The Effects of Depth-Related Environmental Factors on Traits in Acropora cervicornis Raised in Nurseries

Populations of Acropora cervicornis, one of the most important reef-building corals in the Caribbean, have been declining due to human activities and global climate change. This has prompted the development of strategies such as coral farms, aimed at improving the long-term viability of this coral across its geographical range. This study focuses on comprehending how seawater temperature (ST), and light levels (LL) affect the survival and growth of A. cervicornis fragments collected from three reefs in Culebra, Puerto Rico. These individuals were fragmented into three pieces of the similar sizes and placed in farms at 5, 8, and 12 m depth. The fragments, ST and LL were monitored for 11 months. Results show that fragments from shallow farms exhibit significantly higher mortalities when compared to the other two depths. Yet, growth at shallow farms was nearly 24% higher than at the other two depths. Corals grew fastest during winter, when temperature and LL were lowest, regardless of the water depth. Fragment mortality and growth origin were also influenced by reef origin. We conclude that under the current conditions, shallow farms may offer a slight advantage over deep ones provided the higher growth rate at shallow farms and the high fragment survival at all depths.

Accuracy Comparison and Assessment of DSM Derived from GFDM Satellite and GF-7 Satellite Imagery

Digital Surface Model (DSM) derived from high resolution satellite imagery is important for various applications. GFDM is China’s first civil optical remote sensing satellite with multiple agile imaging modes and sub-meter resolution. Its panchromatic resolution is 0.5 m and 1.68 m for multi-spectral images. Compared with the onboard stereo viewing instruments (0.8 m for forward image, 0.65 m for back image, and 2.6 m for back multi-spectrum images) of GF-7, a mapping satellite of China in the same period, their accuracy is very similar. However, the accuracy of GFDM DSM has not yet been verified or fully characterized, and the detailed difference between the two has not yet been assessed either. This paper evaluates the DSM accuracy generated by GFDM and GF-7 satellite imagery using high-precision reference DSM and the observations of Ground Control Points (GCPs) as the reference data. A method to evaluate the DSM accuracy based on regional DSM errors and GCPs errors is proposed. Through the analysis of DSM subtraction, profile lines, strips detection and residuals coupling differences, the differences of DSM overall accuracy, vertical accuracy, horizontal accuracy and the strips errors between GFDM DSM and GF-7 DSM are evaluated. The results show that the overall accuracy of both is close while the vertical accuracy is slightly different. When regional DSM is used as the benchmark, the GFDM DSM has a slight advantage in elevation accuracy, but there are some regular fluctuation strips with small amplitude. When GCPs are used as the reference, the elevation Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of GFDM DSM is about 0.94 m, and that of GF-7 is 0.67 m. GF-7 DSM is more accurate, but both of the errors are within 1 m. The DSM image residuals of the GF-7 are within 0.5 pixel, while the residuals of GFDM are relatively large, reaching 0.8 pixel.

Round Block Technique versus Grisotti Technique in Juxta Areolar Breast Cancer

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women all over the world representing 18% of all women reported cases of cancer. It represents the leading cause of women mortality as representing 23% of all women cancer deaths. Objectives To compare aesthetic and surgical outcome of Round block technique and Grisotti technique in juxta areolar breast cancer. Patients and Methods In our study 20 breast cancer patients are subdivided into group (A) 10 females which underwent round block technique and group (B) 10 femaleswhich underwent grisotti technique. Patient and tumor criteria including age, co morbidities, tumor size and distance between tumor and nipple-areola complex were considered to be nonsignificant between 2 groups so the only difference is the surgical technique. Results The study shows that the round block technique and grisotti technique have the same results regarding operative time, intra-operative blood loss, post operative complications and re-excision rates with slight advantage to round block technique because of its slightly better cosmetic outcomes. So, the round block technique is slightly preferred for selected cases. Conclusion When to compare between round block technique and grisotti technique In treatment of juxta areolar breast cancer, there in no evident difference in operating time, post operative complications or need of re-excision between these two groups of patients

On the Benefits of High-Pressure Heat Treatment Additively Manufactured CoCr

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) processes are becoming more viable in place of traditional castings in a variety of industries. To compete, novel material grades are being considered with additive manufacturing (AM). In maximizing performance and manufacturing efficiency through AM, a novel approach to heat treatment and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) processing needs to be considered. It has been shown that combining key heat treatment processes with (HIP) by utilizing fast cooling rates can benefit static properties as well as improve turn-around time for HIP processing [1,2]. Argon pressures up to 207 MPa with cooling rates above 170°C per minute are now available in production sized HIP systems to design ideal HIP cycles for high pressure heat treatment. Additive manufacturing with high pressure heat treatment is in need of further investigation for establishing new qualification standards. This study investigates designed High-Pressure Heat Treatment cycles to consider mechanical performance on LPBF CoCr. The combined cycles investigate possible alternatives to historically accepted two step HIP then heat treat processing by combining densification with homogenization treatment into one step. Tensile, fatigue, hardness, microstructure and Charpy impact performance are explored to seek optimal properties and with streamlined thermal processing. It was found that all trial conditions exceeded Electron Beam Melted (EBM) AM CoCr expectation, but traditional processing provided a slight advantage in ultimate tensile stress. One of the novel processes explored, “common” was found to provide a slight improvement on yield stress and direct hardness. Published fatigue data is rare for CoCr, however data generated from this study showed a slight advantage to the “common” HPHT process primarily for lower applied stress levels. Microstructures were comparable across all trial processes. It is recommended that each novel processing route be considered as viable alternatives to traditional processing, but that the “common” processing may prove advantageous for both mechanical properties and streamlined manufacturing.

The use of blocking and inhibition training in processing instruction

Previous research has suggested that L2 learners often use non-target processing strategies to understand sentences, but that these strategies can be changed through targeted instruction that directs their attention to different linguistic forms or structures. The present study explores the effects of pretraining ‘blocking’ practice—a novel type of training designed to help learners inhibit the application of a strict word-order based processing strategy—prior to receiving a traditional Structured Input (SI) training focused on OVS word order and accusative case markers in German. The study compares three groups of third-semester German learners who completed three different activities in one training session: (1) SI with blocking practice (+BP), (2) SI preceded by explicit information (+EI), and (3) SI without EI or blocking practice (−EI). The effects of training were measured by sentence-level interpretation and production tasks administered as a pretest, posttest, and four-week delayed posttest. Learner performance was also assessed during training. Results in all assessment measures indicated that EI was most effective, but that blocking practice lent a slight advantage over −EI groups during and after training. These results are discussed in the context of studies on processing instruction and learned attention.

A criticism of the reductionist and holistic vision in the planning of drugs in biological, chemical and physical level

In this work, two philosophical premises of science applied in the understanding of diseases and in the planning of drugs were studied. The first premise is reductionism. This idea is present in modern science when a problem can be reduced to the sum of its individual parts. Diseases can be understood as the metabolic action of few enzymes. Drugs can be planned through the mimicry of a specific enzymatic substrate. Biological molecules can be explained by the quantum theory applied to atoms and molecules. his idea has been the predominant way in modern science. On the other hand, there is a holistic view of the phenomenon. In this holistic view, the phenomenon must be understood as the whole. Drug design should be thought from a network of proteins, not just from a single enzymatic target. There is in fact a slight advantage in the reductionist method, because this philosophical view simplifies the problem. Today, a holistic view combined with methodological reductionism is used to develop new potential drugs.

Comparative analysis of selected features of traditional and photocatalytical paving stones

Nature friendly technologies in today’s world are the subject of scientific research and the interest of local authorities and the residents themselves. In the context of the city, one of the most important issues is the neutralization of air pollution generated by transport and heating of the premises with the use of solid fuels. The article analyses differences of the response of traditional and photocatalytic paving stones. We analysed water absorption, frost resistance, tensile strength at splitting and abrasion of paving stones. It has been proved that paving stones exposed to atmospheric factors and pollution during one heating season met the assumed quality criteria. In addition, the results obtained for the characteristics analysed were higher than the results of samples tested in laboratory conditions. The results also indicate a slight advantage of photocatalytic cubes in terms of their resistance to abrasion and tensile strength at splitting. Traditional and photocatalytic paving stones withstand well the operating conditions. It seems that products based on TioCem® cement are the future implementation of pedestrian and traffic routes.

Bioenergetic and ethological features of the first-calf heifers of different genotypes

The aim of this work was to study bioenergetic and ethological indicators in crossbred first-calf heifers compared to purebred first-calf heifers. The research was conducted on the first-calf heifers of Ukrainian Black-Pied dairy breed and first-generation crossbreeds obtained as a result of crossing with Brown Swiss breed, as well as, on the first-calf heifers of Ukrainian Red-Pied dairy breed and first-generation crossbreeds obtained as a result of crossing Ukrainian Red-Pied dairy with Montbéliarde breed. The purebred Black-and Red-Pied first-calf heifers prevailed over crossbreed first-calf heifers on the indicator of milk yield for 305 days of lactation by 106.45 and 218.36 kg, respectively. Accordingly, the indicators of average daily milk yield were also higher by 0.35 and 0.72 kg and the indicators of average daily milk yield adjusted by 4 % fat content per 0.15 and 0.16 kg. At the same time, the indicator of average fat content in milk prevailed in crossbreeds of Black-Pied and Brown Swiss breed by 0.08 % compared to purebred Black-Pied breeds, and in Red-Pied crossbreeds with Montbéliarde breed by 0.16 % compared to purebred Red-Pied breeds. The purebred Black-Pied first-calf heifers had an advantage by 2.04 MJ compared to crossbreeds, while the Red-Pied first-calf heifers had a slight advantage by 0.06 MJ compared to crossbreed first-calf heifers on the indicator of daily cost of exchange energy (EE). The purebred Black-and Red-Pied first-calf heifers had higher cost of exchange energy allocated with milk compared to crossbreed first-calf heifers by 0.42 and 0.82 MJ. They also had higher cost of exchange energy rates for heat products by 0.79 and 0.25 MJ. According to the energy index indicator, purebred Black - and Red-Pied first-calf heifers prevailed over crossbreeds first-calf heifers by 0.16 and 0.07 %, respectively. The same trend was observed in relation to the productive index indicator. The purebred Black-and Red-Pied first-calf heifers had a slight advantage by 0.001 and 0.002 kg adjusted by 4 % of milk fat content per 1 MJ. According to the indicators of daily behavioral reactions, no special differences between a purebred and crossbreed were found.

Exploring the Associations between Delayed School Entry and Achievement in Primary and Secondary School

This research investigated whether delayed school entry was associated with higher achievement in national tests of reading and numeracy in grades 3, 5, 7 and 9 (n=2823). Delayed entry was related to advantages in reading (0.14SD) and numeracy (0.08SD) at grade 3, although little variance was explained (1-2%). This slight advantage persisted for both domains in grades 5 and 7, albeit with smaller effects. In grade 9 there was no association between delayed entry and either reading or numeracy. Exploratory analyses with subsamples in each grade (n=424-667) revealed no associations between delayed entry and achievement after controlling for inattention and hyperactivity, and negative associations between inattention and achievement in all grades in both domains (-0.33, -0.49SD).

EVALUATION OF THE GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix conturnix japonica) IN NIGERIA

Two experiments were designed to study the growth and carcass characteristics and the effects of system of management on the Japanese quail. In the first experiment, 138 birds raised to 8 weeks of are were used to study the growth and carcass characteristics of quails. Day old weight averaged 8.67±0.75y while body weights at 4 and 8 weeks of age were 130.38±21.81g and 175.08±21.23g respectively. Feed conversion rate to 8 weeks was 6.42 with each bird consuming 1067.68g feed. No significant sex differences (P>0.05) were observed in the average yield of parts although the males had slightly higher dressed and eviscerated weights and percent wing, back and neck than females. Dressed weight was 93.55% on the average while eviscerated weight was 68.61%. the carcass contained 74.20% moisture, 69.63%CP and 26.5% fat. In the second experiment, 120 birds were used to test the effect of management system (floor vs. cage) on growth and carcass characteristic of the quail. Although floor rearing had a slight advantage over cage rearing in terms of weight gain, feed conversion ratio and carcass yield, the differences were not significant (P>0.05).