On the Catch Assessement Survey (CAS) of Lake Victoria

If recent estimates are accurate the world’s human population can be expected to double in the next thirty years. The rate of growth will likely be even greater in many African nations, yet food supplies in these countries especially of essential animal proteins, are even not; inadequate Clearly increased production of food for domestic consumption must become a high- priority development goal. The inland fisheries of Africa will play an increasingly important role in augmenting protein supplies. In 1970, production of the inland fisheries was already-about 1.4 million metric tons, and had increased some 71 per cent in the previous six years. With further development and more affective fishery management a two-fold increase 1n output over the present level can reasonably be expected. Effective management of the fisheries at optimum exploitation levels end development of under utilized fish resources will neccessite major improvement in the stastistical systems employed to produce information on the fish stocks and fisheries. More reliable and detailed information on the catch, effort and other important aspect of the fishing enterprises will be required

A new method for estimating growth and mortality parameters from length frequency data

Length frequency, Growth rate, Mortality, Fish

Reply to editorial and commentaries on Steele, Al-Mufti, Augustyn, Chandrajith, Coghlan, Coulson et al. (2018) "Cause of Cambrian explosion - Terrestrial or cosmic?"

No abstract availabl

Reply to commentary by R Duggleby (2019)

Duggleby (2018) has made a numerical analysis of some aspects of the wide range of phenomena we reviewed in Steele et al. (2018) and asserted " .that panspermia as proposed by Steele et al. (2018) is extremely implausible.” It seems to us that Duggleby has based his viewpoint on a quite narrow and specific model of Panspermia which he supposes to be active in the cosmos. Here we address both his conclusions and his numerical analysis. Our response therefore will be at two levels, his specific analysis and his general conclusions. In the specific section below we show that while Duggleby's numerical analysis appears in part correct it is, in the final analysis, quite irrelevant to Cosmic Panspermia. In the general response which follows we address his unsupported conclusion throughout his critique, namely that … " none of the examples mentioned by Steele et al. (2018) is decisive enough to allow no other explanation.

Ribosomal RNA sequencing reveals differences between the genotypes of Giardia isolates recovered from humans and dogs living in the same locality

A polymerase chain reaction-based method for genotyping Giardia duodenalis isolates using a polymorphic region near the 5' end of the small subunit ribosomal (SSU) RNA gene is described. Analysis was performed using Giardia cysts purified directly from feces. Isolates were collected from humans and dogs living in isolated Aboriginal communities where Giardia infections are highly endemic. This is the first report of the genetic characterization of Giardia from dogs and humans living in the same locality. Comparison of the SSU-rRNA sequences from 13 human and 9 dog isolates revealed 4 different genetic groups. Groups 1 and 2 contained all of the human isolates, whereas groups 3 and 4 consisted entirely of Giardia samples recovered from dogs. One dog sample contained templates from both groups 2 and 3. These results suggest that zoonotic transmission of Giardia infections between humans and dogs does not occur frequently in these communities. The dog-associated SSU-rRNA sequences have not been reported before, suggesting a new G. duodenalis subgroup. A genetic basis for the differences observed between the groups was supported by sequence analysis of 9 in vitro cultured isolates that were placed into the same genetic groups established by enzyme electrophoresis

The characterisation of perennial ryegrass proteases and their inhibition during ensilage

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN006027 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

PCR-based DNA fingerprinting of Giardia duodenalis isolates using the intergenic rDNA spacer

The potential for the non-coding intergenic rDNA spacer (IGS) to DNA fingerprint Giardia duodenalis isolates was investigated. Conserved PCR primers, specific for the flanking large and small rDNA genes, were used to amplify the IGS from 52 in vitro-cultured Giardia isolates. Four distinct IGS-PCR size groups (1.35-1.6 kb) were observed, which correlated closely with the major genetic assemblages established previously for the same isolates using isoenzyme analysis. IGS-PCR size groups A (1.42 kb), C (1.4 kb) and D (1.35 kb) corresponded to isoenzyme assemblage A, and IGS-PCR group B (1.6 kb) to isoenzyme assemblage B. Amplified products from IGS-PCR size groups A and B, which contained 50/52 isolates, were subsequently digested with 8 different restriction enzymes and their profiles compared. Analysis separated isolates within each IGS-PCR size group into 2 distinct clusters which correlated almost exactly with the same genetic groups established previously using isoenzyme electrophoresis. Within each cluster, both methods exhibited a similar capacity to distinguish between Giardia genotypes although they established different genetic relationships between individual isolates. Much of the variability associated with the IGS was attributed to isolates harbouring multiple IGS-sequence types. Restriction analysis of IGS-PCR products amplified from cloned and parent lines of a human isolate BAH 39, which contains multiple IGS variants, showed that trophozoite populations are homogeneous with respect to the types of IGS-variants they maintain. Furthermore, in vitro culture of the cloned isolate BAH39c9 over a 6-year period also failed to reveal variation in IGS-PCR digestion profiles. These results suggest that IGS-PCR RFLP profiles are inherently stable. IGS-PCR analysis was successfully applied to 11 Giardia cyst samples highlighting the potential for this approach to genotype Giardia isolates without the need for in vitro culture

Effects on C3 and CH50 Levels During and Following Extracorporeal Whole Body Hyperthermia

Cardiopulmonary bypass can affect inflammatory reactions and evoke the “postperfusion syndrome,” manifested as multiple organ dysfunction in the recovery period. This syndrome is generated by the activation of complement, macrophages, neutrophils, and inflammatory cytokines. Following the use of hypothermia during cardiac procedures, active hyperthermic rewarming is used to reestablish body temperature. Complement levels and their interactions have been investigated during and following hypothermia. Hyperthermia is being used clinically; however, the effect of markedly elevated temperatures on complement is unknown and, therefore, needs to be investigated. A pilot canine study was designed to begin to explore what role hyperthermia may play on complement levels during and following extracorporeal whole body hyperthermia. Five dogs were heated to a core temperature of approximately 42°C, held at this elevated temperature for 90 minutes, then cooled to normothermia. A decline in C3 levels at the end of warming with further declines through day 4 post treatment was observed. CH50 levels mimicked the C3 level decline; however, there was a trend for rebounding by day 4. The findings involving complement factors following hyperthermia signify that this increase in temperature causes a decrease in both C3 and CH50 levels