Australian water mass variations from GRACE data linked to Indo-Pacific climate variability

Time-variable gravity data from the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission are used to study total water content over Australia for the period 2002-2010. A time-varying annual signal explains 61% of the variance of the data, in good agreement with two independent estimates of the same quantity from hydrological models. Water mass content variations across Australia are linked to Pacific and Indian Ocean variability, associated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), respectively. From 1989, positive (negative) IOD phases were related to anomalously low (high) precipitation in southeastern Australia, associated with a reduced (enhanced) tropical moisture flux. In particular, the sustained water mass content reduction over central and southern regions of Australia during the period 2006-2008 is associated with three consecutive positive IOD events.     

Retrieval of online handwriting by synthesis and matching

Search and retrieval is gaining importance in the ink domain due to the increase in the availability of online handwritten data. However, the problem is challenging due to variations in handwriting between various writers, digitizers and writing conditions. In this paper, we propose a retrieval mechanism for online handwriting, which can handle different writing styles, specifically for Indian languages. The proposed approach provides a keyboard-based search interface that enables to search handwritten data from any platform, in addition to pen-based and example-based queries. One of the major advantages of this framework is that information retrieval techniques such as ranking relevance, detecting stopwords and controlling word forms can be extended to work with search and retrieval in the ink domain. The framework also allows cross-lingual document retrieval across Indian languages.     

Effect of pre-soaking whole pelagic fish in a plant extract on sensory and biochemical changes during subsequent frozen storage

Plant extract treatments have largely shown a positive effect on inhibiting the quality loss during the frozen storage of minced and filleted fish products. In the present case, the effect of a plant extract on a whole fish product was checked. For it, whole fresh horse mackerel was soaked in a commercial extract solution during 60 min and then kept frozen up to 12 months at −20 °C. Sampling was carried out on the initial material and at months 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12. Two parallel experiments consisting on untreated fish (Blank Control) and water treated fish (Water Control) were carried out in the same conditions. Lipid damage was measured by lipolysis development (free fatty acid formation), rancidity development (conjugated dienes (CDs), secondary oxidation compounds, fluorescent compounds and cholesterol oxides) and sensory (odour, firmness and colour) analyses. As a result of the previous plant extract treatment, better odour and colour scores were obtained that led to a larger shelf-life time (7 months) than in the two controls (5 months), according to the sensory analysis. Water treatment of fish (Water Control) also showed some better results in sensory (odour and colour) analysis than the Blank Control, that could be related to the elimination of some prooxidant molecules included in fish. Some biochemical indices (CDs and free fatty acids) also provided a damage inhibition (P<0.05) in the 9-12 months period as a result of the plant treatment and water treatment; however, fluorescence and cholesterol oxide detections did not show differences (P>0.05) when compared to the Blank Control. The present experiment provides promising results for soaking a pelagic whole fish in an aqueous plant extract as a previous step to its commercialization as a frozen product.     

The effects of freeze-drying and storage on the FT-Raman spectra of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)

FT-Raman spectroscopy was undertaken for quantitative characterization of lipids in horse mackerel (Trachurus Trachurus) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Peroxide value of fish lipids and protein extractability of the fish lipids and muscles were also measured by titration and Bradford assay, respectively.     

HYDRAULIC PREFERENCES OF SHRIMPS AND FISHES IN TROPICAL INSULAR RIVERS

Hydraulic habitat models based on the preferences of species for the hydraulic characteristics of their microhabitats are frequently used to evaluate the impact on the habitat of a change in river flow regime. Their application in a tropical insular environment is still limited as little is known about the hydraulic preferences of species. Hydraulic preference models have been developed for 15 taxa (diadromous shrimps and fishes) sampled in 52 rivers in the Caribbean (the French West Indies) and the Indian Ocean (the Reunion island). Five datasets were used and group 8353 samples collected by electrofishing during 320 surveys (reach × date) performed between 1999 and 2011. Generalized additive models were used to link variations of taxa density within surveys to the hydraulic characteristics of the microhabitat (velocity, depth and substrate). Hydraulic preferences within each region (Caribbean and Indian Ocean) are significant for most of the taxa and vary little between rivers and surveys. The hydraulic variables explain up to 18.1% (univariate models) and 30.0% (multivariate models) of the deviance of densities within survey. Of the taxa selected, Atya scabra, Macrobrachium heterochirus, Xiphocaris elongata and the Sicydiinae are the most demanding. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple wheat germ diet for studying the nutrient requirements of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)

Indian meal moth infestation of processed cereal products during storage could be managed with little or no use of conventional pesticides if there was a greater recognition and use of the moth's innate vulnerabilities. Slowing the growth rate of the infesting larvae is a simple strategy that can decrease the amount of damage and decrease the frequency of pesticide intervention. The growth rates of Indian meal moths on different cereal products varies widely indicating product-related differences in nutrient availability for the insects. Nutrient availability depends upon both the amounts of nutrients available in the cereal product and upon physical characteristics of the product that restrict the assimilation of nutrients.

The development of control strategies for protecting processed cereal products based upon nutrient availability requires a simple, palatable test diet of known composition. Wheat germ mixed with 30% glycerol (w/w) provides a suitable growth medium for the Indian meal moth whose nutrients have been largely identified and quantified. Our studies indicate that dietary glycerol augments Indian meal moth growth and development on wheat germ by moisturizing the diet and probably provides a source of carbon and energy for larval growth.     

Supercooling point variability in the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Factors affecting the supercooling point (SCP) of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), were investigated under various conditions. The effects of geographic origin, time under laboratory conditions, laboratory diet, stage of development, age within stage, and season on P. interpunctella SCP were examined. Overall, SCPs ranged from −28.6 to −2.4 °C. At the times of collection, differences in SCP between field-collected individuals and individuals from laboratory sources were negligible. The minimum observed SCP for most of the cultures tested soon after collection was below −20 °C. After 7 months under laboratory conditions, the mean SCP of field-collected and laboratory-reared cultures remained unchanged. No particular trend in SCP was observed when comparing cultures from northern and southern regions. Differences in laboratory diets did not affect mean SCP. Mean SCP for 1- and 4-d-old eggs was similar. Eggs (−24.4 °C), first instars (−23.5 °C), pupae (−22.2 °C), and adults (−22.4 °C) had lower mean SCPs than later instar larvae (−14.4 to −11.6 °C). When confined in the laboratory for 8 months under conditions which were not controlled, monthly mean SCP for the same culture varied by as much as 5.7 °C. Plodia interpunctella appeared to regulate its SCP as the season changed, with a relatively high mean SCP during summer and a marked decline of more than 10 °C in fall. The SCPs obtained in this study suggest that very low temperatures may be needed for disinfestation of P. interpunctella at all stages of development.     

Efficacy and fumigation characteristics of ozone in stored maize

This study evaluated the efficacy of ozone as a fumigant to disinfest stored maize. Treatment of 8.9 tonnes (350 bu) of maize with 50 ppm ozone for 3 d resulted in 92–100% mortality of adult red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), adult maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.), and larval Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) and reduced by 63% the contamination level of the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus Speare on the kernel surface. Ozone fumigation of maize had two distinct phases. Phase 1 was characterized by rapid degradation of the ozone and slow movement through the grain. In Phase 2, the ozone flowed freely through the grain with little degradation and occurred once the molecular sites responsible for ozone degradation became saturated. The rate of saturation depended on the velocity of the ozone/air stream. The optimum apparent velocity for deep penetration of ozone into the grain mass was 0.03 m/s, a velocity that is achievable in typical storage structures with current fans and motors. At this velocity 85% of the ozone penetrated 2.7 m into the column of grain in 0.8 d during Phase 1 and within 5 d a stable degradation rate of 1 ppm/0.3 m was achieved. Optimum velocity for Phase 2 was 0.02 m/s. At this velocity, 90% of the ozone dose penetrated 2.7 m in less than 0.5 d. These data demonstrate the potential usefulness of using ozone in managing stored maize and possibly other grains.     

Tackling CO2 reduction in India through use of CO2 capture and storage (CCS): Prospects and challenges

CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) is not currently a priority for the Government of India (GOI) because, whilst a signatory to the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, there are no existing greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and most commentators do not envisage compulsory targets for India in the post-2012 phase. The overwhelming priority for the GOI is to sustain a high level of economic growth (8%+) and provision of secure, reliable energy (especially electricity) is one of the widely recognised bottlenecks in maintaining a high growth rate. In such a supply-starved context, it is not easy to envisage adoption of CCS—which increases overall generation capacity and demand for coal without increasing actual electricity supply—as being acceptable. Anything which increases costs—even slightly—is very unlikely to happen, unless it is fully paid for by the international community. The majority viewpoint of the industry and GOI interviewees towards CCS appears to be that it is a frontier technology, which needs to be developed further in the Annex-1 countries to bring down the cost through RD&D and deployment. More RD&D is required to assess in further detail the potential for CO₂ storage in geological reservoirs in India and the international community has an important role to play in cultivating such research.     

中国与非洲环印度洋岛国职业教育合作途径探索——以马达加斯加、科摩罗为例

印度洋是中国“海上丝绸之路”的重要路线,中国与非洲环印度洋岛国职业教育合作的必要性首先体现在中国职业教育对外开放能够扩大中国教育的国际影响力。其次,非洲环印度洋岛国发展现状迫切需要提升职业教育水平,包括高速增长的人口数量与低迷的经济水平矛盾,以及劳动技能严重缺乏与有限的教育资源矛盾。中国与非洲环印度洋岛国职业教育合作的途径包括充分利用双边优势,实现教育双赢;推动政府、企业、学校协同合作;促进交流多样化,打造复合型应用人才。