinguish an explanation drawn from source preference, which is self-regarding, from one based on social preference under uncertainty, which is other-regarding. We observe that activations in the amygdala and the orbital prefrontal cortex are modulated by the game × play interaction, extending previous finding of their association with decision making under ambiguity. Finally we employ a source-dependent expected utility model to analyze the behavioral and imaging data and find that the value of playing the various games is encoded in the striatum.
Writing Strategies Used by ESL Upper Secondary School Students

Writing is a great challenge whether performed in the mother tongue or in a second or foreign language (L2/FL). Studies in L2 writing show that writing is a complex cognitive activity comprising a number of processes which includes the use of various strategies. This study aimed to examine strategies used in essay writing among 50 high-intermediate and low proficiency ESL upper secondary school students and to determine any significant differences in strategy use between the two groups. Data from the Writing Strategy Questionnaire indicate that the ESL students were moderate writing strategies users. The while-writing strategies were most frequently used whereas the revising strategies were least used. All students displayed approximately similar frequency use of strategies. They differed only in the type of strategies used. An implication of the study is that students need to be encouraged to use various strategies in improving their writing. Strategy training for ESL students is important to help them write successfully in the target language.
Optimal stopping theory : behavior of pigeons (Columba livia) in the Secretary Problem

Optimal stopping theory is a mathematical theorem concerned with selecting the optimal choice when presented with a series of options. Stemming from mathematical derivations, this theorem puts forth a set of guidelines intended to maximize rewards and mitigate loss. The Secretary Problem is one example to which optimal stopping theory can be applied. This basic procedure involves a decision-maker viewing a finite list of randomized candidates with the goal of selecting the best one. The decisionmaker is permitted to view only one candidate at a time and can either select or reject a candidate on the spot; each decision is final. Many studies have shown that humans perform suboptimally at this task, usually by selecting a candidate too early. Previous research has shown that animals sometimes outperform humans on other probabilitybased tasks, and act in ways that maximize their potential gains. This exploratory study investigated pigeons’ (Columba livia) performance on a multi-trial variation of the Secretary Problem task. Success within a trial was measured by whether or not the pigeon followed the solution laid out by optimal stopping theory. Results indicate that, similarly to humans, pigeons perform suboptimally by stopping too early. Through the analysis of the Secretary Problem, this study provided additional context for interpreting suboptimal performance in both humans and nonhuman animals.
Early performance of constructed oyster reefs in Great Bay, New Hampshire

Several oyster reefs were constructed in Great Bay, New Hampshire using remotely-set oysters. A single large reef treatment and a cluster of several small reefs treatment were utilized to test hypotheses relevant to oyster restoration design, and to monitor early restoration reef performance. There was no significant difference in oyster size, density, and recruitment between two experimental reef structures, with both reef types having high survival and fast growth rates for the 2-year study. Both experimental reef structures had significantly higher recruitment rates than natural reefs in 2006, a year of relatively high recruitment (p < 0.05), and elevated yet not significantly higher recruitment rates in 2005, a weak recruitment year (p = 0.078). In situ fluorometry data showed that a restored reef can significantly impact chlorophyll-a levels in overlying water within two years of reef construction. Individual oyster clearance rates ranged from 1.87 L/hr--2.41L/hr.
Asymptotic behavior of second-order impulsive partial stochastic functional neutral integrodifferential equations with infinite delay

In this paper, the asymptotic stability in p-th moment of mild solutions to a class of second-order impulsive partial stochastic functional neutral integrodifferential equations with infinite delay in Hilbert spaces is considered. By using Holder's inequality, stochastic analysis, fixed point strategy and the theory of strongly continuous cosine families with the Hausdorff measure of noncompactness, a new set of sufficient conditions is formulated which guarantees the asymptotic behavior of the nonlinear second-order stochastic system. The results are obtained under the assumption that the conditions which are different from Lipschitz conditions in the literature. An example is also discussed to illustrate the efficiency of the obtained results.
A Single-Layer Planar Monopole Dual-Band Coupled Line Antenna with Low Cross-Polarization for LTE Applications

In this paper, a novel dual-band antenna with coupled line and different impedance extension lines is presented and analyzed. This simple antenna is composed of three antenna radiations with symmetric coupled lines, and it occupies a compact space of 80 × 30 × 1m m 3 . The achieved 10-dB bandwidths of the dual-band operation in free-space condition are 200 MHz and 100 MHz, respectively, which support the 1.8/2.6 GHz Long Term Evolution (LTE) operating bands. Furthermore, various parameters are investigated to examine the effects of the antenna parameters on return loss as well as the gain of the proposed antenna.
The Patterns of Selected Antibiotics Sensitivity and Resistance to Staphylococcus Aureus Isolates

Complications of Staphylococcus aureus infection have greatly increased in recent past because of the many invasive procedures, increased cases of immunocompromised individuals, and the uprising trends in increased antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus strains. Despite of these available information and by contrast with developed countries, S. aureus associated disease are ranked low on the public-health agenda in Kenya and other developing countries. Therefore there is due reason to undertake an investigation and report the trends and patterns in a thorough manner, majorly and especially regarding the antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was thus to determine the levels of drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to various classes of antibiotics. This data is of significance in improving baseline data on antibiotic resistance of S. aureus isolated from human clinical specimens for the prudent use of antibiotics and the coming up with policies on control programs. All culture isolates were confirmed as Staphylococcus aureus genus by various tests, That is, gram staining, catalase and oxidase. Catalase positive, gram positive and oxidase negative isolates were defined as Staphylococcus. Further analyses by mannitol salt agar fermentation of the isolates and positive coagulase tests indicated Staphylococcus aureus. The area of clearance of sensitivity and tolerance was measured in millimeters and categorized as sensitive, resistant or intermediate. The present study reported that, S. aureus was most sensitive to Azithromycin, whereby 46 (61%) samples were sensitive. Penicillin on the hand was least sensitive showing 29% level of sensitivity. Methicillin, Gentamicin had more than 50% level of sensitivity, That is, 41 (55%) and 40 (53%) respectively. Other antibiotic drugs including ampicillin, augmentin and tetracycline demonstrated less than 50% sensitivity, That is, 29 (39%), 32 (43%) and 33 (44%) respectively. Drug resistance for S. aureus was therefore reported to be highest in penicillin (59%) and least in Azithromycin (25%). Based on results of this study we conclude that drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus may vary with the antibiotics being used.
Women’s Struggle to Escape Rural Poverty in South Africa

Results of a purposive sample of the poorest are contrasted with the methods and conclusions of other research into ‘income poverty’. The deprivation suffered by an important class of rural women in South Africa is documented. Escape routes from poverty are described that have a more realistic prospect of success than those promoted in the international and South African policy literature, including the literature on land reform. The distinguishing demographic characteristics of women who have taken the first steps on these routes are analysed, together with the political context of their relative success. Escaping the worst forms of deprivation depends on women’s wages in rural labour markets, rather than their incomes from self-employment, but conventional microeconomic theory cannot explain the distribution of wages in these markets. The South African government has been unduly influenced by such conventional theories and the rhetoric of the development aid bureaucracy. It is failing to consider policies that are relevant to the poorest people.