The elimination of unwanted catch in mixed species fisheries is technically challenging given the complexity of fish behaviour within nets. Most approaches to date have employed technologies that modify the nets themselves or use physical sorting grids within the gear. There is currently increasing interest in the use of artificial light to either deter fish from entering the net, or to enhance their escapement from within the net. Here, we evaluated the differences in catch retained in a standard otter trawl, relative to the same gear fitted with a square mesh panel, or a square mesh panel fitted with LEDs. We found that the selectivity of the gear differed depending on water depth. When using a square mesh panel in shallow depths of 29–40 m the unwanted bycatch of whiting and haddock was reduced by 86% and 58% respectively. In deep, darker water (45–95 m), no change in catch was observed in the square-mesh panel treatment, however when LEDs were added to the square-mesh panel, haddock and flatfish catches were reduced by 47% and 25% respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential to improve the performance of bycatch reduction devices through the addition of light devices to enhance selectivity. The results also highlight species-specific and site-specific differences in the performance of bycatch reduction devices, and hence a more adaptive approach to reduce bycatch is probably required to maximize performance.

Novel approaches to improving disaster response have begun to include the use of big data and information and communication technology (ICT). However, there remains a dearth of literature on the use of these technologies in disasters. We have conducted an integrative literature review on the role of ICT and big data in disasters. Included in the review were 113 studies that met our predetermined inclusion criteria. Most studies used qualitative methods (39.8%, n=45) over mixed methods (31%, n=35) or quantitative methods (29.2%, n=33). Nearly 80% (n=88) covered only the response phase of disasters and only 15% (n=17) of the studies addressed disasters in low- and middle-income countries. The 4 most frequently mentioned tools were geographic information systems, social media, patient information, and disaster modeling. We suggest testing ICT and big data tools more widely, especially outside of high-income countries, as well as in nonresponse phases of disasters (eg, disaster recovery), to increase an understanding of the utility of ICT and big data in disasters. Future studies should also include descriptions of the intended users of the tools, as well as implementation challenges, to assist other disaster response professionals in adapting or creating similar tools. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:353–367)

The commercial need to standardise aircraft power supplies has resulted in virtually all modern aircraft (with the possible exception of certain light aircraft) being equipped with a 115/200 volt, three phase, 400 Hz ac primary power system. This is invariably supplemented by 28 volt dc and 26 volt single phase 400 Hz ac secondary systems. If this is the case why is there so much controversy concerning power supplies for avionics and why is there criticism of present day power systems whose performance is so superior to that achieved only two decades ago?

There are two basic reasons for the present situation.

Firstly, development of sophisticated avionic systems has resulted in increased susceptibility to certain aspects of the power supplies and this, coupled with the ever increasing application of avionics for the basic control and safety of the aircraft, has highlighted interface problems with power supplies.

Studies made of the flow about the wing-tip of a wind tunnel model showed that the vortex-type flow generally associated with the rolled-up vortex sheet well behind the tip existed just behind the trailing edge and seemed to be forming over the top of the wing-tip itself. As a result small cambered aerofoils were attached to the wing-tip to redirect the flow locally in such a way that each experienced a force with a significant thrust component. The effect is similar to that generated by the sail of a close-hauled yacht; consequently these small tip extensions were called sails. Reference 1 describes the original wind tunnel and the preliminary flight tests of sails mounted from the tip tanks of the Paris aircraft of the Cranfield Institute of Technology.

Conventional wisdom states that coordinate complete experimental response data are required to effect a successful model update. This paper examines the influence measured rotational degrees of freedom have on the behaviour of the frequency response function (FRF) sensitivity updating procedure. Three finite element (FE) model-based case studies are undertaken which suggest that very little improvement is afforded by the inclusion of measured rotations in the updating process.

Error-location strategies in the past have yielded little qualitative information about the optimum selection of updating parameters in the model updating procedure. Two further cases are investigated; these suggest that no amount of coordinate completeness will rectify the debilitating effects of an inadequate p-value choice. A method of selecting the number and location of updating parameters — based on the FRF sensitivity method — is presented. This method is shown to yield promising results.

Background: One of the primary differences between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for anxiety is the approach to managing negative thoughts. CBT focuses on challenging the accuracy of dysfunctional thoughts through cognitive restructuring exercises, whereas ACT attempts to foster acceptance of such thoughts through cognitive defusion exercises. Previous research suggests that both techniques reduce the distress associated with negative thoughts, though questions remain regarding the benefit of these techniques above and beyond exposure to feared stimuli. Aims: In the present study, we conducted a brief experimental intervention to examine the utility of cognitive defusion + in-vivo exposure, cognitive restructuring + in-vivo exposure, and in-vivo exposure alone in reducing the impact of negative thoughts in patients with social anxiety disorder. Method: All participants completed a brief public speaking exposure and those in the cognitive conditions received training in the assigned cognitive technique. Participants returned a week later to complete a second exposure task and self-report measures. Results: All three conditions resulted in similar decreases in discomfort related to negative thoughts. ANOVA models failed to find an interaction between change in accuracy or importance and assignment to condition in predicting decreased distress of negative thoughts. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that changes in perceived importance and accuracy of negative thoughts may not be the mechanisms by which cognitive defusion and cognitive restructuring affect distress in the short-term.

Earlier studies in animals have suggested an essential role for Si in connective tissues, but such works have not been replicated per se. Nonetheless, a study conducted in 2000 has reported that Si may be essential during pregnancy for the growing fetus, since serum Si concentrations in infants were approximately 300 % higher than those in older children and adults and serum Si concentrations in pregnant women were approximately 300 % lower than those in age-matched non-pregnant controls. To reproduce these potentially important findings, in the present study, serum Si concentrations were measured in fourteen pregnant women (15–24 weeks of gestation) and compared with those of seventeen non-pregnant, non-lactating female controls. Serum Si concentrations were also measured in fourteen full-term mothers at the time of delivery and in the umbilical cord (UC) vein and artery where possible. Fasting serum Si concentrations in pregnant women were not significantly different from those of the female controls and showed little change with advancing gestation (r 0·2). Mean serum Si concentrations in the UC vein samples were 52 % higher, while those in the UC artery samples were 235 % higher than those in the maternal forearm vein samples, although data were widely spread and differences were not significant. Mean maternal forearm vein Si concentrations at delivery were 50 % lower than those of pregnant women and female controls, but, again, these were not significant. Overall, we note that there are significant analytical challenges in comparing baseline Si levels between different groups; notwithstanding, our findings cannot confirm a reduction in fasting serum Si levels during pregnancy, but, equally, we cannot rule out higher serum Si levels in newborns than in their mothers, and further work is required.

Krill consumption by natural predators represents a critical link between surveys and models of standing krill biomass and the design of a sustainable krill fishery for the Scotia Sea. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a significant component of diet for penguins breeding in this region and, consequently, uncertainties regarding penguin population abundances contribute to uncertainties in krill predation estimates. We use a comprehensive database of Antarctic penguin abundances to identify 14 breeding colonies that contribute most significantly to uncertainty regarding the total number of pygoscelid penguins breeding in this region. We find that a high quality survey of Zavodovski Island alone would decrease uncertainty in total population by 24.8%, whereas high quality surveys of all 14 “high-influence” locations would decrease uncertainty by almost 72%. Updated population estimates at these sites should be considered top priority for future fieldwork in the region. Our results are based on a robust quantitative method for assessing data priorities in estimating krill consumption that is easily extended to other groups of krill predators.

The Raso Lark Alauda razae is a globally endangered species that is endemic to the islet of Raso (16°93′ N, 24°38′ W) in the Cape Verde archipelago (Collar et al. 1994). Raso is a small (c.7 km2) uninhabited islet with a plain averaging 25 m in elevation to the south and west and small boulder-strewn hills to the north and east rising up to 164 m (Figure 1). The islet comprises mostly rocky desert, with some extensive sandy patches on the western plain. Vegetation is sparse and confined to small patches on the plains and along dry river valleys.

The sera of 3522 women who attended an antenatal clinic in Birmingham. England were tested anonymously for antibodies against HTLV-1. Samples from 5 women (0·14%) were positive, one serum showed indeterminate reactivity. Two of the women (0·06%) were born in the West Indies (of Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin), one (0·03%) in Africa (of African ethnic origin), and three (0·09%) were white Caucasian women born in the UK. Thus, HTLV-1 infection in pregnant women in the UK, though comparatively rare, is not negligible. As transmission of HTLV-1 to the newborn via breast milk has been observed and as seropositive mothers can be advised to refrain from breastfeeding or to treat their milk, the question of routine screening for HTLV-1 infection during antenatal care is discussed.

Two patients with severe anorexia nervosa developed hypoglycaemic coma which was fatal in one case. Physical exertion may have contributed to this complication.

It is well established that crustaceans can overcome infection and clear foreign material introduced into the circulation (Cornick & Stewart, 1968; Tyson & Jenkin, 1973; Stewart & Zwicker, 1974). In the absence of vertebrate-type specific acquired immunity, the non-specific activity mediated by the circulating blood cells appears to be of considerable importance in resistance to disease (Sindermann, 1971). Among the cellular defence mechanisms of the Crustacea, phagocytosis has received most attention and there is considerable evidence from in vitro studies that this process plays an important part in the removal of foreign particles from the blood (McKay & Jenkin, 1970a; Paterson & Stewart, 1974; Tyson & Jenkin, 1974; Paterson, Stewart & Zwicker, 1976; Smith & Ratcliffe, 1978). Such studies, however, may not always reflect the true in vivo condition, and there is a great need for correlated in vitro and in vivo investigations.

The Crustacea play an important economic role in the marine and aquatic environments not only as a food source but also in the productivity of the fisheries. Exploitation of these resources has led to a need for intensive culture methods which impose physiological stress on the animals and consequently increase the incidence of disease. The need to reduce the lethal and debilitating effects of pathogens has stimulated a renewed interest in the defence mechanisms of the Crustacea.

During recent years attention has been focused on the morphology of the bivalve digestive gland (Sumner, 1966a, b; Owen, 1970; Pal, 1971,1972) but there is little information concerning its role in the storage of energy reserves. Reid (1969) has suggested that in the horse clam, Tresus capax, digestive gland lipid may serve as an energy store which is depleted when food is scarce. Sastry (1966) and Sastry and Blake (1971) have shown that material stored in the digestive tissue of Aequipecten irradians is transferred to the gonad during gametogenesis and Vassallo (1973) has confirmed the transfer of lipid in Chlamys hericia. The digestive gland of My tilus edulis may also have a storage function and may therefore be involved in the utilisation of reserves during starvation. The present paper deals with seasonal changes in the biochemical composition of the digestive gland of M. edulis, and with changes induced by starvation and temperature stress.

Gnotobiotic pigs were fed control and soya-bean protein containing diets in an attempt to identify direct effects of this protein on intestinal structure and function.

Feeding diets containing soya-bean protein for 4 days to 21-day-old gnotobiotic pigs increased crypt depth in the lower half of the small intestine. This increase was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in lactase activity, brought about mainly by a decrease in the apparent rate at which this enzyme appeared in the luminal membrane of developing enterocytes. Sucrase and maltase II and III activities increased slightly in tissue taken from pigs fed soya-bean protein. Alanine transport measured in the presence and absence of Na remained unaffected by change of diet.

The structure and function of control gnotobiotic pig intestine differed from that found in normal unweaned piglets. The possible source of these differences and the probable role played by enteric microflora in amplifying initial effects of soya-bean protein on intestinal function is discussed.