Search

Caribbean ocean environments house several large deep-sea basins that remain poorly surveyed. Here we report observations of benthic faunal communities attracted to remote, deep-sea video landers deployed at depths between 262 and 1100 m in two deep basins in The Bahamas, the Tongue of the Ocean (n = 18 deployments) and Exuma Sound (n = 11 deployments). The video comprises >8000 min of survey data across five years of sampling (2018–2022). We estimated regional deep-sea particulate organic carbon (POC) flux using satellite-derived observations and a model of POC decay with depth to assess potential food availability to benthic communities living deeper than 800 m in these basins. The benthic POC flux helped to contextualize potential drivers of faunal biodiversity and abundances estimated from the lander measurements. Throughout twilight zone depths of The Bahamas (defined here as approximately 200–1000 m) we identified taxa from 22 families across invertebrates, teleost fishes, and elasmobranchs. Faunal communities were largely dominated by giant isopods (Bathynomus sp.), gulper sharks (Centrophorus sp.), and swimming sea cucumbers (Enypniastes eximia). Despite sampling biases toward larger individuals, our findings suggest that Bahamian twilight zone communities comprise a diversity of large predator species that are potentially sustained through high energetic connectivity with shallow neritic sources of organic carbon. Our findings suggest that the Central and Southern Tongue of the Ocean should be the focus of future sampling efforts given a lack of historical sampling combined with high export productivity to depth. This study provides new insight into community composition, assemblage structure, and POC flux in Caribbean deep-sea ecosystems, shedding light on previously unrecognized patterns of biodiversity. • We surveyed poorly studied Bahamian deep-sea basins using novel landers. • Communities were dominated by large sharks and giant isopods. • Satellite derived POC flux was highly variable across space. • Further work is needed to document cryptic biodiversity in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids affect stable isotope values generated for marine fishes, however these effects remain poorly described for many extant shark taxa, especially deep-sea species. Here, we report the effects of lipid extraction (LE) on δ 13 C, δ 15 N, and C:N values of seven deep-sea sharks, generate novel mathematical normalizations for δ 13 C based on the relationship between bulk and lipid extracted values (δ 13 C Bulk and δ 13 C LE ) and examine whether common normalized correction models provide a robust method for addressing lipid-biasing effects in two species, the Cuban dogfish ( Squalus cubensis ; n = 20), and Greenland shark ( Somniosus microcephalus ; n = 24). LE generally resulted in enrichment of 13 C and 15 N, but produced variable effects on C:N across all species. Novel mathematical normalizations for δ 13 C were derived from the pooled shark community, and a single species-specific correction was generated for the Cuban dogfish, but could not be determined for the Greenland shark. Four common lipid correction models used for teleosts, failed to accurately predict δ 13 C values statistically similar to δ 13 C LE , in both Cuban dogfish and Greenland sharks, likely due to the confounding effects of lipids and urea on C:N. These observations suggest that chemical lipid extraction should be a mandatory procedure prior to interpreting stable isotope data for deep-sea sharks, at least for those species where lipid effects are large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquiring movement data for small-bodied, deep-water chondrichthyans is challenged by extreme effects of capture and handling stress, and post-release predation, however, it is urgently required to examine important fisheries interactions and assess the ecological role of these species within deep-water food webs. Here we suggest a novel release-cage mechanism to deploy pop-up satellite archival tags, as well as present vertical habitat data for a data-deficient, small-bodied, deep-water bycatch species, the Cuban dogfish ( Squalus cubensis ). Data were gathered from seven of eight High Rate X-Tags deployed on mature Cuban dogfish in the Exuma Sound, The Bahamas. Recovery periods appeared variable between individuals and are likely driven by capture-and-handling stress and tag burden. Application of the cross-correlation function to time-series depth and temperature data indicated three of the seven individuals suffered mortality through predation, which occurred during daytime, and suggests Cuban dogfish may constitute a proportion of deep-water apex predator diet in the Exuma Sound. Two animals were successfully released via a novel release-cage mechanism and displayed either no, or rapid (<15 mins) vertically stationary recovery periods and were not consumed by predators; data for these individuals were recorded for the entire deployment duration (14 days). Vertical habitat data suggests Cuban dogfish are diel-vertical migrators, similar to other deep-water taxa, and exhibit a relatively broad temperature and depth range, which may be driven by preference for specific bathymetric structures. These techniques provide an important first step into acquiring and presenting vertical habitat data for small-bodied, deep-water chondrichthyans, which can be directly applied to fisheries and ecosystem-based management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined concentrations of Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Ni, Ag, Se, Cu, and Zn in muscle tissue of six commonly consumed Long Island fish species (black seabass, bluefish, striped bass, summer flounder, tautog, and weakfish, total sample size = 1211) caught off Long Island, New York in 2018 and 2019. Long-term consumption of these coastal fish could pose health risks largely due to Hg exposure; concentrations of the other trace elements were well below levels considered toxic for humans. By combining the measured Hg concentrations in the fish (means ranging from 0.11 to 0.27 mg/kg among the fish species), the average seafood consumption rate, and the current US EPA Hg reference dose (0.0001 mg/kg/d), it was concluded that seafood consumption should be limited to four fish meals per month for adults for some fish (bluefish, tautog) and half that for young children. Molar ratios of Hg:Se exceeded 1 for some black seabass, bluefish, tautog, and weakfish. • Hg, Se, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As and Ag were analyzed in 6 commonly consumed fish from Long Island, NY. • Trace element levels in fish and US EPA reference doses were used to assess consumption limits. • Of the elements analyzed, only Hg might pose a health risk for seafood consumers. • Consumption of bluefish and tautog should be limited to 4 meals per month for adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Three free water surface constructed wetlands (FWSCWs) have been built in the border of the Lake L’Albufera de Valencia (Valencia, Spain). This lake is the emblematic element of one of the most important wetlands in Spain, L’Albufera de Valencia Natural Park, and it is highly eutrophicated. The function of the set of CWs (9ha) is treating the eutrophic water from the lake with the objective of reducing the phytoplankton population and nutrients. The treatment wetlands named as FG and fp are comprised of three basins in a series, while the last, F4, consists of a single cell. During the first 2 years of operation, the inflow from lake was gradually increased from 0.01m3 s−1 (April 2009) to 0.13m3 s−1 (December 2010) with the goal of establishing the maximum hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and finding the highest removal efficiency. Input concentrations of different water quality variables studied showed a high variability. The inflow contained 8.80–94mgl−1 TSS, 0.16–1.13mgl−1 TP, 1–17.30mgl−1 TN, 0.13–13.10mg Nl−1 DIN, 0.10–11.50mg NO3 −-Nl−1, and 3.34–257.03μgl−1 Chl a. The best removal results for these parameters were obtained in the FG wetland, where the average mass removal efficiencies were 75% TSS, 65% TP, 52% TN, 61% DIN, 58% NO3 −-N, and 46% Chl a. In the set of constructed wetlands the removal rates increased with the hydraulic load rate for TSS and TP but neither for nitrogen species nor Chl a; for these variables the input concentrations are a key factor in removal. For instance, mean removal rate for nitrate is 101mg Nm−2 d−1 but values higher than 400mg Nm−2 d−1 were obtained when input concentrations were about 7mg NO3 −-Nl−1. Values of first-order constant aerial rate (k A) have been obtained for all variables. The corresponding values for nitrogen species and total phosphorus are higher than obtained in previous studies but the value k A value for TSS is low (94.9myear−1) owing to the eutrophic characteristics of water and a k A value for phytoplankton-Chl a of 65.1myear−1 is introduced. The management of CWs implies the harvest of vegetation, not for remove nitrogen because nitrification–denitrification processes reduce the 83.3% of TN that enters, but for the phosphorus, limiting nutrient in the Lake L’Albufera, that now is accumulated in plants and soils but could be sent back in several years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Neuroendocrine tumors can originate almost everywhere in the body and consist of a great variety of subtypes. This paper focuses on molecular imaging methods using nuclear medicine techniques in neuroendocrine tumors, coupling molecular uptake mechanisms of radiotracers with clinical results. A non-systematic review is presented on receptor based and metabolic imaging methods. Receptor-based imaging covers the molecular backgrounds of somatostatin, vaso-intestinal peptide (VIP), bombesin and cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors and their link with nuclear imaging. Imaging methods based on specific metabolic properties include meta-iodo-benzylguanide (MIBG) and dimercapto-sulphuric acid (DMSA-V) scintigraphy as well as more modern positron emission tomography (PET)-based methods using radio-labeled analogues of amino acids, glucose, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine and tryptophan. Diagnostic sensitivities are presented for each imaging method and for each neuroendocrine tumor subtype. Finally, a Forest plot analysis of diagnostic performance is presented for each tumor type in order to provide a comprehensive overview for clinical use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of 17β-estradiol on the secondary damage following spinal cord injury (SCI) was examined in male rats subjected to moderate compression. Two doses of 17β-estradiol (0.1 or 4 mg/kg) were injected i.p. immediately after spinal cord compression. Functional outcome was observed during 4 weeks following injury with two different tests. Release of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-6) was assessed 6 h, 3 days and 1 week post-injury. Reactive astrocytes expressing the glial fibrillary acidic protein GFAP and vimentin, and diffusion of CD68-positive inflammatory cells were examined from 3 days to 4 weeks following SCI. Treatment with 17β-estradiol significantly increased locomotor function from the first week until 4 weeks post-SCI. The injured spinal cord of 17β-estradiol-treated rats expressed more IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-6 than controls 6 h after injury. Moreover, 17β-estradiol-treated rats showed reactive astrocytes as soon as 3 days following SCI, with increased GFAP expression, smaller lesion areas and more limited diffusion of CD68-positive cells after 1 week post-injury compared to controls. The number of CD68-positive cells was also reduced in 17β-estradiol-treated rats one week post-SCI. However, these differences between 17β-estradiol-treated and control rats disappeared after 4 weeks. These results suggest that 17β-estradiol protects the spinal cord by stimulating early cytokines release and astroglial responses. These stimulations may prevent the area of damage from expanding and inflammatory cells to spread in the surrounding tissue during the critical first week following SCI. Although transient, these effects improved the locomotor recovery that was sustained over 4 weeks after injury. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A physical–biological 1D numerical model, forced by tidal currents and observed meteorology, has been used to simulate the inter-annual changes in the timing of spring stratification and the spring phytoplankton bloom between 1974 and 2003 in the Marr Bank region of the North-western North Sea. The model successfully simulated the observed long-term variability and warming trend of water temperatures in the region, indicating that the oceanographic climate is influenced primarily by local meteorology rather than by inflows of water from the NE Atlantic Ocean. The spring-neap tidal cycle is shown to affect the timing of the onset of stratification and the spring bloom, with established spring stratification usually beginning as tidal currents decrease from springs to neaps. Spring-neap tidal variability can also produce double spring blooms when stratification that develops after a neap tide is temporarily broken down by the increasing tidal mixing towards the next spring tide. Over the 30 years of model simulations the dominant meteorological control on the timing of the spring stratification and bloom was the spring air temperature. However, there is evidence that control by wind stress variability on the timing of spring stratification was more important before the early 1990s (, significant at 95%). After the early 1990s the wind stress was not significantly correlated with the timing of spring stratification, and the spring air temperature became the main control (, significant at 95%). Increasing air temperature also appears to have driven a gradual trend in the timing of stratification and the spring bloom since the mid 1990s of an average 1 day earlier per year (, significant at 95%). The link between the spring meteorology and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was investigated, indicating that the NAO played a role in the timing of stratification and the spring bloom prior to 1990, with a significant correlation between the NAO and the spring wind stress, but has had less of a role since 1990, with only a weak connection between the NAO and the spring air temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Motor-evoked potentials (MEP) for intra-operative monitoring due to fast charge (fc: 1.0 Coulomb/s) and slow charge (sc: 0.1 Coulomb/s) delivery for multipulse transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) were compared.Methods: MEPs due to fc (n=162) and sc stimulation (n=182) were performed in parallel in a prospective study. The fc stimulation technique is characterized by an increased steepness of charge delivery with consequent reduction of stimulus duration of 50 μs compared to 500 μs in sc stimulation. Stimulation charges (C=Coulomb) and MEP parameters during spine surgery were analyzed.Results: MEPs were successfully recorded in 15/18 patients under total intravenous anesthesia. The mean charge to induce intra-operative MEPs (stimulation threshold) was significantly less in fc (0.195 mC) as compared to sc stimulation (0.298 mC). With both stimulation techniques, in all patients without impairment of motor function, MEPs could be recorded and no technique was superior with respect to successful stimulation. The mean MEP latencies, amplitudes and the extent of intra-individual variation of MEP parameters during surgery (shift of latency less than 10%, variability of amplitude less than 50%) were not different with both stimulation techniques.Conclusions: TES with either fc or sc stimulation can be used reliably for intraoperative monitoring. Fc and sc stimulation are comparable with respect to feasibility, intra-individual variability and mean parameters of MEP responses. However, fc stimulation provides a higher stimulation efficiency and requires about 35% less total charge for MEP monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years there has been a consensus among the Clinical Research community that ITT analysis represents the correct approach for the vast majority of trials. Recent worldwide regulatory guidance for pharmaceutical industry trials has allowed discussion of alternatives to the ITT approach to analysis; different treatment effects can be considered which may be more clinically meaningful and more relevant to patients and prescribers. The key concept is of a trial "estimand", a precise description of the estimated treatment effect. The strategy chosen to account for patients who discontinue treatment or take alternative medications which are not part of the randomised treatment regimen are important determinants of this treatment effect. One strategy to account for these events is treatment policy, which corresponds to an ITT approach. Alternative equally valid strategies address what the treatment effect is if the patient actually takes the treatment or does not use specific alternative medication. There is no single right answer to which strategy is most appropriate, the solution depends on the key clinical question of interest. The estimands framework discussed in the new guidance has been particularly useful in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic and has clarified what choices are available to account for the impact of COVID-19 on clinical trials. Specifically, an ITT approach addresses a treatment effect that may not be generalisable beyond the current pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Studies show that mepolizumab can reduce the frequency of clinically significant exacerbations in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, compared with placebo. However, important events such as hospitalizations and emergency room visits are rare and difficult to characterize in single studies. Objective We sought to compare hospitalization or hospitalization and/or emergency room visit rates in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with mepolizumab or placebo in addition to standard of care for at least 24 weeks. Methods This study was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. PubMed and the GSK Clinical Study Register were searched for suitable studies. The primary end points were the rate of exacerbations requiring hospitalization and the rate of exacerbations requiring hospitalization/emergency room visit. The proportion of patients with 1 or more event was also assessed. All mepolizumab doses were combined and individual patient-level data were analyzed. Results Four studies (n = 1388) were eligible for inclusion. Mepolizumab significantly reduced the rate of exacerbations requiring hospitalization (relative rate, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.80; P = .004) and hospitalization/emergency room visit (relative rate, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33-0.73; P < .001) versus placebo. Significant reductions of 45% and 38% were also observed for the proportion of patients experiencing 1 or more hospitalization and hospitalization and/or emergency room visit, respectively. Conclusions Mepolizumab approximately halved exacerbations requiring hospitalization and/or emergency room visits compared with placebo in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. This treatment addresses a key outcome in a patient population with a high unmet need (GSK Study 204664). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a mechanistic biokinetic model for nitrogen removal in free water surface constructed wetlands treating eutrophic water was developed, including organic matter performance due to its importance in nitrogen removal by denitrification. Ten components and fourteen processes were introduced in order to simulate the forms of nitrogen and organic matter, the mechanisms of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms in both aerobic and anoxic conditions, as well as macrophytes nitrogen uptake and release. Dissolved oxygen was introduced as an input variable with a time step of 0.5 days for mimicking eutrophic environments: aerobic conditions were assigned during daylight hours and anoxic conditions during the night. The sensitivity analysis showed that the most influential parameters were those related to the growth of heterotrophic and autotrophic microorganisms. The model was properly calibrated and validated in two full scale systems working in real conditions for treating eutrophic water from Lake L'Albufera (València). In the studied systems, ammonium was mainly removed by the growth of autotrophic microorganisms (nitrification) whereas nitrate was removed by the anoxic growth of heterotrophic microorganisms (denitrification). Macrophyte uptake removed between 9 and 19% of the ammonium entering to the systems, although degradation of dead standing macrophytes returned a significant part to water column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophication is a widespread problem that is being tackled from many perspectives and the recently applied technology of constructed wetlands is being used in the treatment of eutrophic water. However, process-based models to simulate their performance are scarce, so in this work a mechanistic model was developed to simulate the removal of total suspended solids, phytoplankton and total phosphorus in free water surface constructed wetlands treating eutrophic water. The model represents the influence of the main factors of the biotope and biota on these water quality variables, and particular attention is paid to resuspension produced by wind and by avifauna. Likewise, the effect of emergent vegetation cover in sedimentation, resuspension and phytoplankton growth is included. Phytoplankton is considered to store phosphorus internally in order to use it when growing, and the contribution of phytoplankton concentration to the suspended solids budget is included. The software AQUASIM was used to calibrate and validate the model in two full-scale constructed wetlands treating eutrophic water from Lake l′Albufera de València (Spain) for three years. The simulated data and field measurements showed satisfactory adjustments for the three studied variables. The budgets obtained for each variable reveal that sedimentation and resuspension are the main processes in total suspended solids performance. Sedimentation of organic particulate phosphorus is the most important process in total phosphorus removal. The sum of the effect of resuspension by avifauna and by wind increases by more than 50% the quantity of solids that enters the water column. The model reveals that simulating the effects of the emergent vegetation cover and resuspension is crucial for representing the performance of the studied variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal behavior varies in response to capture between/within species and fisheries, and its expression may contribute to incidental mortality when behaviors result in physiological ramifications that cannot be resolved. However, this relationship between capture behavior and animal health is poorly understood, and it remains a logistical challenge to evaluate behavior during capture. We describe an experimental technique that characterizes and quantifies capture behavior in hook-and-line fisheries. This technique includes (1) simultaneously monitoring the behavioral response to capture with accelerometers and cameras, (2) characterizing behavior from video footage and linking discrete behaviors to acceleration data, and (3) predicting behavior based solely on acceleration data using an ensemble of supervised classification methods. We captured oceanic whitetip sharks, Carcharhinus longimanus , with experimental (hook-and-line) gear to test these techniques (n = 38 capture events), with capture durations ranging from 4 to 68 min. In all, 145,589 tri-axial acceleration observations were collected across these events, including simultaneous video footage (six hours total) from 10 capture events. Three discrete capture behaviors were characterized: steady swimming, a high-energy response consisting of thrashing and burst swimming, and a loss of body orientation while hanging motionless from the gear. The latter two behaviors can lead to physiological stress if exhibited for prolonged periods. Our trained ensemble of supervised classification methods successfully predicted behaviors from acceleration data with up to 95.2% accuracy. This technique provides a better understanding of the behavioral response to hook-and-line capture and, if paired with health or fate assessments, can characterize the influence of behavior on mortality. Our technique also provides a method for predicting behavior based on acceleration data alone, which can be more feasible to collect across the spectrum of fishing conditions and practices within a fishery. Such information will assist in understanding how species respond to capture on hook-and-line gear and in the formulation of species- and fishery-specific strategies for mitigating mortality. • Technique to characterize and quantify capture behavior in hook-and-line fisheries. • Behavior was dually monitored with acceleration data loggers and video cameras. • Discrete behaviors were linked directly to acceleration data. • Behavior was predicted using a supervised ensemble classification approach. • Three discrete behaviors were identified for oceanic whitetip sharks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A VFCW has been constructed to treat wastewaters from a WWTP with tertiary treatment. [•] The iron oxide (hematite) is a suitable material to remove TP in VFCW. [•] The role of the plants is significant in TP removal (35.6% of TP removed). [•] The percentage of TP removal is higher than 75%. [•] Other benefits are the complete nitrification of NH4 +, the removal of TN and COD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have identified a series of spirocyclic furan and pyrrolidine inhibitors of Enterococeus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases. The most potent analogue 1b showed IC50=5 nM (E. faecalis PheRS) and IC50=2 nM (S. aureus PheRS) with high selectivity over the human enzyme. The crystal X-ray structure of analogue 1b was determined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of novel heterocyclic analogues have been synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit phenylalanyl-t-RNA synthetases and act as antibacterial agents. Several analogues have good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction Brain impairment is a major extrapulmonary effect of COPD and is involved in locomotor muscle weakness by reducing cortical motor output. Cerebrovascular O 2 reactivity (i.e. an increase in cerebral blood flow) protects the brain against the effects of chronic hypoxemia by preventing brain hypoxia. However, during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stages, patients are highly exposed to brain damage as this reactivity is abolished [1] . Objective This study assessed the involvement of NREM sleep desaturation in decreasing cortical motor output and muscle strength in COPD. Method Twenty-nine patients with COPD were enrolled. On the basis of a polysomnography, they were divided in 2 groups: NREM desaturators (NREM Des ) if they spent more than 10% of NREM sleep time with SpO 2 < 90%, otherwise non desaturators (NREM NoDes ). Serum S100b concentration was measured on awakening as a marker of cerebral lesions. Quadriceps peak twitch (TwQ) was measured by femoral nerve stimulation and voluntary quadriceps strength during isometric maximal voluntary contractions (QMVC), respectively. Level of voluntary activation (LOA) and cortical motor output (VA cortical ) were assessed by interpolated twitches and magnetic stimulation of motor cortex, respectively. Results Serum S100b was higher in NREM Des ( p < 0.05). In addition, LOA and VA cortical were both reduced in NREM Des ( p < 0.05). However, there were no differences in TwQ and QMVC between the two groups of patients. Discussion Higher serum S100b was consistent with higher cerebral lesions in patients with NREM sleep desaturation, which may explain the reduced voluntary activation and cortical output. Surprisingly, QMVC was not different between the NREM Des and NREM NoDes groups, suggesting compensatory mechanism(s) to ensure comparable muscle strength despite motor cortex alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]