Population dynamic of bony fishes in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

This study was conducted to determine growth parameters, catch and fishing effort trends, stock assessment and Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) of bony fishes in the Iranian coastal waters of Caspian Sea in the years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. According to the result, the numbers of beach seines were 124 and 120 and their fishing efforts were observed 44688 and 46299 beach seining, respectively. The total catches (including illegal fishing) were also obtained 17144.3 mt and 16733.2 mt during 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, respectively. The highest proportion of catch was belonged to kutum and golden grey mullet (94.4% and 89.5%, respectively) in two fishing seasons mentioned above. Growth parameters of kutum were estimated as K=0.19/yr, L_∞ =61.3 cm, t0=-0.99/yr. The Growth parameters were K=0.18/yr, L_∞= 61.1 cm, t0= -0.14/yr for golden gray mullet and were K=0.14/yr, L_∞= 70.8 cm, t0= 0/yr for common carp. Based on catch-at-age data, in the years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, the total biomass, from the biomass-based cohort analysis were estimated 46900 mt and 41000 mt for kutum and 11550 mt and 12670 mt for golden grey mullet, respectively. The reference points of F0.1 and F35% were 0.41/yr and 0.34/yr for kutum and 0.36/yr and 0.33/yr for golden grey mullet, respectively. According to catch of species/groups, three main groups can be divided easily. The one–way ANOSIM catch similarity test indicated that coverage rates of different years were homologous and similar, but the coverage rates of different months, regions and periods were not similar. Also, there were significant differences in community composition of fishes in catch of beach seines among three times; three durations; three regions and seasons (in all cases MRPP, p<0.001). During 1996-2000 species Rutilus rutilus, Vimba vimba, Chalcalburnus chalcoides, Aspius aspius, Barbus sp, Salmo trutta caspius and Silurus glani in the years 2000-2005 species/groups shads, Abramis brama and Esox lucius and in the years 2005-2012 species Cyprinus carpio and Stizostedion lucioperca were indicator species. Also, in the west region of the Caspian Sea species/groups Vimba vimba, Chalcalburnu schalcoides, Aspius aspius, Barbus sp, Abramis brama, Stizostedion lucioperca, Esox lucius and Silurus glani; in middle Rutilus frisii kutum, shads and Salmo trutta caspius and in east species/groups mullets, Rutilus rutilus and Cyprinus carpio were identified as indicator species. Based on available models, the ABCs were estimated as 8250-9750 mt for kutum and 1650-1950 mt for golden grey mullet (with precautionary approach 8250 mt and 1650 mt for kutum and mullet, respectively). For two species, the ABC with a lower and more accurate value based on more information, should be selected for the implementation of a precautionary management approach

Operative technique and early experience for robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (RALNU) using da Vinci Xi

Purpose: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (RALNU) has been previously utilized for management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma. The da Vinci Xi surgical system was released in April of 2014. We describe our operative technique and early experience for RALNU using the da Vinci Xi system highlighting unique features of this surgical platform. Materials and methods: A total of 10 patients with a diagnosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma underwent RALNU using the da Vinci Xi system between April and November of 2014. A novel, oblique “in line ” robotic trocar configuration was utilized to access the upper abdomen (nephrectomy portion) and pelvis (bladder cuff excision) without undocking. The port hopping feature of da Vinci Xi was utilized to facilitate optimal, multi-quadrant visualiza-tion during RALNU. Results: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was successfully completed without open conversion in all 10 patients. Mean operative time was 184 min (range 140–300 min), mean estimated blood loss was 121 cc (range 60–300 cc), and mean hospital stay was 2.4 days. Final pathology demonstrated high grade urothelial carcinoma in all patients. Surgical margins were negative in all patients. No intra-operative complications were encountered. One patient developed a pulmonary embolus after being discharged. No patients required a blood transfusion. Mean patient follow-up was 130 days (range 15–210 days). Conclusion: The use of da Vinci Xi with a novel, oblique “in line ” port configuration and camera port hopping tech-nique allows for an efficient and reproducible method for RALNU without the need for repositioning the patient or the robot during surgery

Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact

Recognizing the imperative to evaluate species recovery and conservation impact, in 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) called for development of a “Green List of Species” (now the IUCN Green Status of Species). A draft Green Status framework for assessing species’ progress toward recovery, published in 2018, proposed 2 separate but interlinked components: a standardized method (i.e., measurement against benchmarks of species’ viability, functionality, and preimpact distribution) to determine current species recovery status (herein species recovery score) and application of that method to estimate past and potential future impacts of conservation based on 4 metrics (conservation legacy, conservation dependence, conservation gain, and recovery potential). We tested the framework with 181 species representing diverse taxa, life histories, biomes, and IUCN Red List categories (extinction risk). Based on the observed distribution of species’ recovery scores, we propose the following species recovery categories: fully recovered, slightly depleted, moderately depleted, largely depleted, critically depleted, extinct in the wild, and indeterminate. Fifty-nine percent of tested species were considered largely or critically depleted. Although there was a negative relationship between extinction risk and species recovery score, variation was considerable. Some species in lower risk categories were assessed as farther from recovery than those at higher risk. This emphasizes that species recovery is conceptually different from extinction risk and reinforces the utility of the IUCN Green Status of Species to more fully understand species conservation status. Although extinction risk did not predict conservation legacy, conservation dependence, or conservation gain, it was positively correlated with recovery potential. Only 1.7% of tested species were categorized as zero across all 4 of these conservation impact metrics, indicating that conservation has, or will, play a role in improving or maintaining species status for the vast majority of these species. Based on our results, we devised an updated assessment framework that introduces the option of using a dynamic baseline to assess future impacts of conservation over the short term to avoid misleading results which were generated in a small number of cases, and redefines short term as 10 years to better align with conservation planning. These changes are reflected in the IUCN Green Status of Species Standard

Outcomes of Intracorporeal Urinary Diversion after Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy: Results from the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an update and compare perioperative outcomes and complications of Intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) and extracorporeal urinary diversion (ECUD) following RARC from a multi-institutional, prospectively maintained database, the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC). METHODS: A retrospective review of 2125 patients from 26 institutions was performed. ICUD was compared with ECUD Multivariate (stepwise variable selection) logistic regression models were fit to evaluate preoperative, operative, and postoperative predictors of receiving ICUD, operative time, high grade complications and 90-days readmissions after RARC. RESULTS: 51% (n=1094) patients underwent ICUD in our cohort. ICUD patients demonstrated shorter operative times (357 vs 400 minutes, p<0.001), less blood loss (300 vs 350 ml, p<0.001), and fewer blood transfusions (4% vs 19%, p<0.001). ICUD patients experienced more high grade complications (13 vs 10%, p=0.02). Utilization of ICUD increased from 9% of all urinary diversions in 2005 to 97% in 2015. Complications after ICUD decreased significantly over time (p<0.001). On multivariable analysis, higher annual cystectomy volume (OR 1.02, 95% CI (1.01-1.03), p<0.002) and year of RARC 2013-2016 (OR 68, 95% CI 44-105, p<0.001) and ASA score <3 (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.38-2.22, p<0.001) were associated with receiving ICUD. ICUD was associated with shorter operative time (27 minutes, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Utilization of ICUD has increased over the past decade. Higher annual institutional volume of RARCs was associated with performing ICUD. ICUD was associated with shorter operative times. Although ICUD was associated with higher grade complications compared to ECUD, they decreased over time

Effect of surgical experience and spine subspecialty on the reliability of the {AO} Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System

OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper was to determine the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System based on surgeon experience (&lt; 5 years, 5–10 years, 10–20 years, and &gt; 20 years) and surgical subspecialty (orthopedic spine surgery, neurosurgery, and "other" surgery). METHODS A total of 11,601 assessments of upper cervical spine injuries were evaluated based on the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System. Reliability and reproducibility scores were obtained twice, with a 3-week time interval. Descriptive statistics were utilized to examine the percentage of accurately classified injuries, and Pearson’s chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to screen for potentially relevant differences between study participants. Kappa coefficients (κ) determined the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility. RESULTS The intraobserver reproducibility was substantial for surgeon experience level (&lt; 5 years: 0.74 vs 5–10 years: 0.69 vs 10–20 years: 0.69 vs &gt; 20 years: 0.70) and surgical subspecialty (orthopedic spine: 0.71 vs neurosurgery: 0.69 vs other: 0.68). Furthermore, the interobserver reliability was substantial for all surgical experience groups on assessment 1 (&lt; 5 years: 0.67 vs 5–10 years: 0.62 vs 10–20 years: 0.61 vs &gt; 20 years: 0.62), and only surgeons with &gt; 20 years of experience did not have substantial reliability on assessment 2 (&lt; 5 years: 0.62 vs 5–10 years: 0.61 vs 10–20 years: 0.61 vs &gt; 20 years: 0.59). Orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons had substantial intraobserver reproducibility on both assessment 1 (0.64 vs 0.63) and assessment 2 (0.62 vs 0.63), while other surgeons had moderate reliability on assessment 1 (0.43) and fair reliability on assessment 2 (0.36). CONCLUSIONS The international reliability and reproducibility scores for the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System demonstrated substantial intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability regardless of surgical experience and spine subspecialty. These results support the global application of this classification system

Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact.

Recognizing the imperative to evaluate species recovery and conservation impact, in 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) called for development of a "Green List of Species" (now the IUCN Green Status of Species). A draft Green Status framework for assessing species' progress toward recovery, published in 2018, proposed 2 separate but interlinked components: a standardized method (i.e., measurement against benchmarks of species' viability, functionality, and preimpact distribution) to determine current species recovery status (herein species recovery score) and application of that method to estimate past and potential future impacts of conservation based on 4 metrics (conservation legacy, conservation dependence, conservation gain, and recovery potential). We tested the framework with 181 species representing diverse taxa, life histories, biomes, and IUCN Red List categories (extinction risk). Based on the observed distribution of species' recovery scores, we propose the following species recovery categories: fully recovered, slightly depleted, moderately depleted, largely depleted, critically depleted, extinct in the wild, and indeterminate. Fifty-nine percent of tested species were considered largely or critically depleted. Although there was a negative relationship between extinction risk and species recovery score, variation was considerable. Some species in lower risk categories were assessed as farther from recovery than those at higher risk. This emphasizes that species recovery is conceptually different from extinction risk and reinforces the utility of the IUCN Green Status of Species to more fully understand species conservation status. Although extinction risk did not predict conservation legacy, conservation dependence, or conservation gain, it was positively correlated with recovery potential. Only 1.7% of tested species were categorized as zero across all 4 of these conservation impact metrics, indicating that conservation has, or will, play a role in improving or maintaining species status for the vast majority of these species. Based on our results, we devised an updated assessment framework that introduces the option of using a dynamic baseline to assess future impacts of conservation over the short term to avoid misleading results which were generated in a small number of cases, and redefines short term as 10 years to better align with conservation planning. These changes are reflected in the IUCN Green Status of Species Standard

Membrane separation process for the treatment and reuse of bath dye effluents

International audienc

ECA Rule Integration into an OODBMS: Architecture and Implementation

Making a database system active entails not only the specification of expressive ECA (eventcondition -action) rules, algorithms for the detection of composite events, and rule management, but also a viable architecture for rule execution that extends a passive DBMS, and its implementation. In this paper, we propose an integrated active DBMS architecture for incorporating ECA rules using the Open OODB Toolkit (from Texas Instruments, Dallas). We then describe the implementation of the composite event detector, and rule execution using a nested transaction model for object-oriented active DBMS. Finally, the functionality supported by this architecture and its extensibility are analyzed along with the experiences gained. 1 Introduction During the last decade, database management systems (DBMSs) have evolved considerably to meet the requirements of emerging applications. ECA rules (or event-condition-action or situation-action rules) generalize the forms of monitoring supported earlier (e..