Spatio-Temporal Variation in Length-Weight Relationships and Condition of the Ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus (Linnaeus, 1758): Implications for Fisheries Management

Knowledge of length-weight relationships for commercially exploited fish is an important tool for assessing and managing of fish stocks. However, analyses of length-weight relationship fisheries data typically do not consider the inherent differences in length-weight relationships for fish caught from different habitats, seasons, or years, and this can affect the utility of these data for developing condition indices or calculating fisheries biomass. Here, we investigated length-weight relationships for ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus in the waters of the Arabian Sea off Oman collected during three periods (2001-02, 2007-08, and 2014-15) and showed that a multivariate modelling approach that considers the areas and seasons in which ribbonfish were caught improved estimation of length-weight relationships. We used the outputs of these models to explore spatio-temporal variations in condition indices and relative weights among ribbonfish, revealing fish of 85-125 cm were in the best overall condition. We also found that condition differed according to where and when fish were caught, with condition lowest during spring and pre-south-west monsoon periods and highest during and after the south-west monsoons. We interpret these differences to be a consequence of variability in temperature and food availability. Based on our findings, we suggest fishing during seasons that have the lowest impact on fish condition and which are commercially most viable; such fishery management would enhance fisheries conservation and economic revenue in the region

Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae

Amomum curcuma Jacg. (1776); Curcuma domestica Val. (1918

Systems genetics identifies miRNA-mediated regulation of host response in COVID-19.

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND: Individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 vary greatly in their disease severity, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe disease. The regulation of gene expression is an important mechanism in the host immune response and can modulate the outcome of the disease. miRNAs play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation with consequences on downstream molecular and cellular host immune response processes. The nature and magnitude of miRNA perturbations associated with blood phenotypes and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in COVID-19 are poorly understood. RESULTS: We combined multi-omics profiling-genotyping, miRNA and RNA expression, measured at the time of hospital admission soon after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms-with phenotypes from electronic health records to understand how miRNA expression contributes to variation in disease severity in a diverse cohort of 259 unvaccinated patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We analyzed 62 clinical variables and expression levels of 632 miRNAs measured at admission and identified 97 miRNAs associated with 8 blood phenotypes significantly associated with later ICU admission. Integrative miRNA-mRNA cross-correlation analysis identified multiple miRNA-mRNA-blood endophenotype associations and revealed the effect of miR-143-3p on neutrophil count mediated by the expression of its target gene BCL2. We report 168 significant cis-miRNA expression quantitative trait loci, 57 of which implicate miRNAs associated with either ICU admission or a blood endophenotype. CONCLUSIONS: This systems genetics study has given rise to a genomic picture of the architecture of whole blood miRNAs in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients and pinpoints post-transcriptional regulation as a potential mechanism that impacts blood traits underlying COVID-19 severity. The results also highlight the impact of host genetic regulatory control of miRNA expression in early stages of COVID-19 disease

Hybrid cascade refrigeration systems for refrigeration and heating

In this study a cooling ejector cycle coupled to a compression heat pump is analyzed for simultaneous cooling and heating applications. In this work, the influence of the thermodynamic parameters and fluid nature on the performances of the hybrid system is studied. The results obtained show that this system presents interesting performances. The comparison of the system performances with hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and natural fluids is made. The theoretical results show that the a low temperature refrigerant R32 gives the best performance

Aflatoxin-producing potential of various strains of Aspergillus flavus from groundnut fields in different soil types

Single spore isolates (48) of A. flavus collected from 6 groundnut fields of varying soil types were assessed for sclerotia production and aflatoxin production. All isolates produced aflatoxin B in quantities ranging from 1-290 µg/g. Isolates from a vertisol field produced significantly less aflatoxin than isolates from red sandy loam and light sandy fields. There was no association between sclerotia production and aflatoxin production

Propiedades catalíticas de sistemas CuO/CeO2/MgAl2O4 para CO-PROX

Trabajo presentado en el Congreso Iberoamericano de Hidrógeno y Pilas de Combustible, celebrado en Barcelona (España) del 15 al 17 de octubre de 2014.[EN] Catalysts of copper supported on a CeO2/MgAl2O4 mixed support have been prepared by employing different pH values in the copper impregnation solution with the aim of favouring different situations of interaction between copper and the two support components. The catalysts have been applied to the CO-PROX process, including the analysis of the effect of CO2 presence in the reactant mixture, and important differences are revealed as a function of the impregnating solution pH. These differences are explained on the basis of the type of contacts between components established in each case by means of the analysis of catalytic activity data complemented by operando DRIFTS.[ES] Se han preparado catalizadores de cobre soportado sobre un soporte mixto CeO2/MgAl2O4 empleando diferentes valores de pH en la disolución de impregnación del cobre al objeto de favorecer situaciones diferentes de interacción del cobre con los dos componentes del soporte. Los sistemas se han aplicado para el proceso CO-PROX, incluyendo el análisis del efecto de la presencia de CO2 en la mezcla de reacción, y se observan diferencias importantes como función del pH empleado en la disolución de impregnación. Esas diferencias son explicadas en base al tipo de contactos entre componentes establecidos en cada caso mediante el análisis de los datos de actividad catalítica complementados mediante operando-DRIFTS.C.L.B-D. agradece la financiación recibida por el MINECO (programa FPI). Se agradece igualmente la financiación recibida por parte del MINECO (proyecto CTQ2012-32928).Peer Reviewe

The Use of Infliximab for Treatment of Hospitalized Patients with Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND/AIM: The use of infliximab in severe ulcerative colitis (UC) is established; however, its role in severe acute UC requires clarification. The present multicentre case series evaluated infliximab in hospitalized patients with steroid-refractory severe UC