Meat yield of Bolinus brandaris (Gastropoda: Muricidae): comparative assessment of the influence of sex, size and reproductive status

The present study assessed the influence of sex, size and reproductive status on the meat yield (soft tissues proportion) of the purple dye murex (Bolinus brandaris) from the Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal). During one year of monthly sampling (October 2008-September 2009), average meat yield of B. brandaris was 40.5 +/- 6.1% (range: 25.8-56.1% wet weight), with no significant differences between sexes. Relationships established between specimen size and soft parts weight indicated that both shell length and total weight are excellent indicators of meat yield. Significant differences in meat yield between size classes further reinforced the trend of increasing meat yield during ontogeny. Meat yield exhibited significant monthly variation and a similar temporal trend in both sexes, which were directly related to the reproductive status. Meat yield of B. brandaris was compared with that of other muricid species and the marked influence of the reproductive status on meat yield prompted a comparative assessment of the spawning season and peak of three sympatric muricids (B. brandaris, Hexaplex trunculus and Stramonita haemastoma). Overall, these findings have implications at diverse levels, including the management, regulation and inspection of this fishing/ harvesting activity and the commercialization and consumption of this seafood product.postdoctoral grant [SFRH/BPD/26348/2006]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT - Portugal); Fisheries Operational Programme (PROMAR); European Fisheries Fund [EFF 2007-2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

La relación entre la Beautiful Fighting Girl y el otaku

Desde mediados de la década de los 60's hasta la actualidad, la figura de la Beautiful Fighting Girl ha debutado en una innumerable cantidad de manga/animes. Series como Sailor Moon (1992), Cardcaptor Sakura (1996) o películas de estudios Ghibli como Nausicaä del Valle del Viento (1984) o La Princesa Mononoke (1997) están protagonizadas por estos personajes. En el año 2000, Tamaki Saitō, psicólogo japonés, escribiría Psychoanalysis of Beautiful Fighting Girl con el objetivo de estructurar la relación del otaku (オタク) y esta representación ficticia basándose en la clínica lacaniana. Dieciocho años después de la publicación de su ensayo, el presente documento buscará actualizar sus aportaciones en la indagación de mostrar los entresijos de la mentalidad japonesa.From the mid-60s to the present, the figure of the Beautiful Fighting Girl has debuted in an innumerable amount of manga/animes. Series such as Sailor Moon (1992), Cardcaptor Sakura (1996) or films by Studio Ghibli such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) or Princess Mononoke (1997) are starred by these characters. In the year 2000, Tamaki Saitō, a Japanese psychologist, wrote Psychoanalysis of Beautiful Fighting Girl with the aim of structuring the relationship of the otaku and that fictitious representation based on the Lacanian clinic. Eighteen years after the publication of his essay, this document will seek to update his contributions in the search to show the mechanism of the Japanese mentality.Universidad de Sevilla. Grado en Estudios de Asia Orienta

“FACEBOOK: LA NUEVA RED DE COMUNICACIÓN EN LAS EMPRESAS”

Este documento tiene como objetivo dar una reflexión clara y sencilla sobre la importancia del uso de las redes sociales, específicamente Facebook, como una herramienta de comunicación organizacional, las ventajas que esta aporta a las necesidades comunicativas de las empresas y los elementos dentro de su interface (canal) que ayudarán al usuario a tener una experiencia de verdadera comunicación con su público meta

Quem ganha o confronto entre os modelos do tradeoff e do pecking order?

Dissertação de mestrado em FinançasConfrontando os modelos do pecking order e do tradeoff, as decisões de financiamento seguem mais de perto as previsões do modelo do tradeoff. Os padrões de financiamento são examinados numa amostra de 149 empresas pertencentes ao S&P 500, durante o período 1993-2007. Uma empresa típica demora apenas um ano e sete meses para alcançar metade do ajustamento requerido em direção ao rácio de dívida ótimo. Ainda, o défice de financiamento resume-se a mais um fator que a empresa pondera no seu processo de ajustamento.Confronting the pecking order and trade-off models, the financing decisions follow closely the trade-off predictions. The financing standards are analyzed in a sample of 149 companies comprising the S&P 500, from 1993 to 2007. A typical company takes about one year and seven months to achieve the required adjustment towards the optimal debt ratio. Still, the financing deficit is one more variable in their adjustment process

Review of Support Schemes for Renewable Energy Sources in South America

This article reviews the current experiences implemented to date in the South American region to promote non-conventional renewable energy sources. We briefly describe first the particular characteristics of the territory which make it so appealing for the RES deployment. Then we scour the continent examining the mechanisms implemented to date. We conclude by just pointing out what should be expected for the years to come. The authors aim to contribute to fill in the current lack of state of the art, not only for South American audience, but also for those seeking for new "green business" opportunities.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Researc

Aspectos neurológicos relativos a estados alterados de conciencia asociados a espiritualidad

Depto. de Psicología Experimental, Procesos Cognitivos y LogopediaFac. de PsicologíaTRUEpu

Sperm Flow Cytometry: Beyond Human Fertilization and Embryo Development

Male infertily is a contributing factor in up to 50% of all infertility cases, a solo cause in about 30% of them. Therefore, new and improved diagnostic methods that reduce operator variability regarding sperm defects that are not accesible by the conventional microscope scoring should be evaluated. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been involved in the description of alternative pathways in basic cellular functions. it is important to know that it is also related to the peri-implantatory processes that involve the sperm-oocyte interaction, cellular changes observed during fertilization, and the early and late embryo development. Several pathways have been involved at the early stages of human gametogenesis. The spermatozoon has demonstrated an intricate correlation during the fertilization process, as a transfected vector on genetic material, and as interacting with other inner components (RNAm, mitochondrial organelles, etc.). Spermatogenesis is affected by programmed death cell pathways from its packaging process through the elongated cytoplasmic structures during spermiogenesis. Flow cytometry (FC) has been an outstanding tool with the capability to select human gametes to achieve a better reproductive condition. It has been applied as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool allowing a measurable and objective selection and discrimination of spermatozoa from subfertile subjects. Using FC, we are able to know that early distribution of organelles such as mitochondria has an impact in embryo quality before genetic activation on the eight-cell stages occurs. This chapter will let the readers know the current knowledge on sperm fertilization and the relation between the embryo development and the offspring and all the tools now available for an early diagnosis and to identify therapeutic options with FC

Análisis del efecto de la reestructuración en las empresas españolas durante el quinquenio 90-94

ln this work, the authors try to analyze how one of the ways that a firm can use for improving its competitiviness, 'reestructuring", can lead to a different result on the firm depending on the interval of time taken into account. So,decisión like capacity reduction can be an adecúate step in the short term, but hardly in a long time. With this aim, it is presented a model which represents productivity components, analyzing them for those firmsthat have been able to stay among the larger ones during a considerable period of time.Dans ce travail, les auteurs essaient d'analyser comment un des chemins employés par les organisations, peut avoir un effet différent sur l'entreprise, selon le déla! de temps que l'on considere. Ainsi, les décisions de réduction de la capacité peuvent étre une mesure valide a court terme, mais elles peuvent difficilement peuvent constituer une vote adéquate á long terme. Dans ce but, nous présentons un modéle qui répresente les composants de la productivité, et nous l'analysons dans le cas des entreprises qui ont été capadles de se maintenir parmi les plus grandes d'Espagne pendan! une période de temps considerable