Simulation of Tail Weight Distributions in Biological Year 1986–2006 Landings of Brown Shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus, from the Northern Gulf of Mexico Fishery

Size distribution within re- ported landings is an important aspect of northern Gulf of Mexico penaeid shrimp stock assessments. It reflects shrimp population characteristics such as numerical abundance of various sizes, age structure, and vital rates (e.g. recruitment, growth, and mortality), as well as effects of fishing, fishing power, fishing practices, sampling, size-grading, etc. The usual measure of shrimp size in archived landings data is count (C) the number of shrimp tails (abdomen or edible portion) per pound (0.4536 kg). Shrimp are marketed and landings reported in pounds within tail count categories. Statistically, these count categories are count class intervals or bins with upper and lower limits expressed in C. Count categories vary in width, overlap, and frequency of occurrence within the landings. The upper and lower limits of most count class intervals can be transformed to lower and upper limits (respectively) of class intervals expressed in pounds per shrimp tail, w, the reciprocal of C (i.e. w = 1/C). Age based stock assessments have relied on various algorithms to estimate numbers of shrimp from pounds landed within count categories. These algorithms required un- derlying explicit or implicit assumptions about the distribution of C or w. However, no attempts were made to assess the actual distribution of C or w. Therefore, validity of the algorithms and assumptions could not be determined. When different algorithms were applied to landings within the same size categories, they produced different estimates of numbers of shrimp. This paper demonstrates a method of simulating the distribution of w in reported biological year landings of shrimp. We used, as examples, landings of brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus, from the northern Gulf of Mexico fishery in biological years 1986–2006. Brown shrimp biological year, Ti, is defined as beginning on 1 May of the same calendar year as Ti and ending on 30 April of the next calendar year, where subscript i is the place marker for biological year. Biological year landings encompass most if not all of the brown shrimp life cycle and life span. Simulated distributions of w reflect all factors influencing sizes of brown shrimp in the landings within a given biological year. Our method does not require a priori assumptions about the parent distributions of w or C, and it takes into account the variability in width, overlap, and frequency of occurrence of count categories within the landings. Simulated biological year distributions of w can be transformed to equivalent distributions of C. Our method may be useful in future testing of previously applied algorithms and development of new estimators based on statistical estimation theory and the underlying distribution of w or C. We also examine some applications of biological year distributions of w, and additional variables derived from them

Use of endocrine and immune responses as predictors of bull sperm motility

Research has shown that peripheral blood cell populations change in response to an immune challenge, and hormone concentrations directly affect sperm characteristics. The objective of this study was to utilize immune responses and hormone concentrations as biomarkers for yearling bull sperm motility. Seventeen Brahman-influenced bulls (mean age 1.1 ± 0.1 yr; body weight 478 ± 38 kg) were administered an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (Salmonella typhimirium 0.7 µg/kg of body weight). Blood was collected 0, 3, 6, 9, and 24 h after LPS injection then analyzed for differential cell count and endocrine concentrations of prolactin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF), and cortisol. Semen was collected using electroejaculation every month for five months then analyzed for motility and morphology characteristics. Hormone concentrations and immune response had an effect on sperm characteristics. Number of sperm was correlated (r \u3e 0.65; P \u3c 0.01) with the IGF to prolactin ratio. Using stepwise regression analysis, we predicted that number of sperm = 172.43 + 12.8 (IGF:prolactin), r2 = 0.43, and progressive sperm motility = -1469.6 + 1.63 (IGF:cortisol) + 14.41 (average temperature during immune challenge), r2 = 0.43. This study showed that endocrine response to stress and activation of the immune system was associated with subsequent sperm motility characteristics. Our results suggest that endocrine and immune responses may be used as biomarkers for sperm motility. Those biomarkers may be useful in selecting replacement bulls

Communicating the Value of Ergonomics to Management – Part 2: Ergonomics ROI Case Study Applications

More than ever, human factors engineers and ergonomists need to justify our practice’s value to management. How can we effectively communicate with management? How should we present a Return on Investment (ROI) that leadership will find useful that addresses company profits, cost savings, productivity, first time quality, and turnover? What else does management care about other than ROI? This second panel in a two panel series will specifically highlight case studies in which presenters give examples of situations in which ROI for ergonomics was investigated from a business value. The session will start with four case study lectures followed by a panel discussion led by the moderators. The audience will be encouraged to participate with their own questions and comments

How to Cross-Examine Opposing Experts

Accomplished Georgia Law alumni Kay Deming (J.D.\u2778) and Rick Deane (J.D.\u2777) addressed how one should cross-examine opposing experts

Do statins delay onset or slow progression of Alzheimer's dementia?

Statins (coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors) should not be used with the single intent to delay the onset or slow the progression of dementia. Large randomized control trials (RCTs) found that the administration of a statin had no significant effect on preventing or slowing all-cause cognitive decline (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on large RCTs with narrow confidence interval). Specifically, there is insufficient evidence that statins delay the onset or slow the progression of Alzheimer's dementia (SOR: B, based on systematic review with heterogeneity). While 3 epidemiologic studies have found a decreased incidence of dementia among those taking statins, these studies have significant methodological shortcomings and do not show a causal relationship (SOR: C, based on poor-quality studies)

Partners in Water Quality Monitoring at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Water resources are essential to landscape development and maintenance of the extraordinary ecosystem at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. The National Park Service has implemented many policies and management practices in an effort to maintain and improve the water quality in the park. As part of their resources management, the Park evaluates current hydrologic conditions, as well as, anticipates and responds to emerging issues. With regards to that goal, Mammoth Cave National Park Service partnered with Tennessee State University, the Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning, and the U.S. Geological Survey on a series of water-related projects from 2007-2013. The objective of this paper is to highlight some of the findings and lessons learned from the past 6 years. Many of the results presented in this paper have been presented at other conferences or published in other reports. Collaborative projects included storm-water runoff from parking lots and roads, evaluating storm-water filters, and transport of chemicals in the caves. These projects purposefully engaged students to provide professional experience and educational outreach opportunities. Over 50 student presentations related to these monitoring activities have been made at regional and national conferences in the past 6 years, resulting in numerous awards and publications. Major funding or in-kind services were provided by the partnering agencies and institutions. Additional funding for supplies and student support was provided by the National Science Foundation (Opportunity for Enhancing Diversity in Geoscience, 2007-8; Undergraduate Research and Mentoring, 2009-13), and, the Department of Energy (Massey Chair – NNSA, 2007-13). The following summaries are excerpts from previously published student papers (West et al., 2010; Diehl et al., 2012, Embry, et al., 2012, West et al., 2012)

Constraining mass ratio and extinction in the FU Orionis binary system with infrared integral field spectroscopy

We report low resolution near infrared spectroscopic observations of the eruptive star FU Orionis using the Integral Field Spectrograph Project 1640 installed at the Palomar Hale telescope. This work focuses on elucidating the nature of the faint source, located 0.5" south of FU Ori, and identified in 2003 as FU Ori S. We first use our observations in conjunction with published data to demonstrate that the two stars are indeed physically associated and form a true binary pair. We then proceed to extract J and H band spectro-photometry using the damped LOCI algorithm, a reduction method tailored for high contrast science with IFS. This is the first communication reporting the high accuracy of this technique, pioneered by the Project 1640 team, on a faint astronomical source. We use our low resolution near infrared spectrum in conjunction with 10.2 micron interferometric data to constrain the infrared excess of FU Ori S. We then focus on estimating the bulk physical properties of FU Ori S. Our models lead to estimates of an object heavily reddened, A_V =8-12, with an effective temperature of ~ 4000-6500 K . Finally we put these results in the context of the FU Ori N-S system and argue that our analysis provides evidence that FU Ori S might be the more massive component of this binary syste

Fiber Optic Cable Thermal Preparation to Ensure Stable Operation

Fiber optic cables are widely used in modern systems that must provide stable operation during exposure to changing environmental conditions. For example, a fiber optic cable on a satellite may have to reliably function over a temperature range of -50 C up to 125 C. While the system requirements for a particular application will dictate the exact method by which the fibers should be prepared, this work will examine multiple ruggedized fibers prepared in different fashions and subjected to thermal qualification testing. The data show that if properly conditioned the fiber cables can provide stable operation, but if done incorrectly, they will have large fluctuations in transmission

1987: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

THE MIND OF CHRIST Being the Abilene Christian University Annual Bible Lectures 1987 Published by A.C.U. Press 1634 Campus Court Abilene, Texas 7960