Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short‐term stress and mortality of juvenile school prawns, Metapenaeus macleayi, discarded from seines and trawls

Two experiments were carried out to assess the short-term impacts to juvenile school prawns, Metapenaeus macleayi (Haswell) discarded from commercial seining and trawling in New South Wales, Australia, and the potential utility of modifications to operational and/or onboard handling practices designed to improve survival. For both gears, discards were handled according to two general categories of treatment (termed mild and extreme) chosen to represent the plausible limits of severity during existing commercial operations. A total of 600 trawled and 480 seined school prawns (from both treatments), along with appropriate numbers of controls (previously collected and housed in acclimation tanks), were placed into cages (in groups of 10). Subsets of each of these groups were then destructively sampled over periods of up to 5 days and examined for their mortality and physiological response (measured as levels of L-lactate in the haemolymph). In both experiments, the temporal mortalities in the treatment groups ranged between 0% and 15% and, for the most part, were not significantly different to controls. Prawns in the treatment groups had similar, significantly elevated levels of L-lactate approximately 40 min after being caught, but these returned to levels approaching baseline estimates within 48 h. Under the conditions examined, juvenile school prawns appear capable of withstanding a range of stressors associated with being discarded from active gears, and their fate is not greatly influenced by the duration of gear deployment and subsequent air exposure. However, further work is required to quantify other sources of unaccounted fishing mortality and, ultimately, the impacts that discarding has on stocks. © 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation
Grassland, forest and riparian ecosystems on mixed-ownership federal lands adjacent to the Crow Indian Reservation: Developing a protective shield for sustainability of the environment and culture from the impacts of climate-related disturbance

Between 2016 and 2018, the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station’s Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute hosted a team of scholars to reflect on how Federal agencies can best prescribe restoration for conditions associated with climate change-induced disturbance to protect sustainability in mixed-ownership lands, with a focus on the Upper Missouri River Basin. Phase 1 of this project was a review of natural resources and current threats to these resources on mixed-ownership lands adjacent to the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana and Wyoming, USA. Phase 2 was aimed at designing and explaining a model of adaptive environmental management (the Protective Shield Framework), based on Indigenous principles to increase resilience, to bolster resistance to climateand human-related disturbance on fire-adapted ecosystems, and to implement restoration from such impacts in sustainable ways. This effort included specific examples of Crow knowledge to demonstrate the shield framework for management of knowledge related to resistance and restoration. We posit that, in using Indigenous knowledge for the conservation and protection of natural resources in this region of the Upper Missouri River Basin, public land managers can more effectively build a holistic and inclusive resilience regime against the impacts of climate change. _____________________________
A First Glance to the Quality Assessment of Dental Photostimulable Phosphor Plates with Deep Learning

Photostimulable Phosphor Plates are commonly used in digital X-ray imaging for dentistry. During its usage, these plates get damaged, influencing the diagnosis performance and confidence of the dentistry professional. We propose a deep learning based classifier to discard or extend the use of photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plates based on their physical damage. The system automatically assesses, for the first time in the literature, when dentists should discard their plates. To validate our methodology, an in-house dataset is built on 25 PSP artifact masks (Carestream, CS 7600) digitally superimposed over 100 Complementary Metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) periapical images (Carestream, RVG 6200) with known radiologic interpretations. From these 2500 images, unique subsets of 100 images were evaluated by 25 dentists to find periapical inflammatory lesions on the tooth. Doctors’ opinion on whether the plates should be discarded or not was also collected. State-of-the-art deep convolutional networks were tested using fivefold cross validation, yielding classification accuracies from 87% to almost 89%. Specifically, InceptionV3 and Resnet50 obtained the best performances with statistical significance. Qualitative heat-maps showed that such models can identify and employ artifacts to decide on whether to discard the PSP plate or not. This work intends to be the base line for future works related to the automatic PSP plate assessment.
Budget and life cycle in family business in succession process,

ABSTRACT The aim of this work is to analyze how the budget need is conceived in family businesses in the process of succession. There is a gap about the reasons for using the budget in the context of a family business succession process, whose characteristics and purposes of the budget reflect their need depending on the antecedents the reasons for use. The relevance of the theme lies in understanding the intergenerational succession as a part of the life cycle in family companies and the interface with the management control system (MCS) from the need of the budget with a planning and control tool. As an impact on the area, this study broadens the field of research on budget considering its characteristics and purposes in a context of organizational transition that involves succession in a family business. We adopted the single case study with data collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and documents. Data were analyzed from the discursive textual analysis whose focus is the contents related to succession from the organizational life cycle, changes in the MCS, and budget need. The results showed that changes resulting from the succession process on the strategies of its planning (professionalization of management, creation of the holding company, and governance) interact and influence the need of the budget. This stems from the reasons for operational planning and strategic training from its antecedents associated with the organizational characteristics of the success and renewal phase of the life cycle. The contribution of the study is based on the combination of succession in family business and budget by making it possible to reflect on the need for a specific tool (the budget) to support goal setting and decision-making in this context. It will contribute to the MCS and family business by understanding the need for budgeting in the succession process. In addition, it will validate the three-phase model of the succession process in a family business as part of the organizational life cycle.
Intrinsic rate of population increase of Amitus fuscipennis MacGown and Nebeker (Hym., Platygasteridae) according to climatic conditions and bean cultivar

Data on adult longevity, reproduction and intrinsic rate of population increase of insect parasitoid Amitus fuscipennis MacGown and Nebeker (Hym., Platygasteridae) were obtained under different climatic conditions on two bean cultivars. The insect host was the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hom., Aleyrodidae). On cv. Chocho, at 19°C, 75 ± 5% RH and at 22°C, 70 ± 5% RH, mean longevity of adult Amitus females on the host insect was 9.3 and 5.7 days; mean fertility was 64.1 eggs and 52.7 eggs; and rm values were 0.102 day–1 and 0.144 day–1 for the respective conditions. On cv. ICA‐Pijao, at 19°C, 75 ± 5% RH, mean longevity was 15.2 days; mean fertility was highest (162.8 eggs); and rm value was 0.117 day–1. The rm values of Amitus were higher than those of its host under the same test conditions. This parasitoid may therefore be a suitable candidate for use in inoculative or seasonal inoculative control programs against T. vaporariorum.
Toxic effects of cadmium and zinc on ectomycorrhizal colonization of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from soil inoculum

Scots pine seedlings colonized by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi from natural soil inoculum were exposed to a range of Cd or Zn concentrations to investigate the effects of metals on ECM fungi–Scots pine associations in a realistic soil environment. Experiments focused on the relationship between the sensitivity of ECM fungi and their host plants, the influence of metals on ECM community dynamics on Scots pine roots, and the effects of metal exposure on ECM colonization from soil‐borne propagules. Ectomycorrhizal colonization was inhibited by Cd and Zn, with a decrease in the proportion of ECM‐colonized root tips. Shoot and root biomass, total root length, and total root‐tip density, however, were unaffected by Cd or Zn. A decrease in the diversity of ECM morphotypes also occurred, which could have a negative effect on tree vigor. Overall, colonization by ECM fungi was more sensitive than seedling growth to Cd and Zn, and this could have serious implications for successful tree establishment on metal‐contaminated soils.
Osmotic changes during the development of eggs and larvae of the lumpsucker, Cydopterus lumpus L.

The demersal eggs of Cyclopterus appear to osmoregulate like the pelagic eggs of cod and plaice. Unfertilized eggs in ovarian fluid exhibited ovoplasm osmolarities similar to those of adult blood and ovarian fluid (356–359 mosmol kg−1). Yolk osmolarities remained virtually constant from fertilization and during development (356–366 mosmol), with a slight decrease near hatching (to 332 mosmol). Yolk and body fluids of larvae (338 mosmol) had osmoconcentrations similar to egg yolk values near hatching. Yolk osmoconcentration of unfertilized eggs remained unchanged during the first 12 h in sea water, with a slow increase thereafter. Fertilized eggs of bad quality cultures exhibited higher yolk osmoconcentrations than eggs of good quality. Cyclopterus eggs were found to develop normally and survive in 20–34%o salinity, larvae seemed to have the same salinity range.
Partial self-incompatibility in the polyploid endemic species Scalesia affinis (Asteraceae) from the Galápagos: remnants of a self-incompatibility system?

Different pollination treatments of capitula were used to examine the breeding system of individuals of the tetraploid endemic species Scalesia affinis from the Galapagos Islands. All types of crossings resulted in approximately 35 achenes per capitulum, but in actively and passively self-pollinated capitula these were mostly without embryos. Among self-pollinated individuals a large variation was found in the production of embryos. Some individuals failed completely to set filled achenes while others produced few or many. Additionally, we found a clear difference in female phenology of florets in self-pollinated capitula compared with florets in cross-pollinated capitula. Female florets in self-pollinated capitula remained receptive for longer time. These results suggest that Scalesia affinis is partly self-incompatible. Outcrossing is assured by the endemic carpenter bee, Xylocopa darwini, which proved to be an important pollinator of Scalesia affinis. Nevertheless, geitonogamy seemed to be considerable in the focal population, for which reason open pollinated capitula produced fewer achenes than controlled outcrossed capitula. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 142, 93–101.
Effects of macrograzers and light on periphyton stoichiometry

Ecological stoichiometry describes the biochemical constraints of trophic interactions emerging from the different nutrient content and nutrient demand of producers and consumers, respectively. Most research on this topic originates from well-mixed pelagic food webs, whereas the idea has received far less attention in spatially structured habitats. Here, we test how light as well as grazing and nutrient regeneration by consumers affects growth and biomass of benthic primary producers. In the first laboratory experiment, we manipulated grazer presence (two different snail species plus ungrazed control), in the second experiment we factorially combined manipulation of grazer presence and light intensity. We monitored snail and periphyton biomass as well as dissolved and particulate nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) over time. Grazers significantly reduced algal biomass in both experiments. Grazers affected periphyton nutrient content depending on the prevailing nutrient limitation and their own body stoichiometry. In the nitrogen (N-) limited first experiment, grazers increased N both in the periphyton and in the water column. The effect was stronger for grazers with lower N-content. In the phosphorus (P-) limited second experiment, grazers increased the P-content of the periphyton, but the grazer with lower N-content had additionally positive effects on algal N. Light reduction did not affect periphyton biomass, but increased chlorophyll-, N- and P-content of the periphyton. These experiments revealed that the indirect effects of grazers on periphyton were bound by stoichiometric constraints of nutrient incorporation and excretion.
Reproduction in the raccoon dog in Finland

Reproduction in the raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ) was studied on the basis of 632 female carcasses in Finland in 1986–1990. In Finland, raccoon dogs usually mate from February to April, with a peak in March. Differences occurred both regionally and with respect to age, with older females breeding earlier than younger ones. Fecundity (number of corpora lutea per breeding female) averaged 11.5, with variation in fecundity occurring both annually and regionally, but not in relation to age of females. Embryonic litter size averaged 9.6 and was highest among females 3–5 years old. Litter size at birth averaged 8.8 and also peaked at 3–5 years of age. Loss of ova and preimplantation mortality averaged 15% in southern Finland, but was as high as 30% in the northeastern part of the study area. Because fetal mortality averaged an additional 5–10%, total prenatal mortality may surpass 20%. The proportion of reproducing females averaged 78%, increasing with age, as did productivity (number of young per female), increasing from 5.5 at 1 year of age to 8.2 at ≥3 years. Reproductive value was highest among 2-year-old females. Reproduction in raccoon dogs is strongly affected by climate and weather, and the availability of food (voles and berries) in relation to population density. The abundance of food and population density influence growth (including sexual maturation) of young raccoon dogs and their condition (fat reserves). In adult females, condition mostly affects annual variation in litter size at birth, whereas, in young females, it affects the regional variation in the proportion of reproducing females.
Corn Grain Yield Response to Crop Rotation and Nitrogen over 35 Years

Crop rotation and N are management methods that can increase corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields. Our objective was to determine the corn grain yield response to six crop rotation sequences and four N rates in a long-term (35-yr) study. The rotations were continuous corn (CC), corn-alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (CA), corn-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] (CS), corn-corn-corn-alfalfaalfalfa (CCCAA), corn-corn-oat (Avena sativa L.) with alfalfa seeding-alfalfa-alfalfa (CCOaAA), and corn-soybean-corn-oat with alfalfa seeding-alfalfa (CSCOaA). From 1970 to 2004, first-yr corn grain yields (CCCAA, CCOaAA, and CSCOaA) increased from 79 to 100 kg ha -1 yr -1 . Increasing N rates did not influence grain yield trends, indicating that an alfalfa crop produced the N required by first-yr corn. However, 224 kg N ha -1 was needed to improve second and third-yr grain yield trends 69 and 58 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively. Grain yield trends for CC did not improve despite increasing N treatments, although grain yield tended to increase over time at 224 kg N ha -1 (P < 0.10). From 1989 to 2004, corn grain yield trends ofCA and CS decreased by 161 kg ha -1 yr -1 if no N was added. The 2-yr rotation was not sufficient to improve grain yield trends, whereas the 5-yr rotation was able to enhance corn grain yield and decrease the need for fertilizer N. Effects on pathogens and insects were not evaluated but warrant further investigations. Overall, this data shows that extended rotations involving forage crops reduce N inputs, increase corn grain yields, and are more agronomically sustainable than current short-term rotations.
Predation on moose and caribou by radio-collared grizzly bears in east central Alaska

Radio-collared grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) were sighted daily for approximately 1-month periods during spring, summer, and fall to estimate predation rates. Predation rates on adult moose (Alces alces) were highest in spring, lowest in summer, and intermediate in fall. The highest kill rates were by male grizzlies killing cow moose during the calving period. We estimated that each adult male grizzly killed 3.3–3.9 adult moose annually, each female without cub(s) killed 0.6–0.8 adult moose and 0.9–1.0 adult caribou (Rangifer tarandus) annually, and each adult bear killed at least 5.4 moose calves annually. Grizzly predation rates on calves and grizzly density were independent of moose density and are probably more related to area-specific factors, e.g., availability of alternative foods. An important implication of our results is that managers should not allow moose densities to decline to low levels, because grizzlies can have a greater relative impact on low- than on high-density moose populations and b.
A Novel Slot-Array Defected Ground Structure for Decoupling Microstrip Antenna Array

In this article, a novel slot-array defected ground structure (DGS) for decoupling microstrip antenna array is proposed. The slot-array DGS is etched surrounding each antenna element on the ground plane and parallel to the radiating edges of each antenna element. The decoupling mechanism is elucidated via an equivalent circuit model and the coupled current field analysis, which reveals slot-array DGS has the spatial band-stop characteristic and changes the direction of the partially coupled current, respectively. Both characteristics of the slot-array DGS contribute to mutual coupling reduction. Three practical design examples of applying slot-array DGS to single-linearly polarized (LP), dual-LP, and compact circularly polarized (CP) antenna array are given to illustrate the design process and considerations. The simulated and measured results show that about 50 dB isolation enhancement is obtained by using the slot-array DGS when the edge-to-edge spacing between CP antenna elements is 0.057 wavelength. Additionally, a wheel-shaped absorber based on the electromagnetic loss material is designed and fabricated to reduce the backward radiation caused by slot-array DGS. The absorber has an absorptivity of more than 95% in the frequency range of 1.2–1.35 GHz and suppresses the backward radiation over 12.5 dB in the plane phi = 0° and 16.1 dB in the plane phi = 90° without deteriorating other antenna performances.
Interactive effects of life history and season on size-dependent growth in juvenile Atlantic salmon

Size-dependent growth (SDG) is an important process in structuring populations as well as determining life history outcomes. Despite its importance, there have been few investigations from observational studies focusing on the interaction between life history decisions and SDG. In this study, we used data on individually tagged Atlantic salmon from both the laboratory and the field to investigate differences in SDG among two life history groups, parr and smolts. In the laboratory, we found little evidence of SDG in parr but seasonally dependent SDG in the smolt group. Smolts showed at strong compensatory response over the winter months just prior to the smolt transformation window. In the field, we found little evidence of SDG early in ontogeny (i.e., age 0+ fall and winter). There was some evidence of depensatory growth (positive SDG) during the age 1+ spring among both life history groups that may reflect random habitat variation or the monopolisation of resources. After the age 1+ spring, we found that smolts were more likely to show a compensatory effect (negative SDG) than parr. This effect was strongest, as they approached the smolt window in the spring of their age 2+ year. These results suggest (i) SDG is common in Atlantic salmon; however, the form and extent of life history depends on (ii) season and (iii) life history. For individuals that adopt a smolt life history, trade-offs between freshwater survival and sea survival may lead to a convergent growth pattern, as they approach the smolt migration window.
Antimicrobial Characteristics of Bis-quaternary Ammonium Compounds Possessing a p-Phenylene Group in Their Spacer Chains

Phenylene-bis-quaternary ammonium compounds (Ph-bis-QACs), 4, 4'-(p-xylylenedithio) bis (1-alkylpyridinium iodide) s, N, N'-p-phenylenebis (1-alkyl-4-carbamoylpyridinium bromide) s and 4, 4'-(terephthaloylamino) bis (1-alkylpyridinium bromide) s composed of two pyridinium salt groups linked by a p-phenylene spacer chain were evaluated for their antimicrobial characteristics. We also compared the activities of these compounds with those of Methylene-bisquaternary ammonium compounds (M-bis-QACs), 4, 4% (1, 6-hexamethylenedithio) bis (1- alkylpyridinium iodide) s, N, N'-hexamethylenebis (4-carbamoyl-1-alkylpyridinium iodide) s and 4, 4% (tetramethylenedicarbonyldiamino) bis (1-alkylpyridinium iodide) s connected by a methylene spacer chain, and investigated the structure-activity relationship in a bis-QAC. Three Ph-bis-QACs exhibited a high and constant bactericidal activity with a carbon number from n = 8 to n =18, and a wide-ranging and effective antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi. The antibacterial activities of Ph-bis-QACs were higher than those of M-bis-QACs by converting the methylene spacer chain of M-bis-QACs to a p-phenylene spacer chain. Moreover, while the activities of M-bis-QACs were influenced by the electron density of ammonium nitrogen, the activities of Ph-bis-QACs were not dependent on that. Therefore, these results suggested that the antibacterial activity of a bis-quaternary ammonium compound (bis- QAC) was strengthened more by decreasing the number of rotation axes in the spacer chain rather than changing the electron density of ammonium nitrogen and by increasing the rigid property of molecule structure, and that the steric structure of a bis-QAC is a significant factor influencing the antimicrobial activity of a bis-QAC.
Seasonal Variations in the Biomass, Quantity and Quality of Agar, from the Reproductive and Vegetative Stages of Gracilaria (verrucosa type)

Optimum growth of Gracilaria (verrucosa type) in British Columbia occurred between 5 and 6 meters below mean field level and correlated with solar radiation throughout the season. Vegetative populations declined with a consequent increase in reproductive forms to a maximum in July. Tetrasporophytes dominated the reproductive population and in July attained the greatest seasonal biomass of all forms of the alga. Maximum population and biomass were attained by carposporophytes in July and by male gametophytes one month earlier. An inverse relationship between biomass and yield of agar was apparent only for the vegetative and tetrasporic forms of the alga. Variations in yields, gel strengths, and gelation characteristics of the agars isolated, were demonstrated to be dependent on time of season and life stages of the alga. Ranked in the following decreasing order of merit as a source of agar were the cystocarpic, tetrasporic, vegetative and male gametophytic forms of Gracilaria (verrucosa type).