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The contribution of non-indigenous species to the transfer of contaminants in invaded food webs represents an active research area. Here we measured trace metals and CN stable isotopes in five populations of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus and in baseline bivalve species from Spain, Italy and Greece. They were used to estimate trophic transfer effects and the trophic position and isotopic niche of C. sapidus. Maximum trophic transfer effects occurred where the crab showed the largest isotopic niches and highest trophic positions; furthermore, the consistency of trace metal profiles between bivalves and crabs co-varied with the trophic position of the latters. Omnivory may influence the success of an invasive species, but also limit its effectiveness for biomonitoring. However, our results indicated that stable isotopes analysis provides a clarifying background where to cast patterns of contamination of the blue crab as well as of other omnivorous biomonitor species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To test the efficacy of a self-management intervention for stroke survivors vs. usual care., Methods: Using a quasi-experimental study, participants were recruited from three public Italian hospitals. Questionnaires assessing self-efficacy (SSEQ), quality of life (SF-12), physical performance (SPPB), depression (GDS) and activities of daily living (MBI) were administered at baseline, discharge and two months after discharge. Mixed models with a propensity score were used between experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). Logistic models were used to compare the use of health services., Results: Eighty-two stroke survivors were enrolled in the EG and 103 in the CG. Self-efficacy in self-management improved in the EG compared to the CG during hospitalization. Improvements from baseline to discharge were found in the EG in the mental component of SF-12 and in MBI. The EG were 8.9 times more likely to contact general practitioners after discharge and 2.9 times to do regular exercise than CG. Notably, EG with higher education benefitted more from the intervention., Conclusion: The intervention was efficacious in improving self-efficacy, mental health and activities of daily living., Practice Implications: Structured educational interventions based on problem-solving and individual goal setting may improve self-management skills in stroke survivors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study provides a baseline assessment of cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and zinc concentrations in muscles, gills, and exoskeleton of the Lessepsian blue swimming crab Portunus segnis captured in the Gulf of Gabès (Southern Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia) in November 2015. Furthermore, the species' trophic position is estimated using CN stable isotope analysis. The exoskeleton showed the lowest metal contents; in soft tissues, the essential Cu, Fe, and Zn and the non-essential Cd, Mn, and Pb showed the highest and lowest concentrations, respectively. The crab was characterized by a trophic position of 3.32, confirming its carnivorous trophic habits. Compared with literature data on invertebrate and fish species from the same area, Cd and Pb resulted remarkably low in the crab's soft tissues, while a food web-scale dilution effect was indicated. The need of a comprehensive assessment of the ecological impact of Portunus segnis in invaded Mediterranean waters is discussed., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In invertebrate biomonitors of chemical pollution, emphasis has been generally given to mean accumulation patterns and how they reflect varying environmental levels of contamination. Intra-population variability, and how it relates with individual phenotypic traits, has received less attention. Here, a set of analytes including trace elements (B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn), macroelements (C, Ca, K, Mg, N, Na), and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) was measured in two populations of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii from Lake Trasimeno and Lake Bolsena (Central Italy). The influence of location, sex, body size, and condition factor was assessed; in addition, the analyte correlation profiles of the two populations were compared to verify their congruence. In general, significant inter-lake differences were observed in the concentration of both trace- and macroelements in crayfish tissues, generally mirroring the local chemistry of water and of benthic non-living matrices (sediment and plant detritus). Crayfish CN isotopic signatures excluded the occurrence of inter-lake variations in their omnivorous trophic habits. Correlation profiles varied considerably between the two populations in the nature and strength of bivariate relationships. However, Mantel tests and procrustean analyses indicated a general, significant congruence; C, N, and, to a lesser extent K, Li, Ni, Pb, and δ 13 C showed the highest procrustean residuals, suggesting that their associations with other analytes may be partially influenced by inter-population differences in growing phases. Our study indicates that the local geochemistry of the lacustrine environment influences the elemental fingerprint of Procambarus clarkii; the considerable inter-individual variability in the concentration of analytes, however, does not significantly reflect on their association, thus corroborating its effectiveness as an indicator species., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)