Marine food web dynamics of small-sized pelagic fish in the Caspian Sea (Iranian’s water)

A mass-balance Ecopath model of coastal areas in the Caspian Sea has been constructed for a quantitative description of the trophic structure of the ecosystem. The model is used to estimate the important biological parameters and relationships among the different ecologically important groups. Twenty five species were used in the present analysis. The model is based on the data collected of Kilka fisheries, beach seining (Bony fish fisheries), and set Gillnet (Sturgeon Fisheries) and also dietary information. Total landings along the Iranian portion of southern Caspian coast reached 39647 t, including sturgeon (41 t), kilka (22873 t) and bony fishes (16733 t) in 2014. Two species of kilka (Common kilka and Anchovy) are important commercially in the Caspian Sea, together accounting in the past decade for > 60 % of the total catch, as well as being a crucial part of the food chain. The mean average trophic level was estimated at 3.17 by Ecopath software. In this research, the mean level were studied between eight species varied from 2.56 to 4.04, Sander lucioperca occupy the highest and the as vimba vimba was the lowest level. The ranges of total mortality varied from 0.5 to 2.56 per years. The food consumption rate was estimated about 101.56 per year Mixd trophic level index (MTI) showed small pelagic fishes as prey, have crucial role in feeding of pelagic predators population such as invasion of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi, bream fish and benthic fish such as sturgeon. In general, niche overlap was greater in more species such as Alburnus chalcoides, Rutilus rutilus, Clupeonella cultriventris, Rutilus kutum and M. leidyi who consumed large amounts of plankton. In conclusion small pelagic fish exert a major control on the trophic dynamics of the Caspian Sea ecosystems and constitute midtrophic-level populations

Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability-for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples

Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability—for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples

Evaluation of the Effect of Salicylic Acid and Brassinosteroid on Some Physiological Traits and Arsenic Accumulation in Spinach under Arsenic Stress Conditions

With the aim of evaluating the effects of salicylic acid and brassinosteroid application on some physiological traits and arsenic accumulation in spinach under arsenic stress conditions, an experiment was conducted in a factorial experiment in the form of a randomized complete block design with four replications in the year 2022 in the Nutrition Research Center, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The experimental factors included salicylic acid (0, 0.5, and 0.75 mM), brassinosteroid (0, 0.5, and 0.75 µM), and arsenic stress (0, 50, and 100 µM). Arsenic stress, especially at 100 µM, reduced the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance of spinach leaves and biomass. Arsenic stress increased the concentration of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, osmolytes, as well as antioxidant enzymes activities in spinach plants. Application of brassinosteroid and salicylic acid significantly increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), osmolytes accumulation (carbohydrates and proline) and spinach biomass; in contrast, application of brassinosteroid and salicylic acid decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide in spinach plants under arsenic stress conditions. Arsenic accumulation was higher in spinach roots than in leaves. Under 100 µM arsenic stress, the application of different concentrations of salicylic acid and brassinosteroid, individually and in combination, significantly reduced arsenic accumulation in spinach, with the highest positive effect being observed in the treatment of 0.75 mM salicylic acid + 0.75 µM brassinosteroid. In conclusion, brassinosteroid and salicylic acid application increased the tolerance of spinach plants against arsenic stress by improving gas exchange, activity of antioxidant enzymes, accumulation of osmolytes, stability of the membranes, and as a result plant biomass; the positive effects of brassinosteroid and salicylic acid together were greater than that of brassinosteroid or salicylic acid applied separately

The NPI Process in Electronics Manufacturing

This report recommends the structure and criteria for setting up a new product introduction (NPI) program within an electronics manufacturing company. The three design and manufacturing companies used to provide a basis for the study were Planar, Tektronix, and TriQuint. Planar and Tektronix have an NPI program in place, while the program at TriQuint is still being developed. This project was selected because of the potential to assist with the development of the NPI program at TriQuint, as well as the fact that each of the team members is familiar with the NPI program at their respective companies

Efficiency Of Domestic Reverse Osmosis In Removal Of Trihalomethanes From Drinking Water

The reaction of disinfectants with natural organic matters existing in water lead to the formation of Disinfection By-Products. Potentially hazardous and carcinogenic characteristics of trihalomethanes (THMs) are recognized. Thus removal of THMs or its precursors are necessary for human health. The aim of this study was to study the efficiency of domestic reverse osmosis (RO) in removal of trihalomethanes from drinking water. A pilot scale of RO system with Polyamide membrane as Spiral-Wound, Tape wrapping module was used. Feed solution was made by using of pure chloroform. The samples containing chloroform were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. By increasing the flow, the removal rate of chloroform decreased and with declining removal of EC, the removal of chloroform declined too. In this research, at the worst condition, the efficiency of the pilot scale reverse osmosis reached to 80 % removal of chloroform

Effective adsorptive removal of reactive dyes by magnetic chitosan nanoparticles: Kinetic, isothermal studies and response surface methodology

In the present study, magnetic chitosan (MC) was synthesized, characterized, and used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Reactive Red 141 (RR-141) and Reactive Yellow 14 (RY-14) dyes. Synthesized magnetic chitosan nanoparticles were used for characterization with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The effect of the pH, concentration of pollutants, and adsorbent dosage on the amount of adsorption was studied. Under optimum conditions, the removal rate of RR-141 and RY-14 was 99.5 and 92.7, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities were obtained 98.8 and 89.7 mg/g for the RR141 and RY-14, respectively. The results from isotherm models showed that the adsorption of dyes on magnetic chitosan nanocomposite correlated well with Freundlich model, whereas the kinetics studies revealed that the adsorption process was fitted by pseudo-first-order for both dyes. Results of the reusability tests confirmed the magnetic chitosan (MC) nanoparticles could be used for several times. Based on the experimental results obtained, the MC has adequate potential for the treatment of water contaminated with anionic dyes