Avaliaçāo preliminar do estado da exploraçāo de Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon, Boulenger 1906), em cahora bassa com base em dados históricos de captura e esforço de 1995-2000

The fishing of kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon, Boulenger 1906) on the Cahora Bassa Dam started around 1992, when considerable stocks of this species were discovered in the lake. The species is believed to have successful established in the Dam following a natural introduction through a downstream movement from Kariba dam where it was introduced in 1967/68. Fisheries statistics on the kapenta fishery have been collected since 1993 by the Ministry of Fisheries through the Provincial Offices for Fisheries Administration of Tete (SPAP - Tete) but only data from 1995 onward are available on the database of the Ministry of Fisheries and these are the data that was used for compiling the present report on which trends of fishing effort, catch and CPUE are analyzed. Catch and effort have increased with time, from a minimum of the 4 thousand metric tons for an annual fishing effort of 36 fishing rigs in 1995 to a maximum of 12 tons for a fishing effort of 135 rigs while CPUE followed a decreasing trend during the same period. Correlation analysis between catch and effort suggests that probably environmental factors may have influence on catch variation than the increase on fishing effort. Two models were applied for calculating MSY and FMSY resulting in two pairs of roof leading to two scenario of fisheries management. 10137 tons and a FMSY of 177 fishing rigs were computed using Schaefer model while 11690 tons and a FMSY of 278 were obtained using Fox model. Considering the differences between the two results and considering the fact that the two models have no differences in terms of precision and the fact that their determination coefficient are not different it is suggested, using the precautionary principle that result from Schaefer model be a adopted for fisheries management purpose.

Reciprocal chromosome painting illuminates the history of genome evolution of the domestic cat, dog and human

Domestic cats and dogs are important companion animals and model animals in biomedical research. The cat has a highly conserved karyotype, closely resembling the ancestral karyotype of mammals, while the dog has one of the most extensively rearranged mammalian karyotypes investigated so far. We have constructed the first detailed comparative chromosome map of the domestic dog and cat by reciprocal chromosome painting. Dog paints specific for the 38 autosomes and the X chromosomes delineated 68 conserved chromosomal segments in the cat, while reverse painting of cat probes onto red fox and dog chromosomes revealed 65 conserved segments. Most conserved segments on cat chromosomes also show a high degree of conservation in G-banding patterns compared with their canine counterparts. At least 47 chromosomal fissions (breaks), 25 fusions and one inversion are needed to convert the cat karyotype to that of the dog, confirming that extensive chromosome rearrangements differentiate the karyotypes of the cat and dog. Comparative analysis of the distribution patterns of conserved segments defined by dog paints on cat and human chromosomes has refined the human/cat comparative genome map and, most importantly, has revealed 15 cryptic inversions in seven large chromosomal regions of conserved synteny between humans and cats.

Comparative molecular cytogenetic studies in the order Carnivora: mapping chromosomal rearrangements onto the phylogenetic tree

We have made a set of chromosome-specific painting probes for the American mink by degenerate oligonucleotide primed-PCR (DOP-PCR) amplification of flow-sorted chromosomes. The painting probes were used to delimit homologous chromosomal segments among human, red fox, dog, cat and eight species of the family Mustelidae, including the European mink, steppe and forest polecats, least weasel, mountain weasel, Japanese sable, striped polecat, and badger. Based on the results of chromosome painting and G-banding, comparative maps between these species have been established. The integrated map demonstrates a high level of karyotype conservation among mustelid species. Comparative analysis of the conserved chromosomal segments among mustelids and outgroup species revealed 18 putative ancestral autosomal segments that probably represent the ancestral chromosomes, or chromosome arms, in the karyotype of the most recent ancestor of the family Mustelidae. The proposed 2n = 38 ancestral Mustelidae karyotype appears to have been retained in some modern mustelids, e.g., Martes, Lutra, ktonyx, and Vormela. The derivation of the mustelid karyotypes from the putative ancestral state resulted from centric fusions, fissions, the addition of heterochromatic arms, and occasional pericentric inversions. Our results confirm many of the evolutionary conclusions suggested by other data and strengthen the topology of the carnivore phylogenetic tree through the inclusion of genome-wide chromosome rearrangements. Copyright (C) 2002 S. KargerAG, Basel.

Winter Temperature and UV Are Tightly Linked to Genetic Changes in the p53 Tumor Suppressor Pathway in Eastern Asia

The tumor suppressor p53 is a master sensor of stress. Two human-specific polymorphisms, p53 codon 72 and MDM2 SNP309, influence the activities of p53. There is a tight association between cold winter temperature and p53 Arg72 and between low UV intensity

Frog skins keep redox homeostasis by antioxidant peptides with rapid radical scavenging ability

The question of how amphibians can protect themselves from reactive oxygen species when exposed to the sun in an oxygen-rich atmosphere is important and interesting, not only from an evolutionary viewpoint, but also as a primer for researchers interested in mammalian skin biology, in which such peptide systems for antioxidant defense are not well studied. The identification of an antioxidant peptide named antioxidin-RL from frog (Odorrana livida) skin in this report supports the idea that a peptide antioxidant system may be a widespread antioxidant strategy among amphibian skins. Its ability to eliminate most of the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical tested within 2 s, which is much faster than the commercial antioxidant factor butylated hydroxytoluene, suggests that it has a potentially large impact on redox homeostasis in amphibian skins. Cys10 is proven to be responsible for its rapid radical scavenging function and tyrosines take part in the binding of antioxidin-RL to radicals according to our nuclear magnetic resonance assay. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A bioeconomic analysis of sustainability of marine fish production in Kerala

The study has been undertaken in Kerala State in India with an overall objective of analyzing the bio-economic conditions of commercially exploited marine fishes for assessing their sustainability in the context of existing management practices. Maximum sustainable yield, maximum economic yield and open access levels of yield and effort were analyzed using Gompertz-Fox growth model. The study concluded that the fishing effort exceeded the economically optimal levels and there is unnecessary wastage of money, manpower and fuel in the fishing industry. The study stressed the urgent need for capture fisheries management in the State which at present follows an open access fishery where regulations exist only in the form of seasonal closure in the monsoon season.

Hydrobiological studies of an irrigation tank with reference to the culture of large murrel, Channa marulius (Hamilton) and striped murrel Channa striatus (Bloch)

The importance of selection of species for culture according to the ecological niches and fish food organisms is highlighted with respect to the Fox Sagar, an irrigation take. The tank was infested with submerged vegetation as well as minnows and weed fishes, which rendered the tank unsuitable for the culture of Indian major carps. The tank was stocked with 8000 fingerlings of Channa marulius and C. striatus during 1981 by the local fisherman co-operative society. Only partial harvest was possible during 1982 because of high water level. The final harvest was in April-May, 1983. The yield obtained was 3640 kg during the culture period of about 20 months.

Relaxation of yeast mitochondrial functions after whole-genome duplication

Mitochondria are essential for cellular energy production in most eukaryotic organisms. However, when glucose is abundant, yeast species that underwent whole-genome duplication (WGD) mostly conduct fermentation even under aerobic conditions, and most can

Increasing the life of flare tips

Flare tips are essential for safety. Maintenance is difficult and costly. Flare tips are subjected to high combustion temperatures, thermal cycling, oxidation and marine corrosion. Following a number of flare tip failures an in depth study by Imperial College was carried out into the failure of a flare tip from a UK platform, looking for service life improvement. Materials selection and design solutions were considered. The study considered alternative materials and concluded that materials selection was the smaller part of the answer; design changes can double service life. This study used failure investigation, high temperature experimental and thermo-mechanical modelling analysis. The modelling process simulated two common flaring conditions and correctly predicted the observed failure of initiation and crack propagation from holes used to bolt on flame stabilizing plates to the top of the flare. The calculated thermal stress and strains enabled the low cycle fatigue life and minimum creep life to be predicted. It was concluded that service life could be improved by replacing Incoloy alloy 800HT (UNS N08800) with Inconel alloy 625 (UNS N06625), an alloy with attractive mechanical properties and improved high temperature corrosion resistance. Repositioning or eliminating bolt holes can double service life. Copyright 2008, Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Social and gender analysis report: Barotse Floodplain, Western Province,Zambia

There is increasing awareness that integrating gender into development frameworks is critical for effective implementation of development strategies. In working to alleviate rural poverty, the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) recognizes that “business as usual” gender integration approaches will not deliver lasting and widespread improvements in agricultural productivity, poverty reduction and food security. In response, AAS operationalized a gender transformative approach. The approach is informed by conceptual frameworks that explicitly recognize the potent influence of social relations on creating and perpetuating gender inequalities. In this way, AAS aims to address the underlying causes of rural poverty and gender inequality in Zambia’s Barotse Floodplain, where people rely extensively on riverine and wetland ecosystems for food and livelihood security. A central question guiding the research program is “How do social norms and gendered power relations influence agricultural development outcomes?” The findings presented in this report provide insights that help answer this question. The report presents a review of literature relevant to livelihoods, ecosystem services, and gender and social relations in Zambia, with a specific focus on Western Province, where AAS is currently implemented. It also presents a synthesis of findings of a social and gender analysis conducted in 2013 in 10 focal communities situated in and around the Barotse Floodplain.

The development of a scanning strategy for the manufacture of porous biomaterials by selective laser melting.

Porous structures are used in orthopaedics to promote biological fixation between metal implant and host bone. In order to achieve rapid and high volumes of bone ingrowth the structures must be manufactured from a biocompatible material and possess high interconnected porosities, pore sizes between 100 and 700 microm and mechanical strengths that withstand the anticipated biomechanical loads. The challenge is to develop a manufacturing process that can cost effectively produce structures that meet these requirements. The research presented in this paper describes the development of a 'beam overlap' technique for manufacturing porous structures in commercially pure titanium using the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) rapid manufacturing technique. A candidate bone ingrowth structure (71% porosity, 440 microm mean pore diameter and 70 MPa compression strength) was produced and used to manufacture a final shape orthopaedic component. These results suggest that SLM beam overlap is a promising technique for manufacturing final shape functional bone ingrowth materials.

Global civil aviation black carbon emissions.

Aircraft black carbon (BC) emissions contribute to climate forcing, but few estimates of BC emitted by aircraft at cruise exist. For the majority of aircraft engines the only BC-related measurement available is smoke number (SN)-a filter based optical method designed to measure near-ground plume visibility, not mass. While the first order approximation (FOA3) technique has been developed to estimate BC mass emissions normalized by fuel burn [EI(BC)] from SN, it is shown that it underestimates EI(BC) by >90% in 35% of directly measured cases (R(2) = -0.10). As there are no plans to measure BC emissions from all existing certified engines-which will be in service for several decades-it is necessary to estimate EI(BC) for existing aircraft on the ground and at cruise. An alternative method, called FOX, that is independent of the SN is developed to estimate BC emissions. Estimates of EI(BC) at ground level are significantly improved (R(2) = 0.68), whereas estimates at cruise are within 30% of measurements. Implementing this approach for global civil aviation estimated aircraft BC emissions are revised upward by a factor of ~3. Direct radiative forcing (RF) due to aviation BC emissions is estimated to be ~9.5 mW/m(2), equivalent to ~1/3 of the current RF due to aviation CO2 emissions.

中国畜牧业现状与可持续发展措施的研究

畜牧业是否成长为农村经济的支柱产业,是衡量一个国家农业发达程度的主要标志。现阶段.我国畜牧业的增长方式、发展路径、动力、市场和地位都发生了重大变化,给畜牧业的可持续发展提出了许多新问题和新挑战。近年来.我国畜牧业的发展取得了举世嘱目的成就,促进了国民经济的快速发展,丰富了城乡人民物质和文化生活的需要。随着经济的发展和人们生活水平的逐步提高.对畜牧产品的需求将有较大增长,大力加强和发展畜牧业将是我国农业的最终方向。依据现有统计资料,结合我国畜牧业的实际情况,根据"十一五"规划和建设社会主义新农村的要求,文章分析了畜牧业发展的地位,探讨了畜牧业存在的问题.并提出了相应的对策和建议。

分子间链缠结与高聚物的转变和松驰

玻璃化转变与结构松驰是高聚物的两个非常重要的现象，对高聚物的许多物理性质、使用温度范围、以及长期使用性能等都起着至关重要的决定作用。影响高聚物的玻璃化转变温度的因素有高聚物结构单元的化学结构，分子量的大小以及分布，分子链间的交联以及结晶等，而高聚物的链缠结对其玻璃化转变湿度也有着重要的影响。高聚物的链缠结概念首先是由高聚物的分子量--粘度之间的关系得出的。1940 年 Flory 首先发现对于柔性链聚合物而言，其液态的零切粘度同其分子量成正比；此后，1948 年 Fox 和 Flory 发现当聚合物链的长度超过某一临界值时，粘度与分子量的 3.4 次方成正比，而在临界值之下时粘度与他子量的 1 次方成正比。Bueche 于 1952 年首次提出了高聚物链缠结的概念，并对粘度与分子量的关系进行了成功的解释。链缠结从此之后就成为线性高聚物的一个重要特征并成为控制熔（溶）体流变和固体形变机制的关键因素。关于链缠结的理论也有许多，其中应用最为广泛的有蛇链模型（Reptation Model）和管子模型（Tube Model）等。1969年 Flory 提出聚合物的性质同其均方无扰尺寸有关，此后Doi 和 Edwards 得出了高聚物的链缠结同其无扰尺寸的关系。在通常情况下高聚物在本体状态下是以无规线团的形式彼此相互缠绕在一起的，根本无法相互区分开。而通过特殊的方法可以将在极稀溶液中保持彼此孤立的聚合物分子从溶液中分离出来，并且保持在溶液中的相互孤立状态，从而得到单链高聚物。在单链状态下高聚物分子之间是相互分离的，不存在分子间的链缠结作用，因此通过测定单链高聚物的性质，并与本体状态进行比较，就可以得出分子间链缠结对高聚物性质的影响。我们在本工作中采用了一种新的方法－－快速蒸发法来制备高聚物的单链状态样品。具体步骤就是将由沸点远低于 100 ℃ 的溶剂所制成的高分子溶液逐滴滴加到在恒温槽中保持沸腾的水中，溶剂就会在瞬间蒸发出去，而高聚物则基本上保持在溶液中的状态析出。对于几种链段僵硬性不同的高聚物在不同浓度下进行快速蒸发而得到的样品，在相同的升温速率下，用 DSC 方法测定其玻璃化转变温度，发现这些高聚物的玻璃化转变温度随制备溶液浓度的变化都有相同的变化趋势，即在其临界浓度之上时，制备样品的玻璃化转变温度基本上不随浓度的变化而改变，并且同本体状态下的样品的 Tg 温度相近。而在临界浓度以下时，样品的玻璃化温度则随制备溶液浓度的降低而明显下降，在些浓度范围内玻璃化温度与溶液浓度的对数大致成一线性关系。在我们所研究的三种高聚物中，样品的玻璃化温度受制备溶液浓度的影响程度是不一样的，对 PS 的玻璃化转变湿度的影响最大，而对于 PES-C 的影响最小。为了定量地描述制备溶液的浓度变化对样品玻璃化转变温度的影响，我们定义了一个参数 s , s 的值越大，则表明浓度的降低对玻璃化温度下降的影响越明显。对于我们所研究的三种聚合物，S_(PS)>S_(PC)>S_(PES-C)。我们在本工作中还对单链状态对高聚物的结构松弛行为的影响进行了初步的研究，发现同本体样品相比，单链样品的热焓松弛峰所处的温度也比较低，这同其玻璃化转变温度较低相对应。并且同本体样品的焓松弛峰相比，单链样品松弛峰的峰高较低，峰的面积（同松弛焓相对应）也比本体样品的要小，但松弛峰的峰宽却变宽。由 KWW 方程及 TNM 现象学模型通过曲线拟合得出了本体样品与单链样品的结构松弛参数，发现对于所研究的三种高聚物，单链样品的松弛焓相对本体而言都有显著的降低，而特征时间并没有明显的变化，这其中的原因可能是单链状态下的高聚物，发现单链状态对其松弛焓的降低的影响程度也有差异，对于 PS 的影响最为显著，而对 PES－C 的影响最小，这同单链状态对玻璃化转变温度的影响相一致。在研究 PES－C 的分子量的变化对其结构松弛行为的影响时，通过 DSC 方法测出了 PES－C 在不同升温速率下的玻璃化温度，得到了玻璃化转变温度对升温速率的变化曲线，由 1/Tg 对 logQ_h这一直线的斜率，得出了 PES－C 样品的结构松弛的活化能 Δh~*，并且发现对于不同分子量的 PES－C 样品，尽管 Δh~* 和 Tg 的值各不相同，但是 Δh~*/Tg~2 的值却近似为一常数。这样，我们只要知道 PES-C 在某一分子量下的 Tg 以及 Δh~* 值，就可以推算出其它分子量的 PES-C 样品的 Δh~* 值。对于 PES-C 在不同退火温度下的焓变 ΔH(t) 对松弛时间 ta 的曲线进行拟合，并用 KWW 方程（Kraulsch — Watts — Williams）以及结构松弛的 NM（Narayanaswamy — Moynihan）现象学模型进行解析，得出了 PES-C 的结构松弛参数，如极限焓松弛 ΔH_∞，非指数性参数 β，特征结构松弛时间 logτ_c，非线性参数 x 等。并且发现对于不同分子量的样品，其结构弛行为对分子量的大小有着很强的依赖性，在退火间隔温度（Tg — Ta）相同时，特征松弛时间 logτ_c 随着分子量的增加而增加，极限焓松弛 ΔH_∞ 则随着 PES-C 分子量的增加而降低。这些都同 PC 和 PS 有着明显的区别。我们用分子链的运动性随分子量的变化对此作了解释，同普通柔性链高聚物相比，PES－C 的分子链的中间部分所受的限制更为强烈，相对只有链端部分可以相对自由运动。链端的数目随着分子量的降低而增加，因此当分子量降低时，样品在松弛过程中更加容易重排，因此相应的极限焓松弛 ΔH_∞ 也更大。

聚合物共混物的相容性及热力学研究

近二十年来，共混已经成为简便而有效地制备新的具有各种附加性能的高分子材料的一种重要方法。共混物间的相容性及相容的程度往往决定其最终性质，因此，高聚物共混物的相容性和相行为成为高聚物共混热力学研究的热点。我们选取了二乙酸纤维素(CDA)／聚乙烯基砒烙烷酮(PVP)、聚氧化乙烯(PEO)／聚醋酸乙烯酯(PVAc)和聚氧化乙烯(PEO)／聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)三个共混体系作为研究对象，用溶液法、量热法和红外光谱等实验手段研究了三个体系的相容性及相容程度，用现代热力学理论预测了它们的相容性及相行为。CDA/PVP共混体系 1．用DSC和DMA测定了不同组成的CDA/PVP共混物的玻璃化转变温度，所有组成的共混物均只有一个介于两个纯组分玻璃化转变温度之间的T_g，且不同组成共混物的玻璃化转变温度高于用Fox方程计算得到的玻璃化转变温度，说明该体系是相容性共混体系，且两组分间存在特殊相互作用。2．用奥氏粘度计和乌氏粘度计分别测定的不同组成共混物的绝对粘度和稀溶液特性粘数，都远远大于按相应比例的CDA和PVP计算的相关粘度和特性粘数的数学平均值，这应该归结为两组分间的特殊相互作用使共混溶液中线团的尺寸变大，导致粘度增大。3．共混物的红外光谱谱图显示PVP的加入使CDA的羟基吸收峰向低频率方向移动，同时，随CDA含量的增加，PVP的羰基吸收峰也向低频率方向移动，说明CDA与PVP分子间形成了氢键，使官能团的电子云密度降低，吸收峰频率降低。4．溶液量热法得到的不同组成共混物的混合热焓均为负值，直接证明该共混体系是热力学相容体系，而且随CDA含量的增加，混合热焓的绝对值也增大，表明体系的相容程度与共混组成有关。PEO/PVAc共混体系 1．用乌氏粘度计测定了不同组成不同分子量的PEO/PVAc共混物的稀溶液特性粘数，计算出表征分子间相互作用的参数，△b。发现随PVAc分子量的增加，体系的相容性降低，体系的相容程度还与共混组成及溶液浓度有关。2．用DSC方法首次得到不同分子量的PEO/PVAc共混体系的“云点”和混合热焓。随着PVAc分子量的增加，“云点”曲线向低温方向移动。不同组成共混物的混合热焓值都小于零，直接证明该体系是热力学相容体系。溶液量热法得到的混合热焓值也都为负，与DSC方法得到的结果一致。3．PEO与PVAc间只存在弱相互作用，所以，选择Hamada等人改进的Flory状态方程理论对PEO/PVAc共混体系的相容性和相行为进行预测。利用溶液量热法的混合热焓值，得到该体系的Flory相互作用参数与温度和共混组成的关系，结果表明该体系是相容性共混体系，而且应该存在LCST相行为，体系的相容程度随PEO含量的增加而降低。4．Sanchez-Lacombe(SL)格子流体理论也适用于PEO/PVAc共混体系，通过PVAc分子量与相互作用能的定量关系建立了该共混物的热力学参数的预测体系。将SL理论拟合出的spinodal曲线和binodal曲线组成的相图与DSC法得到的相图（用“云点”表示）对比，发现二者完全相符。随PVAc分子量的增加，binodal曲线向低温方向移动，临界点向富含PEO的方向移动。混合热焓的实验值也与理论值相符。Flory相互作用参数随温度和共混组成的变化与Hamada等人改进的Flory状态方程理论预测的结果一致。PEO/PMMA共混体系 1．用乌氏粘度计测定了不同组成、不同分子量的PEO/PMMA共混物的稀溶液特性粘数，计算出表征分子间相互作用的参数，Δb。发现PEO与分子量最小的PMMA共混的体系是相容性共混体系，与分子量最大的PMMA共混的是不相容性共混体系，说明随PMMA分子量的增加，体系的相容性降低。2．溶液量热法得到PEO/PMMA = 50/50（重量比）的共混物的混合热焓为负值，表明该体系是热力学相容体系。DSC法得到的不同组成共混物的混合热焓值也都为负，与溶液量热法结论一致。3．Hamada等人改进的Flory状态方程理论也适用于PEO/PMMA体系，因为PEO与PMMA之间不存在特殊相互作用。用溶液量热法得到的混合热焓值，计算出该体系的Flory相互作用参数与温度的关系，结果表明该体系是相容性共混体系，而且应该存在LCST相行为。