Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of broodstock diets on biochemical composition and larval growth of Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850)

The effect of broodstock diets on the subsequent larval growth of Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve), was assessed. For the broodstock, two dried diets (a diet of dried Tetraselmis suecica (Kylin) Butch, and a mixed diet of 70 % dried T. suecica and 30 % dried Cyclotella cryptica Reimann et al.), and three live diets (Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve, Dunaliella tertiolecta (Butcher) and T. suecica) were tested. An unfed group was used as a control. The larvae produced were reared for 7 days on the same diet (Chaetoceros calcitrans). All broodstock diets produced eggs with a high growth potential. Larval growth was worse for the starved broodstock group. The fatty acid composition of the eggs was affected by the broodstock diet. Fatty acids in the larvae after 7 days of culture was very similar for all groups, indicating that the early effect of broodstock diets was later replaced by the effect of larval feed.
Wheat cultivars agronomic characteristics and technological quality of flour depending on the row spacing

Proper handling of the wheat crop is crucial to obtain the full expression of the genotype potential. Among the various management techniques, the spatial distribution of plants and the disposal of the same plant in agriculture deserve attention. It is known that the distribution may alter the productivity; however, it is uncertain, the technological changes it might entails. With this in view, the aim of this study was to evaluate in two wheat cultivars, characteristics of agronomic interest and the technological quality of flour depending on the spacing. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications in a factorial 4 × 2. The first factor refers to the spacing: 20, 28, 36 and 40 cm and the second factor refers to the cultivars:CD 150 and BRS Taruma. The experiment was carried out in Santa Tereza do Oeste, western region of Parana state, in May 2011. The yield and grain moisture were reduced with increased spacing of 3.98 and 26.18%. The hectolitre weight, thousand grain weight, the moisture of the flour, ash content dry basis, the falling number, and flour color were not affected by increasing spacing. Cultivar CD 150 presented lighter color, higher weight hectolitre, lower ash content and fewer drop from the BRS Taruma. Key words: BRS Taruma, CD 150, Triticum aestivum.
ADBI Working Paper Series POLLUTION AND ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN CITIES OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Urban road infrastructure is crucial in determining air pollution. Yet, little is known about the roles played by road width vs. road length. This paper attempts to fill this gap by estimating the effects of road infrastructure on 10-micron particulate matter (PM10) using city-level data from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Our robust modeling results show that the road density index, defined as the ratio of surface area of roads to city territory size, is negatively correlated with PM10. More importantly, when the index of road density is decomposed into road width and road length components, the width is found to help reduce PM10, whereas the length is positively correlated with PM10, although the latter relationship is statistically insignificant.
High resolution mapping of community structure in three glass sponge reefs (Porifera, Hexactinellida)

Glass sponge reefs (Porifera, Hexactinellida) are unique to the Pacific coast of Canada. To date, the locations and extents of reefs have only been assessed by multibeam echosounders, a method that does not resolve where live, dead and buried sponges are within a reef. We performed fine-scale (25 and 12.5 m grids) photographic surveys using remote operated vehicles and carried out GIS and semivariogram analysis to produce high resolution maps of the spatial distribution and abun- dance of glass sponges among 3 reefs in the Strait of Georgia and also to determine the community structure of animals associated with the reefs. Within a reef, glass sponges are clustered in spatially dependent patches 35 to 72 m in diameter, which we interpret to result from growth and reproduc- tion processes. Reefs occur within a narrow range of depths (30 to 50 m), which may be explained by suspension feeding requirements for flow, which is accelerated over the underlying elevated bedrock mounds and ridges. The local abundance of fish and crustaceans was significantly higher in the pres- ence of glass sponges while significantly lower abundances of molluscs and other sponges were found within the reefs. Also, we determined that a dense population of reef sponges can process water at 83 000 l s -1 , removing carbon at a rate of 0.96 g C m -2 d -1 . Our high resolution mapping establishes a biological baseline for 3 glass sponge reefs in the Strait of Georgia.
Microsatellite variation in the Mexican rockfish Sebastes macdonaldi

The Mexican rockfish Sebastes macdonaldi is the Northeast Pacific rockfish with the southernmost distribution, featuring isolated populations in the Gulf of California. We analysed seven microsatellite loci in 111 organisms collected throughout most of its geographical range to test long-standing hypotheses regarding its disjunct distribution. One locus was fixed and the number of alleles in polymorphic loci ranged from 2 to 24 (average 13.5). We found very high levels of polymorphism (overall He = 0.75) comparable to other congeneric species but no significant differences in genetic diversity among localities or between Pacific and Gulf of California populations (p > 0.1). Significant shifts in allelic and genotypic frequencies were detected at three loci, which resulted in a small but significant partitioning of genetic variance among California, Baja California and Gulf of California populations (F ST = 0.007, p = 0.03) and between Gulf and Pacific populations (F ST = 0.01, p = 0.004). The latter but not the former result was corroborated by analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) using the number of distinct alleles (F ST ) and the sum of square differences of allele sizes (R ST ) as Euclidean distances. The evidence argues against contemporary gene flow between the gulf and the Pacific ocean and against an ancient invasion of the gulf with a founder effect. The small level of divergence favours a recent dispersal but a larger data set including DNA sequences amenable to phylogenetic analyses will help to test alternative hypotheses of dispersal versus vicariance.
Analysis of the Effect of Subgroup Size on the X-Bar Control Chart Using Forensic Science Laboratory Sample Influx Data

This paper analyzes the effect of subgroup size on the x-bar chart characteristics using sample influx (SIF) into forensic science laboratory (FSL). The characteristics studied include changes in out-or-control points (OCP), upper control limit UCLx, and zonal demarcations. Multi-rules were used to identify the number of out-of-control-points, Nocp as violations using five control chart rules applied separately. A sensitivity analysis on the Nocp was applied for subgroup size, k, and number of sigma above the mean value to determine the upper control limit, UCLx. A computer code was implemented using a FORTRAN code to create x-bar control-charts and capture OCP and other control-chart characteristics with increasing k from 2 to 25. For each value of k, a complete series of average values, Q(p), of specific length, Nsg, was created from which statistical analysis was conducted and compared to the original SIF data, S(t). The variation of number of out-of-control points or violations, Nocp, for different control-charts rules with increasing k was determined to follow a decaying exponential function, Nocp = Ae–α, for which, the goodness of fit was established, and the R2 value approached unity for Rule #4 and #5 only. The goodness of fit was established to be the new criteria for rational subgroup-size range, for Rules #5 and #4 only, which involve a count of 6 consecutive points decreasing and 8 consecutive points above the selected control limit (σ/3 above the grand mean), respectively. Using this criterion, the rational subgroup range was established to be 4 ≤ k ≤ 20 for the two x-bar control chart rules.
Preseismic TEC Changes for Tohoku-Oki Earthquake : Comparisons Between Simulations and Observations

Earthquake precursors can be used for earthquake prediction to reduce the loss of resources and human lives. Pre-earthquake ionospheric signatures have been reported by many scientists. Among those, Zhao et al., [2008] and Liu et al., [2009] reported that the total electron content (TEC) may anomalously decrease or increase up to 5 - 20% several days before 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (Mw7.9). Recently, Heki [2011] found that, ˜40 minutes before the Tohoku-Oki earthquake (Mw9.0), the Japanese GPS dense network detected clear precursory positive anomaly of TEC. Similar preseismic TEC anomalies were also observed in the 2010 Chile earthquake (Mw 8.8), 2004 Sumatra-Andaman (Mw 9.2) and the 1994 hokkaido-Toho-Oki (Mw 8.3) [Heki, 2011]. The ﬁnding of TEC variations near epicenter lacks the physical mechanism to explain those pre-earthquake ionospheric signatures. In this presentation, we propose a mechanism to couple the pre-earthquake activity with the TEC anomalies. Before the break of rocks in the main shock of earthquake, rocks are continuously subjected to stress. The stressed rocks can activate positive holes as charge carriers and generate electric currents along the stress-gradient direction with current density The outﬂow of positive charge carriers from the stressed rock sets up a potential difference, which causes the unstressed rock to become positively charged relative to the stressed rock. The mobile positive charge carriers inside the unstressed rock repel each other electrostatically and will be pushed toward the surface. The positive charges carriers are accumulated over Earth surface, and associated electric ﬁeld can drive current upwardly through atmosphere into ionosphere. We formulate an electrical coupling model for the stressed rock-Earth surface charges-atmosphere-ionosphere system [Kuo et al., 2011]. A three-dimensional atmospheric current system and a NRL ionosphere simulation code [Huba, 2008] are used to study the ionospheric dynamics based on the atmospheric electric ﬁelds and currents. For the simulations of Tohoku-Oki earthquake, we assume that the stressed associated current started ˜ 40 minutes before the earthquake, linearly increased, and reached its maximum magnitude at the time of rocks breaks in the main shock of earthquake. Provided by geolocations of GPS stations in Japanese dense network and corresponding ﬂight tracks of GPS satellites, TEC variations calculation uses the ray tracing method for our ionospheric simulations. The simulation results are compared to the observed TEC anomalies for available nearby GPS satellites. We will demonstrate simulations with different sizes of fault region and stressed current density over Earth surface. One of simulations is shown in ﬁgure. The panel (a) show the dTEC observation [Heki, 2011], while panel (b) for our simulations. The similarity and differences between TEC observations and simulations will be discussed in this presentation.
Revisiting silicon budgets at a tropical continental shelf: Silica standing stocks in sponges surpass those in diatoms

Most of the silicon (Si) in marine coastal systems is thought to recirculate under the biological control of planktonic diatoms. We challenge this view after comparing the biogenic silica (bSi) standing stocks contributed by communities of planktonic diatoms and benthic sponges in five habitats of an extensive continental shelf area of the Mesoamerican Caribbean. In most habitats (outer reefs, patch reefs, sea grass beds, and mangroves), the sponge bSi stocks surpassed those of diatoms. Collectively, bSi in sponge communities was about 88.6% of the total Si pool. Diatoms represented 4.2% and ambient silicate about 7.2%. Consequently, when constructing future regional Si budgets in coastal areas, the Si standing stocks in sponge populations should be empirically examined before deciding that their contribution to the total is negligible. In order to understand Si fluxes in coastal areas where sponges are relevant, we need additional empirical approaches to set the timescale of sponge bSi turnover, which appears to be substantially slower than that of diatom bSi.
Experiencing the needs and challenges of ELLs: Improving knowledge and efficacy of pre-service teachers through the use of a language immersion simulation

Abstract Pre-service teachers need to understand how to support ELLs in their future classrooms, yet evidence suggests that pre-service ELL training may not be as effective as we need it to be. One promising strategy for increasing pre-service teachers’ efficacy and knowledge around teaching ELLs is through a shock-and-show simulation. This strategy incorporates a Swedish-language immersion experience that simulates what it may like to be an ELL and the strategies that can help support these students. There were two phases: a lesson with limited scaffolding (shock) and an extensively scaffolded lesson (show). Our participants included 87 pre-service teachers who filled out pre- and post-surveys, including closed- and open-ended questions. t-Tests were used to determine whether differences in the scores from the two surveys were significant. We analyzed qualitative data using an interpretive approach to the development of codes, categories, and themes, which we triangulated with descriptive statistics to describe the frequency of the emergent codes. Our findings suggest that shock-and-show experiences may benefit pre-service teachers’ knowledge and efficacy around ELL instruction. We theorize that the emotional component of the experience connected to the cognitive aspects may help foster greater learning among pre-service teachers concerning the difficulties and needs of ELLs.
The Role of Morphological Awareness in L2 Vocabulary Development in Logographic Languages

― 25 ― Abstract The aim of this paper is to synthesize how existing research on morphological awareness (MA) contributes to word knowledge development and how this relationship can be extended to second language learners of logographic languages. Three synthesis questions were addressed: 1) to what extent MA contributes to word knowledge development? 2) to what extent research based on findings in the role of MA can be applied to L1 logographic users? 3) and in turn how these findings can be extended to L2 learners of logographic languages? The findings showed some connection between MA and L2 vocabulary development in both alphabetic and logographic languages, and that L2 adult learners of logographic languages can take advantage of MA as native speakers do in terms of vocabulary development.
Studies on wings symmetry and honey bee races discrimination by using standard and geometric morphometrics.

Morphometric is an essential tool for honey bee races discrimination and characterization. Such vital tool has been applied widely in honey bee researches. Unfortunately there is no available literature for confirming honey bee wings symmetry. Therefore, standard and geometric morphometric analyses were employed for investigating wings symmetry as well as for discriminating between Carniolan and Yemeni honey bees. Moreover, three angles of hind wings (H1, H2 and H3) were evaluated in the discrimination between the two races. Results of morphometric analyses strongly confirmed the symmetry of honey bee wings. Standard and geometric morphometric analyses successfully discriminate between the two races. Hind wing length and angle H3 could be incorporated in honey bee races discrimination.
Leaf anatomy and gas exchange of ornamental sunflower in response to silicon application

Silicon applied to substrate for greenhouse cultivation of ornamental pot plants can improve the yield and quality of the ornamental product; however, the possible anatomical and physiological changes caused by Si have to be assessed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate gas exchange rates and leaf anatomy of ornamental sunflower ‘Sunbright’ grown on a substrate amended with Si. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, and the treatments consisted of sunflower plants cultivated in pots containing 600 g substrate fertilized with Si at rates of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 g kg. The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design and four replications. Samples from the middle region of leaf blades in the sixth pair from the apex were collected and analyzed morphometrically. Epidermal trichomes were analyzed using diaphanization and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The following traits were determined: leaf blade thickness, palisade and spongy parenchyma thickness, mesophyll thickness, and abaxial and adaxial epidermis thickness. Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates were determined in the fifth leaf at the beginning of the flowering stage by an infrared gas analyzer. The data were subjected to ANOVA and regression analyses. The results indicate that the ornamental sunflower ‘Sunbright’ accumulates Si in leaf trichomes, and that leaf thickness is not affected by Si application to the substrate; however, transpiration rates decrease while net photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance increase in response to Si application.
Comparative Studies of the Physicochemical Properties of Moringaoleifera (Nigeria), Moringa oleifera (Kenya) and Moringa oleifera (India)

The oil from Moringa oleifera seeds obtained from Afon in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, was extracted using n-hexane. The oil yield determined experimentally was 26.2%. The oil concentration was compared with those reported by [1,2]. Some physicochemical properties like the density, specific gravity, refractive index, pH, viscosity, acid value, peroxide value, saponification value, iodine value and FFA were determined. The results obtained were compared against previously reported data.
Cadmium contents of soils and durum and bread wheats on Harran Plain, southeast Turkey

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum durum (Desf.) Husn. ) is produced on a large scale in Turkey, northern Syria, Kazakhstan, Iran, southern Europe, and North America, and is widely used for making spaghetti, noodles, couscous, and flatbreads. Uptake of Cd by durum wheat species is well known. The objectives of this study were to determine the cadmium (Cd) level of the soils and durum and bread wheat grown on Harran Plain, southeast Turkey, and evaluate it in terms of food safety. Soil samples were taken from 16 selected grains, leaves, and roots of durum and bread wheats for analyses. The total Cd contents of the surface and subsurface horizons were below the internationally acceptable threshold levels ( 2 ppm of Cd. The amounts of bioavailable Cd in bread wheat were lower than those in durum wheat. However, the bioavailable Cd contents in durum wheat grains were 0.1 mg kg-1). A lower Cd content was attributed to the presence of high amounts of carbonates (>20%), Fe-oxy-hydroxides (>5%), clay percent (>50%), and the nature of silicate clay mineralogy in the soils we studied. Durum wheat cultivars used in the area could be another reason for the lower contents of Cd. We confirmed that durum wheat grown on Harran Plain in southeast Turkey is quite suitable for consumption from the standpoint of Cd contents.
Diffusion of ICT related problems among students: the teachers' experience

INTRODUCTION. The dissemination of ICT among youth is leading to the rise of new sets ofproblems in the classrooms in all levels of schools. More and more teachers are faced with newchallenges related to the misuses of the powerful technologies that their students bring intothe classroom. The present research studies the experiences that school teachers have with ICTrelatedproblems among their pupils. METHOD. An anonymous questionnaire was created andsubmitted online to an Italian national sample of 1,034 primary, middle and secondary schoolteachers. The participation was anonymous and voluntary. RESULTS. Half of the respondentsaffirmed having witnessed some problems related to ICTs among students, ranging from cyberbullyingto excessive use to sexting or dangerous behaviours, such as real life meetings withunknown adults met previously online. In most cases the school was directly involved in thesolution to the problems, while only a few situations required the intervention of the police. Theinterviewees strongly supported the idea that schools could and should play a critical role in theICT education of students. DISCUSSION. This data strongly suggests that teachers of all levelsof school, both from metropolitan and rural areas, are already handling a wide range of issuesrelated to the dissemination of ICTs. The problems start early in primary school, but seem toboom in middle school. This leads to important conclusions, most of all that educational andprevention programs should start in the first years of school. The teaching staff, provided withthe required and requested support and training, show a positive attitude towards the idea oftaking on a more active role in the education of their students in safe and correct ICT use.
Green sea urchins structure invertebrate and macroalgal communities in the Magellan Strait, southern Chile

Although sea urchins play a central role in determining the structure and functioning of macroalgal communities in many parts of the world, past research in southern Chile has failed to identify strong effects of urchin grazing, despite the prevalence of coralline-dominated commu- nities and abundant urchins, which indicate a likely structuring role for urchins. Here, we con- ducted experimental removals of the most common urchin, the green sea urchin Arbacia dufres- nii, on a single bedrock wall in the Magellan Strait, Chile. We monitored the responses of invertebrate and macroalgal communities relative to a control wall 6 times over 64 wk. The struc- ture of macroalgal communities on each wall remained similar until more than 40 wk after urchin removal, at which time the community structure diverged, with significantly more macroalgae present on the urchin removal wall. These changes coincided with the onset of early summer and were likely driven by greater settlement, recruitment and growth of algae in the absence of urchins. After 64 wk, the abundance of chitons, bryozoans, mussels and the small bivalve Hiatella solida was also significantly greater on the urchin removal wall. Herbivory by A. dufresnii on these high latitude rocky reefs appears to have a potential structuring effect on benthic assem- blages, although further replicated field experiments are required to document where and when these effects may occur.
Trace gases and CO2 isotope records from Cabo de Rama, India

Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and hydrogen (H 2 ), and the stable carbon (δ 13 C-CO 2 ) and oxygen (δ 18 O-CO 2 ) isotopic composition of CO 2 have been measured in air samples collected from Cabo de Rama (CRI), India, for the period 1993-2002. The observations show clear signatures of Northern and Southern Hemispheric (NH and SH) air masses, mixed with their regional fluxes and chemical loss mechanisms, resulting in complex seasonal variation of these gases. The CRI measurements are compared with remote marine sites at Seychelles and Mauna Loa. Simulations of two major anthropogenic greenhouse gases (CO 2 and CH 4 ) concentrations using a chemistry-transport model for the CRI site suggest that globally optimized fluxes can produce results comparable to the observations. We discuss that CRI observations have provided critical guidance in optimizing the fluxes to constrain the regional source/ sinks balance.