Patterns Of Relative Growth Research Articles

Cultural and creative industries and local economic growth: exploring the urban channel

ABSTRACT The role of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in driving regional growth is a topic of ongoing debate, with conflicting empirical findings. This study investigates CCIs’ impact on regional dynamics from two angles. First, it recognises heterogeneity within CCIs, including technological, symbolic and artistic forms, as well as varying levels of creativity across space. Second, it considers the influence of urbanisation on the growth potential of CCIs. Using an original regional-level database on CCIs employment, the research analyses European regions’ growth patterns in relation to different forms of CCIs. Panel and spatial regression methods are employed, and endogeneity is addressed by an instrumental variable approach. The study uncovers effects of CCIs in different urban contexts, adding insightful elements for the design of regional policies.

Daily trunk radial growth patterns in relation to precipitation in orange trees in the dry-hot valley region of Southwest China

The dry-hot valley regions of Southwest China suffer droughts and high temperatures coexist environment. The efficient use of rainfall makes it possible for plants to safely cope with the environmental stress in the region. To reveal the driving mechanism of rainfall on typical tree secondary growth, orange tree (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck), the commonly grown economic tree in the region was selected. Trunk diameter, sap flow, leaf humidity, meteorological conditions and soil water content were simultaneously monitored for the 2020–2022 period. Based on frequency distribution of trunk diameter changes data, trunk diameter changes were classified into positive growth (dramatic expansion, and common expansion), and negative growth (dramatic shrinkage, and common shrinkage) types. Furthermore, the relationships among the different growth patterns and rainfall or drought events were analyzed. The results showed: i) Trunk diameter maintained positive growth on rainy days, whereas both positive and negative growth occurred on rainless days. Although rainy period was not frequent, a high proportion of the total growth occurred during that time. ii) The common expansion type with a high frequency contributed to approximately 30% of the total growth, whereas the dramatic expansion type with a low frequency contributed to approximately 70% of the total growth. iii) There was a highly significant correlation between dramatic tree diameter expansion and rainfall. iv) Cumulative growth in tree diameter during rainy period was significantly driven by the duration of rainfall, the wetting time of leaf and the amount of rainfall. v) Compared with rainfall amount, the time rainfall related indexes were more closely related with tree dramatic diameter expansion. vi) While increasing soil water content and dry air mitigation due to rainfall enhanced average growth, it concurrently suppressed negative growth of tree trunk diameter after rainfall. The study confirmed that rainfall was critical for tree diameter growth in dry-hot valley regions of Southwest China. Relevant results are beneficial for improving understanding of plant precipitation utilization mechanism and could provide useful information on extreme meteorological hazards assessment in the context of climate change.

Comparison of Collum Angle in Different Skeletal Growth Pattern using Cephalometric Radiographs among Orthodontic Patients in Tertiary Dental Care Center of Kathmandu

Collum angle has been previously studied in different types of sagittal malocclusion but very few studies have focused on vertical malocclusion in our population. Since collum angle is responsible for variation in torque expression, root resorption, fenestration and dehiscence, with prior knowledge of collum angle in high angle and low angle cases, operator can prevent above deleterious effects and accompanied better bracket positioning in future orthodontic treatment. Lateral cephalograms of all the patients of age group 13-30 years attending Department of Orthodontics in Nepal Medical College from October 2023 to March 2024, having clinically harmonious and symmetrical face, full complement of dentition except third molar, minimum crowding were taken. Based on the value of SNMP (Sella-Nasion and Mandipular plane), and Jarabak ratio, the samples were divided into high angle and low angle. Collum angle was drawn and measured in terms of degrees. The data were transferred to SPSS-17 for further analysis. A total of 60 study participants were included in the study with an equal number of male and females. (30 each with age ranging from 13 to 30 years with mean age 19.18±3.89 years) There was an equal distribution of study participants in horizontal and vertical growth patterns (30 each). There was no statistically significant difference in mean collum angle between study participants in horizontal and vertical growth patterns (p = 0.09). No statistically significant difference in mean collum angle between study participants in horizontal and vertical growth patterns in relation to gender was found (Male p = 0.08 and female - p-value 0.55).

Study on the directional extension law of hydraulic fractures induced by pre-cast slot under tru-triaxial

Directional hydraulic fracturing technology serves as an effective means to overcome the stress constraints in deep coal mines and achieve targeted depressurization and permeability enhancement in specific areas. This study conducted directional hydraulic fracturing tests on samples with pre-cast slots under true triaxial conditions. Considering the azimuth angle (i.e., the angle between the long axis of the pre-cast slot and the maximum principal stress) and long axis length, the stress distribution along the fracture edge was determined using the method of complex variable function, and the evolution mechanism of the stress distribution along the fracture edge was investigated. The main conclusions are as follows: Experimental results indicate that the initiation pressure and directional extension effectiveness show a relative growth pattern of “slow-fast-slow” in the azimuth angle range of 30° to 90°, with the most significant decrease in initiation pressure occurring around 45°, and the enhancement trend of directional extension is most pronounced in the range of 45° to 60°. When the ratio of the long axis to the short axis of the pre-cast slot changes from 2:1 to 1:1 and 3:1, the initiation pressure increases by −30.44% and 28.08% respectively, while the amplification of directional extension effect is −74.6% and 166.8%. Considering the azimuth angle, an expression for the circumferential stress at the edge of the pre-cast slot was derived, and a criterion for determining the initiation of the pre-cast slot edge was proposed. As the azimuth angle increases from 0° to 90°, the circumferential stress at the edge of the pre-cast slot fluctuates, which is consistent with the trend of initiation pressure observed in the experimental results. As the long axis length increases, the initiation pressure decreases, and the initiation position moves closer to the tip.

Assessment of urban growth in relation to urban sprawl using landscape metrics and Shannon’s entropy model in Jalpaiguri urban agglomeration, West Bengal, India

The rapid urban growth and anthropogenic activities have posed a threat to the local environment and ecosystem around the world. This situation has become a hindrance to planners and policy makers for sustainable urban development. Therefore, this study mainly focuses on the assessment of urban growth patterns in relation to urban sprawl in Jalpaiguri urban agglomeration. Multi-temporal Landsat data have been used for land use change detection and urban sprawl quantification. The maximum likelihood classifier technique has been performed to create land use land cover maps for each study year (2001, 2011 and 2021). Urban expansion intensity index has been applied to determine the magnitude of urban expansion. Landscape metrics and Shannon’s entropy have been employed to assess the urban sprawl to a spatial extent. Spatiotemporal land use changes reveal that the non-urban class (vegetation, agriculture, water bodies, and fallow) have been decreasing consistently with an increase in built-up areas over time. Built-up area has increased by almost seven times in the span of the last 20 years (2001–2021). In the first decade, the growth rate of urban areas was 145.42% with a medium speed of expansion and in the next decade, it was 180.83% with a very high speed. Landscape metrics show that the fragmentation of the entire urban landscape into small patches happened from 2001 to 2011 in a higher magnitude indicating the occurrence of sprawling characteristics. But in recent times, the entire landscape is aggregating into large single urban patches which indicate a clumpy situation and would affect the local ecological environment. Shannon’s entropy model also verifies the compact urban sprawl in different directions and distances from the city centre. The understanding of urban growth dynamics and land use changes is essential for addressing the rapid urbanization within this urban region. There is an immediate need for an appropriate strategy for effective utilization of land use and monitoring of uncontrolled and haphazard urban growth. This research study would help the urban planner to take a specific scope of action for future urban growth and development.

Exploration on Electronic Properties of Self-Assembled Indium Nitrogen Nanosheets and Nanowires by a Density Functional Method

Equilibrium geometries and properties of self-assembled (InN)12n (n = 1–9) nanoclusters (nanowires and nanosheets) are studied using the GGA-PBE (general gradient approximation with Perdew–Burke–Ernzerh) method. The relative stabilities and growth patterns of semiconductor (InN)12n nanoclusters are investigated. The odd-numbered nano-size (InN)12n (n is odd) have weaker stabilities compared with the neighboring even-numbered (InN)12n (n is even) ones. The most stable (InN)48 nanosheet is selected as a building unit for self-assembled nano-size film materials. In particular, the energy gaps of InN nanoclusters show an even–odd oscillation and reflect that (InN)12n (n = 1–9) nanoclusters are good optoelectronic materials and nanodevices due to their energy gaps in the visible region. Interestingly, the calculated energy gaps for (InN)12n nanowires varies slightly compared with that of individual (InN)12 units. Additionally, the predicted natural atomic populations of In atoms in (InN)12n nanoclusters show that the stabilities of (InN)12n nanoclusters is enhanced through the ionic bonding and covalent bonding of (InN)12n (n = 1–9) nanoclusters.

Tree Ring Analysis of Mexican Weeping Pine (Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. and Cham.) from Nagaland, Northeast India

In this study, tree ring analysis of Mexican weeping pine (P. patula) from Kohima Botanical Garden of Nagaland, Northeast India was carried out. Tree ring-width chronology for 39 years extending from 1983 to 2021 was developed. The developed chronology exhibited high potential of the species for dendroclimatological studies and to understand the tree growth patterns in relation to changing climate. The ring-width chronology indicated occurrence of common event years mostly related to the drought records in the region. Further, the resilience component analysis demonstrated low resistance of the species to extreme event years, particularly drought, as indicated by significant reduction in growth and recovery rate. In conclusion, the tree growth and development in the region were severely impacted by moisture deficit events, and therefore, future policy formulation needs to be developed considering water management plans for climate resilient forestry and agriculture in the region.

成長期野球選手の打撃におけるスイングスピードの発達様式

The purpose of this study was to determine the developmental pattern of swing speed in youth baseball players between 6 and 14 years old. A total of 1213 baseball players performed toss batting. Swing speed was measured with a specialized accelerometer. In addition, 618 of the 1213 players were measured for total fat free mass by using Inbody770. In study1, Regression analysis was performed on the relationship between chronological age or height and swing speed, and the extreme values were calculated. Then, an allometric equation based on height was also used to estimate the relative growth of swing speed and total fat free mass and to compare the difference of relative growth patterns between swing speed and total fat free mass in study2. Swing speed was strongly related to both chronological age and height, with cubic regression for the relationship with chronological age and linear for the relationship with height. The regression equation obtained for chronological age was solved and found that developmental rate was maximal at approximately 10.25 years old. Allometric analysis showed that the developmental pattern of swing speed differed from that of fat free mass, with a temporary decline in developmental rate from 153.6 cm to 160.9 cm. Based on the results of this study, further research in youth baseball players would be expected to identify the factors causing sluggish development of swing speed as well as to develop an exercise program for improving batting ability.

Morphometry of the freshwater prawn <i>Macrobrachium brasiliense</i> (Caridea: Palaemonidae) and its relationship with reproductive strategy

During ontogeny, the allocation of energy can differ throughout the life cycle of a species, especially from juvenile to adult. The present study aimed to describe the relative growth, heterochely, and laterality patterns of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium brasiliense. Carapace length (CL), abdomen length (AL), left cheliped length (LCL), right cheliped length (RCL), and abdomen width (AW) of males and females were measured. Differences in the morphometric relationships between juveniles and adults were evaluated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and linear regressions. Heterochely was tested using the Mann-Whitney test. Only the relationships LCL vs CL for males and AL vs CL for females were significantly different between adults and juveniles (P < 0.05); these were used to calculate morphological sexual maturity, estimated at 10.3mm CL for males and 8.1mm CL for females. Individuals did not present laterality (P > 0.05) or heterochely (P > 0.05). The average length of the largest and smallest cheliped in males was 9.9 ± 4.8 and 9.2 ± 4.26 mm, while for females it was 7.3 ± 2.4 and 6.8 ± 2.3 mm, respectively. The variation in size and developmental rate of structures suggests that the species follow a mate guarding reproductive strategy since males have well-developed chelipeds to be able to court and guard females during copulation.

Dendrometer measurements of Mediterranean-alpine dwarf shrubs and micro-environmental drivers of plant growth – Dataset from long-term alpine ecosystem research in the Sierra Nevada, Spain (LTAER-ES)

Here, we present measurement data of stem diameter variability of three common woody plants, monitored in the Mediterranean-alpine biome for six consecutive years (2015–2020). These focal species (Astragalus granatensis, Cytisus galianoi, and Genista versicolor) are abundant across the Sierra Nevada mountain chain (Southern Spain) and will potentially be affected by severe future climatic changes predicted for the region, including increased aridification in a warming environment. Understanding their fine-scale radial growth-patterns in relation to local environmental parameters might gain further insights into future vegetational shifts. We therefore used 139 high-resolution dendrometers to continuously monitor specimens along a steep elevational gradient and at varying topographical positions within the heterogeneous topography of the region. Additionally, we measured on-site environmental conditions at each studied site, including soil moisture and soil temperature within the root zone. All data were recorded at hourly resolution and are presented as daily mean values. The dataset was collected as a part of our long-term alpine ecosystem research program (LTAER), which functions as the basis for our recent projects on the use of dendrometer data to better understand the physiological mechanisms and the environmental drivers of the ongoing alpine greening.

Histopathological Study of the Prostate Cancer Growth Patterns in Relation with the Grading Systems.

Prostate adenocarcinomas are common lesions with a high incidence and variable prognosis, which can be assessed using tumor grading systems. In this study, we analyzed 329 prostate adenocarcinomas in relation to tumor variants, growth patterns, classical and updated grading systems. The study indicated statistical associations of atrophic, pseudohyperplastic and microcystic variants with low grading scores, the associations of glomeruloid, cribriform with or without necrosis and signet ring-like cell variants with high grading scores, and also of single growth patterns with intermediate scores, which supports the accordance and usefulness of existing grading systems for the identification of aggressive prostate tumor lesions.

Relative growth and morphometry of sagittae otoliths of weakfishes, Cynoscion guatucupa (Cuvier, 1830) and Cynoscion jamaicensis (Vaillant & Bocourt, 1883), in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, Brazil

The weakfishes, Cynoscion guatucupa and C. jamaicensis, are important demersal fishery resources and are targeted by multifleet operations in the Southwest Atlantic. This study describes the length-weight relationships between sagittae otoliths (length-OL, height-OH, thickness-OT, and weight-OWT) and the sizes of the fish (total length-LT, standard length-LS, and total weight-WT). The proportion between otolith length and height (aspect ratio-OAR) was also compared between species. The samples were obtained monthly from March 2017 to February 2018 from small-scale commercial fisheries from landings of bottom trawls and gillnets on the continental shelf in the Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern coast of Brazil. The ANCOVA did not indicate significant diferences in relative growth between sexes for both species (p > 0.05) while the length frequency was diferent (p < 0.001). Cynoscion guatucupa showed positive allometry, WT = 4E-06LT3.21 and C. jamaicensis negative allometry, WT = 2E-05LT2.90 (p < 0.05). Both species showed diferences in the condition factor between the sexes (p < 0.05). Significant diferences were observed in the measurements of the otoliths between the two species (p < 0.001). All regressions between fish measurements and otolith morphometry were highly significant (p < 0.001) for both species. The best estimates of fish size and weight were related to the otolith length: OL vs LT (r2 = 0.93; 0.96); OL vs LS (r2 = 0.92; 0.96); OL vs WT (r2 = 0.91; 0.93) for C. guatucupa and C. jamaicensis, respectively. This information adds useful biological data for multiple types of studies, e.g., food ecology (prey-predator), age and growth, reproduction, fisheries assessment and long-term landing monitoring. Our results confrmed the historical pattern of relative growth, supporting that otolith growth reflects the somatic growth of weakfishes in the study area, reinforcing the importance to determine these reference points.

Scientific collaboration and career stages: An ego-centric perspective

• Studies scientific collaboration and academic career by ego-centric networks. • Detects individual career development by analyzing scientist's relative role. • Diverse relative role growth types are found during career stages. • Collaborators have an influence on the formation of relative role growth types. In scientific research collaboration, researchers collaborate with different scholars throughout their career stages. Researchers at different career stages may play various roles in science teams. This paper focuses only on the researchers’ roles in their respective science teams, defined as “relative roles” here, rather than comparing roles among researchers. As the academic age of researchers is increasing, researchers formulate the positive (e.g., junior-peer-senior) or negative growth trajectories (e.g., peer-peer-junior) of the relative roles throughout their career stages, which are defined as the “relative role growth patterns”. Further, these growth patterns can be divided into different “relative role growth types” according to their several common characteristics. By constructing ego-centric networks of researchers based on academic age, this paper investigates the changing relative roles of researchers at different career stages and relative role growth types summarized from multiple growth patterns, and then analyzes the collaborative ability (i.e., collaboration frequencies and number of collaborators) and research performance under different growth types. In addition, we also discuss the influence of collaborators on the formation of relative role growth types. We find 13 relative role growth patterns and summarize them into four growth types. The four growth types have diverse collaborative ability and research performance. Different collaborators have different effects on the formation of growth types of researchers. Collaborators who have high productivity and high citations per paper have a positive influence on researchers’ growth and vice versa. This study could be useful for researchers planning career development, also for policymakers and university administrators.

Size distribution and sex ratio between populations of the artisanal harvested land crab Cardisoma guanhumi (Decapoda: Gecarcinidae), with the estimation of relative growth and size at sexual maturity in Puerto Rico

Introduction: Knowledge of growth patterns, sex ratio, and sexual maturity are of importance to exploited populations. The land crab Cardisoma guanhumi is an artisanal and subsistence exploited species in Puerto Rico. However, the growth patterns and sexual maturity of the local populations are not known. Objectives: This study has a double objective: (1) to compare the size and sex structure between populations and (2) to model the relative growth of structures related to reproduction to estimate the average size of morphometric sexual maturity (MSM) for both males and females. Methods: A total of 2 849 specimens were captured from nine dispersed populations on the island between 2001 and 2020. Carapace width (CW) was measured as an estimator of the absolute size of all individuals, together with the propodus length (PL) in males and the abdomen width in females (AW). Differences in length structure between sexes and populations were tested by applying goodness-of-fit tests based on Kernel Density Estimators (KDE). The relative growth pattern was modeled adjusting a spline from which the maximum of its second derivative was calculated as an estimator of the MSM, and bootstrapping was used to generate confidence intervals. Results: Differences were found in size structures, between sexes, and between sites. Our estimates of morphometric sexual maturity resulted in a sexual maturity size for males between 57.9 and 79.0 mm CW, while in females, morphological maturity occurs between 43.8 to 51.5 mm CW. Conclusions: We found inter-population differences in body size that can be attributed to differences in the history of changes of land use and the exploitation biased towards larger individuals, though differences in recruitment should also be considered. Current regulations in Puerto Rico protect female crabs but not to larger male crabs. The regulation establishes that crabs smaller than 64 mm carapace width cannot be captured, leaving immature male crabs over 64 mm CW unprotected. We suggest considering different size limits depending on the sex of the crab. This will allow the full range of sizes where sexual maturity is reached to be protected, increasing the likelihood of the population’s size to increase.

Size-weight relationships and condition factor of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) from northern Tunisia: a preliminary investigation

Abstract We determined the condition factor and relative growth patterns of the newly established invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus in the Ghar El Melh Lagoon, northern Tunisia, central Mediterranean Sea using two biometric relationships: carapace width-weight and carapace length-weight. Crabs were sampled during winter and summer 2020. Growth coefficient (slope b) for width-weight relationship ranged from 2.037 to 3.008 according to sex and seasons, indicating an isometry to negative allometry growth patterns. Length-weight relationship, however, demonstrated isometry growth patterns, with the exception of the summer sample, which displayed a positive allometry. The allometry seems to be not affected by seasons, but sex demonstrated a strong effect for the width-weight relationship, as indicated by ANCOVA. The Fulton’s condition factor, however, showed significant variation between seasons, but not between sexes.

Morphological sexual maturity by relative growth technique of Uca maracoani (Brachyura, Ocypodidae) from a tropical mangrove

Despite of the existence of previous knowledge on the relative growth of U. maracoani for a population of southeastern Brazilian coast, the aim of the study was described and compare the relative growth patterns and sexual maturity of this species from Formoso River mangrove, state of Pernambuco, northeast Brazil, with data from other locations and of congeneric species. The crabs were monthly sampled manually, with a capture effort by one person colleting for 30 minutes at the low tide from April 2009 to March 2010. Crabs of both sexes were measured with a caliper at following dimensions: carapace width (CW), carapace length (CL), cheliped propodus length (CPL), cheliped propodus height (CPH) and abdomen width (AW). Additionally, males were also measured at their gonopod length (GL). The determination of morphological maturity was based on the relationship between the CPL vs. CW for males and AW vs. CW for females, which were the relations that best evidenced the beginning of the morphological sexual maturity for U. maracoani. The relationships CPL vs. CW and AW vs. CW evidenced positive allometry for juveniles and adult’s males and females. However, a negative allometry was observed in the relationship CL vs. CW and GL vs. CW for juveniles and adult’s males, AW vs. CW for adults’ males and, CPH vs. CW for adults’ females. The growth pattern shown by the female abdomen probably is related to egg incubation and the excessive growth observed at the male cheliped is probably related to reproductive process, because this appendage is used at the courtship and intra or inter specific agonistic interactions with other males. The morphological sexual maturity of males was estimated at 15.8 mm CW (50% of males), with the smallest mature male measuring 17.34 mm, and the largest immature male 18.15 mm CW. Females reached morphological sexual maturity (50%) at 13.8 mm CW, with the smallest mature female at 15.43 mm CW and the largest immature female at 16.32 mm CW. The differential growth patterns between juvenile and adult phases, as well as the onset sexual maturity seem to have relationship with ontogenetic changes, which is mainly related to behavioral or reproductive traits. The growth pattern observed in the female's abdomen is probably related to hatching eggs while overgrowth shown in male cheliped should be related to reproductive processes, as this appendix is used in court and in specific interactions with other males.

EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION ON BOILER PERFORMANCE: CONFORMATION TRAITS AND ISOMETRY OF GROWN

The effect of quantitative feed restriction on broiler conformation traits, namely breast width, keel length, thigh width and shank length, and on growth of these linear body structures relative to overall body growth was investigated using two hundred and forty Cobb broiler chicks. Three levels of restriction, namely 5, 10 and 15% of ad libitum intake, were randomly imposed on different groups. Birds restricted-fed in the starter phase of growth were full-fed in the finisher phase, and vice versa. Conformation traits, particularly breast width, keel length- and thigh diameter, were generally more adversely affected by feed restriction in the starter than in the finisher phase. However, there was evidence of compensatory growth for all parameters, except the breast. Feed restriction did not significantly affect the relative growth pattern of the breast, keel and thigh, which was positively allometric, Relative growth of the shank was, however, affected by different levels of restriction.

Birthweight, Childhood Body Mass Index, Height and Growth, and Risk of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Introduction: Adult obesity is linked with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the importance of body size at ages before PCOS is diagnosed is unknown. Objective: To investigate associations between a woman’s own birthweight, childhood body mass index (BMI), height and growth patterns in relation to her risk of PCOS. Methods: We included 65,665 girls from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register, born in the period 1960–1996, with information on birthweight and measured weight and height at the ages of 7–13 years. Overweight was defined using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria. From the Danish National Patient Register, 606 women aged 15–50 years were identified. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by Cox regression analysis. Results: Birthweight was not associated with PCOS. At the age of 7–13 years, girls with overweight had a higher risk of developing PCOS than girls without overweight; HR 2.83 (95% CI 2.34–3.42) at age 7 years and 2.99 (95% CI 2.38–3.76) at age 13 years. Furthermore, girls with overweight at both 7 and 13 years had a higher risk of developing PCOS than girls without overweight or overweight at only one age. Height was positively associated with PCOS risk at all ages. Girls who were persistently tall or changed from tall to average height had a higher risk of developing PCOS than girls with average height growth. Conclusion: Overweight and tall stature in childhood are positively associated with PCOS risk, but birthweight is not.

First record of parasitism by Probopyrus pandalicola (Isopoda, Bopyridae) on the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium acanthurus (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) and ecological interactions.

In this study, we aimed to record, for the first time, parasitic infestation by the isopod Probopyrus pandalicola on the prawn Macrobrachium acanthurus, as well as to register some ecological interactions. We hypothesized that the parasitic infection is able to negatively affect the prawn's nutritional condition and that this interaction can modify growth relationships in male individuals. We collected both parasitized (n = 25) and parasite-free (n = 25) individuals in several locations of the Contas River, state of Bahia, Brazil, which had their morphometric characteristics determined, including of the parasites. Relative growth models were constructed for both groups in order to compare slopes and intercepts and determine if the growth patterns are modified by the parasite. We also determined the body condition of the prawns, which was also compared between the two groups. Our results clearly demonstrated that the parasitic infection is able to induce modifications in relative growth patterns in male individuals and that this isopod is capable of reducing the nutritional condition of the prawns. This study indicates that this parasite can induce deleterious effects in the prawn, but individually. Further studies should be conducted to assess the relevance of our findings in conservation and management.

Allometric growth in mass by the brain of mammals.

I re-examined published data for ontogenetic change in relative mass of the brain in six species of mammal (i.e., sheep, pig, cow, horse, rat, cat) to illustrate an insidious problem with conventional analyses of brain-body allometry. Graphical displays of logarithmic transformations of the original data for each species give the appearance of two discrete mathematical distributions, but untransformed observations nonetheless conform to a single distribution that is well described by a single, nonlinear equation. The concept of biphasic, allometric growth by the brain consequently is an artifact of transformation. The notion of Rapid and Slow phases in relative growth by the brain also is an artifact, because the notion is based explicitly on the concept of biphasic growth allometry. Relative growth by the brain in sheep, pigs, cows, and horses follows the path of a power curve with an exponent less than 1, so relative growth declines progressively as animals grow to their maximum size, at which point growth effectively ends for both brain and body. Relative growth by the brain in rats and cats follows the path of an exponential curve and consequently is more like relative growth by the brain of odontocoete cetaceans and primates, with the brain growing rapidly relative to the body early in ontogeny and attaining maximum (cats) or near-maximum (rats) mass well before the body reaches its maximum. An exponential pattern of relative growth by the brain appears to have evolved independently in rodents, carnivores, odontocoetes, and primates.