Socioeconomic factors that affect artisanal fishers’ readiness to exit a declining fishery

The emerging world crisis created by declining fish stocks poses a challenge to resource users and managers. The problem is particularly acute in poor nations, such as those in East Africa, where fishing is an important subsistence activity but high fishing intensity and use of destructive gear have resulted in declining catches. In this context developing effective management strategies requires an understanding of how fishers may respond to declines in catch. We examined the readiness of 141 Kenyan fishers to stop fishing under hypothetical scenarios of declines in catch and how socioeconomic conditions influenced their decisions. As expected, the proportion of fishers that would exit the fishery increased with magnitude of decline in catch. Fishers were more likely to say they would stop fishing if they were from households that had a higher material style of life and a greater number of occupations. Variables such as capital investment in the fishery and the proportion of catch sold had weak, nonsignificant relationships. Our finding that fishers from poorer households would be less likely to exit a severely declining fishery is consistent with the literature on poverty traps, which suggests the poor are unable to mobilize the necessary resources to overcome either shocks or chronic low-income situations and consequently may remain in poverty. This finding supports the proposition \ud that wealth generation and employment opportunities directed at the poorest fishers may help reduce fishing effort on overexploited fisheries, but successful interventions such as these will require an understanding of the socioeconomic context in which fishers operate. \u

Association Between Fatigue and Motor Exertion in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis - a Prospective Study

Background: Fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) is conceived as a multidimensional construct. Objectives: This study aims to describe the changes of balance and gait parameters after 6 min of walking (6 MW) as potential quantitative markers for perceptions of state fatigue and trait fatigue in MS. Methods: A total of 19 patients with MS (17 with fatigue) and 24 healthy subjects underwent static posturography, gait analysis, and ratings of perceived exertion before and after 6 MW. Results: 6 MW was perceived as exhaustive, but both groups featured more dynamic comfortable speed walking after 6 MW. Shorter stride length at maximum speed and increased postural sway after 6 MW indicated fatigability of balance and gait in MS group only. While most changes were related to higher levels of perceived exertion after 6 MW (state fatigue), higher fatigue ratings (trait fatigue) were only associated with less increase in arm swing at comfortable speed. Further analysis revealed different associations of trait fatigue and performance fatigability with disability and motor functions. Performance fatigability was most closely related to the Expanded Disability Status Scale, while for trait fatigue, the strongest correlations were seen with balance function and handgrip strength. Conclusions: Fatigability of performance was closely related to perceptions of exertion after 6 MW (state fatigue) and disability in MS but distinct from fatigue ratings, conceived as trait fatigue. Our study identified postural sway, arm swing during gait, and hand grip strength as unexpected potential motor indicators of fatigue ratings in MS

Gauge fields, ripples and wrinkles in graphene layers

We analyze elastic deformations of graphene sheets which lead to effective gauge fields acting on the charge carriers. Corrugations in the substrate induce stresses, which, in turn, can give rise to mechanical instabilities and the formation of wrinkles. Similar effects may take place in suspended graphene samples under tension.Comment: contribution to the special issue of Solid State Communications on graphen

Evaluation of the ‘ring sign’ and the ‘core sign’ as a magnetic resonance imaging marker of disease activity and progression in clinically isolated syndrome and early multiple sclerosis

Background: Brain lesions with a hypointense ring or core were described in multiple sclerosis on susceptibility weighted imaging. Objective: The purpose of this study was to study the evolution and prognostic relevance of susceptibility weighted imaging hypointense lesions in clinically isolated syndrome and early multiple sclerosis. Methods: Sixty-six early multiple sclerosis and clinically isolated syndrome patients were followed over a median period of 2.9 years (range 1.6-4.6 years) and underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging including 3D susceptibility weighted imaging and T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. We assessed the presence of susceptibility weighted imaging hypointense core or ring lesions, and Expanded Disability Status Scale at baseline and follow-up. Results: Of 611 lesions at baseline, 64 (10.5%) had a susceptibility weighted imaging hypointense core, and 28 (4.6%) had a susceptibility weighted imaging hypointense ring. Hypointense ring lesions were larger (p < 0.001) and more T1w hypointense (p = 0.002) than others. During follow-up, hypointense core lesions became susceptibility weighted imaging isointense (52 lesions, 81%); few developed into hypointense ring lesions (two lesions, 3%). Hypointense ring lesions did not shrink on T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images (p = 0.077, trend towards more enlargement compared to others), while hypointense core lesions more often shrunk in comparison to lesions without a hypointense core (p = 0.002). The number of susceptibility weighted imaging hypointense ring lesions at baseline correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale progression at follow-up (p = 0.021, R = 0.289). Conclusion: In our cohort of patients with clinically isolated syndrome or early multiple sclerosis, susceptibility weighted imaging hypointense ring lesions were only rarely detectable, but did not shrink and were associated with future disability progression

Conceptual Aspects of Large Meta-Analyses with Publicly Available Microarray Data: A Case Study in Oncology

Large public repositories of microarray experiments offer an abundance of biological data. It is of interest to use and to combine the available material to create new biological information and to develop a broader view on biological phenomena

MRI Markers and Functional Performance in Patients With CIS and MS: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Brain atrophy is a widely accepted marker of disease severity with association to clinical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). It is unclear to which extent this association reflects common age effects on both atrophy and function. Objective: To explore how functional performance in gait, upper extremities and cognition is associated with brain atrophy in patients with Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), controlling for effects of age and sex. Methods: In 27 patients with CIS, 59 with RRMS (EDSS <= 3) and 63 healthy controls (HC), 3T MRI were analyzed for T2 lesion count (T2C), volume (T2V) and brain volumes [normalized brain volume (NBV), gray matter volume (NGMV), white matter volume (NWMV), thalamic volume (NThaIV)]. Functional performance was measured with short maximum walking speed (SMSW speed), 9-hole peg test (9HPT) and symbol digit modalities test (SDMT). Linear regression models were created for functional variables with stepwise inclusion of age, sex and MR imaging markers. Results: CIS differed from HC only in T2C and T2V. RRMS differed from HC in NBV, NGMV and NThaIV, T2C and T2V, but not in NWMV. A strong association with age was seen in HC, CIS and RRMS groups for NBV (r = -0.5 to -0.6) and NGMV (r = -0.6 to -0.8). Associations with age were seen in HC and RRMS but not CIS for NThaIV (r = -0.3; r = -0.5), T2C (r(s) = 0.3; r(s) = 0.2) and T2V (r(s) = 0.3; r(s) = 0.3). No effect of age was seen on NWMV. Correlations of functional performance with age in RRMS were seen for SMSW speed, 9HPTand SDMT (r = -0.27 to -0.46). Regression analyses yielded significant models only in the RRMS group for 9HPT, SMSW speed and EDSS. These included NBV, NGMV, NThaIV, NWMV, logT2V, age and sex as predictors. NThalV was the only MRI variable predicting a functional measure (9HPT(r)) with a higher standardized beta than age and sex (R2 = 0.36, p < 1e-04). Conclusion: Thalamic atrophy was a stronger predictor of hand function (9HPT) in RRMS, than age and sex. This underlines the clinical relevance of thalamic atrophy and the relevance of hand function as a clinical marker even in mildly disabled patients

Instrumental Assessment of Stepping in Place Captures Clinically Relevant Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Fluctuations of motor symptoms make clinical assessment in Parkinson's disease a complex task. New technologies aim to quantify motor symptoms, and their remote application holds potential for a closer monitoring of treatment effects. The focus of this study was to explore the potential of a stepping in place task using RGB-Depth (RGBD) camera technology to assess motor symptoms of people with Parkinson's disease. In total, 25 persons performed a 40 s stepping in place task in front of a single RGBD camera (Kinect for Xbox One) in up to two different therapeutic states. Eight kinematic parameters were derived from knee movements to describe features of hypokinesia, asymmetry, and arrhythmicity of stepping. To explore their potential clinical utility, these parameters were analyzed for their Spearman's Rho rank correlation to clinical ratings, and for intraindividual changes between treatment conditions using standard response mean and paired t-test. Test performance not only differed between ON and OFF treatment conditions, but showed moderate correlations to clinical ratings, specifically ratings of postural instability (pull test). Furthermore, the test elicited freezing in some subjects. Results suggest that this single standardized motor task is a promising candidate to assess an array of relevant motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The simple technical test setup would allow future use by patients themselves

Effect of fluid resuscitation on mortality and organ function in experimental sepsis models

Introduction Several recent studies have shown that a positive fluid balance in critical illness is associated with worse outcome. We tested the effects of moderate vs. high-volume resuscitation strategies on mortality, systemic and regional blood flows, mitochondrial respiration, and organ function in two experimental sepsis models. Methods 48 pigs were randomized to continuous endotoxin infusion, fecal peritonitis, and a control group (n = 16 each), and each group further to two different basal rates of volume supply for 24 hours [moderate-volume (10 ml/kg/h, Ringer's lactate, n = 8); high-volume (15 + 5 ml/kg/h, Ringer's lactate and hydroxyethyl starch (HES), n = 8)], both supplemented by additional volume boli, as guided by urinary output, filling pressures, and responses in stroke volume. Systemic and regional hemodynamics were measured and tissue specimens taken for mitochondrial function assessment and histological analysis. Results Mortality in high-volume groups was 87% (peritonitis), 75% (endotoxemia), and 13% (controls). In moderate-volume groups mortality was 50% (peritonitis), 13% (endotoxemia) and 0% (controls). Both septic groups became hyperdynamic. While neither sepsis nor volume resuscitation strategy was associated with altered hepatic or muscle mitochondrial complex I- and II-dependent respiration, non-survivors had lower hepatic complex II-dependent respiratory control ratios (2.6 +/- 0.7, vs. 3.3 +/- 0.9 in survivors; P = 0.01). Histology revealed moderate damage in all organs, colloid plaques in lung tissue of high-volume groups, and severe kidney damage in endotoxin high-volume animals. Conclusions High-volume resuscitation including HES in experimental peritonitis and endotoxemia increased mortality despite better initial hemodynamic stability. This suggests that the strategy of early fluid management influences outcome in sepsis. The high mortality was not associated with reduced mitochondrial complex I- or II-dependent muscle and hepatic respiration

Desulfonatronovibrio halophilus sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium from hypersaline chloride–sulfate lakes in Central Asia

Four strains of lithotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) have been enriched and isolated from anoxic sediments of hypersaline chloride–sulfate lakes in the Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia) at 2 M NaCl and pH 7.5. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates were closely related to each other and belonged to the genus Desulfonatronovibrio, which, so far, included only obligately alkaliphilic members found exclusively in soda lakes. The isolates utilized formate, H2 and pyruvate as electron donors and sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate as electron acceptors. In contrast to the described species of the genus Desulfonatronovibrio, the salt lake isolates could only tolerate high pH (up to pH 9.4), while they grow optimally at a neutral pH. They belonged to the moderate halophiles growing between 0.2 and 2 M NaCl with an optimum at 0.5 M. On the basis of their distinct phenotype and phylogeny, the described halophilic SRB are proposed to form a novel species within the genus Desulfonatronovibrio, D. halophilus (type strain HTR1T = DSM24312T = UNIQEM U802T)

The Localizing and Lateralizing Value of Auras in Lesional Partial Epilepsy Patients

∙ The authors have no financial conflicts of interest. © Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2012 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licens