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Specific Data (specific + data)
Selected AbstractsWasted fishery resources: discarded by-catch in the USAFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 4 2005Jennie M Harrington Abstract Fishery by-catch, especially discarded by-catch, is a serious problem in the world's oceans. Not only are the stocks of discarded species affected, but entire trophic webs and habitats may be disrupted at the ecosystem level. This paper reviews discarding in the marine fisheries of the USA; however, the type, diversity and regulatory mechanisms of the fisheries are similar to developed fisheries and management programmes throughout the world. We have compiled current estimates of discarded by-catch for each major marine fishery in the USA using estimates from existing literature, both published and unpublished. We did not re-estimate discards or discard rates from raw data, nor did we include data on protected species (turtles, mammals and birds) and so this study covers discarded by-catch of finfish and fishable invertebrates. For some fisheries, additional calculations were required to transform number data into weight data, and typically length and weight composition data were used. Specific data for each fishery are referenced in Harrington et al. (Wasted Resources: Bycatch and discards in US Fisheries, Oceana, Washington, DC, 2005). Overall, our compiled estimates are that 1.06 million tonnes of fish were discarded and 3.7 million tonnes of fish were landed in USA marine fisheries in 2002. This amounts to a nationwide discard to landings ratio of 0.28, amongst the highest in the world. Regionally, the southeast had the largest discard to landings ratio (0.59), followed closely by the highly migratory species fisheries (0.52) and the northeast fisheries (0.49). The Alaskan and west coast fisheries had the lowest ratios (0.12 and 0.15 respectively). Shrimp fisheries in the southeast were the major contributors to the high discard rate in that region, with discard ratios of 4.56 (Gulf of Mexico) and 2.95 (South Atlantic). By-catch and discarding is a major component of the impact of fisheries on marine ecosystems. There have been substantial efforts to reduce by-catch in some fisheries, but broadly based programmes covering all fisheries are needed within the USA and around the world. In response to international agreements to improve fishery management, by-catch and discard reduction must become a regular part of fishery management planning. [source] The pathophysiology of lower urinary tract symptoms after brachytherapy for prostate cancerBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2006Jerry G. Blaivas Brachytherapy for prostate cancer has many good effects, but is also associated, like every treatment, with side-effects, some of which have been previously reported in the BJU International. In this section, authors from New York assessed the pathophysiology underlying LUTS which persisted for at least 6 months after brachytherapy, and found a relatively high incidence of detrusor overactivity and other conditions affecting the lower urinary tract. OBJECTIVES To determine the spectrum of pathophysiology underlying the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) persisting for ,,6 months after brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS A database of men from two practice settings was searched for men who developed LUTS persisting for ,,6 months after completing brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. Patients were evaluated with a structured history and physical examination, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), 24-h voiding diary, noninvasive free-flow uroflowmetry, postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), cystoscopy and a video-urodynamic study. Specific data collected included symptoms, elapsed time since brachytherapy, Gleason score, IPSS, total number of voids/24 h, maximum voided volume, cystoscopic findings, and urodynamics findings (PVR, maximum urinary flow rate, Schaefer obstruction grade, Watts factor, incidence of detrusor overactivity (DO) urethral obstruction and low bladder compliance). These data were compared with those from a previous study of men with LUTS who did not have prostate cancer. RESULTS The study included 47 men (aged 54,88 years); the median (range) interval between brachytherapy and evaluation was 1.5 (0.5,13) years. Thirty-seven men complained of overactive bladder symptoms (79%), and 31 of incontinence (71%), 21 of obstructive symptoms (44%), and persistent dysuria in 12 (26%). Comparison of urodynamic findings in men with unselected causes of LUTS vs LUTS due to brachytherapy revealed the following comparisons: DO in 252 of 541 (47%) unselected vs 28 of 33 (85%) brachytherapy, (P < 0.001); and urethral obstruction in 374 of 541 (69%) unselected vs 24 of 33 (73%) brachytherapy (P = 0.85). CONCLUSION The pathophysiology and severity of persistent LUTS in men after brachytherapy differs from that of men with LUTS in the general population. Men after brachytherapy have a much higher incidence of DO, prostatic and urethral strictures and prostatic urethral stones. [source] Variations in size and in symmetry of foramina of the human skullCLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 6 2001Jennifer K. Berge Abstract The goal of this report is to define an average size and size range for many of the skull's foramina and to determine in which paired foramina asymmetry is commonly found so that researchers and clinicians examining foramina may have an anatomical reference. The incidence of foraminal variations is also discussed. Information on skull foraminal size and symmetry is increasingly important because of the advancements in radiologic techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). These methods are making difficult diagnoses of pathologic conditions of skull foramina possible. The foramina of 100 randomly selected dry skulls were measured and the symmetry of paired foramina was noted. The average, largest, and smallest sizes for 29 different foramina and the length of one canal are listed. Information regarding the symmetry of 27 paired foramina and the length symmetry of the infraorbital canal was also gathered. Specific data collected for paired foramina include the percent of skulls in which (1) neither foramen of the pair was present, (2) both foramina of a pair were present, (3) both foramina of the pair are present and were both the same size within 0.5 mm, and (4) both foramina of a pair are present but there was greater than 0.5 mm difference in size between them. Clin. Anat. 6:406,413, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Estimating metabolic biotransformation rates in fish from laboratory dataENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2008Jon A. Arnot Abstract A method is proposed for estimating metabolic biotransformation rate constants for nonionic organic chemicals from measured laboratory bioconcentration and dietary bioaccumulation data in fish. Data have been selected based on a quality review to reduce uncertainty in the measured values. A kinetic mass balance model is used to estimate rates of chemical uptake and elimination. Biotransformation rate constants are essentially calculated as the difference between two quantities, a measured bio-concentration factor or elimination rate constant, and a model-derived bioconcentration factor or elimination rate constant estimated assuming no biotransformation. Model parameterization exploits key empirical data when they are available and assumes default values when study specific data are unavailable. Uncertainty analyses provide screening level assessments for confidence in the biotransformation rate constant estimates. The uncertainty analyses include the range for 95% of the predicted values and 95% confidence intervals for the calculated biotransformation values. Case studies are provided to illustrate the calculation and uncertainty methods. Biotransformation rate constants calculated by the proposed method are compared with other published estimates for 31 chemicals that range in octanol,water partition coefficients from approximately 101 to 108 and represent over four orders of magnitude in biotransformation potential. The comparison of previously published values with those calculated by the proposed method shows general agreement with 82% of the estimated values falling within a factor of three. [source] New plant protection information system in Hungary,EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 1 2000A. Pákozdi Data on the occurrence and spread of pests has been supplied by the Hungarian Plant Protection Organization for over 40 years. Since the 1970s, this service has been operated by the central station and the 20 county stations of the Plant Protection Organization. Data recorded on pest occurrence and developmental stage of pests and plants has been used to run a forecasting system at local and national levels. However, because of significant staff reductions in the Plant Protection Organization and the disappearance of independent forecasting groups, the reliability of the system, which was based on very specific data, has decreased. It has become necessary to develop a more reliable and flexible computer-aided system (Plant Protection Information System, PPIS), better adjusted to the political and economic changes that have occurred. A major element of the new system, introduced in 1997, is that excessively detailed recording was replaced by a more practical general approach with fewer subjective errors. Specialists from the county stations of the Plant Protection Organization monitor infestation levels of 73 pests in 20 crops using five qualification categories. The results obtained are input into the PPIS program, which processes them into user-friendly charts and maps showing the plant health situation in each county and in the country as a whole, as a basis for taking decisions on plant protection measures. [source] The Relationship between Patients' Perception of Care and Measures of Hospital Quality and SafetyHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010Thomas Isaac Background. The extent to which patient experiences with hospital care are related to other measures of hospital quality and safety is unknown. Methods. We examined the relationship between Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores and technical measures of quality and safety using service-line specific data in 927 hospitals. We used data from the Hospital Quality Alliance to assess technical performance in medical and surgical processes of care and calculated Patient Safety Indicators to measure medical and surgical complication rates. Results. The overall rating of the hospital and willingness to recommend the hospital had strong relationships with technical performance in all medical conditions and surgical care (correlation coefficients ranging from 0.15 to 0.63; p<.05 for all). Better patient experiences for each measure domain were associated with lower decubitus ulcer rates (correlations ,0.17 to ,0.35; p<.05 for all), and for at least some domains with each of the other assessed complications, such as infections due to medical care. Conclusions. Patient experiences of care were related to measures of technical quality of care, supporting their validity as summary measures of hospital quality. Further study may elucidate implications of these relationships for improving hospital care. [source] Bioinformatics-based discovery and identification of new biologically active peptides for GPCR deorphanization,JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 9 2007Jean Colette Abstract Owing to their involvement in many physiological and pathological processes, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are interesting targets for drug development. Approximately, 100 endoGPCRs lack their natural ligands and remain orphan (oGPCRs). Consequently, oGPCR deorphanization appears a promising research field for the development of new therapeutics. On the basis of the knowledge of currently known GPCR/ligand couples, some oGPCRs may be targeted by peptides. However, to find new drugs for GPCRs, Genepep has developed a dedicated bioinformatics platform to screen transcriptomic databases for the prediction of new GPCR ligands. The peptide lists generated include specific data, such as chemical and physical properties, the occurrence of post-translational modifications (PTMs) and an annotation referring to the location and expression level of the related putative genes. This information system allows a selection through series of biological criteria of ,10 000 natural peptides including already known GPCR ligands and potential new candidates for GPCR deorphanization. The most promising peptides for functional assay screening and future development as therapeutic agents are under evaluation. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] COMPILATION OF MEASURED NUTRIENT LOAD DATA FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND USES IN THE UNITED STATES,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 5 2006Daren Harmel ABSTRACT: Measured field scale data are increasingly used to guide policy and management decisions based on comparative pollutant load information from various land management alternatives. The primary objective of this study was to compile measured annual nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) load data representing field scale transport from agricultural land uses. This effort expanded previous work that established an initial nutrient export coefficient dataset. Only measured annual N and P load data published in scientific peer-reviewed studies were included in the present compilation. Additional criteria for inclusion were: spatial scale (field scale or farm scale, minimum 0.009 ha); land use (homogeneous, either cultivated agriculture or pasture/rangeland/hay); natural rainfall (not rainfall simulation); and temporal scale (minimum one year). Annual N and P load data were obtained from 40 publications, resulting in a 163-record database with more than 1,100 watershed years of data. Basic descriptive statistics in relation to N and P loads were tabulated for tillage management, conservation practices, fertilizer application, soil texture, watershed size, and land use (crop type). The resulting Measured Annual Nutrient loads from A Circumlittoral Environments (MANAGE) database provides readily accessible, easily queried watershed characteristic and nutrient load data and establishes a platform suitable for input of additional project specific data. [source] Enhanced automated structure elucidation by inclusion of two-bond specific dataMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2010Steve F. Cheatham Abstract The availability of cryogenically cooled probes permits routine acquisition of data from low sensitivity pulse sequences such as inadequate and 1,1-adequate. We demonstrate that the use of cryo-probe generated 1,1-adequate data in conjunction with HMBC dramatically improves computer-assisted structure elucidation (CASE) both in terms of speed and accuracy of structure generation. In this study data were obtained on two dissimilar natural products and subjected to CASE analysis with and without the incorporation of two-bond specific data. Dramatic improvements in both structure calculation times and structure candidates were observed by the inclusion of the two-bond specific data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Factors with independent influence on the ,timed up and go' test in patients with hip fracturePHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2009Morten Tange Kristensen Abstract Background and Purpose.,Data on performance times for the ,timed up and go' (TUG) test with analyses of factors, that eventually could affect the result in patients with hip fracture, have not been published to date. The aims of the present study, therefore, were to assess normative reference values of TUG performances and determine the influence of individual and clinical factors on TUG-test scores in patients with hip fracture.,Method.,In this prospective, descriptive study, a total of 196 consecutive patients over the age of 60, and able to perform the TUG when discharged directly to their own homes from a specialized orthopaedic hip fracture unit, were evaluated. The association between TUG scores and categorical variables were examined, and linear regression was used to investigate the factors influencing performance times.,Results.,Univariate analysis showed significant differences between all categorical variables, except gender, but multivariate linear regression analyses showed that only a high pre-fracture function level, evaluated by the New Mobility Score (B = ,11), was independently associated with having a good TUG score, while older age (B = 0.49), having an intertrochanteric fracture (B = 7), performing TUG with a walker (B = 15), and performing TUG in the later postoperative period (B = 0.39) were independently associated with having a poorer TUG score.,Conclusions.,These preliminary normative reference values of TUG performances in patients with hip fracture can be used as references, to which individuals can expect to perform. Multivariate testing suggests that clinicians should use age, pre-fracture function, fracture type and walking-aid specific data when interpreting the TUG test results. Physiotherapists should be aware of this if TUG scores are to be used predictively or as an outcome measure in patients with hip fracture, especially in research. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Psoriasis , epidemiology and clinical spectrumCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Enno Christophers Despite psoriasis being a common skin disease, there are still a number of unanswered questions. One of these is the prevalence of the disease, as there is a lack of specific data, with the majority of studies reporting estimates only. Population based studies are rare and longitudinal observations on changing prevalence rates are lacking. This contrasts with other T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases where the number of those affected is rising. Epidemiological studies revealed that a distinct group of diseases is quite frequently associated with psoriasis, e.g. arthritis, colitis, diabetes and hypertension. In contrast, atopic dermatitis and allergies are less frequently seen compared to normal rates of occurrence. As the psoriatic immune response pattern relates to activated Th-1 cells, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis appear to be mutually exclusive due to the Th-1/Th-2 dichotomy. [source] | ||||||||||||||||