930 research outputs found
Evaluation of management factors affecting the relative success of a Brook Trout eradication program using YY male fish and electrofishing suppression
Full text linkRemoval of non-native fish populations can be crucial to the conservation of native species, but often presents a complex challenge for managers. The goal of Trojan Y chromosome (TYC) programs is to skew the non-native sex ratio until only males remain, leading to eradication. We present results from a simulation model used to explore effects of alternative management approaches on an in-progress mechanical removal and TYC program to eradicate non-native Brook Trout. Simulation results indicated that stocking fingerling YY males (~137 mm) was more effective than stocking catchable-sized YY males (~230 mm), although questions about inter-cohort competition warrant further investigation. Increasing the proportion of mature fingerling YY males reduced treatment time by increasing the number of YY male spawners and increasing density-dependent mortality on young, mature wild Brook Trout. Maximizing the spatial distribution of YY male releases may be crucial to program success but is also dependent upon immediate dispersal movements. Principles derived from our results can be broadly applied to the management of other aquatic invaded systems using TYC programs to eradicate non-native species.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Wheat gluten hydrolysate potently stimulates peptide-YY secretion and suppresses food intake in rats
Full text linkThe study was aimed to compare the satiating effect of various protein hydrolysates in rats and examine the underlying mechanism associated with the satiety hormones. Food intake and portal satiety hormone levels were measured in rats. Enteroendocrine cell-lines were employed to study the direct effect of protein hydrolysates on gut hormone secretions. The results showed that oral preload of wheat gluten hydrolysate (WGH) suppressed food intake greater and longer than other hydrolysates. The portal peptide-YY levels in WGH-treated rats at 2 h and 3 h were higher than those in control- and lactalbumin hydrolysate (LAH)-treated rats. In a distal enteroendocrine cell model, WGH more potently stimulated glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion than LAH, and the effect was largely enhanced by pepsin/pancreatin digestion of WGH. These results suggest WGH is potent in activating enteroendocrine cells to release satiety hormones leading to the prolonged suppression of food intake
Block TERM factorization of block matrices
No full textReversible integer mapping (or integer transform) is a useful way to realize lossless coding, and this technique has been used for multi-component image compression in the new international image compression standard JPEG 2000. For any nonsingular linear transform of finite dimension, its integer transform can be implemented by factorizing the transform matrix into 3 triangular elementary reversible matrices (TERMs) or a series of single-row elementary reversible matrices (SERMs). To speed up and parallelize integer transforms, we study block TERM and SERM factorizations in this paper. First, to guarantee flexible scaling manners, the classical determinant (det) is generalized to a matrix function, DET, which is shown to have many important properties analogous to those of det. Then based on DET, a generic block TERM factorization, BLUS, is presented for any nonsingular block matrix. Our conclusions can cover the early optimal point factorizations and provide an efficient way to implement integer transforms for large matrices.Computer Science, Information SystemsSCI(E)3ARTICLE4421-4364
Local estimate on singular solution to scalar curvature equation
No full textAbstractIn this paper, we study the local behavior of a positive singular solution u near its singular points of the following equation: Δu(x)+d(x,Z)2Nun+2n−2=0inΩ⧹Z,u(x)>0andu∈C2inΩ⧹Z, where N is a positive integer, Ω is a bounded open domain in Rn, Z is a finite set of points, and d(x,Z) denotes the distance between x and Z
Evaluation and analysis of impact of subsidies on small scale renewable energy technologies dissemination: a case study of Nepal
Full text linkThe report has analysed the status of rural electrification using renewable energy technologies (RETs) and the current subsidy delivery modality of RETs in Nepal. As the Government of Nepal is subsidizing small scale renewable energy projects, it is important to evaluate and analyse the programme to make sure that a programme is running in an effective and efficient way while reaching the target group.
During the course of the research, primary information collected from the field has been compiled using appropriate tools/software (such as MS Office) and analyzed. Different sets of questionnaires were prepared, targeting different personnel ranging from the users’ level to the government policy level. The field survey methods include field observations of RETs installations and operations along with interviews with selected users on a random sampling basis to identify barriers to subsidy delivery and possible measures to overcome these barriers; to determine user satisfaction level and time period for subsidy delivery mechanisms.
The report started with the country background information and the rationale behind the study. This is followed by the literature review and information on the current status of small scale RETs in the country. Next it deals with the organizational structure and current subsidy delivery modality of RETs in the country. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the subsidy with the current subsidy delivery modality has been analyzed based on six parameters; Targets and Achievements, Impact of RETs, Subsidy Delivery System Efficiency, Transparency, Sustainability and Effectiveness.
The research shows that the subsidized government program has been successful in achieving its goal to provide basic energy services in rural areas through RETs in terms of its quantitative target. Although the subsidized program is successful in electrifying the rural communities via RETs, the poorest of the poor families are still excluded from the subsidy. The program seems to benefit more the rich and upper middle class families rather than the poor families for which the subsidy was intended. The high capital cost and long subsidy delivery process are the main important reasons for this failure. The author has proposed a new modality which might overcome the time barriers and bureaucratic process in the subsidy delivery mechanism and will decrease the lead time. This will in turn help to reduce the operational cost of the private companies and will encourage more players to enter the market, increase competition and result in lower system costs.
After identifying gaps in the current subsidy delivery modality, the project report ends with the recommendation of a new modality improving the current modality and filling the gaps identified. As this study has some limitations, as described in chapter one, the scope of further works has been listed at the end
Observing conditions from 1988 to 1999 at Huairou Solar Observing Station
No full textThis paper summarizes the change of astronomical observing conditions since 1986 at Huairou Solar Observing Station. Our results from 1988 to 1999 are as follows: quantitatively, stray light has increased and visibility has decreased; qualitatively, the seeing condition has become worse.Astronomy & AstrophysicsSCI(E)CPCI-S(ISTP)
The Reintroduction of Immigration Control in Hong Kong in 1974
No full textWith the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution in China, Hong Kong’s immigration control was interrupted. All immigrants, with or without permit, who reached Hong Kong territory were accepted. In 1974, the government imposed the touch base policy to control illegal immigration from the mainland after negotiations with China. It was not a new policy but had been the practice of the Hong Kong government during the Great Leap Forward in 1962 till 1967. Under the touch base policy, like in a baseball game, immigrants aimed to reach ‘base’ (south of Boundary Street, i.e. urban areas) safely without being called ‘out’ (caught at entry). Those who reached the urban areas would be allowed to stay while those who were arrested would be returned to China. As an immigration control measure, the policy contradicted itself. It did not deter illegal immigration. Unlawful immigrants were still given hope to gain residence if they managed to escape the police’s gaze. As such, the policy also had an encouraging effect to a certain extent. This gives rise to the question: why did the Hong Kong government propose such policy in 1974? This paper suggests that neither the Hong Kong side nor the Chinese side put their prime focus on illegal immigration in their negotiations. Instead, the touch base policy was intended to be a sweetener for China to reduce legal immigration
XV. YY. Osmanlı düşüncesinde telvîh hâşiyeleri : teklîfe dair tartışmalar
No full textTavzîh Hanefî usûl geleneğinin klasik sonrası dönemini belirleyen önde gelen metinlerdendir. Sadrüşşerîa Tavzîh’te özellikle teklîfe ilişkin meselelere geniş yer ayırmış ve burada mütekellim usûl geleneğinin klasik sonrası dönem temsilcilerinin argümanlarını eleştirmiştir. Teftâzânî ise Telvîh’te Sadrüşşerîa’nın getirdiği argümanları yorumlayıp pek çok noktada itirazlar yöneltmiştir. Tavzîh 15. yy. Osmanlı ilim çevresinde, otorite isim olan Teftâzânî’nin yorum ve eleştirileri üzerinden okunmuş; ulemanın bu ilmî mirası tartıştığı en önemli zemin Telvîh hâşiyeleri olmuştur. Bu bağlamda kaleme alınan Telvîh hâşiyelerinde hararetle tartışılan alanlardan biri şüphesiz teklîf konusudur. Bu çalışma 15. yy. Osmanlı ilim çevresinde Telvîh hâşiyelerinde teklîf konusu üzerine cereyan eden tartışmaları ortaya çıkarmayı ve bunları tarihî-fikrî bağlamına yerleştirmeyi amaçlar. Çalışmada hâşiyelerdeki tartışmaların daha ziyade görüşler değil argümanlar üzerinden cereyan ettiği ve muhaşşîlerin argümanlar üzerinden gerçekleşen bu tartışmalarda otorite figürlerin ilmî mesaisiyle irtibat kurdukları ortaya konulmuştur. Hâşiye yazarları eleştiri, yorum ve nakil/ derleme olmak üzere üç farklı şekilde kurdukları irtibatlar üzerinden aynı zamanda kendi yetkinliklerini göstermeye çalışmışlardır. Çalışmada otoritelerle kurulan bu irtibat şekilleri, ele alınan tartışmalar üzerinden detaylandırılarak ortaya çıkarılmıştır. İncelenen hâşiyelerde daha çok argüman değerlendirmesine ağırlık verildiği görülmekle birlikte bu eserlerin yer yer müelliflerin fikrî eğilimlerine de ışık tuttuğu tespit edilmiştir.Tawdhīh is one of the most influential texts in the post-classical period of the Hanafī tradition of legal theory. Its author Sadr al-Sharīa works through the issues of taklīf and criticizes arguments put forward by the post-classical representatives of theologian tradition. Later, Taftāzānī deals with Sadr al-Sharīa’s arguments in his Talwīh, and criticizes many of them. In the 15th century Ottoman scholarly circle, Tawdhīh has been read through the comments and criticisms of Taftāzānī, who is considered a scholarly authority figure in this period. Ottoman scholars compose quite a few super commentaries on Talwīh, thereby find a common ground to get in contact with as well as to discuss the scholarly heritage. One of the hotly debated topics in these super commentaries is the issues of legal obligation (taklīf).This dissertation aims to reveal the debates on the issues of taklīf that took place in the super commentaries of Talwīh written in the 15th century Ottoman scholarly circle and attempts to contextualize them historically as well as intellectually. This study shows that the discussions within the super commentaries were based on arguments (adilla) rather than opinions of school (akwāl) and the Ottoman scholar found a common ground in super commentaries to get involved in dialogue with Taftāzānī and his scholarly legacy. To achieve this, they developed three methodological tools namely criticism, interpretation and paraphrasing/ compilation. In this dialogue, the authors seem to attempt to prove their scholarly competence. Lastly, though usually characterized by argument evaluation, super commentaries shed light on the intellectual tendencies of the authors as well
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