scholarly journals DNA barcode library revealed unknown diversity of chironomid midges in Montenegro

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Gadawski ◽  
Bruno Rossaro ◽  
Wojciech Giłka ◽  
Tomasz Rewicz ◽  
Giulia Magoga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
First Results ◽  
Chironomid Midges ◽  
Balkan Region ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Insight Into

We present the first results of the study aiming to investigate the diversity of the non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) fauna of the Skadar Lake system (Montenegro and Albania), a well-known hotspot of freshwater biodiversity composed by the young lake Skadar (originated 1200 before present) and by its old system of springs (originated during Pliocene). During the study, 8,147 COI barcodes were obtained and revealed the presence of 474 BINs and 586 OTUs assigned to 148 species. Our results provide the first insight into the factual molecular diversity among chironomids inhabiting Skadar Lake basin and fill a significant gap in the knowledge of the biodiversity in the Balkan region. With 219 (46.2%) unique BINs from the Skadar Lake basin new for BOLD, we can expect that further development of barcode reference libraries will help to bind unidentified developmental stages with those identified based on morphology and will reveal hidden Chironomidae species diversity. Further studies should be focused on sampling developmental stages which provides the best species-level resolution, such as mature males. It will help to develop a reliable reference barcode library - fundamental during further assessments.

scholarly journals DNA barcoding reveals an unknown Chironomidae diversity from the freshwater biodiversity hot-spot: comparison between local and the European datasets

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Gadawski ◽  
Matteo Montagna ◽  
Bruno Rossaro ◽  
Wojciech Giłka ◽  
Vladimir Pesic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Index Number ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Chironomid Species ◽  
Traditional Taxonomy ◽  
Lake Skadar

In the present study, we developed and evaluated the first reference barcode library for non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) as flagship taxa of freshwater ecology from Skadar Lake system (Montenegro and Albania), a well-known hotspot of freshwater biodiversity composed by the young lake Skadar (originated 1200 before present) and by its old system of springs (originated during Pliocene). Using an expanded reference library and records deposited in Barcode of Life Database (BOLD), we estimated DNA barcoding efficiency for the European Chironomidae. Study provides COI barcodes for 770 Chironomidae individuals assigned, based on morphology, to 77 species collected in the Skadar Lake basin. Molecular analyses assigned sequences to 100 BINs and 104 OTUs (all records from this area are new for online repositories) and confirms the usefulness of DNA barcoding for the identification of non-biting midges. Additionally, we explored chironomid species distribution patterns in Europe using universal Barcode Index Number (BIN) with a discussion of problematic species groups, both for traditional taxonomy and DNA barcoding. The results of our study provide the first insight into the factual chironomid species diversity of the Lake Skadar basin, in comparison with chironomid fauna at the European scale. The results fill a significant gap in knowledge of biodiversity in the Balkan region. Based on the results of Chironomidae fauna investigation, we conclude that the Skadar Lake basin is now well sampled and such a high representation of species from various sampling sites provides reliable estimation of the non-biting midges fauna.

scholarly journals Medicinal Plants and Mushrooms with Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Properties—A Review on Hong Kong’s Experience

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2173
Author(s):  
Grace Gar-Lee Yue ◽  
Clara Bik-San Lau ◽  
Ping-Chung Leung
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Medicinal Mushroom ◽  
Immunomodulatory Effects ◽  
Anticancer Properties ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Insight Into

The immune modulating effects of selected herbs deserve careful studies to gain evidence-based support for their further development. We have been working hard on many items of medicinal herbs to gain insight into their immunomodulatory effects relevant to cancer treatment in particular, while infection control is not excluded. Nine of them have been selected to give the results of our exploration on their biological, particularly immunomodulatory activities. Since Hong Kong people especially favor one medicinal mushroom, viz. Coriolus versicolor, a number of clinical trials using Coriolus for cancer-related studies are included in this review. While immune modulation platforms are being built for relevant studies, a brief account on the research targets and related procedures are given.

Crowdsourcing the Evaluation of Design Concepts With Empathic Priming

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Pang ◽  
Carolyn C. Seepersad
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scales ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Similar Evaluation ◽  
Insight Into

The evaluation of design concepts is a time consuming and resource intensive process. Crowdsourcing evaluations has been examined in previous work as a means to reduce the need for expert raters, while achieving similar evaluation results. This paper examines the impact of empathically priming novice raters on their evaluation of alternative design concepts. The rating system is based on a pairwise comparison method that requires minimal training of novice raters. In a pilot study the pairwise method for crowdsourcing evaluations is compared with crowdsourced evaluations using non-pairwise rating scales and with the evaluations of expert raters. The primary study incorporates written and empathic priming strategies to determine their impact on novice raters’ evaluation of concepts. Raters are asked to consider several criteria, including novelty, feasibility, clarity (of the concept), usefulness, ease of use, and overall worthiness of further development. Results offer insight into the criteria that are most relevant to novice raters and whether empathic priming has a significant effect on those evaluations.

Why Don't You Act Your Age?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Green
Keyword(s):  
Search Engines ◽  
Text Comprehension ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Random Forest Classifier ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Online Search ◽  
Concrete Operational ◽  
Direct Feedback ◽  
Insight Into

Online search engines for children are known to filter retrieved resources based on page complexity, and offer specialized functionality meant to address gaps in search literacy according to a user's age or grade. However, not every searcher grouped by these identifiers displays the same level of text comprehension, or requires the same aid with search. Furthermore, these search engines typically rely on direct feedback to ascertain these identifiers. This reliance on self identification may cause users to accidentally misrepresent themselves. We therefore seek to recognize users from skill based signals rather than utilizing age or grade identifiers, as skill dictates appropriate aid and resources. Therefore, in this thesis we propose a strategy that automatically recognizes users on the fly by analyzing search behavior found in search sessions. In particular, our efforts focus on recognizing the stereotypical 8 to 12 year old searcher, who we posit exhibits skills defined by developmental stages that have a strong impact on language development (Piaget's concrete operational stage) and search literacy (digital competency's first level). This strategy analyzes user-generated text extracted from queries and patterns of search interactions in order to infer features that are leveraged by a random forest classifier in order to determine whether or not a user is a part of this specific segment of searchers. The outcomes from this thesis lay the groundwork for enabling search engines to recognize users based on their search skills and provides further insight into the search behavior of youths.

“Arlen and Harburg and More, Oh My!”

2018 ◽  
pp. 53-78
Author(s):  
Laura Lynn Broadhurst
Keyword(s):  
Assembly Line ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Wizard Of Oz ◽  
Post Production ◽  
Insight Into

The extant sources for the songs in MGM’s The Wizard of Oz— draft lyrics, studio piano-vocal manuscripts, early screenplays, production records, etc.—afford fascinating insight into their creation. Drawing from such largely untapped archival materials, this chapter reveals that each song within the completed film—as an individual, fixed “work”—was created via cumulative authorship along a figurative assembly line. To demonstrate this phenomenon, the evolution of the songs is traced through their successive developmental stages over the course of the film’s three production phases: Pre-Production (genesis of the songs by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, arrangement by MGM staff, orchestration by yet different studio personnel, prerecording with orchestra); Production (shoot-to-playback); Post-Production (underscoring by MGM music director Herbert Stothart and staff, continued development of the songs by Stothart and staff, previews and musical editing, final cut released).

scholarly journals Sevillian transport jars in early colonial America: the case of Santa María La Antigua del Darién (Colombia)

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Gomez Ferrer ◽  
Jaume Buxeda i Garrigós ◽  
Javier Garcia Iñañez ◽  
Fernando De Amores Carredano ◽  
Adriana Alzate Gallego
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Colonial America ◽  
16Th Century ◽  
Initial Sample ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Atlantic Trade ◽  
Early Colonial ◽  
First Results ◽  
Santa Maria ◽  
Insight Into

Within the scope of the TECNOLONIAL (HAR2008-02834/HIST) project, an archaeologi- cal and archaeometric research is being conduct- ed in order to clarify and systematize transport jars production in the Iberian peninsula and their distribution abroad, especially to the Americas, from the 15th to the 17th century. The production centre of Seville, in the Crown of Castile, produced large glazed and unglazed transport jars, called botijas, which were mainly devoted to the Atlantic trade network. The pres- ent study accounts for the first results obtained from an initial sample of 34 transport jars dated around the 15th-16th centuries from the produc- tion centre of Seville and the reception site of Santa María de la Antigua del Darién (gulf of Urabá, Colombia). This latter site is especially significant since it was the first Spanish founda- tion (1510) in continental America that obtained the title of town, and was the seat for the Governor of the new region called Castilla de Oro, as well as for the first diocese. All individuals were analyzed by means of x-ray fluorescence and diffraction analyses and then compared with the majolica production database from Seville. The results enabled us to define the first refer- ence groups for such modern transport jars, and to get a first insight into the jars coming to the Americas in the early 16th century whose prove- nance can be linked to Seville, but not Triana.

scholarly journals DNA Barcode Libraries Provide Insight into Continental Patterns of Avian Diversification

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. e20744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darío A. Lijtmaer ◽  
Kevin C. R. Kerr ◽  
Ana S. Barreira ◽  
Paul D. N. Hebert ◽  
Pablo L. Tubaro
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Avian Diversification ◽  
Insight Into

scholarly journals Regional model simulation of the hydrometeorological effects of the Fucino Lake on the surrounding region

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 2219-2232 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Tomassetti ◽  
F. Giorgi ◽  
M. Verdecchia ◽  
G. Visconti
Keyword(s):  
Model Simulation ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Regional Model ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mesoscale Meteorology ◽  
Meteorology And Atmospheric Dynamics ◽  
Fucino Basin ◽  
Further Development

Abstract. The drainage of the Fucino Lake of central Italy was completed in 1873, and this possibly caused significant climatic changes over the Fucino basin. In this paper we discuss a set of short-term triple-nested regional model simulations of the meteorological effects of the Fucino Lake on the surrounding region. We find that the model simulates realistic lake-breeze circulations and their response to background winds. The simulations indicate that the lake affects the temperature of the surrounding basin in all seasons and precipitation in the cold season, when cyclonic perturbations move across the region. Some effects of the lake also extend over areas quite far from the Fucino basin. Our results support the hypothesis that the drainage of the lake might have significantly affected the climate of the lake basin. However, longer simulations and further development in some aspects of the model are needed, in order to provide a more statistically robust evaluation of the simulated lake-effects.Key words. Hydrology (anthropogenic effects) – Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (climatology; mesoscale meteorology)

scholarly journals The Role of ‘Digitalization’ in German Sustainability Bank Reporting

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Diener ◽  
Miroslav Špaček
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Current Analysis ◽  
Structural Inequality ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Financial Services Sector ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Insight Into

The financial services sector, particularly with respect to today’s banking industry, is aiming to make a digital transition. Sustainable reporting is a holistic new reporting approach in banking and has only become partially mandatory for the sector. Thus, this paper makes a contribution to the current analysis approach and further development of the German Sustainability Code as well as associated legal approaches. It concerns the assessment of mandatory sustainable reporting in the light of constantly changing market conditions and stricter legal requirements for stakeholder data responsibility. In specific, it focuses on a digital evolving business environment and is intended to provide an insight into the perception of the topic of digitalization in the banking sector. The assessment is based on the structure of the German Sustainability Code. Based on 113 bank reports, a multiple regression analysis of 1410 codings of the keyword ‘digital’ is carried out. The results show that banks partly and not fully address digital issues in their reporting. It transpires that the emphasis is on seven criteria, while social elements are totally ignored. The paper shows a structural inequality within sustainable bank reporting with regard to digitalization. It also shows that issues are not adequately addressed and covered in legal reporting standards and that the provision of information to stakeholders on specific issues is largely undefined.

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