Evaluation of growth performance of Tachypleus gigas (Muller 1785) under two different culture systems.

Information on the growth of Tachypleus gigas is not well established as compared to its temperate counterpart Limulus polyphemus. Lack of documented study on T. gigas has further encouraged research on the growth and molting frequency under different culture methods. This report compares the size and weight increments and molting frequency of T. gigas larvae cultured using conventional (80-90% water change/day) and non-conventional (recirculating aqua culture system) methods. Size increment was measured based on prosomal width and weight increments of the larvae. Molting frequency was determined for the larvae from 6 to 11-month old. The larvae culture using these two methods molted 3 times during the culture period. Result of t-test showed that there was no significant differences (p>0.05) in the molting frequency of the larvae between the two methods. The final prosomal width for T. gigas larvae cultured using conventional method was 23.50 mm which is significantly (p<0.05) smaller as compared to 27.99 mm using non-conventional method. Similarly the final weight of the 11-month-old larvae cultured using conventional method was 0.61 g which is comparatively lower than those cultured under recirculating aqua culture system, 0.92 g. Water parameters (pH, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and ammonia) for both systems were monitored and it was found that the conventional and non-conventional method of culture does not differ in salinity, temperature and pH except for dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonia

Resonant squeezed light from photonic Cooper pairs

Raman scattering of photons into phonons gives rise to entangled photon pairs when the phonon emitted in a Stokes process is absorbed in antiStokes scattering, forming the photonic analog of Cooper pairs. We present a nonperturbative theory for the time evolution of photonic Cooper pairs that treats interacting photons and phonons as a hybrid excitation, the Ramaniton. As the Ramaniton propagates in a wave guide it displays quantum oscillations between photon and phonon occupation, leading to resonant squeezed Stokes-antiStokes light when the phonon occupation becomes equal to zero. This phenomena can be used to generate up to 28 dB of squeezed light even in standard silicon on insulator waveguides.Comment: Added references for section V. Typos correcte

FAST COMPUTING NEURAL NETWORK MODELING FOR FAULT DIAGNOSIS IN POWER SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT In this paper an approach for fault location based on online neural network is designed. The approach of learning the neural network based on the running fault values are trained for the suggested neural network. This approach result in running fault diagnosis based on the fault observation parameter based on the diagnosis tool. The approach is designed to run on running values of the distributed system so as to overcome the level of fault happening in a run time environment, which is not observed in case of the conventional neural controlling method

a review

It is well documented that global warming is unequivocal. Dairy production systems are considered as important sources of greenhouse gas emissions; however, little is known about the sensitivity and vulnerability of these production systems themselves to climate warming. This review brings different aspects of dairy cow production in Central Europe into focus, with a holistic approach to emphasize potential future consequences and challenges arising from climate change. With the current understanding of the effects of climate change, it is expected that yield of forage per hectare will be influenced positively, whereas quality will mainly depend on water availability and soil characteristics. Thus, the botanical composition of future grassland should include species that are able to withstand the changing conditions (e.g. lucerne and bird's foot trefoil). Changes in nutrient concentration of forage plants, elevated heat loads and altered feeding patterns of animals may influence rumen physiology. Several promising nutritional strategies are available to lower potential negative impacts of climate change on dairy cow nutrition and performance. Adjustment of feeding and drinking regimes, diet composition and additive supplementation can contribute to the maintenance of adequate dairy cow nutrition and performance. Provision of adequate shade and cooling will reduce the direct effects of heat stress. As estimated genetic parameters are promising, heat stress tolerance as a functional trait may be included into breeding programmes. Indirect effects of global warming on the health and welfare of animals seem to be more complicated and thus are less predictable. As the epidemiology of certain gastrointestinal nematodes and liver fluke is favourably influenced by increased temperature and humidity, relations between climate change and disease dynamics should be followed closely. Under current conditions, climate change associated economic impacts are estimated to be neutral if some form of adaptation is integrated. Therefore, it is essential to establish and adopt mitigation strategies covering available tools from management, nutrition, health and plant and animal breeding to cope with the future consequences of climate change on dairy farming

Length-weight relationship and condition factor of three dominant species from the Lake Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia.

The Length-weight Relationship (LWR) and condition factor (K) of three most dominant species from the Tasik Kenyir was evaluated from February 2008 to January 2009. The data were analyzed by the equation of W = aLb and were transferred to Log10W = Log10 a + b Log10 L, for the length-weight relationship and K = W x 100 L-3 for the condition factor. The relative growth coefficient (b) values for Barbodes schwanenfeldii was 2.784, Notopterus sp. was 1.905 and Hampala macrolepidota was at 3.043. The condition factor values varied seasonally for each species that range from 2.48±0.39 to 2.68±0.28 for B. schwanenfeldii, 0.95±0.10 to 1.03±0.20 for Notopterus sp. and from 2.17±0.19 to 2.35±0.39 for H. macrolepidota

Accuracy of prognosis estimates by four palliative care teams: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Prognosis estimates are used to access services, but are often inaccurate. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of giving a prognosis range. METHODS AND MEASUREMENTS: A prospective cohort study in four multi-professional palliative care teams in England collected data on 275 consecutive cancer referrals who died. Prognosis estimates (minimum – maximum) at referral, patient characteristics, were recorded by staff, and later compared with actual survival. RESULTS: Minimum survival estimates ranged <1 to 364 days, maximum 7 – 686 days. Mean patient survival was 71 days (range 1 – 734). In 42% the estimate was accurate, in 36% it was over optimistic and in 22% over pessimistic. When the minimum estimate was less than 14 days accuracy increased to 70%. Accuracy was related, in multivariate analysis, to palliative care team and (of borderline significance) patient age. CONCLUSIONS: Offering a prognosis range has higher levels of accuracy (about double) than traditional estimates, but is still very often inaccurate, except very close to death. Where possible clinicians should discuss scenarios with patients, rather than giving a prognosis range

Wdpcp, a PCP Protein Required for Ciliogenesis, Regulates Directional Cell Migration and Cell Polarity by Direct Modulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton

Planar cell polarity (PCP) regulates cell alignment required for collective cell movement during embryonic development. This requires PCP/PCP effector proteins, some of which also play essential roles in ciliogenesis, highlighting the long-standing question of the role of the cilium in PCP. Wdpcp, a PCP effector, was recently shown to regulate both ciliogenesis and collective cell movement, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here we show Wdpcp can regulate PCP by direct modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. These studies were made possible by recovery of a Wdpcp mutant mouse model. Wdpcp-deficient mice exhibit phenotypes reminiscent of Bardet-Biedl/Meckel-Gruber ciliopathy syndromes, including cardiac outflow tract and cochlea defects associated with PCP perturbation. We observed Wdpcp is localized to the transition zone, and in Wdpcp-deficient cells, Sept2, Nphp1, and Mks1 were lost from the transition zone, indicating Wdpcp is required for recruitment of proteins essential for ciliogenesis. Wdpcp is also found in the cytoplasm, where it is localized in the actin cytoskeleton and in focal adhesions. Wdpcp interacts with Sept2 and is colocalized with Sept2 in actin filaments, but in Wdpcp-deficient cells, Sept2 was lost from the actin cytoskeleton, suggesting Wdpcp is required for Sept2 recruitment to actin filaments. Significantly, organization of the actin filaments and focal contacts were markedly changed in Wdpcp-deficient cells. This was associated with decreased membrane ruffling, failure to establish cell polarity, and loss of directional cell migration. These results suggest the PCP defects in Wdpcp mutants are not caused by loss of cilia, but by direct disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. Consistent with this, Wdpcp mutant cochlea has normal kinocilia and yet exhibits PCP defects. Together, these findings provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that a PCP component required for ciliogenesis can directly modulate the actin cytoskeleton to regulate cell polarity and directional cell migration

Therapeutic targeting of cathepsin C::from pathophysiology to treatment

Cathepsin C (CatC) is a highly conserved tetrameric lysosomal cysteine dipeptidyl aminopeptidase. The best characterized physiological function of CatC is the activation of pro-inflammatory granule-associated serine proteases. These proteases are synthesized as inactive zymogens containing an N-terminal pro-dipeptide, which maintains the zymogen in its inactive conformation and prevents premature activation, which is potentially toxic to the cell. The activation of serine protease zymogens occurs through cleavage of the N-terminal dipeptide by CatC during cell maturation in the bone marrow. In vivo data suggest that pharmacological inhibition of pro-inflammatory serine proteases would suppress or attenuate deleterious effects of inflammatory/auto-immune disorders mediated by these proteases. The pathological deficiency in CatC is associated with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. The patients however do not present marked immunodeficiency despite the absence of active serine proteases in immune defense cells. Hence, the transitory pharmacological blockade of CatC activity in the precursor cells of the bone marrow may represent an attractive therapeutic strategy to regulate activity of serine proteases in inflammatory and immunologic conditions. A variety of CatC inhibitors have been developed both by pharmaceutical companies and academic investigators, some of which are currently being employed and evaluated in preclinical/clinical trials

Empirical Evaluation of Performance and Effect of Currency Devaluation with Special Reference to Export and Import under Policy Reforms on Sri Lanka's Agriculture

In this paper an empirical evaluation of the performance of Sri Lanka's agricultural sector under policy reforms with respect to the exchange rate implications is made. By the policy reforms, the exchange rate reforms made considerable impact on the agriculture exports, input and food imports and economic development. In our general equilibrium growth accounting approach, the real contributions of agricultural exports, food imports and fertilizer price reveal that without the exchange rate reform the contributions would have been really detrimental to the agricultural production as well as to the economy of Sri Lanka. In this way, Sri Lanka's policy reform had a positive effect on the economy through the exchange rate reform, although it had negative impact on the domestic food production sector and related small farmers. Further analysis on the contributions of technical changes in agriculture and non-agriculture supports the push-pull effect concept in both sectors in this paper

Some Properties of Pc 1 Pulsations at Choutuppal (Hyderabad)

216-219A study of Pc 1 pulsation data obtained at Choutuppal (geomag. lat., 7°28'N) during the period 1967-74 revealed several interesting features, viz. (i) a distinct winter maximum in Pc 1 activity; (ii) an inverse relationship of Pc 1 activity with sunspot activity; (iii) preferential appearance of longer period Pc 1 pulsations during disturbed magnetic intervals. The results of this study which are pertinent to equatorial region are discussed in relation to those reported for middle and higher latitudes