Dai eKimura, and Dai eKimura, and Jordy eSaravia, and Jordy eSaravia, and Cynthia R Rovnaghi, and Gianfranco Umberto Meduri, and Gianfranco Umberto Meduri, and Andreas eSchwingshackl, and Stephania eCormier, and Stephania eCormier, and Kanwaljeet J. S. Anand

Objective: Lung injury activates multiple pro-inflammatory pathways, including neutrophils, epithelial and endothelial injury, and coagulation factors leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Low-dose methylprednisolone therapy (MPT) improved oxygenation and ventilation in early pediatric ARDS without altering duration of mechanical ventilation or mortality. We evaluated the effects of MPT on biomarkers of endothelial (Ang-2, sICAM-1) or epithelial (sRAGE) injury, neutrophil activ...

Gabriele La Mesa, and Alessandro Longobardi, and Francesco Sacco, and Giovanna Marino

A pilot experiment of stock enhancement based on the release of hatchery-reared juveniles of dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus, was carried out at two artificial reefs located 0.9 km offshore the south-western Sicilian coast (Central Mediterranean). The fish assemblages inhabiting the reefs were characterized using underwater visual census (UVC) surveys. Despite some differences in fish species richness, diversity and abundance, both artificial reefs provide suitable feeding resources and sh...

Daniel Johansson, and Ricardo T. Pereyra, and Marina Rafajlović, and Kerstin Johannesson

Abstract Background Establishing populations in ecologically marginal habitats may require substantial phenotypic changes that come about through phenotypic plasticity, local adaptation, or both. West-Eberhard’s “plasticity-first” model suggests that plasticity allows for rapid colonisation of a new environment, followed by directional selection that develops local adaptation. Two predictions from this model are that (i) individuals of the original population have high enough plasticity to survi...

Barbara Pesut, and Wendy Duggleby, and Grace Warner, and Konrad Fassbender, and Elisabeth Antifeau, and Brenda Hooper, and Madeleine Greig, and Kelli Sullivan

Abstract Background A compassionate community approach to palliative care provides important rationale for building community-based hospice volunteer capacity. In this project, we piloted one such capacity-building model in which volunteers and a nurse partnered to provide navigation support beginning in the early palliative phase for adults living in community. The goal was to improve quality of life by developing independence, engagement, and community connections. Methods Volunteers received ...

Guibin Zou, and Qiang Huang, and Shenglan Song, and Bingbing Tong, and Houlei Gao

Abstract This paper proposes a novel directional pilot protection method based on the transient energy for bipolar HVDC line. Supposing the positive direction of current is from DC bus to the DC line, in the case of an internal line fault, the transient energies detected on both sides of the line are all negative within a short time, which denotes the positive direction fault; while for an external fault, the transient energy on one end is positive, which means a negative direction fault, but th...

K. M. Aarif, and Aymen Nefla, and S. B. Muzaffar, and K. K. Musammilu, and P. K. Prasadan

Abstract Background Waterbirds are globally declining as a result of habitat loss, alteration or degradation. Fishing activities may affect waterbird distribution, abundance and diversity, and traditional fishing activities often enhance waterbird abundance. We tested this hypothesis by studying the abundance and diversity of selected common waterbird species in the Kadalundi–Vallikkunnu Community Reserve, a globally significant wetland in southwestern India in relation to fishing activities. Me...

Pablo S. Guimarães, and Layanna Zigiotto, and Marinês Garcia, and Maria J. Dellamano-Oliveira, and Armando A.E. Vieira, and Danilo Giroldo

<p><em>Release of carbohydrates by phytoplankton enhances microbial diversity, promoting associations between algae and heterotrophic organisms. Thus, this work aimed to characterise the dissolved carbohydrates at a Brazilian subtropical coastal lagoon (Merin lagoon), in addition to determining their relationships with environmental parameters and phyto/bacterioplankton communities over one year. We analysed the relationships among physical, chemical and biological parameters by a principal comp...

Henry N. Njuguna, and Sandra S. Chaves, and Gideon O. Emukule, and Bryan Nyawanda, and Victor Omballa, and Bonventure Juma, and Clayton O. Onyango, and Joshua A. Mott, and Barry Fields

Abstract Background Respiratory diseases cause substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the greatest burden. Identifying etiologies of respiratory disease is important to inform cost effective treatment, prevention and control strategies. Testing for all of the different pathogens that are potentially associated with respiratory illnesses is challenging. We piloted the use of a multi-pathogen respiratory Taqman Array Cards (TAC) to identify pathogens in resp...

L. A. Shmeleva

The litho-paleoecological characteristics of the Upper Ordovician reef Bol’shaya Kos’yu was given. The reef paleolandscape profile - reef plateau, reef internal lagoons, and frontal reef zone was determined, and reef facies were described. The distribution of fossils involved in the reef Bol’shaya Kos’yu formation was shown. The evolution of reef ecosystem was traced. The ecological succession fore stages were identified: stabilization, colonization, diversification and domination which reflex t...

D. Gutiérrez, and A. Sifeddine, and D. B. Field, and L. Ortlieb, and G. Vargas, and F. P. Chávez, and F. Velazco, and V. Ferreira, and P. Tapia, and R. Salvatteci, and H. Boucher, and M. C. Morales, and J. Valdés, and J.-L. Reyss, and A. Campusano, and M. Boussafir, and M. Mandeng-Yogo, and M. García, and T. Baumgartner

Climate and ocean ecosystem variability has been well recognized during the twentieth century but it is unclear if modern ocean biogeochemistry is susceptible to the large, abrupt shifts that characterized the Late Quaternary. Time series from marine sediments off Peru show an abrupt centennial-scale biogeochemical regime shift in the early nineteenth century, of much greater magnitude and duration than present day multi-decadal variability. A rapid expansion of the subsurface nutrient-rich, oxy...

Mauro B. de Toledo, and Mark B. Bush

The main goal of this study was to investigate how climate and human activities may have influenced ecotonal areas of disjoint savannas within Brazilian Amazonia. The fossil pollen and charcoal records of Lake Márcio (Amapá) were used to provide a Holocene palaeoecological history of this region. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was used to enhance the patterns of sample distribution along the sediment core. A marked vegetation change from closed forests with swamp elements to open floode...

Maria Cléa Brito de Figueiredo, and Lúcia de Fátima Pereira Araújo, and Raimundo Bemvindo Gomes, and Morsyleide de Freitas Rosa, and Walt Disney Paulino, and Lúcia de Fátima Sabóia de Morais

A bacia do Baixo Jaguaribe-CE depara-se com a instalação progressiva de fazendas de camarão às margens do rio Jaguaribe onde não há interferência de água salina. Esse trabalho tem como principal objetivo avaliar as características físicas, químicas e bacteriológicas dos efluentes contínuos e da despesca de fazendas de camarão, refletindo sobre os possíveis impactos do lançamento desses efluentes e formas de atenuação desses impactos. Foram analisadas amostras da água de captação e dos efluentes ...

Mohammad Reza Fattahi, and Seyed Morteza Emami Alorizi, and Majid Nimrouzi, and Mohammad M Zarshenas, and Mohammad Mahdi Parvizi

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and side effects of lactulose plus traditional Persian medicine with only lactulose on the functional chronic constipation. Methods: Participants included 20 patients (10 in each group) aged 18–80 years, with major inclusion criteria of ROME III. They were assigned into two parallel therapeutic groups, including the intervention group (lactulose plus traditional Persian medicine [TPM] advices) and control group (only lactulose) throug...

Roya Nikbakht, and Abbas Bahrampour

Background: Fuzzy logistic regression model can be used for determining influential factors of disease. This study explores the important factors of actual predictive survival factors of breast cancer's patients. Materials and Methods: We used breast cancer data which collected by cancer registry of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during the period of 2000–2007. The variables such as morphology, grade, age, and treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) were applied in the fuzzy ...

Kazuo Osada, and Keiichiro Hara, and Masanori Yabuki, and Chiharu Nishita-Hara, and Hiroshi Kobayashi, and Kazuhiko Miura, and Sayako Ueda, and Masahiko Hayashi, and Gen Hashida, and Masataka Shiobara, and Makoto Wada, and Takashi Yamanouchi

To investigate spatial and temporal variation of number-size distribution of atmospheric aerosol particles in the Antarctic Ocean, atmospheric observations were conducted on research vessels: Hakuho-maru, Tangaroa, and Umitaka-maru. Concentrations of ionic constituents in aerosols and precursor gases (SO_2 and NH_3) were also measured during the cruises. Concentrations of nucleation mode particles (<20 nm in diameter) were often high under the conditions of very low number concentrations of pree...

J. Qi, and X. Liu, and X. Yao, and R. Zhang, and X. Chen, and X. Lin, and H. Gao, and R. Liu

Asian dust has been reported to carry anthropogenic reactive nitrogen during transport from source areas to the oceans. In this study, we attempted to characterize NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ in atmospheric particles collected at a coastal site in northern China during spring dust events from 2008 to 2011. Based on the mass concentrations of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ in each total suspended particle (TSP) sample, the samples can...

C.-N. Lo, and G. Xia, and B.P. Leung

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints. The neurogenic inflammatory mechanism plays an important role in the inflammatory process of RA, and pathological changes in neural tissues in RA have also been noted. We aim to investigate treatment of the nervous system to relieve joint pain and inflammation in RA. Nerve mobilization, a nervous system-specific therapeutic exercise, was applied on RA patients to determine the effect of nerve...

K. Krishna Moorthy, and S. Suresh Babu, and S. K. Satheesh

In Part 1 of this two-part paper, we present the results of extensive and collocated measurements of the columnar and near-surface (in the well mixed region) properties of atmospheric aerosol particles at a tropical coastal location, Trivandrum (8.55&deg; N; 76.97&deg; E), located close to the southwest tip of Indian peninsula. These are used to evolve average, climatological pictures of the optical and microphysical properties and to delineate the distinct changes associated with the cont...

Stefania Cocco, and Valeria Cardelli, and Silvia Pedicini, and Rogeiro Borguete Alves Rafael, and Alberto Agnelli, and Flavio Fornasier, and Fabio Vallarola, and Giuseppe Corti

Subaqueous soils have to be studied with proper methodologies, according to a pedological approach and considering the key role of animal bioturbation. Morphological and chemical characteristics of submerged soils found in the MPA of "Torre del Cerrano", Adriatic sea (Italy), have been studied in this way, and we conclude that submarine soils of the MPA are important examples of pedogenesis promoted by animals. Soils from the highly protected marine area hosted a major biodiversity than those fr...

E. V. Shalina, and E. V. Shalina, and S. Sandven

The snow data from the Soviet airborne expeditions Sever in the Arctic collected over several decades in March, April and May have been analyzed in this study. The Sever data included more measurements and covered a much wider area, particularly in the Eurasian marginal seas (Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea and Chukchi Sea), compared to the Soviet North Pole drifting stations. The latter collected data mainly in the central part of the Arctic Basin. The following snow parameters ha...

Susana M F Ferreira, and Susana M F Ferreira

The marine environment represents more than two thirds of our planet, however, it is still underexplored. Even still, marine habitats are a promising source of commercially significant biotechnological products. In fact, marine organisms have been recognized as having an important role on the discovery of new bioactive molecules. Among these, sponges exhibit a great diversity of secondary metabolites, which they produce and accumulate. The intention in this study was to establish the principles ...

Weston Kightlinger, and Kai Chen, and Azadeh Pourmir, and Daniel W. Crunkleton, and Geoffrey L. Price, and Tyler W. Johannes

Background: Algae offer many advantages as biofuel sources including: high growth rates, high lipid content, the ability to grow on non-agricultural land, and the genetic versatility to improve strains rapidly and produce co-products. Research is ongoing to make algae biofuels a more financially attractive energy option; however, it is becoming evident that the economic viability of algae-based fuels may hinge upon high-value co-products. This work evaluated the feasibility of using a co-product...

Sokol Milan, and Komorníková Magdaléna, and Bacigál Tomáš, and Rodríguez Miguel X.

This article deals with a method of how to acquire approximate displacement vibration functions. Input values are discrete, experimentally obtained mode shapes. A new improved approximation method based on the modal vibrations of the deck is derived using the least-squares method. An alternative approach to be employed in this paper is to approximate the displacement vibration function by a sum of sine functions whose periodicity is determined by spectral analysis adapted for non-uniformly sampl...

Wiliński Wojciech, and Wieczorek Marta, and Drzewakowska Beata

Bulguroğlu S., and Korun J., and Gökoğlu M., and Özvarol Y.

Makedonski Lubomir, and Peycheva Katya, and Stancheva Mona

Major part of healthy human diet consist of marine fish and seafood products. And it is not surprising that there are numerous studies based on metal accumulation in various fish species. Fish may also be used for heavy metal monitoring programs of marine environments due to their easy sampling, sample preparation and chemical analysis. Concentrations of lead, cadmium, nickel, copper, manganese, zinc, iron, chromium, total mercury and total arsenic were determined in edible part of two commercia...

Priscila S. Gonçalves, and Camila S. P. Oliveira, and Matheus Prem Mendes, and Marcelo Netto Duarte, and William Costa Rodrigues

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the aquatic macrophytes Salvinia auriculata Aublet in purification of polluted effluents, and evaluate macroscopically the efficiency of macrophytes using the Allium cepa Linnaeus (onion test). Three collections were performed in September 2011, the first analysis was performed with water collected directly from River Santa Catarina, the second was performed seven days after the contact of the effluent with the macrophytes, and the third, fifteen da...

Samuel K. Muiruri, and Joseph M. Mwangangi, and John Carlson, and Ephantus W. Kabiru, and Elizabeth Kokwaro, and John Githure, and Charles M. Mbogo, and John C. Beier

<i>Background & objectives</i>: The use of insecticides to eliminate mosquito larvae from ground pools may disrupt atural predator-induced control of mosquito larvae. Detrimental effects on predators may be directly from toxicity or by eliminating prey organisms. Identifying the principal predators responsible for mosquito suppression is needed to select non-target indicator species for insecticide studies. In this study, we sought to determine trophic level interactions between predators and im...

M. C. C. Alvim, and A. C. Peret

With the purpose of determining the principal food resources responsible for maintaining the fishery yield in a section of the São Francisco River, 6 sampling of the fish fauna were made downstream from the Três Marias Dam, from September 1996 to July 1997. A total of 1,127 individuals of 35 species were captured, using gillnets with mesh sizes varying from 3 to 16 cm. The stomach contents of 33 species were examined in order to determine their diets. Five trophic guilds were established, in the...

Erkan Can

Fevzi Kırkım, and Murat Sezgin, and Tuncer Katağan, and Ahmet Kocataş, and A. Suat Ateş

A. Cucco, and G. Quattrocchi, and A. Olita, and L. Fazioli, and A. Ribotti, and M. Sinerchia, and C. Tedesco, and R. Sorgente

This work explores the importance of considering tidal dynamics when modelling the general circulation in the Messina Strait, a narrow passage connecting the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian subbasins in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The tides and the induced water circulation in this Strait are among the most intense oceanographic processes in the Mediterranean Sea. The quantification of these effects can be particularly relevant for operational oceanographic systems aimed to provide short-term predi...

Andrey O. Podoplekin

The article represents a generalized data from sociological survey of social-psychological well-being of the rural population of the coastal areas in Arkhangelsk region (included into the Russian Arctic zone) held in 2015. The data shows a critical level of social pessimism, assurance of residents in continuation of negative social-economic dynamics, deficiency of motivation and readiness for active participation and inclusion into the development of territories. Such a status is based on a deep...

Hisamitsu Ide, and Yan Lu, and Kosuke Kitamura, and Satoru Muto, and Raizo Yamaguchi

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that zoledronic acid (ZOL) significantly prolongs survival in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. This pilot study investigated the influence of ZOL on circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts in prostate cancer patients in association with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) used as a serum biomarker. Methods: Patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who were CTC-positive (n=4) were enrolled in treatment w...

David J. Hoeinghaus, and Kirk O. Winemiller, and Donald C. Taphorn

The Llanos is an extensive area of savannas and floodplains in central and western Venezuela that encompasses a gradual elevation gradient from the río Orinoco to the foothills of the Andean piedmont. The río Portuguesa is one of the major rivers in this region that until recently had escaped major anthropogenic impacts and still maintains substantial seasonal fish migrations. However, little work has been conducted on fish ecology in this river. The present study analyzes museum collections sam...

F. De Biasio, and M. M. Miglietta, and S. Zecchetto, and A. della Valle

We compare the sea surface wind fields forecasted by a Global Circulation Model (GCM) and three Limited Area Models (LAMs) in an operational-like set-up, with the wind remotely sensed by the NASA QuikSCAT scatterometer. The comparison is performed for a single case of Bora wind in the Adriatic Sea, with the purpose to understand the ability of the model forecasts in reproducing the mesoscale features captured by the scatterometer, and to investigate on the suitability of LAM and GCM forecasts as...

Kevin eEsteves, and Thomas eMosser, and Fabien eAujoulat, and Dominique eHERVIO-HEATH, and Patrick eMONFORT, and Estelle eJumas-Bilak, and Estelle eJumas-Bilak

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae are ubiquitous to estuarine and marine environments. These two species can induce infections in humans. Therefore understanding the structure and dynamics of non-pandemic environmental populations in temperate regions, such as Mediterranean coastal systems, is important if we are to evaluate the risks of infection to humans.Environmental isolates of V. cholerae (n=109) and V. parahaemolyticus (n=89) sampled at different dates, stations and water salini...

K. F. Kvale, and S. Khatiwala, and H. Dietze, and I. Kriest, and A. Oschlies

Conventional integration of Earth system and ocean models can accrue considerable computational expenses, particularly for marine biogeochemical applications. <q>Offline</q> numerical schemes in which only the biogeochemical tracers are time stepped and transported using a pre-computed circulation field can substantially reduce the burden and are thus an attractive alternative. One such scheme is the <q>transport matrix method</q> (TMM), which represents tracer transport as a sequence of s...

Elżbieta Żebrowska

In the years 1969/1970 material of autumn-winter mycoflora of selected containers of the Kampinos Forest was collected. 17 aquatic species were isolated. Three species Gonapodya polymorpha, G. prolifera and Pythiogeton autossytum were observed for the first time In Poland.

C. J. Gabriel, and A. Robock, and L. Xia, and B. Zambri, and B. Kravitz

Reducing insolation has been proposed as a geoengineering response to global warming. Here we present the results of climate model simulations of a unique Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project Testbed experiment to investigate the benefits and risks of a scheme that would brighten certain oceanic regions. The National Center for Atmospheric Research CESM CAM4-Chem global climate model was modified to simulate a scheme in which the albedo of the ocean surface is increased over the subtropi...

Mohammad Javad Zibaeenezhad, and Maryam Ghavipisheh, and Armin Attar, and Amir Aslani

Abstract Background Dietary fish is a rich source of Omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). These compounds may have protective effect against cardiovascular events possibly by modifying lipid profiles. Consequently, fish oil supplements are produced commercially to complement low fish intake. It is not clear if both interventions have similar effects. The aim of this trial was to compare the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of omega3 fatty acid supplements with fresh fish. Method A total of 10...

Delle Palme Caleigh A., and Nguyen Vivian M., and Gutowsky Lee F.G., and Cooke Steven J.

There is growing interest in educating anglers on catch-and-release (C&R) best practices, yet there is little information on whether angler education programs yield measurable improvements in fish condition and survival. As such, we conducted a study focused on mixed-gender youth groups (aged 8–10) and contrasted three levels of training intervention. Treatment 1 training had no mention of C&R best practices. Treatments 2 and 3 trainings involved visual aids to illustrate best practices, while T...

Marcin Hajdul, and Karolina Kolińska

Background: Article presents a model concept of supporting supply chain management based on predefined correlation between logistic and statistical performance indicators. Paper presents how, set of logistics indicators at different levels of management and a set of statistical indicators broken down by macroeconomic and microeconomic level, can be used in order to improve supply chain management. The correlation coefficients are presented for evaluating the relationships between the selected sa...

Carla Regina Costa, and Paulo Olivi, and Clarice M. R. Botta, and Evaldo L. G. Espindola

<abstract language="eng">Aquatic toxicity tests are assays performed with different aquatic organisms of different ecological organization levels. Such tests are a source of information on the toxicity of a given substance or wastewater under controlled conditions, and they complement the physico-chemical analyses. Moreover, they allow one to evaluate the risks resulting from the presence of toxic substances in the environment. Algae, crustaceans, fishes and bacteria are frequently used in toxic...

S. G. Aggarwal, and K. Kawamura, and G. S. Umarji, and E. Tachibana, and R. S. Patil, and P. K. Gupta

To better understand the sources of PM₁₀ samples in Mumbai, India, aerosol chemical composition, i.e., total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and inorganic ions were studied together with specific markers such as methanesulfonate (MSA), oxalic acid (C₂), azelaic acid (C₉), and levoglucosan. The results revealed that biofuel/biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion are the major sources of the Mumbai a...

W. M. Connolley, and A. B. Keen, and A. J. McLaren

We present results of an implementation of the Elastic Viscous Plastic (EVP) sea ice dynamics scheme into the Hadley Centre coupled ocean-atmosphere climate model HadCM3. Although the large-scale simulation of sea ice in HadCM3 is quite good with this model, the lack of a full dynamical model leads to errors in the detailed representation of sea ice and limits our confidence in its future predictions. We find that introducing the EVP scheme results in a worse initial simulation of the sea ice. T...

A. Braga-Henriques, and F. M. Porteiro, and P. A. Ribeiro, and V. de Matos, and &amp;Iacute;. Sampaio, and O. Ocaña, and R. S. Santos

Cold-water corals are widely considered as important structural components of benthic habitats, potentially enhancing local abundance in a variety of fish and invertebrate species. Yet, current knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and distribution patterns of these vulnerable, slow-growing organisms is scarce and fragmented, limiting the effectiveness of spatial management and conservation measures. We have conducted an exhaustive compilation of records of alcyonaceans, antipatharians, scleracti...

Eric J. Alfaro, and Jorge Cortés, and Juan José Alvarado, and Carlos Jiménez, and Alberto León, and Celeste Sánchez-Noguera, and Jaime Nivia-Ruiz, and Eleazar Ruiz

Bahía Culebra, Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica es una región de afloramiento estacional. Para determinar la relación entre el clima y la variabilidad de la temperatura sub-superficial, se analizaron los registros de la temperatura sub-superficial del mar de nueve estaciones localizadas en la Bahía. El análisis permitió caracterizar su ciclo anual y explorar su relación con fuentes de variabilidad climática que influencian el clima regional para el periodo 1998-2010. Los resultados se contextualiza...

Sabina Yasmin, and Bijoy Sonker Barua, and Mayeen Uddin Khandaker, and Masud Kamal, and Md. Abdur Rashid, and S.F. Abdul Sani, and H. Ahmed, and Bijan Nikouravan, and D.A. Bradley

Accurate quantification of naturally occurring radioactive materials in soil provides information on geological characteristics, possibility of petroleum and mineral exploration, radiation hazards to the dwelling populace etc. Of practical significance, the earth surface media (soil, sand and sediment) collected from the densely populated coastal area of Chittagong city, Bangladesh were analysed using a high purity germanium γ-ray spectrometer with low background radiation environment. The mean ...

G. Herbert, and B. Bourlès

<p>The impact of boreal spring intraseasonal wind bursts on sea surface temperature variability in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean in 2005 and 2006 is investigated using numerical simulation and observations. We especially focus on the coastal region east of 5°&thinsp;E and between the Equator and 7°&thinsp;S that has not been studied in detail so far. For both years, the southerly wind anomalies induced cooling episodes through (i) upwelling processes, (ii) vertical mixing due to the...