scholarly journals Impacts of Microplastics on the Swimming Behavior of the Copepod Temora turbinata (Dana, 1849)

Fluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Caroline H. Suwaki ◽  
Leandro T. De-La-Cruz ◽  
Rubens M. Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Calanoid Copepod ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Swimming Behavior ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Acquisition Rate ◽  
Turning Angle ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Net To Gross ◽  
Telecentric Lens

Zooplankton are prone to the ingestion of microplastics by mistaking them for prey. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the impacts of microplastic availability on zooplankton behavior. In this study, we investigated the effects of polystyrene microbeads on swimming patterns of the calanoid copepod Temora turbinata under laboratory conditions. We acquired high-resolution video sequences using an optical system containing a telecentric lens and a digital camera with an acquisition rate of 20 frames per second. We estimated the mean speed, NGDR (Net-to-Gross Displacement Ratio, a dimensionless single-valued measure of straightness) and turning angle to describe the swimming behavior in three different treatments (control, low and high concentration of microplastics). Our results revealed that swimming speeds decreased up to 40% (instantaneous speed) compared to controls. The NGDR and turning angle distribution of the organisms also changed in the presence of polystyrene microbeads, both at low (100 beads mL−1) and high microplastic concentration (1000 beads mL−1). These results suggest that the swimming behavior of Temora turbinata is affected by microbeads.

Pattern of plasma progesterone, oestradiol-17β, luteinizing hormone and androgen in non-pregnant buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

1982 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Arora ◽  
R. S. Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Peak Level ◽  
Systemic Circulation ◽  
Bubalus Bubalis ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Plasma Progesterone ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Androgen Level ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract. Domestic buffaloes were used to characterize the pattern of progesterone, oestradiol-17β, LH and androgen in the systemic circulation following infertile insemination. Concentrations of hormones were measured by RIA in blood samples collected daily or at alternate days following insemination. The concentration of progesterone was lowest on the day of insemination, and increased significantly to a peak level of 4.00 ± 0.60 ng/ml by day 13 post insemination. After day 17, it declined significantly (P < 0.01) to reach low levels by day 21. The concentration of oestradiol-17β was high at the time of insemination and declined significantly (P < 0.01) by day 2 after insemination. It was maintained around the basal level till day 18 with minor peaks in between this period. It again rose significantly (P < 0.01) at subsequent oestrus. The mean level of LH was highest at the time of insemination, and declined significantly (P < 0.01) by day 1 post insemination. It did not vary appreciably till the animal returned to oestrus. The oestrous value of LH and progesterone were negatively correlated (r = −0.77). The androgen level was observed to be high at insemination in 3 out of 5 animals, but the overall pattern of this steroid was inconsistent during the period studied. A high concentration of androgen was recorded in all the animals from day 2–5 before the onset of oestrus.

scholarly journals A sensitive and reliable RP-HPLC method for the detection of cimetidine – a H2 receptor antagonist in human plasma

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-674
Keyword(s):  
Human Plasma ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Internal Standard ◽  
Bioequivalence Study ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
H2 Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Chromatography Method ◽  
Thaw Cycle ◽  
Limit Of Quantitation ◽  
The Mean

Bioanalytical methods for bioequivalence studies require high sensibility and rapidity due to the large number of samples and the low plasma concentration of drugs. The present study aimed to develop and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography method to quantify cimetidine (CMT) in human plasma and to apply it in a bioequivalence study. Spiked plasma of 500 µl (l, m and h concentration) was used for the assay. The HPLC injection volume was 20μl of the reconstitute sample where, 2 ml of ethyl acetate used for extraction purposes. Cimetidine was prepared separately for low (80 ng/ml), medium (2000 ng/ml) and high (3600 ng/ml) concentrations and internal standard (ranitidine) concentration was 3000 ng/ml. Freeze thawing and long terms stability were conducted at -25º c. The individual calibration curve for spiked standards was linear with R2= 0.99. The inaccuracy values for QC samples were within 15% of the actual value and not more than 20% for the LOQ. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 40 ng/ml, which was also the lowest concentration of cimetidine that was quantitated with the variability of 5.9%. The within day precision and between day precision for LOQ were 10.8 and 5.9 respectively. The retention time for the analyte was 4.1-4.5 minutes during the within a day and between day results. The mean % inaccuracy values for low, medium and high concentration were 6.8, 5.6 and 7.8 respectively for within day and 2.4, 6.1 and 7.9 respectively for between days. The within day and between day % inaccuracy for LOQ concentration was 12.4 and 5.5 respectively. The mean recoveries for low, medium and high concentration of cimetidine were 80.2, 70.9 and 74.2. The overall mean recovery for cimetidine was 75.1%. The maximum inaccuracy for freeze thaw cycle and long term stability samples for low, medium and high was found with CV less than 15% for all concentrations, indicating that cimetidine is stable. The developed method was precise and accurate and was suitable to be applied for the bioequivalence study of cimetidine.

scholarly journals A Prospective Study of Single Breath Vital Capacity Inhalation Induction with High Concentration of Sevoflurane (Sbvc-Hc) for LMA Insertion in Adults for Short Surgical Cases

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
Kailash Prabhudev ◽  
Naveen Kumar K
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Vital Capacity ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Inhalation Induction ◽  
Inhalation Anesthesia ◽  
Volatile Anesthetic Agent ◽  
The Mean

Background: Sevoflurane is a new volatile anesthetic agent with rapid induction and recovery. A randomized study was carried to access conditions for LMA insertion using Sevoflurane in 25 ASA I & II patients undergoing short duration surgeries.Subjects and Methods:This prospective study was conducted at Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, SVS Medical College and Hospital, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India. After obtaining the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent from the patients, 25 subjects of either sex were included in this study. Age of the subjects was 18 to 60 years. Patients received injection Fentanyl 1 – 2mcg/kg prior to induction. All patients were pre-oxygenated for 3 min with 100% oxygen using a fresh gas flow of 81/min. All patients received inhalational induction with 8% Sevoflurane and O2 flow at 8 L/min with single vital capacity breathe technique. Loss of verbal contact was considered as the desired endpoint for induction, which was assessed by the response to calling out the patient’s name. Then the time of loss of eyelash reflex and jaw relaxation was assessed by anesthesiologist. After adequate jaw relaxation, LMA insertion was attempted.Results:The mean loss of verbal contact was 65.40±9.67second, while the mean for time for loss of eyelash reflex and jaw relaxation were found to be 81.20±9.39 seconds and 103.20 ±12.07 seconds respectively. The mean time for LMA insertion was 122.00±15.61 and the mean attempts for successful LMA insertion was 1.12±0.33. LMA insertion was easy in 23 cases as against difficult in 2 cases. In 2 cases transient cough and biting were recorded. LMA insertion was excellent and satisfactory in 88.0 and 12 percent. However, the mean heart rate at 5 minute after induction showed a significant fall at 5 minutes after induction. The mean values of SBP, DBP and MAP did not differ significantly at pre and induction. However, a significant decrease in SBP was noticed at 1, 2 and at 5 minutes.Conclusion:Sevoflurane is an smooth inhalation anesthesia with rapid onset with adequate jaw relaxation for insertion of LMA in Adults for short duration surgeries. Sevoflurane has got good hemodynamic profile with lesser complications owing to choice of inhalation agent for insertion of LMA.

scholarly journals How realistic are painted lightnings? Quantitative comparison of the morphology of painted and real lightnings: a psychophysical approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 474 (2214) ◽  
pp. 20170859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Stromp ◽  
Alexandra Farkas ◽  
Balázs Kretzer ◽  
Dénes Száz ◽  
András Barta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Software Package ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Quantitative Comparison ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
Morphological Parameters ◽  
Turning Angle ◽  
Local Maxima ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Number Of Branches

Inspired by the pioneer work of the nineteenth century photographer, William Nicholson Jennings, we studied quantitatively how realistic painted lightnings are. In order to answer this question, we examined 100 paintings and 400 photographs of lightnings. We used our software package to process and evaluate the morphology of lightnings. Three morphological parameters of the main lightning branch were analysed: (i) number of branches N b , (ii) relative length r , and (iii) number of local maxima (peaks) N p of the turning angle distribution. We concluded: (i) Painted lightnings differ from real ones in N b and N p . (ii) The r -values of painted and real lightnings vary in the same range. (iii) 67 and 22% of the studied painted and real lightnings were non-bifurcating ( N b  = 1, meaning only the main branch), the maximum of N b of painted and real lightnings is 11 and 51, respectively, and painted bifurcating lightnings possess mostly 2–4 branches, while real lightnings have mostly 2–10 branches. To understand these findings, we performed two psychophysical experiments with 10 test persons, whose task was to guess N b on photographs of real lightnings which were flashed for short time periods Δ t  = 0.5, 0.75 and 1 s (characteristic to lightnings) on a monitor. We obtained that (i) test persons can estimate the number of lightning branches quite correctly if N b  ≤ 11. (ii) If N b  > 11, its value is strongly underestimated with exponentially increasing difference between the real and estimated numbers. (iii) The estimation is independent of the flashing period Δ t of lightning photos/pictures. (iv) The estimation is more accurate, if skeletonized lightning pictures are flashed, rather than real lightning photos. These findings explain why artists usually illustrate lightnings with branches not larger than 11.

scholarly journals Changes in Characteristics and Practice Patterns of Ontario Psychiatrists

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Kurdyak ◽  
Juveria Zaheer ◽  
Joyce Cheng ◽  
David Rudoler ◽  
Benoit H. Mulsant
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
Outpatient Visit ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Urban Settings ◽  
Practice Characteristics ◽  
Medical School Graduation ◽  
School Graduation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Way

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in demographic, geographic, and practice characteristics of all Ontario psychiatrists between 2003 and 2013 and their implication for access to psychiatrists. Methods: We included all psychiatrists who were clinically active in Ontario in any year from 2003 to 2013. For each psychiatrist, we reported age, sex, years since medical school graduation, geographic practice region, and practice characteristics such as total number of inpatients, outpatients, and outpatient visit frequencies. Results: In 2013, there were 2070 psychiatrists, with nearly half (47%) more than 30 years since medical school graduation. Female psychiatrists comprised 41% of all psychiatrists in 2013 but 56% of all psychiatrists within 15 years of medical school graduation. Between 2003 and 2013, there was a 17% increase in the total number of psychiatrists, with the largest growth in psychiatrists occurring in the group more than 30 years from medical school graduation. Over these 11 years, the mean (SD) number of unique outpatients seen by a psychiatrist annually increased from 208 (228) to 249 (275) (19.5%; P = 0.001), with male psychiatrists, on average, seeing more outpatients annually than female psychiatrists. Conclusion: The number of outpatients seen by psychiatrists is slowly increasing. However, the large proportion of aging psychiatrists, the high concentration of psychiatrists in urban settings, and the increase in the number of female psychiatrists with smaller practices suggest that without radical changes to the way psychiatrists practice, access to psychiatrists will remain a challenge in Ontario.

A simple approach to estimate coastal soil salinity using digital camera images

Soil Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 737
Author(s):  
Lu Xu ◽  
Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel ◽  
Juhwan Lee ◽  
Zhichun Wang ◽  
Hongyuan Ma
Keyword(s):  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Salt Content ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
High Concentration

Soil salinisation is a global problem that hinders the sustainable development of ecosystems and agricultural production. Remote and proximal sensing technologies have been used to effectively evaluate soil salinity over large scales, but research on digital camera images is still lacking. In this study, we propose to relate the pixel brightness of soil surface digital images to the soil salinity information. We photographed the surface of 93 soils in the field at different times and weather conditions, and sampled the corresponding soils for laboratory analyses of soil salinity information. Results showed that the pixel digital numbers were related to soil salinity, especially at the intermediate and higher brightness levels. Based on this relationship, we employed random forest (RF) and partial least-squares regression (PLSR) to model soil salt content and ion concentrations, and applied root mean squared error, coefficient of determination and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient to evaluate the accuracy of models. We found that ions with high concentration were estimated more accurately than ions with low concentrations, and RF models performed overall better than PLSR models. However, the method is only suitable for bare land of coastal soil, and verification is needed for other conditions. In conclusion, a new approach of using digital camera images has good potential to predict and manage soil salinity in the context of precision agriculture with the rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicles.

scholarly journals Primary Standardization of Assays for Anticonvulsant Drugs: Comparison of Accuracy and Precision

2002 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1963-1969 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F Wilson ◽  
Ian D Watson ◽  
John Williams ◽  
Pat A Toseland ◽  
Alison H Thomson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Systems ◽  
Calibration Error ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
External Quality Assessment Scheme ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Accuracy Of Measurements ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Analytical Platforms ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Background: The accuracy and precision of methods for the measurement of the anticonvulsants phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, and valproate in human serum were assessed in 297 laboratories that were participants in the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme (UKNEQAS). Methods: We distributed lyophilized, serum-based materials containing low, medium, and high weighed-in concentrations of the drugs. The 297 participating laboratories received the materials on two occasions, 7 months apart. Expected concentrations were determined by gas chromatography or HPLC methods in five laboratories using serum-based NIST reference materials as calibrators. Results: In general, bias was consistent across concentrations for a method but often differed in magnitude for different drugs. Bias ranged from −1.9% to 8.6% for phenytoin, −2.7% to 3.1% for phenobarbital, −2.7% to 0.5% for primidone, −8.6% to 0.3% for carbamazepine, −5.6% to 2.0% for ethosuximide, and −7.2% to 0.1% for valproate. Intralaboratory sources of imprecision significantly exceeded interlaboratory sources for many drug/method combinations. The mean CVs for intra- and interlaboratory errors for the different drugs were 6.3–7.8% and 3.3–4.2%, respectively. Conclusions: For these long-established and relatively high-concentration analytes, the closed analytical platforms generally performed no better than open systems or chromatography, where use of calibrators prepared in house predominated. To improve the accuracy of measurements, work is required principally by the manufacturers of immunoassays to ensure minimal calibration error and to eliminate batch-to-batch variability of reagents. Individual laboratories should concentrate on minimizing dispensing errors.

The antagonistic effect of exogenous LH pulses on FSH-stimulated preovulatory follicle growth in ewes chronically treated with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist

1990 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Picton ◽  
C. G. Tsonis ◽  
A. S. McNeilly
Keyword(s):  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
High Amplitude ◽  
Follicle Growth ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Continuous Administration ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone ◽  
The Mean

ABSTRACT The hypogonadotrophism model induced by the chronic administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of FSH with or without LH pulses on the stimulation of follicular development in the ewe. Continuous administration of an agonist (buserelin) by osmotic minipump to thirty-six Welsh Mountain ewes from the early luteal phase for 5 weeks resulted in a sustained suppression of the plasma concentration of FSH and inhibited the pulsatile release of LH. The inhibition of gonadotrophin secretion was due to the desensitization and/or down-regulation of pituitary gonadotroph function, since the agonist-treated animals showed no response to a challenge of 1 μg GnRH. During week 6 of agonist treatment, ewes were infused with either 4-hourly pulses of ovine LH (9 μg/pulse), low concentrations of ovine FSH (3 μg/h) or high concentrations of FSH (9 μg/h) alone or with 4-hourly pulses of LH. After 5 days of gonadotrophin infusion, there was no difference between the mean number of follicles per ewe from the animals treated with LH alone, low concentrations of FSH with or without LH pulses or the high concentration of FSH alone compared with the mean number of follicles from control ewes on day 8 of the luteal phase. Infusion of the high concentration of FSH alone stimulated the development of an increased number of large oestrogenic follicles (follicles > 2·5 mm in diameter and secreting > 3·7 nmol oestradiol/h in vitro) compared with control ewes. The addition of high-amplitude LH pulses to the infusion of the high concentration of FSH prevented follicles developing beyond 2·5 mm in diameter, but doubled the number of small follicles (≤2·5 mm) present in the ovaries. These results show that normal follicular development can be induced by physiological concentrations of FSH alone in the absence of pulsatile LH release. The addition of high-amplitude LH pulses antagonized this stimulatory effect of FSH on follicle growth in the ewe. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 127, 273–283

48 THE AMOUNT OF TELOMERIC DNA IN LYMPHOCYTES OF DOG CLONES

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
H. J. Oh ◽  
M. K. Kim ◽  
G. Jang ◽  
H. J. Kim ◽  
S. G. Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Transfer Process ◽  
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Telomeric Dna ◽  
Natural Reproduction ◽  
Male Donor ◽  
Repeated Dna Sequence ◽  
The Mean

Controversy regarding the restoration of eroded telomere length of donor cells after the nuclear transfer process has arisen from previous studies of cloned cattle, mice, and pigs. Little is known about telomere lengths in dogs from either natural breeding or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In this study, we investigated the amount of telomeric DNA (ATD) in the lymphocytes of growing dog clones and their somatic cell donors. One cloned male Afghan hound dog [Snuppy (Lee et al. 2005 Nature 436, 641)] and 3 cloned female Afghan hound dogs (Jang et al. 2006 Theriogenology; doi:10.1016J.THERIOGENOLOGY.2006.11.006) were obtained from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) of ear skin fibroblasts. The lymphocytes were recovered from all dog clones: their nuclear donor dogs (male donor dog, female donor dog), and six normal Afghan hound dogs (control, and 10-, 20-, 26-, 49-, 55-, and 58-month-old, respectively). The ATD was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) with a telomeric DNA probe. A telomeric probe containing the TTAGGG repeated DNA sequence was simultaneously amplified and labeled with digoxigenin (DIG) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using dog genomic DNA as template, a (GGGTAA)7 primer, and a DIG-labeling kit (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). To analyze the amount of telomeric DNA on the lymphocytes, at least 100 interphase nuclei were examined in each specimen. The image was captured by a digital camera (DP-70, Olympus) and analyzed using MetaMorph (Universal Imaging Co., Downingtown, PA, USA), an image analysis program. Our results indicated that the ATD in normal Afghan hounds gradually decreased with age. Although no difference in ATD was observed between 10- and 26-month-old dogs, the ATD in the 26-month-old dog was significantly higher than that in 49-, 55-, and 58-month-olds (P < 0.05). The mean percentage of telomeric DNA in Snuppy (18-month-old; 2.38%) was significantly higher than that in the nuclear donor dog (49-month-old; 2.12%) but less than that in the age-matched control (20-month-old; 2.72%; P < 0.05). The ATD in 3 female clone dogs (3-, 2-, and 2-month-olds; 3.47, 3.28, and 3.07%) were significantly higher than that in the nuclear donor (26-month-old; 2.65%). In conclusion, the mean percentages of telomeric DNA in dog clones were higher than in nuclear donor dogs, and the ATD of the cloned male dog was different from that in age-matched controls from natural reproduction. The results suggest that the amount of telomeric DNA in dog clones can be restored with the nuclear transfer of cultured donor fibroblasts, but further studies are required as to how telomere reprogramming occurs during the nuclear transfer process.

scholarly journals On the Effects of Lateral Openings on Courtyard Ventilation and Pollution—A Large-Eddy Simulation Study

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Gronemeier ◽  
Matthias Sühring
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Recreation Areas ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Upstream Flow

Courtyards are an omnipresent feature within the urban environment. Residents often use courtyards as recreation areas, which makes them crucial for the physical and psychological comfort of the urban population. However, considering that courtyards represent enclosed cavities, they are often poorly ventilated spaces and pollutants from neighboring traffic, once entrained, can pose a serious threat to human health. Here, we studied the effects of lateral openings on courtyard pollution and ventilation. Therefore, we performed a set of large-eddy simulations for idealized urban environments with different courtyard configurations. While pollutant concentration and ventilation are barely modified by lateral openings for wide courtyards, lateral openings have a significant effect on the mean concentration, the number of high-concentration events and the ventilation within narrower and deeper courtyards. The impacts of lateral openings on air quality within courtyards strongly depend on their orientation with respect to the flow direction, as well as on the upstream flow conditions and upstream building configuration. We show that lateral openings, in most cases, have a negative impact on air quality; nevertheless, we also present configurations where lateral openings positively impact the air quality within courtyards. These outcomes may certainly contribute to improve future urban planning in terms of health protection.

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