Typification and economic analysis of beef-producing farms in Spain

In spite of different economic agents’ interests, as well as the Administration’s effort in promoting extensive beef-producing systems over the last years, this kind of activity still hasn’t reached the desirable levels, being necessary that farmers perceive an appropriate benefit which supports their activity. In this sense, this paper, using the data obtained by a statistical survey representing all the extensive beef-producing farms existing in Castile and Leon (Spain), aims to analyze the economical results of extensive beef-producing farms, previously classified in representative groups according a quantitative method. The study is a preliminary research which intends to generate additional knowledge about the role of the different variables which make part of the economic results, and takes part of a research project financed by Castile and Leon Regional Governments, Education and Culture Council, through the annual program to support research projects (Order EDU/1143/2004).Cluster Analysis, extensive beef producing systems, economic accounts, Livestock Production/Industries,

Pulling it Together: Using Integrative Assignments as Empirical Direct Measures of Student Learning for Learning Community Program Assessment

This article outlines a systematic and manageable method for learning community program assessment based on collecting empirical direct measures of student learning. Developed at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where all full-time, first-year students are in learning communities, the approach ties integrative assignment design to a rubric for grading the assignment developed by teams at a planning retreat each semester. The rubric specifies competencies from each class included in the assignment as well as a criterion for success of earning an overall grade of B or better (80 points or higher). The authors describe an advocacy letter assignment designed for a political science course in state and local government, a first-year composition course, and a first-year seminar. An appendix includes the assignment along with the grading rubric as well as the method used by administrators to aggregate data across all learning communities

Posibilidades de cultivo y aprovechamiento portulaca oleracea L.

Peer Reviewe

Gigaspermum mouretti Corb. en las Islas Baleares

We quote Gigaspermum mouretii Corb. form the first time in Balearic Island. To this moment these island represent the northern limit in the distribution area for this species. We also present a detailed description of its sporophyte, as well as some data concerning the substrate where it lives, suggesting a preference for decarbonated soils with a relatively high nutrient content.We quote Gigaspermum mouretii Corb. form the first time in Balearic Island. To this moment these island represent the northern limit in the distribution area for this species. We also present a detailed description of its sporophyte, as well as some data concerning the substrate where it lives, suggesting a preference for decarbonated soils with a relatively high nutrient content

Towards a Globalised Vision of Aquatic Competence

Human interaction with the aquatic environment has always taken different forms to meet the needs of pleasure, survival, therapy or performance. The diversity of existing aquatic spaces presents itself as a challenge, due to their variety, dynamism, unpredictability and unrepeatable conditions. These factors potentiate an infinite number of possibilities for human response in interaction with the aquatic environment, with aquatic competence being the one that will be able to sustain all types of interaction. Thus, the aim of the proposal has been to present a new approach to the contextualisation of aquatic competence. After a literature review on the concept of aquatic competence, a three dimensional model is presented: aquatic literacy, drowning prevention and environmental education. Recognising the human being as a bio-psycho-social being, a holistic model is developed, where the dimensions are based on three types of know-how (to be, to know and to do). In turn, these knowledges are influenced by the socio-cultural environment, the aquatic environment, the self and by others. Considering its breadth and the focus on the human being, this ecological model should not be a privilege, but a condition of aquatic programmes. Therefore, the acquisition of aquatic competence is presented as a civic necessity

The Development of Assistant Selection Application of Information and Communication Technology Laboratory

This research aimed to design a support system to facilitate the decisionmaking process in terms of selecting the acceptance of Integrated ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Laboratory assistants using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods. The AHP method was used for the process of determining the weight of each criterion determined from the Integrated ICT Laboratory, Budi Luhur University, while the TOPSIS method was used to determine the ranking based on the calculated values. The method used in this research was the waterfall method consisting of 4 stages, including the needs analysis stage, design, testing and implementation. For testing, User Interface Testing was used which aimed to determine whether the functionality of interface elements such as buttons and hyperlinks contained on each page was working properly. In addition, validation testing was also carried out which aims to determine whether the validations in the system had been running well. The results showed that the decision support system designed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method had been tested to determine the weight of each criterion needed in the assistant selection process, it was attendance with 0.284, Competence 0.143, Project 0.414, Hardware 0.089 and interview with 0.070. Meanwhile, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was able to determine the ranking based on the results of calculating the criteria values for each assistant candidate and the 2 people who occupied the top rankings were declared to have passed the selection. The test results showed that all system elements functioned as designed

Helosciadium × clandestinum un nuevo híbrido aparecido en Menorca (Islas Baleares)

Se describe el nuevo híbrido Helosciadium × clandestinum Rita, Capó & Cursach nothosp. nova (H. bermejoi × H. nodiflorum) que se ha encontrado en la naturaleza en una población producto de una traslocación (Mongofre Vell, Menorca, Islas Baleares) y también en el Jardín Botánico de Sóller.Helosciadium × clandestinum a new hybrid found in Minorca (Balearic Islands). The new hybrid Helosciadium × clandestinum Rita, Capó & Cursach nothosp. nova (H. bermejoi × H. nodiflorum) is described. It was found in the wild in a locality where H. bermejoi´s population was originated with a translocation (Mongofre Vell, Menorca, Balearic Islands). It was found in the Botanical Garden of Soller as well

Ghost crab predation of loggerhead turtle eggs across thermal habitats

The reproductive success of sea turtles is highly influenced by the environmental and biological conditions of the nesting beach. Maio Island, Cabo Verde, one of the main nesting sites for the Northeast Atlantic loggerhead subpopulation, displays marked heterogeneity of sand coloration, with dark, mixed and light sandy beaches, resulting in different thermal habitats. Considering that sand temperature can influence both sea turtle embryo development and predatory activity by ghost crabs – the main predators of clutches and hatchlings at Cabo Verde – we surveyed loggerhead nesting beaches at Maio Island, with three sand colorations (‘beach type’), to assess: 1) the density and size of ghost crab burrows, as a proxy for ghost crab density and size, and 2) ghost crab predation on 70 loggerhead nests. We further assessed nest site selection, by considering the number of nesting activities and clutches laid across beach type. There were no evident trends in the distributions of ghost crab density and size between years or beach type. We found that ghost crab predation is a major source of mortality in Maio Island, affecting 67.8% (n = 59) of the nests. Ghost crab predation was variable between beaches, but generally, at the warmer dark sand beaches, clutch mortality was mostly caused by ghost crab predation (53.2%, n = 17), while at the mixed sand beaches mortality by predation was low (7.5%, n = 18), compared to mortality due to other causes (49.9%), indicating that other factors can also significantly impact clutch survival. The mixed sand beaches had more nesting activities and higher nest density (2.29/m2; 1.25/m2, respectively), compared to the light sand (0.72/m2; 0.35/m2) and the dark sand beaches (0.73/m2; 0.27/m2), suggesting a possible predation-free nesting preference. Our findings show that some beaches are in need of nest protection, thus we recommend both in situ nest protection and egg translocation to safe hatcheries, depending on the threats identified, to enhance clutch survival at such heterogeneous nesting areas as Maio Island.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Understanding pseudo-albinism in sole (Solea senegalensis): a transcriptomics and metagenomics approach

Pseudo-albinism is a pigmentation disorder observed in flatfish aquaculture with a complex, multi-factor aetiology. We tested the hypothesis that pigmentation abnormalities are an overt signal of more generalised modifications in tissue structure and function, using as a model the Senegalese sole and two important innate immune barriers, the skin and intestine, and their microbiomes. Stereological analyses in pseudo-albino sole revealed a significantly increased mucous cell number in skin (P < 0.001) and a significantly thicker muscle layer and lamina propria in gut (P < 0.001). RNA-seq transcriptome analysis of the skin and gut identified 573 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs, FDR < 0.05) between pseudo-albino and pigmented soles (one pool/tissue from 4 individuals/phenotype). DETs were mainly linked to pigment production, skin structure and regeneration and smooth muscle contraction. The microbiome (16 S rRNA analysis) was highly diverse in pigmented and pseudo-albino skin but in gut had low complexity and diverged between the two pigmentation phenotypes. Quantitative PCR revealed significantly lower loads of Mycoplasma (P < 0.05) and Vibrio bacteria (P < 0.01) in pseudo-albino compared to the control. The study revealed that pseudo-albinism in addition to pigmentation changes was associated with generalised changes in the skin and gut structure and a modification in the gut microbiome.Agência financiadora H2020 European Funds MSCA-RISE project 691102 Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 Portuguese national funds from the operational programme CRESC Algarve 2020 EMBRC. PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 Portuguese national funds from the operational programme COMPETE 2020 EMBRC. PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 European Union (EU) 654008 Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BPD/84033/2012 Portuguese Institute for Employment and Vocational Training 0068/ET/18info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio