Statistical modeling of the space–time relation between wind and significant wave height

Many marine activities, such as designing ocean structures and planning marine operations, require the characterization of sea-state climate. This study investigates the statistical relationship between wind and sea states, considering its spatiotemporal behavior. A transfer function is established between wind fields over the North Atlantic (predictors) and the significant wave height (predictand) at three locations: southwest of the French coast (Gironde), the English Channel, and the Gulf of Maine. The developed method considers both wind seas and swells by including local and global predictors. Using a fully data-driven approach, the global predictors' spatiotemporal structure is defined to account for the non-local and non-instantaneous relationship between wind and waves. Weather types are constructed using a regression-guided clustering method, and the resulting clusters correspond to different wave systems (swells and wind seas). Then, in each weather type, a penalized linear regression model is fitted between the predictor and the predictand. The validation analysis proves the models skill in predicting the significant wave height, with a root mean square error of approximately 0.3 m in the three considered locations. Additionally, the study discusses the physical insights underlying the proposed method.</p

A Study of Nuclear Transcription Factor-Kappa B in Childhood Autism

BACKGROUND: Several children with autism show regression in language and social development while maintaining normal motor milestones. A clear period of normal development followed by regression and subsequent improvement with treatment, suggests a multifactorial etiology. The role of inflammation in autism is now a major area of study. Viral and bacterial infections, hypoxia, or medication could affect both foetus and infant. These stressors could upregulate transcription factors like nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a master switch for many genes including some implicated in autism like tumor necrosis factor (TNF). On this hypothesis, it was proposed to determine NF-κB in children with autism. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples of 67 children with autism and 29 control children were evaluated for NF-κB using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). A phosphor imaging technique was used to quantify values. The fold increase over the control sample was calculated and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 15. RESULTS: We have noted significant increase in NF-κB DNA binding activity in peripheral blood samples of children with autism. When the fold increase of NF-κB in cases (n = 67) was compared with that of controls (n = 29), there was a significant difference (3.14 vs. 1.40, respectively; p<0.02). CONCLUSION: This finding has immense value in understanding many of the known biochemical changes reported in autism. As NF-κB is a response to stressors of several kinds and a master switch for many genes, autism may then arise at least in part from an NF-κB pathway gone awry

Geometric morphometrics as a tool for identifying emperor fish (Lethrinidae) larvae and juveniles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of geometric morphometrics for describing the body shape of fish larvae and juveniles, and identifying them to species, in comparison with traditional linear measurements. Species of emperor fishes (Perciformes: Lethrinidae, genus Lethrinus) were chosen as the model group, as the late larval and early juvenile stages in this genus are particularly difficult to identify. Forty-five individuals of different species of Lethrinus were collected from the south-western lagoon of New Caledonia between May 2005 and March 2006. The individuals were first identified to species by their partial cytochrome-b gene sequence. They were then morphologically characterized using eight linear measurements and 23 landmarks recorded on digital photographs. Except for a small proportion of individuals, geometric morphometrics gave better results to distinguish the different species than linear measurements. A 'leave one out' approach confirmed the nearly total discrimination of recently settled Lethrinus genivittatus and Lethrinus nebulosus, whereas traditional identification keys failed to distinguish them. Therefore, geometric morphometrics is a promising tool for identifying fish larvae and juveniles to species. An effective approach would require building image databases of voucher specimens associated with their DNA barcodes. These images could be downloaded by the operator and processed with the specimens to be identified

Datenbanksystem zur Bestandesbetreuung von Milchviehherden mit Schwerpunkt auf der Eutergesundheit

In der Michviehhaltung ist die integrierte tierärztliche Bestandsbetreuung (ITB) eine wirksame Methode, um Gesundheitsprobleme wie Mastitis und Fruchtbarkeitssörungen langfristig zu bekämpfen. Um den Zeitaufwand und die Kosten für die ITB zu optimieren, müssen entsprechende technische Hilfmittel vorhanden sein, die eine schnelle und komfortable Datenverarbeitung gewährleisten und praxistaugliche Beratungstools zu Verfügung stellen. Das Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL) hat ein solches Datenbanksystem für das Bestandsbetreuungsprojekt "Pro-Q" entwickelt. Ziel der Datenbank ist, extern zur Verfügung stehende und selbst erhobene Daten zu gebündelten Informationen auf Herden- und Einzeltierebene (inkl. Euterviertelebene) zusammenzubringen und Landwirt, Tierarzt und Berater regelmässig zur Verfügung zu stellen. Diese erhalten so einen umfassenden Überblick über die Gesundheit der Herde und des Einzeltieres. Die Datenbank erlaubt den gleichzeitigen Zugriff durch mehrere Benutzer. Fernzugriff via Internet ist ebenfalls möglich. In diesem Beitrag sollen die wesentlichen Komponenten im Hinblick auf die Tauglichkeit in praxi dargelegt werden

Statistical modeling of the space-time relation between wind and significant wave height

Many marine activities, such as designing ocean structures and planning marine operations, require the characterization of sea state climate. This study investigates the statistical relationship between wind and sea states, considering its spatiotemporal behavior. A transfer function is established between wind fields over the North Atlantic (predictors) and the significant wave height (predictand) in a location in the Bay of Biscay off the French coast. The developed method takes into consideration both wind seas and swells by including local and global predictors. The global predictors’ spatiotemporal structure is defined to account for the non-local and non-instantaneous relationship between wind and waves, using a fully data-driven approach. Weather types are constructed using a regression guided-clustering method, and the resulting clusters correspond to different wave systems (swells and wind seas). Then, in each weather type, a penalized linear regression model is fitted between the predictor and the predictand. The validation analysis proves the model’s skill in predicting the significant wave height (RMSE = 0.27m); furthermore, the interpretability of the model is discussed

LOW-DOSE SULTAMICILLIN ORAL SUSPENSION IN THE TREATMENT OF MILD TO MODERATE PEDIATRIC INFECTIONS IN TURKEY

A total of 101 children (47 males, 54 females: age range, 3 months - 16 years) with mild to moderate upper or lower respiratory tract infections, or skin and soft tissue infections entered a clinical study conducted at two centres in Izmir, Turkey. The children received a mean daily dose of 25 mg/kg sultamicillin oral suspension administered as two equal doses approximately 12 h apart. In total, 100 children met all requirements for evaluability and were included in the clinical efficacy assessment, and 49 children were evaluated for bacteriological efficacy. Clinical cure was reported by the investigators in 93 patients, improvement in six and failure in only one. The bacteriological eradication rate of isolated pathogens was 100%. Of the 101 patients evaluated for drug safety, four experienced adverse drug-related or possibly drug-related reactions. Atl side-effects were gastro-intestinal and diarrhoea was reported in three patients. No discontinuation of therapy was reported, nor were any significant laboratory abnormalities recorded