The catches and discards of trawlers, seiners and trammel netters were studied in the Algarve (southern Portugal) using observers onboard commercial ®shing vessels. Species diversity was high, with 236 species recorded as occasionally, frequently or regularly discarded. Mean discard rates per trip were 0.13, 0.20, 0.27, 0.62 and 0.70, respectively, for trammel nets, demersal purse seines, pelagic purse seines, ®sh trawls and crustacean trawls, with high variability in terms of discard volume and discard rate. This was especially so for seiners where from 0 to 100% of the total catch might be discarded. No signi®cant relationships were found between discard quantity or discard rate and characteristics of the ®shing vessels sampled within each me tier (total length, TAB, hp, kW). Based on the above discard rates and the ocial landings, it was estimated that in 1996, Algarve trawlers discarded 9000±13000 tonnes (t) while seiners discarded 5500±8200 t. Discarding practices in these ®sheries are reviewed and the reasons for discarding are presented by species and me tier basis. The results support the need for more studies on the factors contributing to discarding, variability in discard quantities and rates, the fate of discards and their importance to the marine ecosystem, and on ways of reducing by-catch and discarding in these ®sheries.U.S.

No abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of riluzole on dyskinesia and the duration of the ON state in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The authors studied 16 PD patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia. All patients initially received an apomorphine dose intended to induce the motor function benefit (ON state) generally accompanied by dyskinesia. They evaluated the patients during the OFF and ON states using the UPDRS-III, UPDRS-IV, and Larsen scales, and measured the duration of the ON state. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either riluzole (50 mg bid) or placebo for 7 consecutive days (8 patients in each group). The authors did not interrupt previously prescribed medication. Following the 7-day period, they carried out similar evaluation procedures before and after another apomorphine challenge. Mean UPDRS-IV scores were 6.1 points and 6.0 points before and after riluzole therapy respectively. For the placebo group, the scores were 6.9 points and 6.6 points for the initial and final evaluations respectively. Larsen scale had mean scores of 9.2 points and 9.9 points for the pre- and postriluzole periods, and 10.2 points and 9.6 points for pre- and post-placebo evaluations respectively. The ON state was 33.5% lengthier after 7 days of riluzole and 28.0% lengthier after placebo. They could not find any statistical differences between the 2 groups. Short-term riluzole administration in PD patients was not able to reduce apomorphine-induced dyskinesia but could extend the ON state duration, although this did not reach statistical significance.

Background: In Brazil, mathematical models for deriving estimates and projections of COVID-19 cases have been developed without data on asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. We estimated the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Methods: Data were collected on 2,857 blood donors from April 14 to 27, 2020. We report the crude prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the weighted prevalence by the total state population, and adjusted prevalence estimates for test sensitivity and specificity. To establish the correlates of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, we used logistic regression models. The analysis included period and site of blood collection, sociodemographic characteristics, and place of residence. Results: The proportion of SARS-Cov-2 positive tests without any adjustment was 4.0% (95% CI 3.3-4.7%), and the weighted prevalence was 3.8% (95% CI 3.1-4.5%). Further adjustment by test sensitivity and specificity produced lower estimates, 3.6% (95% CI 2.7-4.4%) and 3.3% (95% CI 2.6-4.1%), respectively. The variable most significantly associated with the crude prevalence was the period of blood collection: the later the period, the higher the prevalence. Regarding socio-demographic characteristics, the younger the blood donors, the higher the prevalence, and the lower the educational level, the higher the odds of a positive SARS-Cov-2 antibody. Similar results were found for the weighted prevalence. Discussion: Although our findings resulted from a convenience sample, they match some basic premises: the increasing trend over time, since the epidemic curve in the state is still on the rise; the higher prevalence among the youngest who are more likely to circulate; and the higher prevalence among the less educated as they have more difficulties in following the social distancing recommendations. Despite the study limitations, it is possible to infer that protective levels of natural herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 are far from being reached in Rio de Janeiro.

Storing hatchable eggs is a common practice in commercial hatcheries. However, storage time may negative effects on several performance parameters. An experiment was carried out to evaluate inverting egg position during storage of eggs laid by young and old layer breeders. Fertile eggs of 32 and 58-week-old breeders were stored for seven, 14, and 21 days at 18ºC ± 2ºC and 80% ± 10% relative humidity (RU). The following parameters were evaluated: egg weight loss, hatchability and hatchling weight, and embryodiagnosis results. Eggs stored with the small end up lost less weight during storage compared with the control eggs. Storing eggs for 14 days with the small end up reduced early embryo mortality, improving hatchability. In addition, hatchling weight increased. These results show that the detrimental effects of long storage periods may be alleviated when eggs are stored with the small end up to 14 days of storage