Utilizing individual fish biomass and relative abundance models to map environmental niche associations of adult and juvenile targeted fishes

Many fishes undergo ontogenetic habitat shifts to meet their energy and resource needs as they grow. Habitat resource partitioning and patterns of habitat connectivity between conspecific fishes at different life-history stages is a significant knowledge gap. Species distribution models were used to examine patterns in the relative abundance, individual biomass estimates and environmental niche associations of different life stages of three iconic West Australian fishes. Continuous predictive maps describing the spatial distribution of abundance and individual biomass of the study species were created as well predictive hotspot maps that identify possible areas for aggregation of individuals of similar life stages of multiple species (i.e. spawning grounds, fisheries refugia or nursery areas). The models and maps indicate that processes driving the abundance patterns could be different from the body size associated demographic processes throughout an individual's life cycle. Incorporating life-history in the spatially explicit management plans can ensure that critical habitat of the vulnerable stages (e.g. juvenile fish, spawning stock) is included within proposed protected areas and can enhance connectivity between various functional areas (e.g. nursery areas and adult populations) which, in turn, can improve the abundance of targeted species as well as other fish species relying on healthy ecosystem functioning

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

ON THE MECHANISM OF REACTIONS OF ETHYL IODIDE WITH AROMATIC ANION SOLUTIONS

WOS: A1983RH05400062

SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF TREATED BITUMINOUS COALS

Scanning electron microscopy of particles of three bituminous coals (78.5% C, 81.7% C and 89.9% C d.a.f.) which had been treated with pyridine, methanol, bromine, air, sulfuric acid, ammonia and alkylating agents showed that the reagents produced significant changes in the morphology of the particles. The particles cracked and disintegrated in ways which appear to be characteristic of the disruption of hydrogen bonding, the volume and thermal changes accompanying local reactions and of the breakage of C-C bonds

AIR OXIDATION OF TURKISH BEYPAZARI LIGNITE .2. EFFECT OF DEMINERALIZATION ON STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS IN OXIDATION REACTIONS AT 150-DEGREES-C

Demineralized (HCl/HF) samples of Beypazari lignite were oxidized in air at 150 degrees C for up 120 h in a ventilated oven. Elemental analyses, diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (DRIFT), solid-state C-13 CP/MAS/TOSS NMR, and pyrolysis mass (PY-MS) spectroscopies as well as solvent swelling were used for the characterization of the oxidized and unoxidized samples. It was found that the removal of 90.1% of the mineral matter from Beypazari lignite facilitated the access of oxygen into the coal structure and permitted the occurrence of diffusion-controlled reactions. This was confirmed by the observation of linear relationships between the decrease in the intensity of aliphatic CH2 and CH3 groups, the increase of the O/H atomic ratio and the decrease in the aliphatic factor, and the square root of the duration of oxidation. It was observed from swelling measurements in pyridine before and after the oxidation that aryl esters and anhydrides, which were the major oxidation products, probably acted as covalent cross-links. Aliphatic groups oxidized more rapidly than aromatic structures and, in fact, methylenes oxidized more rapidly than methyls. The decrease in the intensity of the molecular ion series alkylphenols, alkyldihydroxybenzenes, alkylbenzenes, and alkylnaphthalenes arising from pyrolysis mass spectrometry of oxidized samples was approximately consistent with the corresponding increase in the intensity of CO2+, CH3COOH+, and CO+ molecular ions

AIR OXIDATION OF TURKISH BEYPAZARI LIGNITE .1. CHANGE OF STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS IN OXIDATION REACTIONS AT 150-DEGREES-C

The oxidation of Beypazari lignite was carried out in air at 150-degrees-C for up to 168 h. Oxidized samples were withdrawn from a ventilated oven at different periods of time and characterized by elemental analysis, diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (DRIFT), solid-state C-13 CP/MAS/TOSS NMR, and pyrolysis mass (Py-MS) spectroscopies. It was found that oxidation influenced the organic structure and the inorganics at different periods of the oxidation. Iron(II) sulfate was formed in 24 h, during which time there was almost no change of aliphatic CH2 and CH3 groups. After the formation of iron(II) sulfate, aliphatic CH2 and CH3 groups started to oxidize. Thus, the formation of iron(II) sulfate apparently prevented the oxidation of organic structure of Beypazari lignite during the first 24 h. The van Krevelen diagram (H/C vs O/C), the change of the O/H atomic ratio, and the rate of loss of aliphatic CH2 and CH3 groups showed the organic structure of Beypazari lignite to have continued in three stages. Aromatics seemed to be more stable than aliphatics during the oxidation process. The functional groups produced by the oxidation included ketones, carboxyls, and anhydrides but the major oxidation products were aryl esters. The abundance of CO2+, CO+, CH3COOH+, and SO2+ molecular ions increased in the pyrolysate of the oxidized sample whereas the molecular ions alkylphenols, dihydroxybenzenes, and alklynaphthalenes decreased after the oxidation