171 research outputs found
Source levels of an acoustic harassment device system on an operational Scottish salmonid farm
No full textAcoustic Harassment Devices (AHDs) are used worldwide to deter pinnipeds from predating fish-aquaculture facilities; however, effects on non-target species are of concern. This study focused on the newly developed, Research & Development (R&D) OTAQ Aquaculture SealFence AHD system, tested at a fully operational salmonid farm in Scotland, located within a Special Area of Conservation. The primary aim was to estimate the Source Levels (SLs) of the R&D AHD system in real field conditions and assess its signal propagation. Field measurements revealed that AHD signals were detectable up to 4.2 km. The estimated SLs ranged from 123.14 to 134.52 dB re 1μPa RMS @ 1 m. High variation in SPLs was observed at close distances from the AHD, likely due to signal directionality, reflections from fish cages and farm structures, and multipath interference from the water surface and seabed. These processes can produce constructive and destructive interference, resulting in pronounced variability in the measured AHD signal at short ranges. Background noise measurements suggest that introduction of anthropogenic noise into the marine environment, combined with other sources, should always be considered. This study provides valuable empirical data on the acoustic output of a new AHD system, highlighting its potential to minimise noise pollution compared to existing devices; however, further research is needed to evaluate its effi cacy in deterring seals and its impact on non-target species
Acoustic diversity and temporal distribution of teleosteos in Flamengo Bay, Ubatuba, São Paulo
No full textVários processos seletivos afetaram os mecanismos de comunicação entre peixes ósseos, com destaque para a produção de sons. Esses sons, que podem ser pulsos isolados, sequências de pulsos ou sons tonais, estão relacionados a uma variedade de comportamentos, como cortejo, desova, alimentação e proteção contra predadores, além de estarem associados à formação de grupos que caracterizam eventos sonoros conhecidos como coros de peixes. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi caracterizar a diversidade acústica das espécies de peixes teleósteos na Baía do Flamengo, em Ubatuba, utilizando métodos de pesquisa não invasivos. A coleta de dados foi realizada na Baía do Flamengo, Ubatuba, no litoral norte do estado de São Paulo, onde os sons foram registrados por um dispositivo de gravação autônomo (AudioMoth v1.2.0) submerso a cerca de 1 m de profundidade. Os dados coletados ao longo das quatro estações do ano foram analisados por meio de escuta e avaliação visual, utilizando o programa Raven Pro 1.6.5. Em seguida, foram calculados os índices de diversidade acústica (ACI e H), e os parâmetros medidos foram comparados usando os testes de Kruskal-Wallis para comparação múltipla não-paramétrica e o pós teste de Dunn. Foram avaliadas 5900 amostras de sinais acústicos, agrupadas em 22 frequências dominantes. Os resultados indicaram maior atividade dos animais no verão, com uma média mais alta dos valores de H nessa estação, enquanto os valores médios de ACI foram mais elevados no inverno, sendo o valor máximo observado durante a noite dessa estação. As diferenças sazonais nas emissões de sons podem ser influenciadas pela temperatura da água e pelo ciclo lunar.Several selected processes affected the communication mechanisms between bony fish, with emphasis on the production of sounds. These sounds, which can be isolated pulses, sequences of pulses or tonal sounds, are related to a variety of behaviors, such as courtship, spawning, feeding and protection against predators, in addition to being associated with the formation of groups that characterize sound events known as choruses. of fish. The main objective of this study was to characterize the acoustic diversity of teleost fish species in Flamengo Bay, in Ubatuba, using non-invasive research methods. Data collection was carried out in Flamengo Bay, Ubatuba, on the north coast of the state of São Paulo, where sounds were recorded by an autonomous recording device (AudioMoth v1.2.0) submerged at a depth of approximately 1 m. The data collected throughout the four seasons of the year were analyzed through listening and visual evaluation, using the Raven Pro 1.6.5 program. Then, the acoustic diversity indices (ACI and H) were calculated, and the measured parameters were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric multiple comparison and Dunn's post test. 5900 samples of acoustic signals were evaluated, grouped into 22 dominant frequencies. The results indicated greater activity of the animals in summer, with a higher average of H values in this season, while the average ACI values were higher in winter, with the maximum value observed during the night in that season. Seasonal differences in sound emissions can be influenced by water temperature and the lunar cycle
Impaired glucose metabolism in bipolar patients and response to mood stabilizer treatments
No full textBackground: Metabolic dysfunctions in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are critical factors that interfere with outcome, but only one study evaluated the influence of glucose dysmetabolism on the response to treatment with lithium. We aimed to investigate the potential impact of glucose metabolic status on clinical characteristics of BD patients and their response to treatment with different mood stabilizers in monotherapy or in combination. Methods: 45 BD patients with insulin resistance (IR) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and 46 patients with normal glucose metabolism, treated with mood stabilizers for at least one year were assessed by diagnostic and rating instruments. Their clinical characteristics were compared and an ordinal logistic regression model was adopted to identify possible predictors of response to mood stabilizer treatments. Results: Compared to patients with normal glucose metabolism, BD patients with impaired glucose metabolism showed a worse clinical presentation of their psychiatric illness and a worse response to mood stabilizers. Ordinal logistic regression analysis evidenced that impaired glucose metabolism was the only predictor of poor response to mood stabilizers (OR 4.3; 95% CI: 1.7–11.1; p < 0.002). Limitations: Cross-sectional design and the relatively small sample size, are the main limitations of our study. Conclusions: Our findings expand literature data suggesting that BD patients with impaired glucose metabolism are at a greater risk of not responding to lithium as well as to different mood stabilizer treatments
A simple protocol for a low invasive DNA accessing in Stenella longirostris (Cetacea: Delphinidae)
No full textThe most significant studies about the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean were conducted in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, off Northeastern Brazil. The continuity of these studies depends upon the development of non-invasive methods. In this work, we present results from the skin swabbing sampling procedure for this species. We tested the performance of this method for nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis, unknown for this population. A total of skin 161 samples were collected during two expeditions. After the contacts the most of the dolphins remained close to the boat. Microsatellites markers and cytochrome b region primers were evaluated and the respective fragments were successfully amplified. Thus, skin swabbing may be considered an efficient strategy to obtain tissue samples for spinner dolphin genetic analysis in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago.Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Av Fernando Ferrari, 514, Vitória, ES, 29075-010Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista UNESP, Pça Infante D. Henrique, s/n, São Vicente, SP, 11330-205Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos ICMBio, Vila do Boldró, s/n, Fernando de Noronha, PEInstituto de Biociências Departamento de Genética UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Jr., s/n, Botucatu, SP, 18618-000Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista UNESP, Pça Infante D. Henrique, s/n, São Vicente, SP, 11330-205Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Genética UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Jr., s/n, Botucatu, SP, 18618-00
Loan Guarantee Programs for Small-Scale Borrowers: Are They Working?
No full textInvestigation whether small-scale borrowings are effective or not indicate the failure of loan guarantees to stimulate the target groups. While it has some merits to boasts, results show that the programs, being subsidy dependent, lead to its unsustainable operation. Hence, audit should be instituted on the three loan guarantee institutions.subsidy, credit program, credit access
First observation of Bs → J/ψf0(980) decays
No full textUsing data collected with the LHCb detector in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, the hadronic decay is observed. This CP eigenstate mode could be used to measure mixing-induced CP violation in the system. Using a fit to the π+π− mass spectrum with interfering resonances gives . In the interval ±90 MeV around 980 MeV, corresponding to approximately two full f0 widths we also find , where in both cases the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively
Predicting strategic change of public research institutions under unstable negative growth
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to forecast and analyse, by a demographic perspective, the organizational behaviour of public research labs. The research focuses on the biggest Italian public research body. Demographic models of growth, based on different human resource policies, show the uncertain and retrogressive evolutionary change of Italian public research bodies that would halve their research personnel over the forecast horizon. These results provide vital information to the public management about the weaknesses and environmental threats in order to support decisions for improving the strategic change and survival of public research institutions over time.Organizational Studies, Forecasting, Public Research Institutions, Internal Demography
The Political Economy of Textbook Writing: Paul Samuelson and the making of the first ten Editions of Economics (1945-1976)
No full textOver the past two decades, numerous contributions to the history of economics have tried to assess Paul Samuelson’s political positioning by tracing it in the subsequent editions of his famous textbook Economics. This literature, however, has provided no consensus about the location of Samuelson’s political ideas. While some authors believe that Samuelson has always had inclinations toward interventionism, others conclude that he more often acted as a pro-business advocate. The purpose of this paper is not to argue for one of these two interpretations but to depict the making of Economics itself as a political process. By ‘political’ it is not meant the conduct of party politics but the many political elements that a textbook author has to take into account if he wants to be published and favorably received. I argue that the “middle of the road” stance that Samuelson adopted in the book was consciously constructed by the MIT economist, with the help of his home institution and his publishing company, McGraw-Hill, to ensure both academic freedom and the success of the book. The reason for which the stance developed is related to pre-McCarthyist right-wing criticisms of the textbook and how Samuelson and the MIT department had to endure the pressures from members of the Corporation (MIT’s Board of Trustees), who tried to prevent the publication of the textbook and threatened Samuelson’s tenure at MIT as soon as 1947 – when early manuscripts were circulated. As a result, it was decided in accordance with both the Corporation and McGraw-Hill that the Readings volume would be published to balance conflicting ideas about state intervention. Following these early criticisms, the making of the subsequent editions relied on a network of instructors and referees all over the US in order to make it as successful and consensual as possible. This seemed to work quite well in the 1950s and for a good portion of the 1960s, until Economics became victim of its own success and was seen, in an ironical twist of fate, as a right wing text by younger, radical economists. From now on, Samuelson will try to have his book sent as often as possible to the radicals for referring process, with mixed results. Eventually, the book became criticized from both its left and its right.Paul Samuelson, Economics, Textbook, Politics, Economic Education
A simple protocol for a low invasive DNA accessing in Stenella longirostris (Cetacea: Delphinidae)
No full textThe most significant studies about the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean were conducted in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, off Northeastern Brazil. The continuity of these studies depends upon the development of non-invasive methods. In this work, we present results from the skin swabbing sampling procedure for this species. We tested the performance of this method for nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis, unknown for this population. A total of skin 161 samples were collected during two expeditions. After the contacts the most of the dolphins remained close to the boat. Microsatellites markers and cytochrome b region primers were evaluated and the respective fragments were successfully amplified. Thus, skin swabbing may be considered an efficient strategy to obtain tissue samples for spinner dolphin genetic analysis in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago
A simple protocol for a low invasive DNA accessing in Stenella longirostris (Cetacea: Delphinidae)
No full textThe most significant studies about the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean were conducted in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, off Northeastern Brazil. The continuity of these studies depends upon the development of non-invasive methods. In this work, we present results from the skin swabbing sampling procedure for this species. We tested the performance of this method for nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis, unknown for this population. A total of skin 161 samples were collected during two expeditions. After the contacts the most of the dolphins remained close to the boat. Microsatellites markers and cytochrome b region primers were evaluated and the respective fragments were successfully amplified. Thus, skin swabbing may be considered an efficient strategy to obtain tissue samples for spinner dolphin genetic analysis in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago
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