Ten-day Period Research Articles

Altitude e coordenadas geográficas na estimativa da temperatura mínima média decendial do ar no estado do Rio Grande do Sul

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar, com dados de temperatura mínima média decendial do ar (Tm) de 41 municípios do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, de 1945 a 1974, se a Tm pode ser estimada em função da altitude, latitude e longitude. Para cada um dos 36 decêndios do ano, realizaram-se análise de correlação, análise de trilha das variáveis causais - altitude, latitude e longitude - sobre o efeito Tm, e estimaram-se os parâmetros do modelo das equações de regressão linear múltipla, pelo método passo a passo, com teste para saída de variáveis, considerando Tm como variável dependente e altitude, latitude e longitude como variáveis independentes. Na validação dos modelos de estimativa da Tm, usou-se o coeficiente de correlação linear de Pearson, entre a Tm estimada e a Tm observada em dez municípios do Estado, com dados da série de observações meteorológicas de 1975 a 2004. A temperatura mínima média decendial do ar pode ser estimada pelas coordenadas geográficas em qualquer local e decêndio, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A altitude e latitude explicam melhor a variação da Tm.

Seasonal dynamics of the Acartia tumida Willey, 1920 (Copepoda: Calanoida) population in nearshore waters of Kievka Bay, Sea of Japan

In 2002, the neritic copepod Acartia tumida was present in the plankton of Kievka Bay from February through July at a temperature of −1.2 to 14°C with an average population density of 6812 ind/m3 and a biomass of 532.75 mg/m3 (0.12–65.33 and 2.2–87.84% of total copepod density and biomass, respectively). The maximum population density of A. tumida (45 600 ind/m3) was recorded in the first ten-day period of April at a temperature of 2.2–3.8°C. Seasonal variations in the age and sex structure of A. tumida population were found. From February to July, A. tumida produced two generations.

Comparison of the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Scale and the Emergency Department Work Index for Quantifying Emergency Department Crowding

Emergency department (ED) crowding is just beginning to be quantified. The only two scales presently available are the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Scale (NEDOCS) and the Emergency Department Work Index (EDWIN). To assess the value of the NEDOCS and the EDWIN in predicting overcrowding. The hypothesis of this study was that the NEDOCS and the EDWIN would be equally sensitive and specific for overcrowding. The NEDOCS, the EDWIN, and an overcrowding measure (OV) were determined every two hours for a ten-day period in December 2004. The NEDOCS is a statistically derived calculation, and the EDWIN is a formula-based calculation. The overcrowding measure is a composite of physician and charge nurse expert opinion on the degree of overcrowding as measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). The primary outcome, overcrowding, was based on the dichotomized OV VAS score at the midpoint of 50 mm (> or =50, overcrowded; <50, not overcrowded). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) and an index of adequacy (relative prognostic content) of each measure, on the basis of the likelihood ratio chi-square statistic, were computed to evaluate the performance of NEDOCS and EDWIN. There were 130 completed sampling times over ten days. The OV indicated that the ED was overcrowded 62% of the time. The AUC for the NEDOCS was 0.83 (95% CI = 0.75 to 0.90), and the AUC for the EDWIN was 0.80 (95% CI = 0.73 to 0.88). The NEDOCS score accounts for 97% of the prognostic information provided by combining all variables used in each model into one combined model. The EDWIN score accounts for only 86% (chi2 test for difference, p = 0.02). Both scales had high AUCs, correlated well with each other, and showed good discrimination for predicting ED overcrowding. This establishes construct validity for these scales as measures of overcrowding. Which scale is used in an ED is dependent on which set of data is most readily available, with the favored scale being the NEDOCS.

Optimization and risk analyses for rule curves of reservoir operation: application to Tien-Hua-Hu Reservoir in Taiwan

Tien-Hua-Hu Reservoir is currently under planning by the Water Resources Agency, Taiwan to meet the increasing water demands of central Taiwan arising from rapid growth of domestic water supply, and high-tech industrial parks. This study develops a simulation model for the ten-day period reservoir operation to calculate the ten-day water shortage index under varying rule curves. A genetic algorithm is coupled to the simulation model to find the optimal rule curves using the minimum ten-day water shortage index as an objective function. This study generates many sets of synthetic streamflows for risk, reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability analyses of reservoir operation. ARMA and disaggregation models are developed and applied to the synthetic streamflow generation. The optimal rule curves obtained from this study perform better in the ten-day shortage index when compared to the originally designed rule curves from a previous study. The optimal rule curves are also superior to the originally designed rule curves in terms of vulnerability. However, in terms of reliability and resiliency, the optimal rule curves are inferior to the those originally designed. Results from this study have provided in general a set of improved rule curves for operation of the Tien-Hua-Hu Reservoir. Furthermore, results from reliability, resiliency and vulnerability analyses offer much useful information for decision making in reservoir operation.

COINCIDENCES BETWEEN THE GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTORS EXPLORER AND NAUTILUS IN 1998, DURING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BLACK HOLE CANDIDATE XTE J1550-564 AND THE MAGNETAR SGR1900+14

The coincidence excess between the gravitational wave detectors EXPLORER and NAUTILUS observed in the ten-day period 7–17 September 1998 is the largest ever observed. The event occurred mainly at the sidereal hour 4, when the detectors axes were perpendicular to the Galactic disk. This excess occurred during a period of intense activity of the black hole candidate XTE J1550-564, and within days of the giant flare from the magnetar SGR1900+14.

An enzymatic cow immunity-targeted approach to reducing milk somatic cell count: 3. A comparative field trial

The effectiveness of lysosubtilin and lysozyme, a combination thereof and a combination of these enzyme preparations (each alone and in combination) with vitamins as possible coimmunostimulants, which reduced the milk somatic cell count (SCC), were compared in a field trial. Seventy second to third lactation Lithuanian Black and White cows with a similar milk SCC ([750±200]×103 cells ml−1) and of a similar weight (550±50 kg) were involved in the trial and were randomly allocated into seven groups (n=10). Lysosubtilin and/or lysozyme at doses of 0.02 g kg wt−1 and 0.2 g kg wt−1, respectively, and vitamins A, C and E (if any) at doses twice as high as required for nutritional adequacy were given, except for control group cows, once daily with feed for ten successive days. After four-, seven-, and ten-day periods of giving enzymes (with or without vitamins) a significant reduction of SCC (p<0.001) was observed in the milk of cows that received a combination of lysozyme with vitamins. On the tenth day a significant reduction of SCC (p<0.001) was also observed in the milk of cows that received lysozyme and lysosubtilin (each alone; without vitamins) or lysosubtilin in combination with vitamins. At the end of the trial (on the 15th day) SCC in milk of cows of all of the study groups was significantly lower (p<0.001) when compared with that of the control group.

Effects of native ladybirds on oviposition of the exotic species, Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in Japan

Effects of native ladybird females of Harmonia axyridis Pallas and Coccinella septempunctata L. on oviposition behavior of the exotic species, Adalia bipunctata (L.), were assessed by pairing females of the exotic species with conspecific or heterospecific females. Pairs of females were provided with aphids in excess for 30 days, during which time there were no significant differences in weight, rates of mortality, or selections of sites for oviposition among the treatments. However, females of A. bipunctata laid significantly fewer eggs over the 30-day experimental period when paired with females of H. axyridis or C. septempunctata than when paired with conspecifics, even though aphids were abundantly available in all three cases. The number of eggs laid by a female of A. bipunctata paired with conspecifics gradually declined over the 30-day experimental period, while egg production declined especially rapidly during the second ten-day period when females were paired with females of H. axyridis and C. septempunctata. Thus, egg production by females of the exotic species was reduced in the presence of the native ladybirds.

Relation between both oxidative and metabolic-osmotic cell damages and initial injury severity in bombing casualties

We have recently reported the development of oxidative cell damages in bombing casualties within a very early period after the initial injury. The aim of this study, was to investigate malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and osmolal gap (OG), as a good indicator of metabolic cell damages and to assess their relationship with the initial severity of the injury in bombing casualties. The study included the males (n = 52), injured during the bombing with the Injury Severity Score (ISS) ranging from 3 to 66. The whole group of casualties was devided into a group of less severely (ISS < 25, n = 24) and a group of severely (ISS > or = 26, n = 28) injured males. The uninjured volunteers (n = 10) were the controls. Osmolality, MDA, sodium, glucose, urea, creatinine, total bilirubin and total protein levels were measured in the venous blood, sampled daily, within a ten-day period. In both groups of casualties, MDA and OG levels increased, total protein levels decreased, while other parameters were within the control limits. MDA alterations correlated with ISS (r = 0.414, p < 0.01), while a statistically significant correlation between OG and ISS was not obtained. Interestingly, in spite of some differences in MDA and OG trends, at the end of the examined period they were at the similar level in both groups. The initial oxidative damages of the cellular membrane with intracellular metabolic disorders contributed to the gradual development of metabolic-osmotic damages of cells, which, consequently caused the OG increase. In the bombing casualties, oxidative cell damages were dependent on the initial injury severity, while metabolic-osmotic cell damages were not.

Morphological Differentiation of Flower Buds in Own-Rooted and Budded Apple Trees

ABSTRACTIn the period from the year 2002 to the year 2005 the morphological differentiation of flower buds in adult own-rooted trees (produced by trench layering) and the ones budded on seedling rootstock in the apple cultivar Golden Resistant, was studied. The onset of morphological differentiation was observed in the third ten-day period of the month of June and the second ten-day period of July, with no significant differences between the own-rooted and budded plants. No differences were established both in the rate of initiation of the leaf-like appendages (bud scales, transitional leaves, true leaves and bracts) on the bud axes, and also with respect to the “critical number of appendages”. The “critical number of appendages” including bud scales, transitional leaves, true leaves and the first bract, was comparatively identical according to years (15–16 in number). The obtained information about the morphological differentiation of flower buds in the own-rooted apple trees can serve as a valuable reference point in clarifying the flower bud formation processes in the in vitro propagated apple plants which have been of particular interest lately.

Prior exposure to conspecific chemical cues affects predator recognition in larval common toad (Bufo bufo)

In a laboratory experiment, we investigated the role played by conspecific chemical cues in the acquisition of chemical recognition of an unfamiliar predator by common toad tadpoles, Bufo bufo. During a ten-day period, we assigned one group of tadpoles to a control (unexposed) and five other groups to different conditioning treatments involving exposure to either an allopatric predatory crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus), or a sympatric harmless gastropod (Lymnaea stagnalis). We kept the caged crayfish under three conditions: i) starved, ii) starved in combination with cues from crushed tadpoles, or iii) fed with toad tadpoles. In the same way, we kept the caged pond snails either alone or paired with cues from crushed tadpoles. After exposure, we carried out behaviour measurements to assess the effects of conditioning treatments on the behavioural responses to chemical cues from starved crayfish, pond snails and crushed conspecifics. Test solutions from starved crayfish and snails produced a significant decrease in the percentage of moving tadpoles, a known antipredator response, but only in the two groups of tadpoles previously exposed to these organisms in combination with cues from crushed conspecifics. These results indicate that Bufo bufo tadpoles can leam to recognize an organism as representing a predation risk based on a prior association between the chemical stimuli from that organism and the chemical cues from damaged conspecifics.

The estimation of SARS incubation distribution from serial interval data using a convolution likelihood

The incubation period of SARS is the time between infection of disease and onset of symptoms. Knowledge about the distribution of incubation times is crucial in determining the length of quarantine period and is an important parameter in modelling the spread and control of SARS. As the exact time of infection is unknown for most patients, the incubation time cannot be determined. What is observable is the serial interval which is the time from the onset of symptoms in an index case to the onset of symptoms in a subsequent case infected by the index case. By constructing a convolution likelihood based on the serial interval data, we are able to estimate the incubation distribution which is assumed to be Weibull, and justifications are given to support this choice over other distributions. The method is applied to data provided by the Ministry of Health of Singapore and the results justify the choice of a ten‐day quarantine period. The indirect estimate obtained using the method of convolution likelihood is validated by means of comparison with a direct estimate obtained directly from a subset of patients for whom the incubation time can be ascertained. Despite its name, the proposed indirect estimate is actually more precise than the direct estimate because serial interval data are recorded for almost all patients, whereas exact incubation times can be determined for only a small subset. It is possible to obtain an even more efficient estimate by using the combined data but the improvement is not substantial. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Post-mortem changes in the physical meat quality characteristics of refrigerated impala &lt;i&gt;M. longissimus dorsi&lt;/i&gt;

The effect of aging the M. longissimus dorsi of 13 impala at 4 oC over a ten-day period was investigated. Large variation between animals was observed for the percentages drip and cooking loss as well as for the CIELab colour (L*, a*, b*) values. No trend could be observed for these physical characteristics over time. Means for all traits correspond to that reported in the literature for this species. Similarly, the tenderness of the muscle varied between the animals. However, the tenderness (as measured by a Warner Bratzler shear apparatus) of the muscle generally improved with time. The quadratic equation y = -0.0817x2 + 0.4468x + 10.477 best described (R2 = 0.32) this improvement in tenderness. The implications of this result is that fresh game meat producers can de-bone carcasses after 24 hours post mortem and leave the primal cuts to age in vacuum bags in the chiller, thereby utilizing the available chiller space more efficiently. South African Journal of Animal Science Supp 2 2004: 26-28

Impacts of land use and climate change on regional net primary productivity

Combined with recent historical climate data and two periods of land use data sets from remote sensing data, we test the net primary productivity (NPP) data sets in North China modelled by the satellite data-driven Global Production Efficiency Model (GLO-PEM) for detecting the widespread spatial and temporal characteristics of the impacts of climate and land use change on the regional NPP. Our results show that over the past 20 years, the mean annual temperature in the study region has remarkably increased by more than 0.064 °C, but over the same period, there has been a 1.49 mm decrease in annual precipitation and decrease in NPP by an annual rate of 6.9 TgC. The NPP changes in the study region were greatly affected by the average temperature and precipitation by ten-day periods as well as the seasonal temperature and precipitation in the study region. The correlation between seasonal NPP and seasonal precipitation and temperature is highly consistent with land cover spatially, and the correlation coefficient changes with the changes of vegetation types. The analysis reveals that the related areas in land use change only take up 5.45% of the whole studied region, so the climate changes dominate the impacts on the NPP in the whole study region (90% of the total). However, land use plays an absolute dominative role in areas with land cover changes, accounting for 97% of the total. From 1981 to 2000, the NPP in the whole study region remarkably reduced due to obvious precipitation decrease and temperature rise. Between two periods of land use (about 10 years), the changes in climate are predicted to promote a decrease in NPP by 78 (±0.6) TgC, and integrated impacts of climate changes and land use to promote a decrease in NPP by 87(±0.8) TgC.

Sampling the mesoscale ocean surface currents with various satellite altimeter configurations

Ten-day composites of maximum cross-correlation (MCC) ocean surface current vectors from 1-km spatial resolution Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) 11-/spl mu/m thermal infrared images are used to simulate the ocean surface current retrieval capabilities of three satellite altimeter configurations over a large California coastal region. Ground track positions of the nadir sampling TOPEX/Poseidon (TP; now the Jason-1) satellite altimeters are used to compute the cross-track velocity components from the corresponding optimally interpolated MCC vectors for a ten-day period. Next, the Jason-1-only and the TP plus Jason-1 "tandem mission" sampling are simulated as well as the combination of all available satellite altimeters including European Remote Sensing Satellite 2 and Geosat Follow-On. Finally, we simulate surface current retrievals from the proposed Wide Swath Ocean Altimeter (WSOA), which will have both along- and cross-track velocity components over a spatial swath. Comparisons of vector current fields, their differences, and wavenumber spectra from optimally interpolated maps of the "simulated altimetry velocities" with the corresponding MCC field indicates that (1) the combined coverage from Jason-1 plus TP as well as the combination of all available satellite altimeters results in a better representation of the currents than that of Jason-1 alone and (2) the retrieved currents from the WSOA provide an even greater improvement over the tandem mapping and multiple satellites. It will be possible in the future to regularly map the mesoscale surface currents of the ocean with wide-swath ocean altimeters.

Precision of dialysis (peeper) sampling of cadmium in marine sediment interstitial water.

Isolating and analyzing interstitial water (IW) during sediment toxicity tests enables researchers to relate concentrations of contaminants to responses of organisms, particularly when IW is a primary route of exposure to bioavailable contaminants by benthic dwelling organisms. We evaluate here the precision of sampling IW with the dialysis or 'peeper' method using sediments spiked with five different concentrations of cadmium. This method is one of several that are commonly used for collecting IW. Seven consecutive ten-day toxicity tests were conducted on these sediments and IW samples were collected at the end of each of these tests. Prior to each test initiation and insertion of IW samplers, sediments were allowed to equilibrate for seven days under flow-through conditions with filtered seawater. At the end of each ten-day testing period, peepers were retrieved, and IW cadmium measured. Data sets were organized by treatment and test number. Coefficients of variation (CV) for the six replicates for each sediment and testing period and for each sediment across testing periods (42 replicates) was used as a measure of sampling precision. CVs ranged from 25 to 206% when individual testing periods were considered, but ranged from 39 to 104% when concentrations for all testing periods were combined. However, after removal of outliers using Dixon's Criteria, the CVs improved and ranged from 6 to 88%. These levels of variability are comparable to those reported by others. The variability shown is partially explained by artifacts associated with the dialysis procedure, primarily sample contamination. Further experiments were conducted that support our hypothesis that contamination of the peeper causes much of the variability observed. If method artifacts, especially contamination, are avoided the dialysis procedure can be a more effective means for sampling IW metal.

Sales of over-the-counter remedies as an early warning system for winter bed crises

To evaluate the pattern of emergency adult medical admissions during the winter period and the usefulness of sales of over-the-counter cough/cold remedies as a predictor of these. The databases of a single NHS trust acute unit and pharmacy outlets in its catchment area were analyzed retrospectively, comparing numbers of emergency admissions, ICD-10 discharge codes, local electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) and national sales data. Over nine consecutive winter periods from 1992/3, peak admissions always occurred within a defined ten-day period from 29th December to 9th January. Emergency admissions increased significantly during this period (P = 0.0002). Pharmaceutical/retail data were available for three consecutive winters 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, none of which coincided with increased influenza activity nationally. Acute respiratory illness as defined by International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10) discharge coding did not appear to contribute to the increase in admissions at the peak. However, National and Local EPOS sales were positively correlated with admissions and the rate of EPOS sales exceeded an empiric threshold of 1000 units per week two weeks prior to the admissions peak in each year. Emergency admissions over the winter period are increasing and can be expected within a period of only ten days each year. No firm relationship between acute respiratory illness and admissions could be defined but local EPOS data may give up to two weeks warning of the peak in admissions and merits further prospective evaluation.

Biodisponibilidade e perdas endógenas mínimas de P em dietas com níveis crescentes de fitase para suínos em crescimento pela técnica de diluição isotópica

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar rações à base de milho, farelo de soja e farelo de arroz desengordurado contendo níveis crescentes de fitase (253, 759, 1265 e 1748 UF/kg de ração), por meio da biodisponibilidade e das perdas endógenas mínimas de P com o uso da técnica de diluição isotópica. Foram utilizados 20 suínos mestiços (machos castrados), com peso médio de 32,19+2,17 kg, em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, contendo cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os leitões foram mantidos em gaiolas metabólicas durante 10 dias para adaptação e sete dias para coletas de sangue, fezes e urina. No primeiro dia de coleta foram injetados em cada animal, por via endovenosa, 7,4 MBq de 32P. No final do experimento os animais foram abatidos e os tecidos do músculo, coração, fígado, rins e ossos coletados para estudos posteriores. Os níveis de enzima fitase não afetaram o P retido, o P urinário, o P plasma e a biodisponibilidade. Observou-se efeito quadrático dos níveis de fitase sobre o P nas fezes e endógeno. A variável perda endógena de fósforo foi mais precisa do que a variável biodisponibilidade para avaliar os efeitos da enzima fitase. O melhor aproveitamento do fósforo fítico ocorreu no nível 759 UF.

Influence of macrosynoptic weather situation on the autumn migration of birds in Hungary

Influence of macrosynoptic weather situation on the autumn migration of birds in Hungary In the study we have examined the relation between the European macrosynoptic weather situation and the number of birds captured a day at four Hungarian ringing stations during the autumn migration. Along the research we examined the data of 32 809 individuals of 8 species using different migration strategies. Using the daily capture data at the four stations we constructed the migration diagrams for each year. We chose the migration peak days within ten-day periods and examined how these peak days or their preceding days are distributed over Péczely's macrosynoptic weather situations. Comparing the 8 bird species no significant difference in distribution of the peak days over the macrosynoptic weather situations was found (ANOVA: F7,376 = 1.81, p = 0.084). 85% of the migration peak days for all the species were connected with anticyclones, 10% with meridional cyclone / cold front situation and 5% with other cyclonic ones. The most frequent weather situation on the migration peak days was central anticyclone, which occurred in 61 cases.

Physiological Losses and Processing Quality of Potatoes under Ambient Temperature Storage as Influenced by Tuber Maturity

Two potato cultivars belonging to an early-maturing group were harvested at different stages of maturity directly or after a ten-day period of defoliation. Tubers were evaluated for storability and processing quality during ambient temperature storage (16.5-36.5°C, 37.4-91.3% RH). Mean tuber yield and tuber dry matter content increased up to last stage of harvest (80 days after planting). Tuber yield on fresh weight basis increased and dry matter content decreased during the ten-day period following defoliation mainly due to water uptake. Mean respiration rates of tubers decreased from 16.07 to 4.72 mg CO 2 kg - 1 hr - 1 during the curing period up to 20 days after harvest. Respiration rate one day after harvest was highest in immature tubers harvested directly 60 days after planting and rates decreased as the harvest was delayed. Harvesting trauma was minimal in mature tubers harvested 90 days after planting following a ten-day period of defoliation, where the decline in respiration rate during the curing period was minimal. Weight loss in stored potatoes was affected by harvest date with more physically immature tubers losing more weight during curing and throughout storage. Rotting in tubers up to 120 days storage was also higher in immature tubers. Defoliation of the crop ten days prior to harvest further reduced weight loss and rotting in tubers during storage. Contents of reducing sugars and sucrose in tubers were also affected by harvest date: immature tubers of both the cultivars exhibited higher amounts at harvest and during storage and produced chips of unacceptable colour. Chip colour improved with maturity of tubers. Mature tubers were found suitable for short-term non-refrigerated storage due to reduced physiological losses and acceptable processing quality.

Ventilación no invasiva en cifoescoliosis. Estudio comparativo entre respirador volumétrico y soporte de presión (BIPAP)

Non-invasive intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) at home is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency secondary to severe kyphoscoliosis. Our aim was to compare clinical course, blood gases and lung function after one month of domiciliary NIPPV with two types of ventilator and to assess sleep pattern changes in patients enrolled in a prospective, randomized crossover study. Ten patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency due to kyphoscoliosis were enrolled and randomly assigned to the first device. After one month of use, the patients underwent clinical and functional examinations and polysomnographic studies while using the ventilator. The same protocol was applied with the second device after a ten-day washout period. Baseline polysomnographs showed fragmented sleep with low percentages of deep non-REM sleep and of REM sleep, as well as respiratory patterns characterized by very high frequencies coinciding with significant desaturations. In all cases symptoms and arterial blood gas improvements were significant, with no differences between the two treatment periods. The percentages of time spent with SaO2 below 90% of reference in sleep studies were significantly lower than baseline with both ventilators. All but one patient had better tolerance of the bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP) support mode than of the volumetric ventilator. Our study shows that NIPPV is equally effective for patients with kyphoscoliosis whether administered with a volumetric ventilator or a BIPAP device. Subjective response and tolerance seem to be slightly better with BIPAP.