Salinity during embryonic development influences the response to salinity of Gasterosteus aculeatus L. (trachurus)

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 451-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Belanger ◽  
Helga Guderley ◽  
Gérard J. FitzGerald

Individual male sticklebacks established nests, courted females, and cared for their fertilized eggs at 0 or 20‰ salinity. The time to hatching was shorter at 0 than at 20‰. One-week-old fry that hatched in freshwater had a significantly lower mortality after 96 h in freshwater than fry that hatched in brackish water. Fry that hatched at 20‰ grew little in freshwater and had their highest growth rates at 28‰, while fry that hatched at 0‰ showed little variation in growth rates at intermediate salinities and had reduced growth at 28‰. The mean duration of fanning bouts and the total duration of fanning was significantly greater at 0 than at 20‰, particularly toward the end of the incubation period, but the aggressive behavior did not differ between the two hatching salinities.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L. Dean ◽  
Shaun Robertson ◽  
Muayad Mahmud ◽  
Andrew D. C. MacColl

Author(s):  
Yong Sul Won ◽  
Jong-Hoon Kim ◽  
Chi Young Ahn ◽  
Hyojung Lee

While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has been ongoing in Korea since January 2020, there were limited transmissions during the early stages of the outbreak. In the present study, we aimed to provide a statistical characterization of COVID-19 transmissions that led to this small outbreak. We collated the individual data of the first 28 confirmed cases reported from 20 January to 10 February 2020. We estimated key epidemiological parameters such as reporting delay (i.e., time from symptom onset to confirmation), incubation period, and serial interval by fitting probability distributions to the data based on the maximum likelihood estimation. We also estimated the basic reproduction number (R0) using the renewal equation, which allows for the transmissibility to differ between imported and locally transmitted cases. There were 16 imported and 12 locally transmitted cases, and secondary transmissions per case were higher for the imported cases than the locally transmitted cases (nine vs. three cases). The mean reporting delays were estimated to be 6.76 days (95% CI: 4.53, 9.28) and 2.57 days (95% CI: 1.57, 4.23) for imported and locally transmitted cases, respectively. The mean incubation period was estimated to be 5.53 days (95% CI: 3.98, 8.09) and was shorter than the mean serial interval of 6.45 days (95% CI: 4.32, 9.65). The R0 was estimated to be 0.40 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.99), accounting for the local and imported cases. The fewer secondary cases and shorter reporting delays for the locally transmitted cases suggest that contact tracing of imported cases was effective at reducing further transmissions, which helped to keep R0 below one and the overall transmissions small.


2008 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 477-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Devaraj ◽  
SR Dodds

INTRODUCTION Some studies have considered abdominal aortas of 2.6–2.9 cm diameter (ectatic aortas) at age 65 years as being abnormal and have recommended surveillance, whereas others have considered these normal and surveillance unnecessary. It is, therefore, not clear how to manage patients with an initial aortic diameter between 2.6–2.9 cm detected at screening. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth rates of ectatic aortas detected on initial ultrasound screening to determine if any developed into clinically significant abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs; > 5.0 cm) and clarify the appropriate surveillance intervals for these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data were obtained from a prospective AAA screening programme which commenced in 1992. The group of patients with initial aortic diameters of 2.6–2.9 cm with a minimum of 1-year follow-up were included in this study (Group 2). This was further divided into two subgroups (Groups 3a and 3b) based on a minimum follow-up interval obtained from outcome analysis. Mean growth rate was calculated as change in aortic diameter with time. The comparison of growth rates in Groups 3a and 3b was performed using the t-test. The number and proportion of AAAs that expanded to ≥ 3.0 cm and ≥ 5.0 cm in diameter were also calculated. RESULTS Out of 999 patients with AAA ≥ 2.6 cm with minimum 1-year follow-up, 358 (36%) were classified as ectatic aortas (2.6–2.9 cm) at initial ultrasound screening with the mean growth rate of 1.69 mm/year (95% CI, 1.56–1.82 mm/year) with a mean follow-up of 5.4 years. Of these 358 ectatic aortas, 314 (88%) expanded into ≥ 3.0 cm, 45 (13%) expanded to ≥ 5.0 cm and only 8 (2%) expanded to ≥ 5.5 cm over a mean follow-up of 5.4 years (range, 1–14 years). No ectatic aortas expanded to ≥ 5.0 cm within the first 4 years of surveillance. Therefore, the minimum follow-up interval was set at 4 years and this threshold was then used for further analysis. The mean growth rate in Group 3a (< 5.0 cm at last scan) was 1.33 mm/year (95% CI, 1.23–1.44 mm/year) with a mean follow-up of 7 years compared to Group 3b (≥ 5.0 cm at last scan) with the mean growth rate of 3.33 mm/year (95% CI 3.05–3.61 mm/year) and a mean follow-up of 8 years. The comparison of mean growth rates between Groups 3a and 3b is statistically significant (t-test; T = 13.00; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS One-third of patients undergoing AAA screening will have ectatic aortas (2.6–2.9 cm) and at least 13% of these will expand to a size of ≥ 5.0 cm over a follow-up of 4–14 years. A threshold diameter of 2.6 cm for defining AAAs in a screening programme is recommended and ectatic aortas detected at age 65 years can be re-screened at 4 years after the initial scan. A statistically significant difference was found in the growth rates of ectatic aortas with minimum 4 years follow-up, expanding to ≥ 5.0 cm compared to those less than 5.0 cm at last surveillance scan. Further studies are required to test the hypothesis of whether growth rate over the first 4 years of surveillance will identify those who are most likely to expand to a clinically significant size (> 5.0 cm).


2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 3-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Perucha ◽  
E Ramalle-Gómara ◽  
M E Lezaun ◽  
A Blanco ◽  
C Quiñones ◽  
...  

This paper describes a measles outbreak in La Rioja, Spain, which began in December 2005 and mainly affected children under 15 months of age who were not yet immunised with MMR vaccine. The measles cases were detected by the mandatory reporting system, under which laboratories must report every confirmed measles case. Cases were classified in accordance with the National Measles Elimination Plan: suspected and laboratory-confirmed. In the period 14 December 2005 to 19 February 2006, 29 suspected cases of measles were investigated, and 18 were confirmed. The mean incubation period was 13.8 days (range: 9 to 18). Of the 18 confirmed cases, only two were in adults. MMR vaccination was recommended for all household contacts, as well as for children aged 6 to 14 months who attended the daycare centres where the cases had appeared. At these centres, the second dose of MMR was administered ahead of schedule for children under three years of age. It was recommended that the first dose of MMR vaccine be administered ahead of schedule for all children aged 9 to 14 months. During an outbreak of measles, children aged 6 months or older, who have not previously been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, should receive a first dose as soon as possible, and those who have had a first dose should receive a second dose as soon as possible, provided that a minimum of one month has elapsed between the two doses


1996 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis W. Jett ◽  
Gregory E. Welbaum ◽  
Ronald D. Morse

Priming, a controlled-hydration treatment followed by redrying, improves the germination and emergence of seeds from many species. We compared osmotic and matric priming to determine which was the most effective treatment for improving broccoli seed germination and to gain a greater understanding of how seed vigor is enhanced by priming. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) seeds were osmotically primed in polyethylene glycol (PEG 8000) at -1.1 MPa or matrically primed in a ratio of 1.0 g seed:0.8 g synthetic calcium silicate (Micro-Cel E):1.8 ml water at -1.2 MPa. In the laboratory, germination rates and root lengths were recorded from 5 to 42C and 10 to 35C, respectively. Broccoli seeds germinated poorly at >35C. Root growth after germination was more sensitive to temperatures >30C and <15C than radicle emergence. Matric and osmotic priming increased germination rate in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field. However, matric priming had a greater effect on germination and root growth rates from 15 to 30C. Neither priming treatment affected minimum or maximum germination or root growth temperatures. Both priming treatments decreased the mean thermal time for germination by >35%. The greater germination performance of matrically primed seeds was most likely the result of increased oxygen availability during priming, increased seed Ca content, or improved membrane integrity.


Author(s):  
Mary Jeba N

The study intended to find out any relationship between aggressive behavior and emotional maturity of adolescents. Aggressive behavior is the reactionary and impulsive behaviour. The role of education is the modification of behaviour of the individual. So, school has a great role in mending the behaviour of the students. Moral education and mediation can be given to students. This may help them to get rid of the aggressive behaviour. The investigator used the mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA (analysis of variance) to analyze the data and results were tabulated. The adolescent students show more aggressive behaviour than emotional maturity.


2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geir Ottersen ◽  
Kristin Helle ◽  
Bjarte Bogstad

For the large Arcto-Norwegian stock of cod (Gadus morhua L.) in the Barents Sea, year-to-year variability in growth is well documented. Here three hypotheses for the observed inverse relation between abundance and the mean length-at-age of juveniles (ages 1–4) are suggested and evaluated. Based on comprehensive data, we conclude that year-to-year differences in length-at-age are mainly determined by density-independent mechanisms during the pelagic first half year of the fishes' life. Enhanced inflow from the southwest leads to an abundant cohort at the 0-group stage being distributed farther east into colder water masses, causing lower postsettlement growth rates. We can not reject density-dependent growth effects related to variability in food rations, but our data do not suggest this to be the main mechanism. Another hypothesis suggests that lower growth rates during periods of high abundance are a result of density-dependent mechanisms causing the geographic range of juveniles to extend eastwards into colder water masses. This is rejected mainly because year-to-year differences in mean length are established by age 2, which is too early for movements over large distances.


1946 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. SMYTH

A technique has been elaborated that enabled the plerocercoid larvae of Schistocephalus solidus to be removed from the body cavity of Gasterosteus aculeatus without bacterial contamination. Larvae were cultured in plugged test-tubes under completely aseptic conditions in a variety of balanced salines, glucose salines and nutrient peptone broth. The most successful results were obtained with peptone broth at room temperatures (16-19° C) in which plerocercoids remained active and showed normal behaviour for periods up to 300 days. In ¾ strength Locke's solution, which was found by experiment to be approximately isotonic with Schistocephalus (δ = -0.44 ± 0.02° C), the mean period of normal behaviour was 114 days. In the remaining saline and saline-glucose media, the mean viability and period of normal behaviour was considerably less. In the plerocercoid, histological examination revealed that the genitalia are in an immature condition. During cultivation at room temperatures, the genitalia remained in this undifferentiated condition and showed no signs of undergoing spermatogenesis, oogenesis or vitellogenesis. Plerocercoids were induced to develop into sexually mature adults by raising the temperature of cultivation in peptone broth to 40° C. (i.e. the body temperature of the final host in the natural life cycle). Oviposition took place after 48-60 hr. at this temperature, and histological examination revealed that spermatogenesis, oogenesis, vitellogenesis and shell formation had taken place in a normal manner. The viability of artificially matured Schistocephalus was 4-6 days in vitro--a period equivalent to the viability of the adult in vivo. The eversion of the cirris was observed in each proglottid after 40 hr. cultivation at 40° C. During the sexual process the cirris everted and invaginated at the rate of about once per second. Cross-fertilization between segments of the same worm or with segments of another worm was not observed. Except for one specimen in ¾ strength Locke's solution which underwent spermatogenesis and partial vitellogenesis, larvae cultured in salines or glucose salines at 40° C. died within 1-3 days without further development. Attempts to hatch out the eggs produced by the cultivation of larvae in peptone broth at 40° C. proved unsuccessful. Histological examination revealed that spermatozoa had not been taken into the vagina. It was concluded that the eggs were not fertilized owing to the failure of normal copulation to take place.


2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Wróblewska-Kurdyk ◽  
Katarzyna Dancewicz ◽  
Anna Gliszczyńska ◽  
Beata Gabryś

AbstractThe effect of structurally related sesquiterpenoids (E,E)-farnesol and cis-nerolidol on the host-plant selection behaviour of the peach potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulz.) was evaluated using electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. No repellent effects of (E,E)-farnesol and (Z)-nerolidol to M. persicae were found but aphid probing activities on (E,E)-farnesol- and cis-nerolidol-treated plants were restrained. During non-phloem phases of probing, neither (E,E)-farnesol nor (Z)-nerolidol affected the cell puncture activity. On (E,E)-farnesol-treated plants, the total duration of phloem phase, the mean duration of individual sustained ingestion periods were significantly lower, and the proportion of phloem salivation was higher than on control plants. On (Z)-nerolidol-treated plants, the occurrence of the first phloem phase was delayed, and the frequency of the phloem phase was lower than on control plants. The freely moving aphids were reluctant to remain on (E,E)-farnesol- and (Z)-nerolidol-treated leaves for at least 24 h after exposure. (E,E)-Farnesol and (Z)-nerolidol show complementary deterrent properties, (E,E)-farnesol showing ingestive and post-ingestive activities and nerolidol showing pre-ingestive, ingestive, and post-ingestive deterrent activities.


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