Maximum likelihood estimation of natural mortality and quantification of temperature effects on catchability of brown tiger prawn (Penaeus esculentus) in Moreton Bay (Australia) using logbook data

It is common to model the dynamics of fisheries using natural and fishing mortality rates estimated independently using two separate analyses. Fishing mortality is routinely estimated from widely available logbook data, whereas natural mortality estimations have often required more specific, less frequently available, data. However, in the case of the fishery for brown tiger prawn (Penaeus esculentus) in Moreton Bay, both fishing and natural mortality rates have been estimated from logbook data. The present work extended the fishing mortality model to incorporate an eco-physiological response of tiger prawn to temperature, and allowed recruitment timing to vary from year to year. These ecological characteristics of the dynamics of this fishery were ignored in the separate model that estimated natural mortality. Therefore, we propose to estimate both natural and fishing mortality rates within a single model using a consistent set of hypotheses. This approach was applied to Moreton Bay brown tiger prawn data collected between 1990 and 2010. Natural mortality was estimated by maximum likelihood to be equal to 0.032 ± 0.002 week−1, approximately 30% lower than the fixed value used in previous models of this fishery (0.045 week−1).

Temperature dependence of 35Cl NQR in 3,4-Dichlorophenol

NQR frequencies in 3,4-dichlorophenol are investigated in the temperature range 77 K to room temperature. Two resonances have been observed throughout the temperature range, corresponding to the two chemically inequivalent chlorine sites. Using Bayer's theory and Brown's method torsional frequencies and their temperature dependence in this range are estimated.

Temperature-dependence of 35Cl N.Q.R. in sodium chloroacetate

N.q.r. in sodium chloroacetate has been investigated at temperatures from 77 K to room temperature (c.300 K). A single line has been observed throughout this temperature range. Torsional frequencies of the molecule have been calculated in the above temperature range from Bayer's theory. Also the temperature coefficient of the torsional frequencies has been calculated by Brown's method.

Ambient temperature and risk of cardiovascular hospitalization: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

The association between temperatures and risk of cardiovascular mortality has been recognized but the association drawn from previous meta-analysis was weak due to the lack of sufficient studies. This paper presented a review with updated reports in the literature about the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in relation to different temperature exposures and examined the dose–response relationship of temperature-cardiovascular hospitalization by change in units of temperature, latitudes, and lag days. The pooled effect sizes were calculated for cold, heat, heatwave, and diurnal variation using random-effects meta-analysis, and the dose–response relationship of temperature-cardiovascular admission was modelled using random-effect meta-regression. The Cochrane Q-test and index of heterogeneity (I2) were used to evaluate heterogeneity, and Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias. Sixty-four studies were included in meta-analysis. The pooled results suggest that for a change in temperature condition, the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization increased 2.8% (RR, 1.028; 95% CI, 1.021–1.035) for cold exposure, 2.2% (RR, 1.022; 95% CI, 1.006–1.039) for heatwave exposure, and 0.7% (RR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.002–1.012) for an increase in diurnal temperature. However no association was observed for heat exposure. The significant dose–response relationship of temperature — cardiovascular admission was found with cold exposure and diurnal temperature. Increase in one-day lag caused a marginal reduction in risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations for cold exposure and diurnal variation, and increase in latitude was associated with a decrease in risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations for diurnal temperature only. There is a significant short-term effect of cold exposure, heatwave and diurnal variation on cardiovascular hospitalizations. Further research is needed to understand the temperature-cardiovascular relationship for different climate areas.

The heat capacity of liquid carbon disulfide + acetonitrile, especially near the upper critical solution temperature

The heat capacity Cp of the binary liquid system CS2 + CH3CN has been studied. This system has an upper critical solution temperature To ≈ 323.4 K and a critical mole fraction of CS2xo ≈ 0.5920. Measurements were made both for mixtures close to and far away from the critical region. The heat capacity of the mixture with x = xo exhibits a symmetric logarithmic anomaly around Tc, which is apparently preserved even for compositions in the immediate vicinity of xc. For compositions far away from xc, only a normal rise in Cp over the covered temperature range is observed.

Effect of ionic temperature on propagation of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a collisionless plasma of warm-ion fluid and non-isothermal electrons

Using a perturbation technique, we derive Modified Korteweg—de Vries (MKdV) equations for a mixture of warm-ion fluid (γ i = 3) and hot and non-isothermal electrons (γ e> 1), (i) when deviations from isothermality are finite, and (ii) when deviations from isothermality are small. We obtain stationary solutions for these equations, and compare them with the corresponding solutions for a mixture of warm-ion fluid (γ i = 3) and hot, isothermal electrons (γ i = 1).

Effect of beta-n-oxalyl-L-alpha, beta-diaminopropionic acid on glutamate uptake by synaptosomes

THE unusual amino acid beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha, beta-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP), isolated from the seeds of Lathyrus sativus is a potent neurotoxin1−3. It produces biochemical changes in the brain typical of an excitant amino acid and is implicated in the aetiology of human neurolathyrism caused by eating the seeds of L. sativus 4−6. It may act as a glutamate antagonist: ODAP inhibits glutamate oxidation7 possibly by inhibiting glutamate uptake in bovine brain mitochondria; it also acts as a competitive inhibitor of glutamate uptake in certain strains of yeast8, and a similar process might occur at the synaptic level. Any effect of ODAP on glutamate uptake at synapses is significant in view of the neurotransmitter function of glutamate, which seems to be neuroexcitory as well as neurotoxic9−12. But Balcar and Johnston13 have shown with rat brain slices that ODAP does not inhibit the glutamate uptake by the high affinity system.

Diagnostic values for skin temperature assessment to detect diabetes-related foot complications

Background Skin temperature assessment is a promising modality for early detection of diabetic foot problems, but its diagnostic value has not been studied. Our aims were to investigate the diagnostic value of different cutoff skin temperature values for detecting diabetes-related foot complications such as ulceration, infection, and Charcot foot and to determine urgency of treatment in case of diagnosed infection or a red-hot swollen foot. Materials and Methods The plantar foot surfaces of 54 patients with diabetes visiting the outpatient foot clinic were imaged with an infrared camera. Nine patients had complications requiring immediate treatment, 25 patients had complications requiring non-immediate treatment, and 20 patients had no complications requiring treatment. Average pixel temperature was calculated for six predefined spots and for the whole foot. We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for different cutoff skin temperature values using clinical assessment as reference and defined the sensitivity and specificity for the most optimal cutoff temperature value. Mean temperature difference between feet was analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results The most optimal cutoff skin temperature value for detection of diabetes-related foot complications was a 2.2°C difference between contralateral spots (sensitivity, 76%; specificity, 40%). The most optimal cutoff skin temperature value for determining urgency of treatment was a 1.35°C difference between the mean temperature of the left and right foot (sensitivity, 89%; specificity, 78%). Conclusions Detection of diabetes-related foot complications based on local skin temperature assessment is hindered by low diagnostic values. Mean temperature difference between two feet may be an adequate marker for determining urgency of treatment.

Effect of temperature, pressure and additives on pyrolysis of polystyrene peroxide

Some aspects of the pyrolysis of polystyrene peroxide (PSP) have been examined. Low-temperature decomposition studies at 60°C and 70°C have been carried out to elucidate the ageing behaviour of PSP. The exothermic decomposition was found to be complete in 44 h at 70°C suggesting that all peroxide bonds have broken. Enthalpy measurements of the aged samples were carried out as a function of storage time. Ageing was also followed by infrared spectroscopy, and the intensity of the peroxide absorption around 1050 cm−1 was found to decrease with ageing time. Benzaldehyde formed as a result of PSP pyrolysis is readily converted into benzoic acid, which crystallizes during the ageing process. Pyrolysis—gas chromatographic studies have shown that up to 450°C the basic decomposition mechanism (i.e., the formation of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde as the major products) does not change. No effect of pressure on the decomposition exotherm in differential thermal analysis was observed, suggesting that peroxide composition involves only condensed phase reactions. Hydroquinone, p-aminophenol and cadmium sulphide were found to retard the thermal decomposition of PSP, suggesting that these compounds would be potential antioxidants for polymers.

Temperature dependence of chlorine NQR in 2-chloro 5-nitrobenzoic acid and 4-chloro 3-nitrobenzoic acid

Temperature dependence of chlorine nuclear quadrupole resonance in 2-chloro 5-nitrobenzoic acid and 4-chloro 3-nitrobenzoic acid has been investigated in the region 77° K to room temperature. No phase transition has been observed. The results are analysed to obtain the torsional frequencies and their temperature dependence. A nonlinear temperature dependence is obtained for the torsional frequencies.

Negative differential resistance in GaN nanocrystals above room temperature

Negative differential resistance (NDR) has been observed for the first time above room temperature in gallium nitride nanocrystals synthesized by a simple chemical route. Current-voltage characteristics have been used to investigate this effect through a metal-semiconductor-metal (M-S-M) configuration on SiO2. The NDR effect is reversible and reproducible through many cycles. The threshold voltage is similar to 7 V above room temperature.

Studies on the relative biopotencies and intestinal absorption of different apo-beta-carotenoids in rats and chickens.

1. The biopotencies relative to beta-carotene of several apocarotenoids, such as 8'-, 10'- and 12'-apo-beta-carotenal and methyl 8'-apo-beta-carotenoate, were investigated in rats, on a molar basis, by both curative-growth assay and liver-storage tests. 2. In the curative-growth assays, on a molar basis the biopotencies of 8'-, 10'- and 12'-apo-beta-carotenal and methyl 8'-apo-beta-carotenoate were 72, 78, 72 and 53% respectively, whereas on a weight basis the corresponding values were 93, 111, 111 and 63%, with respect to beta-carotene taken as 100%. In terms of yield of vitamin A, these values were much lower in the liver-storage tests. 3. When 8'-apo-beta-carotenal was fed, the unchanged aldehyde together with small amounts of the corresponding alcohol and larger proportions of the acid rapidly appeared in the tissues of both rats and chickens. The 8'-apocarotenol, 8'-apocarotenoic acid and its methyl ester were absorbed unchanged. The free acid disappeared most rapidly from the tissues, but its methyl ester persisted in the tissues longest. 4. On the basis of these observations it is suggested that most of an apocarotenal is oxidized to the corresponding acid, which, in turn, is mostly degraded to retinoic acid, with small proportions of it being attacked by the dioxygenase system giving retinal.