Data base formation and assessment of biotic and abiotic parameters associated with artificial reefs

There is a critical need for accurate data in order to make decisions regarding the construction, emplacement, and further development of artificial reefs in the State of Florida. This study looked a biotic and abiotic parameters of articifial reefs. A data matrix listing reefs on the vertical axis and the associated biotic and a biotic data or attributes available from published and non-pub1ished sources on the horizontal axis created: 1) a compilation of what data were available; 2) an indication of the completeness and extensiveness of the data; 3) a summary of the descriptive statistics of the data; 4) a preliminary analysis of the relationship among the biotic and abiotic parameters through correlation analysis; 5) some preliminary modeling of the artificial reefs to form the basis of prediction through stepwise and multiple linear regression analysis. (29pp.

Optimizing the energy consumption of spiking neural networks for neuromorphic applications

In the last few years, spiking neural networks have been demonstrated to perform on par with regular convolutional neural networks. Several works have proposed methods to convert a pre-trained CNN to a Spiking CNN without a significant sacrifice of performance. We demonstrate first that quantization-aware training of CNNs leads to better accuracy in SNNs. One of the benefits of converting CNNs to spiking CNNs is to leverage the sparse computation of SNNs and consequently perform equivalent computation at a lower energy consumption. Here we propose an efficient optimization strategy to train spiking networks at lower energy consumption, while maintaining similar accuracy levels. We demonstrate results on the MNIST-DVS and CIFAR-10 datasets

Osteological Notes on the Genus Centropristis (Pisces: Serranidae)

Osteological examination of Centropristis striata, C. ocyurus and C. philadelphica reveals characters which may be useful in defining the genus. The medially elongate subocular shelf appears unique for the genus among other Serraninae examined. Species may be distinguished on the basis of otoliths, supraoccipital-parietal ridges, shape of vomerine toothpatch and other characters. C. striata shows increased frontal bone ossification (hyperostosis) which is apparently correlated with sex reversal and is a male secondary sex characteristic. C. striata is the most specialized species while C. philadelphica is the least specialized. C. fusculus is retained in the genus until a skeleton is available

Legislación del sector asegurador venezolano a la luz del concepto de estado social de derecho y justicia

La legislación venezolana para el sector asegurador ha cambiado en las últimas décadas motivado principalmente a los cambios constitucionales y a la conceptualización del Estado Social de Derecho y Justicia. La intervención del Estado en el sistema financiero se ha hecho cada vez más fuerte. El presente artículo hace un recuento de la legislación en materia de seguros desde el año 1995 hasta el 2016, concordándolo con algunas sentencias del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia.Venezuelan insurance legislation has changed in the last decades mainly motivated by constitutional changes and the conceptualization of the Social State of Law and Justice. State intervention in the financial system has become increasingly strong. This paper recounts insurance legislation from 1995 to 2016, in line with some decisions of the Supreme Court of Justice

KCC2 expression promotes the termination of cortical interneuron migration in a voltage-sensitive calcium-dependent manner

The molecular mechanisms controlling the termination of cortical interneuron migration are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that, prior to synaptogenesis, migrating interneurons change their responsiveness to ambient GABA from a motogenic to a stop signal. We found that, during migration into the cortex, ambient GABA and glutamate initially stimulate the motility of interneurons through both GABA(A) and AMPA/NMDA receptor activation. Once in the cortex, upregulation of the potassium-chloride cotransporter KCC2 is both necessary and sufficient to reduce interneuron motility through its ability to reduce membrane potential upon GABA(A) receptor activation, which decreases the frequency of spontaneous intracellular calcium transients initiated by L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) activation. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby migrating interneurons determine the relative density of surrounding interneurons and principal cells through their ability to sense the combined extracellular levels of ambient glutamate and GABA once GABA(A) receptor activation becomes hyperpolarizing

Development and use of the energy model of a research and demonstration house with advanced design features

Advances on manufacturing processes and the use of new materials are increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies to a point that their deployment will reach desired levels for the sake of energy security and environmental concerns. Along these advances, the demonstration of the cost-effectiveness of this technology is vital to educate people and promote deployment of these technologies. In this sense, at the University of Texas at Tyler, two research and demonstration houses were built. House #1 is a conventional design with some advanced features, and House #2 has more advanced design features. In this study, House #2 is considered, which has relevant characteristics such as net-zero energy with 7.4 kW of solar photovoltaic system, advanced wall framing with open-cell foam insulation (R-24), unvented attic with open-cell foam insulated roof deck (R-24), vinyl-frame windows with double-pane, low-E glass (U=0.33, SHGF=0.23), ducted single-split system in attic (19.0 SEER, 9.0 HSPF), and high solar reflectance shingles. Since building energy performance depends on many factors, different scenarios or design characteristics can be assessed by using an energy model. In this study, the software OpenStudio (version 1.7.0) is used to develop a model for House #2. The software, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is a user interface for the well known whole building energy simulation engine EnergyPlus. This paper shows the more relevant steps on model development. As a means of validation of the model, energy consumption from the model is compared against monthly energy consumption data in a calibration approach that is available in the software. As an example of the use of energy models, since the house has high solar reflectance shingles, the model is used to evaluate solar absorptance of shingles as a design parameter that can reduce energy consumption during cooling season but increasing energy consumption during heating season

Estuarine Artificial Reefs to Enhance Seagrass Planting and Provide Fish Habitat

Small 25-m2 artificial reef sets were deployed 1 m deep in Choctawhatchee Bay, FL, to determine the ability of reefs to aid in the establishment of newly planted Ruppia maritima (widgeon grass) while providing habitat for estuarine fishes. Seagrass survival and coverage were examined for reef configurations and compared with control plots. Visual surveys conducted from June 1996 to May 1997 indicated that the artificial reefs had no effect on the survivorship or growth of the planted R. maritima. The artificial reefs attracted juvenile and young adult fishes and had significantly more species, higher diversity, more individuals, and greater total biomass of fishes per area than did the nonreef controls. The 22 fish species observed at the reefs were typical estuarine residents in the area. Young gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus (a recreationally and commercially important species), was abundant at the reefs. Although the artificial reefs did not increase seagrass planting success, these artificial reefs may increase the number of fishes surviving to adulthood by providing protective habitat