Trends In Size Research Articles

Population structure and dynamic characteristics of Taxus cuspidata in Baishilazi National Nature Reserve, China

Taxus cuspidata is listed as a first-class national key protected plant in the northeast region, with scarce individuals in the wild and significant conservation value. We conducted a systematic field survey to explore the population structure and dynamic characteristics of T. cuspidata in the Baishilazi National Nature Reserve. A total of 313 T. cuspidata were recorded, displaying a spatially clustered distribution. Young individuals made up 33 % of the population, and the population's diameter class structure indicated a decreasing trend in population size. The population's survival curve closely resembled the Deevey-II type. These results suggest that the proportion of young individuals and strong potential for self-renewal. Geographic analysis revealed that north-facing slopes with moderate gradients were the primary habitat for T. cuspidata in the reserve. Interspecific analysis identified Acer ukurunduense and A. komarovii as the species with the highest interspecific associations with T. cuspidata. The population is projected to continue growing. The nature reserve is effectively fostering the natural renewal and recovery of T. cuspidata populations. These findings offer valuable insights for the conservation management of T. cuspidata in Baishilazi National Nature Reserve, supporting the sustainable development of endangered species populations.

Enhancing performance of microbolometers by utilizing low-temperature polycrystalline silicon

In response to the urgent need for advanced noncontact temperature sensing technologies to mitigate pandemic transmission, there has been a notable surge in global demand. Thermal cameras, combined with infrared sensors, are critical not only for high-resolution imaging but also for cost-effective commercialization. Amorphous silicon-based microbolometers offer advantages in terms of integration and cost compatibility with conventional silicon processes. However, they suffer from limitations in their electrical properties, particularly in the noise-equivalent temperature difference. This study examines the effectiveness of low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) as an active material for microbolometer cells compared to amorphous silicon, focusing on improving the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and lowering the noise density. Our investigation reveals that various parameters, such as dehydrogenation temperatures ranging from 350 to 550 °C, diverse laser annealing techniques (including single, step and multishot methods), and laser power density levels ranging from 150 to 300 mJ/cm2, influence the grain size trends of poly-Si. Using these methods, we produced poly-Si films with grain sizes ranging from 15 to 40 nm, which were used as the active layer in bolometer cells. The final part of our study assessed the TCR and noise density in devices with different poly-Si grain sizes. The TCR/noise density ratio was 3.5 times better in poly-Si devices compared to amorphous silicon devices. This study evaluates poly-Si as an active material for microbolometers, paving the way for future research and development in next-generation infrared sensor technology.

Comment on Krüger, L. Decreasing Trends of Chinstrap Penguin Breeding Colonies in a Region of Major and Ongoing Rapid Environmental Changes Suggest Population Level Vulnerability. Diversity 2023, 15, 327

Historical data on chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) breeding population sizes are sparse and sometimes highly uncertain, making it hard to estimate true population trajectories. Yet, information on population trends is desirable as changes in population size can help inform conservation assessments. Recently, Krüger (2023) (Diversity 2023, 15, 327) used chinstrap penguin nest count data to predict breeding colony size trends between 1960 and 2020, to estimate whether the level of population change within three generations exceeded IUCN Red List Criteria for “Vulnerable” populations. Chinstrap penguin population trends are an important research topic, but we caution that Krüger (2023)’s statistical analyses (intended to form the foundation for drawing valid, evidence-based inferences from sparse data) contain fundamental errors that invalidate that paper’s findings. We discuss oversights in several key steps (data processing, exploratory data analysis, model fitting, model evaluation, and prediction) of that paper’s analysis to help others detect and avoid some of the pitfalls associated with estimating population trends via mixed models. We also show through reanalysis that improved statistical modelling can yield better predictions of chinstrap penguin population trends, at least within the range of observed data. This case study highlights (1) the profound influence that seemingly minor differences in modelling procedures (both unintentional errors and other decisions) can have on predictions of population trends, and (2) the substantial inherent uncertainty in population trend predictions derived from sparse, heterogenous data.

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus Amphibian (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Kouoptamo Subdivision-Cameroon

The Kouoptamo subdivision is one of the localities of the Noun Division that adjoins the Noun River. It served as a study area because of the presence of hippopotamus. This study carried out from January to July 2017, aimed to contribute to the sustainable management of wildlife by improving the observation of hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) along the Noun River in the Kouoptamo subdivision. The data were obtained by administering a semi-structured survey form to fishermen, farmers, and local authorities. The results show that the average number of hippopotamuses observed along the River Noun in Kouoptamo is 10. On average, Mefuh records a very abundant potential with 13 individuals. This is followed by Buea and Mangouhnoun (7), Upstream of the dam (5), Makoumahou (4), and Downstream of the dam (3). According to habitat types, megaherbivores are highest in herbaceous savannah (6), followed by forest gallery (5), and finally shrub savannah (3). The months of observation are January and April with the greatest potential (20) and (15), followed by February and June (9) respectively, then March, May, and July (7) respectively. These pachyderms are most frequently observed in the afternoon between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. (7), followed by the morning between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. (6), then at midday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (5) and finally at night between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. (4). Very few studies have been carried out on hippopotamuses in Cameroon, so aspects of their biology and ecology remain unknown; precise estimates of population size and evolutionary trends are still incomplete. However, according to the CBD, knowledge of these resources is essential for better management.

Nanobubble Formation and Coverage during High Current Density Alkaline Water Electrolysis.

Gas bubbles are a necessary byproduct of water electrolysis whereby hydrogen and oxygen are produced from water. These attached gases reduce the electrode's active area, which necessitates a deep understanding of the bubble life cycle starting from nanobubbles. Synchronized with the electrochemistry, the time evolution of the surface nanobubble size and coverage is resolved using grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and correlated with optical microscopy and theoretical calculations to show that a significant portion of the surface is covered in nanobubbles after larger micron-sized bubbles are observed. These nanobubbles increase in number and decrease in size, toward 2 nm diameter, with the charge passed. The trend in size and number is consistent with an increase in supersaturation, which reduces the nascent bubble size. Altogether, this study suggests a significant portion of the surface contains nanobubbles and that strategies to reduce the dissolved hydrogen would be effective at reducing the nanobubble surface coverage.

Water ice particles detected by SELENE's Spectral Profiler at lunar shadowed regions in various local times and latitudes

Processes of water (OH and H2O) migration on the Moon remain unclear, prompting active research. Understanding lunar water migration requires investigation of the trapping and diffusion properties of water at various latitudes and local times. This study analyzed visible to near-infrared spectral data obtained by the Spectral Profiler (SP) onboard SELENE for shadowed regions at various local times and latitudes, not limited to the polar permanently shadowed regions. We assessed SP data for shadowed regions in 60 areas, each spanning a 10° × 10° latitude–longitude grid. Of the 1,061,907 analyzed shadowed-region data, 41,385 at various latitudes exhibited significant absorption in the 1.25 and 1.5 µm bands, indicating water ice particles. Data with the two absorption features suggest the presence of a water ice frost layer covering the lunar surface or suspended water ice particles above the lunar surface, at various latitude shadowed regions. Our spectral simulations have quantified the ice particles as being 0.1–1 µm in diameter, with a column density of 10–4–10–3 kg/m2. The spectral parameters for band absorption at the 1.5 µm band show symmetry between morning and evening sides, which is potentially attributed to the absence of variations in ice grain size and quantity. The 1.5 µm band absorption shows an increasing trend toward terminator regions, indicating variation in the water ice distribution and likely reflecting temperature conditions for water retention. The latitudinal trend of ice grain size and quantity remains uncertain because of the observed noise levels. Observations of water ice particles in shadowed regions at various latitudes and local times can provide new constraints on trapping and diffusion processes of lunar water migration.

Seasonality in Sonoran pronghorn survival and movement within a managed rangeland

AbstractThe endangered Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) has a large portion of its range within a military operations area in southwestern Arizona, USA. Sonoran pronghorn have been actively managed in this region for more than 20 years. Recovery efforts have included release of captive‐born pronghorn into areas both currently and historically occupied by wild pronghorn. These areas provide habitat for federally endangered essential and experimental non‐essential, referred to as 10(j), pronghorn populations. More than 20 years of monitoring efforts have resulted in a large dataset on their spatial occurrence and movement within these areas. To synthesize long‐term trends and seasonality in Sonoran pronghorn movement and mortality, we employed a suite of quantitative analyses that characterized the pronghorns' 1) individual and population‐level home ranges, 2) occurrence near active military targets, 3) trends in seasonal group sizes and composition, 4) sex‐ and group‐specific survivorship, and 5) changes in movement‐based behavior following release from captivity. We found strong seasonal trends throughout, including sex‐specific differences in seasonal movement rates, home ranges, survival, and group composition. Further, captive‐born pronghorn released into the endangered population exhibited markedly higher survival compared to those released in 10(j) areas. Captive‐born pronghorn exhibited significant seasonal use of active military target areas. These analyses, which represent the most comprehensive analysis of Sonoran pronghorn movement and survival to date, have important implications for the future conservation and management of this endangered species. Our results indicate that active management of endangered Sonoran pronghorn has successfully increased survival, and we recommend maintaining or increasing current recovery efforts, such as captive breeding and placement of supplemental resources throughout their range (e.g., freestanding water and supplemental forage), to further boost the survivorship of both wild‐ and captive‐born pronghorn. Moreover, future management efforts could use our seasonality results to create dynamic prediction models of when and where pronghorn are likely to overlap with military activities to best manage interactions. Our methods have added application to other mobile species of conservation interest occurring in disturbed and resource‐limited landscapes.

Investigation of droplet splashing behavior during oblique jet impact onto a wall

For the issue of jet impingement on the wall in industrial cooling processes, an experimental setup based on high-speed photography for oblique jet impingement onto the wall was constructed. The experimental focus was on the study of liquid droplet splashing behavior after oblique jet impingement on the wall, discussing the liquid droplet splashing behavior under three jet impingement modes: Rayleigh regime, first wind-induced regime, and secondary wind-induced regime. By employing methods such as trajectory imaging and particle image velocity for liquid droplet parameter image measurement, obtaining the particle size, velocity, and distribution of splashed droplets after oblique jet impact on walls under different working conditions. The impact of jet impingement velocity and angle on droplet splashing parameters was analyzed. The results showed that when the impingement point is before the breakup length, with increasing flow velocity, the surface wave of the liquid column, and the spreading liquid film became more pronounced, but the loss of liquid-phase components due to splashing was relatively small. When the impingement point is after the breakup length, the secondary breakup resulting in a “crown”-shaped liquid film after droplet impingement leads to a significant loss of liquid-phase components through splashing. As the inlet velocity of the jet increases, there is a decreasing trend in droplet size and an increasing trend in droplet velocity. With an increase in jet angle, there is a decreasing trend in droplet size and velocity. Based on the concentration, size, and velocity distribution characteristics of splashing droplets, the area after oblique jet impingement on the wall can be divided into the impingement zone, low-concentration low-velocity zone, high-concentration high-velocity zone, and lateral splashing zone. This has significant implications for understanding the splashing mechanism after oblique jet impingement on the wall and optimizing operating conditions.

Assessment of horse breeding and husbandry practices in southwest Ethiopia: Its implication to design breeding program

Ethiopian horses are multipurpose horses that have socioeconomic significance for smallholder farmers. However, studies regarding their husbandry practices have received little attention. Thus, the current study was conducted to assess the horse husbandry practices in the southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires from a total of 196 randomly selected respondents. The general linear model and frequency procedures of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS 9.0) were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data, while indices were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2016. Most of the respondents from the Telo district were illiterate, while the percentage of literate farmers was greater in the Gesha and Masha districts. The within-household flock structure and level of importance were dominated by cattle and sheep, followed by horses. The horses were used for transport, draft power, and breeding purposes. In terms of shelters, the horses in the Telo district stayed in shelters, while the horses in the Masha district stayed in forests during both the dry and wet seasons. However, the majority of the horses in the Gesha district were sheltered during the wet season, while they were left to stay in the forest during the dry season. The respondents provided supplementary feed and water to their horses while the water point was located within a kilometer distance. Government and private veterinary shops were the primary sources of veterinary services. Farmers sold their horses at the local market. Castration was performed to minimize aggressiveness. Body size, conformation, and temperament were used as sire selection criteria. An increasing trend in horse population size due to increased farmer interest was observed. In the studied areas, horses were found to be highly important to the livelihood of the farmers. However, horse husbandry practices were led by a considerably greater number of illiterate farmers. Moreover, horse management activities, including the housing of horses, need more attention. Therefore, successive awareness-raising campaigns, including the introduction of formal schooling, are recommended to improve the horse breeding and husbandry practices. Moreover, breeding programs with the aim of genetic improvement and conservation need to be designed to optimize the sustainable utilization of the horses.

Ideal Family Size and Reproductive Orientations: An Exploration of Change Over Time in the United States

Drawing on more than 30 years of nationally representative microdata from the General Social Survey, this article comprehensively updates recent trends in ideal family size in the United States. It first documents stability in ideal family sizes between the mid-1980s and 2018, even in the face of a recent fertility decline. Next, the study adopts a latent class approach that identifies typologies of “reproductive orientations,” defined as multidimensional mental models of reproduction encompassing ideal family size, attitudes toward reproductive labor, and views on reproduction contexts. The findings indicate three distinct classes of reproductive orientations: Progressive Familialists, Conservative Familialists, and Blended Egalitarians. Further analyses suggest that the prevalence of these classes has changed over time and that class membership is associated with distinct patterns of childbearing and marriage. These findings deepen contemporary understandings of ideal family size in the United States and have broader implications for how demographers conceptualize and measure fertility preferences across diverse contexts.

Trends and Outcomes of Aortic Root Enlargement During Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement

BackgroundAortic root enlargement (ARE) during aortic valve replacement (AVR) mitigates prosthesis-patient mismatch, but its use has been low. Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve (VIV) as a treatment for failing bioprosthetic valves is limited by small surgical valves, renewing interest in ARE during the index AVR. This study demonstrates trends and outcomes of ARE after commercial approval of VIV in 2015. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed 2182 patients undergoing nonemergent AVR between August 2007 and December 2022. Endocarditis, aortic dissection, and concomitant root replacement or ventricular assist device placement were excluded. Trends in ARE use, valve size, and types were compared. Outcome measures included 30-day mortality and gradients and were compared between patients with and without ARE. ResultsOverall, 74 patients (3.4%) underwent ARE, 14 (1.0%) before 2015 and 60 (7.6%, P < .0001) after 2015. Use of smaller valves (19-21 mm) decreased from 372 (26.8%) before 2015 to 85 (10.7%, P < .0001) after 2015. ARE group was younger than the AVR-alone group (64 vs 68 years, P = .001) but had similar predicted risk of mortality (median, 1.7%). Both groups had comparable postoperative mean gradients (ARE: 11 vs AVR-alone: 10 mm Hg, P = .42). ARE had higher 30-day mortality (5 [7%] vs 48 [2%], P = .014); however, no difference was found in elective patients (2 of 65 [3%] vs 39 of 1898 [2%], P = .57). ConclusionsARE use has increased since commercial approval of VIV. The addition of ARE to AVR did not affect early safety in elective cases, and postoperative gradients were similar to those in patients not requiring ARE. Further studies are required to determine long-term outcomes after ARE, including VIV candidacy.

An efficient multi‐probe enabled midfield over‐the‐air test method for 5G base station antenna pattern reconstruction

AbstractWith the accelerated deployment of 5G massive multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO)‐structured base stations (BSs), accurate and efficient testing of massive MIMO arrays is essential to ensure that the 5G massive MIMO antenna array can perform as expected. The increasing trend of both antenna element and array physical size makes massive MIMO antenna pattern measurement in the direct‐far‐field OTA environment unrealistic due to the signal attenuation, long measurement time, and ultra‐high test system construction cost. Therefore, the necessity of a compact, efficient, low‐complex, yet accurate OTA test method is evident, especially for 5G massive MIMO BS arrays. This paper proposes a novel multi‐probe‐enabled midfield (MF) OTA test method for 5G massive MIMO devices in compact measurement settings where antenna pattern measurement can be efficiently performed. The detailed theoretical analysis for the 5G massive MIMO array MF antenna pattern reconstruction method is presented, and the simulated validation results based on the typical 5G BS antenna arrays are provided and analysed, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MF OTA test method and can provide insights into the radio frequency parametric measurement for 5G massive MIMO devices.

Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease-causing lineages among South African children

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) due to non-vaccine serotypes after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) remains a global concern. This study used pathogen genomics to evaluate changes in invasive pneumococcal lineages before, during and after vaccine introduction in South Africa. We included genomes (N = 3104) of IPD isolates from individuals aged <18 years (2005–20), spanning four periods: pre-PCV, PCV7, early-PCV13, and late-PCV13. Significant incidence reductions occurred among vaccine-type lineages in the late-PCV13 period compared to the pre-PCV period. However, some vaccine-type lineages continued to cause invasive disease and showed increasing effective population size trends in the post-PCV era. A significant increase in lineage diversity was observed from the PCV7 period to the early-PCV13 period (Simpson’s diversity index: 0.954, 95% confidence interval 0.948-0.961 vs 0.965, 0.962-0.969) supporting intervention-driven population structure perturbation. Increases in the prevalence of penicillin, erythromycin, and multidrug resistance were observed among non-vaccine serotypes in the late-PCV13 period compared to the pre-PCV period. In this work we highlight the importance of continued genomic surveillance to monitor disease-causing lineages post vaccination to support policy-making and future vaccine designs and considerations.

Culture Transcends the Ocean: Research on Chinese-style Games as a New Carrier for International Communication of Chinese Culture —Taking the global impact of Black Myth: Wukong as an Example

In the context of exploring the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese culture, this paper focuses on how Chinese-style games can help the international dissemination of the "culture +" strategy. Through an in-depth analysis of the current status of Chinese online games going overseas, this paper reveals the competitiveness and cultural influence of domestic games in the global market. This paper specifically analyzes the market size and growth trend of Chinese online games, and elaborates on the distribution of games in overseas markets. Taking "Black Myth: Wukong" as an example, it demonstrates the successful experience of Chinese-style games in cross-cultural communication. This paper proposes strategies and suggestions for Chinese online games going overseas, including clarifying the target market, localizing adjustments, choosing appropriate distribution channels, and formulating effective marketing strategies. In addition, this paper emphasizes the important role of Chinese-style games in inheriting and innovating Chinese culture and promoting the "going out" of culture, and looks forward to the future development trend of Chinese online games going overseas.

Body-size reductions in dacryoconarid tentaculitoids during Late Devonian warming

Body size is an essential factor in an organism’s survival, and when paired with paleoenvironmental proxies, size trends can provide insights into a lineage’s evolutionary responses to changing environmental conditions. This study explores the diversity and body-volume trends of dacryoconarid tentaculitoids, globally abundant marine zooplankton, in the Devonian of the Appalachian Basin (eastern United States), spanning the late Givetian through the middle Frasnian punctata carbon isotope excursion. Using statistical approaches to model trends, we find evidence of a gradual, within-lineage reduction in styliolinid adult body sizes starting at the Givetian-Frasnian boundary. This reduction is followed by a significant decrease in both adult and initial chamber volumes during the punctata excursion. At the Givetian-Frasnian boundary, annulated forms (nowakiids) become rare and smooth forms (styliolinids) begin to dominate the assemblage. Using pre-existing geological and geochemical data sets, we consider environmental factors, including sea level, anoxia, nutrient availability, and temperature, as potential drivers of body-size reductions. Bottom-water anoxia most likely did not influence body-size trends of this pelagic group, but frequent water-column overturning in the Frasnian or other exchange between deep and shallow water may have affected taxonomic composition, favoring styliolinids. Sea-surface temperature correlates inversely with body size, suggesting that warming beginning in the early Frasnian may have contributed to gradual, long-term size reductions. Rising temperatures through the middle Frasnian may have led to the disappearance of dacryoconarids in the northern Appalachian Basin after the excursion.

Effects of 2-ethylbutyric acid, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, and 3-methylpentane on the micellization thermodynamics and physicochemical properties of HS 15 and TW 80 micelles based on differences in functional groups

Herein, we investigated the effects of 2-ethylbutyric acid, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, and 3-methylpentane, each possessing varying functional groups, on polyoxyl 15 hydroxystearate (HS 15) and polysorbate 80 (TW 80) micelles. Initially, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) for both systems was determined. Subsequent measurements included the particle size, zeta potential, cloud point, micropolarity, number of aggregates, and fluorophore release profile. Finally, the number of hydrogen bonds was confirmed through molecular docking technology. Results showed distinct effects of different functional groups on TW 80 and HS 15 micelles, exhibiting a decreasing trend of CMC, Amin, Gmin, particle size, and polydispersity index (PDI) with increased functional group polarity, alongside increased zeta potential, decreased cloud point, enlarged hydrophobic region, and rapid fluorophore quenching. In particular, acids with carboxyl groups exhibited enhanced stability with HS 15 and TW 80 micelles owing to differences in polarity, solubilization sites, and intermolecular forces. Using tanshinone extract as a model drug, the study explored HS 15 and TW 80 micelles as drug carriers, and results indicated that 2-ethylbutyric acid micelles exhibited better bacterial inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. Considering that the surface of bacteria was negatively charged, the positively charged nanoparticles exhibited strong electrostatic interactions with the bacteria, which exerted a superior antibacterial effect. In summary, 2-ethylbutyric acid micelles displayed the smallest CMC, Amin, Gmin, particle size, and PDI, along with a positive charge, highlighting the potential application of 2-ethylbutyric acid.

Social Determinants of Health in Diverticulitis: A Systematic Review.

There is growing interest in social determinants of health for surgical populations. Within diverticulitis, no systematic collation of available evidence has been performed. To assess frequency, variety, and association directions for social determinants of health in colonic diverticular disease. Four electronic databases were queried: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science. Included studies reported symptomatic left-sided colonic diverticular disease with respect to a social determinant of health according to the Healthy People 2030 initiative or applicable proxy variable. Studies with non-English full text, cohort size fewer than 50, pediatric cohorts, and exclusively non-left sided disease were excluded. Quality assessment through modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale, frequency of variables reported, and effect size trends for common comparisons. Among 50 included studies, 40 were good and 10 were fair in quality. Social determinants of health in diverticulitis were identified across Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context domains. The two most common variables were self-reported race and ethnicity (n = 33) and insurance (n = 22). Among 18 unique studies reporting comparisons of white versus any other self-reported race and ethnicity, twelve identified a disparity disadvantaging non-white groups with effect sizes (95% confidence interval ranging from 1.23 [1.10 -1.37] to 5.35 [1.32 - 21.61]). Among 15 unique studies reporting a non-private versus private insurance comparison, nine identified non-private insurance as a risk factor with effect sizes (95% confidence intervals ranging from 1.15 [1.02 - 1.29] to 3.83 [3.01 - 4.87]). Retrospective studies, heterogeneity across cohort and variable definitions. Social determinants of health domains are associated with a variety of diverticulitis outcomes. Additional studies are needed to address infrequently reported domains and identify optimal strategies for intervening in clinical settings. CRD42023422606.

Seasonal biophysical interactions in tidal marsh evolution: insights from a synchronized dataset in Jiangsu, China

IntroductionTidal marsh wetlands provide essential and valuable services to the wider interconnected marine and coastal environment, although the complex intertwined processes in morphological evolution remain insufficiently understood owing to synchronized data scarcity, limiting the development of numerical models and management strategies.MethodsThis study investigated the hydrodynamic, biological, sediment and morphological processes on the Doulong tidal wetlands, Jiangsu, China, using a one-year field dataset that captured spatial and seasonal variations.Results and discussionOur results indicate that biophysical interactions among multiple processes could result in some overlooked sedimentary behaviours and bio-morphological patterns in tidal marsh wetlands. Firstly, the dominance of alongshore currents caused a rapid alongshore expansion of saltmarsh patches, by which the marsh edge achieved seaward advancing, markedly different from the widely reported cross-shore expansion. Secondly, results showed that the particle size of sediment near the marsh edge coarsened when plants withered and then fined when plants grew, indicating that the seasonal variation trend of sediment grain size in saltmarshes was opposite to the trend of vegetation biomass. Thirdly, the interaction between vegetation and stranded marine debris formed banded debris zones within the saltmarsh, where debris bands could cause a biomass reduction of up to 58%, disrupting the commonly-observed parabolic biomass-elevation relationship. Meanwhile, the seasonal variation of vegetation and hydrodynamics could alter the debris positions and hence result in the formation of multiple parallel debris bands. Overall, this study provides a synchronized dataset and elucidates specific bio-morphological relationships and processes that have thus far not been systematically documented, enhancing the comprehensive understanding of tidal marsh wetland evolution.

Effect of Sole and Combination of Food Plants on Degumming of Cocoon and Physical Properties of eri (Samia ricini Donovan) Silk Yarn

The study revealed that castor fed worms registered for maximum yarn yield and size with minimum degumming loss and degumming period followed by kesseru fed worms. Though borpat fed worms registered lower values in respect of yarn yield with higher degumming loss and longer degumming period, the food plants had no significant effect on physical properties of the yarns viz, breaking load, tenacity, elongation percentage and imperfection. Interchange of food plants was found to have a decreasing trend in yarn yield and yarn size than sole food plants, however, there was no significant difference among the interchange combinations of food plants in respect of yarn yield and physical properties of the yarns viz., tenacity, elongation and imperfection.

Mud crab (Scylla spp) resources status in Hoat Sorbay Bay, Southeast Maluku Regency

Abstract Ohoi Evu is one of the villages in Southeast Maluku Regency where fishermen utilize mud crab resources. Mud crab fishing areas are concentrated in the waters of Hoat Sorbay Bay. Information on mud crab fisheries in these waters is relatively limited, so the application of sustainable management efforts is still difficult to develop. This study aims to determine the status of mud crab resources through the adoption of a fishery management model with an ecosystem approach and formulate recommendations for improving its management. Data collection was carried out through surveys of fishing operations, interviews, and participatory mapping. This research was conducted for 13 months, starting from January 2021 to January 2022, at Hoat Sorbay Bay. The research focus is on the Wear Manun Joint Business Group (KUB) in Ohoi Evu. The indicators observed included CPUE, mud crab size trends, the proportion of juveniles caught, species composition, range collapse, and endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species caught. Descriptive statistical analysis, CPUE, and indicator analysis were carried out using a multi-criteria analysis approach through the assessment of composite indexes and flag model visualization. The results showed that the management status of the mud crab fishermen Ohoi Evu in Hoat Sorbay Bay was in the moderate category (yellow) with a composite value of 2.50. CPUE indicators and species composition were good categories with a score of 3 (green). Trend indicators for fish size, proportion of juveniles, ETP species, and range collapse are in the moderate category with a score of 2 (yellow).