Nova maksimalna dužina pauka crnca, Trachinus araneus Cuvier, 1829 (Perciformes: Trachinidae) iz zapadnog Mediterana, zaljev Oran

On the 29th of October 2018, one specimen of the spotted weever, Trachinus araneus measuring 47.3 cm in total length and weighting 968 g was captured by trammel net operating in Oran Bay (Kristel fishery) Western Algerian coast at 100 m depth. Up to date, this length is a new record of maximum length reached for this trachinid in the Mediterranean basin.Dana 29. listopada 2018. g. ulovljen je jedan primjerak pauka crnca, Trachinus araneus Cuvier, čija je totalna dužina iznosila 47,3 cm, a masa 968 grama. Primjerak je ulovljen na dubini od 100 m u zaljevu Oran (zapadna alžirska obala). Ovo je dosada najveća zabilježena dužina za ovu vrstu u mediteranskom bazenu

Population dynamic parameters of the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Mullidae) in the Arzew Gulf, Algeria

Population dynamic parameters of red mullet, Mullus barbatus (n=592) caught by trawlers operating in Arzew Gulf (Algeria) in the western Mediterranean were studied. Samples were collected between February 2013 and January 2014. Females ranged from 10.9-23.2 cm in total length and 12-149.2 g in weight whereas males length was comprised between 12.6 and 19.7 cm and weight between 21.3 and 99.9 g. The relationship between length and weight was W=0.00167L2.842 (r²=0.850). Growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation were: L∞=20.89 cm, K=0.66 year-1, t0=-0.143 year for males, while for females: L∞=250.9 cm, K=0.6 year-1, t0=-0.015 year. Estimates of total (Z), natural (M) and fishing (F) mortalities were: 1.58, 0.8 and 0.79, respectively and the estimated exploitation ratio 0.5 indicating that the resource is being exploited at its limit in this area. The virtual population analysis of M. barbatus by VIT software showed that the number of recruits per year was estimated at 4447304.6 individuals, balanced total biomass was estimated at 168 486 tons, the gains are represented by recruitment 51.71 tons (30.69%) and growth 116.76 tons (69.31%), losses are represented by natural mortality 98.48 tons (58.45%) and fishing mortality 70 tons (41.55%). The current yield per recruit was estimated to Y/R=15.74 g and maximum sustainable yield can be reached by increasing the current fishing effort to stabilize it at MSY=17.91 g

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of brain natriuretic peptide for detection of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: One of the most critical health concerns of our day is acute deterioration of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Detecting concurrent heart illness in these individuals might be challenging.Objective: Aims of this study were determining the diagnostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in the identification of acute COPD exacerbations (AECOPD) that were linked with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Methods: a prospective study of 100 patients with acute COPD exacerbations was done. All research participants were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, laboratory testing, blood gas analysis, echocardiography, and NT-pro BNP plasma level estimation.Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for BNP as a diagnostic for LV systolic dysfunction showed that area under the curve (AUC) was 0.923 at cut off point of 72.1 ng/ml with sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 84.6% (P<0.001).Conclusion: Heart failure is confirmed when the average natriuretic (NT)-BNP level in the left ventricle during AECOPD is higher than normal, which should prompt quick treatment for both conditions

Composition of networks around entrepreneurs: Cross-national comparisons in the Middle East and North Africa

This paper investigates the composition of networks around entrepreneurs in the MENA region and how this composition differs amongst the 14 countries with regards to the size and diversity of the networks used at various stages of venture development. The findings indicate significant difference between entrepreneurs at various stages of venture development for network size and network diversity. The empirical results show that the more the network is diversified, the shorter the duration of the launch of the venture. The investigation also reveals that entrepreneurs with relative large networks are more likely to launch their business in a short time. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Age, growth and mortality of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) population in Merdja Sidi Abed Dam, Algeria

We tried to estimate age, growth parameters, condition factor, length-weight relationship and mortality rates (Z, M, and F) of the common carp in Merdja Sidi Abed dam. Cyprinus carpio specimens were captured by long line between April and June 2013 in Merdjea Sidi abed. 220 individuals were collected and weights ranged between 265.5 and 620.3 g while the total length ranged between 26.3 and 35.6 cm. Length-converted catch curve was used to estimate total annual instantaneous mortality rates (Z), natural mortality was calculated using Pauly formula [ln(M) = -0.0152 - 0.279 ln(L∞) + 0.6543 ln(K) + 0.463 ln(T)]. Recruitment patterns were determined from the routine implemented in FISAT II. For all individuals (n = 220) of the common carp, the relationship between total length and body weight was: W = 0.0384 L2.70 (r2 = 0.906) for females and W = 0.0467 L2.653 (r2 = 0.976) for males a minor allometry was found for this species, mean condition factor K was estimated at 1.41. The maximum value of recruitment was recorded in March-April period with 19.56 and 15.20% respectively. The Battacharya method was used to estimate age of individuals that was comprised between 1 and years 3. The equation of Von Bertalanffy growth was: L = 36.75 [1-e-0.46 (t + 0.33)] for all the population. Total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were as follows: Z = 1.08, M = 0.82, F = 0.26 yr-1 while exploitation ratio (E) was evaluated at 0.24 indicating an under exploitation of this local resource

Weight-length relationships of seven fish species (Teleostei: Sparidae, Mullidae, Carangidae) of Western Mediterranean Sea (Oran Bay, Algeria)

No information currently exists on the weight-length relationships of Sparidae: Axillary seabream Pagellus acarne (Risso, 1827), bogue Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758); Mullidae: Red mullet Mullus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758), surmulet Mullus surmuletus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Carangidae: Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus,1758), Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner 1863), Blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich 1825), seven commercial fish species of Oran Bay in Western Mediterranean Sea. Data are presented for the first time for that region of the Mediterranean Sea to contribute and help comparative growth studies. Samples were collected from commercial catches at Oran Bay fisheries in Algeria. The values of the slope b in the lengthweight relationship, W=aLb ranged from 2.841 to 3.296. The coefficients of correlation r2 were comprised between 0.85 and 0.97. “a” and “b” parameters were compared with other fishing sites for the same fish species with Froese plot [Log a=ƒ(b)]