Concept for estimation of secondary and tertiary biomass from primary production

Fixation of inorganic carbon to organic carbon in the ocean is driven purely by phytoplankton. Phytoplankton carbon fixation plays an important role in maintaining the quasi steady state level of atmospheric CO2. Relative contribution of marine primary productivity to global photosynthetic production is between 10 and 50%. Magnitude ranges from 20 to 55 Gt of C/ year (Ryther 1969, Smith et al., 1983, Walsh 1984 and Martin 1992). Ocean-atmospheric coupled climate models predict changes in the ocean circulation and hypothesize that changes in the ocean circulation will stimulate phytoplankton biomass production in the nutrient depleted areas in the open ocean (Roemmich & Wunch 1985). The effect on atmospheric CO2 is uncertain because the relationship between the enhanced primary production and air sea exchange of CO2 is not understood. The challenge is to study the magnitude and variability of Primary productivity, its time scales and changes in atmospheric forcing and upscale it into secondary and tertiary productivity

Genetic stock characterization of fish using molecular markers

Accurate Identification of genetic resources is necessary for detecting new species and varieties for products of commercial value. Fish, as a group, apart from their economic value from a biodiversity viewpoint, have the highest species diversity among all vertebrate taxa. They exhibit enormous diversity in size, shape, biology and in the habitats they occupy. In terms of habitat diversity, fishes live in almost all conceivable aquatic habitats, ranging from Antarctic waters to desert springs. Of the 62,305 species of vertebrates recognized world over, 34,090 (nearly 52%) are valid fish species; a great majority of them (97 %) are bony fishes and the remaining (3 %) are cartilaginous (sharks and rays) and jawless fishes (lampreys and hagfishes). Further, on an average, 300 new fish species are described each year, and global surveys indicate that there could well be at least 5,000 species more to be discovered

Evaluation of differences in health-related quality of life in patients receiving conventional versus newer anti-epileptic drugs

Background: Epilepsy is associated with stigma and bad health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) due to this, and side effects of the drug therapy. Newer anti-epileptics are claimed to be better than the conventional. We evaluated this based on comparison of HR-QOL in patients taking the respective therapy.Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, single point study involved 127 consenting patients from Neurology OPD at V.S. General Hospital. Quality of life in epilepsy-10 (QOLIE-10) questionnaire was used to measure HR-QOL in patients. SPSS software and Graphpad prism were used to analyze the variables.Results: Patients of 20-30 age group were commonly affected (37.80%) with a male predominance (56.69%). 41.73% were unemployed. The difference in HR-QOL between patients and controls in all three domains (epilepsy effects, mental effects, role function domains) of QOLIE-10 was significant (p=0.0002), indicating better HR-QOL in controls. The worst HR-QOL scores were found in Epilepsy effects domain. Metabolic adverse effects (38.58%) were the common ADRs. Sodium valproate was the most effective in controlling seizures (last seizure episode: 15 months). HR-QOL correlation between patients receiving monotherapy and polytherapy was significant (p=0.026) with monotherapy rendering a better HR-QOL. Comparison of HR-QOL between patients taking the conventional and the newer drugs was not significant (p=0.1768).Conclusions: Our study nullifies the claims that newer drugs are better than the conventional since no such benefit was seen in HR-QOL as well as ADRs. Our findings ruled out the belief that cases of epilepsy are better controlled with polytherapy

Implications of Extreme Climatic Events on Marine Fisheries Sector

Implications of Extreme Climatic Events on Marine Fisheries Secto

Trends, Characteristic, and Outcomes of Preterm Infants Who Received Postnatal Corticosteroid: A Cohort Study from 7 High-Income Countries

INTRODUCTION Our objective was to evaluate the temporal trend of systemic postnatal steroid (PNS) receipt in infants of 24-28 weeks' gestational age, identify characteristics associated with PNS receipt, and correlate PNS receipt with the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and BPD/death from an international cohort included in the iNeo network. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study using data from 2010 to 2018 from seven international networks participating in iNeo (Canada, Finland, Israel, Japan, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland). Neonates of 24 and 28 weeks' gestational age who survived 7 days and who received PNS were included. We assessed temporal trend of rates of systemic PNS receipt and BPD/death. RESULTS A total of 47,401 neonates were included. The mean (SD) gestational age was 26.4 (1.3) weeks and birth weight was 915 (238) g. The PNS receipt rate was 21% (12-28% across networks) and increased over the years (18% in 2010 to 26% in 2018; p < 0.01). The BPD rate was 39% (28-44% across networks) and remained unchanged over the years (35.2% in 2010 to 35.0% in 2018). Lower gestation, male sex, small for gestational age status, and presence of persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were associated with higher rates of PNS receipt, BPD, and BPD/death. CONCLUSION The use of PNS in extremely preterm neonates increased, but there was no correlation between increased use and the BPD rate. Research is needed to determine the optimal timing, dose, and indication for PNS use in preterm neonates

Multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK (C-MORE): a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study

Introduction: The multiorgan impact of moderate to severe coronavirus infections in the post-acute phase is still poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the excess burden of multiorgan abnormalities after hospitalisation with COVID-19, evaluate their determinants, and explore associations with patient-related outcome measures. Methods: In a prospective, UK-wide, multicentre MRI follow-up study (C-MORE), adults (aged ≥18 years) discharged from hospital following COVID-19 who were included in Tier 2 of the Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID) and contemporary controls with no evidence of previous COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody negative) underwent multiorgan MRI (lungs, heart, brain, liver, and kidneys) with quantitative and qualitative assessment of images and clinical adjudication when relevant. Individuals with end-stage renal failure or contraindications to MRI were excluded. Participants also underwent detailed recording of symptoms, and physiological and biochemical tests. The primary outcome was the excess burden of multiorgan abnormalities (two or more organs) relative to controls, with further adjustments for potential confounders. The C-MORE study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04510025. Findings: Of 2710 participants in Tier 2 of PHOSP-COVID, 531 were recruited across 13 UK-wide C-MORE sites. After exclusions, 259 C-MORE patients (mean age 57 years [SD 12]; 158 [61%] male and 101 [39%] female) who were discharged from hospital with PCR-confirmed or clinically diagnosed COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and Nov 1, 2021, and 52 non-COVID-19 controls from the community (mean age 49 years [SD 14]; 30 [58%] male and 22 [42%] female) were included in the analysis. Patients were assessed at a median of 5·0 months (IQR 4·2–6·3) after hospital discharge. Compared with non-COVID-19 controls, patients were older, living with more obesity, and had more comorbidities. Multiorgan abnormalities on MRI were more frequent in patients than in controls (157 [61%] of 259 vs 14 [27%] of 52; p<0·0001) and independently associated with COVID-19 status (odds ratio [OR] 2·9 [95% CI 1·5–5·8]; padjusted=0·0023) after adjusting for relevant confounders. Compared with controls, patients were more likely to have MRI evidence of lung abnormalities (p=0·0001; parenchymal abnormalities), brain abnormalities (p<0·0001; more white matter hyperintensities and regional brain volume reduction), and kidney abnormalities (p=0·014; lower medullary T1 and loss of corticomedullary differentiation), whereas cardiac and liver MRI abnormalities were similar between patients and controls. Patients with multiorgan abnormalities were older (difference in mean age 7 years [95% CI 4–10]; mean age of 59·8 years [SD 11·7] with multiorgan abnormalities vs mean age of 52·8 years [11·9] without multiorgan abnormalities; p<0·0001), more likely to have three or more comorbidities (OR 2·47 [1·32–4·82]; padjusted=0·0059), and more likely to have a more severe acute infection (acute CRP >5mg/L, OR 3·55 [1·23–11·88]; padjusted=0·025) than those without multiorgan abnormalities. Presence of lung MRI abnormalities was associated with a two-fold higher risk of chest tightness, and multiorgan MRI abnormalities were associated with severe and very severe persistent physical and mental health impairment (PHOSP-COVID symptom clusters) after hospitalisation. Interpretation: After hospitalisation for COVID-19, people are at risk of multiorgan abnormalities in the medium term. Our findings emphasise the need for proactive multidisciplinary care pathways, with the potential for imaging to guide surveillance frequency and therapeutic stratification

Joint Acquisition of Path and Manner Action Description

The present study examines language patterns in theformation of common ground in collaborative action tasks.Based on the classic Clark and Wilkes-Gibbs’ (1986)paradigm for object descriptions, we examined dialoguebetween pairs of participants as they work cooperatively tomaneuver a remote control car following both manner andpath instructions. Overall, we replicated Clark andWilkes-Gibbs’ (1986) results in the domain of action in thedecline of word count, verb phrases, turn taking, and numberof errors committed, with diminishing returns after one trial.However, we also document specific language reductions inpath related actions, but not in manner related actions. Wesuggest that path actions particularly depend on compositionaldescriptors of the environment, consistent with thecontemporary conceptualization of action (Barsalou, 2009)

Evaluation of Ponseti technique for the management of congenital talipes equinovarus

Background: Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), also known as Clubfoot, is a complicated congenital malformation of the foot that, if left untreated, can limit a person's mobility by making walking difficult and painful. Low- and middle-income nations account for 80% of children born with clubfoot. Objectives: Present study was planned with objective to evaluate the functional outcomes of congenital talipes equinovarus management by the Ponseti technique. Materials and Methods: All clubfoot patients above the age of 12 months who had normal hips and spines and gave their consent to participate were included in the study. The study excluded patients over the age of 12 months who had previously undergone other surgeries and had linked neurological problems, spine, or hip concerns. The conventional approach described by Ponseti was followed, with the exception that percutaneous tenotomy of the tendo Achilles was performed when necessary. The Pirani score was employed in the evaluation. Results: 17 individuals with 28 feet of congenital idiopathic clubfoot were treated using the Ponseti technique. In our study, the mean initial Pirani score at the time of case presentation was 6.29 and was 0.66 at the final follow-up. The difference between starting treatment within two weeks versus starting treatment after two weeks was shown to be statistically insignificant. Relapse of the deformity occurred in 4 foot (14.29%). Conclusion: The Ponseti technique is a very safe, efficient, and cost-effective way to treat clubfoot in a developing country like India, where resources are scarce and the referral system is inadequate

Lip Bumper Therapy Does Not Influence the Sagittal Mandibular Incisor Position in a Retrospective CBCT Study

Lip bumper (LB) therapy is used as a treatment approach for mild to moderate crowding without extraction of teeth. Previous studies demonstrated that LB increases arch length through molar uprighting and lateral expansion. However, the effects of LB on mandibular incisors are inconclusive. The controversial results from different studies may be due to limitations including absence of a control group and/or use of 2D radiography. To address this issue, the current retrospective longitudinal CBCT study compared a rapid maxillary expansion (RME) group with no lower treatment [16 patients (9 females, 7 males); median age 8.86 years at T1 and 11.82 years at T2] and an RME + LB group [18 patients (13 females, 5 males); median age 9.46 years at T1 and 12.10 years at T2]. The CBCTs taken before and after phase 1 treatment were 3D superimposed based on the mandibular structure and were measured to determine the angular and linear changes of the mandibular incisors over the course of LB treatment. For comparisons between different timepoints within a group, a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used. For intergroup comparisons, a Mann–Whitney U test was used. Both groups showed eruption and protrusion of the mandibular incisors during the observation period, while there was no significant change in proclination of the lower incisors. When comparing the discrepancy of change between groups, there was no statistically significant difference detected. In summary, by utilizing a longitudinal 3D database, the current study demonstrated that the effect of LB on the position of the mandibular incisors is limited

Risks associated with renal dysfunction in patients in the coronary care unit

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of baseline renal dysfunction on morbidity and mortality in patients in the coronary care unit (CCU). BACKGROUND: The presence of renal dysfunction is an established independent predictor of survival after acute myocardial infarction and revascularization procedures. METHODS: We analyzed a prospective CCU registry of 12,648 admissions by 9,557 patients over eight years at a single, tertiary center. Admission serum creatinine was available in 9,544 patients. Those not on long-term dialysis were classified into quartiles of corrected creatinine clearance, with cut-points of 46.2, 63.1 and 81.5 ml/min per 72 kg. Dialysis patients (n = 527) were considered as a fifth comparison group. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics, including older age, African-American race, diabetes, hypertension, previous coronary disease and heart failure, were incrementally more common across increasing renal dysfunction strata. There were graded increases in the relative risk for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, heart block, asystole, development of pulmonary congestion, acute mitral regurgitation and cardiogenic shock across the risk strata. Survival analysis demonstrated an early mortality hazard for those with renal dysfunction, but not on dialysis, for the first 60 months, followed by graded decrements in survival across increasing renal dysfunction strata. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline renal function is a powerful predictor of short- and long-term events in the CCU population. There is an early hazard for in-hospital and postdischarge mortality for those with a corrected creatinine clearance \u3c 46.2 ml/min per kg, but not on dialysis. (C) 2000 by the American College of Cardiology