bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creativity in Translator Training: Between the Possible, the Improbable and the (Apparently) Impossible
Authors: Hewson Lance
Published: April 2017

The first part of this paper looks at how creativity has been explored in writings in the field of translation studies. It examines the stages in creative translation and investigates the creative process. The second part of the paper looks at how creativity can be exploited in the translation class by concentrating in particular on the liberating role of intralingual and interlingual paraphrase, while considering the various constraints operating on the selection of the optimal target text.
Intermodal Corpora and the Translation Classroom: What can Translation Trainers and Trainees Learn from Interpreting?
Authors: Ferraresi Adriano
Published: April 2017

This contribution focuses on didactic applications of intermodal corpora, i.e. corpora featuring interpreted and translated language. It relies on EPTIC, a multipletranslation and intermodal parallel corpus containing EU Parliament plenary speeches in Italian and English. The peculiar nature of EPTIC allows the investigation of a set of translational alternatives which are distinguished by modality- and task-based constraints (written vs. oral, translated vs. interpreted). To exemplify the potential of such corpus evidence, teaching activities focusing on collocations are proposed that encourage students to reflect on the decision-making processes involved in the slower-paced, reflective task of translation, vs. the faster, more automatic one of interpreting. A method is also described that can facilitate the selection of relevant didactic examples.
A Knot Polynomial Invariant for Analysis of Topology of RNA Stems and Protein Disulfide Bonds
Authors: Tian Wei , Lei Xue , Kauffman Louis H. , Liang Jie
Published: April 2017

Knot polynomials have been used to detect and classify knots in biomolecules. Computation of knot polynomials in DNA and protein molecules have revealed the existence of knotted structures, and provided important insight into their topological structures. However, conventional knot polynomials are not well suited to study RNA molecules, as RNA structures are determined by stem regions which are not taken into account in conventional knot polynomials. In this study, we develop a new class of knot polynomials specifically designed to study RNA molecules, which considers stem regions. We demonstrate that our knot polynomials have direct structural relation with RNA molecules, and can be used to classify the topology of RNA secondary structures. Furthermore, we point out that these knot polynomials can be used to model the topological effects of disulfide bonds in protein molecules.
Simulation and Optimization of Throttle Flowmeter with Inner-Outer Tube Element
Authors: Meng Jiang , Liu Zhipeng , An Kun , Yuan Meini
Published: April 2017

In order to solve the dilemma between the smaller pressure loss and the larger flow measurement signal in traditional throttle flowmeters, a throttle structure with the inner-outer tube was designed and analyzed. The mathematical relationship model deduced from hydrodynamics showed there were three major parameters to determine the designed throttle structure. Furthermore, the optimal results were achieved by combining orthogonal test design and computational fluid dynamics by taking the ratio of differential pressure of inner-outer tube divided by that of anterior-posterior tube as the optimization goal. Finally, the simulation results with the best level parameters showed that the differential pressure of the anterior-posterior throttle could remain not only the smaller value among other parameters with the same structure of inner-outer tube. On the other hand, it was about one order magnitude less than differential pressure of V-cone flowmeter in the similar installation conditions with the flow velocity varying from 0.5 to 3.0 m/s. The designed inner-outer tube flowmeter can not only save manufacture costs, but also avoid the large sensitivity of pressure sensors, which may lead to a broader application in chemical and petrochemical enterprises.
Interactions and Optimizations Analysis between Stiffness and Workspace of 3-UPU Robotic Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Dan , Wei Bin
Published: April 2017

The interactions between stiffness and workspace performances are studied. The stiffness in x, y and z directions as well as the workspace of a 3-UPU mechanism are studied and optimized. The stiffness of the robotic system in every single moveable direction is measured and analyzed, and it is observed that in the case where one tries to make the x and y translational stiffness larger, the z directional stiffness will be reduced, i.e. the x and y translational stiffness contradicts with the one in z direction. Subsequently, the objective functions for the summation of the x and y translational stiffness and z directional stiffness are established and they are being optimized simultaneously. However, we later found that these two objectives are not in the same scale; a normalization of the objectives is thus taken into consideration. Meanwhile, the robotic system’s workspace is studied and optimized. Through comparing the stiffness landscape and the workspace volume landscape, it is also observed that the z translational stiffness shows the same changing tendency with the workspace volume’s changing tendency while the x and y translational stiffness shows the opposite changing tendency compared to the workspace volume’s. Via employing the Pareto front theory and differential evolution, the summation of the x and y translational stiffness and the volume of the workspace are being simultaneously optimized. Finally, the mechanism is employed to synthesize an exercise-walking machine for stroke patients.
Language policies in play: Learning ecologies in multilingual preschool interactions among peers and teachers
Authors: Cekaite Asta , Evaldsson Ann-Carita
Published: April 2017

In this study we argue that a focus on language learning ecologies, that is, situations for participation in various communicative practices, can shed light on the intricate processes through which minority children develop or are constrained from acquiring cultural and linguistic competencies (here, of a majority language). The analysis draws on a language socialization approach to examine the micro-level contexts of an immigrant child’s preschool interactions with peers and teachers, and the interplay between these and macro-level language and educational policies. It was found that, in contrast to institutional and curricular policy aspirations concerning the positive potentials of children’s play as a site associated with core learning affordances, the language learning ecology created in the multilingual peer group interactions was limited. Social relations in the peer group, the novice’s marginal social position, and the child’s rudimentary knowledge of the lingua franca, Swedish, precluded her from gaining access to shared peer play activities. The current study thus corroborates prior research showing that peer interactions in second language settings may pose a challenge to children who have not already achieved some competence in the majority language and that more support and interactions with the teachers can be useful.
Boundary Layer Flow and Heat Transfer of fluid particle suspension with nanoparticles over a nonlinear stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium
Authors: Prasannakumara B.C. , Shashikumar N.S. , Venkatesh P.
Published: April 2017

An analysis has been carried out to study the effect of nonlinear thermal radiation on slip flow and heat transfer of fluid particle suspension with nanoparticles over a nonlinear stretching sheet immersed in a porous medium. Water is considered as a base fluid with dust particles along with suspended Aluminum Oxide (Al
The Tragedy of the Uncommons
Authors: Brown Matthew , Cardiff-Hicks Brianna
Published: April 2017

We develop and discuss a new institutional concept, “the tragedy of the uncommons,” to describe the inefficient use of resources that are both non-substitutable and transitory. This situation is not captured by the tragedy of the commons/anti-commons literature or other theories. We highlight the crucial and under-appreciated assumptions about value over time of the tragedy of the commons and anticommons. We also introduce the concepts of “under” and “over-ownership” to the bundle of rights theory of property clarifying weaknesses in the literature to help better understand how institutions can yield efficient resource preservation.
Genre Variation and Changes in Frame Sequences Across Cultures: The Case of Criminology RA Abstracts in English and French
Authors: Cavalieri Silvia , Preite Chiara
Published: April 2017

Though not as widely studied as the Research Article (RA), the abstract has attracted increasing interest among researchers over last decades (Swales 1990, Bhatia 1993, Dos Santos 1996, Lorés-Sanz 2008, Bondi/Cavalieri 2012, Cavalieri 2014). A number of contrastive or comparative studies of abstracts in English and other languages (Martín-Martín 2005, Lorés Sanz 2006, Van Bonn & Swales 2007, Diani 2014) have already been carried out considering mainly the hard sciences and some soft sciences such as linguistics and history, however no cross-cultural analyses have been conducted so far between RA abstracts in English and RA abstracts in French published in the legal field.

This paper seeks to investigate genre variation and changes in frame sequences comparatively in English and French RA abstracts from criminology journals.

Using a genre analytical approach to qualitative and quantitative data, the paper reports on two comparable corpora, i.e. English and French, of electronically retrieved abstracts from Criminology Journals published in 2014. The two corpora are composed of three journals per language, namely Criminology, Journal of Criminal Justice, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology for the English corpus, and Champ Pénal, Criminologie, Revue Canadienne de Droit Pénal et Criminologie for the French corpus. The analysis will be carried out following two main steps, i.e. a macro-analysis and a micro-analysis. In the former step, the corpora are compared by the analysis and discussion of the basic IMRD rhetorical move structure for the RA often proposed in the literature (e.g. Nwogu 1990; Swales 1990; Bhatia 1993; Ventola 1994; Martín-Martín 2002) and the additional five moves model postulated by Dos Santos (1996) with the aim of investigating the linguistic and rhetorical variation in the abstract genre from a cross-cultural perspective. In the latter, we look at frame sequences (Bondi/Cavalieri 2012) combining forms of self-mentions and frame markers (Hyland 2005), i.e. personal patterns (e.g. we argue / nous questionnons), impersonal patterns (e.g. it is argued / il est question) and locational patterns (e.g. the paper argues / l’article questionne) (Dahl 2004). Provisional results show that the abstracts under investigation largely follow the international conventions based on the norms established by the English-speaking international academic community. However, variation across the two cultures emerged from the linguistic realizations of framework sequences. Cross-cultural implications are discussed at the close.
Intercultural Competence in EMP Training: A Case Study and Implications for Syllabus Design
Authors: Dudzik Agnieszka , Dzięcioł-Pędich Agnieszka
Published: April 2017

Due to the development of global economy and increased geographical and occupational mobility, communication with people from multicultural backgrounds has become commonplace in many healthcare institutions. As the demographic profiles of both patients and medical personnel are increasingly varied, intercultural competence (IC) has become an integral component of English for Medical Purposes (EMP) training. However, are medical students generally familiar with the notion of intercultural competence? What intercultural aspects should they be aware of in order to practise effectively when they graduate? The aim of this article is to present medical students′ understanding of IC based on a survey conducted among undergraduate learners at the Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. The article begins with a discussion on intercultural competence in the context of health care. Following this, a discussion on why intercultural competence needs to be incorporated and used in Medical English programmes is presented.
Polish, Greek and Cypriot Civil Procedure Terminology in Translation. A Parametric Approach
Authors: Gortych-Michalak Karolina
Published: April 2017

The paper discusses the problem of translating selected Civil Procedure terminology from Greek into Polish and from Polish into Greek. The research material includes corpora of normative acts and more precisely those, which regulate Civil Procedure of Poland, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. The research methodology is based on the concept of parameterisation, according to which the legal linguistic reality becomes axiomatic. Then the set of relevant dimensions and parameters is extracted. The set of parameters are a tool where certain information is given: yes/no/none and thus a clear result of comparison between legal system bond terminology can be drawn up. The results of this comparative analysis provide highly regulated and available translation equivalents, which are essential when legal translation is performed within the frame of legal reality. Selected examples of use of these equivalents are given when discussing the results.
Socially Induced Changes in Legal Terminology
Authors: Matulewska Aleksandra
Published: April 2017

The author intends to present evolutionary and revolutionary changes in legal terminology. Legal terminology changes as a result of language usage, technological development, political and social changes and even economy reasons. The following research methods have been applied: the terminological analysis of the research material (empirical observation, analysis of comparable texts and parametric approach to legal terminology comparison) and the analysis of pertinent literature. The research material included legislation from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and Australia. The author focuses on terminological changes resulting from social transformations. Selected terms and their transformation in respect to meaning and form are elaborated on in the paper. Finally, the author draws conclusions that translation of such terminology should aim at communication precision and many of them may be false friends in interlingual communication.
3D reconstruction by a combined structure tensor and Hough transform light field approach
Authors: Vianello Alessandro , Manfredi Giulio , Diebold Maximilian , Jähne Bernd
Published: April 2017

Disparity estimation using the structure tensor is a local approach to determine orientation in Epipolar Plane
Images. A global extension would lead to more precise and robust estimations. In this work, a novel algorithm for 3D
reconstruction from linear light fields is proposed. This method uses a modified version of the Progressive
Probabilistic Hough Transform to extract orientations from Epipolar Plane Images, allowing to achieve high quality
disparity maps. To this aim, the structure tensor estimates are used to speed up computation and improve the disparity
estimation near occlusion boundaries. The new algorithm is evaluated on both synthetic and real light field datasets, and
compared with classical local disparity estimation techniques based on the structure tensor.
Monokulare Kopfposenschätzung basierend auf dem optischen Fluss und der Verfolgung stabiler Merkmale
Authors: Vater Sebastian , Puente León Fernando
Published: April 2017

Die monokulare erscheinungsbasierte Kopf”-po”-sen”-schät”-zung mittels des optischen Flusses leidet insbesondere bei
großen Kopfdrehungen in die Bildebene hinein aufgrund des sogenannten Aperturproblems unter Stabilitätsproblemen. In
dieser Arbeit wird zur Lösung des Problems eine unabhängige Schätzung der Kopfbewegung durch Berechnung einer
projektiven Transformation basierend auf der Registrierung stabiler Punkte zwischen aufeinanderfolgenden Frames
bestimmt. Um die Schätzung robuster zu gestalten, wird der optische Fluss mit Hilfe eines bewegungsabhängigen
Regularisierungsterms stabilisiert. Die Auswahl geeigneter Punkte zur Berechnung der Transformation wird im Detail
diskutiert und der Einfluss der bewegungsabhängigen Regularisierung auf die Konditionszahl der Hesse-Matrix sowie auf
die Performanz des Systems untersucht. Die Ergebnisse werden anhand repräsentativer Referenzdatensätze validiert.
Assessment of the Capacity of Roads Weaving Segments
Authors: Mahdalova Ivana , Petru Jan , Krivda Vladislav
Published: April 2017

Driving style is affected by development of cars and it has influence on the capacity of designed elements of roads and highways. Therefore, based on research, more accurate methods for assessing the capacity of road infrastructure are being developed. This paper presents the results of the research of weaving segments. It is focused on capacity assessment of these sections within the Czech Republic. Attention is focused especially on weaving segments in urban conditions with high traffic volume and on road sections with a speed limit less than 80 km per hour. Research verified the possibility of using these purposes by existing methodology developed for roads with a speed limit up to 80 km per hour.
First Cost Calculation Methods for Road Freight Transport Activity
Authors: Kovács György
Published: April 2017

The transport activity is one of the most expensive processes in the supply chain. Forwarding and transport companies focuses on the optimization of transportation and the reduction of transport costs.

The goal of this study is to develop a method which calculate the first (prime) cost of a given transport task more precisely than the state of the art practices. In practice the calculation of transport fee depends on the individual estimation methods of the transport managers, which could result losses for the company.

In this study the elaborated calculation method for total first cost is detailed for three types of fulfilment of transport tasks. The most common type of achievement is, when “own vehicle is used with own driver”. A software was also developed for this case based on the elaborated method.

Based on the calculations of our software, the first cost can be defined quickly and precisely to realize higher profit.
Hierarchical Method of Inter-Area Fast Rerouting
Authors: Lemeshko Oleksandr , Yeremenko Oleksandra , Nevzorova Olena
Published: April 2017

In this paper, in order to increase the scalability and fault-tolerance of routing solutions the hierarchical method of inter-area fast rerouting in communication networks was presented. The method is based on the decomposed representation of the flow-based routing model with the introduction of the area interaction conditions to ensure connectivity of the inter-area routes. The model includes conditions for border routers protection, adapted for both single path and multipath routing. During the research it was established that the efficiency of the proposed method in terms of the speed of the coordinating procedure convergence was most influenced by the number of border routers and the implemented routing strategy.
Impacto de las variaciones de temperatura diaria en la historia natural de los anuros tropicales
Authors: Bernal-Bautista Manuel Hernando , Turriago-González Jorge Luis , Villa-Navarro Francisco Antonio
Published: April 2017

Anuran embryos and tadpoles are daily exposed to wide thermal variations in their ponds, with maximum temperatures at midday. The aim of this research was to study the impact of three daily variable thermal environments (with maximum experimental temperatures between 10:00 and 16:00 hours), on the survival, developmental time and body size of metamorphs of four tropical anuran species from lowland habitats in Colombia. A total of 50 embryos (Gosner stage ten) to metamorphosis (Gosner stage 46) of Rhinella humboldti, Hypsiboas crepitans and Engystomops pustulosus were exposed to each one of the three daily variable temperature treatments: high temperature (mean = 27.5 °C; maximum temperature = 34 ± 1 °C; range = 23-35 °C), medium temperature (25.5 °C; 29 ± 1 °C; 23-30 °C), and low temperature (24 °C; 24 ± 1 °C; 23-25 °C). For the other species, Espadarana prosoblepon, 40 embryos to metamorphosis were exposed to each one of the following thermal treatments: high temperature (mean = 22 °C; maximum temperature = 25 ± 1 °C; range = 18-26 °C), medium temperature (20.5 °C; 22 ± 1 °C; 18-23 °C), and low temperature (19 °C; 19 ± 1 °C; 18-20 °C). For all species, the thermal variable environment with the highest temperature showed the greatest accumulated survival, reduced significantly the developmental time from embryos to metamorphs, and the snout-vent-length of metamorphs. Therefore, under field conditions where ponds are exposed to thermally variable environments, the highest temperatures may promote a decrease in the period of time to metamorphosis, and a positive increase for the anuran survival; nevertheless, extreme temperatures were also found in the microhabitat of the species studied, higher than their upper thermal limits reported, which suggest a vulnerable situation for them and other tropical anurans from similar habitats.
Las agregaciones de desove de Tylosurus pacificus (Beloniformes: Belonidae) y su pesca en el Parque Nacional Natural Utría (Pacífico colombiano)
Authors: Correa Herrera Tatiana , Correa Rendón Juan Diego , Márquez Velásquez Viviana , Jiménez Segura Luz Fernanda , Carvajal Quintero Juan David
Published: April 2017

Some species of marine fish have complex relationships with coastal ecosystems during their reproductive periods, as the needle fish Tylosurus pacificus that forms spawning aggregations in gravel beaches in Utría Park. We described fishery and some aspects of the reproductive biology of T. pacificus and proposed some strategies to mitigate the impact of this event and associated ecological processes. Fisheries monitoring were conducted between April 2008 and February 2009 in the Utría National Park, Colombian Pacific. Catch volumes, length structure, sex ratio and fecundity (n= 84) were analyzed. The total length ranged among 60.5 and 104 cm with a mean and standard deviation of 85.35 ± 9.09 cm. The average fertility of oocytes per gonad was 189 685.56, with a mode of 8 mm diameter and an asynchronous gonadal development. This species spawns collectively on the beach when the tide reaches the highest level during full and new moon, usually in the evening. Fishermen of a near town take advantage of the spawning aggregation of this species. The reproduction study of T. pacificus and ecological processes associated with their spawning, should be expanded to give adequate use, and ensure the sustainability of their fishery over the long term.
Potencial económico de la captura de peces de ornato bajo protección federal en México
Authors: Gijón-Díaz Diego , Reyes-Bonilla Héctor , Guerrero-Izquierdo Triana P. , Fernández-Rivera Melo Francisco J.
Published: April 2017

Ornamental fisheries are economically viable activities in developing countries due to the fact that aquaria have become a worldwide hobby. In Mexico, the fishery has been conducted since the 1980s, especially in the Baja California Peninsula, but nevertheless, there are no adequate records of commercial production, or about the economic gain due to the exploitation of the resource. The objective of this paper was to calculate the maximum allowable catch for the five ornamental fishes included in the NOM-059-SEMARNAT (protected by federal mandate), and the net monetary gain that the resource might generate. Censuses (N=1 610) were conducted in 21 reef sites of the Mexican Pacific and Gulf of California in order to estimate population density of each taxon; also, natural mortality rate (M) was calculated from maximum size (L∞), individual growth rate (k) and temperature (C), and the total allowable catch was estimated on the basis of M. Finally, considering the prices of the species paid to fishermen at the beach, an estimation of the economic value of a single fishing season for an area of 220 hectares (representative of the catch area assigned in average to a cooperative in Mexico) was produced.  The results indicated that the areas with the best economic potential were Encantadas Islands, Los Angeles Bay, and San Lorenzo Archipelago (all in the state of Baja California). Outside of the gulf (where no legal ornamental fisheries exist) the potentially more rentable locations were Marietas Islands (Jalisco), and the Revillagigedo Islands. Aquarium fisheries may be a viable activity in several of the analyzed areas of the country, however, the potential gain that harvest represents is not enough to fully sustain an organized group that would perform it; for that reason the ornamental fishery should be seen as an alternative commercial activity. Finally, to guarantee this activity to be a rentable and sustainable fishery, we recommended that, the existing rules defined by the Mexican federal government should be applied to control the catch quotas.
Uso de Leersia hexandra (Poaceae) en la fitorremediación de suelos contaminados con petróleo fresco e intemperizado
Authors: Arias Trinidad Alfredo , Rivera Cruz María Del Carmen , Roldán Garrigós Antonio , Aceves Navarro Lorenzo Armando , Quintero-Lizaola Roberto , Hernández Guzmán Javier
Published: April 2017

The oil industry has generated chronic oil spills and their accumulation in wetlands of the state of Tabasco, in Southeastern Mexico. Waterlogging is a factor that limits the use of remediation technologies because of its high cost and low levels of oil degradation. However, Leersia hexandra is a grass that grows in these contaminated areas with weathered oil. The aim of the study was to evaluate the bacteria density, plant biomass production and phytoremediation of L. hexandra in contaminated soil. For this, two experiments in plastic tunnel were performed with fresh (E1) and weathered petroleum (E2) under waterlogging experimental conditions. The E1 was based on eight doses: 6 000, 10 000, 30 000, 60 000, 90 000, 120 000, 150 000 and 180 000 mg.kg-1 dry basis (d. b.) of total petroleum hydrocarbons fresh (TPH-F), and the E2, that evaluated five doses: 14 173, 28 400, 50 598, 75 492 and 112 142 mg. kg-1 d. b. of total petroleum hydrocarbons weathered (TPH-W); a control treatment with 2 607 mg.kg-1 d. b. was used. Each experiment, with eight replicates per treatment, evaluated after three and six months: a) microbial density of total free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) of Azospirillum (AZP) and Azotobacter group (AZT), for viable count in serial plate; b) dry matter production (DMP), quantified gravimetrically as dry weight of L. hexandra; and c) the decontamination percentage of hydrocarbons (PDH) by Soxhlet extraction. In soil with TPH-F, the NFB, AZP y AZT populations were stimulated five times more than the control both at the three and six months; however, concentrations of 150 000 and 180 000 mg.kg-1 d. b. inhibited the bacterial density between 70 and 89 %. Likewise, in soil with TPH-W, the FNB, AZP and AZT inhibitions were 90 %, with the exception of the 14 173 mg.kg-1 d. b. treatment, which stimulated the NFB and AZT in 2 and 0.10 times more than the control, respectively. The DMP was continued at the six months in the experiments, with values of 63 and 89 g in fresh and weathered petroleum, respectively; had no significant differences with the control (p≤0.05). The PDH reached values of 66 to 87 % both TPH-F and TPH-W at six months, respectively. These results demonstrated the ability the L. hexandra rhizosphere to stimulate the high NFB density, vegetal biomass production and phytoremediation of contaminated soils (with fresh and weathered petroleum), in a tropical waterlogging environment.
Reproducción de los róbalos Centropomus undecimalis y C. ensiferus (Perciformes: Centropomidae) en una laguna costera tropical
Authors: Gassman Juan Pablo , López-Rojas Héctor , Padrón Dana
Published: April 2017

Snooks C. undecimalis and C. ensiferus are important fishery resources in their distribution area. In Venezuela they are caught by artisanal fisheries along the entire coast. However, studies on their biology that would help establish fishing regulations are scarce. To study reproduction aspects of these species, we analyzed 1 325 individuals of C. undecimalis and 2 025 of C. ensiferus caught by artisanal fishing in the Laguna de Tacarigua in Northern Venezuela, from July 2009 to September 2010. Total length, total weight, sex and stage of gonadal development were recorded. The sex ratio varied throughout the year: there was a significant difference in favor of C. undecimalis males (1.5:1), and C. ensiferus females (1:3.3). Differences were also evident in the sexual proportion at each size group. For both species, males dominated in the lower size ranges while females dominated in the larger size ranges. These results suggested sequential hermaphroditism (protrandry) in both species. Size at sexual maturity (Lm50) for C. undecimalis was ♀= 73.6 and ♂= 59.3 cm, and ♀= 26 and ♂= 21.5 cm for C. ensiferus. C. ensiferus reproduced throughout the year with two periods of higher intensity (August to September and February to April). Although we found very few mature individuals for C. undecimalis, February showed an important reproduction peak. Growth differences were found between males and females of C. undecimalis: positive allometry for females (P= 0.0022*L3.353) and negative allometry for males (P= 0.0108*L2.945). Both males and females of C. ensiferus showed a positive allometric relationship (P= 0.0049*L3.235). Lack of fishing regulations and controls, evidenced in this study by significant volumes of immature individuals in the catches, and the particular reproductive biology of these species, strongly indicates the need to establish regulations to ensure their responsible use. We recommend establishing a closed season during the first quarter of the year and minimum catch sizes for both species.
Phylogeny of Dengue virus type 2 isolated in the Central Highlands, Vietnam
Authors: Le Tuan Van , Thi Tuyet Van Nguyen , Hoang Quan Nguyen , Tho Duoc Pham
Published: April 2017

Dengue fever is perhaps the most important viral re-emergent disease especially in tropical and sub-tropical countries, affecting about 50 million people around the world every year. In the Central Highlands regions of Vietnam, dengue fever still remains as a major public health issue. Although four viral serotypes have been currently identified, dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) was involved in the most important outbreaks during 2010-2012, especially, 2010 when the fatality rate highly increased. Detection of genotype of DENV-2 provided information on origin, distribution and genotype of the virus. In this study, DEN-2 isolated from dengue patients during the 2010-2012 epidemics was amplified and sequenced with E gene. The consensus sequences were aligned with reference E gene sequences of globally available Genbank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Neighbor-joining and Kimura 2-parameter model to construct phylogenetic tree. A total of 15 isolates (seven from 2010; one from 2011 and seven from 2012) were obtained from human serum samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Asian genotype 1 is currently circulating locally in Central Highlands region. Isolates of this genotype were closely related to viruses from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It indicated that these epidemics maybe imported into the Central Highlands region from South-East Asia neighbor countries. The study results would help in planning for prevention and control of dengue virus in Vietnam. Continuous monitoring of DENV genotypes is necessary to confirm the current findings and detect possible genotype shifts within the dengue viruses in the future.
Actividad enzimática de proteasas de Cyprinus carpio (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) extraídas de una laguna contaminada en México
Authors: Hernández-Sámano Arisaí , Guzmán-García Xochitl , García-Barrientos Raquel , Guerrero-Legarreta Isabel
Published: April 2017

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is an aquatic organism of commercial value able to survive in polluted environments; carps contain proteolytic enzymes of physiological importance and potential industrial application. The objective of this work was partially purify and study the proteolytic activity at different pH of carp proteases living in a polluted environment. Three carps were captured in different zones of Zumpango polluted lagoon (Mexico) at 1 m of maximum deep. Protease crude extracts were obtained from dorsal muscle by aqueous extraction and fractionated by 20 %, 50 %, 80 %-saturated (NH4)2SO4. Fractions extracted with 50 % and 80 %-saturated (NH4)2SO4 were selected for their high proteolytic activity and concentrated by ultrafiltration through 100 kDa molecular weight cutoff membranes and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The crude proteolytic extract had significantly higher activity (19.7 - 20.3 U / mg) at pH 2, 5, and 7 (P < 0.001). Fractions obtained with 20 %, 50 % and 80 % - saturated (NH4)2SO4 showed peak activity at pH 5 (2.8 U / mg) and pH 6 (2.2 U / mg); pH 6 (4.3 U / mg) and pH 3 - 4 (3.6 - 3.7 U / mg); pH 3 (10.8 U / mg) and pH 10 (10.6 U / mg); respectively. Subfractions of < 100 kDa, obtained with 50 % and 80 %-saturated (NH4)2SO4, had peak proteolytic activity at alkaline pH. A < 100 kDa fraction, obtained with 80 %-saturated (NH4)2SO4, had the highest proteolytic activity (37.3 - 43.7 U / mg) at pH 8 - 10, purification factor of 3 and 19.1 % recovery. Thirteen proteins between 9.8 to 104.8 kDa were identified in the crude extract. Peak protein concentration was observed for 31 - 33 and 39 - 41 kDa, suggesting the possibility predominance of serine- and aspartyl- proteases, respectively. We suggest this protease with maximum activity at alkaline pH is related to the adaptation of C. carpio to polluted waters with high pH. Although unsuitable for human consumption, these organisms can be a source of protease production aimed to several uses as in the industry and waste water treatment among others.
Efecto de los estadios sucesionales del bosque tropical seco sobre el microhabitat usado por Agalychnis dacnicolor (Anura: Phyllomedusidae) y Smilisca fodiens (Anura: Hylidae)
Authors: Soto-Sandoval Yunuen , Suazo-Ortuño Ireri , Urbina-Cardona Nicolás , Marroquín-Páramo Jorge , Alvarado-Díaz Javier
Published: April 2017

Habitat disturbance can modify microhabitats and therefore have a significant effect on the abundance and distribution of anurans species, particularly those associated to specific microhabitats. In this study we evaluated changes in the use of microhabitat by two syntopic species of tree frogs, Agalychnis dacnicolor and Smilisca fodiens along a successional gradient of Tropical Dry Forest in the region of the Biosphere Reserve of Chamela-Cuixmala at the coast of Jalisco, Mexico. We hypothesized that because these two species are habitat generalists, microhabitat use would change in response to secondary forest succession and to the climatic season of the year. Although both species were registered in both secondary and mature forests, A. dacnicolor was associated to mature forest, whereas S. fodiens was more associated to disturbed sites. Neither species showed differences in biomass among successional stages (ES) or between climatic seasons. Unlike S. fodiens, A. dacnicolor presented larger sizes during the rainy season. Body temperature of both species varied between ES and climatic season. S. fodiens presented a more constant temperature among individuals in pastures, while A. dacnicolor in mature forests. Environmental and structural habitat variables that influenced the presence of both species in ES were substrate temperature, height of tree or shrub where the frog was perching and percentage cover of litter, grasses, shrubs, trees and bare soil. The variables that best explained biomass, snout-vent length (LHC) and body temperature of S. fodiens were cover of dry branches and substrate temperature, whereas biomass of A. dacnicolor was better explained by cover of herbs, LHC, height of the tree or shrub where the frog was perching, body temperature and the substrate temperature. Both species used differentially environmental and structural variables of microhabitats along the gradient of initial to late ES. The variables that separated the species were the height of the shelter or perch and the percentage of trees in different ES. Whereas A. dacnicolor was more associated to the lowest strata of vegetation, S. fodiens showed plasticity in microhabitat use, especially in height of shelter or perch. Our results suggested that even when both species are considered habitat generalists, in anthropic landscapes, A. dacnicolor is specialist in microhabitat use, whereas S. fodiens is a species with greater ecological plasticity in microhabitat use. These differences in microhabitat use in response to habitat disturbance may help explain the success of these species in these new landscapes, as well as the importance of secondary forests in different stages of succession to maintain adequate microhabitats for the permanence of species in anthropogenic landscapes.
Cetacean sightings and acoustic detections during a seismic survey off Nicaragua and Costa Rica, November-December 2004
Authors: Holst Meike , Smultea Mari A. , Koski William R. , Sayegh Alejandro J. , Pavan Gianni , Beland Joseph , Goldstein Howard H.
Published: April 2017

Although the wider Eastern Tropical Pacific has been systematically surveyed during summer/fall, relatively little effort has focused on shelf and slope waters of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Such data are useful for establishing baseline information and assessing potential changes in cetacean occurrence and distribution relative to natural (e.g., El Niño-Southern Oscillation, climate change) and anthropogenic factors. A visual-acoustic survey for cetaceans occurred as part of a monitoring and mitigation program during an academic geophysical seismic study off Nicaragua and Costa Rica, during November-December 2004. Approximately 2 067 cetaceans representing at least seven species were seen in 75 groups during 373 h (3 416 km) of daytime observations from the seismic research vessel (R/V) Maurice Ewing. The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) were the most frequently sighted species (30 % of all groups sighted); both were seen in shelf waters < 100 m deep and in slope waters. The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus; 10 % of sightings) was the third most frequently sighted species and was only seen in water > 100 m deep. In addition, sightings were made of spinner dolphins (S. longirostris), short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), and unidentified dolphins and whales. Unconfirmed sightings of a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and a pod of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) were also recorded. An additional six groups of dolphins (50 % confirmed to species, all pantropical spotted dolphins) were made during 187 h (1 549 km) of observation effort during darkness, two of which were detected within 30 m of the vessel bow using a night vision device. A total of 217 cetacean detections occurred during 633 h of passive acoustic monitoring. A small concentration of 12 humpback whales was seen in eight groups, and two humpbacks were recorded singing in the Gulf of Fonseca on 9 December 2004. To our knowledge, such concentrations of humpback whales, particularly singing humpbacks, have not been previously reported in this specific area. In addition, a humpback mother-calf pair, likely from the Northern Hemisphere population, was seen off Northern Costa Rica on 25 November 2004. Although cetacean sighting rates were significantly different during seismic and non-seismic periods even when corrected for differential detection probability related to sea conditions, our survey results do provide information to address previous data gaps on cetacean occurrence in shelf and slope waters off the Pacific coast of Central America during late fall.
Indicator-based management recommendations for an artisanal bottom-longline fishery in Costa Rica, Central America
Authors: Bystrom Andy Benjamin , Naranjo-Madrigal Helven , Wehrtmann Ingo
Published: April 2017

There is a growing need to strengthen the small-scale fishing sector with emerging governance methods that improve fishers’ threatened livelihoods. Therefore, this study’s aim was to develop management recommendations, based on easily interpreted conclusions that can be used to address the socio-ecological difficulties that the artisanal, bottom-longline fishery in Bejuco, Pacific coast of Costa Rica faces. The results of previously recorded fisher socio-ecological perceptions and an evaluation of the spotted rose snapper’s, Lutjanus guttatus, population dynamics were assigned a measurable set of indicators in reference to the fishery’s natural, human and management sub-systems. This was done via the traffic light method with easily interpreted colors based on a review of similar published fisheries studies. According to these results, a stock assessment for the fishery’s target species and research to determine the composition and magnitude of the fishery’s discarded species were recommended. Fisher economic dependence on bottom-longline activities led to the recommendation to develop alternative livelihood strategies. Also, the promotion of alternative markets and sustainability certification strategies for the snapper fishery are advised. Enlargement of the multi-use marine protected areas within the fishery’s grounds and improvement of their management strategies is also recommended. In order for this to occur, improved resource user coordination in the form of a fisher association that has the capability to lobby for increased enforcement of the protected areas from destructive fisheries must be realized. Doing so would aid the development of a local management plan and participatory governance system. Such an initiative would justify the development of community lead marine protected area management regimes.
La influencia de cuatro factores (temperatura, densidad, oxígeno y alimento) en la formación de marcas en las escamas de juveniles de tilapia
Authors: Ibañez Ana Laura , Castellanos Manuel , Rodríguez Antonio , Álvarez Sergio
Published: April 2017

Oreochromis niloticus has been introduced worldwide into freshwater reservoirs and represents an alternative food for local populations. Two annual marks on fish scales have been reported for fish in these environments, one of them is allocated to reproduction, while the other is thought to be formed following low temperatures, a reduction in oxygen concentration and/or high densities, among others. In order to explore the causes of this second ring, we designed an experimental study to analyze the influence of four factors: a reduction in food amount, an increase in density, a decrease in oxygen concentration and temperature. The experiment was carried out using five 215 L plastic tanks, each one divided into two sections, so as to have treatment replicates (each with 20 juveniles). The control conditions were optimal for the species: 5% of body weight in food, a density of 3 fish/L, a total oxygen saturation of 4.98 ± 0.5 mg/L, and a temperature of 25.0 ± 1.0oC; the treatments varied as follows: food of 2.5% of body weight, density of 6 fish/L, oxygen of 2.8 ± 1.2 mg/L and a temperature of 19.6 ± 1.0oC. Fish responses to stressors were estimated through variations in length, weight and inter-circuli spaces or circuli spacing in fish scales. Every third day it was measured the concentrations of ammonium, phosphates and nitrates with a photometer. Three stages for length/weight fish measurements and scales sampling were considered: 1) Initial stage: before experiment started, 2) Final stage: at the end of the experiment, and 3) Compensatory stage: when all the experimental treatments were adjusted to the Control conditions; the experiments lasted for three weeks. The results indicated that all the treatments caused a reduction in length, weight and inter-circuli spaces when compared to the controls (6.7 ± 0.5 cm; 5.2 ± 1.2 g; 5.4 ± 0.5 mm, respectively), but only the variables of temperature and food resulted significant (5.6 ± 0.4 and 5.8 ± 0.5 cm; 3.4 ± 0.7 and 3.3 ± 0.9 g; 3.4 ± 0.3 and 4.1 ± 0.6 mm for temperature and food treatments, respectively) (P < 0.05). When treatments were reversed to the control conditions for another three weeks compensatory growth was observed in the oxygen and density treatments, but not in the same way for the temperature and food treatments. We concluded that inter-circuli distances are a good indicator to stress periods in this species.
Agronomic practices influence the infection of an oats cultivar with Fusarium langsethiae
Authors: Imathiu S. M. , Ray R. V. , Back M. , Hare M. C. , Edwards S. G.
Published: April 2017

Fusarium langsethiae, a toxigenic fungus known to contaminate small-grain cereals with type A trichothecene mycotoxins, HT-2 and T-2 was described as a new species in 2004. HT-2 and T-2 are some of the most potent Fusarium toxins in eukaryotes, capable of inhibiting protein synthesis. The epidemiology of F. langsethiae is not well understood and with the intent of the European Commission to set maximum levels of contamination of cereals with these toxins, importance is currently placed in trying to understand the fungal infection process and its favorable growth conditions. A field study was carried out to investigate the effect of artificially inoculated oats straw, ploughing and minimum tillage with and without incorporated crop debris (straw) on infection and mycotoxin production by F. langsethiae on oats cultivar Gerald. The results indicated that cultural field practices had effects on the infection of oats by F. langsethiae. Fusarium langsethiae DNA was quantified in significantly larger amounts (p<0.05) in minimum tilled with incorporated straw plot samples than in other plot samples. It was also shown that inoculated straw had no significant effect (p>0.05) on oat infection by F. langsethiae as quantified by DNA concentration. HT-2+T-2 quantification and analysis, gave no good evidence that either inoculation or cultural practice had any significant influence on the concentration of mycotoxins in the samples (p>0.05), but samples from minimum tillage with incorporated straw plots resulted in 2.5 times more HT-2+T-2 toxins than samples from ploughed with removed straw. These findings indicate the importance of tillage and crop debris management in the mitigation in an effort to prevent F. langsethiae infection, colonization and possible contamination of oats with HT-2 and T-2 toxins.