Feed Quantity Effect on Carp Juveniles’ Plasma Protein and Immunoglobulin Levels

Plasma protein and immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in fish can be influenced by stress reaction, caused by some nutritional factors. This paper shows effects of different feed quantity on total protein and total Ig levels in blood of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) juveniles exposed to chronic stress conditions. The study was carried out in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) during 96 days. Carps (initial weight 6.43±0.02 g) were distributed into four groups in three replicate tanks, 40 fish per tank. The groups were formed according to the feed quantity applied: 2, 3, 4 and 5% of commercial extruded mixture in relation to the ichthyomass (i.e. groups I, II, III and IV respectively). According to the results, the mean values of total plasma proteins and Ig were highest in group IV and the lowest in group II (p<0.05). Total protein levels were influenced by feed quantity (p<0.05), and sampling time (p<0.001). Total Ig levels were influenced by duration of the experiment i.e. sampling time (p<0.001). In all groups the mean values of plasma proteins after two month of the experiment was increased (p<0.01), and the mean values of Ig in less fed groups I and II (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Total plasma proteins and Ig were not significantly affected by water quality parameters only in the group fed 2% of feed (group I). Significant positive correlation between total proteins and Ig was determined in each experimental group (p<0.01). In terms of reducing stress and ensuring welfare in carp juveniles, applied feed amount should match to the length of fish growing in the fish tanks, stocking density and capacity of the system for efficient water purification

Delayed Care and Mortality Among Women and Men with Myocardial Infarction

Background-Women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have higher mortality rates than men. We investigated whether sex-related differences in timely access to care among STEMI patients may be a factor associated with excess risk of early mortality in women. Methods and Results-We identified 6022 STEMI patients who had information on time of symptom onset to time of hospital presentation at 41 hospitals participating in the ISACS-TC (International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries) registry (NCT01218776) from October 2010 through April 2016. Patients were stratified into time-delay cohorts. We estimated the 30-day risk of all-cause mortality in each cohort. Despite similar delays in seeking care, the overall time from symptom onset to hospital presentation was longer for women than men (median: 270 minutes [range: 130-776] versus 240 minutes [range: 120-600]). After adjustment for baseline variables, female sex was independently associated with greater risk of 30-day mortality (odds ratio: 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-1.97). Sex differences in mortality following STEMI were no longer observed for patients having delays from symptom onset to hospital presentation of (odds ratio: 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-2.02). Conclusions-Sex difference in mortality following STEMI persists and appears to be driven by prehospital delays in hospital presentation. Women appear to be more vulnerable to prolonged untreated ischemia

‘Ethnic group’, the state and the politics of representation

The assertion, even if only by implication, that ‘ethnic group’ categories represent ‘real’ tangible entities, indeed identities, is commonplace not only in the realms of political and policy discourse but also amongst contemporary social scientists. This paper, following Brubaker (2002), questions this position in a number of key respects: of these three issues will dominate the discussion that follows. First, there is an interrogation of the proposition that those to whom the categories/labels refer constitute sociologically meaningful ‘groups’ as distinct from (mere) human collectivities. Secondly, there is the question of how these categories emerge, i.e. exactly what series of events, negotiations and contestations lie behind their construction and social acceptance. Thirdly, and as a corollary to the latter point, we explore the process of reification that leads to these categories being seen to represent ‘real things in the world’ (ibid.)

The Influence of Different Light Angles During Standardized Patient Photographic Assessment on the Aesthetic Perception of the Face

BACKGROUND 2D baseline and follow-up clinical images are potentially subject to inconsistency due to alteration of imaging parameters. However, no study to date has attempted to quantify the magnitude by which such images can be influenced. OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study is to identify the magnitude by which images can be influenced by changing the imaging light angle. METHODS This study is based on the evaluation of 2D frontal images of the face and included a total of 51 subjects of which n = 14 were males and n = 37 were females. Faces were photographed at 0°, 30°, and 60° light angle under identical and standardized conditions. Images were randomized and rated by 27 blinded raters for age, facial attractiveness, body mass index (BMI), temporal hollowing, lower cheek fullness, nasolabial sulcus severity, and jawline contour. RESULTS Facial attractiveness decreased, facial unattractiveness increased and the evaluated BMI (based on facial assessment) increased statistically significantly at 60°. The assessment of regional facial scores, i.e., temporal hollowing, lower cheek fullness, and jawline contour, showed no statistically meaningful changes both at 30° and at 60° light angle. CONCLUSION The results indicate that there might be an observed blind range in light angle (0°-30°) which does not influence facial assessment. Increasing the light angle past the threshold value to 60° might result in a statistically significant impact on facial perception which should be accounted for when documenting and/or presenting facial 2D images. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266

Husimi Transform of an Operator Product

It is shown that the series derived by Mizrahi, giving the Husimi transform (or covariant symbol) of an operator product, is absolutely convergent for a large class of operators. In particular, the generalized Liouville equation, describing the time evolution of the Husimi function, is absolutely convergent for a large class of Hamiltonians. By contrast, the series derived by Groenewold, giving the Weyl transform of an operator product, is often only asymptotic, or even undefined. The result is used to derive an alternative way of expressing expectation values in terms of the Husimi function. The advantage of this formula is that it applies in many of the cases where the anti-Husimi transform (or contravariant symbol) is so highly singular that it fails to exist as a tempered distribution.Comment: AMS-Latex, 13 page