Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sharks and Rays of Australia

The waters around Australia, the world's smallest continent, are home to the greatest diversity of sharks and rays on Earth. Fully 100 of these sea creatures (along with their little-known relatives, the chimaerids) have been named or described since the first edition of this book - the biggest revision of the Class Chondrichthyes since the time of Linneaus. This second edition of "Sharks and Rays of Australia" brings more than 300 of these species to life in newly commissioned, full-color illustrations. Here, in precisely painted detail, are the weird silvery ghost shark and the remarkably camouflaged ornate wobbegong; spurdogs and swell sharks; the primitive frilled shark and the blacktip, a fast swimmer capable of leaping out of the water like a dolphin. Peter Last and John Stevens review the major shake-ups in the elasmobranch family tree - sorting out, for instance, dogfishes and skates - and include updated family keys, the latest information about species ranges, and new distribution maps. Extensively revised species descriptions reflect additional fisheries and newly gleaned life history and biological information - all essential to conservation efforts as sharks die in commercial bycatches and end up on restaurant menus. An essential tool for conservation biologists trying to save threatened sharks, now under siege worldwide, this marvelous volume will also appeal to fish biologists, divers, naturalists, commercial and recreational fishermen, and anyone with an appreciation for these ancient evolutionary survivors.
Iron (Fe) concentrations in the byssus and soft tissues of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis (L.): Byssus as an excretion route of Fe and Fe bioavailability in the coastal waters

Iron (Fe) in the marine mussels has been reported to play an important role in the strength of attachment of the mussels since Fe is a major element in the attachment property on the mussel byssus. However, the distribution of Fe in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis has not been reported in the literature. In this study, the distribution of Fe in different parts of the byssus and soft tissues of Perna viridis were investigated. It was found that the attachment plaque of the byssus accumulated the highest concentration of Fe, followed by the proximal, distal, stem and root. Iron levels were determined in the byssus and soft tissues of P. viridis collected from 12 geographical sites. It was found that the Fe levels in the byssus were the highest among all the soft tissues studied. The Fe levels could be about 3-17 times higher (P <0.05) in the byssus than in the different soft tissues of P. viridis. Since the byssus of blue mussel Mytilus edulis has been reported to be an excretion route for Fe, it is believed that the byssus of P. viridis is an excretion route for Fe. The Fe could be an essential metal for byssal formation and the byssus is a potential biomonitoring organ for Fe bioavailaibility in coastal waters.
Cytotoxin Associated Gene A+ Helicobacter Pylori Infection is Related with Endothelial Dysfunction in Normotensive Individuals

Introduction: Cytotoxin associated gene (Cag) A+ Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the most virulent HP strain, and its association with endothelial dysfunction remains unclear. Thus we investigated the effects of CagA+ HP on endothelial dependent dilatation and its relationship with C-reactive protein (CRP) in normotensive subjects. Patients and Methods: Sixty individuals with CagA+ HP infection were compared with 40 individuals with CagA(-) HP infection and 50 individuals with no infection in terms of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), nonendothelium-dependent dilatation (NED) and CRP. Results: In the CagA+ subjects the mean percentage of FMD was 6.3±2.7, which was significantly lower than that of the CagA- subjects (9.8±3.3, p<0.01) and the uninfected controls (10.1±2.6, p<0.01). The mean level of CRP in the CagA+ subjects was 3.9 mg/dL (range 0.1-9.8), which was significantly higher than that of the CagA- subjects (2.3 mg/dL, range 0.1-5.4, p=0.01) and the uninfected controls (1.9 mg/dL, range 0.1-5.3, p<0.01). In the CagA+ group CRP levels were inversely correlated with FMD (r=0.318, p=0.013), however not with non-endotheliumdependent dilatation (NED) (r=0.216, p=0.097). Conclusion: Attenuated FMD and low-grade inflammation were associated with CagA+ infection, however not
FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING RETURNS OF SHARES

This study investigated the relationship between share returns and nine variables that had been proven to influence returns in previous research, using a multiple regression analysis. These variables are size, leverage, book-to-market ratio, earnings yield, dividend payout, earnings growth, return on equity, earnings per share and asset growth. The impact of some of the variables on share returns proved to be insignificant, and some collinearity was identified between some of the variables. However, three significant variables were identified and the final regression model included the book-to-market ratio, dividend payout and leverage as the explanatory variables.
Impact of Integration of Distributed Generators in Distribution Network: An Overview

Extensive depletion of fossil fuels, environmental concerns and increasing cost of transmission/distribution expansion result increasing use of Distributed Generators (DG), which is being sought after as a supplement and an alternative to conventional energy sources. Non optimal planning of DG leads increased power losses, poor voltage profile, problems of stability and protection. An optimal and strategic placement is, therefore, done using various optimisation techniques. The DG integration impacts power f low and voltage conditions of the system. These impacts can be both positive as well as negative. The paper evaluates various impacts of DG on the ecology, economics and technical aspects on the distribution network. IndexTerms—Distributed power generation, Islanding, Micro-grids, Power Losses, Power quality, Power system reliability ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Geographical Distribution of Tabanomorpha ( Diptera , Brachycera ) : Athericidae , Austroleptidae , Oreoleptidae , Rhagionidae , And Vermileonidae 1

www.periodico. ebras.bio. br Abstract. The infraorder Tabanomorpha traditionally includes the families Tabanidae, Athericidae, Rhagionidae, and Vermileonidae. The new family Oreoleptidae was placed among the tabanomorphan, as well as some controversial groups as Austroleptidae and Spaniidae, but there is no agreement on the phylogenetic relationships of the groups considered as belonging to the infraorder. Here is presented the geographical distribution of the tabanomorphan families Rhagionidae, Vermileonidae, Athericidae, Austroleptidae and Oreoleptidae, followed by comments on the biogeography of each group. The origin of Tabanomorpha probably dates back to the early Mesozoic, during the Triassic or even earlier, which somehow explains its widespread distribution all over the biogeographical regions, pointing to a great influence of plate tectonics in generating nowadays distribution. Nevertheless, despite the initial attempts to solve the problem, the biogeographical evolution of Tabanomorpha is still scarcely known. In order to properly reconstruct its historical area relationships, every biogeographical analysis depends on up-to-dated distributional information, and, hence, reliable lists of distribution are a starting point to a broad comprehension of the evolution of life in space.
Results and Discussion 3 . 1 . Partial replacement of antimony oxide with Ke mgard HPSS in flexible PVC formulations

Viability of continued use of antimony oxide is among the topics of broad interest to PVC compound suppliers as well as their end users. Existing and emerging regulatory mandates have continued to drive an industry-wide effort to minimize use of antimony oxide in PVC, while being able to maintain adequate fire performance when formulating the low-smoke compounds for a variety of applications such as construction materials and wire and cable products.
Study of Coating Geometries and Photoluminescence Properties of Metal Nanoparticles/Graphite Composites

In this work we present the results of a study of growth and characterization of metal nanoparticles (Ag, Au, and Co)/carbon surfaces. The nanoparticles grew by laser ablation technique and their dimensions were controlled by light scattering study and AFM microscopy before their insertion on graphite surface. Nanoparticles appear randomly disposed on carbon surfaces aggregating to form big particles only in the case of silver. The different behavior of metal nanoparticles on carbon surface was explained in terms of different metal wetting of surface, in agreement with previous theoretical results of He et al. Chemical information, obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, indicated that the doping process is a simple physisorption while the interfacial interaction between particles and carbon layers causes local defects in graphite structure and the appearance of a strong photoluminescence signal for all composites. Moreover, the visible optical absorption decreases about 10% indicating the progressive metallization of carbon surface.
Impacts of purchase preference of urban resident on safe-certified pork in Beijing of China

This study aims to analyze the factors which influence the consumers purchase preference and their impacts on certified pork by using Beijing urban residents’ questionnaire survey data in December 2010. We first investigate some impact factors based on the consumer’s decision process model, and did the regression analysis by means of binary logistic model, and then calculate the marginal effect coefficients. Our results suggest that economic constraint of income and higher price of safe certified products are still important factors affecting consumer’s purchase preference for certified pork, and that consumer’s perception of the current quality safety risks of pork market and knowledge about certified pork also have significant impacts on the consumer’s purchase preference for certified pork products. Key words: Safe-certification, agricultural products, consumer’s purchase preference, binary logistic model, Beijing.
Synchronization of chaotic semiconductor laser dynamics on subnanosecond time scales and its potential for chaos communication

We present experimental evidence for the synchronization of two semiconductor lasers exhibiting chaotic emission on subnanosecond time scales. The transmitter system consists of a semiconductor laser with weak to moderate coherent optical feedback and therefore exhibits chaotic oscillations. The receiver system is realized by a solitary semiconductor laser in which a fraction of the transmitter signal is coherently injected. We find that for a considerably large parameter range, synchronized receiver output can be achieved. We discuss the physical mechanism and demonstrate that the receiver acts as a chaos pass filter, which reproduces the chaotic fluctuations of the transmitter laser, but suppresses additionally encoded signals. Signal extraction at frequencies of up to 1 GHz has been achieved. Thus we provide a simple and robust optical chaos synchronization system that is promising for the realization of communication by sending signals with chaotic carriers.
Lower tropospheric distributions of O 3 and aerosol over Raoyang, a rural site in the North China Plain

Abstract. The North China Plain (NCP) has become one of the most polluted regions in China, with the rapidly increasing economic growth in the past decades. High concentrations of ambient O3 and aerosol have been observed at urban as well as rural sites in the NCP. Most of the in situ observations of air pollutants have been conducted near the ground so that current knowledge about the vertical distributions of tropospheric O3 and aerosol over the NCP region is still limited. In this study, vertical profiles of O3 and size-resolved aerosol concentrations below 2.5 km were measured in summer 2014 over a rural site in the NCP, using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with miniature analyzers. In addition, vertical profiles of aerosol scattering property in the lower troposphere and vertical profiles of O3 below 1 km were also observed at the site using a lidar and tethered balloon, respectively. The depths of the mixed layer and residual layer were determined according to the vertical gradients of lidar particle extinction and aerosol number concentration. Average O3 and size-resolved aerosol number concentration in both the mixed and residual layer were obtained from the data observed in seven UAV flights. The results show that during most of the flights the O3 levels above the top of mixed layer were higher than those below. Such a positive gradient in the vertical distribution of O3 makes the residual layer an important source of O3 in the mixed layer, particularly during the morning when the top of mixed layer is rapidly elevated. In contrast to O3, aerosol number concentration was normally higher in the mixed layer than in the residual layer, particularly in the early morning. Aerosol particles were overwhelmingly distributed in the size range
Effects of maternal diet during pregnancy on birth weight of the infant

In het westen heeft de voeding van de moeder tijdens de zwangerschap weinig effect op het geboortegewicht van het kind. In dit deel van de wereld bestaan namelijk over het algemeen geen echte tekorten aan voedingsstoffen. Er is daarom vooralsnog geen reden de voedingsrichtlijnen voor zwangere vrouwen aan te passen. Dit blijkt uit een literatuuronderzoek van het RIVM in opdracht van het ministerie van VWS. Hierin zijn de resultaten van onderzoek naar de relatie tussen voeding en geboortegewicht bij mensen en dieren op een rij gezet. Geringe effecten zijn te zien bij de inname van eiwit, foliumzuur, overmatig alcohol en cafeine tijdens de zwangerschap. Zowel te veel als te weinig eiwit verlaagt het geboortegewicht. Overmatig gebruik van alcohol (meer dan twee tot drie glazen per dag) en cafeine (meer dan drie kopjes koffie per dag) verlagen ook het geboortegewicht. Voor foliumzuur geldt: hoe hoger de inname, hoe hoger het geboortegewicht. De verschillen in geboortegewicht varieren tussen 50 en 200 gram. Geboortegewicht is een belangrijke voorspeller van het gewicht op latere leeftijd. Zowel een laag (onder 2500 gram) als een hoog geboortegewicht (boven 4000 gram) verhoogt het risico op overgewicht. Al tijdens de zwangerschap kan de moeder er dus aan bijdragen dat overgewicht bij haar kinderen wordt voorkomen. De voeding tijdens de zwangerschap heeft mogelijk effecten op de gezondheid van het kind die pas later in het leven zichtbaar worden. Hierover is nog weinig bekend. Daarom is meer onderzoek nodig naar de relatie tussen voeding van de moeder tijdens de zwangerschap en overgewicht en chronische ziekten in het latere leven van het kind.
Effects of permeability barriers and pore fluids on S-wave attenuation

We numerically perform stress relaxation experiments using Biot’s equations for consolidation of poroelastic media to study seismic attenuation of S-waves caused by wave-induced fluid flow. Our model consists of periodically distributed mesoscopic-scale circular heterogeneities with lower porosity and permeability than the background, which contains 80% of the total pore space of the medium. This model represents a hydrocarbon reservoir, where the background is fully saturated with oil or gas (or water, for comparison), and the low porosity heterogeneities are always saturated with water. Varying the dry bulk and shear moduli in the medium, a tendency is observed in the relative behavior of the S-wave attenuation among the different saturation scenarios. First, in the gas-saturated media the S-wave attenuation is very low and much lower than in the oil-saturated or in the fully water-saturated media. Second, at low frequencies the S-wave attenuation is significantly higher in the oil-saturated media than in the fully water-saturated media. Additionally, we observed that impermeable barriers in the background can cause a significant increase in S-wave attenuation. Based on the theory of wave-induced fluid flow, our results suggest that S-wave attenuation could be used as an indicator of fluid content and permeability changes in a reservoir.
Risk Factors in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection: A Case-control Study

Background and Aims: In order to evaluate some possible risk factors for the spread of hepatitis B infection, a case-control study was undertaken. Methods: The study population consisted of subjects who came to Karaj Hepatitis Center. All subjects who met the inclusion criteria were considered as having chronic hepatitis and comprised our case group. Risk factors were evaluated using a questionnaire. Backward conditional logistic regression analysis was used. Results: The case group consisted of 500 chronic subjects, and 434 subjects with negative tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV comprised the control group. Age, male sex, marital status (being married), history of contact with hepatitis, extramarital sexual activity, IV-drug use, major surgery, experimental dentist visit and some jobs (police, barber, and driver) were found to be independent risk factors of being chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (odds ratio: 0.9, 2.3, 2.1, 8.9, 6.5, 5.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.3, respectively). Conclusions: It seems to be of great importance to pay more attention to certain jobs, life styles and cultural matters in Iran that predispose people to a number of risk factors so as to implement measures to control HBV spread. Despite existence of a long list of risk factors, different epidemiological studies with alternative methodologies accompanied by meta-analysis of risk factors in each separate area seems to be helpful in providing information about transmission routes and surveillance of hepatitis B infection.
Shear wave splitting across the Iceland hot spot: Results from the ICEMELT experiment

[1] We report on observations of upper mantle anisotropy from the splitting of teleseismic shear waves (SKS, SKKS, and PKS) recorded by the ICEMELT broadband seismometer network in Iceland. In a ridge-centered hot spot locale, mantle anisotropy may be generated by flow-induced lattice-preferred orientation of olivine grains or the anisotropic distribution of magma. Splitting measurements of teleseismic shear waves may thus provide diagnostic information on upper mantle flow and/or the distribution of retained melt associated with the Iceland mantle plume. In eastern Iceland, fast polarization directions lie between N10� W and N45� W and average N24� W; delay times between the fast and slow shear waves are generally 0.7–1.35 s. In western Iceland, in contrast, the fast polarization directions, while less well constrained, yield an average value of N23� E and delay times are smaller (0.2–0.95 s). We propose that splitting in eastern Iceland is caused by a 100- to 200-km-thick anisotropic layer in the upper mantle. The observed fast directions in eastern Iceland, however, do not correspond either to the plate spreading direction or to a pattern of radial mantle flow from the center of the Iceland hot spot. We suggest that the relatively uniform direction and magnitude of splitting in eastern Iceland, situated on the Eurasian plate, may therefore reflect the large-scale flow field of the North Atlantic upper mantle. We hypothesize that the different pattern of anisotropy beneath western Iceland, part of the North American plate, is due to the different absolute motions of the two plates. By this view, splitting in eastern and western Iceland is the consequence of shear by North American and Eurasian plate motion relative to the background mantle flow. From absolute plate motion models, in which the Eurasian plate is approximately stationary and the North American plate is moving approximately westward, the splitting observations in both eastern and western Iceland can be satisfied by a background upper mantle flow in the direction N34� W and a velocity of 3 cm/yr in a hot spot reference frame. This inference can be used to test mantle flow models. In particular, it is inconsistent with kinematic flow models, which predict southward flow, or models where flow is dominated by subduction-related sources of mantle buoyancy, which predict westward flow. Our observations are more compatible with the flow field predicted from global seismic tomography models, which in particular include the influence of the large-scale lower mantle upwelling beneath southern Africa. While the hypothesized association between our observations and this upwelling is presently speculative, it makes a very specific and testable prediction about the flow field and hence anisotropy beneath the rest of the Atlantic basin. INDEX TERMS: 7218 Seismology: Lithosphere and upper mantle; 8120 Tectonophysics: Dynamics of lithosphere and mantle—general; 8155 Tectonophysics: Plate motions—general; KEYWORDS: Iceland, anisotropy, hot spot, plate motion, shear wave splitting, mantle flow
Photochemistry of brevetoxin, PbTx-2, produced by the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis

The predominant brevetoxin produced by Karenia Brevis, PbTx-2 was added to 0.2 µmfiltered Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina seawater (WBSW) and irradiated under simulated sunlight for six hours to determine its photolability. The average first order rate constant of PbTx-2 degradation was 0.20 ± 0.05 h-1 at 25 oC. When PbTx-2 was added to UV-irradiated WBSW, the average rate constant decreased significantly to 0.08 ± 0.03 h-1 at 25 oC relative to that of untreated WBSW suggesting dissolved organics are involved in the photodegradation of PbTx-2 in seawater. UV-irradiated WBSW treated with Chelex-100 resin to remove trace metals caused no degradation of PbTx-2 upon exposure to sunlight suggesting that trace metals, in addition to organics, are involved in the photodegradation of PbTx-2. Irradiation of PbTx-2 in deoxygenated filtered WBSW caused the toxin to degrade almost immediately upon exposure to simulated sunlight. The effect of deoxygenation on the photodegradation of other brevetoxins including PbTx-1, 3, 6 agreed with the rate of PbTx-2. PbTx-9 and the naturally-produced compound, brevenal, degraded considerably in deoxygenated WBSW but not as rapidly. These results demonstrate that photosensitizers are involved in the degradation mechanism, suggesting that PbTx-2 degrades by secondary photochemical pathway. The mechanism suggested here is that PbTx-2 degrades in the presence of the excited chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM)* and trace metal complex. Furthermore, the removal of oxygen from seawater causes the rate of degradation to increase rapidly because (CDOM)* no longer scavenges oxygen thereby scavenging solely PbTx-2. A model is also proposed which suggests that 75% of PbTx-2 in coastal seawater can be removed in 6 hours by exposure to sunlight. This represents a significant impact on the residence time of the toxin in bloom indicating photodegradation is an important and perhaps the dominant sink of the toxin in coastal seawater.