Effect of sex ratio on growth and survival in Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) reared in floating cages

[EN]Octopus vulgaris is a potential candidate to diversify European aquaculture for its rapid growth and high market prices (Vaz Pires et al. 2004). One factor affecting industrial development of octopus culture is sexual maturation under rearing conditions. Octopus females can lose up to 30-60% of their initial body weight during egg-laying (Iglesias et al., 2000) and die after the paralarvae hatch (Guerra,1992), while a correlation between males death and spermatic sac depletion has being recently reported by Estefanell et al. (2010b). The present experiment discusses the effect of three different sex ratios on growth, sexual maturation and survival in O. Vulgaris. Conclusions: Discarded bogue from fish farms could be used as alternative diet for the final stage of O. vulgaris ongrowing ; Male segregation would maximize biomass increment ; Under the conditions described, sex ratios close to 1:1 produced higher biomass increment than 4:1

Strength training combined with plyometric jumps in adults: sex differences in fat-bone axis adaptations

[EN] Leptin and osteocalcin play a role in the regulation of the fat-bone axis and may be altered by exercise. To determine whether osteocalcin reduces fat mass in humans fed ad libitum and if there is a sex dimorphism in the serum osteocalcin and leptin responses to strength training, we studied 43 male (age 23.9 2.4 yr, mean +/- SD) and 23 female physical education students (age 23.2 +/- 2.7 yr). Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: training (TG) and control (CG). TG followed a strength combined with plyometric jumps training program during 9 wk, whereas the CG did not train. Physical fitness, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and serum concentrations of hormones were determined pre- and posttraining. In the whole group of subjects (pretraining), the serum concentration of osteocalcin was positively correlated (r = 0.29-0.42, P < 0.05) with whole body and regional bone mineral content, lean mass, dynamic strength, and serum-free testosterone concentration (r = 0.32). However, osteocalcin was negatively correlated with leptin concentration (r = -0.37), fat mass (r = -0.31), and the percent body fat (r = -0.44). Both sexes experienced similar relative improvements in performance, lean mass (+4-5%), and whole body (+0.78%) and lumbar spine bone mineral content (+1.2-2%) with training. Serum osteocalcin concentration was increased after training by 45 and 27% in men and women, respectively (P < 0.05). Fat mass was not altered by training. Vastus lateralis type II MHC composition at the start of the training program predicted 25% of the osteocalcin increase after training. Serum leptin concentration was reduced with training in women. In summary, while the relative effects of strength training plus plyometric jumps in performance, muscle hypertrophy, and osteogenesis are similar in men and women, serum leptin concentration is reduced only in women. The osteocalcin response to strength training is, in part, modulated by the muscle phenotype (MHC isoform composition). Despite the increase in osteocalcin, fat mass was not reduced.

Letteratura Pulp. Proposta di traduzione di alcuni capitoli di "Einsamkeit und Sex und Mitleid" di Helmut Krausser

Questo lavoro è volto a far conoscere l'opera dello scrittore H. Krausser "Einsamkeit und Sex und Mitleid" e il genere Pulp. Ho voluto approfondire alcune caratteristiche di questo genere perché è ancora poco conosciuto, dato che questa corrente letteraria è nata soltanto negli anni Novanta. Nella prima parte dell'elaborato ho inserito una breve presentazione del genere per spiegare l'origine del termine pulp e descrivere le caratteristiche principali che lo definiscono. In modo particolare mi sono concentrato sulla sua diffusione in Italia attraverso la corrente dei cannibali, indicandone i principali esponenti. Successivamente ho presentato l'autore Helmut Krausser che, attraverso un accurato lavoro letterario, è stato in grado di mettere insieme un mosaico di personaggi sparsi per la metropoli di Berlino. Julia König è una donna ambiziosa ed esigente, Vincent è un gigolò rinomato, Ekki un ex professore ridotto alla miseria, Swentja una giovane ragazza contesa tra due giovani e incapace di badare a sua sorella. Questi sono solo alcuni dei personaggi presenti nell'opera. Questo libro risultava interessante sul piano traduttivo poiché gli spunti da analizzare erano molteplici e, a mio avviso, intriganti. Visto l'ampio numero di personaggi, l'opera di H. Krausser è incentrata sul dialogo. Si tratta di una tipologia testuale che all'apparenza potrebbe sembrare semplice e lineare, ma in realtà può rivelarsi insidiosa per la traduzione. Infatti, non è semplice restituire la stessa spontaneità del testo di partenza e trasmettere in maniera fedele il registro tipico dell'oralità. Ho ritenuto opportuno analizzare questo genere letterario per le peculiarità che lo contraddistinguono dagli altri. Con i suoi toni crudi, violenti e talvolta anche cinici il pulp offre immagini di realtà drammatiche che producono un forte impatto emotivo sul lettore grazie a uno stile diretto, privo dei filtri della moralità e del pudore.

Obesity, age, sex, diagnosis, and fixation mode differently affect early cup failure in total hip arthroplasty: a matched case-control study of 4420 patients

Studies about the influence of patient characteristics on mechanical failure of cups in total hip replacement have applied different methodologies and revealed inconclusive results. The fixation mode has rarely been investigated. Therefore, we conducted a detailed analysis of the influence of patient characteristics and fixation mode on cup failure risks.

Frequency and determinants of unprotected sex among HIV-infected persons: the Swiss HIV cohort study

Access to antiretroviral therapy may have changed condom use behavior. In January 2008, recommendations on condom use for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive persons were published in Switzerland, which allowed for unprotected sex under well-defined circumstances ("Swiss statement"). We studied the frequency, changes over time, and determinants of unprotected sex among HIV-positive persons.

A causal model of mathematics performance in early adolescence: the role of sex

Using path analysis, the present investigation was done to clarify possible causal linkages among general scholastic aptitude, academic achievement in mathematics, self-concept of ability, and performance on a mathematics examination. Subjects were 122 eighth-grade students who completed a mathematics examination as well as a measure of self-concept of ability. Aptitude and achievement measures were obtained from school records. Analysis showed sex differences in prediction of performance on the mathematics examination. For boys, this performance could be predicted from scholastic aptitude and previous achievement in mathematics. For girls, performance only could be predicted from previous achievement in mathematics. These results indicate that the direction, strength, and magnitude of relations among these variables differed for boys and girls, while mean levels of performance did not.