Gender Dynamics in Crowdfunding (Kickstarter): Evidence on Entrepreneurs, Backers, and Taste-Based Discrimination

This study focuses on the launch phase of the leading reward-based crowdfunding market—Kickstarter. It documents the behavior of male and female entrepreneurs in raising early stage capital. We find that women share as entrepreneurs in the platform (34.7%) does not equal to their share in the overall population, and they are concentrated in stereotyped sectors, both as entrepreneurs and as backers. We also find that women do not set lower funding goals than men, they enjoy higher rates of success than men, even after controlling for project categories and funding goals, and that backers of both genders have a tendency to fund entrepreneurs of their own gender. Our survey of Kickstarter backers finds evidence of taste-based discrimination by male backers.QC 20210609</p

Single beam bathymetry processed data (Humminbird Helix 10 echosounder entire dataset), Israeli coastal estuaries Lachish, Sorek, Yarkon, Alexander, Taninim and Kishon

We present the data from a bathymetric mapping project in the Israeli coastal estuaries (Lachish, Sorek, Yarkon, Alexander, Taninim and Kishon). The data was collected using a combination of fish finder and GPS operated on a Kayak. The data preperation consisted of: a) manual removal of outliers which were mostly caused by instrument echo in water depths below the instrument 0.5 minimum. b) correction of the mesured water level to the sea level. c) interpolated into regular grid using a terrain following interpolation algorithm. For each of the streams we present the raw measurements, and the interpolated data both as text (csv) file and as GeoTiff file

Monthly surveys of water properties along the Alexander micro-estuary

Monthly surveys of water properties along the estuary. These surveys include water column CTD profiles of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll fluorescence, and turbidity (OBS). Profile data are accompanied by Secchi depth measurements and discrete water samples collected by a horizontal Niskin bottle near the surface and near the bottom. Water samples are analyzed for the concentrations of Phosphate, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonium, Total and particulate nitrogen and phosphorus, total suspended solids, particulate organic matter, biological oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a, cell counts of nano and pico planktonic algae and non-photosynthetic bacteria

Bi-weekly surveys of water properties at two marine stations at Alexander micro-estuary

Bi-weekly surveys of water properties at two marine stations ~1 and 6.6 Km from the estuary mouth at bottom depths of 8 and 48 meters. These surveys include water column CTD profiles of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll fluorescence, and Turbidity (OBS). Profile data are accompanied by discrete water samples collected by a Niskin bottle at 10 m depth, these samples are analyzed for the concentrations of chlorophyll-a and pico and nano planktonic algae and non-photosynthetic bacteria

A long term physical and biogeochemical database of a hyper- eutrophicated Mediterranean micro-estuary

Long-term, multi-parameter monitoring database that covers physical, chemical, and biological water properties at several stations along a Levantine micro-estuary and its neighboring coastal sea. The data are divided into two separate databases: Monthly surveys of water properties along the estuary and Bi-weekly surveys of water properties at two marine stations

Pesticides and pharmaceuticals data collected during two consecutive years in a Mediterranean micro-estuary

The Alexander micro-estuary, located at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, is a typical example of small water bodies that suffer from a combination of urban and agricultural pollution, and overuse of its natural water sources. It is∼6.5 km long, with maximum depth of 3 m and maximum width of 45 m. To evaluate the anthropogenic stress on the system and its ability to mitigate pollution, water samples were collected within the framework of Ruppin's Estuarine and Coastal Observatory (RECO, see Suari, Y. et al. 2019). Water samples were collected from the estuary head, which drains about 510 km2, and at a point 300 m upstream from the estuary mouth before water flows into the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 236 stormwater and 44 base-flow water samples between December 2016 and December 2018. Stormwater samples were collected every 0.25 – 4 h along the entire course of the flow events using an automated samplers (Sigma 900, Hach Company, Loveland CO, USA; and ISCO 3700 Full-Size Portable Sampler, Teledyne, Lincoln, NE, USA). Base-flow samples were taken once a month using a horizontal grab sampler (5 L, model 110B, OceanTest Equipment, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA). All samples were filtered using 90mmGF/F filters (nominal pore size of 0.7 μm, MGF, Sartorius, Göttingen, Germany) and immediately frozen (−20 °C) before chemical analysis. Chemical analysis was performed using liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS) analysis using a QExactive Plus hybrid FT mass spectrometer coupled with a Dionex Ultimate 3000 RS UPLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). The targeted analysis, which included 15 fungicides, 25 herbicides, 18 Insecticides, and 19 pharmaceuticals, concluded with a total of 21,142 entries. The dataset contains the sampling locations, sampling dates, flood section duration, discharge rate, and the total water volume discharged during the relevant period. The provided data offers an opportunity to explore the sources, transport, and impact of a large mixture of organic pollutants in a confined aquatic system located in an urbanized coastal environment

Exploring Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Microestuaries: Occurrence, Distribution, and Risks

Microestuaries have a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and human life quality in heavily populated areas. They are also the last barrier controlling fluxes of pollutants from the land to sea. Here, we report the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during the dry season in three microestuaries. The total PFAS concentration (n = 12) at the studied estuaries was very high from a global perspective with maximum and median concentrations of 17.4 and 3.4 μg L–1, respectively. These concentrations significantly exceed the recommended benchmarks for recreational activity. Our analysis reveals that a major fraction of PFAS originated from wastewater effluents, whereas point source pollution dominated when the estuary met an industrial zone containing refinery facilities. In the case of limited dilution by natural riverine water, we suggest using carbamazepine as a steady indicator for the identification of PFAS originating from wastewater. Although the three studied microestuaries exhibit similar characteristics (morphology, precipitation, watershed size, water volume, etc.), changes in water input and connectivity to the sea, along with local anthropogenic activity, dramatically alter the occurrence, concentrations, and distribution of PFAS. This study suggests that microestuaries are subjected to high ecological risk from PFAS pollution due to intensive anthropogenic activity

The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Integrated with the Unmanned Surface Vessel Mapping the Southern Ionian Sea. The Winning Technology Solution of the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE

The methods of data collection, processing, and assessment of the quality of the results of a survey conducted at the Southern Ionian Sea off the Messinian Peninsula, Greece are presented. Data were collected by the GEBCO-Nippon Foundation Alumni Team, competing in the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, during the Final Round of the competition. Data acquisition was conducted by the means of unmanned vehicles only. The mapping system was composed of a single deep water AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle), equipped with a high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar HISAS 1032 and multibeam echosounder EM 2040, partnered with a USV (Unmanned Surface Vessel). The USV provided positioning data as well as mapping the seafloor from the surface, using a hull-mounted multibeam echosounder EM 304. Bathymetry and imagery data were collected for 24 h and then processed for 48 h, with the extensive use of cloud technology and automatic data processing. Finally, all datasets were combined to generate a 5-m resolution bathymetric surface, as an example of the deep-water mapping capabilities of the unmanned vehicles&rsquo; cooperation and their sensors&rsquo; integration

Ribosomal Antibiotics: Contemporary Challenges

Most ribosomal antibiotics obstruct distinct ribosomal functions. In selected cases, in addition to paralyzing vital ribosomal tasks, some ribosomal antibiotics are involved in cellular regulation. Owing to the global rapid increase in the appearance of multi-drug resistance in pathogenic bacterial strains, and to the extremely slow progress in developing new antibiotics worldwide, it seems that, in addition to the traditional attempts at improving current antibiotics and the intensive screening for additional natural compounds, this field should undergo substantial conceptual revision. Here, we highlight several contemporary issues, including challenging the common preference of broad-range antibiotics; the marginal attention to alterations in the microbiome population resulting from antibiotics usage, and the insufficient awareness of ecological and environmental aspects of antibiotics usage. We also highlight recent advances in the identification of species-specific structural motifs that may be exploited for the design and the creation of novel, environmental friendly, degradable, antibiotic types, with a better distinction between pathogens and useful bacterial species in the microbiome. Thus, these studies are leading towards the design of “pathogen-specific antibiotics,” in contrast to the current preference of broad range antibiotics, partially because it requires significant efforts in speeding up the discovery of the unique species motifs as well as the clinical pathogen identification