Meteorological effects on adult mosquito (Culex) populations in metropolitan New Jersey

For two metropolitan New Jersey counties, monthly average adult mosquito (Culex) catch from New Jersey light trap data sets covering multiple decades is related to a number of meteorological factors. From June through August climatological conditions accounted for between 40% and 50% of the variation in average catch. In general, high monthly precipitation totals both in the month corresponding to the catch and the previous month were associated with increased trap catch. However, individual heavy rainfall events tended to reduce catch. Warm temperatures exerted a positive influence on mosquito abundance in June, but were associated with a low catch in August. Linear meteorological relationships explained only a small percentage of the variations in mosquito catch during May and September. During July, and particularly August, antecedent monthly catch also explained a significant portion of the variance in the contemporaneous catch. Over 60% of the variability in August catch could be attributed to the July population.     

基于气象因子的白桦天然林单木直径生长模型

基于大、小兴安岭地区212块白桦天然林固定样地复测数据和区域内及周边共30个气象站点数据,构建了基于气象因子的单木生长模型.在此基础上,通过分析大、小兴安岭地区林分因子及气象因子的差异,采用哑变量方法构建了含区域效应的单木直径生长模型.结果表明: 生长季最低温度(T_{g min})和生长季降雨量(P_{g m})是影响两地区白桦胸径生长量的主要气象因素.T_{g min}和P_{g m}与胸径生长量均呈正相关关系,但T_{g min}对胸径生长量的影响程度存在明显的区域差异.引入T_{g min}和P_{g m}的单木生长模型比仅含林分因子的单木生长模型的调整后确定系数(R_a²)提高了11%(R_a²=0.56),说明气象因子可以很好地解释该地区白桦生长情况;采用哑变量法构建的含区域效应的胸径生长模型将R_a²提高了18%(R_a²=0.59),且有效解决了模型参数区域不相容的问题.模型检验结果表明,含区域效应的哑变量单木胸径生长模型对大、小兴安岭地区白桦胸径生长量的预估效果最好,平均偏差、平均绝对偏差、平均相对偏差和平均相对偏差绝对值分别为0.0086、0.4476、5.8%和20.0%.基于气象因子的哑变量单木胸径生长模型可以很好地描述大、小兴安岭地区白桦的胸径生长过程.     

海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林凋落物产量及其动态

热带山地雨林是海南尖峰岭地区面积最大的植被类型,是陆地生态系统重要的组成部分,研究海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林凋落物产量的长期动态变化规律及其影响因素,有助于了解未来气候环境变化背景下热带森林的响应规律。本研究采用尼龙网收集框法于2013-2017年对尖峰岭60 hm²大样地内132个样方的凋落物产量进行为期5年的连续定位观测,测定枝、叶、杂物（含花、果和枝叶碎片）的组分产量,探讨其与气候因子的相关关系。研究结果显示：尖峰岭热带山地雨林年凋落物总产量为617.5~1084.7 g/m²,年均768.6 g/m²,各组分凋落物平均产量由大到小为：叶 > 枝 > 杂物,其值分别为507.9、163.4、97.3 g/m²,凋落叶产量占66.1%,为优势组分;凋落物总产量的季节变化为不规则型,出现3次峰值,各组分凋落物产量季节变化呈双峰型,峰值月存在差异;春季、秋季和冬季以叶凋落为主,夏季以枝凋落为主;凋落物总产量及各组分产量受不同气象因子的影响,凋落枝产量与各气象因子均无显著相关,凋落叶产量与月极小气温和平均气温显著相关,凋落杂物产量与日最高气温显著相关,凋落物总产量与平均气温显著相关。研究结果表明海南热带森林凋落物产量一年间呈现3次峰值,其动态变化是受多种气象因素特别是受极端气候因子的影响,这对于了解未来气候环境变化背景下热带森林的响应规律具有重要参考价值。     

Influence of habitat management on the abundance and diet of wild rabbit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus</Emphasis>) populations in Mediterranean ecosystems

During the last decades wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations have been progressively declining in the Iberian Peninsula as a result of several factors, namely habitat deterioration. Hence, habitat management has become one of the most commonly used management techniques to restore wild rabbit populations. To test the efficacy of some of these measures (creation of pastures, opening firebreaks) in rabbit populations, two managed (M1 and M2) and two control areas (C1 and C2) were selected in the Portuguese Southwest (SW) Coast. In each study area, the influence of habitat management was tested assessing temporal changes in rabbit abundance obtained from pellet counts and in rabbits’ diet through microhistological analysis of fecal pellets. Rabbit densities were higher in managed than in control areas (mean annual values: M1–1.08 pellets/m²; M2–1.60 pellets/m²; C1–0.69 pellets/m²; C2–0.40 pellets/m²). In general, Gramineae was the most consumed plant group throughout the year and in all study areas. In control areas, consumption of alternative species with low nutritive value (e.g., Cistus ladanifer) was observed, especially in summer. Our data suggest a positive influence of habitat management on rabbit populations since in managed areas individuals presented an overall higher abundance and a more nutritive diet. In addition, there was no evidence that sown species were consumed in detriment to naturally occurring grasses, suggesting that in Mediterranean semi-arid regions clearing vegetation inside the scrubland might be sufficient to improve habitat conditions for rabbits.     

基于精细尺度的冬季南乔治亚岛南极磷虾渔获率时空与环境效应

南乔治亚岛水域不仅是南极磷虾渔业的主要渔场之一,同时该水域的南极磷虾也是许多以该岛为栖息地的捕食者(如海豹、鲸鱼等)的饵料,因此对该岛南极磷虾资源丰度的研究对于深入理解南极生态系统有着非常重要的作用.本研究基于精细尺度渔业数据,利用广义可加模型(GAM)对2013年冬季南极磷虾渔获率与环境因子之间的关系进行研究.结果表明: 该模型对渔获率总偏差解释率为32.0%,其中贡献最大的为旬别,贡献率为21.4%;其次为纬度,但贡献率显著降低,仅为4.4%.7月上旬至9月上旬,渔获率总体上呈下降趋势.渔场东侧渔获率较高,尤其是中东部海域,而北侧的渔获率相对偏低.随着地形变化程度的增大,平均渔获率呈下降趋势.风力处于4级以下的情况不仅适宜捕捞作业,且渔获率也处于较高的水平.风向并不会对渔获率产生显著的影响.在表温0.5~2.0 ℃范围内,随着表温的增加,平均渔获率呈上升趋势.     

青藏高原草地地上生物量估算

及时准确评估草地产草量对草地资源的科学管理和可持续发展具有重要意义。青藏高原自然环境特殊,气候差异显著,地形复杂,仅依靠遥感信息准确监测草地地上生物量(Aboveground Biomass,AGB)变化有较大限制。基于青藏高原草地AGB野外实测数据与Landsat遥感影像,探索了植被指数表征草地AGB信息的有效性,评估了气象和地形信息对准确估算草地AGB的影响,综合利用气象、地形和遥感信息,在新一代地球科学数据和分析应用平台(Google Earth Engine)上构建了梯度增强回归树草地AGB估算模型,绘制了青藏高原多年草地AGB空间分布图。结果表明:(1)基于单因素遥感因子的线性回归模型仅能解释8%-40%的草地AGB变化情况,其中绿色归一化植被指数(Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, GNDVI)对草地AGB解释能力较强(40%)。(2)基于遥感因子构建的梯度增强回归树模型测试集R²为0.57。分别添加气象、地形信息,模型对草地AGB的估测准确性有所提升,测试R²为0.62和0.63。(3)基于气象、地形和遥感因子的多因素估测模型能够提高草地AGB估测精度,经递归特征消除法优选后,基于13个特征变量的梯度增强回归树模型拟合效果最好(训练数据集R²=0.79,RMSE=43.42 g/m²,P<0.01;测试数据集R²=0.66,RMSE=53.64 g/m²,P<0.01),可以解释66%草地AGB变化情况。(4)2010年青藏高原平均AGB为94.58 g/m²,2015年93.63 g/m²,2020年100.78 g/m²。青藏高原西北部草地AGB较低,东南部草地AGB较高,整体呈现自西北向东南逐渐增加的分布格局。研究结果为准确估算青藏高原草地产草量和碳储量等研究提供重要参考。     

An examination of the fish population in the River Trent, Nottinghamshire using angler catches

During this study, anglers caught over 580 kg of fish, comprising over 29 500 individuals of 14 species. Nine times as many gudgeon, Gobio gobio , as roach, Rutilus rutilus , were caught. Gudgeon represented 35.94% of the total catch weight compared with 44.64% for roach. The mean total catch per man-hour was 8.9 fish and the mean catch rate was 176 g per man-hour. Population estimates for fish longer than 12 cm for all species other than gudgeon and bleak, Alburnus alburnus , gave fish densities of 0.21 fish m⁻², the roach population was 0.15 m⁻², and that for dace Leuciscus leuciscus , 0.02 m⁻². The population density for all sizes of all species caught was estimated to be 2.25 fish m⁻².
The fish biomass available to the angler was 447 kg ha⁻². The rate of exploitation of the fishery over the period of sampling was high at 17%, representing an annual exploitation rate of 94%.     

Optimization of the pelletization process in a fluid-bed rotor granulator using experimental design

This study examined the effect of rotor speed, amount of water sprayed, and atomizing air pressure on the geometric mean diameter and geometric standard deviation of pellets produced in a fluid-bed rotor granulator using a 2³ factorial design and an optimization technique. Pellets were prepared by wet granulation. Equal amounts of microcrystalline cellulose, α-lactose monohydrate, and distilled water were used as the granulation liquid. The size and the size distribution of the pellets were determined by sieve analysis. The size of the pellets was found to be dependent on the amount of water added, while an increase in rotor speed decreased their size. Both factors were found to be statistically significant (P<.05). The effect of atomizing air pressure on pellet size was not statistically significant. None of the 3 factors significantly affected the geometric standard deviation of the pellets. The rotor speed and the amount of water sprayed were further selected in order to construct a mathematical model that correlates these factors with the geometric mean diameter of the pellets. For this purpose, the optimization technique 3² was used. The derived equation described the relationship between the the experimental design techniques applied were found to be suitable in optimizing the pelletization process carried out in a fluid-bed rotor granulator.     

氮磷水平与气象条件对春小麦籽粒蛋白质含量形成动态的影响

以3个品质类型春小麦品种的施肥和播期试验为基础,通过建立籽粒蛋白质含量形成动态的拟合方程,定量揭示籽粒蛋白质含量形成动态及氮磷肥与气象条件的影响效应。结果表明,灌浆期籽粒蛋白质含量随时间动态变化的普遍规律符合一元三次多项式曲线,即呈自开花始先降低后升高的单谷曲线变化。氮磷肥与气象条件的影响及基因型差异通过方程特征量而体现。氮水平增加,高蛋白品种蛋白质含量增加,动态曲线谷值和峰值均明显提高且出现时间分别提前和推后。磷水平增加,高蛋白强筋品种蛋白质含量降低,高蛋白中筋品种则增加;高蛋白品种谷值和峰值均提高且出现时间推迟。低蛋白品种蛋白质含量随氮磷肥变化不明显且幅度很小。在没有水分胁迫的情况下,光温互作是影响籽粒蛋白质含量动态形成的首要因子,其次为降水;而气温日较差则为最敏感因子。较高光温条件互作前提下,增加灌浆期温度日较差使高蛋白品种蛋白质含量提高,低蛋白品种则降低。高蛋白相比于低蛋白品种更易受氮磷水平和气象条件影响。     

Specific growth factors during the expansion and redifferentiation of adult human articular chondrocytes enhance chondrogenesis and cartilaginous tissue formation in vitro

Adult human articular chondrocytes were expanded in a medium with 10% serum (CTR) or further supplemented with different mitogens (i.e., EGF, PDGFbb, FGF-2, TGF beta 1, or FGF-2/TGF beta 1). Cells were then induced to redifferentiate in 3D pellets using serum-supplemented medium (SSM), serum-free medium (SFM), or SFM supplemented with factors inducing differentiation of chondroprogenitor cells (i.e., TGF beta 1 and/or dexamethasone). All factors tested during expansion enhanced chondrocyte proliferation and dedifferentiation, as assessed by the mRNA ratios of collagen type II to type I (CII/CI) and aggrecan to versican (Agg/Ver), using real-time PCR. FGF-2/TGF beta 1-expanded chondrocytes displayed the lowest doubling times, CII/CI and Agg/Ver ratios, averaging, respectively, 50, 0.2 and 15% of CTR-expanded cells. Redifferentiation in pellets was more efficient in SFM than SSM only for EGF-, PDGFbb- or FGF-2-expanded chondrocytes. Upon supplementation of SFM with TGF beta and dexamethasone (SFM TD), CII/CI ratios decreased 4.4-fold for EGF- and PDGFbb-expanded chondrocytes, but increased 96-fold for FGF-2/TGF beta 1-expanded cells. Chondrocytes expanded with FGF-2/TGF beta 1 and redifferentiated in SFM TD expressed the largest mRNA amounts of CII and aggrecan and generated cartilaginous tissues with the highest accumulation of glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. Our results provide evidence that growth factors during chondrocyte expansion not only influence cell proliferation and differentiation, but also the cell potential to redifferentiate and respond to regulatory molecules upon transfer into a 3D environment.     

Estimation of fish consumption rates based on a creel angler survey of an urban river in New Jersey,USA

Abstract

A one-year angler intercept survey was conducted on the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River, an urban industrialized river that flows through Newark, New Jersey. The purpose of the survey was to collect data about anglers’ behaviors and fish consumption habits in order to calculate exposure factors for a human health risk assessment of the Study Area. This paper focuses on estimating site-specific fish consumption rates for LPRSA anglers that consume their catch. The study design included on-site interviews and counts (angler enumeration). Forty survey locations were included in the stratified random sampling plan; interviews were conducted on 136 days and counts on 164 days. After matching intercepts with the same angler, a total of 294 anglers were interviewed, of which 25 reported consuming their catch. LPRSA fishing trips ranged from 2 to nearly 50 annual trips for anglers who reported consuming their catch. Species caught and reported to be consumed included carp, catfish, white perch, smallmouth bass, and eel. The estimated mean and 90th percentile consumption rates for the population of consuming anglers are 5.0 and 8.8?g/day, respectively. Based on sensitivity analyses, the 90th percentile fish consumption rates range from approximately 4 to 18?g/day.     

Catch force links and the low to high force transition of myosin

Catch is characterized by maintenance of force with very low energy utilization in some invertebrate muscles. Catch is regulated by phosphorylation of the mini-titin, twitchin, and a catch component of force exists at all [Ca2+] except those resulting in maximum force. The mechanism responsible for catch force was characterized by determining how the effects of agents that inhibit the low to high force transition of the myosin cross-bridge (inorganic phosphate, butanedione monoxime, trifluoperazine, and blebbistatin) are modified by twitchin phosphorylation and [Ca2+]. In permeabilized anterior byssus retractor muscles from Mytilus edulis, catch force was identified as being sensitive to twitchin phosphorylation, whereas noncatch force was insensitive. In all cases, inhibition of the low to high force transition caused an increase in catch force. The same relationship exists between catch force and noncatch force whether force is varied by changes in [Ca2+] and/or agents that inhibit cross-bridge force production. This suggests that myosin in the high force state detaches catch force maintaining structures, whereas myosin in the low force state promotes their formation. It is unlikely that the catch structure is the myosin cross-bridge; rather, it appears that myosin interacts with the structure, most likely twitchin, and regulates its attachment and detachment.     

甘肃省定西地区气象因子对春小麦产量影响的数学模型

甘肃省中部干旱半干旱地区,影响春小麦产量的主要气象因子是降水量和蒸发量。本文探讨了气象因子与春小麦产量的联系。并建立了预报产量的数学模型：ŷ=w1ŷ1+w2ŷ2在一定的应用范围内,模型的正确性由二十年的历史资料得到验证,并成功地预报出定西1982年的春小麦产量。     

基于干热风危害指数的黄淮海地区冬小麦干热风灾损评估

全球气候变化背景下,农业气象灾害呈上升态势。干热风灾害发生区域、次数和强度都发生了明显的变化。研究干热风灾害对农作物的影响对于我国农业可持续发展、保障粮食安全等均具有重要的现实意义。利用黄淮海地区68个气象台站1961—2010年的逐日气象资料,和54个农业气象试验站1981—2006年小麦的发育期、产量、干热风灾害等数据,采用公认的中国气象局2007年发布的气象行业标准《小麦干热风灾害等级》中冬小麦干热风灾害指标,计算干热风危害指数,进一步细化发育期,确定冬小麦抽穗前气象条件对气象产量影响的关键气象因子,分离干热风年冬小麦气象产量,构建重度干热风影响下干热风危害指数与冬小麦抽穗—成熟阶段气象条件对气象产量影响的统计模型,进行1981—2006年黄淮海地区冬小麦干热风灾损的评估。结果表明:(1)重度干热风危害下,1981—2006年期间黄淮海各地区冬小麦不同发育时段的干热风危害指数平均在抽穗—开花时段最大,乳熟—成熟时段居中,开花—乳熟时段最小,分别为0.17、0.15和0.14,平均0.15;(2)冬小麦抽穗前气象条件对气象产量影响的关键气象因子为:播种—出苗期间的最低气温、拔节—孕穗期间的平均气温和孕穗—抽穗期间的平均气温,各个单因子相关系数分别为0.64、0.86和0.99,均达到极显著水平。其中播种—出苗的最低气温可决定小麦出苗的迟早和苗情;拔节—孕穗期间,在小花原基形成期—四分体形成期气温偏低可延长小穗、小花分化时间,防止退化,提高结实率;孕穗—抽穗的平均气温偏高有利于提早抽穗,延长后期灌浆时间,且晴天有利于开花授粉;(3)分离干热风年冬小麦气象产量后,构建了重度干热风影响下干热风危害指数与冬小麦抽穗—成熟3个阶段气象条件对气象产量影响的统计模型,验证结果表明该模型客观上能够综合地反映干热风在不同发育阶段对小麦产量的影响。进一步灾损评估表明:重度干热风危害下,黄淮海地区冬小麦减产率在21.52%—39.80%之间,平均为27.83%。     

Limited role for meteorological factors on the variability in COVID-19 incidence: A retrospective study of 102 Chinese cities

While many studies have focused on identifying the association between meteorological factors and the activity of COVID-19, we argue that the contribution of meteorological factors to a reduction of the risk of COVID-19 was minimal when the effects of control measures were taken into account. In this study, we assessed how much variability in COVID-19 activity is attributable to city-level socio-demographic characteristics, meteorological factors, and the control measures imposed. We obtained the daily incidence of COVID-19, city-level characteristics, and meteorological data from a total of 102 cities situated in 27 provinces/municipalities outside Hubei province in China from 1 January 2020 to 8 March 2020, which largely covers almost the first wave of the epidemic. Generalized linear mixed effect models were employed to examine the variance in the incidence of COVID-19 explained by different combinations of variables. According to the results, including the control measure effects in a model substantially raised the explained variance to 45%, which increased by >40% compared to the null model that did not include any covariates. On top of that, including temperature and relative humidity in the model could only result in < 1% increase in the explained variance even though the meteorological factors showed a statistically significant association with the incidence rate of COVID-19. In conclusion, we showed that very limited variability of the COVID-19 incidence was attributable to meteorological factors. Instead, the control measures could explain a larger proportion of variance.     

Frequency distribution of catch per tow by the danish trawlers in the waters off the Bristol Bay,with some considerations on the relation of total catch to the weight limit of hauling

1. The type of the frequency distribution of catch per tow observed by the Danish trawlers of a fish-meal fleet in the waters off the Bristol Bay during the period from May 1 to 9 in 1960 in discussed.
2. Catch per tow varied considerably from as much as one ton to ten tons and the tow-time also did markedly tow by tow from one to thirty minutes or longer. Therefore, as a preliminary step to discuss the type of the frequency distribution, we examined whether catch varied depending on the tow-time or not; and we found the catch deviated almost independently of the tow-time.
3. Here, however much fish might be caught by a two, the part over ten tons was released; consequently, the frequency increased gradually from zero to nine tons and increased abruptly at ten tons but none of the haul could get a better catch than ten tons. And examining the relation between Student's t and the grade of catch in tons (n) in the range from zero to nine tons, we found that such a peculiar type of the frequency distribution as observed actually was derived from the series of the catch well fitted for the normal distribution by the modification due to releasing of a part of catch. This fact evolved, the possible series of the frequencies and the total of the possible catch when no part of catch is released, are estimated.
4. Then some considerations are given to the problem (1) how high percentage of the catch on the total of the possible catch is obliged to release because of the low weight limit of hauling and (2) to what percentage of the catch we can successfully make into available when we increase the weight limit of hauling to a certain value; and the results is shown in Fig. 3, which tells that (1) 70 to 95 percents of the catch were available in the actual operation and (2) scarecely any increase in catch is expected even if the weight limit of hauling is increased higher than fifteen tons.

     

环境因子对东海区帆式张网主要渔获物渔获量影响

帆式张网渔业是东海区重要的渔业捕捞方式之一．利用广义加性模型(GAMs)定量研究了海表水温、渔场水深、渔场位置和潮汐(农历日期)等环境因子对东海区帆式张网主要渔获物渔获量变动的影响．结果表明,海表水温和渔场水深是影响带鱼、小黄鱼和鲳鱼单位努力渔获量(CPUE)的主要因子,且各因子的影响程度不尽相同,多呈非线性相关关系．从模型的拟合结果来看,海表水温对带鱼的影响最大,其次是水深,渔场位置和潮汐的影响很小．渔场水深对小黄鱼的影响最大,海表水温、渔场位置和潮汐的影响比较接近．渔场水深和海表水温是影响鲳鱼单位努力渔获量的主要环境因子,影响程度比较接近．     

基于地统计分析西印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼围网渔获量的空间异质性

西印度洋公海海域是世界上围网黄鳍金枪鱼渔业的主要作业海域之一,根据印度洋金枪鱼委员会1999—2004年的1°×1°的各月黄鳍金枪鱼围网渔获量统计数据,采用地统计方法探索该海域黄鳍金枪鱼渔获量的空间异质性特征及其相关生态动力过程。进行了如下分析:(1)利用GIS制图观察渔获量的时空分布特征,发现其空间格局的变异受到的季节变化和年际变化共同影响,且前者明显强于后者。(2)采用地统计方法计算各月渔获量的空间异质性参数,并按照年际和季节情况分别进行了统计分析,发现渔获量的地统计参数值和变异函数模型有明显的季节和年际差异;渔获量的空间相关距离(变程)平均在1000nm左右,冬季要小于夏季;渔获量的空间变异函数模型主要为相关距离较大且空间依赖性较弱的指数模型;渔获量的空间结构方差比例(平均为65.82%)远大于随机性方差比例(平均为34.18%);渔获量在1°×1°尺度下具有明显的空间自相关性。(3)对地统计参数值和渔获量的相关关系研究,并探讨季节变化下渔获量的空间异质性特征与相关生态动力过程关系,发现各月渔获量随着空间总变异(基台值)增加而增加,两者存在强相关性;各月渔获量和南北和西北-东南向分维数值有一定相关性,意味着海洋动力过程在南北和西北—东南向过程越强,渔获量越低。西印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼围网渔获量的空间变异原因在于季风气候和ENSO循环过程引起的海洋流场、营养盐和温跃层等变化外在因素,以及围网捕捞方式和鱼类的行为方式的内在因素共同导致的。     

The Impact of Fish and the Commercial Marine Harvest on the Ocean Iron Cycle

Although iron is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth''s crust, bioavailable iron limits marine primary production in about one third of the ocean. This lack of iron availability has implications in climate change because the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by phytoplankton requires iron. Using literature values for global fish biomass estimates, and elemental composition data we estimate that fish biota store between 0.7–7×10¹¹ g of iron. Additionally, the global fish population recycles through excretion between 0.4–1.5×10¹² g of iron per year, which is of a similar magnitude as major recognized sources of iron (e.g. dust, sediments, ice sheet melting). In terms of biological impact this iron could be superior to dust inputs due to the distributed deposition and to the greater solubility of fecal pellets compared to inorganic minerals. To estimate a loss term due to anthropogenic activity the total commercial catch for 1950 to 2010 was obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Marine catch data were separated by taxa. High and low end values for elemental composition were obtained for each taxonomic category from the literature and used to calculate iron per mass of total harvest over time. The marine commercial catch is estimated to have removed 1–6×10⁹ g of iron in 1950, the lowest values on record. There is an annual increase to 0.7–3×10¹⁰ g in 1996, which declines to 0.6–2×10¹⁰ g in 2010. While small compared to the total iron terms in the cycle, these could have compounding effects on distribution and concentration patterns globally over time. These storage, recycling, and export terms of biotic iron are not currently included in ocean iron mass balance calculations. These data suggest that fish and anthropogenic activity should be included in global oceanic iron cycles.     

Melt-in-Mouth Multi-particulate System for the Treatment of ADHD: A Convenient Platform for Pediatric Use

Generally, pellets obtained from extrusion/spheronization, containing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), do not disintegrate. An attempt has been made to develop melt-in-mouth pellets of taste-masked atomoxetine hydrochloride, using extrusion-spheronization, for pediatric patients. Melt-in-mouth pellets were prepared using extrusion-spheronization method and optimized using 3³ FFD. MCC (X₁, %), mannitol (X₂, %) and Indion 414: Pharmaburst 500 ratio (X₃, ratio) were the factors (independent variables) studied, whereas responses studied (dependent variables) were friability (Y1, %), yield (Y2, %) shape (Y3, roundness) in vitro disintegration time (Y4, seconds). The optimized formulation obtained from FFD was characterized for friability, shape and morphology, in vitro disintegration time, porosity, moisture uptake, in vitro release study and in vivo taste and disintegration time in healthy human volunteers. Randomized, two-treatment, two-sequence, two-period, single dose, crossover sensory evaluation study of taste-masked melt-in-mouth pellet was carried out in 10 healthy human subjects. A statistically significant polynomial mathematical relationship was generated between the factors and responses to obtain an optimized formulation. The optimized formulation was characterized (in vitro and in vivo) and exhibited a rapid drug release in vitro attributed to fast disintegration of pellets and high solubility of drug in 0.1 N HCl and buffer (pH 6.8). In vivo, 40% of volunteers ranked taste-masked optimized formulation as slightly bitter while 60% ranked it as no taste. The optimized pellets were conveniently administered in volunteers and exhibited rapid in-vivo disintegration in the oral cavity. Melt-in-mouth pellets can be a used as a platform technology for administering drugs to paediatric patients accurately and conveniently resulting in patient compliance.