Different Trends (different + trend)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Assessment of salmon stocks and the use of management targets; a case study of the River Tamar, England

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
K. HENDRY
Abstract, Over recent years the rod and net catch of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., on the River Tamar in south-west England has decreased markedly, resulting in a consistent failure to meet the minimum egg deposition target (conservation limit). Compliance with the target is by annual assessment using rod catch as the major input variable. Further analysis suggested a disproportionate deterioration in the rod fishery performance of the Tamar compared with rivers locally, regionally and nationally. A concomitant decrease in rod licence sales and fishing effort, above both national and regional trends was also evident. However, examination of juvenile electric fishing and adult fish counter data revealed a different trend for the past 10 years, indicating a stable fish population, albeit at a lower level of abundance than previously. The analyses suggested that without consideration of changes in effort and rod exploitation rate, rod catch alone is not a reliable indicator of stock abundance and hence should not be used as such in stock assessment. [source]


Daily pattern of some fatty acids in the athletic horse

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1 2009
G. Piccione
Summary In the sport field, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are important for the physical performance during the aerobic exercise of short intensity and long duration. In man, rat, goat and in the sedentary horse studies on the chronometabolism showed the presence of a circadian rhythm of the plasmatic concentration of NEFA while data for the athletic horse are lacking. To define a chronogram helpful for a specific planning and the differentiation of the training programmme in the athletic horse, the circadian pattern of some fatty acids (NEFA, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids) was studied in five Sella Italiana horses. These horses trained following a daily model of activity consisting of walk, trot, gallop and jump of obstacles of different heights. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein every 4 h, starting at 08:00 hours, for 2 days to assess the concentrations of total NEFA (by spectrophotometry), palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids (by gas chromatography). anova for repeated measures showed a statistical significant effect of the time of the day in NEFA, oleic and linolenic acids. The application of the periodic model showed the periodic pattern of NEFA, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Acrophases were in the afternoon for all parameters. The results obtained showed a different trend of the circadian pattern of the studied parameters in the athletic horse than in the sedentary one because the physical activity and the post-prandial metabolism acted as zeitgebers. [source]


Effects of temperature and salinity on the survival and development of mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forsskål), larvae

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 14 2007
Rahmi Nurdiani
Abstract The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival and development of the mud crab, Scylla serrata, were investigated in the laboratory. Newly hatched larvae were reared under 20 °C temperature and salinity combinations (i.e. combinations of four temperatures 25, 28, 31, 34 °C with five salinities 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 g L,1). The results showed that temperature and salinity as well as the interaction of the two parameters significantly affected the survival of zoeal larvae. Salinity at 15 g L,1 resulted in no larval survival to the first crab stage, suggesting that the lower salinity tolerance limit for mud crab larvae lies somewhere between salinity 15 and 20 g L,1. However, within the salinity range of 20,35 g L,1, no significant effects on survival of zoeal larvae were detected (P>0.05). The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival were also evident as at low salinities, both high and low temperature led to mass mortality of newly hatched larvae (e.g. 34 °C/15 g L,1, 34 °C/20 g L,1 and 25 °C/15 g L,1 combinations). In contrast, the low temperature and high salinity combination of 25 °C/35 g L,1 resulted in one of the highest survival to the megalopal stage. It was also shown that at optimal 28 °C, larvae could withstand broader salinity conditions. Temperature, salinity and their interaction also significantly affected larval development. At 34 °C, the mean larval development time to megalopa under different salinity conditions ranged from 13.5 to 18.5 days. It increased to between 20.6 and 22.6 days at 25 °C. The effects of salinity on larval development were demonstrated by the fact that for all the temperatures tested, the fastest mean development to megalopa was always recorded at the salinity of 25 g L,1. However, a different trend of salinity effects was shown for megalopae as their duration consistently increased with an increase in salinity from 20 to 35 g L,1. In summary, S. serrata larvae tolerate a broad range of salinity and temperature conditions. Rearing temperature 25,30 °C and salinity 20,35 g L,1 generally result in reasonable survival. However, from an aquaculture point of view, a higher temperature range of 28,30 °C and a salinity range of 20,30 g L,1 are recommended as it shortens the culture cycle. [source]


Methacrylate-based monolithic column with mixed-mode hydrophilic interaction/strong cation-exchange stationary phase for capillary liquid chromatography and pressure-assisted CEC

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 19 2008
Jian Lin
Abstract A novel porous polymethacrylate-based monolithic column by in situ copolymerization of 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate (SPMA) and pentaerythritol triacrylate in a binary porogenic solvent consisting of cyclohexanol/ethylene glycol was prepared. The monolith possessed in their structures bonded sulfonate groups and hydroxyl groups and was evaluated as a hydrophilic interaction and strong cation-exchange stationary phases in capillary liquid chromatography (cLC) and pressure-assisted CEC using small polar neutral and charged solutes. While the SPMA was introduced as multifunctional monomer, the pentaerythritol triacrylate was used to replace ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker with much more hydrophilicity due to a hydroxyl sub-layer. The different characterization of monolithic stationary phases were specially designed and easily prepared by altering the amount of SPMA in the polymerization solution as well as the composition of the porogenic solvent for cLC and pressure-assisted CEC. The resulting monolith showed the different trends about the effect of the permeabilities on efficiency in the pressure-assisted CEC and cLC modes. A typical hydrophilic interaction chromatography mechanism was observed at higher organic solvent content (ACN%>70%) for polar neutral analytes. For polar charged analytes, both hydrophilic interaction and electrostatic interaction contributed to their retention. Therefore, for charged analytes, selectivity can be readily manipulated by changing the composition of the mobile phase (e.g., pH, ionic strength and organic modifier). With the optimized monolithic column, high plate counts reaching greater than 170,000,plates/m for pressure-assisted CEC and 105,000 plates/m for cLC were easily obtained, respectively. [source]


Orbital Splitting and Pairing Energy in Open-Shell Organometallics: A Study of Two Families of 16-Electron Complexes [Cp2M] (M = Cr, Mo, W) and [CpM(PH3)] (M = Co, Rh, Ir)

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2005
Rinaldo Poli
Abstract The singlet,triplet gap for two families of 16-electron organometallic complexes has been examined in detail by DFT calculations at the B3LYP level with polarized basis sets on both metal and ligands. For the first family, the group 6 metallocenes (Cp2M with Cp = ,5 -C5H5 and M = Cr, Mo, W), the singlet,triplet gap (ES , ET) is always positive and decreases continuously on going from Cr to Mo to W. For the family of group 9 CpM(PH3), on the other hand, there is a decrease on going from Co to Rh, followed by a slight increase on going further to Ir. These trends have been analyzed in qualitative monoelectronic terms as a function of the competition between the pairing energy and the orbital gap. While the pairing energy decreases as expected in the order 3d >> 4d > 5d, the orbital gap varies in a different way for the two families and, though quantitatively less important, is responsible for the different trends. It is argued that changes in orbital gap are system-dependent for open-shell organometallic systems, thus it is not possible to establish a universal trend of singlet,triplet gaps for a homologous series of complexes with a group of transition metals. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005) [source]


P-wave transmission across fractures with nonlinear deformational behaviour

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 11 2006
X. B. Zhao
Abstract Stress wave attenuation across fractured rock masses is a great concern of underground structure safety. When the wave amplitude is large, fractures experience nonlinear deformation during the wave propagation. This paper presents a study on normal transmission of P-wave across parallel fractures with nonlinear deformational behaviour (static Barton,Bandis model). The results show that the magnitude of transmission coefficient is a function of incident wave amplitude, nondimensional fracture spacing and number of fractures. Two important indices of nondimensional fracture spacing are identified, and they divide the area of nondimensional fracture spacing into three parts (individual fracture area, transition area and small spacing area). In the different areas, the magnitude of transmission coefficient has different trends with nondimensional fracture spacing and number of fractures. In addition, the study reveals that under some circumstances, the magnitude of transmission coefficient increases with increasing number of fractures, and is larger than 1. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Properties of nanocomposites based on maleate-vinyl ether donor,acceptor UV-curable systems

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007
Neena Ravindran
Abstract UV-curable nanocomposites based on donor,acceptor crosslinking chemistry were prepared containing organically modified montmorillonites. The coatings were characterized for thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed that nanocomposites were formed in all samples. Results showed that an increase in the percentage of clay caused an increased modulus and glass-transition temperature. It was also seen that tensile modulus showed dramatic improvement when compared with the unmodified polyester sample. Real time IR kinetic data showed that higher conversions were obtained at higher clay loadings. Pendulum hardness values and tensile modulus values showed different trends in properties depending on the combination of polymer matrix and organomodification. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007 [source]


AN EVALUATION OF THE AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES FOR ESTIMATING MISSING FECAL COLIFORM DATA,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2004
Ashu Jain
ABSTRACT: This paper presents the findings of a study aimed at evaluating the available techniques for estimating missing fecal coliform (FC) data on a temporal basis. The techniques investigated include: linear and nonlinear regression analysis and interpolation functions, and the use of artificial neural networks (ANNs). In all, seven interpolation, two regression, and one ANN model structures were investigated. This paper also investigates the validity of a hypothesis that estimating missing FC data by developing different models using different data corresponding to different dynamics associated with different trends in the FC data may result in a better model performance. The FC data (counts/100 ml) derived from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Kentucky were employed to calibrate and validate various models. The performance of various models was evaluated using a wide variety of standard statistical measures. The results obtained in this study are able to demonstrate that the ANNs can be preferred over the conventional techniques in estimating missing FC data in a watershed. The regression technique was not found suitable in estimating missing FC data on a temporal basis. Further, it has been found that it is possible to achieve a better model performance by first decomposing the whole data set into different categories corresponding to different dynamics and then developing separate models for separate categories rather than developing a single model for the composite data set. [source]


Pattern and process in Norwegian upland grasslands: a functional analysis

JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2002
Vigdis Vandvik
Lid & Lid (1994) Abstract. Four classes of functional and morphological plant traits , established strategies (the CSR scheme sensu Grime 1979), life-forms (sensu Raunkiaer 1934), morphology, and regenerative strategies , are used as tools for explaining vegetation gradients at summer farms in the mountains of western Norway. These farms are assembly points for free-ranging domestic grazers, and differ floristically and ecologically from the surrounding heath or woodland vegetation. DCA and TWINSPAN are used to relate major gradients in a floristic data set from 12 summer farms to two sets of explanatory variables: (1) environmental variables representing physical factors, plot position, soils, and land use, and (2) the 4 classification schemes. The main floristic gradient parallels a spatial gradient from the centres of the farms to the surrounding vegetation. A functional interpretation based on the concurrent use of the 2 sets of explanatory variables suggests that the gradient is one of decreasing disturbance and increasing environmental stress caused by decreasing grazing and manure effects away from farms. Partial CCA is used to investigate the relationships between the 4 functional/morphological plant trait classes. The 4 classification schemes are partially redundant, and do not represent different trends of specialization within the landscape. There is no strong evidence for decoupling of the traits of the vegetative and regenerative phases within the data. The combination of general process-based theories and specific plant attribute responses enhances the generality and interpretability of the study. [source]


Community structure of bathyal decapod crustaceans off South-Eastern Sardinian deep-waters (Central-Western Mediterranean)

MARINE ECOLOGY, Issue 2009
Maria Cristina Follesa
Abstract Community structure and faunal composition of bathyal decapod crustaceans off South-Eastern Sardinian deep-waters (Central-Western Mediterranean) were investigated. Samples were collected during 32 hauls between 793 and 1598 m in depth over the 2003,2007 period. A total of 1900 decapod specimens belonging to 23 species were collected. Multivariate analysis revealed the occurrence of three faunistic assemblages related to depth: (i) an upper slope community at depths of 793,1002 m; (ii) a middle slope community at depths of 1007,1212 m and (iii) a lower slope community at depths greater 1420 m. In the upper and middle slopes the benthic (Polycheles typhlops) and epibenthic,endobenthic feeders (mainly Aristeus antennatus and Geryon longipes), which eat infaunal prey, were dominant, followed by the macroplankton,epibenthic feeders such as Acanthephyra eximia and Plesionika acanthonotus. In the deepest stratum, the most remarkable feature was the prevalence of macroplankton,epibenthic feeders (A. eximia and P. acanthonotus). A small percentage of the benthic deep-sea lobster Polycheles sculptus was also present. The biomass presented higher values in the middle slope and declined strongly in the lower slope. There was no general pattern of mean individual weight/size versus depth among decapods, and the changes seemed to be species-specific with different trends. [source]


Effect of processing technique on the dispersion of carbon nanotubes within polypropylene carbon nanotube-composites and its effect on their mechanical properties

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 5 2010
Amal M.K. Esawi
Carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer composites are being investigated as promising new materials having enhanced physical and mechanical properties. With regards to mechanical behavior, the enhancements reported thus far by researchers are lower than the theoretical predictions. One of the key requirements to attaining enhanced behavior is a uniform dispersion of the nanotubes within the polymer matrix. Although solvent mixing has been used extensively, there are concerns that any remaining solvent within the composite may degrade its mechanical properties. In this work, a comparison is carried out between solvent and "solvent-free" dry mixing for dispersing multiwall carbon nanotubes in polypropylene before further melt mixing by extrusion. Various weight fractions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are added to the polymer and their effect on the mechanical properties of the resulting composites is investigated. Enhancements in yield strength, hardness, and Young's modulus when compared with the neat polymer, processed under similar conditions, are observed. Differences in mechanical properties and strain as a function of the processing technique (solvent or dry) are also clearly noted. In addition, different trends of enhancement of mechanical properties for the solvent and dry-mixed extrudates are observed. Dry mixing produces composites with the highest yield strength, hardness, and modulus at 0.5 wt% CNT, whereas solvent mixing produces the highest mechanical properties at CNT contents of 1 wt%. It is believed that this difference is primarily dependent on the dispersion of CNTs within the polymer matrix which is influenced by the processing technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis shows the presence of clusters in large wt% CNT samples produced by dry mixing. Samples produced by solvent mixing are found to contain homogeneously distributed CNTs at all CNT wt fractions. CNT pull-out is observed and may explain the limited enhancement in mechanical properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Magmatic evolution of the Mantos Blancos copper deposit, Coastal Range of northern Chile: insight from Sr,Nd isotope, geochemical data and silicate melt inclusions

RESOURCE GEOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
Luis E. Ramírez
Abstract The Mantos Blancos copper deposit (500 Mt at 1.0% Cu) was affected by two superimposed hydrothermal events: (i) phyllic alteration related to a rhyolitic dome emplacement and brecciation at ca 155 Ma; and (ii) potassic, sodic and propylitic alteration at ca 142 Ma, coeval with stocks and sills emplacement of dioritic and granodioritic porphyries, that locally grade upwards into polymictic magmatic hydrothermal breccias. Major hypogene copper sulfide mineralization is related to the second event. A late-ore mafic dike swarm cross-cuts all rocks in the deposit. Two types of granodioritic porphyries can be distinguished from petrographic observations and geochemical data: granodiorite porphyry I (GP I) and granodiorite porphyry II (GP II), which resulted from two different trends of magmatic evolution. The concave shape of the rare earth element (REE) distribution pattern together with the weak or absence of negative Eu anomalies in mafic dikes, dioritic and GP I porphyries, suggest hornblende-dominated fractionation for this magmatic suite. In contrast, distinct negative Eu anomalies and the flat REE patterns suggest plagioclase-dominated fractionation, at low oxygen fugacity, for the GP II porphyry suite. But shallow mixing and mingling between silicic and dioritic melts are also likely for the formation of the GP II and polymictic breccias, respectively. Sr-Nd isotopic compositions suggest that the rhyolitic dome rocks were generated from a dominantly crustal source, while the GP I has mantle affinity. The composition of melt inclusions (MI) in quartz crystals from the rhyolitic dome is similar to the bulk composition of their host rock. The MI analyzed in quartz from GP II and in the polymictic magmatic hydrothermal breccia of the deposit are compositionally more evolved than their host rocks. Field, geochemical and petrographic data provided here point to dioritic and siliceous melt interaction as an inducing mechanism for the release of hydrothermal fluids to form the Cu mineralization. [source]


Can error source terms in forecasting models be represented as Gaussian Markov noises?

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 609 2005
C. Nicolis
Abstract The repercussions of model error on the long term climatological means and on the variability around them are analysed. The extent to which a stochastic representation of error source terms provides a universal correcting mechanism is addressed. General relations are derived linking the model error to the climatological means and the variability properties of a forecasting model subjected to a correcting Gaussian Markov noise on the basis of moment equations associated with Fokker,Planck and Liouville type equations. These relations are implemented in a variety of models giving rise to regular and to chaotic solutions. As it turns out, forecasting models fall into distinct universality classes differing in their response to the effect of noise according to the structure of the Jacobian and the Hessian matrices of the model phase-space velocity. It is concluded that different trends may exist in which the ,correcting' noise tends to depress or, on the contrary, amplify the model error. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society. [source]


Trends in the prevalence of disability and chronic conditions among the older population: implications for survey design and measurement of disability

AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, Issue 1 2004
Xingyan Wen
A number of issues that are crucial for measuring disability and monitoring trends in disability prevalence include: (i) Why has a decline in the reported disability prevalence been accompanied by an increase in the reported prevalence of chronic diseases in some developed countries? (ii) Why have different trends (increases and decreases) in disability prevalence been reported among the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries? (iii) While the cross-nation comparison of level of disability prevalence is limited by the differences in survey design and methods, can trends in disability within each country be compared internationally on the basis of the existing survey data? The present paper discusses recent trends in reported prevalence of disability and chronic conditions among the older population and explores implications for population survey methods and measurement of disability. A comparison of examples from the USA and Australia indicates that the reported disability prevalence may be affected by whether the presence of any chronic conditions restricting everyday activity are included as part of the survey definition of disability. Focusing on long-term and severe disability may increase the comparability of disability estimates from different countries, including estimates from time series data. [source]


A Practical Method to Estimate the Bed Height of a Fluidized Bed of Fine Particles

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 12 2008
M. Zhang
Abstract Knowledge of both dense bed expansion and freeboard solids inventory are required for the determination of bed height in fluidized beds of fine particles, e.g., Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalysts. A more accurate estimation of the solids inventory in the freeboard is achieved based on a modified model for the freeboard particle concentration profile. Using the experimentally determined dense bed expansion and the modified freeboard model, a more practical method with improved accuracy is provided to determine the bed height both in laboratory and industrial fluidized beds of FCC particles. The bed height in a fluidized bed can exhibit different trends as the superficial gas velocity increases, depending on the different characteristics of the dense bed expansion and solids entrainment in the freeboard. The factors that influence the bed height are discussed, showing the complexity of bed height and demonstrating that it is not realistic to determine the bed height by a generalized model that can accurately predict the dense bed expansion and freeboard solids inventory simultaneously. Moreover, a method to determine the bed height, based on axial pressure fluctuation profiles, is proposed in this study for laboratory fluidized beds, which provides improved accuracy compared to observation alone or determining the turning points in the axial pressure profiles, especially in high-velocity fluidized beds. [source]