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The southern Iberia regional seas comprise the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea sub-basins connected by the narrow Strait of Gibraltar. Both basins are very different in their hydrological and biological characteristics but are, also, tightly connected to each other. Integrative studies of the whole regional oceanic system are scarce and difficult to perform due to the relative large area to cover and the different relevant time-scales of the main forcings in each sub-basin. Here we propose, for the first time, a fully coupled, 3D, hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model that covers, in a single domain (~2km resolution) both marine basins for a 20 years simulation (1989-2008). Model performance is assessed against available data in terms of spatial and temporal distributions of biological variables. In general, the proposed model is able to represent the climatological distributions of primary and secondary producers and also the main seasonality of primary production in the different sub-regions of the analyzed basins. Potential causes of the observed mismatches between model and data are identified and some solutions are proposed for future model development. We conclude that most of these mismatches could be attributed to the missing tidal forcing in the actual model configuration. This model is a first step to obtain a meaningful tool to study past and future oceanographic conditions in this important marine region constituting the unique connection of the Mediterranean Sea with the open world’s ocean., This work was supported by E.U. projects MarinERAMedEX (CTM2008-04036-E/MAR) and PERSEUS (Ref. 287600) as well as by the Spanish National Research Projects FCT MARIN-ERA/MAR/0002/2008 and CTM2011-22580. DM was supported by a Grantholder Cat.30 position of the Joint Research Center of the European Commission. LP was supported by a grant from the Ramon y Cajal Programme, from the Spanish MINECO.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are childhood onset neurodevelopmental disorders that may persist into adulthood. ASD and ADHD tend to run in families and may have a significant negative impact on the health and longevity of those with the disorder and their relatives. The aim of this study will be to analyze the risk of mortality among children, adolescents, and adults with ASD or ADHD and their first-degree relatives. METHODS/DESIGN: We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and ISI Web of Science will be used to identify epidemiological studies. Eligible studies will be observational studies reporting study-specific data for all-cause mortality or cause-specific mortality in children, adolescents, or adults with ASD or ADHD and/or their first-degree relatives. Cohort studies and case-control studies will be included. The primary outcome will be all-cause mortality. The secondary outcome will be cause-specific mortality. Two reviewers will independently screen references identified by the literature search, as well as potentially relevant full-text articles. Data will be abstracted, and study risk of bias/methodological quality will be appraised by two reviewers independently. The methodological quality of epidemiological studies will be appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Conflicts at all levels of screening and abstraction will be resolved through discussion. Random-effects meta-analyses of primary studies will be conducted where appropriate. Subgroup analyses for exploring statistical heterogeneity, if feasible, will include gender, age group, ethnicity, comorbidities, classification of cause of death, and relevant study characteristics. DISCUSSION: Our study will establish the extent of the epidemiological evidence underlying the risk of mortality among children, adolescents, and adults with ASD or ADHD and their first-degree relatives. We anticipate that our findings will be of interest to patients, their families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, scientists, and policy makers. Implications for future epidemiological research will be discussed. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42017059955 . FC-L and RT-S are funded by the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2015/021) and CIBERSAM/Institute of Health Carlos III. BH is supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network. MJP is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (1088535). MR is partially funded by the Spanish Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC)/Institute of Health Carlos III. None of the funders were involved in the design of the protocol and decision to submit the protocol for publication, nor will they be involved in any aspect of the conduct of the review. The views expressed in this article are the views of the authors and may not be understood or quoted as being made on behalf of, or reflecting the position of, the funder(s) or any institution. Sí

A three year-long quasi continuum sampling dataset on the Guadalquivir estuary water quality was used to assess the role of light availability on its biological production. We found that inorganic nutrients within the estuary are very high (with mean values for inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous of 285 and 2.4 μM respectively) while phytoplankton biomass remains low most of the time (with a mean value of 2.6 mg/m3). A strong relationship between phytoplankton biomass and water turbidity was found indicating that, indeed, light availability is the major constraint of primary production in this system. Most of the time this limitation of primary production is not associated to enhanced turbidity connected to fresh water inputs. Instead, our data indicate that, independently of freshwater inputs, the photosynthesis is restricted by tidal forcings enhancing turbidity in an estuary that has been highly modified. Our results match with classical theories on the functioning of well-mixed, estuarine ecosystems as well as with recent modeling exercises. We also discuss the potential impacts of this particular characteristic of some estuarine systems for their management and regulatory control., This study has been developed in the context of the PIE201530I012 and PR11-RNM-7722 from Junta de Andalucía.

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a severe restriction of caloric intake, low body weight, fear of gaining weight or of becoming fat, and disturbance of body image. Pathogenesis of the disorder may include genetic predisposition, hormonal changes and a combination of environmental, psychosocial, and cultural factors. Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. At present, no systematic reviews and meta-analyses have evaluated the risk of cancer in people with anorexia nervosa. The objective of this study will be to evaluate the association between anorexia nervosa and the risk of developing or dying from cancer. METHODS/DESIGN: This study protocol is part of a systematic collection and assessment of multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses (umbrella review) evaluating the association of cancer and multiple central nervous system disorders. We designed a specific protocol for a new systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies of anorexia nervosa with risk of developing or dying from any cancer. Data sources will be PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and manual screening of references. Observational studies (case-control and cohort) in humans that examined the association between anorexia nervosa and risk of developing or dying from cancer will be sought. The primary outcomes will be cancer incidence and cancer mortality in association with anorexia nervosa. Secondary outcomes will be site-specific cancer incidence and mortality, respectively. Screening of abstracts and full texts, and data abstraction will be performed by two team members independently. Conflicts at all levels of screening and abstraction will be resolved through discussion. The quality of studies will be assessed by using the Ottawa-Newcastle scale by two team members independently. Random effects models will be conducted where appropriate. Subgroup and additional analyses will be conducted to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) criteria and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used for determining the quality of evidence for cancer outcomes. DISCUSSION: Findings from this systematic review will inform an ongoing umbrella review on cancer and central nervous system disorders. Our systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies will establish the extent of the epidemiological evidence underlying the association between anorexia nervosa and cancer. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42017067462. Specific funding from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2015/021) and CIBERSAM/Institute of Health Carlos III was received for this work. The funders were not involved in the design of the protocol or decision to submit the protocol for publication, nor will they be involved in any aspect of the conduct of the review. BH is supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network. MR is partially funded by the Spanish Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC)/Institute of Health Carlos III. The views expressed in this article are the views of the authors and may not be understood or quoted as being made on behalf of, or reflecting the position of, the funder(s) or any institution. Sí

[Background] The objective of this study will be to synthesize the epidemiological evidence and evaluate the validity of the associations between central nervous system disorders and the risk of developing or dying from cancer., [Methods/design] We will perform an umbrella review of systematic reviews and conduct updated meta-analyses of observational studies (cohort and case-control) investigating the association between central nervous system disorders and the risk of developing or dying from any cancer or specific types of cancer. Searches involving PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Web of Science will be used to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies. In addition, online databases will be checked for observational studies published outside the time frames of previous reviews. Eligible central nervous system disorders will be Alzheimer’s disease, anorexia nervosa, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, Down’s syndrome, epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. The primary outcomes will be cancer incidence and cancer mortality in association with a central nervous system disorder. Secondary outcome measures will be site-specific cancer incidence and mortality, respectively. Two reviewers will independently screen references identified by the literature search, as well as potentially relevant full-text articles. Data will be abstracted, and study quality/risk of bias will be appraised by two reviewers independently. Conflicts at all levels of screening and abstraction will be resolved through discussion. Random-effects meta-analyses of primary observational studies will be conducted where appropriate. Parameters for exploring statistical heterogeneity are pre-specified. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) criteria and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used for determining the quality of evidence for cancer outcomes., [Discussion] Our study will establish the extent of the epidemiological evidence underlying the associations between central nervous system disorders and cancer and will provide a rigorous and updated synthesis of a range of important site-specific cancer outcomes., Specific funding from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2015/021) and CIBERSAM/Institute of Health Carlos III was received for this work. BH is supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network. MJP is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (1088535). MR is partially funded by the Spanish Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC)/Institute of Health Carlos III.

The temporal dynamics of biogeochemical variables derived from a coupled 3-D model of the Mediterranean Sea are evaluated for the last 50 years (1960–2010) against independent data on fisheries catch per unit effort (CPUE) for the same time period. Concordant patterns are found in the time series of all of the biological variables (from the model and from fisheries statistics), with low values at the beginning of the series, a later increase, with maximum levels reached at the end of the 1990s, and a posterior stabilization. Spectral analysis of the annual biological time series reveals coincident low-frequency signals in all of them. The first, more energetic signal peaks around the year 2000, while the second, less energetic signal peaks near 1982. Almost identical low-frequency signals are found in the nutrient loads of the rivers and in the integrated nutrient levels in the surface marine ecosystem. Nitrate concentration shows a maximum level in 1998, with a later stabilization to present-day values, coincident with the first low-frequency signal found in the biological series. Phosphate shows maximum concentrations around 1982 and a posterior sharp decline, in concordance with the second low-frequency signal observed in the biological series. That result seems to indicate that the control of marine productivity (plankton to fish) in the Mediterranean is principally mediated through bottom-up processes that could be traced back to the characteristics of riverine discharges. The high sensitivity of CPUE time series to environmental conditions might be another indicator of the overexploitation of this marine ecosystem. Key Points Biogeochemical evolution of the Mediterranean over the past 50 years River nutrient loads drive primary and secondary productions Strong link between low trophic levels and fisheries

Decades of oceanographic observations on the Mediterranean Sea have consistently indicated that its open-sea region presents oligotrophic characteristics during long periods of the year (from late spring to autumn) with very low and uniform surface chlorophyll values interrupted by the presence of several productivity hot-spots associated to mesoscale features. Another commonly observed phenomenon in the basin is the widespread and consistent presence of subsurface or deep phytoplankton biomass accumulations. However, given the difficulty of observing those deep structures with the adequate spatial and temporal resolution, a comprehensive description of their spatial and temporal variability is yet to be done. Here we use a 3D hydrodynamic-biogeochemical coupled model of the entire Mediterranean Sea to explore the contribution of the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) to total plankton biomass and primary productivity in the open-sea regions of the basin. We found that, on annual average, DCM are present in 73.5 % of total open-sea regions with a clear annual cycle, being more frequent (up to 98% of the area) in summer months and less common (~9%) during winter. Our model also indicates that, on average, nearly 53% of total phytoplankton biomass and ~62% of total primary production in open-sea regions of the Mediterranean takes place within such structures. They must, then, be duly considered for a correct assessment of the biological productivity in the open sea regions of the Mediterranean basin., JRC.H.1-Water Resources

Resumen Fundamento y objetivo El objetivo fue evaluar el riesgo de hepatotoxicidad asociado a los antagonistas de los receptores de la endotelina como clase terapeutica. Pacientes y metodo Se realizaron busquedas sistematicas en PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library y en las paginas web de las agencias reguladoras. Se incluyeron ensayos clinicos aleatorizados y controlados en pacientes tratados con antagonistas de los receptores de la endotelina (bosentan, sitaxentan o ambrisentan) en al menos uno de los grupos de intervencion. Se calculo el efecto de los tratamientos junto con los intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC 95%) utilizando modelos de efectos aleatorios. La heterogeneidad se analizo mediante la Q de Cochran y la prueba I2. El sesgo de publicacion se evaluo mediante graficos en embudo y el metodo de Egger. Resultados Se encontraron 21 estudios que cumplieron los criterios de inclusion (3.644 pacientes). Bosentan fue el farmaco evaluado en 1.689 (74%) pacientes. El riesgo relativo de cualquier reaccion adversa hepatica respecto a los controles fue de 2,92 (IC 95% 1,85-4,62; I2 = 30,6%). Cuando la hepatotoxicidad se definio como elevaciones en alanina o aspartato aminotransferasa ≥ 3 veces el limite superior de lo normal, el riesgo relativo fue de 2,98 (IC 95% 1,69-5,25; I2 = 40,9%). No hay evidencia de un posible sesgo de publicacion (Egger: p = 0,68). Conclusiones Los resultados sugieren que los antagonistas de los receptores de la endotelina se asocian a un mayor riesgo de hepatotoxicidad. No hay suficientes datos de hepatotoxicidad de antagonistas de la endotelina diferentes al bosentan para establecer sus riesgos individuales.

Diatoms, a major component of the large-sized phytoplankton, are able to produce and release polyunsaturated aldehydes after cell disruption (potential PUAs or pPUA). These organisms are dominant in the large phytoplankton fraction (>10 μm) in the Strait of Gibraltar, the only connection between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. In this area, the hydrodynamics exerts a strong control on the composition and physiological state of the phytoplankton. This environment offers a great opportunity to analyze and compare the little known distribution of larger sized PUA producers in nature and, moreover, to study how environmental variables could affect the ranges and potential distribution of these compounds. Our results showed that, at both tidal regimes, diatoms in the Strait of Gibraltar are able to produce three aldehydes: Heptadienal, Octadienal, and Decadienal, with a significant dominance of Decadienal producers. The PUA released by mechanical cell disruption of large-sized collected cells (pPUA) ranged from 0.01 to 12.3 pmol from cells in 1L, and from 0.1 to 9.8 fmol cell-1. Tidal regime affected the abundance, distribution and the level of physiological stress of diatoms in the Strait. During Spring tides, diatoms were more abundant, usually grouped nearer the coastal basin and showed less physiological stress than during Neap tides. Our results suggest a significant general increase in the pPUA productivity with increasing physiological stress for the cell also significantly associated to low nitrate availability., JRC.H.1-Water Resources

The effects of tidal forcing on the biogeochemical patterns of surface water masses flowing through the Strait of Gibraltar are studied by monitoring the Atlantic Inflow (AI) during both spring and neap tides. Three main phenomena were defined depending on the strength of the outflowing phase predicted over the Camarinal Sill: non-wave events (a very frequent phenomenon during the whole year); type I Internal wave events (a very energetic event, occurring during spring tides); and type II Internal wave events (less intense, occurring during neap tides). During neap tides, a non-wave event comprising oligotrophic open-ocean water from the Gulf of Cádiz is the most frequent and clearly dominant flow through the Strait. In this tidal condition, the inflow of North Atlantic Central Water (NACW) provides the main nutrient input to the surface layer of the Alboran Sea, supplying almost 70% of total annual nitrate transport to the Mediterranean basin. A low percentage of active and large phytoplankton cells and low average concentrations of chlorophyll (0.3-0.4 mg m-3 ) were found in this tidal phase. Around 50% of total annual phytoplankton biomass transport into the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait presents these oligotrophic characteristics. In contrast, during spring tides, patches of water with high chlorophyll levels (0.7-1 mg m-3) arrive intermittently, and these are recorded concurrently with the passage of internal waves coming from the Camarinal Sill (type I internal wave events). When large internal waves are arrested over the Camarinal Sill this implies strong interfacial mixing and the probable concurrent injection of coastal waters into the main channel of the Strait. These processes result in a mixed water column in the AI and could account for around 30% of total annual nitrate transport into the Mediterranean basin. At least during some periods, phosphate injections to the inflow from coastal waters may also be associated mainly with internal wave events (of types I or II). Associated with type I internal wave events there is a regular inflow of large and active phytoplankton cells, transported in waters with relatively high nutrient concentrations, which constitutes a significant supply of planktonic resources to the pelagic ecosystem of the Alboran Sea (almost 30% of total annual phytoplankton biomass transport). This is the first study in which the presence of internal waves and the characteristics (percentage of active and large cells) of the accompanying chlorophyll patches are reported concurrently., JRC.H.1-Water Resources

Introducción: La mayoría de estudios sobre personas con Trastornos del Espectro Autista (TEA) se centran en encontrar déficits en estas personas. La personalidad apenas ha recibido atención en este grupo de pacientes aunque con frecuencia una proporción de personas con TEA, aquellos que no tienen retraso mental, suelen confundirse con Trastornos de la Personalidad. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer los rasgos de personalidad de un grupo de personas diagnosticadas con TEA y observar si existe un patrón de rasgos clínicos que se repita en los mismos. Material y método: Se utilizó para la evaluación de la personalidad el Inventario Multifásico de Personalidad de Minnesota (MMPI-2). Para conocer el Cociente Intelectual se recurrió a la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos (WAIS-III). Igualmente se utilizaron las Escala de Observación para el Diagnóstico de Autismo (ADOS) y la Entrevista para el Diagnóstico del Autismo revisada (ADIR) para confirmar el diagnóstico de TEA. Se evaluaron 10 personas adultas con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) de manera individualizada. Igualmente se utilizó a un grupo control de 10 personas sin diagnóstico de salud mental. Resultados: Los resultados muestran puntuaciones elevadas en las escalas de validez L (mentira) y F (Incoherencia) y muy bajas en K (Factor Corrector). Igualmente se encuentran puntuaciones altas en las escalas clínicas 2 (Depresión) y 0 (Aislamiento Social) y en las escalas de contenido ANX (Ansiedad) SOD (Malestar Social) y OBS (Obsesividad) respecto al grupo control. Conclusiones: Los resultados manifiestan un perfil de personalidad que incluye un solapamiento de síntomas notable con las características del Síndrome de Asperger. El MMPI-2 se revela como una potencial prueba de cribaje para dicho trastorno.

Estuaries are transition ecosystems connecting land and sea subjected to a large number of external forcings that make estuaries complex and highly variable. Models developed to simulate estuaries use to be also complex and, henceforth, difficult to constrain and parameterize. Here, we propose a simple biogeochemical model of the water column of temperate estuaries based on previously published, well-known models of marine pelagic ecosystems. This model has fewer parameters which are usually well constrained and is more easy to implement and analyze than more complex models. We demonstrate that this model setup could be satisfactorily used to simulate estuarine ecosystems if light availability (constrained by suspended material in the water column) is the main limitation of biological productivity. The proposed model can also be used to assess expected changes in the environmental status of such systems by anthropogenic activity or by climate change. © 2013 Elsevier B.V., This work was supported by the Spanish National Research ProjectCTM2011-22580 and by the Department of Innovation, Science and Business of the Andalusian Regional Government through the project P09-TEP-4630. D.M. was supported by a JaeDOC contract (#X0SC000087) of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). L.P. was funded by the Ramon y Cajal Program.

A one-dimensional coupled physical and intermediate-complexity biochemical model comprising large and small phytoplankton and zooplankton groups, particulate organic nitrogen, ammonium and nitrate was developed to study the physical-biogeochemical interactions and parameters that control plankton production in the Alboran and Balearic Sea ecosystems. The model findings suggest that pelagic fish predation and resource availability through lateral and vertical nutrient inputs jointly characterize the plankton community structures. In agreement with previous observations, a typical annual plankton structure of the mesotrophic systems involves a vertically homogeneous biomass of large groups of phytoplankton and zooplankton within the upper 50-to-100 m layer from mid-November to April and a subsurface biomass accumulation distributed roughly within 25-75 m depths in the following months. Their light and temperature limitations constrain the smaller groups primarly into the thermocline zone (25-50 m) during late spring and summer. These obtained results were dependent on the zooplankton actively switching between prey (i.e., the food preference coefficients dependent on prey biomass). In the case of no switching, spurious dynamic equilibrium solutions may arise in the case of a constant and weak fish predation rate and using the quadratic predation formulation. The choice of a Holling Type II (i.e., hyperbolic) predation function may, however avoid ambiguous representation of the annual plankton structure in the case of a constant food preference choice under relatively weak predation pressures., The present work is a contribution to the EU 7th Framework project called “Perseus (Policy-oriented marine environmental research for the Southern European Seas)”. D.M. was supported by a JaeDOC contract (#X0SC000087) of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). Additional support was provided by the Spanish National Research Project CTM2011-22580.

The arrival of new drug into the market requires many years of previous research along with the need of continuous evaluation throughout the lifetime of the drug. This warrants pharmacoepidemiological research which may be defined as the study of the use and the effects of drugs in large populations. Nowadays this type of research seems more feasible thanks to the massive expansion of the information sources and data (e.g: clinical patient registries, electronic medical records). However there is a risk of information overload, fragmented evidence and given the enthusiasm aroused by the "Big Data", it must be emphasized that its nature is mainly observational, and therefore subject to bias and confusion. The application of epidemiological methods in this scenario seems essential for any analysis. In short, the management and use of these data sources to generate useful information expansion is the next challenge for the application of research methods in modern pharmacoepidemiology.

14 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, supplementary information https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep34162, Mediterranean ecosystems support important processes and functions that bring direct benefits to human society. Yet, marine ecosystem services are usually overlooked due to the challenges in identifying and quantifying them. This paper proposes the application of several biophysical and ecosystem modelling approaches to assess spatially and temporally the sustainable use and supply of selected marine ecosystem services. Such services include food provision, water purification, coastal protection, lifecycle maintenance and recreation, focusing on the Mediterranean region. Overall, our study found a higher number of decreasing than increasing trends in the natural capacity of the ecosystems to provide marine and coastal services, while in contrast the opposite was observed to be true for the realised flow of services to humans. Such a study paves the way towards an effective support for Blue Growth and the European maritime policies, although little attention is paid to the quantification of marine ecosystem services in this context. We identify a key challenge of integrating biophysical and socio-economic models as a necessary step to further this research

We use a newly developed technique that is based on the information flow concept to investigate the causal structure between the global radiative forcing and the annual global mean surface temperature anomalies (GMTA) since 1850. Our study unambiguously shows one-way causality between the total Greenhouse Gases and GMTA. Specifically, it is confirmed that the former, especially CO2, are the main causal drivers of the recent warming. A significant but smaller information flow comes from aerosol direct and indirect forcing and on short time periods, volcanic forcings. In contrast the causality contribution from natural forcings (solar irradiance and volcanic forcing) to the long term trend is not significant. The spatial explicit analysis reveals that the anthropogenic forcing fingerprint is significantly regionally varying in both hemispheres. On paleoclimate time scales, however, the cause-effect direction is reversed: temperature changes cause subsequent CO2/CH4 changes.

The Mediterranean is expected to be one of the most prominent and vulnerable climate change >hotspots> of the twenty-first century, and the physical mechanisms underlying this finding are still not clear. Furthermore, complex interactions and feedbacks involving ocean-atmosphere-land-biogeochemical processes play a prominent role in modulating the climate and environment of the Mediterranean region on a range of spatial and temporal scales. Therefore, it is critical to provide robust climate change information for use in vulnerability-impact-adaptation assessment studies considering the Mediterranean as a fully coupled environmental system. The Mediterranean Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (Med-CORDEX) initiative aims at coordinating the Mediterranean climate modeling community toward the development of fully coupled regional climate simulations, improving all relevant components of the system from atmosphere and ocean dynamics to land surface, hydrology, and biogeochemical processes. The primary goals of Med-CORDEX are to improve understanding of past climate variability and trends and to provide more accurate and reliable future projections, assessing in a quantitative and robust way the added value of using high-resolution and coupled regional climate models. The coordination activities and the scientific outcomes of Med-CORDEX can produce an important framework to foster the development of regional Earth system models in several key regions worldwide., This work is a contribution to the HyMeX program supported by grants MISTRALS and ANR-12-SENV-001 REMEMBER and to the CLIMRUN project (www.climrun.eu) funded under the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Buitenhuis, Erik et al., The smallest marine phytoplankton, collectively termed picophytoplankton, have been routinely enumerated by flow cytometry since the late 1980s during cruises throughout most of the world ocean. We compiled a database of 40 946 data points, with separate abundance entries for Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes. We use average conversion factors for each of the three groups to convert the abundance data to carbon biomass. After gridding with 1° spacing, the database covers 2.4% of the ocean surface area, with the best data coverage in the North Atlantic, the South Pacific and North Indian basins, and at least some data in all other basins. The average picophytoplankton biomass is 12 ± 22 μg C l−1 or 1.9 g C m−2. We estimate a total global picophytoplankton biomass of 0.53–1.32 Pg C (17–39% Prochlorococcus, 12–15% Synechococcus and 49–69% picoeukaryotes), with an intermediate/best estimate of 0.74 Pg C. Future efforts in this area of research should focus on reporting calibrated cell size and collecting data in undersampled regions., We thank Claude Belzile, Jacques Neveux and Genevieve Tremblay for their comments on a draft manuscript, the EU (CarboChange, contract 264879) for financial support to ETB, and the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada-ArcticNet for financial support to MG.

We evaluate the changes on the hydrological (temperature and salinity) and biogeochemical (phytoplankton biomass) characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea induced by freshwater flow modifications under two different scenarios for the end of the 21st century. An ensemble of four regional climate model realizations using different global circulation models at the boundary and different emission scenarios are used to force a single ocean model for the Mediterranean Sea. Freshwater flow is modified according to the simulated changes in the precipitation rates for the different rivers' catchment regions. To isolate the effect resulting from a change in freshwater flow, model results are evaluated against a 'baseline' simulation realized assuming a constant inflow equivalent to climatologic values. Our model results indicate that sea surface salinity could be significantly altered by freshwater flow modification in specific regions and that the affected area and the sign of the anomaly are highly dependent on the used climate model and emission scenario. Sea surface temperature and phytoplankton biomass, on the contrary, show no coherent spatial pattern but a rather widespread scattered response. We found in open-water regions a significant negative relationship between sea surface temperature anomalies and phytoplankton biomass anomalies. This indicates that freshwater flow modification could alter the vertical stability of the water column throughout the Mediterranean Sea, by changing the strength of vertical mixing and consequently upper water fertilization. In coastal regions, however, the correlation between sea temperature anomalies and phytoplankton biomass is positive, indicating a larger importance of the physiological control of growth rates by temperature.

33 páginas, 9 figuras, 2 tablas., An analysis of the induced changes in both total productivity and community structure as a consequence of different pulsed nutrient inputs has been made by using two different ecosystem modeling tools. One was a modified version of the N-based model proposed by Fasham et al. (1990) for pelagic ecosystems and the other the plankton functional type model by Vichi et al. (2007). Both models lead to higher total biomass production with a pulsed nutrient input compared to a continuous supply, affecting both phytoplankton and zooplankton. Detailed responses are, however, different among plankton groups depending on the frequency of pulsed nutrient input and the complexity of the model. The differences in biomass production were higher for an oscillation period of 150-170 days following a sinusoidal supply pattern. A tidal mixing-induced nutrient supply was also simulated by using both models and a larger biomass increment was observed compared to that obtained with the sinusoidal pattern. Finally, a theoretical application of this approach to the pelagic ecosystem of the North Western Alboran Sea shows a preferential selection of diatoms and larger zooplankton under discontinuous nutrient inputs., This work was funded by the Spanish National Research Program, Project; CTM2005–08142-C03–01. D.M. was supported by the Spanish Postdoc Fellowship Program and E.R. by a grant from the Spanish FPU fellowship.

In this paper, we analyze the pattern of distribution of three populations of picoplanktonic autotrophs measured using flow cytometry. Prochlorococcus sp., Synechococcus sp. and eukaryotic picoplankton were investigated at 58 stations to the south of the Iberian Peninsula including the northeastern Gulf of Cadiz, Strait of Gibraltar and northwestern Alboran Sea, during July 1995. There were important differences in the oceanographic conditions in these regions, with warmer, low-nutrient and low-chlorophyll waters in the Atlantic sector and colder, high-nutrient and high- chlorophyll waters in the Alboran sector in which upwelling occurred. The biomass concentration of picoplanktonic cells was two times higher in the Atlantic area than in the richer Alboran Sea waters. The average integrated abundance of picophytoplankton was negatively correlated with chlorophyll a concentration as well as with inorganic nitrogen availability. Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus were the most abundant groups, and they showed a complementarity in their spatial distribution, with a shallower and more coastal distribution of Synechococcus and the presence of Prochlorococcus mainly at offshore stations and at deeper depths. The ratio of autotrophic pico- plankton/total autotrophic biomass showed significant differences on both sides of the Strait, with much higher values in the Gulf of Cadiz sector.

14 páginas, 8 figuras, 3 tablas., Primary production was studied at nine sites distributed within the Strait of Gibraltar (Southern Spain) and North-Western (NW) Alboran Sea by analyzing photosynthesis-irradiance (P–I) relationships and integrated primary production rates in relation to the different types of Deep Chlorophyll Maxima (DCM) detected in the area. The characteristics of the DCM were examined by several methods, including flow cytometry, quantification of transparent expolymer particles and fluorimetric measurements that were applied in order to assess the photo-physiological state of the phytoplankton assemblages with respect to their species composition and water column structure (hydrology). The photosynthetic parameters (derived from P–I relationships) and integrated primary production (range 6–644 mg m−2 d−1) responded greatly to the diverse DCM identified and thereby the spatial variability of the primary production observed in the region was found to depend upon the occurrence of the different types of phytoplankton accumulations, which were themselves indicative of the previous history of the water column. The net contribution of the primary production to the air–sea CO2 exchange process was also evaluated in the area. Results indicated that this region behaved as a net sink for the atmospheric CO2, with the intensity of the flux being strongly modulated by the wind intensity., This work was funded by the Spanish National Research Program through the Projects REN-2001-2733-C02-02 and CTM2005-08142-C03-01 and a Ramon y Cajal grant to I.E.H.

This study presents the distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) along the Strait of Gibraltar, its tidal-induced variability, as well as the inorganic carbon exchange between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. During November 2003, water column samples were collected at nine stations to measure total alkalinity (TA), pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) for the spatial characterization of the carbonate system. At the same time, anchored samplings were carried out, above the Camarinal Sill and in the Eastern Section of the Strait, in order to assess the tidal mixing effects for oxygen and DIC distribution on the water column. Three distinct water masses can be discerned in this area: the Surface Atlantic Water (SAW), the Mediterranean Water (MW), and the less abundant North Atlantic Central Water (NACW). The observations show an increase in the DIC and a decrease in oxygen concentration with depth, related to the different physico-chemical features of each water mass. The results show the high time-dependence of the vertical distribution of DIC with the interface oscillation, affected by the intense mixing processes taking place in the Strait. Intense mixing episodes over the Camarinal Sill are responsible for an increase in the DIC concentrations in the upper layer of the Eastern Section of the Strait. Higher DIC concentrations in the Mediterranean than in the Atlantic waters are responsible for a net DIC transport of 1.47×10 12 mol C yr −1 to the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, the net exchange is highly sensitive to the interface definition, as well as to the estimate of water volume transport used.

Hydrographic mesoscale structures in the North-western Alboran Sea show a high variability induced by a number of different factors. One of the most important is the differences in atmospheric pressure over the Mediterranean basin when compared to the Gulf of Cadiz. This difference modulates the zonal wind field in the Alboran Sea and the intensity of the Atlantic inflow through the Strait of Gibraltar, also affecting the formation and extension of the Western Alboran Gyre (WAG). When westerly winds are dominant, lower atmospheric pressure in the Mediterranean enhances the inflow of Atlantic waters causing the Atlantic Jet to be located in the vicinity of the Spanish shore, creating a well-defined frontal zone in front of Estepona Cove. In this situation, the coastal upwelling is enhanced, leading to a minimum in sea surface temperature and a maximum of surface nutrient concentrations located in the coastal area. The vertical position of the chlorophyll maximum found in these circumstances appeared to be controlled by the nutrient availability. On the other hand, when easterly winds prevail, higher atmospheric pressure in the Mediterranean leads to a reduced inflow and the oceanographic and biological structures are clearly different. The Atlantic Jet moves southward flowing in a south-eastern direction, changing the structure of the currents, resulting in an enhanced cyclonic circulation extending throughout the North-western Alboran Sea basin. These physical alterations also induce changes in the distribution of biogeochemical variables. Maximum nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations are located further off the coast in the central area of the newly created cyclonic gyre. During these easterlies periods coastal upwelling stops and the distribution of phytoplankton cells seems to be mainly controlled by physical processes such as advection of coastal waters to the open sea. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The output of a two-layer hydrodynamic model along a west–east section of the Gibraltar Strait is used to estimate tidal induced mixing between the Mediterranean and Atlantic water layers and to simulate the effects of mixing processes on biogeochemical fluxes and the pelagic community of the area. The hydrodynamic model is used to estimate interfacial mixing and water advection which drive the dynamics of the pelagic community. The model was run for 13 months, in order to analyse the effect of annual modulations in tidal amplitude on mixing. Incorporation of a third intermediate layer leads to a significant improvement in the model results, showing the necessity for a three layer circulation scheme when modelling biogeochemical processes in the Strait of Gibraltar. Pelagic processes are modelled using a simple Nutrient–Phytoplankton–Zooplankton (NPZ) model. The intense physical mixing and advection in the channel are the main influence on plankton dynamics in the area. It is found that residence times within the channel are so short that phytoplankton communities cannot grow appreciably during their transit. As a consequence, the use of a more sophisticated biogeochemical model does not lead to significant changes in the results obtained. According to the model, mixing over the Camarinal Sill causes an average of 16% of the out-flowing nutrients to be returned back to the Mediterranean. This fraction varies between 4% and 35% as a function of the tidal amplitude. The comparison of the model results with field data suggests that in order to obtain an accurate simulation of the plankton ecosystem dynamics in the strait, it is necessary to take into account the full horizontal flow, as recirculation and coast-channel interactions seems to be very important processes in explaining the biological patterns in the area.

A set of weekly-composite SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor) imagery (from 1998 to 2004) has been used to asses the temporal and spatial variability of the surface chlorophyll distribution in the Northwestern Alboran Sea. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis of the images series shows the existence of three different regions in which surface chlorophyll presents a homogeneous temporal behavior in the neighborhood of the Strait of Gibraltar. The temporal patterns of surface chlorophyll concentrations in each region have been characterized by studying the role of several forcing factors, mainly the zonal component of the wind field. The first identified region occupies the coastal area in front of Estepona and Malaga and shows the highest chlorophyll concentration in the entire region of study in absence of easterly winds. A second region is located far offshore, in the zone usually occupied by the Atlantic jet entering the Alboran Sea, showing high concentrations of chlorophyll when the easterlies blow. Finally, a third region has been situated in the normal location of the Western Alboran Gyre (WAG). The zonal wind field arises as a main forcing function in the modulation of the intensity and location of the upwelling processes in the area, while the entrance of the Atlantic jet seems to be the main agent feeding of all these processes.

The Mediterranean Sea is considered as a hotspot for climate change because of its location in the temperate region and because it is a semi-enclosed basin surrounded by highly populated and developed countries. Some expected changes include an increase in air temperature and changes in the periodicity and spatial distribution of rainfall. Alongside, demographic and politics changes will alter freshwater quantity and quality. All these changes will have an impact on the ecological status of marine ecosystems in the basin. We use a 3D hydrodynamic-biogeochemical coupled model of the entire Mediterranean Sea to explore potential changes in primary productivity (mean values and spatial distribution) under two emission scenarios (rcp4.5 and rcp8.5). To isolate the effects of changes in atmospheric conditions alone, in this ensemble of simulations rivers conditions (water flow and nutrient concentrations) are kept unchanged and equal to its climatological values for the last 10 years. Despite the significant warming trend, the mean integrated primary production rate in the entire basin remains almost unchanged. However, characteristic spatial differences are consistently found in the different simulations. The western basin becomes more oligotrophic associated to a surface density decrease (increase stratification) because of the influence of the Atlantic waters which prevents surface salinity to increase. In the eastern basin, on the contrary, all model runs simulate an increase in surface production linked to a density increase (less stratification) because of the increasing evaporation rate. The simulations presented here demonstrate the basic response patterns of the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem to changing climatological conditions. Although unlikely, they could be considered as a “baseline” of expected consequences of climatic changes on marine conditions in the Mediterranean.

The new recommendations regarding the utilization of high potency statins (intensive therapy) for the treatment of cardiovascular disease have been based on the extrapolation of data coming from clinical trials. The objective is to describe the clinical-epidemiological profile of statin therapy users for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in Spain and to examine the predictors for intensive therapy initiation.Cross-sectional study from a sample of 88,751 patients aged ≥45 years-old with previous cardiovascular disease which initiated statin therapy between 1st January 2007 to 31st December 2011. Dose treatments40 mg simvastatin daily (or equivalent dose if different statin) were considered intensive therapy treatment. Multivariable logistic regression models were built for dependent summary variables to examine the association between and the intensive therapy utilization (vs low-moderate intensity therapy).16,857 adult patients receiving a first prescription of statin for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases were identified. Predictors for intensive therapy initiation were year of statin prescription, male gender (adjusted OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.44-2.00), age75 years-old (1.39; 1.15-1.69), previous history of coronary artery disease (1.71; 1.44-2.04), previous history of transient ischemic attack (1.24; 0,97-1.59), smoking (1.62; 1.34-1.95), hypertension (1.41; 1.20-1.65) and recent use of fibrates (2.32; 1.27-4.26).The onset of intensive therapy with statins in secondary was determined by the type of vascular event and age (75 years-old in which the risk benefit balance could be controversial). No statistically significant differences were found according to the LDL-c levels.

Para poder valorar la validez de un ensayo cli´nico es necesarioque su disen˜o, ejecucio´n y ana´lisis se describan con suficientedetalle, exactitudytransparencia.Sinembargo,existennumerososejemplos en la literatura cienti´fica que ponen de manifiesto co´mola informacio´n facilitada en las publicaciones es muchas vecesdeficiente, y que con frecuencia se presentan problemas metodo-lo´gicos graves

Fundamentos: Las nuevas recomendaciones respecto a la utilización de estatinas potentes y/o dosis altas (terapia intensiva) para el tratamiento de la enfermedad cardiovascular se han basado en la extrapolación de los resultados de los ensayos clínicos. El objetivo fue describir el perfil clínico-epidemiológico de los pacientes que inician tratamiento con estatinas para la prevención secundaria en España y estudiar qué factores determinan la utilización de estatinas en terapia intensiva. Métodos: Estudio transversal a partir de 88.751 pacientes ≥45 años con enfermedad cardiovascular que iniciaron tratamiento con estatinas (enero 2007-diciembre 2011). Los tratamientos con dosis superiores a 40 mg/día de simvastatina (o estatina equipotente) se consideraron terapia intensiva. Se construyeron modelos de regresión logística multivariante con el fin de examinar la asociación de las variables relacionadas con la prescripción de terapia intensiva respecto al uso de la terapia moderada. Resultados: Se identificó a 16.857 personas adultas que iniciaron tratamiento con estatinas para la prevención secundaria. Los factores predictores para el inicio de terapia intensiva fueron el año de prescripción, sexo masculino (odds ratio ajustada: 1,70; IC95%: 1,44-2,00), edad >75 años (1,39; 1,15-1,69), historia previa de enfermedad isquémica coronaria (1,71; 1,44-2,04), accidente isquémico transitorio de cualquier localización (1,24; 0,97-1,59), tabaquismo (1,62; 1,34-1,95), hipertensión (1,41; 1,20-1,65) y tratamiento reciente con fibratos (2,32; 1,27-4,26). Conclusiones: La utilización de terapia intensiva con estatinas está determinada por el tipo de evento vascular previo y con la edad (>75 años, en los que el balance beneficio-riesgo podría ser discutible). No se encuentran diferencias estadísticamente significativas en función del c-LDL.

In 2010, the Mediterranean basin experienced Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia physalis) swarms that had dramatic consequences, including the region’s first recorded human fatality attributed to a jellyfish sting. Despite the impact of jellyfish on coastal economic activity and the importance of the tourism industry for the Mediterranean region (accounting for 15% of global tourism), no scientific consensus has been achieved regarding the causes of this episode. Here, we analyse the meteorological and oceanographic conditions of the North-East Atlantic Ocean during the months previous to the appearance of P. physalis in the Mediterranean. We simulate the probable drift of Atlantic populations into the Mediterranean basin with a numerical model and compare model results with available observations. We conclude that the summer 2010 P. Physalis swarm was the result of an unusual combination of meteorological and oceanographic conditions during the previous winter and not a permanent invasion favoured by climatic changes., This work was supported by projects MarinERA MedEx (CTM2008-04036-E/MAR, MARIN-ERA/MAR/0002/2008), JELLY-PHYS (CTM2011-22856), Observatorio del Estrecho (Junta de Andalucía) and PERSEUS (FP7-287600). A research grant to L.P. from Ramon y Cajal Programme of Spanish MIC is also acknowledged.

© 2015 Oguz et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Buoyancy-induced unstable boundary currents and the accompanying retrograde density fronts are often the sites of pronounced mesoscale activity, ageostrophic frontal processes, and associated high biological production in marginal seas. Biophysical model simulations of the Catalano-Balearic Sea (Western Mediterranean) illustrated that the unstable and nonlinear southward frontal boundary current along the Spanish coast resulted in a strain-driven frontogenesis mechanism. High upwelling velocities of up to 80 m d-1 injected nutrients into the photic layer and promoted enhanced production on the less dense, onshore side of the front characterized by negative relative vorticity. Additional down-front wind stress and heat flux (cooling) intensified boundary current instabilities and thus ageostrophic cross-frontal circulation and augmented production. Specifically, entrainment of nutrients by relatively strong buoyancy-induced vertical mixing gave rise to a more widespread phytoplankton biomass distribution within the onshore side of the front. Mesoscale cyclonic eddies contributed to production through an eddy pumping mechanism, but it was less effective and more limited regionally than the frontal processes. The model was configured for the Catalano-Balearic Sea, but the mechanisms and model findings apply to other marginal seas with similar unstable frontal boundary current systems., Support from the EU funded PERSEUS project (Policy-oriented marine Environmental Research in the Southern European Seas, FP7/No.287600) is gratefully acknowledged. DM was supported by a Grantholder 30 position funded by the European Commission

The tidal cycle and its amplitude appear as an a priori forcing factor causing periodic mixing events on the Gibraltar Strait sill. These mixing events can supply nutrient-enriched deep waters to the surface atlantic layer flowing to the Mediterranean. Therefore these mixing phenomena have both important biological and biogeochemical implications at the regional and even basin level. Fortnightly variations of the effects caused by changes in tidal amplitude have been studied by analysing the characteristics of surface water masses flowing through the Strait of Gibraltar during several cruises carried out in 2002 and 2003. These variations were studied through the analysis of results from 7 diel cycles performed at a fixed station at the eastern side of the Strait monitoring the atlantic jet during several tidal cycles of different amplitude. When strong tidal currents occur in higher amplitude cycles, the occurrence of mixed water is more frequent than during neap tides causing a distinctive TS diagram which lacks a clear NACW signature. It is also a common pattern that the highest level of fluorescence in each cycle coincides with the presence of these mixed waters, appearing as an intermittent flow of phytoplankton biomass to the Mediterranean sector and suggesting a strong influence of the physical forcing on the biological patterns.

A physical-biological coupled model was used to estimate the effect of the physical processes at the Strait of Gibraltar over the biogeochemical features of the Atlantic Inflow (AI) towards the Mediterranean Sea. This work was focused on the seasonal variation of the biogeochemical patterns in the AI and the role of the Strait; including primary production and phytoplankton features. As the physical model is 1D (horizontal) and two-layer, different integration methods for the primary production in the Biogeochemical Fluxes Model (BFM) have been evaluated. An approach based on the integration of a production-irradiance function was the chosen method. Using this Plankton Functional Type model (BFM), a simplified phytoplankton seasonal cycle in the AI was simulated. Main results included a principal bloom in spring dominated by nanoflagellates, whereas minimum biomass (mostly picophytoplankton) was simulated during summer. Physical processes occurring in the Strait could trigger primary production and raised phytoplankton biomass (during spring and autumn), mainly due to two combined effects. First, in the Strait a strong interfacial mixing (causing nutrient supply to the upper layer) is produced, and, second, a shoaling of the surface Atlantic layer occurs eastward. Our results show that these phenomena caused an integrated production of 105 g C m−2 year−1 19 in the eastern side of the Strait, and would also modify the proportion of the different phytoplankton groups. Nanoflagellates were favored during spring/autumn while picophytoplankton is more abundant in summer. Finally, AI could represent a relevant source of nutrients and biomass to Alboran Sea, fertilizing upper layer of this area with 4.95 megatons nitrate year-1 and 0.44 megatons C year-124 . A main advantage of this coupled model is the capability of solving relevant high resolution processes as the tidal forcing without an expensive performance, allowing to assess the effect of these phenomena on the biogeochemical patterns at longer time scales.e biogeochemical seasonal cycle in the Strait of Gibraltar, JRC.H.1-Water Resources

Evaluación de la respuesta de las poblaciones marinas explotadas en un contexto de cambio climático rápido: el caso del besugo de la pinta en el estrecho de Gibraltar Existe una creciente preocupación por la disminución de la pesca y la posibilidad de que esta disminución se acelere debido al cambio climático. Los estudios sobre la pesca a pequeña escala podrían ayudar a mejorar nuestra comprensión de los efectos del clima en la ecología de las poblaciones explotadas. El estrecho de Gibraltar es una importante zona de pesca para la flota artesanal. En esta zona, el besugo de la pinta (Pagellus bogaraveo) es la especie más importante para la pesca artesanal en vista de su volumen de descarga. Los objetivos de este estudio consisten en estudiar los posibles efectos de dos oscilaciones atmosféricas: la oscilación del Atlántico Norte (NAO) y la oscilación del Ártico (AO), en la captura del besugo de la pinta en el estrecho de Gibraltar con objeto de determinar su relación con las condiciones oceanográficas, y mejorar nuestro conocimiento sobre los posibles efectos del cambio climático en la ecología de la pesca, para poder mejorar la gestión de la actividad pesquera. Utilizamos dos tipos de datos de diferentes fuentes: (i) los desembarques por unidad de esfuerzo registrados por un segundo grupo de trabajo entre Marruecos y España sobre el besugo de la pinta en la zona del estrecho de Gibraltar, para el período 1983–2011, y (ii) los desembarques registrados de besugo de la pinta obtenidos de las estadísticas anuales de pesca publicadas por la Junta de Andalucía. Nuestros resultados indican que el desembarque a largo plazo del besugo de la pinta en el estrecho de Gibraltar está íntimamente relacionado con las oscilaciones atmosféricas. Por lo tanto, los períodos prolongados de tendencias positivas en la NAO y la AO podrían favorecer altos rendimientos pesqueros. En contraste, las tendencias negativas de la NAO y la AO reducen drásticamente el rendimiento pesquero., There is a growing concern over the decline of fisheries and the possibility of the decline becoming worse due to climate change. Studies on small–scale fisheries could help to improve our understanding of the effect of climate on the ecology of exploited stocks. The Strait of Gibraltar is an important fishery ground for artisanal fleets. In this area, blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) is the main species targeted by artisanal fisheries in view of its relevance in landed weight. The aims of this study were to explore the possible effects of two atmospheric oscillations, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AO), on the capture of blackspot seabream in the Strait of Gibraltar, to determine their association with oceanographic conditions, and to improve our knowledge about the possible effects of climate change on fisheries ecology so that fishery management can be improved. We used two types of data from different sources: (i) landings per unit of effort reported from a second working group between Morocco and Spain on Pagellus bogaraveo in the Gibraltar Strait area, for the period 1983–2011, and (ii) the recorded blackspot seabream landings obtained from the annual fisheries statistics published by the Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian Regional Government). Our results indicate that the long–term landing of blackspot seabream in the Strait of Gibraltar is closely associated with atmospheric oscillations. Thus, prolonged periods of positive trends in the NAO and AO could favour high fishery yields. In contrast, negative trends in NAO and AO could drastically reduce yield.

Previous work has suggested that dual blockade using inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) would be associated with an increase in side effects compared to monotherapy. We reexamined the safety of dual RAS blockade, especially in patients at risk, and explored the stability of the evidence accumulated over the years.Systematic review with random-effects meta-analyses. We reviewed 15 previously published meta-analyses as the starting point. PubMed/Medline was searched for recent evidence from both observational and randomized controlled trials. Outcomes measures were: mortality (overall and cardiovascular), hyperkalemia, hypotension, renal failure, stroke, and treatment withdrawal due to adverse effects. We calculated relative risks (RR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) RESULTS: Dual RAS blockade was not associated with reduced relative risk (RR) overall mortality (RR:1.00, 0.96-1.05; 21 studies), cardiovascular mortality (RR:1.01, 0.94-1.09; 13 studies) or stroke (RR:1.02; 0.94-1.11; 11 studies) compared to monotherapy. Dual blockade was associated with an increased risk of hyperkalemia (RR:1.58, 1.37-1.81; 34 studies), hypotension (RR:1.66; 1.41-1.95; 25 studies), renal failure (RR:1.52;1.28-1.81; 29 studies) and treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (RR:1.26;1.22-1.30; 37 studies). These results were consistent in cohorts of patients with diabetes mellitus, kidney disease or heart failure.Dual RAS blockade increased (vs monotherapy) the risks of hyperkalemia, hypotension, renal failure and treatment discontinuation. Dual RAS blockade did not offer additional benefit in reducing overall mortality, cardiovascular mortality or stroke. These findings are consistent over time.

Corrección publicada el 26 de diciembre de 2014 con DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0116653 en relación con la afilicación de uno de los autores, © 2014 Oguz et al. A three dimensional biophysical model was employed to illustrate the biological impacts of a meandering frontal jet, in terms of efficiency and persistency of the autotrophic frontal production, in marginal and semi-enclosed seas. We used the Alboran Sea of the Western Mediterranean as a case study. Here, a frontal jet with a width of 15-20 km, characterized by the relatively low density Atlantic water mass, flows eastward within the upper 100 m as a marked meandering current around the western and the eastern anticyclonic gyres prior to its attachment to the North African shelf/slope topography of the Algerian basin. Its inherent nonlinearity leads to the development of a strong ageostrophic cross-frontal circulation that supplies nutrients into the nutrient-starved euphotic layer and stimulates phytoplankton growth along the jet. Biological production is larger in the western part of the basin and decreases eastwards with the gradual weakening of the jet. The higher production at the subsurface levels suggests that the Alboran Sea is likely more productive than predicted by the satellite chlorophyll data. The Mediterranean water mass away from the jet and the interiors of the western and eastern anticyclonic gyres remain unproductive., This study is part of the Ocean Forecasting Facility from SOCIB and is also partially supported by Perseus EU funded Project whose support is gratefully acknowledged. JGL acknowledges partial support from the Spanish-funded project CTM2010-21229-C01.

Global mean surface temperature has been increasing since the beginning of the 20th century but with a highly variable warming rate, and the alternation of rapid warming periods with ‘hiatus’ decades is a constant throughout the series. The superimposition of a secular warming trend with natural multidecadal variability is the most accepted explanation for such a pattern. Since the start of the 21st century, the surface global mean temperature has not risen at the same rate as the top-of-atmosphere radiative energy input or greenhouse gas emissions, provoking scientific and social interest in determining the causes of this apparent discrepancy. Again, multidecadal natural variability is the most commonly proposed cause for the present hiatus period. Here, we analyze the longest and most up-to-date surface temperature database (HadCRUT4) with spectral techniques to separate a multidecadal oscillation (MDV) from a secular trend (ST). Both signals combined account for nearly 88% of the total variability of the temperature series showing the main acceleration/deceleration periods already described elsewhere. Three stalling periods with very little warming could be found within the series, from 1878 to 1907, from 1945 to 1969 and from 2001 to the end of the series. All of them coincided with a cooling phase of the MDV while the ST has shown a quasi-permanent warming trend from the beginning of the 20th century. Henceforth, MDV seems to be the main cause of the different hiatus periods shown by the global surface temperature records. However, and contrary to the two previous events, during the current hiatus period (2001–2013), the ST shows a strong fluctuation on the warming rate, with a large acceleration (from 0.0085°C year-1 to 0.017°C year-1) during 1992 – 2001 a and sharp deceleration (from 0.017°C year-1 to 0.003°C year-1) from 2002 onwards. This is the first time in the observational record that the ST shows such a drastic variability, so determining the causes and consequences of this change of behavior needs to be addressed by the scientific community., JRC.H.1-Water Resources

The Alboran basin is one of the most productive areas of the Mediterranean Sea and supports an anchovy fishery with a history of remarkably variable landings. Past and present anchovy recruitment levels are highly sensitive to changes in the strength and direction of the incoming jet of Atlantic waters, which modulate the hydrographic features of the basin. Here, we analyze plausible consequences for the anchovy fisheries in the region based on a projected physical scenario for the end of the century obtained using a coupled hydrological-biogeochemical model. Our model predicts a substantial increase in horizontal water velocity and a negligible change in the associated biological production, which likely indicates reductions in anchovy stock, catches and revenues. Alternative policies are analyzed here for the economic scenario that is expected to emerge under future conditions of oceanographic features, pelagic ecosystem dynamics and anchovy landings in the Alboran Sea. © 2013 Elsevier B.V., This work was funded by EU projects SESAME (FP6: 036949-2) and MedEX (CTM2008-04036-E/MAR and MARIN-ERA/MAR/0002/2008) and by the Spanish Science Program CMT2011-22580. D. Macías was supported by a JaeDOC Contract (#X0SC000087) of the Spanish Science and Technology Council (CSIC) and by a Grantholder Cat.30 position of the Joint Research Center of the European Commission.