Fish distribution dynamics in the Aghanashini estuary of Uttara Kannada, west coast of India

Fish diversity (77 species) in the Aghanashini River estuary of the Indian west coast is linked to variable salinity conditions and zones I, II and III for high, medium and low salinity respectively. Zone I, the junction between Arabian Sea and the estuary, had all species in yearly succession due to freshwater conditions in monsoon to high salinity in pre-monsoon. The medium (zone II) and low (zone III) salinity mid and upstream portions had maximum of 67 and 39 fish species respectively. Maintenance of natural salinity regimes in estuary, among other ecological factors, is critical for its fish diversity.

Modelling staphylococcal pneumonia in a human 3D lung tissue model system delineates toxin-mediated pathology

Staphylococcus aureus necrotizing pneumonia is recognized as a toxin-mediated disease, yet the tissue-destructive events remain elusive, partly as a result of lack of mechanistic studies in human lung tissue. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) tissue model composed of human lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts was used to delineate the role of specific staphylococcal exotoxins in tissue pathology associated with severe pneumonia. To this end, the models were exposed to the mixture of exotoxins produced by S. aureus strains isolated from patients with varying severity of lung infection, namely necrotizing pneumonia or lung empyema, or to purified toxins. The necrotizing pneumonia strains secreted high levels of alpha-toxin and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), and triggered high cytotoxicity, inflammation, necrosis and loss of E-cadherin from the lung epithelium. In contrast, the lung empyema strain produced moderate levels of PVL, but negligible amounts of alpha-toxin, and triggered limited tissue damage. alpha-toxin had a direct damaging effect on the epithelium, as verified using toxin-deficient mutants and pure alpha-toxin. Moreover, PVL contributed to pathology through the lysis of neutrophils. A combination of alpha-toxin and PVL resulted in the most severe epithelial injury. In addition, toxin-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators from lung tissue models resulted in enhanced neutrophil migration. Using a collection of 31 strains from patients with staphylococcal pneumonia revealed that strains producing high levels of alpha-toxin and PVL were cytotoxic and associated with fatal outcome. Also, the strains that produced the highest toxin levels induced significantly greater epithelial disruption. Of importance, toxin-mediated lung epithelium destruction could be inhibited by polyspecific intravenous immunoglobulin containing antibodies against alpha-toxin and PVL. This study introduces a novel model system for study of staphylococcal pneumonia in a human setting. The results reveal that the combination and levels of alpha-toxin and PVL correlate with tissue pathology and clinical outcome associated with pneumonia.

Behaviour of Gaseous Chlorine and Alkali Metals During Biomass Thermal Utilisation

The behaviour of gaseous chlorine and alkali metals of three sorts of biomass (Danish straw, Swedish wood, and sewage sludge) in combustion or gasification is investigated by the chemical equilibrium calculating tool. The ranges of temperature, air-to-fuel ratio, and pressure are varied widely in the calculations (T=400-1800 K, gimel=0-1.8, and P=0.1-2.0 MPa). Results show that the air excess coefficient only has less significant influence on the release of gaseous chlorine and potassium or sodium during combustion. However, in biomass gasification, the influence of the air excess coefficient is very significant. Increasing air excess coefficient enhances the release of HCl(g), KOH(g), or NaOH(g) as well as it reduces the formation of KCl(g), NaCl(g), K(g), or Na(g). In biomass combustion or straw and sludge gasification, increasing pressure enhances the release of HCl(g) and reduces the amount of KCI(g), NaCl(g), KCI(g), or NaOH(g) at high temperatures. However, during wood gasification, the pressure enhances the formation of KOH(g) and KCI(g) and reduces the release of K(g) and HCl(g) at high temperatures. During wood and sewage sludge pyrolysis, nitrogen addition enhances the formation of KCN(g) and NaCN(g) and reduces the release of K(g) and Na(g). Kaolin addition in straw combustion may enhance the formation of potassium aluminosilicate in ash and significantly reduces the release of KCl(g) and KOH(g) and increases the formation of HCl(g).

QM/MM and Classical Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Histidine-Tagged Peptide Immobilization on Nickel Surface

The hybrid quantum mechanics (QM) and molecular mechanics (MM) method is employed to simulate the His-tagged peptide adsorption to ionized region of nickel surface. Based on the previous experiments, the peptide interaction with one Ni ion is considered. In the QM/MM calculation, the imidazoles on the side chain of the peptide and the metal ion with several neighboring water molecules are treated as QM part calculated by “GAMESS”, and the rest atoms are treated as MM part calculated by “TINKER”. The integrated molecular orbital/molecular mechanics (IMOMM) method is used to deal with theQMpart with the transitional metal. By using the QM/MM method, we optimize the structure of the synthetic peptide chelating with a Ni ion. Different chelate structures are considered. The geometry parameters of the QM subsystem we obtained by QM/MM calculation are consistent with the available experimental results. We also perform a classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with the experimental parameters for the synthetic peptide adsorption on a neutral Ni(1 0 0) surface. We find that half of the His-tags are almost parallel with the substrate, which enhance the binding strength. Peeling of the peptide from the Ni substrate is simulated in the aqueous solvent and in vacuum, respectively. The critical peeling forces in the two environments are obtained. The results show that the imidazole rings are attached to the substrate more tightly than other bases in this peptide.

Cría y liberación del parasitoide Diadegma insulare (Cresson) de la palomilla del repollo (Plutella xylostella L.) dentro de un contexto de MIP

Uno de los principales problemas del cultivo de repollo es Plutella xylostella que se ha convertido en una verdadera amenaza debido a su capacidad de reproducción y desarrollo de resistencia a los insecticidas usados contra ella. En Nicaragua se ha demostrado que los insecticidas comúnmente usados contra P. xylostella ya no son efectivos para su control. La práctica del control biológico de los insectos nocivos consiste en el uso de enemigos naturales, para reducir las poblaciones de las plagas, dichos enemigos naturales, o agentes de control biológico, incluyen patógenos, depredadores y parasitoides. Uno de los principales enemigos naturales de P. xylostella es el parasitoide D. insulare, en este ensayo se estableció una cría de este parasitoide para ser utilizado en liberaciones inoculativa en el cultivo de repollo, los insectos en estado de larvas y pupas fueron colectados en el campo y se trasladaron al laboratorio de cría de la Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Escuela de Sanidad Vegetal. Los adultos de D. insulare se colocaron en una jaula de cedazo, se les colocó plantas inoculadas con larvas de P. xylostella donde la hembra de D. insulare deposita un huevo por larva, estas lardas fueron expuestas por dos días, para seguir alimentándolas hasta alcanzar el estado de pupa, a continuación estas pupas se colocaron en vasos tapados para su constante observación y contabilización. Los parasitoides obtenidos de la cría en el laboratorio se liberaron en el campo, obteniendo que la mayor incidencia de P. xylostella se encontró en el tratamiento de químico (Thiocyclam) y menores en los tratamientos NIM y NIM + Liberaciones. Los porcentajes de parasitismo de D. insulare alcanzaron hasta 76% en el tratamiento nim+liberaciones superando la parcela tratada con producto químico, esto afirma que dicho producto tiene un efecto negativo en sus poblaciones y se encontró que el tratamiento nim+líberaciones fue económicamente rentable y compatible con prácticas tradicionales del productor Es necesario buscar prácticas que aumenten el parasitismo natural.

Evaluación de seis lineas de arroz (Oryza sativa L.), y tres variedades comerciales bajo el sistema de riego, en dos épocas de siembra, en Malacatoya

Con el objetivo de contribuir a aumentar la productividad del cultivo de arroz (Oryza sativa L), mediante la selección de genotipos con alto potencial de rendimiento de grano, que tengan un comportamiento consistente en diferentes ambientes, se evaluaron seis lineas de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) y tres variedades comerciales, bajo el sistema de riego, en dos épocas de siembra, en Malacatoya. Se establecieron dos ensayos de campo, de pruebas avanzadas de rendimiento (PAR). Los experimentos fueron establecidos en terrenos de la hacienda "Las Lajas", municipio de Malacatoya, departamento de Granada, ubicada en los 12° 04' 40" latitud norte y 86° 01 '55" longitud oeste. El primer ensayo se sembró en la época de verano, estableciéndose en Febrero y cosechándose en Junio de 1998. El segundo ensayo se sembró en la época de invierno, estableciéndose en Agosto y cosechándose en Noviembre de 1998. Se utilizó el diseño experimental de Bloques Completos al Azar para analizar los ensayos individuales y el análisis de varianza combinado para analizar la interacción de los genotipos en dos épocas de siembra. Los resultados obtenidos de ambos ensayos evidencian que la línea CT-12249-IP-IP es una línea promisoria, ya que sus componentes de rendimiento son estables tanto en verano como en invierno, destacándose por sus características tales como: aceptabilidad fenotípica y peso de 1,000 semillas, en las cuales ocupó los primeros lugares. La línea CT-12249-1P-lP, es el genotipo que tiene el mejor comportamiento productivo, destacándose por presentar un rendimiento de grano de 5,083 kg/ha en verano, y 7,222 kg/ha en invierno. Asi mismo, la época de siembra tuvo gran influencia en el comportamiento de los genotipos evaluados, ya que en la siembra de invierno los tratamientos mostraron mayor altura, mayor rendimiento de grano y adelanto en los días a flor. En la siembra de invierno, en presencia de altas precipitaciones Y humedad relativa, se determinó una mayor incidencia de enfermedades fungosas, causados por Pyricularía y Helmintosporiosis. En ambos ensayos, todas las líneas evaluadas superaron al testigo Oryzica Llanos.

Temas de historia argentina y americana, 2003, n° 3 (número completo)

Mayo de 1910: el imaginario a través de los discursos oficiales / María Victoria Carsen -- Sylvestre Begnis y la instauración nacional del frondicismo. 1954-1958 / Miguel Ángel De Marco (h) -- Un intento de democratización: política sindical durante el gobierno del general Lonardi (23 de septiembre al 13 de noviembre de 1955) / Guillermo E. Gini -- Del esplendor a la crisis. Las misiones guaraníes entre 1734 y 1744 /Ernesto J. A. Maeder -- El 90. La crisis económica y política vista desde la gráfica satírica de la época / Andrea Matallana -- Relaciones comerciales franco-argentinas. 1880-1914 / Hebe C. Pelosi -- Resistencia cultural a un régimen autoritario: El “sonoro” silencio de SUR durante el primer peronismo / Rosalie Sitman -- La creación musical académica argentina como reflejo de la Guerra del Paraguay / Juan María Veniard -- Reseñas Bibliográficas

粉质粘土中的刚性桩在横向载荷作用下失稳的模型试验研究

为解释横向载荷作用下刚性桩的失稳机理,针对桩头自由的刚性桩做了一系列横向加载试验.基础土为粉质粘土,含水量介于9.85%～13.85%之间.由载荷-位移全过程曲线发现,刚性桩在横向载荷达到一定值时会失稳;由试验录像及土体剖面发现,由于土体的软化破坏,在桩后土体内会出现贯穿的局部破坏并形成一楔体,同时在土面伴随一不完全的椭圆形鼓包及一条平行于加载方向的拉伸裂缝,而在桩前土中,由于桩的挤压会形成一条侵彻沟.分析认为,对大位移刚性桩桩后土体的破坏是桩失稳的根本原因.

Diário da Constituinte [gravação de vídeo] : [programa n. 034]

A Subcomissão dos Direitos Políticos, dos Direitos Coletivos e Garantias da Assembleia Nacional Constituinte (ANC) recebe Rex Nazaré Alves, Presidente da Comissão de Energia Nuclear que fala sobre as contas secretas mantidas pelo Conselho de Segurança Nacional (CSN), cujos recursos são utilizados em pesquisas. Maurílio Ferreira Lima (PMDB-CE), Presidente da Subcomissão, defende o controle das contas secretas pelo Legislativo. A Subcomissão da Nacionalidade, da Soberania e das Relações Internacionais recebe Jorge Monteiro Fernandes, representante da União Brasileira de Informática Pública, que aborda a relação de reserva de mercado de informática e a soberania nacional. Paulo Macarini (PMDB-SC) defende a reserva de mercado. A Subcomissão dos Municípios e Regiões ouve representantes da Superintendência do Desenvolvimento do Nordeste (SUDENE), da Superintendência da Zona Franca de Manaus (SUFRAMA), da Superintendência do Desenvolvimento da Amazônia (SUDAM) e da Secretaria de Articulação com Estados e Municípios (SAREM). A Subcomissão dos Estados recebe Paulo Brossard, Ministro da Justiça, que defende maior participação dos Estados nos recursos da União. Elverlindo Renklein, representante do Departamento Intersindical de Estatística e Estudos Socioeconômicos (DIEESE), defende o fim do imposto de renda (IRRF) para assalariados na Subcomissão de Tributos, Participação e Distribuição das Receitas. Simão Sessim (PFL-RJ) aprova a palestra de Elverlindo e defende a fiscalização unificada dos impostos.

Number of prior episodes and the presence of depressive symptoms are associated with longer length of stay for patients with acute manic episodes

Background: Few studies have analyzed predictors of length of stay (LOS) in patients admitted due to acute bipolar manic episodes. The purpose of the present study was to estimate LOS and to determine the potential sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with a longer hospitalization. Such information could be useful to identify those patients at high risk for long LOS and to allocate them to special treatments, with the aim of optimizing their hospital management. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study recruiting adult patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria) who had been hospitalized due to an acute manic episode with a Young Mania Rating Scale total score greater than 20. Bivariate correlational and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of LOS. Results: A total of 235 patients from 44 centers were included in the study. The only factors that were significantly associated to LOS in the regression model were the number of previous episodes and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at admission (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with a high number of previous episodes and those with depressive symptoms during mania are more likely to stay longer in hospital. Patients with severe depressive symptoms may have a more severe or treatment-resistant course of the acute bipolar manic episode.

PICES-GLOBEC International Program on Climate Change and Carrying Capacity: Report of the 1999 MONITOR and REX Workshops, and the 2000 MODEL Workshop on Lower Trophic Level Modelling

Table of Contents [pdf, 0.11 Mb] Executive Summary [pdf, 0.07 Mb] MODEL Task Team Workshop Report Final Report of the International Workshop to Develop a Prototype Lower Trophic Level Ecosystem Model for Comparison of Different Marine Ecosystems in the North Pacific [pdf, 11.64 Mb] Report of the 1999 MONITOR Task Team Workshop [pdf, 0.32 Mb] Report of the 1999 REX Task Team Workshop Herring and Euphausiid population dynamics Douglas E. Hay and Bruce McCarter Spatial, temporal and life-stage variation in herring diets in British Columbia [pdf, 0.10 Mb] Augustus J. Paul and J. M. Paul Over winter changes in herring from Prince William Sound, Alaska [pdf, 0.08 Mb] N. G. Chupisheva Qualitative texture characteristic of herring (Clupea pallasi pallasi) pre-larvae developed from the natural and artificial spawning-grounds in Severnaya Bay (Peter the Great Bay) [pdf, 0.07 Mb] Gordon A. McFarlane, Richard J. Beamish and Jake SchweigertPacific herring: Common factors have opposite impacts in adjacent ecosystems [pdf, 0.15 Mb] Tokimasa Kobayashi, Keizou Yabuki, Masayoshi Sasaki and Jun-Ichi Kodama Long-term fluctuation of the catch of Pacific herring in Northern Japan [pdf, 0.39 Mb] Jacqueline M. O’Connell Holocene fish remains from Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, Canada [pdf, 0.40 Mb] Elsa R. Ivshina and Irina Y. Bragina On relationship between crustacean zooplankton (Euphausiidae and Copepods) and Sakhalin-Hokkaido herring (Tatar Strait, Sea of Japan) [pdf, 0.14 Mb] Stein Kaartvbeedt Fish predation on krill and krill antipredator behaviour [pdf, 0.08 Mb] Nikolai I. Naumenko Euphausiids and western Bering Sea herring feeding [pdf, 0.07 Mb] David M. Checkley, Jr. Interactions Between Fish and Euphausiids and Potential Relations to Climate and Recruitment [pdf, 0.08 Mb] Vladimir I. Radchenko and Elena P. Dulepova Shall we expect the Korf-Karaginsky herring migrations into the offshore western Bering Sea? [pdf, 0.75 Mb] Young Shil Kang Euphausiids in the Korean waters and its relationship with major fish resources [pdf, 0.29 Mb] William T. Peterson, Leah Feinberg and Julie Keister Ecological Zonation of euphausiids off central Oregon [pdf, 0.11 Mb] Scott M. Rumsey Environmentally forced variability in larval development and stage-structure: Implications for the recruitment of Euphausia pacifica (Hansen) in the Southern California Bight [pdf, 3.26 Mb] Scott M. Rumsey Inverse modelling of developmental parameters in Euphausia pacifica: The relative importance of spawning history and environmental forcing to larval stage-frequency distributions [pdf, 98.79 Mb] Michio J. Kishi, Hitoshi Motono & Kohji Asahi An ecosystem model with zooplankton vertical migration focused on Oyashio region [pdf, 33.32 Mb] PICES-GLOBEC Implementation Panel on Climate Change and Carrying Capacity Program Executive Committee and Task Team List [pdf, 0.05 Mb] (Document pdf contains 142 pages)

Impacts of inorganic turbidity on diquat efficacy against Egeria densa

In clear water, diquat [6,7-dihydrodipyrido (1,2-1a:2',1'-c) pyrazinediium dibromide] provides excellent submersed Plant control at low concentrations, such as <0.5 mg active ingredient (ai) L-1: however. turbid water conditions can interfere with the activity and effectiveness of this herbicide. Little work has been done to examine what ranges of turbidity caused by different Suspended sediment types affect diquat efficacy against a target species. A growth chamber study was conducted rising diquat against the submersed macrophyte -egeria (Egeria densa Planch.) under a range Of turbid conditions. Two materials were used to create turbid beater conditions: 100% bentonite clay for a "worst-case" scenario and a natural partial-clav (20% clay). Results indicated that a high rate of diquat (2 mg ai L-1) controlled egeria under relatively low levels of turbidity (5-10 NTU) using bentonite clay: however. higher levels (25 to 50 NTU) of turbidity essentially blocked effectiveness of diquat when applied at all rates tested (0.5. 1, 2 mg ai L-1). When using a natural partial-clay sediment, rates of 1 to 2 mg ai L-1 diquat provided good control of egeria in moderately turbid water (15 NTU). Additional evaluations rising different clay types would be useful to determine the effect of inorganic turbidity oil diquat efficacy.

Porotergus ellisi. Una nueva subespecie de gimnótido de la Argentina (Pisces: Gymnotoidei).

Debido a una revisión de la colección del Museo de La Plata he encontrado cuatro gimnótidos que a mi juicio corresponden a una nueva especie del género Porotergus Ellis. (PDF tiene 10 paginas.)