A unified criterion for the local uniform convergence of the density of the maximum

A unified criterion is proposed for the uniform convergence in compact subsets of the real line of the density of linearly normalized maximum of independent identically distributed random variables

Filtration in some tropical intertidal bivalves exposed to mercury and cadmium mixtures

Three species of intertidal filter feeding bivalves (Modiolus carvalhoi, Modiolus sp. and Donax spiculum) exposed to mercury and cadmium filtered significantly less volume of water under individual metal and metal mixture stress. Mercury and cadmium in mixtures interacted additively and more than additively (Synergism) in depressing the filtration rate of the bivalves

Acute toxicity of cadmium to six intertidal invertebrates

Following a static bioassay techniques the acute toxicity of cadmium to six species of intertidal invertebrates was determined. The sensitivity of the animals to cadmium was of the following order: Emerita sp. (burrowing crustacean) Donax spiculum (burrowing bivalve) Perna viridis (sedentary bivalve) Sabellaria clandestinus (tube-dwelling polychaete) Modiolus carvalhoi and Modiolus sp. (sedentary bivalves). The above observation was based on the median lethal concentrations recorded for the different species, Emerita sp. 1.35 p.p.m., Donax spiculum 1.8 p.p.m., Perna viridis 2.5 p.p.m., Sabellaria clandestinus 2.8 p.p.m., Modiolus carvalhoi 5.6 p.p.m. and Modiolus sp. 9.6 p.p.m. The findings throw insight into the toxicity of cadmium to the common intertidal animals which are either suspension or detritus feeders

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

A stochastic model with random change point for the study of oviposition tactics of weevils on beans

Mitchell (1975) experimentally investigated the oviposition behavior of bruchid beetles on mung beans. Janardan (1980) developed a stochastic model, assuming a rate lambda until one egg is laid and a rate mu(<lambda) on a bean having already one egg. From Mitchell's data it appears that rate of laying eggs (on a bean) is influenced by a random phenomenon by which the beetle changes the rate either after one egg is laid or after two eggs are laid on the same bean. Thus here we have developed a new stochastic model incorporating this random phenomenon. Estimation of the parameters of the model and measure of fit of the model to the experimental data are also provided

On some special birth processes in biology

This paper presents some theorems on distributions associated with some special birth processes in biology

Transferability of Australian diatoms to clothing: Assessment of several extraction methods on different fabric types under laboratory conditions

Crime scene investigation protocols and procedures are well established when concerning terrestrial environments, but are limited when associated with aquatic environments. In aquatic contexts, the soil, sediments and microscopic algae (e.g. diatoms) may all be used as sources of trace evidence for criminal investigations. Diatoms are one such source that can be used to support the diagnosis of death by drowning and can be used to verify contact between a suspect and a specific water body. For the latter, diatoms can be collected from clothing and shoes for forensic comparisons. Over the years, there have been several methods proposed for the extraction of diatoms from clothing, however, a best practice method is yet to be established and is still open to debate. The present research represents the first investigation that evaluates four different methods for the extraction of native and common Australian diatom species from four different types of fabrics. Diatoms of two different species and shape (pennate and centric) were cultivated in stimulated experimental waters – prepared using either monocultures or mixed cultures of the selected diatoms. Diatom concentrations were set to mimic the natural population (low to bloom events) as commonly found in the Swan River Estuary of Western Australia. Cotton, denim, blend, and acrylic fabric types were placed in experimental waters. Diatom extraction was attempted using methods already proposed in the literature, these include: rinsing with ethanol (RE); rinsing with ethanol together with the application of centrifugal force (RECF); digestion with hydrogen peroxide (H); and a new method of ashing that has never been tested before (dry ash, DA). Results of this research showed that a) the type and the concentration of the mono and mix diatom mixtures significantly affects the transfer and extraction from different types of fabric; b) a noticeable extraction difference is observed between the fabrics, establishing denim, acrylic and blend fabrics as possessing the better extraction rates; c) H treatment had the highest extraction rate of diatoms; d) the application of centrifugal force on the RE method significantly improved the extraction of diatoms; e) DA is a potential method for the extraction of pennate-shaped diatoms from all of the tested fabrics, however, does have a tendency to induce modifications of the morphological structure of the diatoms. Overall, the application of different extraction methods is suggested to maximise the extraction of diatoms that would closely reflect their natural assemblage in the water body under investigation