Age and growth of the squid Loligo vulgaris off the south coast of Portugal, using statolith analysis

Age composition and growth rates of the squid Loligo vulgaris (Lamark, 1797) were studied by examination of growth increments within statoliths of 419 specimens (mantle length, ML, ranging from 32 to 400 mm). The squid were obtained by monthly sampling from the catches of commercial trawls off southern Portugal between March and September, 1993. The total number of growth increments in the mounted and ground statoliths was counted using a semi-automatic image analysis system. ML was significantly correlated with both the statolith length, TSL and the number of increments, NI. The female statolith was slightly larger than the male statolith for the same mantle size. Growth rates of individuals showed high variability with an average estimated at 34.6 mm month(-1) for males and 33.5 mm month(-1) for females. Growth in length between 70 and 280 days was best described by a power function for both sexes. The growth index of the statolith (TSL/NI) decreased with individual growth. This result may be related with the onset of sexual maturation. L. vulgaris hatched throughout the year with two distinct peaks, in spring which is the main breeding period, and in autumn. The life cycle of the L. vulgaris population on the south Portuguese shelf was completed in one year.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sumário executivo

Três espécies de térmitas são conhecidas actualmente nos Açores: Kalotermes flavicollis (térmita de madeira húmida europeia), Cryptotermes brevis (térmita de madeira seca das Índias Ocidentais), Reticulitermes grassei (térmita subterrânea europeia). Destas, duas, a Cryptotermes brevis e a Reticulitermes grassei estão a provocar grandes prejuízos nas cidades principais dos Açores (Angra do Heroísmo, Ponta Delgada e Horta) e prevê-se que nas próximas décadas possam igualmente ocorrer noutras partes do arquipélag

Promoting the achievement of looked after children and young people in South Tyneside

As of March 2016, there were 70,440 children and young people in care in England. The number of looked after children has continued to increase steadily over the last eight years. Sixty per cent of these children are in care because of abuse or neglect and three-quarters are placed in foster care arrangements. Children and young people who are in or have experienced care remain one of the lowest performing groups in terms of educational outcomes. Last year, 14% of looked after children achieved five or more A*–C GCSEs or equivalent, including English and mathematics. As a consequence, they also experience poorer employment and health outcomes after leaving school compared to their peers. They are over-represented amongst the offender population and those who experience homelessness. However, research is emerging to show that children and young people in care can have very positive experiences of school and are supported effectively to reach their full potential academically and socially. The purpose of this report is to share practice in selected South Tyneside schools that is contributing to improved outcomes and school experiences for children and young people in care. In July 2015, the South Tyneside Virtual School (VS) collaborated with UCL Institute of Education to run their Promoting the Achievement of Looked After Children (PALAC) programme with seven schools in the local authority (LA). This report presents an account of the programme, including the activities undertaken by the participants and the outcomes of the programme to date for students in care and staff in the participating school

Elementary processes governing the evolution of road networks

Urbanisation is a fundamental phenomenon whose quantitative characterisation is still inadequate. We report here the empirical analysis of a unique data set regarding almost 200 years of evolution of the road network in a large area located north of Milan (Italy). We find that urbanisation is characterised by the homogenisation of cell shapes, and by the stability throughout time of high-centrality roads which constitute the backbone of the urban structure, confirming the importance of historical paths. We show quantitatively that the growth of the network is governed by two elementary processes: (i) `densification', corresponding to an increase in the local density of roads around existing urban centres and (ii) `exploration', whereby new roads trigger the spatial evolution of the urbanisation front. The empirical identification of such simple elementary mechanisms suggests the existence of general, simple properties of urbanisation and opens new directions for its modelling and quantitative description.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Anorectal Complications in Patients with Haematological Malignancies

Background: Anorectal complications are common in patients with haematological malignancies. Objectives: The objectives are to characterize anorectal complications in these patients, identify risk factors and shed light on treatment, morbidity and mortality rates. Patients and methods: A retrospective, observational study that included 83 inpatients with haematological malignancies and proctological symptoms from January 2010 to September 2015 was conducted. Clinical outcomes were obtained through a detailed review of medical records. Results: The median age was 56 years, and 52 (62.7%) patients were men. Fifty-six (67.5%) patients had nonseptic anorectal complications and 27 (32.5%) patients had septic anorectal complications. Risks factors: Patients with septic anorectal complications were more commonly male, older, and had lower absolute neutrophil counts, but the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.79, 0.67 and 0.89, respectively). In positive blood cultures [23/70 (32.9%)], Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Escherichia coli were the most common isolated agents. Treatment: In nonseptic anorectal complications, conservative treatments/minor proctological procedures were adopted, and patients with septic anorectal complications were treated with antibiotics±major proctological procedures and/or surgical drainage/debridement. Results of treatment: Forty-eight (85.7%) patients in the nonseptic complications group improved compared with 23 (85.2%) patients in the septic complications group. The overall mortality rate was 2.4% (n=2), with one (1.2%) death related to perianal sepsis. Conclusion: Enterococcus spp. were more commonly identified in this study and can be increasing in this specific population. In contrast to other reports, we did not identify an association between septic anorectal complications and possible risk factors such as male sex, younger age or a low absolute neutrophil count. Most patients had nonseptic anorectal complications. A major proctological procedure/surgical debridement should always be applied in septic complications, which have better prognoses now than in the past.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hydrodynamic scaling from the dynamics of relativistic quantum field theory

Hydrodynamic behavior is a general feature of interacting systems with many degrees of freedom constrained by conservation laws. To date hydrodynamic scaling in relativistic quantum systems has been observed in many high energy settings, from cosmic ray detections to accelerators, with large particle multiplicity final states. Here we show first evidence for the emergence of hydrodynamic scaling in the dynamics of a relativistic quantum field theory. We consider a simple scalar $\lambda \phi^4$ model in 1+1 dimensions in the Hartree approximation and study the dynamics of two colliding kinks at relativistic speeds as well as the decay of a localized high energy density region. The evolution of the energy-momentum tensor determines the dynamical local equation of state and allows the measurement of the speed of sound. Hydrodynamic scaling emerges at high local energy densities.Comment: 4 pages, 4 color eps figures, uses RevTex, v2 some typos corrected and references adde

Coenzyme Q10 Levels Are Decreased in the Cerebellum of Multiple-System Atrophy Patients

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in brain tissue of multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients differ from those in elderly controls and in patients with other neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS: Flash frozen brain tissue of a series of 20 pathologically confirmed MSA patients [9 olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) type, 6 striatonigral degeneration (SND) type, and 5 mixed type] was used for this study. Elderly controls (n = 37) as well as idiopathic Parkinson's disease (n = 7), dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 20), corticobasal degeneration (n = 15) and cerebellar ataxia (n = 18) patients were used as comparison groups. CoQ10 was measured in cerebellar and frontal cortex tissue by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: We detected a statistically significant decrease (by 3-5%) in the level of CoQ10 in the cerebellum of MSA cases (P = 0.001), specifically in OPCA (P = 0.001) and mixed cases (P = 0.005), when compared to controls as well as to other neurodegenerative diseases [dementia with Lewy bodies (P<0.001), idiopathic Parkinson's disease (P<0.001), corticobasal degeneration (P<0.001), and cerebellar ataxia (P = 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a perturbation in the CoQ10 biosynthetic pathway is associated with the pathogenesis of MSA but the mechanism behind this finding remains to be elucidated

Anatomical Basis, Histological Findings and Hemodinamics in the Modern Perfusion Model for Human Corpses

sSeveral modern human cadaveric fixation methods are subject to permanent evaluation. Formaldehyde is the oldest and still the most widely used method of embalming. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has proven its high carcinogenic potential and its use was banned, with the recommendation of research for better alternatives in the conservation of corpses. The embalming method of excellence, which preserves all features, while keeping the disinfectant properties against cadaveric decomposition was proposed by João Goyri O’Neill. Their method was considered “the most modern and efficient technique in cadaveric preservation”. The aim of this present study was to analyze the quality of this original perfusion technique, at the organic level, based on central and peripheral hemodynamics. The cadaveric material was embalmed through a pulsed arterial perfusion system, connected to an automatic intermittent pump, that permits stability of the microvascular network, as well as the computerized measurement of the main perfusion parameters, such as flow and pressure. This procedure ensures good preservation of color, elasticity, texture, flexibility and fresh appearance, for several years. The morphological characteristics of the organs exhibited astonishing similarity to the living organic tissues, even several years after embalming and high freezing. Microscopic analysis demonstrated preservation of the structure of vessels, such as the aorta. Further studies on the integrity of the endocardial layer of the heart will enable to adapt the intermittent perfusion pump system to best simulate cardiac rhythm and arterial pulse, during cadaveric surgical training.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio