Solid loss and weight gain in prawns during storage in ice

Loss of solids from and gain in weight of meat of whole prawn and prawn meat stored in ice has been studied to explain the mechanism of solid loss. Two stages are identified in this phenomenon. In the first stage water is absorbed without loss of solids resulting in a maximum increase in weight. In the second stage both solids and water are lost resulting in gradual decrease in weight from the maximum reached but not reaching the original weight. It is inferred that whole prawns stored in ice up to two days give the maximum peeled yield without loss of nutrients and at the same time making the peeling process easier.

Length-weight relationship in Nandus nandus (Hamilton) (Perciformes-Teleostei)

Length-weight relationship of the freshwater fish of Pamba River, Nandus nandus (Ham) has been worked out. The results showed that the slope values and elevations were not significant and hence a combined regression equation has been calculated for both the sexes (Log W=2.4130 Log L -0.3306). The’t’ test analyses were conducted and found that the growth departs significantly from the isometric growth. Thus the formula W=aL super(n) has to be applied in calculating the length-weight relationship of this species.

Use of eye lens diameter and weight as an age indicator in the carangid fish, Decapterus russelli (Pisces: Carangidae) from Gulf of Oman: preliminary observation

Specimens of Decapterus russelli have been collected from Lema, north of the Gulf of Oman. The ocular lens diameter and weight were tested as an additional age indicator to those already in use. The results showed that this technique could be adopted for determining the age of the species Decapterus russelli when the specimens are in the second year of age in case of eye lens diameter. On the other hand, eye lens weight failed to separate between the four age groups observed. The method is especially useful for age determination when otolith or scale ring are not visible or when false rings give erroneous reading.

Allometric study of skeleton weight, body weight and length relationship of Euryglossa orientalis (Bl. & Schn.) (Family: Soleidae) from Karachi coast

Present study deals with the family Soleidae (common sole) Euryglossa orientalis (Bl. & Schn.) of the order Pleuronectiformis from Karachi coast. Separate equation (regression line) for describing the length weight relationships for male and female combined are justified. Allometric studies were made on skeleton weight relative to the length and the weight of the fish. The regression equation 'a' and 'b' values of standard length/skeleton weight and body weight/skeleton weight are statistically significant.

Morphometrics, length-weight relationship and condition of Rastrineobola argentea (Pellegrin 1904) in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria (Kenya)

Correlation between total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) of Raslrineobola argentea (pellegrin 1904) in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria indicate that FL = 0.92 TL - 0.74 and SL = 0.90 TL - 1.74. Length-weight relationship of log-transformed data shows that the slopes of the regression lines were 3.06 to 3.22 for juveniles, 2.70 to 3.05 for males and 3.24 to 3.71 for females. The slopes were significantly different between groups at at a =0.05. The Fulton's condition factor (K) was highest in December (1.019-1.073) and March/April (1.015-1.030) but lowest in June (1:00-1.025) for all stations. Significant differences between groups demands for the use of different growth models for juveniles, males and females especially for the von Bertalanffy growth equation which uses length-weight relationship. Observed cyclic viations in condition factor suggests two peak breeding seasons for this species in the Winam Gulf. The practical lmplications of these results in stock assessment using length-based fish stock assessment methods is briefly discussed.

SEASONAL-CHANGES IN BODY-WEIGHT OF MACACA-THIBETANA AT MT-EMEI, CHINA

This 1991-1992 study was designed to expand previous research on body weight (BW) in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Emei. Data on BW were collected in late autumn (LA) and late winter (LW) in groups ranging above 1,200 m. Over the winter, the BW fell significantly from a mean of 16.8 to 11.4 kg in females and from 19.5 to 17.0 kg in males. The previously reported BW means of 12.8 kg for females and 18.3 kg for males, measured in late spring, are near the center of the annual BW range for this species. In addition, with the sharper decline of female BW (- 32% vs. - 13% seen in males), the sexual dimorphism ((M) over bar/(F) over bar) in BW increased from 1.16 in LA to 1.49 in LW. This finding may be related to differential parental investment by two sexes. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The high strain rate response of Ultra High Molecular-weight Polyethylene: From fibre to laminate

The effect of strain rate upon the uniaxial response of Ultra High Molecular-weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres, yarns and laminates of lay-up [0/90]48 has been measured in both the 0/90 and ±45 configurations. The tensile strength of the matrix-dominated ±45 laminate is two orders of magnitude less than that of the fibre-dominated 0/90 laminate, and is more sensitive to strain rate. A piezoelectric force sensor device was developed to obtain the high strain rate data, and this achieved a rise time of less than 1 μs. It is found that the failure strength (and failure strain) of the yarn is almost insensitive to strain rate within the range (10 -1-103 s-1). At low strain rates (below 10 -1 s-1), creep of the yarn dominates and the failure strain increases with diminishing strain rate. The tensile strength of the dry yarn exceeds that of the laminate by about 20%. Tests on single fibres exceed the strength of the yarn by 20%. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of dry weight by monitoring changes in blood volume during hemodialysis using Crit-Line.

BACKGROUND: Routine assessment of dry weight in chronic hemodialysis patients relies primarily on clinical evaluation of patient fluid status. We evaluated whether measurement of postdialytic vascular refill could assist in the assessment of dry weight. METHODS: Twenty-eight chronic, stable hemodialysis patients were studied during routine treatment sessions using constant dialysate temperature and dialysate sodium concentration, and relative changes in blood volume were monitored using Crit-Line III monitors throughout this study. The study was divided into three phases. Phase 1 studies evaluated the time-dependence of vascular compartment refill after completion of hemodialysis. Phase 2 studies evaluated the relationships in patient subgroups between intradialytic changes in blood volume and the presence of postdialytic vascular compartment refill during that last 10 minutes of hemodialysis after stopping ultrafiltration. Phase 3 studies evaluated the extent of dry weight changes following the application of a protocol for blood volume reduction, postdialytic vascular compartment refill, and correlation with clinical evidence of intradialytic hypovolemia and/or postdialytic fatigue. Phase 3 included anywhere from three to five treatments. RESULTS: Phase 1 studies demonstrated that despite interpatient variability in the magnitude of postdialytic vascular compartment refill, when significant refill was evident, it always continued for at least 30 minutes. However, the majority of refill took place within 10 minutes postdialysis. Phase 2 studies identified 3 groups of patients: those who exhibited intradialytic reductions in blood volume but not postdialytic vascular compartment refill (group 1), those who exhibited intradialytic reductions in blood volume and postdialytic vascular compartment refill (group 2), and those whose blood volume did not change substantially during hemodialysis treatment (group 3). In phase 3 studies, use of an ultrafiltration protocol for blood volume reduction and monitoring of postdialytic vascular compartment refill combined with clinical assessment of hypovolemia and postdialytic fatigue demonstrated that patients often had a clinical dry weight assessment which was too low or too high. In all 28 patients studied, dry weight was either increased or decreased following use of this protocol. CONCLUSION: Determination of the extent of both intradialytic decreases in blood volume and postdialytic vascular compartment refill, combined with clinical assessment of intradialytic hypovolemia and postdialytic fatigue, can help assess patient dry weight and optimize volume status while reducing dialysis associated morbidity. The number of hospital admissions due to fluid overload may be reduced.

Collapse of a composite beam made from ultra high molecular-weight polyethylene fibres

Hot-pressed laminates with a [0/90]48 lay-up, consisting of 83% by volume of ultra high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres, and 17% by volume of polyurethane (PU) matrix, were cut into cantilever beams and subjected to transverse end-loading. The collapse mechanisms were observed both visually and by X-ray scans. Short beams deform elastically and collapse plastically in longitudinal shear, with a shear strength comparable to that observed in double notch, interlaminar shear tests. In contrast, long cantilever beams deform in bending and collapse via a plastic hinge at the built-in end of the beam. The plastic hinge is formed by two wedge-shaped microbuckle zones that grow in size and in intensity with increasing hinge rotation. This new mode of microbuckling under macroscopic bending involves both elastic bending and shearing of the plies, and plastic shear of the interface between each ply. The double-wedge pattern contrasts with the more usual parallel-sided plastic microbuckle that occurs in uniaxial compression. Finite element simulations and analytical models give additional insight into the dominant material and geometric parameters that dictate the collapse response of the UHMWPE composite beam in bending. Detailed comparisons between the observed and predicted collapse responses are used in order to construct a constitutive model for laminated UHMWPE composites. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

An improved method for the extraction of low molecular weight organic acids in variable charge soils

Due to specific adsorption to variable charge soils, low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) have not been sufficiently extracted, even if common extractants, such as water and 0.1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH), were employed. In this work, the method for extracting LMWOAs in soils with 0.1 M NaOH was improved for variable charge soils; e.g. 1.0 M potassium fluoride (KF) with pH 4.0 was applied as an extractant jointed with 0.1 M NaOH based on its stronger ability to change the electrochemical properties of variable charge soils by specific adsorption. With the proposed method, the recoveries of oxalic, tartaric, malic, citric and fumaric acids were increased from 83 4, 93 1, 22 2, 63 +/- 5 and 84 +/- 3% to 98 +/- 2, 100 +/- 2, 85 +/- 2, 90 +/- 2 and 89 +/- 2%, respectively, compared with NaOH alone. Simultaneously, the LMWOAs in Agri-Udic Ferrosol with field moisture were measured with a satisfactory result.

Optimization of RP-HPLC analysis of low molecular weight organic acids in soil

RP-HPLC analysis for low molecular weight organic acids in soil solution has been optimized. An Atlantis (TM) C-18 column was used for the analyses. An optimal determination for eleven organic acids in soil solution was found at room temperature (25 degrees C) and 220 nm detection wavelength, with a mobile phase of 10 mM KH2PO4 -CH3OH (955, pH 2.7), a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and 10 mu L sample size. The detection limits ranged 3.2-619 ng/mL, the coefficients of variation ranged 1.3-4.6%, and the recoveries ranged 95.6-106.3% for soil solution with standard addition on the optimal conditions proposed.