Abstract Giant grenadiers Albatrossia pectoralis are caught as bycatch in deep‐sea commercial fisheries in relatively large numbers. The population appears to be stable, although there is no directed fishery, catch limits, or reporting requirements. The purpose of our study was to describe and quantify the reproductive life history characteristics and natural mortality of female giant grenadiers. During the summers of 2004 and 2006, a total of 338 specimens were collected from the Gulf of Alaska. Every phase of reproductive development was found, suggesting a protracted annual spawning season. An ovarian wall thickness technique was used to successfully place 31% ( n = 24) of the fish with an unknown maturity status into a known category. Female age at 50% maturity was 22.9 years, and preanal fin length at 50% maturity was 26 cm. Total fecundity ranged from 35,000 to 231,000 oocytes (mean = 106,761), with a mean mature oocyte diameter of 1.26 mm. We developed a new technique for preparing otoliths for age determination by grinding off the distal surface to elucidate the growth zones; age ranged from 14 to 58 years. Estimates of natural female mortality ranged from 0.052 to 0.079 and estimates of total female mortality from 0.061 to 0.149. This life history information will be essential for future management of giant grenadier populations in the North Pacific Ocean.
The alternating translucent and opaque banding pattern in canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) otoliths, aged using a break-and-burn methodology, are annual markings. To validate age assignment, we compared measured radiocarbon levels in canary rockfish otolith cores with a reference chronology developed from known age Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). An average 2- to 3-year phase shift was detected between the canary rockfish and a Pacific halibut reference chronology that was likely the result of differences in the regional oceanography or underageing bias. The assumption of ageing bias consistency was tested with two sampling designs. The first design controled for age-related ageing error, and the second design related birth year to estimated age. No change in the magnitude of ageing bias as a function of age was detected.
To compare body composition between patients with psoriatic disease (PsD), including cutaneous psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and controls, and to explore associations between disease activity and measures of function and metabolic derangement.Body composition was assessed by air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and MRI-derived fat segmentation using an automated pipeline (FatSegNet). Function was assessed by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and metabolic status by fasting lipid profile, insulin and adiponectin. Active and inactive PsO and PsA were defined by body surface area (BSA) and Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and minimal disease activity (MDA), respectively.Thirty patients (median disease duration 15 years; median age 52 years) and 30 BMI-matched controls were enrolled. Compared with controls, all MRI-derived body composition parameters-whole-body volume, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal adipose tissue (AAT), VAT/AAT and VAT/SAT-were higher in the PsD group, specifically, those with active disease. Body mass, body fat, whole-body volume and whole-body VAT were correlated with higher triglycerides, cholesterol:HDL (high-density lipoprotein), insulin resistance and lower adiponectin as well as higher HAQ and lower MDA.In this pilot study, patients with PsD revealed excessive total adipose tissue and a greater volume of metabolically unfavourable ectopic fat, including VAT, compared with BMI-matched controls, which also correlated with HAQ, disease activity and overall dysmetabolism. We also provide the first evidence in patients with PsD for the clinical application of FatSegNet: a novel, automated and rapid deep learning pipeline for providing accurate MRI-based measurement of fat segmentation. Our findings suggest the need for a more integrated approach to the management of PsD, which considers both the metabolic and inflammatory burden of disease. More specifically, visceral fat is a surrogate marker of uncontrolled PsD and may be an important future target for both pharmacological and lifestyle interventions.
Abstract Objective To investigate differences in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) in the spinal muscles of younger and older adult males. Methods Twelve younger (19-30 years) and 12 older (61-81years) healthy, physically active male participants underwent T1W, T2W, Dixon and DTI of the lumbar spine. The eigenvalues (λ1, λ2, and λ3), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) from the DTI together with the PDFF were determined in the multifidus, medial and lateral erector spinae (ESmed, ESlat), and quadratus lumborum (QL) muscles. A two-way ANOVA was used to investigate differences with age and muscle and t-tests for differences in individual muscles with age. Results The ANOVA gave significant differences with age for all DTI parameters and the PDFF (P < .01) and with muscle (P < .01) for all DTI parameters except for λ1 and for the PDFF. The mean of the eigenvalues and MD were lower and the FA higher in the older age group with differences reaching statistical significance for all DTI measures for ESlat and QL (P < .01) but only in ESmed for λ3 and MD (P < .05). Conclusions Differences in DTI parameters of muscle with age result from changes in both in the intra- and extra-cellular space and cannot be uniquely explained in terms of fibre length and diameter. Advances in knowledge Previous studies looking at age have used small groups with uneven age spacing. Our study uses two well defined and separated age groups.
Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image sizeKey Words: Software complexitySoftware designVoice of customer (VOC)DecompositionQuality function deployment (QFD)Quantification method of Type III (QMITIII;lsquo
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