Asserting rights, defining responsibilities: perspectives from small-scale fishing communities on coastal and fisheries management in the Philippines

In preparation for the Workshop and Symposium on “Asserting Rights, Defining Responsibilities: Perspectives from Small-scale Fishing Communities on Coastal and Fisheries Management in Asia”, held in Siem Reap Cambodia, from 3 to 8 May 2007, case studies were undertaken in six countries in Asia—Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Among other things, the studies aimed to document and explore the understanding that fishing communities have about their rights to fisheries and coastal resources, as well as the obligations and responsibilities associated with these rights, and to document and discuss their initiatives to assert these rights and fulfill their responsibilities. The studies formed the basis for discussions at the Workshop and Symposium. This case study from the Philippines will be found useful by NGOs, regional and national organizations of artisanal fishworkers, and anyone interested in fisheries and fishing communities in the Philippines.

Refractive index evaluation of multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays

Transmission terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) measurements of carbon nanotube arrays are presented. A relatively thin film with vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes has been prepared and measured using THz-TDS. Experimental results were obtained from 80GHz to 2.5THz, and the sample has been characterized by extracting the relative permittivity of the carbon nanotubes. A combination of the Maxwell-Garnett and Drude models within the frequency range provide a good fit to the measured permittivity.

CNTs and CNT/ZnO nanostructures for use as electron sources

The aim of this paper is to describe the growth and optimization of carbon nanotube (CNT) and CNT/Zinc Oxide nanostructures to produce novel electron sources. The emitters studied in this project are based on regular array of vertically aligned 5 μm height and 50 nm diameter CNTs with a pitch of 10 μm as described previously (1). Such a cathode design allows us to minimize electric field shielding effects and thus to help in optimizing the emitted current density. We have previously obtained a current density of 1 A/cm 2 from such arrays in DC mode, and over 12 A/cm2 in pulsed mode at RF frequencies. © 2010 IEEE.

Stabilization of carbon nanotube field emitters

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been determined to be field emitters of high quality, but CNTs produced by chemical vapour deposition can produce emission currents with high instability and noise. This work finds that adsorbates and amorphous carbon deposited during the growth process are the primary contributors to field emission instability, and shows that burning off the amorphous carbon in air at 450 °C removes the amorphous carbon, resulting in stabilities of better than 3 per cent over 1 h. This work removes one of the major barriers to the use of CNTs in field emission devices.

Assessing seasonal precipitation trends in India using parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques

This paper provides an insight into the long-term trends of the four seasonal and annual precipitations in various climatological regions and sub-regions in India. The trends were useful to investigate whether Indian seasonal rainfall is changing in terms of magnitude or location-wise. Trends were assessed over the period of 1954-2003 using parametric ordinary least square fits and non-parametric Mann-Kendall technique. The trend significance was tested at the 95% confidence level. Apart from the trends for individual climatological regions in India and the average for the whole of India, trends were also specifically determined for the possible smaller geographical areas in order to understand how different the trends would be from the bigger spatial scales. The smaller geographical regions consist of the whole southwestern continental state of Kerala. It was shown that there are decreasing trends in the spring and monsoon rainfall and increasing trends in the autumn and winter rainfalls. These changes are not always homogeneous over various regions, even in the very short scales implying a careful regional analysis would be necessary for drawing conclusions regarding agro-ecological or other local projects requiring change in rainfall information. Furthermore, the differences between the trend magnitudes and directions from the two different methods are significantly small and fall well within the significance limit for all the cases investigated in Indian regions (except where noted). © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Ballasted CNT structures for use as electron sources

The aim of this paper is to describe the growth and optimization of ballasted carbon nanotube (CNT) and CNT/Zinc Oxide nanostructures to produce novel electron sources for use in lighting and x-ray applications. © 2010 ITE and SID.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder children with a 7-repeat allele of the dopamine receptor D4 gene have extreme behavior but normal performance on critical neuropsychological tests of attention

An association of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene located on chromosome 11p15.5 and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been demonstrated and replicated by multiple investigators. A specific allele [the 7-repeat of a 48-bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in exon 3] has been proposed as an etiological factor in attentional deficits manifested in some children diagnosed with this disorder. In the current study, we evaluated ADHD subgroups defined by the presence or absence of the 7-repeat allele of the DRD4 gene, using neuropsychological tests with reaction time measures designed to probe attentional networks with neuroanatomical foci in D4-rich brain regions. Despite the same severity of symptoms on parent and teacher ratings for the ADHD subgroups, the average reaction times of the 7-present subgroup showed normal speed and variability of response whereas the average reaction times of the 7-absent subgroup showed the expected abnormalities (slow and variable responses). This was opposite the primary prediction of the study. The 7-present subgroup seemed to be free of some of the neuropsychological abnormalities thought to characterize ADHD.

The study of biological characteristics and heavy metal determination of Cd, Pb, Fe, V, Ni in the muscle, liver and gonad tissues of kingfish Scomberomorus commerson in the coastal waters of the Hormozagan Province (Persian Gulf)

Biological studies and heavy metal (Ni, v, Fe, Pb,Cd) determination in liver, gonad and muscle of Scomberomorus commerson were carried out from Oct 2006 to Sept 2007 in Hormozgan coastal waters. 599 Samples were gutted for reproduction and nutrition studies, fork length and weight were measured to nearest cm and g respectively. Meanwhile 40 samples were also investigated for heavy metal studies. All specimens were collected from two major landing sites (Bandar Lengeh & Bandar Abbas). Minimums & maximum fork length & weight were 29, 128 cm & 235 and 15350 g respectively.Isometric growth was shown according to our study and b was estimated 2.9 (overall), 2.91(male) & 2.89 (female). The average relative gut length was 0.52± 0.007 and it was determined that S. commerson is a carnivorous. More than 99 percent of gut content was different teleost fishes. Gastro somatic index had two peaks in Nov & Jan (before spawning) and with a decreased trend in July, the spawning period. Occurrence of empty stomach was estimated % 65.77. Maximum amount of condition factor was in Dec. Spawning season was started from June. The average of Absolute & relative fecundity (to weight unit) was 1217149±179315 and 178.2±15.58 respectively. Lm50% was estimated 75 cm for females. Sex ratio was 0.97: 1 (male: female). Chi- Square test showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Maximum amount of hepatosomatic index was estimated in March.Metal concentrations were determined using either Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (for Fe) or Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (for Pb,Cd,Ni and V). The mean concentration (μg/g dry weight)of Pb,Cd,Ni,V and Fe in the liver were 0.0309, 0.0268, 0.0672, 0.0077, 2.5159 in the gonad 0.0440 ,0.0295, 0.1096, 0.0000, 1.4449 and in the muscle 0.0244, 0.0324, 0.0656, 0.0128, 1.6138 respectively. The maximum metal concentrations were below the maximum permissible limits for human consumption recommended by the USEPA, WHO and the UK. The results of Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient were as follows: The Liver tissue: There were significant positive linear relationships between accumulation of V, Fe, and Pb with Fork length, Pb and Fe with weight, GSI with Pb, Cd, V and 109 Fe, and a negative linear relationships between HSI with accumulation of V and Fe, Fork length, weight and GSI. The Gonad tissue: There were significant positive linear relationships between GSI with accumulation of Pb, Cd, Fe, Fork length and weight, a negative linear relationship between HSI with Fork length, weight and GSI. The Muscle tissue: There were significant positive linear relationships between accumulations of V, Fe with Fork length and weight factors and as well as GSI with Cd, V, Fe, Pb, Fork length and weight,a negative linear relationship between HSI with Fork length, weight, Cd, Fe and GSI. The results of Mann-Whitney U tests (P≤0.05) show that there were significant differences between summer and autumn from heavy metal contents in the studied tissues point of view. The only exceptions were for Ni in the liver, gonads and muscle and as well as there were significant differences between male and female from heavy metal contents in the studied tissues. The only exceptions were for Pb in muscle, Ni in liver, gonad and muscle, V in muscle, and Cd and Fe in gonads.

Survey of plankton blooms and red tides and their interaction with environmental factors through monitoring satellite images

One of the most important marine ecological phenomena is red tide which is created by increasing of phytoplankton population, influenced by different factors such as climate condition changes, utrification hydrological factors and can leave sever and undesired ecological and economical effects behind itself in the case of durability. Coast line of Hormozgan is about 900km from east to west, within the range of geographical coordinates of 56 16 23.8, 26 58 8.8 to 54 34 5.33 and 26 34 32 eastern longitude and northern latitude, seven sampling stations were considered and sampled for a period of one year from October 2008 to October 2009. after the analysis of Satellite images, monthly, during the best time. In several stages, samplings were performed. In each station, three samples were collected for identification and determination of Bloom- creating species abundance. Cochlodinium polykrikoides was the species responsible for the discoloration which occurred at October 2008 in Hormozgan marine water. Environmental parameters such as sea surface temperature, pH, salinity, Dissolved Oxygen concentration, Total Dissolved Solids (T.D.S.), conductivity, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate and also chlorophyll a were measured and calculated. Kruscal Wallis test was used to compare the densities between different months, seasons and the studied stations. Mann-whitney test from Nonparametric Tests was used for couple comparison. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between physical and chemical data set and the abundance of Cochlodinium polykrikoides. Multivariate Regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) also were used to obtain the models and equations of red tide occurrence relationship, environmental parameters and nutrient data. The highest density was 26 million cells per liter in Qeshm station. A meaningful difference was observed between sampling months and seasons but there was no between sampling stations which indicates that in favorable conditions, the occurrence of this phenomenon by the studied species is probable. Regarding to β coefficients of nitrate, temperature, phosphate, Total Dissolvable Solutions (T.D.S) and pH these parameters are effective on the abundance of this species and red tide occurrence. Increase in these factors can represent the effects and outcomes of human activities and increase in marine pollution.

Temporal and spatial distribution of phytoplankton with emphasis on Skeletonema costatum in the Mathamuhuri river – estuary (Chakaria mangrove ecosystem), Bangladesh

A total of 91 species under 44 genera were identified among the phytoplankton community during the course of one year's investigation between May 1982 and April 1983. Bacillariophyta was the most dominant group with 72 specie, Chlorophyta 11 spp, Cyanophyta 6 spp and Pyrrophyta was represented by 2 species. The yearly percentage composition of 4 groups of phytoplankton in order of abundance were Bacillariophyta 50.77%, Cyanophyta 47.70%, Chlorophyta 1.5% and Pyrrophyta 0.02%. The highest densities of phytoplankton were recorded in monsoon months (June-July) with a peak in July (31550 cells/l) and the minimum in February (770 cells/1). Higher concentration of phytoplankton was recorded at station 2, nearer to the Chakaria Sundarbans (mangroves), but abundance of phytoplankton showed no significant difference in the two stations (Mann Whitney U test, P=0.64, Z=-0.642, U=64). Phytoplankton population in this area were positively correlated with rainfall (r=0.655, P=<0.5, df.22) and water temperature (r=0.523, P=<0.05). Skeletonema costatum was the dominant member of phytoplankton and occupied 35.23% of the annual population and occurred throughout the period of study except in September and January. Its abundance was recorded during the monsoon months (April- July) with a maximum density (24185 cells/l) in July. No significant correlation was found between abundance of S. costatum and the hydro-meteorological parameters recorded in the Chakaria mangrove area.

Evaluations of the pelagic resources in the Burundi waters of Lake Tanganyika and the evolution of the fisheries

The important pelagic fishery resources of northern Lake Tanganyika were identified after a preliminary scientific evaluation, and in Burundi, with governmental assistance they were rapidly developed and exploited more intensively until overfishing was thought to have occurred. At this point, legal measures were introduced in order to protect the resource by restricting fishing effort and maintaining the total yield near the apparent maximum sustained limit. Complementary biological research on the fish stocks did not accompany the rapid fishery development and now an intensive stock assessment programme has been launched by the Government and UNDP in order to define more precisely the available fish stocks and to consider, with the co-operation of the neighbouring lacustrine states, suitable ways of ensuring optimum levels of fish harvest from year to year.

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy characterization of vertically aligned carbon nanotube films

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy measurements were made for vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (VACNT) films. We obtained the frequency dependent complex permittivity and conductivity (on the assumption that permeability μ = 1) of several samples exhibiting Drude behaviour for lossy metals. The obtained material properties of VACNT films provide information for potential microwave and terahertz applications. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microwave characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays

A vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (VACNT) film has been characterized by rectangular waveguide measurements. The complex scattering parameters (S-parameters) are measured by a vector network analyzer at X-band frequencies. The effective complex permittivity and permeability of the VACNT film have been extracted using the Nicolson-Ross-Weir (NWR) approach. The extracted parameters are verified by full wave simulations (CST Microwave Studio) and very good agreement has been obtained. A systematic error analysis is presented and the errors are within the acceptable range. The performance of VACNT films as an absorber is examined, and comparison with the conventional carbon loaded materials shows that a 90% size reduction is possible whilst maintaining the same absorption level. © 2011 EUROPEAN MICROWAVE ASSOC.