1,485 research outputs found

    Organic iron requirements of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

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    Full version unavailable due to 3rd party copyright restrictions.The aim of the current study was to determine the organic iron (Fe) requirements of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). A total number of four experiments have been carried out each one for 12 weeks, in order to address and extend the knowledge on nutritional issues and challenges related with the culture of the gilthead sea bream in the Greek aquaculture industry and therefore enhance the fish health status under intensive culture conditions. These experiments aimed to determine the optimum level of organic Fe supplemented in commercial type diets of sea bream, the comparison between an organic Fe form and two inorganic Fe forms added in the diet of the fish, the effect of supplemented organic Fe on sea bream species exposed to oxygen deprivation stressors related to poor aquaculture husbandry practices and finally the interaction of organic Fe in the diet of sea bream with various levels of other trace minerals (Zn, Cu). The parameters evaluated were the growth performance of the fish, the Fe concentration in three selected tissues (the spleen, the liver and the muscle), the haematological status of the fish (the haematocrit, the red blood cell count, and the haemoglobin) and both the humoral and cellular immunology of the fish (the antibacterial activity of serum and the respiratory burst respectively). 150 mg/Kg of added organic Fe appears to be the recommended level as well as the minimum amount on fish exposed to overstocking conditions. The comparison between the two inorganic Fe forms (Ferrous Sulphate and Ferrous Carbonate) added in the diets show no significant effect on the fish. While, the fish fed the diets with 150 mg/Kg organic Fe and Cu levels lower that 5 mg/Kg had higher Hb values

    Heating and Cooling Dynamics of Carbon Nanotubes Observed by Temperature-Jump Spectroscopy and Electron Microscopy

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    Microscopy imaging indicates that in situ carbon nanotubes (CNTs) irradiation with relatively low dosages of infrared radiation results in significant heating of the tubes to temperatures above 1300 K. Ultrafast temperature-jump experiments reveal that CNTs laser-induced heating and subsequent cooling in solution take tens and hundreds of picoseconds, respectively. Given the reported transient behavior, these observations suggest novel ways for a T-jump methodology, unhindered by the requirement for excitation of water in the study of biological structures. They also provide the rate information needed for optimization of photothermal therapy that invokes infrared irradiation to selectively heat and annihilate cancer cells

    Greece’s Ambivalent Turn to Militant Democracy

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    Surface Noise

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    This paper seeks to trace the genealogy of surface noise as a tool of musical expression by surveying a range of artistic practices based around the record and turntable that privilege detritus, abrasion, repetition and decay as key compositional devices. The paper begins by examining the acoustic properties of the oldest playable recording (Frank Lambert\u27s talking clock) in order to outline the numerous characteristics and flaws inherent in early models of mechanical reproduction and storage that vigorously conspired to interfere with the listening experience. This is followed by an examination of the way recording technology was converted from a tool for reproduction to one of production to facilitate new methods of composition and performance. It then discusses a broad range of concepts and methodologies forged by sound artists and musicians interested in methods of production and articulation that exploit the constraints and defects of recording technology to afford new modes of listening and aesthetic appreciation

    Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders journal: a new, cutting-edge frontier in spine publishing

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    Dynamic Estimates Of The Arrow-Pratt Absolute And Relative Risk Aversion Coefficients

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    We derive a closed-form expression capturing the degree of Relative Risk Aversion (RRA) of investors for non-"fair" lotteries. We argue that our formula is superior to earlier methods that have been proposed, as it is a function of only three variables. Namely, the Treasury yields, the returns and the market capitalization of a specific market index. Our formula, is tested on CAC 40, EURO, S&P 500 and STOXX 600, with respect to the market capitalization of each index, for different time periods. We deduce that the investors in these markets exhibit Decreasing Absolute Risk Aversion (DARA) through all the different time periods that we consider, while the degree of RRA has altered between being constant, decreasing or increasing. Furthermore, we propose a simple and intuitive way to measure the degree to which a wrong assumption with respect to the utility function of an investor will affect the structure of his portfolio. Our method is built on a two asset portfolio framework. Namely, a portfolio consisting of one risky and one risk-free asset. Applying our method, the empirical findings indicate that the weight invested in the risky asset varies substantially even among utility functions with similar characteristics

    On The Equivalence Of The Mean Variance Criterion And Stochastic Dominance Criteria

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    We study the necessary and sufficient conditions under which the Mean-Variance Criterion (MVC) is equivalent to the Maximum Expected Utility Criterion (MEUC), for two lotteries. Based on Chamberlain (1983), we conclude that the MVC is equivalent to the Second-order Stochastic Dominance Rule (SSDR) under any symmetric Elliptical distribution. We then discuss the work of Schuhmacher et al. (2021). Although their theoretical findings deduce that the Mean-Variance Analysis remains valid under Skew-Elliptical distributions, we argue that this does not entail that the MVC coincides with the SSDR. In fact, generating multiple MV-pairs that follow a Skew-Normal distribution it becomes evident that the MVC fails to coincide with the SSDR for some types of risk-averse investors. In the second part of this work, we examine the premise of Levy and Markowitz (1979) that "the MVC deduces the maximization of the expected utility of an investor, under any approximately quadratic utility function, without making any further assumption on the distribution of the lotteries". Using Monte Carlo Simulations, we find out that the set of approximately quadratic utility functions is too narrow. Specifically, our simulations indicate that log(a+Z)\log{(a+Z)} and (1+Z)a(1+Z)^a are almost quadratic, while ea(1+Z)-e^{-a(1+Z)} and (1+Z)a-(1+Z)^{-a} fail to approximate a quadratic utility function under either an Extreme Value or a Stable Pareto distribution

    Clarifying the nomenclature of intervertebral disc degeneration and displacement: from bench to bedside

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    As a significant determinant of low back pain, intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has attracted more and more attention of both investigators and physicians. Disc herniation, termed as intervertebral disc displacement, is amongst the most prevalent spinal diseases closely linked with IDD. Due to the same origins and similar pathophysiology, the ambiguity regarding the similarity and difference of IDD and intervertebral disc displacement thus remains. The aim of this study was to clarify the nomenclature of IDD and disc herniation in terms of molecular etiology, pathophysiology, nature history and clinical outcomes. Collectively, IDD is a type of multifaceted, progressive spinal disease with or without clinical symptoms as back pain, characterized by extracellular matrix and the integrity of NP and AF lost, fissures formation. Disc herniation (termed as intervertebral disc displacement) is a type of spinal disease based on IDD or not, with local pain and/or sciatica due to mechanical compression and autoimmune cascades upon the corresponding nerve roots. Clarifying the nomenclature of intervertebral disc degeneration and displacement has important implications both for investigators and for physicians.published_or_final_versio
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