A Growth Model for \u3ci\u3eArctica islandica\u3c/i\u3e: The Performance of Tanaka and the Temptation of Von Bertalanffy—Can the Two Coexist?

Organisms increase in size over time (age) due to excess assimilation over metabolic (respiration) energy demands. Most organisms reach a maximum size with increasing age as gain and loss balance. The von Bertalanffy length-at-age relationship, which is commonly used in fishery assessment calculations, imposes such a maximum size. However, some fished species, such as ocean quahogs, Arctica islandica, are long lived and continue to grow at old age. The Tanaka age-at-length relationship has continued growth at old age, but is rarely used in stock assessment models. A modified form of the von Bertalanffy model is presented, which mimics the continued growth at old age of the Tanaka model by allowing the growth parameter (K) to decline with age. This form is suitable for inclusion in stock assessment models based on von Bertalanffy. The proposed model matches Tanaka curves with precision appropriate for the scatter of data used to fit the curves. The observations of ocean quahog length at age and growth rate from New Jersey and Georges Bank demonstrate the ability of the modified von Bertalanffy relationship to represent continued growth at old age for this fished species. Simulated data generated with continued growth at old age were fit with the Stock Synthesis model (SS3). Results comparing traditional and modified growth relationships showed that the original von Bertalanffy model can reasonably approximate modest nonasymptotic growth as long as the number of observations is sufficient to constrain the parameter values

Estimating costs of nature management in the European Union : Exploration modelling for PBL’s Nature Outlook

A cost model was developed for the Nature Outlook of PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.This cost model estimates one-off and recurrent costs of natural vegetation based on Corine land cover typesthroughout Europe. Cost estimates were made for the base year 2000 and future scenarios, including aTrend scenario based on current EU policies and normative perspectives, including Strengthening CulturalIdentity (SCI), Allowing Nature to Find its Way (NFW), Going with the Economic Flow (GEF) and Workingwith Nature (WWN). These scenarios all have a time horizon of 2050. To estimate various costs acomprehensive data analysis was carried out and a cost model was developed based on the IKN model forDutch Nature Policy. The model estimates costs of recurrent management in the base year on € 5.6 billionper year in the EU-28. Costs of recurrent management within the Natura 2000 network is estimated on € 3.5billion per year. Recurrent management costs in 2050 in the Trend scenario were estimated on € 5.2 billionper year. One-off costs of land purchase are estimated at € 450 per hectare per year and construction costs€ 1028 per hectare per year. One-off costs of the perspectives are 5.09 (SCI), 6.56 (NFW), 6.20 (GEF) and9.79 billion euro per year (WWN

Axis II comorbidity of borderline personality disorder: description of 6-year course and prediction to time-to-remission

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65824/1/j.1600-0447.2004.00362.x.pd

Deconvolution of complex G protein-coupled receptor signaling in live cells using dynamic mass redistribution measurements

Label-free biosensor technology based on dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) of cellular constituents promises to translate GPCR signaling into complex optical 'fingerprints' in real time in living cells. Here we present a strategy to map cellular mechanisms that define label-free responses, and we compare DMR technology with traditional second-messenger assays that are currently the state of the art in GPCR drug discovery. The holistic nature of DMR measurements enabled us to (i) probe GPCR functionality along all four G-protein signaling pathways, something presently beyond reach of most other assay platforms; (ii) dissect complex GPCR signaling patterns even in primary human cells with unprecedented accuracy; (iii) define heterotrimeric G proteins as triggers for the complex optical fingerprints; and (iv) disclose previously undetected features of GPCR behavior. Our results suggest that DMR technology will have a substantial impact on systems biology and systems pharmacology as well as for the discovery of drugs with novel mechanisms

Einsichten und Eingriffe in das Gehirn. Die Herausforderung der Gesellschaft durch die Neurowissenschaften

Die Neurowissenschaften haben in den letzten Jahren durch erweiterte Methoden und Forschungsansätze sowohl neue Einblicke in die Arbeitsweise des Gehirns als auch bisher nicht gekannte Möglichkeiten des gezielten Eingriffs in seine Funktionen eröffnet. Hieraus ergeben sich nicht nur Chancen einer besseren Behandlung von Erkrankungen. Neue Ansätze der medikamentösen Beeinflussung von Hirnfunktionen und die Entwicklung von Gehirn-Maschine-Schnittstellen rücken die Perspektive in greifbare Nähe, menschliche Fähigkeiten zu steigern und zu erweitern – mit kaum absehbaren gesellschaftlichen Folgen. Zudem sieht sich unser Selbstverständnis als verantwortlich handelnde und frei entscheidende Personen durch Thesen einiger führender Neurowissenschaftler herausgefordert. Sind geistige Vorgänge, wie behauptet wird, lediglich der Reflex neuronalen Geschehens und ist unsere Willensfreiheit nur eine vom Gehirn vorgespiegelte Illusion? Dieser Band arbeitet den Stand der wissenschaftlichen Diskussion zu den wichtigsten neurowissenschaftlichen Arbeitsfeldern auf und gibt einen umfassenden Überblick über die brisanten Fragen, die die Hirnforschung für die Gesellschaft der Gegenwart und Zukunft aufwirft

Instrumentarium Kosten Natuurbeleid 2018 - Status A : IKN versie 3.0

The Cost of Nature Policies Tool (IKN) calculates the annual costs of the national ecological network under various scenarios. The tool is modularly constructed and in essence consists of several cost tables and a computational model. The purpose of the current report is to consolidate the model documentation and provide a quality assurance assessment. It contains a theoretical framework, a technical description of the computational model and cost tables, and a description of the operation of the model and of the data used. The quality of the calculations was evaluated by means of validation, verification, and sensitivity and uncertainty analyses of the model

The Evolution and Future of Targeted Cancer Therapy: From Nanoparticles, Oncolytic Viruses, and Oncolytic Bacteria to the Treatment of Solid Tumors

While many classes of chemotherapeutic agents exist to treat solid tumors, few can generate a lasting response without substantial off-target toxicity despite significant scientific advancements and investments. In this review, the paths of development for nanoparticles, oncolytic viruses, and oncolytic bacteria over the last 20 years of research towards clinical translation and acceptance as novel cancer therapeutics are compared. Novel nanoparticle, oncolytic virus, and oncolytic bacteria therapies all start with a common goal of accomplishing therapeutic drug activity or delivery to a specific site while avoiding off-target effects, with overlapping methodology between all three modalities. Indeed, the degree of overlap is substantial enough that breakthroughs in one therapeutic could have considerable implications on the progression of the other two. Each oncotherapeutic modality has accomplished clinical translation, successfully overcoming the potential pitfalls promising therapeutics face. However, once studies enter clinical trials, the data all but disappears, leaving pre-clinical researchers largely in the dark. Overall, the creativity, flexibility, and innovation of these modalities for solid tumor treatments are greatly encouraging, and usher in a new age of pharmaceutical development

Host jumps shaped the diversity of extant rust fungi (Pucciniales)

* The aim of this study was to determine the evolutionary time line for rust fungi and date key speciation events using a molecular clock. Evidence is provided that supports a contemporary view for a recent origin of rust fungi, with a common ancestor on a flowering plant. * Divergence times for > 20 genera of rust fungi were studied with Bayesian evolutionary analyses. A relaxed molecular clock was applied to ribosomal and mitochondrial genes, calibrated against estimated divergence times for the hosts of rust fungi, such as Acacia (Fabaceae), angiosperms and the cupressophytes. * Results showed that rust fungi shared a most recent common ancestor with a mean age between 113 and 115 million yr. This dates rust fungi to the Cretaceous period, which is much younger than previous estimations. Host jumps, whether taxonomically large or between host genera in the same family, most probably shaped the diversity of rust genera. Likewise, species diversified by host shifts (through coevolution) or via subsequent host jumps. This is in contrast to strict coevolution with their hosts. * Puccinia psidii was recovered in Sphaerophragmiaceae, a family distinct from Raveneliaceae, which were regarded as confamilial in previous studies

Hydroacoustic Estimates of Fish Density Distributions in Cougar Reservoir, 2011

Day and night mobile hydroacoustic surveys were conducted once each month from April through December 2011 to quantify the horizontal and vertical distributions of fish throughout Cougar Reservoir, Lane County, Oregon

Hydroacoustic Estimates of Fish Density Distributions in Cougar Reservoir, 2011

Day and night mobile hydroacoustic surveys were conducted once each month from April through December 2011 to quantify the horizontal and vertical distributions of fish throughout Cougar Reservoir, Lane County, Oregon