Principles of Motor Learning to Support Neuroplasticity After ACL Injury: Implications for Optimizing Performance and Reducing Risk of Second ACL Injury

Abstract

Athletes who wish to resume high-level activities after an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are often advised to undergo surgical reconstruction. Nevertheless, ACL reconstruction (ACLR) does not equate to normal function of the knee or reduced risk of subsequent injuries. In fact, recent evidence has shown that only around half of post-ACLR patients can expect to return to competitive level of sports. A rising concern is the high rate of second ACL injuries, particularly in young athletes, with up to 20% of those returning to sport in the first year from surgery experiencing a second ACL rupture. Aside from the increased risk of second injury, patients after ACLR have an increased risk of developing early onset of osteoarthritis. Given the recent findings, it is imperative that rehabilitation after ACLR is scrutinized so the second injury preventative strategies can be optimized. Unfortunately, current ACLR rehabilitation programs may not be optimally effective in addressing deficits related to the initial injury and the subsequent surgical intervention. Motor learning to (re-)acquire motor skills and neuroplastic capacities are not sufficiently incorporated during traditional rehabilitation, attesting to the high re-injury rates. The purpose of this article is to present novel clinically integrated motor learning principles to support neuroplasticity that can improve patient functional performance and reduce the risk of second ACL injury. The following key concepts to enhance rehabilitation and prepare the patient for re-integration to sports after an ACL injury that is as safe as possible are presented: (1) external focus of attention, (2) implicit learning, (3) differential learning, (4) self-controlled learning and contextual interference. The novel motor learning principles presented in this manuscript may optimize future rehabilitation programs to reduce second ACL injury risk and early development of osteoarthritis by targeting changes in neural networks.

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Improving the production of isoprene and 1,3-propanediol by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli through recycling redox cofactor between the dual pathways

Abstract

The biosynthesis of isoprene by microorganisms is a promising green route. However, the yield of isoprene is limited due to the generation of excess NAD(P)H via the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, which converts more glucose into CO₂ or undesired reduced by-products. The production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from glycerol is a typical NAD(P)H-consuming process, which restricts 1,3-PDO yield to ~ 0.7 mol/mol. In this study, we propose a strategy of redox cofactor balance by coupling the production of isoprene with 1,3-PDO fermentation. With the introduction and optimization of the dual pathways in an engineered Escherichia coli, ~ 85.2% of the excess NADPH from isoprene pathway was recycled for 1,3-PDO production. The best strain G05 simultaneously produced 665.2 mg/L isoprene and 2532.1 mg/L 1,3-PDO under flask fermentation conditions. The yields were 0.3 mol/mol glucose and 1.0 mol/mol glycerol, respectively, showing 3.3- and 4.3-fold improvements relative to either pathway independently. Since isoprene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) whereas 1,3-PDO is separated from the fermentation broth, their coproduction process does not increase the complexity or cost for the separation from each other. Hence, the presented strategy will be especially useful for developing efficient biocatalysts for other biofuels and biochemicals, which are driven by cofactor concentrations.

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Effectiveness of simultaneous foliar application of Zn and Mn or P to reduce Cd concentration in rice grains: a field study

Abstract

Excess cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils can be taken up by rice plants and concentrated in the grain, presenting a human health risk. In this study, we field tested the effects of three foliar treatments (zinc (Zn) alone, or combined with manganese (ZnMn) or phosphorus (ZnP)) on the Cd concentration and grain yield of six rice cultivars (C Liangyou 7, Fengyuanyou 272, Xiangwanxian 12, Tianyouhuazhan, Xiangwanxian 13, and Jinyou 284) at the grain filling stage. Our results showed that rice yield and Cd, Zn, Mn, P, and K concentrations were significantly different among the cultivars (p < 0.05); for example, Jinyou 284 recorded lower Cd levels than any other cultivar. Application of Zn, ZnMn, and ZnP had no significant effect on rice yield and Mn, P, and K concentrations for all cultivars. Compared with the control, Cd concentrations after treatment with Zn, ZnMn, and ZnP decreased by 19.03–32.55%, 36.63–55.78% (p < 0.05), and 25.72–49.10%, respectively, while Zn concentrations increased by 11.02–29.38%, 10.63–32.67%, and 11.97–36.82%, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between Cd and Zn concentrations (p < 0.01). All three treatments increased Zn and reduced Cd concentration in rice grains, though ZnMn was most effective. Therefore, cultivar selection and Zn fertilizer application are effective strategies to minimize Cd concentration in rice grains. However, the lowest result still exceeded the Chinese Cd safety limit (0.2 mg Cd kg⁻¹) by a factor of 2.6, demonstrating that additional effective measures should be simultaneously used to further reduce the accumulation of Cd in rice grains.

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Microbial ecology of the cryosphere (glacial and permafrost habitats): current knowledge

Abstract

Microorganisms in cold ecosystems play a key ecological role in their natural habitats. Since these ecosystems are especially sensitive to climate changes, as indicated by the worldwide retreat of glaciers and ice sheets as well as permafrost thawing, an understanding of the role and potential of microbial life in these habitats has become crucial. Emerging technologies have added significantly to our knowledge of abundance, functional activity, and lifestyles of microbial communities in cold environments. The current knowledge of microbial ecology in glacial habitats and permafrost, the most studied habitats of the cryosphere, is reported in this review.

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Introduction of heterologous transcription factors and their target genes into Penicillium oxalicum leads to increased lignocellulolytic enzyme production

Abstract

Genetic engineering of transcription factors is an efficient strategy to improve lignocellulolytic enzyme production in fungi. In this study, the xylanase transcriptional regulators of Trichoderma reesei (Xyr1) and Neurospora crassa (XLR-1), as well as their constitutively active mutants (Xyr1^A824V and XLR-1^A828V), were heterologously expressed in Penicillium oxalicum. The two heterologous regulators were identified to be able to activate lignocellulolytic enzyme gene expression in P. oxalicum. Particularly, expression of T. reesei Xyr1 resulted in a higher cellulase production level compared with the expression of native xylanase transcriptional regulator XlnR using the same promoter. Xyr1^A824V and XLR-1^A828V were found to be able to confer P. oxalicum more enhanced lignocellulolytic abilities than wild-type regulators Xyr1 and XLR-1. Furthermore, introduction of regulatory modules containing Xyr1^A824V/XLR-1^A828V and their target cellulase genes resulted in greater increases in cellulase production than alone expression of transcriptional regulators. Through the cumulative introduction of three regulatory modules containing regulator mutants and their corresponding target cellulase genes from P. oxalicum, T. reesei, and N. crassa, a 2.8-fold increase in cellulase production was achieved in P. oxalicum.

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Effects of Catheterization on Artery Function and Health: When Should Patients Start Exercising Following Their Coronary Intervention?

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death worldwide, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; angioplasty) are commonly used to diagnose and/or treat the obstructed coronaries. Exercise-based rehabilitation is recommended for all CAD patients; however, most guidelines do not specify when exercise training should commence following PTCA and/or PCI. Catheterization can result in arterial dysfunction and acute injury, and given the fact that exercise, particularly at higher intensities, is associated with elevated inflammatory and oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and a pro-thrombotic milieu, performing exercise post-PTCA/PCI may transiently elevate the risk of cardiac events. This review aims to summarize extant literature relating to the impacts of coronary interventions on arterial function, including the time-course of recovery and the potential deleterious and/or beneficial impacts of acute versus long-term exercise. The current literature suggests that arterial dysfunction induced by catheterization recovers 4–12 weeks following catheterization. This review proposes that a period of relative arterial vulnerability may exist and exercise during this period may contribute to elevated event susceptibility. We therefore suggest that CAD patients start an exercise training programme between 2 and 4 weeks post-PCI, recognizing that the literature suggest there is a 'grey area' for functional recovery between 2 and 12 weeks post-catheterization. The timing of exercise onset should take into consideration the individual characteristics of patients (age, severity of disease, comorbidities) and the intensity, frequency and duration of the exercise prescription.

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[ASAP] Hydrogen Bonding Phase-Transfer Catalysis with Potassium Fluoride: Enantioselective Synthesis of ß-Fluoroamines

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12568

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[ASAP] Impact of Oxidative Lesions on the Human Telomeric G-Quadruplex

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12748

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How we use Instagram to communicate microbiology to the public

How we use Instagram to communicate microbiology to the public

How we use Instagram to communicate microbiology to the public, Published online: 04 February 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00493-3

Social media is a powerful tool for science communication. Instagram's image-focused model is no exception.

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Compounded Topical Pain Creams to Treat Localized Chronic Pain A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:

The use of compounded topical pain creams has increased dramatically, yet their effectiveness has not been well evaluated.

Objective:

To determine the efficacy of compounded creams for chronic pain.

Design:

Randomized controlled trials of 3 interventions. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02497066)

Setting:

Military treatment facility.

Participants:

399 patients with localized pain classified by each patient's treating physician as neuropathic (n = 133), nociceptive (n = 133), or mixed (n = 133).

Interventions:

Pain creams compounded for neuropathic pain (ketamine, gabapentin, clonidine, and lidocaine), nociceptive pain (ketoprofen, baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, and lidocaine), or mixed pain (ketamine, gabapentin, diclofenac, baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, and lidocaine), or placebo.

Measurements:

The primary outcome measure was average pain score 1 month after treatment. A positive categorical response was a reduction in pain score of 2 or more points coupled with a score above 3 on a 5-point satisfaction scale. Secondary outcomes included Short Form-36 Health Survey scores, satisfaction, and categorical response. Participants with a positive outcome were followed through 3 months.

Results:

For the primary outcome, no differences were found in the mean reduction in average pain scores between the treatment and control groups for patients with neuropathic pain (−0.1 points [95% CI, −0.8 to 0.5 points]), nociceptive pain (−0.3 points [CI, −0.9 to 0.2 points]), or mixed pain (−0.3 points [CI, −0.9 to 0.2 points]), or for all patients (−0.3 points [CI, −0.6 to 0.1 points]). At 1 month, 72 participants (36%) in the treatment groups and 54 (28%) in the control group had a positive outcome (risk difference, 8% [CI, −1% to 17%]).

Limitations:

Generalizability is limited by heterogeneity among pain conditions and formulations of the study interventions. Randomized follow-up was only 1 month.

Conclusion:

Compounded pain creams were not better than placebo creams, and their higher costs compared with approved compounds should curtail routine use.

Primary Funding Source:

Centers for Rehabilitation Sciences Research, Defense Health Agency, U.S. Department of Defense.

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Recurrence of Acute Intermittent Porphyria After Liver Transplantation

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Compounded Topical Pain Creams to Treat Localized Chronic Pain

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Annals Graphic Medicine: Introducing “Dr. Mom” and “Progress Notes”

The ever-growing popularity of Annals Graphic Medicine has prompted us to expand it to include regular monthly features from 2 talented physician artists. Look for a new installment of "Dr. Mom" on the first Tuesday of the month and "Progress Notes" on the third Tuesday.

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Recognizing the Potential for Overdiagnosis: Are High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays an Example?

Overdiagnosis is commonly conceptualized as an unintended consequence of early disease detection in asymptomatic persons but can also occur in persons with symptoms. This commentary poses ways to identify this problem and examines the use of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays to diagnose type 1 myocardial infarction as an example of the potential for overdiagnosis.

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Blood Safety and Emerging Infections: Balancing Risks and Costs

The editorialists discuss Russell and colleagues' results and the need to balance risk for Zika infection with costs of screening in light of the public's expectation of near-zero risk for transfusion-transmitted infection.

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Preventability of Early Versus Late Hospital Readmissions

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Scheherazade

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Annals On Call - Weighing the Potential Benefits and Harms of E-Cigarettes

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Proposed Transparency Rule Threatens Health

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed requiring that data considered when making public policy be "publicly available" and "transparent." The authors discuss the implications of this proposed rule, its intention, and what effect it could have on environmental protection and public health.

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Annals Graphic Medicine - Dr. Mom: Doing It All

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Fracture Risk After Initiation of Use of Canagliflozin A Cohort Study

Background:

Sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors promote glycosuria, resulting in possible effects on calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D homeostasis. Canagliflozin is associated with decreased bone mineral density and a potential increased risk for fracture.

Objective:

To estimate risk for nonvertebral fracture among new users of canagliflozin compared with a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist.

Design:

Population-based new-user cohort study.

Setting:

Two U.S. commercial health care databases providing data on more than 70 million patients from March 2013 to October 2015.

Patients:

Persons with type 2 diabetes who initiated use of canagliflozin were propensity score–matched in a 1:1 ratio to those initiating use of a GLP-1 agonist.

Measurements:

The primary outcome was a composite end point of humerus, forearm, pelvis, or hip fracture requiring intervention. Secondary outcomes included fractures at other sites. A fixed-effects meta-analysis that pooled results from the 2 databases provided an overall hazard ratio (HR).

Results:

79 964 patients initiating use of canagliflozin were identified and matched to 79 964 patients initiating use of a GLP-1 agonist. Mean age was 55 years, 48% were female, average baseline hemoglobin A_1c level was 8.7%, and 27% were prescribed insulin. The rate of the primary outcome was similar for canagliflozin (2.2 events per 1000 person-years) and GLP-1 agonists (2.3 events per 1000 person-years), with an overall HR of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.75 to 1.26). Risk for pelvic, hip, humerus, radius, ulna, carpal, metacarpal, metatarsal, or ankle fracture was also similar for canagliflozin (14.5 events per 1000 person-years) and GLP-1 agonists (16.1 events per 1000 person-years) (overall HR, 0.92 [CI, 0.83 to 1.02]).

Limitation:

Unmeasured confounding, measurement error, and low fracture rate.

Conclusion:

In this study of middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes and relatively low fracture risk, canagliflozin was not associated with increased risk for fracture compared with GLP-1 agonists.

Primary Funding Source:

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics.

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Annals Graphic Medicine - What It Is Like

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Preventability of Early Versus Late Hospital Readmissions

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Annals Graphic Medicine - Team Doctor

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Physician Burnout in the Electronic Health Record Era

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Annals Graphic Medicine - The Tale of a Wannabe Superhero

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Avoiding Pitfalls While Implementing New Guidelines on Student Documentation

The federal regulation regarding student documentation in the medical record was recently changed to allow the teaching physician to verify in the medical record any student documentation of evaluation and management services rather than redocumenting the work. This change will alter how students and teaching physicians interact and may have unintended consequences. This article describes some that should be avoided.

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Annals Graphic Medicine - The Med Student

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Annals for Educators - 5 February 2019

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Population Trends in Intensive Care Unit Admissions in the United States Among Medicare Beneficiaries, 2006–2015

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Contraception

Contraception counseling and provision are vital components of comprehensive health care. Unplanned pregnancy can be devastating to any woman but is particularly dangerous for those with chronic illness. Internal medicine providers are in a unique position to provide contraception, as they often intersect with women at the moment of a new medical diagnosis or throughout care for a chronic problem. A shared decision-making approach can engage patients and ensure that they choose a contraceptive method that aligns with their reproductive plans and medical needs.

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Preventability of Early Versus Late Hospital Readmissions

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Assessment of ventilation noise impact from metro depot with over-track platform structure on workers and nearby inhabitants

Abstract

In order to alleviate the shortage of land use accompanied with urbanization, over-track building complexes above metro depots are developed rapidly in China, resulting in the larger mechanical ventilation needs in the metro depot. Excessive noise exposure caused by the huge ventilation system will bring serious impacts on the health of workers in the metro depot. This research intends to evaluate the noise annoyance in the metro depot and the noise influences on adjacent residential buildings by the ventilation system. A questionnaire survey of 100 people working in a metro depot of Guangzhou Metro Line 6 was conducted, and field measurements inside the metro depot and inside adjacent residential buildings were carried out. The environmental noise level in the metro depot and the ventilation fan–induced noise level inside adjacent residential buildings exceed the corresponding criterion limit of China. Dose-response relationship modeled by logistic function was used to assess the noise annoyance, which is found underestimating the percentage of "Annoyed" (% A) and percentage of "Little Annoyed" (% LA) of staffs in the metro depot, especially for the % LA. This may be attributed to the reducing reliability of dose-effect curves as the L_dn is higher than 65 dB(A). In order to alleviate the noise impact, noise-controlling measures need to be took. However, traditional noise-controlling measures cannot solve low-frequency noise disturbance.

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[ASAP] Reversible Isomerizations between 1,4-Digermabenzenes and 1,4-Digerma-Dewar-benzenes: Air-Stable Activators for Small Molecules

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b00129

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[ASAP] Cleavage of N–H Bond of Ammonia via Metal–Ligand Cooperation Enables Rational Design of a Conceptually New Noyori–Ikariya Catalyst

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12961

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[ASAP] Anisotropic Growth of Silver Nanoparticles Is Kinetically Controlled by Polyvinylpyrrolidone Binding

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11295

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[ASAP] Throwing in a Monkey Wrench to Test and Determine Geared Motion in the Dynamics of a Crystalline One-Dimensional (1D) Columnar Rotor Array

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11385

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[ASAP] Total Synthesis of Pentacyclic (-)-Ambiguine P Using Sequential Indole Functionalizations

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13388

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[ASAP] A Click Chemistry Approach Reveals the Chromatin-Dependent Histone H3K36 Deacylase Nature of SIRT7

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12083

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[ASAP] Energy-Gap Law for Photocurrent Generation in Fullerene-Based Organic Solar Cells: The Case of Low-Donor-Content Blends

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b09820

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[ASAP] Design and Structure Determination of a Composite Zinc Finger Containing a Nonpeptide Foldamer Helical Domain

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12240

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[ASAP] Fragment-Based Covalent Ligand Screening Enables Rapid Discovery of Inhibitors for the RBR E3 Ubiquitin Ligase HOIP

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13193

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[ASAP] Structural Sensitivities in Bimetallic Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Revealed by Ag–Cu Nanodimers

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12381

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[ASAP] A Blue-Light-Emitting Cadmium Coordination Polymer with 75.4% External Quantum Efficiency

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13561

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[ASAP] Switchable Aromaticity in an Isostructural Mn Phthalocyanine Series Isolated in Five Separate Redox States

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12899

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[ASAP] Ir-Catalyzed Intermolecular Branch-Selective Allylic C–H Amidation of Unactivated Terminal Olefins

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b00237

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How we use Instagram to communicate microbiology to the public

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Integration of Melatonin Related Redox Homeostasis, Aging, and Circadian Rhythm

Rejuvenation Research, Ahead of Print.


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Could targeting this enzyme slow aging and related diseases?

This was the conclusion that researchers at Kobe University in Japan came to after studying the enzyme D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) and its role in cells. DAO metabolizes D-amino acids, which, unlike their mirror-image cousins the L-amino acids, only have a small presence in mammal biology. For this reason, until the recent study, scientists knew little about the impact of DAO in the body. The new finding reveals that, in the process of metabolizing D-amino acids, DAO produces reactive...

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Hearing loss and cognitive decline: Study probes link

After analyzing 8 years of data from a health study of more than 10,000 men, scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, MA, found that hearing loss is tied to an appreciably higher risk of subjective cognitive decline. In addition, the analysis revealed that the size of the risk went up in line with the severity of hearing loss. The risk of subjective cognitive decline was 30 percent higher among men with mild hearing loss, compared with those...

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Why are so many women nearly dying in childbirth? Cross off a few leading theories

A new Stanford study, published recently in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, uses California-wide data to try to explain why the rate of severe maternal morbidity — the technical name for life-threatening pregnancy complications — has jumped. The reasons for the rise in severe maternal morbidity have not been well studied. "It's really shocking that this has been increasing so much and has only recently started to get attention," said postdoctoral scholar Stephanie Leonard, PhD, the study's l...

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Could blocking these immune cells aid weight loss?

The finding may help explain why some people remain slim despite having eating habits that cause others to gain weight. The mechanism works when intraepithelial T cells, which are a type of immune cell that resides in the lining of the small intestine, have an active gene for the protein integrin beta 7. In a study paper on their work that now appears in the journal Nature, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, MA, describe mice that d...

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How can a vegan diet improve your health?

In the United States, approximately 93.3 million people live with obesity, and over 100 million have diabetes or prediabetes. A key factor in the development of these — and other — metabolic conditions is diet. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's dietary guidelines for 2015-2020, "the typical eating patterns currently consumed by many in the [US] do not align" with official recommendations. Their estimates indicate that approximately "three-fourths of...

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Philips launces Azurion with FlexArm to aid image-guided procedures

During increasingly complex interventions, clinicians need to quickly and easily visualise critical anatomy and identify changes to the patient during the procedure. Azurion with FlexArm is designed to allow the clinician to perform imaging across the whole patient in both 2D and 3D. As the clinician moves the system, the image beam automatically maintains alignment with the patient, allowing more consistent visualisation and enabling them to keep their focus on the treatment. The range an...

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Positive Valiant Captivia five-year outcomes anounced at STS

Himanshu J Patel of the University of Michigan Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ann Arbor, USA, presented the outcomes at The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting (STS; 26–29 January, San Diego, USA). It was the first ever five-year industry-issued dataset reported for patients with aortic transections undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Blunt thoracic aortic injury is an emergency medical condition in which the aorta is damaged due to traumatic force to the chest...

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Dementia: The worrying 'rise of pseudomedicine'

Dementia is becoming increasingly prevalent as the population of the United States ages. Currently, 5.7 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. Worldwide, an estimated 47 million individuals are living with dementia. However, to date, there is no cure, and treatments can only relieve certain symptoms for some people. Added to the millions who already have a dementia diagnosis, there are many millions more who are concerned that the...

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Flu-like illness raises the risk of stroke

Each year, nearly 800,000 people in the United States experience a stroke. The risk factors include weight, smoking status, age, and family history of stroke. However, flu and flu-like illnesses could join this list, according to research due to be presented at the International Stroke Conference in Honolulu, HI, next week. In fact, the theory that flu or flu-like infections may raise the risk of stroke is not new. In 2015, Medical News Today reported that children are six times m...

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Lumee platform demonstrates successful oxygen monitoring in CLI patients

The data, presented at the Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC; 22–25 January, Leipzig, Germany), indicate that the Lumee platform measures tissue oxygen level changes in both healthy volunteers and patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI). The Lumee oxygen platform received CE mark in October 2016 for continuous monitoring of tissue oxygen. The platform is CE Marked for sale in the EU for monitoring tissue-oxygen perfusion as a general indication. In the US, the Lumee oxygen platform ...

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Chronic pain relief: Mindfulness may be just as good as CBT

According to the most recent survey analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 50 million people in the United States — or 20 percent of the U.S. adult population — are living with chronic pain. Individuals with chronic pain experience pain "most days or every day" for 6 months or more. Also, some of these people experience "high-impact" chronic pain, meaning that the pain severely interferes with their daily activities on most days. Chronic pain can affec...

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When will dengue turn life-threatening? Researchers identify genes that provide a tell

Now, in search of a solution to that problem, Purvesh Khatri, PhD, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science, and Shirit Einav, MD, associate professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology, have reanalyzed previously-published dengue patient data, discovering a key set of genes whose expression can predict who will suffer severe dengue. As explained by our release: ...Khatri and Einav identified 20 genes that stood out. In all of the patients who developed se...

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Cardiovascular deaths on the rise in the US

Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, followed closely by cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. In fact, heart disease causes almost 1 in 4 deaths in the U.S. Staying abreast of the latest statistics on the prevalence of this condition is key for prevention. Physicians, governmental organizations, and patients alike can benefit from information on heart disease death rates and risk factors that stave off cardiovascular conditions. In this context...

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New 12 Channel Sleep Screener - SOMNOtouch RESP eco

On the 1st February SOMNOmedics GmbH launched a new entry level sleep screening device. The 1 2 channel device - named the SOMNOtouch RESP eco – joins the SOMNOtouch family of products and is positioned primarily at the potential customer who only requires a simple sleep screening device. Taking feedback from our international dealers – and responding to the growing demand for low cost home sleep polygraphy devices - we have introduced a device that is aimed squarely at the ApneaLink™ and o...

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First commercial use of the B-Laser atherectomy system in Orlando, USA

Barry Weinstock of Orlando Heart & Vascular Institute, director of the catheterisation laboratory at the Center for Cardiovascular Excellence in Orlando, USA used the B-Lase atherectomy aystem to successfully treat a patient with severe in-stent restenosis in the superficial femoral artery as well as a critical de novo stenosis in the proximal popliteal artery. Weinstock commented, "Having participated in the US study as an investigator and seen the impressive efficacy and safety dat...

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Nanoparticles in food can alter the behavior of gut bacteria

Researchers from the University Medical Center of Mainz in Germany and colleagues from other centers in Germany, Austria, and the United States have discovered that the ultra-tiny particles can bind to gut bacteria. In a study paper about their work — which now appears in the journal npj Science of Food — the authors explain how attachment to nanoparticles can alter the life cycle of gut bacteria and their interactions with their host's body. The results should be useful to both medicin...

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Are we facing a Parkinson's pandemic?

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition. Primarily affecting the motor regions of the central nervous system, symptoms tend to develop slowly. Over time, even simple movements become difficult; and, as the disease progresses, dementia is common. Historically, Parkinson's was rare. In 1855, for instance, just 22 people living in the United Kingdom died with Parkinson's disease. Today, in the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that about hal...

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How skin cancer becomes invasive

New research, the findings of which now appear in the journal Cell, has found a mechanism that allows aggressive forms of skin cancer to become invasive and spread quickly. The study, which nonprofit organization Cancer Research UK funded, was conducted by a team from King's College London and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), both in the U.K. In their experiment, they analyzed the makeup of skin cancer, or melanoma, cells, looking for the factors that work to their advantage. ...

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Short, regular movement breaks lower risk of early death

We know that some form of exercise is needed to keep several body parts, including the brain, working as intended. People who spend a lot of time sitting are more likely to experience some adverse health conditions, such as obesity. However, a new study has revealed that even a small amount of exercise can have a significant impact on arguably the most important thing of all: lifespan. The scientists concluded that swapping just 30 minutes of inactivity for some form of exercise may ...

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Review: modulation of the oral microbiome by the host to promote ecological balance

Abstract

The indivisible relationship between the human host and its oral microbiome has been shaped throughout the millennia, by facing various changes that have forced the adaptation of oral microorganisms to new environmental conditions. In this constant crosstalk between the human host and its microbiome, a bidirectional relationship has been established. The microorganisms provide the host with functions it cannot perform on its own and at the same time the host provides its microbes with a suitable environment for their growth and development. These host factors can positively affect the microbiome, promoting diversity and balance between different species, resulting in a state of symbiosis and absence of pathology. In contrast, other host factors can negatively influence the composition of the oral microbiome and drive the interaction towards a dysbiotic state, where the balance tilts towards a harmful relationship between the host and its microbiome. The aim of this review is to describe the role host factors play in cultivating and maintaining a healthy oral ecology and discuss mechanisms that can prevent its drift towards dysbiosis.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Gb70aY

Impact of regulatory focus on express packaging waste recycling behavior: moderating role of psychological empowerment perception

Abstract

To effectively solve environmental pollution and resource waste problems caused by the rapid growth of express packaging waste, government intervention is needed in the separation and recycling of household waste at the source. Considering the correlation between behavior and individual psychological preference and concerns, this study administered a questionnaire survey (N = 847) and used factor analysis, hierarchical regression, and sensitivity analysis to evaluate the responses and determine the influence of individual focus tendency and empowerment perception on waste recycling behavior. The results showed that individuals with a high prevention focus or a high promotion focus were more likely to have good waste recycling behaviors. Furthermore, the higher the psychological perception of waste recycling empowerment (reflected in the meaning, competence, choice, and impact), the more inclined an individual to participate in recycling and waste reduction activities. In terms of interaction effect, psychological empowerment perception and its dimensions can positively moderate the effect of promotion focus on waste recycling behaviors. In other words, psychological empowerment perception acts as an "amplifier," and its dimension of meaning was the most important moderating variable. The study results supported policy suggestions to promote individuals' active participation in waste source separation and recycling activities.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Dc5jWE

Multi-objective optimized scheduling model for hydropower reservoir based on improved particle swarm optimization algorithm

Abstract

In order to make hydropower station's development and operation harmonious with ecological protection, the optimal operation of hydropower stations to meet the needs of ecological protection is studied. Firstly, the ecological protection function of river course is defined according to the minimum ecological runoff and suitable ecological runoff. Then, a multi-objective optimal running model of reservoir which can maximize the capacity of ecological protection and generation is proposed. Finally, an improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (MOPSO), which can construct a neighborhood for each particle and choose the neighborhood optimal solution by adopting self-organizing mapping (SOM) method, is proposed to solve the model. The model is applied to the Shui-Kou Hydropower Station in Minjiang, China. The results show that the model can get the optimal schedule with balanced consideration of ecological benefits and power generation benefits, which has not a great impact on the economic benefits of reservoirs while achieving the goal of ecological environment. The research results can provide theoretical basis and concrete scheme reference for reservoir operation.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Gb5BRK

Liver disorders related to exposure to gasoline fumes in male rats and role of fenugreek seed supplementation

Abstract

Progressive effects of inhalation of gasoline fumes on the liver and the protective potential with fenugreek seed supplementation were evaluated in adult male rats. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups, unexposed control and fenugreek groups, as well as exposed groups to gasoline fumes for 6 h/6 days/week for 10 weeks, with and without supplementation of fenugreek seed powder in food (5%w/w). Exposure to gasoline fumes resulted in a significant elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein, along with a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein, total protein, and albumin contents compared to the control. Meanwhile, liver oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide, were highly detected with decreased antioxidants, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Also, levels of inflammatory markers, interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-6, were significantly elevated with fibrotic markers, transforming growth factor (TGFβ1), fibroblast growth factor (FGF1), and collagen I. Histopathological studies illustrated that rats exposed to gasoline fumes have degenerated hepatocytes with cellular infiltration and necrotic areas, along with remarkable deposition of collagen fibers, suggesting an incidence of liver fibrosis. Administration of fenugreek seeds, rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components, during gasoline exposure showed significant amelioration through suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2DbxAwH

HSPF-based watershed-scale water quality modeling and uncertainty analysis

Abstract

This paper presents findings on uncertainties, introduced through digital elevation model (DEM) resolution and DEM resampling, in watershed-scale flow and water quality (NO₃, P, and total suspended sediment) simulations. The simulations were performed using the Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources/Hydrological Simulation Program Fortran watershed modeling system for two representative study watersheds delineated with both the original DEMs of four different resolutions (including 3.5, 10, 30, and 100 m) and the resampled DEMs of three different resolutions (including 10, 30, and 100 m), creating 14 simulation scenarios. Parameter uncertainties were quantified by means of the GLUE approach and compared to input data uncertainties. Results from the 14 simulation scenarios showed that there was a common increasing trend in errors of simulated flow and water quality parameters when the DEM resolution became coarser. The errors involved in the watershed with a mild slope were found to be substantially (up to 10 times) greater than those of the other watershed with a relatively steep slope. It was also found that sediment was the most sensitive and NO₃ was the least sensitive parameters to the variation in DEM resolution, as evidenced by the maximum normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 250% in the simulated sediment concentration and 11% in the simulated NO₃ concentration, respectively. Moreover, results achieved from the resampled (particularly coarser) DEMs were significantly different from corresponding ones from original DEMs. By comparing uncertainties from different sources, it was found that the parameter-induced uncertainties were higher than the resolution-induced uncertainties particularly in simulated NO₃ and P concentrations for studied watersheds. The findings provide new insights into the sensitivity and uncertainty of water quality parameters and their simulation results, serving as the guidelines for developing and implementing water quality management and watershed restoration plans.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Gaz0vh

Migration characteristics and toxicity evaluation of heavy metals during the preparation of lightweight aggregate from sewage sludge

Abstract

A lightweight aggregate (LWA) was manufactured from municipal sewage sludge, gangue, and coal ash. The product performance and environmental safety of the sintered material were evaluated by changing the sludge blending ratio and sintering temperature. The distribution and migratory transformation characteristics of heavy metals in LWA were examined by BCR sequential extraction in combination with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The environmental safety performance of LWA was comprehensively evaluated by the OPTI index for the first time. The leaching concentration of the heavy metals Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn in raw materials without sintering reached 1.17, 1.6, 7.84, and 7.56 mg/L, respectively, far exceeding the regulatory threshold value. At 1250 °C, sintering with 60% sludge content resulted in Cu and Zn leaching concentrations of only 0.41 mg/L and 0.37 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, a big portion of heavy metals were in the residual fraction of sintered LWA. The proportion of comprehensive pollutant toxicity index is only 199.17. Additionally, the mechanical properties of sintered LWA exceed the standards stipulated in the GB/T1743.1-2010 standard. Using sewage sludge to manufacture lightweight aggregate is not only environmentally safe but also produces LWA with good engineering characteristics.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2D8qHwc

Characteristics and management modes of domestic waste in rural areas of developing countries: a case study of China

Abstract

A huge accumulation of domestic waste has caused serious environmental contamination in rural areas of developing countries (RADIC). The characteristics and management of domestic waste are carefully discussed, based on field surveys and a literature review. The results indicate that the generation in most of RADIC is less than the median of 0.521 kg day⁻¹ per capita in China, and much smaller than in rural areas of developed countries (RADEC). Organic waste and inert waste with an accumulative mass percentage of 72.31% are dominant components of domestic waste in the rural areas of China. There are trends of increasing amounts of kitchen waste, paper/cardboard, and plastic/rubber and a decreasing trend of ash waste. The RADIC composition of domestic waste had a high content of organic waste and a low content of recyclable waste compared to the RADEC. Domestic waste has good compressibility and a light bulk density ranging from 40 to 650 kg m⁻³. The moisture, ash, combustible, and calorific values of domestic waste were 53.31%, 18.03%, 28.67%, and 5368 kJ kg⁻¹, respectively. The domestic waste has an abundance of nutrients including organic matter (39.05%), nitrogen (1.02%), phosphorus (0.50%), and potassium (1.42%). In RADIC, domestic waste can be used as an agricultural manure only after it has been collected and sorted for the potential risk of heavy metal accumulation. Based on these characteristics of domestic waste and the different situations of rural areas, four waste management modes including centralized treatment, decentralized treatment, group treatment, and mobile treatment are designed and discussed.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GbBlpA

Turkey creates its first space agency

Turkey creates its first space agency

Turkey creates its first space agency , Published online: 04 February 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00452-y

A decree by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has established a national space agency, but many details are still to come.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://go.nature.com/2UDNJ56

Assessing Risks from Harbor Dredging to the Northernmost Population of Diamondback Terrapins Using Acoustic Telemetry

Abstract

The northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) is a saltmarsh-dependent turtle that occupies coastal habitats throughout much of the Atlantic coast of North America. We used a novel application of acoustic telemetry to quantify both mobility and occupancy of terrapins within a dredged harbor and surrounding habitats, and used these metrics to quantify relative risk to individuals posed by harbor dredging. Terrapins showed strong fidelity to brumating areas within subdrainages, but extensive movements between these zones during the active period. Activity was greatest in late spring and early summer, declining to near zero by December. Occupancy of the dredge zone was also greatest during spring and summer and declined throughout the autumn months to an annual minimum during winter. Taken together, these data indicate that risks from harbor dredging are minimized during the autumn and early winter months.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GpA7qb

Nutrient Loading Impacts on Estuarine Phytoplankton Size and Community Composition: Community-Based Indicators of Eutrophication

Abstract

Water quality management strategies focus primarily on reducing nutrient loading in estuaries to limit total chlorophyll a (chl a) to less than 40 μg l⁻¹. However, potential alterations in phytoplankton community composition and subsequent ecological implications below this limit are not generally considered. The effect of moderate loadings of nitrate (N) and phosphate (P) on nutrient-limited phytoplankton composition and cell size was investigated using multiple bioassays from 2014 to 2016 to evaluate phytoplankton community shifts below the 40 μg l⁻¹ threshold. Water collected from North Inlet Estuary, SC, was spiked with 20 μmol l⁻¹ N and of 10 μmol l⁻¹ P and incubated for 2 days. The proportion of diatoms, cryptophytes, cyanobacteria, prasinophytes, and chlorophytes was calculated for each treatment (i.e., control and NP addition) and for two size fractions (i.e., < 20 μm and whole water). Phytoplankton biomass increases were below the 40 μg chl a l⁻¹ threshold and resulted in a variable shift in phytoplankton group abundances, likely due to the initial community composition. Nutrient additions enhanced the biomass of the fraction smaller than 20 μm and the proportion of diatoms at the expense of cyanobacteria and cryptophytes. Shifts in community composition could have potential cascading impacts on higher trophic levels in the estuary. These results highlight the importance of characterizing and monitoring eutrophication using abundances of algal groups in addition to total biomass as ecologically relevant alterations may occur at low levels of eutrophication.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GnqCIb

Nursery Habitat Quality Assessed by the Condition of Juvenile Fishes: Not All Estuarine Areas Are Equal

Abstract

High-quality nursery habitats support greater numbers of juveniles that survive to adulthood, but characteristics underlying high-quality habitats remain elusive because their productivity varies spatially and temporally and may be species-specific. Fish condition is an energy-integrative measure of ecological interactions, stress, and activity within a habitat, such that juvenile fish condition is representative of the quality of nursery habitats. We apply spatially explicit models to examine patterns in nursery habitat quality of Virginia estuaries based on nutritional condition for Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus, summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus, and striped bass Morone saxatilis. Environmental factors (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and depth) positively influenced the condition of Atlantic croaker but had mixed effects on striped bass and summer flounder condition, despite co-location of these species. Over the observed range of environmental conditions, the potential impact of salinity was 1.7 to 6 times that of other environmental factors. The condition of Atlantic croaker was negatively influenced by conspecific density, indicating local abundance mediates habitat quality. Regional habitat effects on fish condition were apparent after adjusting for broad-scale environmental effects: on average, striped bass condition was 22% greater in habitats near tributary mouths, Atlantic croaker condition was 28% greater in upestuary habitats, and the adjusted mean condition of summer flounder associated with coastal lagoons and the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay was 100% greater than conspecifics from other regions. Not all habitats are equally suitable for juvenile stages of estuarine species, but locations that produce well-conditioned individuals reveal the environmental characteristics associated with high-quality nursery habitats that contribute to species-specific productivity.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GoS20q

Controls on Sediment Suspension, Flux, and Marsh Deposition near a Bay-Marsh Boundary

Abstract

The sustainability of marshes adjacent to coastal bays is driven by the exchange of sediment across the marsh-bay boundary, where edge erosion commonly leads to lateral marsh loss and enhanced vertical accretion. The timing and patterns of sediment deposition on salt marshes adjacent to larger bodies of water such as coastal bays, however, differ from those on better-studied tidal creek marshes primarily owing to the importance of wind-waves. We combined field measurements and modeling to examine controls on suspended sediment concentrations and fluxes on a tidal flat (tidal range of 1.2 m) and rates of sediment deposition on the adjacent marsh at a site on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Suspended sediment concentrations over tidal flats were strongly controlled by waves. Yet, storm winds sufficient to drive large resuspension events often coincided with peak tidal elevations that were too low to flood the marsh, which was oriented away from the wind directions most favorable for storm surge, thereby restricting storm-driven, episodic sediment delivery to the marsh. Winds also drove wide variability in the direction of surface currents near the marsh edge when water depths were high enough to flood the marsh. Nevertheless, our results show that sediment in the upper water column over the tidal flat was effectively transported across the marsh edge during flooding tides. A sediment deposition model developed to investigate the combined effects of vegetation and wave action on depositional patterns predicted that waves displace maximum deposition inland from the marsh edge, consistent with measured deposition at the study site. Marsh deposition was sensitive to inundation frequency as well as the concentration of sediment in water flooding the marsh, underscoring the importance of nontidal controls on water surface elevation, such as meteorological effects (e.g., storm surge) and sea level rise. Whereas short-term increases in marsh inundation enhance deposition, sea level rise that results in deeper average water depths over the tidal flats decreases deposition if marsh elevation is rising in step with sea level.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GpA9yj

Seasonal Movement Patterns of Striped Bass ( Morone saxatilis ) in Their Nonnative Range

Abstract

Movement dynamics of nonnative species can change in new environments and differ from native populations. It has been more than 100 years since striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were introduced to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system in California from the US east coast. Acoustic telemetry from 2011 to 2015 was used to examine striped bass seasonal residence patterns in their nonnative range across three regions—bay, delta and rivers, and the effect of fish length and release river (Sacramento River [SR] vs. Feather River [FR]) on movement. In spring, SR striped bass (n = 52) increased travel speed by 39% and river residence by 63% relative to other seasons, which is consistent with spawning migrations. In summer, SR striped bass spent the most time in the bay (mean = 28.2 ± 30.9 days) relative to other seasons and across regions. In winter, 87% of striped bass were detected in the delta over 42% in the bay and 25% in the river. Release river also affected movement behaviors—FR striped bass (n = 11) spent more time in the river in all seasons compared to SR bass. Striped bass with sufficient tag life (n = 17) traveled farther distances in 365 days (mean = 1248 ± 405 km, range: 641–2212 km) with increasing fish length. Seasonal patterns observed appeared to follow seasonal prey sources throughout the San Francisco Estuary. Individual behaviors, however, were highly variable, and this flexibility may be an important trait that has allowed striped bass to persist in their nonnative range.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GlYMMl

Is Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) Important for the Historical Fish Kills and Harmful Algal Bloom Events of Mobile Bay?

Abstract

Large-scale fish and crustacean kills, locally known as Jubilees, and harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been occurring in Mobile Bay (Alabama) for more than a century. In fact, the first record describing a Jubilee event in Mobile Bay during 1867 was the first ever-documented case of mass mortalities of marine animals caused by hypoxia. To evaluate the importance of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the occurrence of Jubilees and HABs in Mobile Bay, a 3-year study was conducted using a multi-method approach. Significant spatial and temporal variations of SGD were revealed in the bay only by applying a combination of geochemical and shallow geophysical techniques. The development of seasonal hypoxia observed in bay waters in areas impacted by Jubilees was the result of anoxic SGD inputs, which magnitude and spatial distribution were controlled by shallow lithological heterogeneities created during the modern development of the bay. Although when compared to the river discharge SGD contributed between 0.2 (wet season) and 5% (dry season) of the total freshwater inputs to Mobile Bay, 80% of the total SGD in the bay occurred in areas ecologically impacted by hypoxia and Jubilees. In these areas, SGD comprised up to 37% of the total water inputs during the dry season, coinciding with the time of the year when Jubilees and HABs occur. In conclusion, while SGD might not be a significant source of fresh water to Mobile Bay or other estuaries worldwide, enhanced SGD caused by site-specific lithological heterogeneities can have a critical role in the development of hypoxia and ecological issues in nearshore waters.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SrswxM

Two Models Solutions for the Douro Estuary: Flood Risk Assessment and Breakwater Effects

Abstract

Estuarine floods are one of the most harmful and complex extreme events occurring in coastal environments. To predict the associated effects, characterize areas of risk, and promote population safety, numerical modeling is essential. This work performs a comparison and a combination of two 2-dimensional depth-averaged estuarine models (based on openTELEMAC-MASCARET and Delft3D hydrodynamic software packages), to develop a two-model ensemble approach that will improve forecast robustness when compared to a one-model approach. The ensemble was applied to one of the main Portuguese estuaries, the Douro river estuary, to predict the expected water levels associated with extreme river discharges in the present-day configuration with the new breakwaters. This is a region that is periodically under heavy flooding, which entails economic losses and damage to protected landscape areas and hydraulic structures. Both models accurately simulated water levels and currents for tidal- and flood-dominated validation simulations, with correlation values close to 1, RMSE below 15%, and small Bias and Skill coefficient close to 1. The two-model ensemble results revealed that the present-day estuarine mouth configuration will produce harsher effects for the riverine populations in case identical historical river floods take place. This is mainly due to the increase in the area and volume of the estuary's sand spit related to the construction of the new breakwaters.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GowDEA

Hydrological and Biogeochemical Controls of Seasonality in Dissolved Organic Matter Delivery to a Blackwater Estuary

Abstract

Changes in riverine discharge of dissolved organic matter (DOM) serves as an indicator of linkages between terrestrial ecosystem and receiving aquatic environments. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the seasonal variability of DOM in an estuary fed by a blackwater river is primarily controlled by water discharge and also modified by photochemical and biological processes. We collected surface water samples during 4-week-long field campaigns to the lower Pearl River estuary located in southeastern Louisiana, two during high discharge in spring and two during low discharge in winter and summer, respectively. DOM composition was determined using spectrofluorometric indices and a site-specific parallel factor model, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Spring samples with low salinity showed higher abundance of terrestrial, humic-like DOM and higher DOC concentrations, indicating the export of flood plain-derived DOM during high discharge. In contrast, summer and winter samples with high salinity had greater proportions of labile DOM and higher biological and fluorescence indices, which may reflect enhanced photochemical and biological degradation during summer and better preservation of labile DOM in winter. Spring DOM displayed highly variable source and quality character, relative to winter and summer samples. This observation suggests that river discharge acted as a more rapid and direct control of spatial variation in DOM and photochemical and biological degradation was responsible for removing this flow-related variation between seasons. The incubation experiments showed that natural light can remove terrestrial and microbial humic DOM, while bacterial degradation was responsible for degrading protein-like DOM. Our results provide new evidence that DOM seasonality in blackwater river estuarine environments is collectively regulated by discharge and photochemical and biological degradation.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GoS2xs

Seasonal and Interannual Variability in Net Ecosystem Production of a Subtropical Coastal Lagoon Inferred from Monthly Oxygen Surveys

Abstract

A central organizing concept in estuarine biogeochemistry is net ecosystem production (NEP). However, estimates of seasonal and interannual variability of whole-system estuarine NEP, which provide insight into how estuaries respond to climatic and anthropogenic forcing, are rare. The main objectives of this study are to (1) determine the seasonal and interannual variability in whole-system NEP of Biscayne Bay, a subtropical, shallow estuary located in southeastern Florida, USA, and (2) determine the potential driving mechanisms of NEP in this estuary. We compute monthly NEP over more than 12 years by constructing the dissolved oxygen budget for the estuary from monthly snapshot oxygen survey data (i.e., collected once per month). High-frequency observations of oxygen in similar subtropical estuaries were used to quantify the error associated with the snapshot monthly sampling. Oxygen air–water exchange and NEP closely balanced each other, with the long-term mean NEP (± 2 standard errors) equal to − 5.3 ± 0.3 mol O₂ m⁻² year⁻¹, indicating net heterotrophy. Significant seasonality was found, with lowest NEP in September. At monthly time scales, NEP was significantly positively correlated with chlorophyll and total phosphorus and significantly negatively correlated with canal flow. Interannual variability in NEP was substantial, and the bay temporarily shifted from net heterotrophy to net autotrophy after the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, probably in response to increases in nutrients from runoff and resuspension. These findings show that monthly oxygen surveys can be used to quantify whole-system estuarine NEP and that Biscayne Bay NEP is sensitive to climatic and anthropogenic forcing on seasonal and interannual timescales.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Grv6O5

Spatial and Temporal Associations Between Native Crabs and the Invading Green Porcelain Crab, Petrolisthes armatus , Throughout Its Northernmost Invaded Range

Abstract

Increasing ocean temperatures have led to poleward range expansions of many marine organisms. The green porcelain crab, Petrolisthes armatus, was first reported on intertidal oyster reefs near Charleston, South Carolina in the mid-1990s, an expansion from its tropical to sub-tropical native range. In order to investigate the relative abundances of this introduced crab and a portion of the native crab community, resident crab assemblages were sampled on intertidal oyster reefs across four seasons from 2015 to 2016. Sampling occurred at five locations extending from Savannah, Georgia where P. armatus is now well-established, to Wilmington, North Carolina, where its inter-annual presence is intermittent. Petrolisthes armatus was the numerically dominant crab species at all locations except Wilmington, where the species was not collected in the winter. Differences between northern and southern sample locations in the taxonomic composition of crab assemblages were most pronounced in the summer (June–September) and fall (October–January), with dissimilarities largely attributed to high abundances of P. armatus at southern locations. Crab abundances of all species peaked in the summer and were lowest in the winter (February–March). Petrolisthes armatus was less abundant toward the northern range edge, whereas native crabs did not differ in abundance throughout the sampling range. Throughout the study area, adult P. armatus sex ratios shifted from unbiased or female-biased in the summer to male-biased in the fall. Adults were collected in the spring (April–June), indicating they had overwintered. While native crab densities (Panopeus herbstii, Eurypanopeus depressus) stayed relatively constant across locations, P. armatus densities varied greatly, suggesting that resources, such as shelter and food, are not limiting factors for the coexistence of these native and invading crabs.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SxvssY

Stable Isotope Analysis Enhances Our Understanding of Diamondback Terrapin ( Malaclemys terrapin ) Foraging Ecology

Abstract

Dietary studies on generalist predators may provide valuable information on spatial or temporal changes in the structure of ecological communities. We initiated this study to provide baseline data and determine the utility of stable isotope analysis (SIA) to evaluate the foraging strategies of an opportunistic reptilian predator, the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), which specializes in salt marshes and mangrove estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. We evaluated stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope values of multiple tissues from terrapins inhabiting mainland and island mangrove habitats in south Florida and potential food sources to examine spatial and temporal variations in terrapin resource use. We fit linear regression models to determine the best predictors of isotopic values for both terrapins and their prey, and Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) analysis to examine terrapin isotopic niche space and overlap between groups. We identified differences in terrapin isotopic δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values among all sites. Blood and scute tissues revealed different isotopic compositions and niche overlap between sites, suggesting diets or foraging locations may change over time, and amount of variation is site specific. Niche overlap between size classes was larger for blood (short term) versus scute (long term), suggesting greater variability in food habits or resource isotopes over the long term versus short term. These results demonstrate the usefulness of SIA in examining the spatial and temporal variability in diamondback terrapin resource use within estuary systems and further define their niche within these dynamic food webs.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GjLdgx

Managing Eutrophication in a Tropical Brackish Water Lagoon: Testing Lanthanum-Modified Clay and Coagulant for Internal Load Reduction and Cyanobacteria Bloom Removal

Abstract

The release of phosphorus (P) stored in the sediment may cause long-term delay in the recovery of lakes, ponds, and lagoons from eutrophication. In this paper, we tested on a laboratory scale the efficacy of the flocculant polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and a strong P-binding agent (lanthanum-modified bentonite, LMB) on their ability to flocculate a cyanobacterial bloom and hamper P release from a hypertrophic, brackish lagoon sediment. In addition, critical P loading was estimated through PCLake. We showed that cyanobacteria could be effectively settled using a PAC dose of 2 mg Al L⁻¹ combined with 400-mg L⁻¹ LMB; PAC 8 mg Al L⁻¹ alone could also remove cyanobacteria, although its performance was improved adding low concentrations of LMB. The efficacy of LMB to bind P released from the sediment was tested based on potentially available sediment P. A dose of 400 g LMB m⁻² significantly reduced the P release from sediment to over-standing water (either deionized water or water from the lagoon with and without cyanobacteria). In sediment cores, LMB + PAC reduced sediment P flux from 9.9 (± 3.3) to − 4.6 (± 0.3) mg P m⁻² day⁻¹ for the experimental period of 3 months. The internal P load was 14 times higher than the estimated P critical load (0.7 mg P m⁻² day⁻¹), thus even if all the external P sources would be ceased, the water quality will not improve promptly. Hence, the combined LMB + PAC treatment seems a promising in-lake intervention to diminish internal P load bellow the critical load. Such intervention is able to speed up recovery in the brackish lagoon once external loading has been tackled and at a cost of less than 5% of the estimated dredging costs.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SsMQyT

Wave Attenuation by Oyster Reefs in Shallow Coastal Bays

Abstract

Oyster reef restoration in shallow estuarine environments has been thought to have the potential to provide shoreline protection as well as oyster habitat. This study was designed to address the question of how effective oyster reefs are at attenuating wave energy in shallow coastal bays. Measurements were made of waves on both sides of four restored intertidal oyster reefs and at a control site with no reef; mean water depths ranged from 0.9 to 1.3 m. The reefs differed in composition and position relative to the shoreline, but all had reef crest elevations between 0.3 and 0.5 m below mean sea level. Differences in wave heights between the exposed/sheltered sides and upwind/downwind sides of the reefs were used to quantify the effects of the reefs on waves under varying tidal and wind conditions. All four reefs were able to reduce wave heights by an average of 30–50% for water depths of 0.5–1.0 m (bracketing the heights of reef crests) and 0–20% for water depths of 1.0–1.5 m (reef crests > 0.25 m below the water surface). For water depths greater than 1.5 m, there was < 10% change in wave heights. In contrast, there was no average decrease in wave height from the more seaward (exposed) to the more landward wave gauge at the control site regardless of water depth. Based on our results, we conclude that fringing oyster reefs can reduce the wave energy reaching the shoreline of marshes with edge elevations close to mean sea level. However, reefs like those in our study have little effect on waves during deeper water conditions, which allow for the largest waves, and are therefore less likely to offer protection to marshes characterized by high edge scarps and marsh surface elevations well above mean sea level.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SvkJPm

Effects of Bridge Construction and Wastewater Effluent on Phytoplankton Abundance and Sediment Geochemistry in an Atlantic Temperate Coastal Bay Since 1930

Abstract

Despite a recent proliferation of bridges in coastal zones, little is known of the long-term impacts of bridge construction on phytoplankton abundance and community composition in nearshore waters. Here, we used high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis to quantify historical changes in phytoplankton using fossils from cores on either side of a 57-year-old bridge that reduced fetch by 76% and created a discrete enclosed inner embayment. We hypothesized that phytoplankton abundance should be greater in the inner bay after bridge construction due to reduced hydrological flow and increased nutrient influx associated with terrestrial development and more profound anoxia in the enclosed basin. As expected, primary producer abundance, especially cryptophytes, increased in the inner bay during the 1950–1960s, although the effect was transient despite continuous fourfold elevation in sediment organic matter content (%C, %N) after ca. 1960 in response to wastewater influx. The pulse in cryptophytes appeared to correspond to influx of humic-rich waters derived from locally exploited peatlands, whereas the phytoplankton community of the outer basin largely reflected historical variations in climate, with warmer April months associated with increased abundance of diatoms and cryptophytes. Overall, sediment stable isotope values in the inner basin varied in response to a complex combination of changes in wastewater treatment (δ¹⁵N), release of untreated fish plant effluents (δ¹⁵N), and connectivity with the open ocean (δ¹³C). Taken together, these findings suggest that the effects of bridge construction on coastal phytoplankton production and community composition operated through multiple pathways, rather than just via modifications of basin hydrology.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GjLa4l

Combined Effects of Drift Macroalgal Bloom and Warming on Occurrence and Intensity of Diel-Cycling Hypoxia in a Eutrophic Coastal Lagoon

Abstract

Recently, eutrophication-induced macroalgal bloom and elevating temperature caused by climate change have become major threats to benthic organisms by causing coastal hypoxia. However, combined effects of drift macroalgae and warming on the occurrence and intensity of hypoxia are not well understood, although these anthropogenic stressors have co-occurred. We conducted 10 seasonally replicated 7-day algal enclosure/exclosure experiments at a shallow coastal zone in the eutrophic Nakaumi Lagoon, western Japan, to evaluate the combined effects of drift algae and water warming on occurrence and intensity of diel-cycling hypoxia. Experimental units were 1 × 1 m plots of the sandy bottom fenced within 1 m height with plastic mesh that excluded or included drift algae, with automated dissolved oxygen (DO) sensors deployed at the sediment surface. DO fluctuated over a diel cycle for both algal treatments, and algal presence and elevated temperature additively amplified the diel DO cycle. Algal presence and elevated temperature synergistically increased the occurrence and intensity of diel-cycling hypoxia. The occurrence of hypoxia, including anoxia, increased non-linearly in the presence of algae when mean water temperature exceeded ~ 25 °C, whereas such drastic increase in the hypoxia occurrence was not observed in the absence of algae. Furthermore, the daily minimum DO declined more steeply with warming under algal presence than the absence of algae. These results suggest that coastal areas in the lagoon are now seriously threatened by simultaneous progressions of eutrophication linking to algal bloom and global warming.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SqDRhC

Artificial Lighting at Night in Estuaries—Implications from Individuals to Ecosystems

Abstract

Artificial lighting at night (ALAN) produced by urban, industrial, and roadway lighting, as well as other sources, has dramatically increased in recent decades, especially in coastal environments that support dense human populations. Artificial "lightscapes" are characterized by distinct spatial, temporal, and spectral patterns that can alter natural patterns of light and dark with consequences across levels of biological organization. At the individual level, ALAN can elicit a suite of physiological and behavioral responses associated with light-mediated processes such as diel activity patterns and predator-prey interactions. ALAN has also been shown to modify community composition and trophic structure, with implications for ecosystem-level processes including primary productivity, nutrient cycling, and the energetic linkages between aquatic and terrestrial systems. Here, we review the state of the science relative to the impacts of ALAN on estuaries, which is an important step in assessing the long-term sustainability of coastal regions. We first consider how multiple properties of ALAN (e.g., intensity and spectral content) influence the interaction between physiology and behavior of individual estuarine biota (drawing from studies on invertebrates, fishes, and birds). Second, we link individual- to community- and ecosystem-level responses, with a focus on the impacts of ALAN on food webs and implications for estuarine ecosystem functions. Coastal aquatic communities and ecosystems have been identified as a key priority for ALAN research, and a cohesive research framework will be critical for understanding and mitigating ecological consequences.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SvkIeg

Quantifying Phosphorus Sources and Sinks in the Gaoping River-Sea System in Southwestern Taiwan

Abstract

This study aims to quantify sources and sinks of phosphorus (P) in the small mountainous river (SMR)-sea system in southwestern Taiwan. The Gaoping River (GP) exported total phosphorus (TP) at 1.08 × 10⁹ mol year⁻¹ into the GP coastal sea, corresponding to a global highest TP yield of 3.28 × 10⁵ mol km⁻² year⁻¹ from the watershed during the study period. The river water TP comprised of 98.2% particulate P (PP) and 1.8% dissolved P. The PP was associated mainly with 10–63 μm particles and comprised 92.5% particulate inorganic P (PIP) and 7.5% particulate organic P (POP). The river flux of TP (or TP yield) was primarily determined by the sediment load which in turn was driven by river discharge varying with local climate variability. In the GP coastal sea, sedimentation rates decreased gradually with water depth, ranging from 0.032 to 1.62 g cm⁻² year⁻¹, and the highest rates were located on both sides of the GP Canyon, likely the result of typhoon impacts. The burial fluxes of the PP ranged from 0.02 to 0.84 mg cm⁻² year⁻¹, comprising approximately 88% PIP and 12% POP. The total deposition rates of sediment and PP were approximately 6.6 × 10⁶ t year⁻¹ and 4227 t year⁻¹, respectively, in the study area, if integrated over an area of 3045 km², with a maximum water depth of 1500 m. The burial efficiency of PP in the GP coastal sea ranged from 44 to 95%, which decreased generally with sampling location depth. A budget model showed that the imbalance of P sources (1.08 × 10⁹ mol P year⁻¹) and sinks (1.36 × 10⁸ mol P year⁻¹) implies about 90% of river inputs being recycled or exported out of the study area. The SMR margin that is associated with the canyon may act as an efficient conduit in transporting TP across the narrow margin into deep oceans.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SpD94h

Sustainability assessment of a community open space vision

Abstract

Urban sustainability visions must address diverse challenges spanning social and ecological issues yet urban visions are often weak in sustainability, demonstrating a need for a strong and holistic assessment of visioning processes, their outputs, and outcomes. Through a case study of a community visioning process for an urban neighborhood-scale open space in South Carolina, United States, this paper presents key insights from a novel approach for assessing the sustainability of visioning projects, framed around a program evaluation logic model. It describes a mixed-methods assessment of the case including: (1) a qualitative analysis of the visioning process that inspects the quality of the participatory process that generated the vision; (2) a content analysis of the vision report—the process output—that analyzes the sustainability content of the stakeholders' ideas; and (3) a quantitative natural capital assessment that compares the vision against alternative plausible scenarios proposed by stakeholders to the visioning process' outcomes and evaluates the ecological integrity of the vision. The research finds that the vision was crafted through a fair participatory process that created stakeholder satisfaction, that the vision emphasizes social capital and equity and justice over other sustainability ends, and that the neighborhood vision may generate stronger ecosystem services than other proposed options suggesting opportunity for positive feedbacks. Despite a positive assessment, the assessment used here showed there was room to co-create a stronger vision of a sustainable future that strives to achieve multiple sustainability principles across human and natural systems. Contributing to the literature on urban sustainability assessment, this paper demonstrates a novel and holistic approach to assessing sustainability of local urban planning processes and their outcomes and concludes with recommendations for streamlining such assessments to better inform policy decisions before they are made.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2D9uTvD

Assessment of acute toxicity and cytotoxicity of fluorescent markers produced by cardanol and glycerol, which are industrial waste, to different biological models

Abstract

The amphyphylic triazoanilines recently synthesized 1-(4-(3-aminophenyl)-1H-1,2,3- triazole-1-yl)-3-(3-pentadecylphenoxy)propan-2-ol (1) and 1-(4-(4-aminophenyl)-1H- 1,2,3-triazole-1-yl)-3-(3-pentadecylphenoxy)propan-2-ol (2), synthesized from cardanol and glycerol, have photophysical properties which allow their use in the development of fluorescent biomarkers with applicability in the biodiesel quality control. Based on this, the present research evaluated the toxic effects of both compounds in different biological models through the investigation of survival and mortality percentages as a measure of acute toxicity on Daphnia similis and Oreochromis niloticus, larvicidal assay against Aedes aegypti, and cytotoxic activity on mammary cells. Results demonstrate that these triazoanilines 1 and 2 have shown low acute toxicity to the biological models investigated in this study up to the following concentrations: 4.0 mg L-1 (D. similis), 4.0 mg L-1 (A. aegypti larvae), 1.0 mg L-1 (O. niloticus), and 1.0 mg mL-1 (mammary cells). This fact suggests the potential for safe use of compounds 1 and 2 as fluorescent markers for the monitoring of biodiesel quality, even in the case of environmental exposure. Besides all of that, the reuse of cardanol and glycerol, both industrial wastes, favors the maintenance of environmental health and is in agreement with the assumptions of green chemistry.

Graphical abstract

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from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SxrRuY

Turkey creates its first space agency

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://go.nature.com/2Sri3Cu

The Domestication of Animals and the Roots of the Anthropocene

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2GaOHmf

Urbanization-induced glomalin changes and their associations with land-use configuration, forest characteristics, and soil properties in Changchun, Northeast China

Abstract

Purpose

Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plays crucial roles in the global carbon cycle and improves soil quality. However, information on GRSP and its contribution to the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool in the process of urbanization is limited.

Materials and methods

In this study, easily extracted GRSP (EE-GRSP) and total GRSP (T-GRSP) were analyzed in an urban-rural gradient, and a detailed survey of greenspace characteristics (soil properties: pH, electric conductivity [EC], bulk density, temperature, and SOC; forest characteristics: tree density, tree size, tree species, and arbor and shrub richness; land use: road, building, greenspace, and wetland and water) in 306 plots was undertaken.

Results and discussion

EE-GRSP/SOC and T-GRSP/SOC decreased significantly by 10% in urban plots when compared with the rural plots. From the rural to urban plots, decrease in pH and increases in SOC, EC, tree height, and under branch height (p < 0.01) were found in this study. These changes in greenspace characteristics were responsible for variation in GRSP, while their relative explanatory power differed (soil properties: 43.8%, forest characteristics: 25.7%, and land use: 18.6%). Forward selection analysis identified that EC, greenspace proportion, pH, shrub richness, diameter at breast height, wetland and water proportion, bulk density, and under branch height had significant explanatory power for the variation in GRSP (all: p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that urbanization greatly affects the contribution of GRSP to the SOC pool. The changes in greenspace characteristics played key roles in regulating the pattern of GRSP, especially soil properties. The results of this study may be used as a reference for the exploration of GRSP in urban environments and implementation of soil improvement practices by regulating GRSP.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2S6YSyo

Trail of feathers to the Neanderthal mind

Trail of feathers to the Neanderthal mind

Trail of feathers to the Neanderthal mind, Published online: 04 February 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00445-x

Bernard Wood explores a claim that our nearest cousins were our cognitive equals — and that birds had a part to play in that.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://go.nature.com/2WEfMmO

Waveguide-coupled single collective excitation of atomic arrays

Waveguide-coupled single collective excitation of atomic arrays

Waveguide-coupled single collective excitation of atomic arrays, Published online: 04 February 2019; doi:10.1038/s41586-019-0902-3

Waveguide quantum electrodynamics is used to couple a single collective excitation of an atomic array to a nanoscale waveguide; the excitation is stored and later read out, generating guided single photons on demand.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://go.nature.com/2t4GIOU